This 1906 Rock Island Railroad reverse glass train sign, measuring eight feet long and in the original frame, netted $71,500 in an auction facilitated by Showtime Auction Services.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – An 8-foot-long 1906 Rock Island Railroad reverse glass train sign brought $71,500 at an auction held Sept.30-Oct. 2 by Showtime Auction Services, at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds in Ann Arbor. It was a new auction record for an 8-foot Rock Island sign, more than doubling the previous record of $30,000. It was also the top lot of the sale.

If a Rock Island Railroad sign rings a bell, it’s because another sign for the same railroad, also from around the turn of the century but of a different size and look, soared to $165,000 at Showtime’s last big auction, held April 1-3, also in Ann Arbor. It was the most ever paid for an advertising sign, a record that still stands today. Both signs were housed in original gilt frames.

This Yeungling’s Beer reverse glass sign, made by the John L. Dawes Mfg. Co., drew a $43,125-winning bid.

The sign (99 inches by 24 inches overall) was designed by the same maker of the Pullman Car chandeliers. It was given to the Western Sandblasting Company in Chicago, with a contract to produce 50 more. It is also quite possibly the only one with verbiage on the original frame and sign. It was considered highly desirable to collectors, with the train in the foreground.

The auction attracted around 250 people a day on the first two days and about 200 people on the last day. Internet bidding (facilitated by LiveAuctioneers and iCollector) was brisk, with nearly 1,500 online bidders (a record for Showtime). Phone and absente bids were also recorded. Overall, close to 2,000 lots changed hands in an auction that grossed $1.6 million.

“This was our biggest and best fall auction ever, no doubt,” said Michael Eckles of Showtime Auction Services. “I was very pleased with the level of Internet bidding activity, which I know was driven by factors such as increased travel costs and the hassles of airport security. But the in-house crowd was great, too, and they really got into the spirit of the event.”

Headlining the auction was the lifetime country store, advertising and toy collection of Mike and Colleen Empey. The sale also featured barber shop, coin-op, gambling, folk art, toys, banks, Coca-Cola and other soda, gum, candy, firearms and gunpowder, tobacciana, coffee, salesmen’s samples, whiskey, breweriana, petroliana, automobilia, match safes and pedal cars.

Following are additional highlights from the sale (all prices quoted include a 10-percent buyer’s premium for in-house sales or an 18-percent buyer’s premium for Internet bidders):

• A circa-1880s Cigar Store Indian attributed to Thomas Brooks, 69 inches tall, in excellent condition, brought $49,500; a Yuengling’s Beer reverse glass sign, made by the John L. Dawes Mfg. Co. (Pottsdown, Pa.), in near-mint condition, realized $43,125; and a Moose Beer reverse glass sign, made by Duluth & Malting Brewing Co. (Duluth, Minn.), near-mint, rose to $38,500.

This Alcazar cigar tin manufactured by the American Can Company in mint condition sold for $9,350.

• An extremely rare John Deere sand and wood one-sided sign, one of only two known and in excellent condition, breezed to $14,960; a rare oak six-foot double tower showcase with nickel corners (69 inches by 35 inches), in remarkable shape, climbed to $13,750; and a scarce Heinz Pickles string holder, near-mint and the best example ever offered by Showtime, made $12,100.

• A circa-1840s museum-quality Dutch child’s sled, exquisitely hand-painted with swans and other birds and in excellent condition, with a beautiful patina, coasted to $12,100; an inlaid gold quartz match safe with multi-colored diamond pattern and engraved detail throughout went for $10,620; and an Oak Motor Oil two-sided ‘lollipop’ porcelain sign, near mint, made $10,350.

• An Alcazar cigar tin with exceptional graphics and color, made by the American Can Co., in mint condition, commanded $9,350; a Rodeo Coffee 5-pound pail with bale and “Let-R-Buck” image on both sides, made by the H.E. Starbrooks Co., Ltd. (Winnipeg, Man.), brought $7,150; and a Pratts Veterinary Remedies (Philadelphia) tin front store cabinet realized $6,900.

This Oak Motor Oil “lollipop” porcelain two-sided sign in near-mint condition hammered for $10,350.

• A DeLaval Cream Separators self-framed tin sign made by H.D. Beach Co. (Coshocton, Ohio), 25 ¾ inches in diameter, hammered for $5,775; a hand-carved shotgun trade sign, 65 ½ inches long and in excellent condition, rose to $5,500; and an oak, nickel-cornered, curved glass showcase with original brass tag made by Excelsior Showcase Co. (Quincy, Ill.), fetched $4,950.

• A Swift Wing sand and painted wood trade sign, beautifully constructed and in superb condition (41 inches by 11 inches) garnered $4,675; a hanging apothecary show globe and original griffin bracket, with no chips or cracks (22 inches tall) finished at $4,675; and a Johnson Halter papier-mâché trade sign with the original manufacturer’s label on back went for $4,400.

• A Sampson Bachrach Collar Button store display, with original brass tag and decals and collar button finial on top, brought $4,125; a Super Greyhound Motor Fuel porcelain sign, 58 inches by 34 inches, crossed the block for $4,125; a circa-1950s near-mint White Owl cigar tin made $3,025; and an R. O. Beitel jeweler’s watch trade sign, 16 inches by 25 inches, hit $3,960.

• A scrimshaw ivory tusk, 8 inches in length and decorated with the images of three women, went to a determined bidder for $2,950; a Signal Gas round porcelain tin sign, 72 inches in diameter and in excellent condition, found a new owner for $2,200; and a Sharpleigh’s Razor Blade store display case with product, wood and glass with original decals, finished at $1,210.

For more information about this auction, call 951.453.2415, e-mail to MikEckles [at] aool [dot] com or visit the Showtime Auction Services website.

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This highly collectible English astronomical regulator clock will be among the than 500 rare and vintage clocks from a single-owner collection will cross the block without reserve in the Antique Discovery Clock Auction, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The first half of 2011 was kind to Fontaine’s Auction Gallery, and now the firm plans to finish the year strong with a series of four big auctions slated for August through November, including an Antique Discovery Clock Auction, an Exceptional Antique Auction, an Unreserved Estate Auction and finally, an Exceptional Cataloged Antique Auction.

All of the sales will be conducted at Fontaine’s modern gallery facility, at 1485 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield, located in western Massachusetts.

The first event of the second half of the year will be an Antique Discovery Clock Auction, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27. More than 500 rare and vintage clocks from a single-owner collection will cross the block without reserve (everything sells, regardless of price). Sold will be American large wall clocks and case clocks, grandfather clocks and examples from England, France and Germany.

Also offered will be Vienna regulators, porcelain and novelty clocks, master and slave clocks, ships’ clocks, schoolhouse and wooden works clocks, skeleton clocks, calendar clocks, Howard clocks, pendulums, weights, watchmakers’ benches and multi-drawer cabinets, watch and clock ephemera and advertising signs. Previews will be held Friday, Aug. 26 (10-5) and Saturday, Aug. 27 (8-11 a.m.). Buyers must be present in the gallery to bid at this auction.

Then, on Saturday, Sept. 10, Fontaine’s will conduct a two-session Exceptional Antique Auction (previews on Friday and Saturday), aptly named because it will feature 500 lots of antique furniture, vintage clocks and lamps, porcelains, music boxes, a large Rogers Group collection, silver, jewelry, arts and crafts, paintings, firearms and militaria. Consignments are still being accepted for this sale.

The third event will be an Unreserved Estate Auction on Saturday, Oct. 15, beginning. More than 400 lots of period antiques and decorative accessories comprising the contents of two major estates—one from Short Hills, N.J., and the other the original homestead of the Brewer-Young family from Longmeadow, Mass. Previews will be held Friday and Saturday.

Finally, an Exceptional Cataloged Antique Auction will be staged on Saturday, Nov. 19 (previews on Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19). Set to change hands will be more than 450 lots of exceptional antique furniture, lighting by Tiffany, Handel, Pairpoint and others, paintings, silver, clocks, art glass and cameo glass, bronzes, jewelry, pottery and porcelains. Consignments are still being accepted for this auction.

“We are accepting quality consignments for all the auctions in our fall series, from one piece to an entire estate or collection,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “Either way, we have the service and expertise to help you. We can provide free estimates and arrange pick-up and delivery nationwide. Our rates are the best in the industry and consignments are fully insured.”

Fontaine’s is actively seeking merchandise in the following categories, to include Early American, Victorian, Empire, custom mahogany and figural; carved furniture; lighting by Tiffany, Duffner & Kimberly, Handel, Pairpoint, Wilkinson, Reviere, Suess and other makers.

The firm is also looking for quality music boxes, clocks and watches, art glass and cameo glass, bronze and marble statuary, silver, Russian items, jewelry, paintings, porcelains, coins, Arts & Crafts furniture and accessories, art pottery, Oriental rugs, Asian items, toys, banks, military items, firearms and more. Prospective consignors can call the gallery at 413.448.8922, or send digital photos of their items by visiting the Fontaine’s Auction Gallery website or by e-mailing them to info [at] fontaineauction [dot] com.

The first half of 2011 was successful for Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. For example, at the firm’s Exceptional Cataloged Antique Auction held May 21—featuring a monumental circa-1890 R.J. Horner 12-piece dining set that soared to $100,300 in an auction—grossed a little more than $1.4 million.

Other highlights from the auction included a seven-piece John H. Belter laminated rosewood Henry Clay parlor set ($25,960), a Tiffany Studios Greek key table lamp with 18-inch serpentine leaded shade ($26,550); a large Chelsea ship’s bell mantle clock with 12-inch dial ($15,930); and a monumental bronze work by Arthur Waagen depicting a triumphant Kabyle hunter ($12,980).

For more information about these upcoming auctions, or to consign an item, estate or collection, call 413.448.8922, e-mail info [at] fontaineauction [dot] com or visit the Fontaine’s Auction Gallery website.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

This vintage late-19th-century cast-iron bank featuring an eagle with eaglets from the Carl and Barbara Moulton estate will be among the items up for auction on April 17, 2010.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – The third part of the Carl and Barbara Moulton estate sale—comprising the couple’s lovely Chesapeake home, plus over 700 lots of antiques and collectibles—will be sold at the home itself in an on-site auction slated for Saturday, Apr. 17, 2010.

“I’m not going to say we saved the best for last, because there were some truly outstanding items sold in Parts 1 and 2,” said Tom Perry of Tom’s Auctions & Appraisals, which will facilitate the sale. “But when you add the home itself to the mix and still have wall to wall merchandise, it’s hard not to get excited. Folks need to mark their calendars. This will be one sale they don’t want to miss.”

The house, which will come up for bid at 1 p.m., is a 2,800-square-foot structure situated on a large, 0.65-acre corner lot in the Great Bridge area. It has seven rooms—including three bedrooms and 2 ½ baths—plus a two-car garage and a detached garage. Features include antique stained glass windows, beautiful ceilings, leaded glass kitchen cabinets and a stone fireplace.

Bidders will be treated to dolls, toys, Black memorabilia, pictures and prints, sterling silver, furniture, jewelry and more.

“We’re talking about 55 years of collecting,” said Perry. “Mr. Moulton was an antiques dealer, an auctioneer and a pawn shop owner.”

The merchandise is eclectic, ranging from a rare cast-iron eagle with eaglets mechanical bank to gorgeous Bradley & Hubbard lamps to a group of porcelain piano babies (marked and numbered) to an original Civil War-era print titled “Our Heroes” to an outstanding walnut cylinder roll secretary.

Furniture will include a beautiful Hinkle Harris dining room set table with six chairs, an exceptional burl mahogany sideboard, marble-top washstand, a drop-leaf end table, an oval walnut table, an inlaid tilt-top tea table, matching pairs of Victorian chairs, a marble-top coffee table, a marble-top hall tree, two oak curved glass curio cabinets, an oak center post kitchen table with leaf and four arrow-back chairs, an oak child’s rocker, a Victorian stool, an antique Chippendale-style mirror and a cherry twin bed.

Decorative accessories will feature a cast-iron Scottie dog doorstop, a trunk made by the Norfolk Trunk Co., a signed Lalique figural piece, some nice rugs (area and Oriental), signed paperweights, glassware, Roseville, steins, ivory pieces, canning jars, stoneware clocks, vintage telephones (stick and wall), a Grey Telephone Co. 1909 pay phone, a pitcher and bowl and a panel glass lamp.

Coca-Cola collectors will have a field day. The list of Coke items includes buttons (one featuring Santa Claus), thermometers (one dated 1939), fishtail advertising signs and other advertising signs, a “Coke Is It” clock and a “Drink Coca-Cola” sign. Also offered will be Pepsi-Cola advertising items, Royal Crown advertising items and Dr. Pepper advertising items.

The list of collectibles is just as impressive. It includes Hummel figurines, Bunny Bread and Sunbeam Bread advertising signs, a Texaco sign, a Georgia state flag, a Norfolk restaurant picture with “Seasons Greetings,” a Ford advertising sign, a Route 66 sign, antique license plates, a Bell Public Telephone porcelain sign, a U.S. Navy bell and a 1903 framed calendar.

Also offered will be a pair of Hood’s calendars in early walnut Victorian frames (one from 1893, one from 1900), a framed picture of Robert E. Lee taken from a 1940 “Saturday Evening Post,” four battle prints, an 1834 50-cent piece, a tiny Bradley & Hubard lamp with shade, walking canes, bottles, old marbles, iron handcuffs, decoys and about 12-15 wind-up toys, some in boxes.

Silver pieces will include a highly decorated footed bowl made by Jenkins & Jenkins, Inc. (Baltimore, #504), teaspoons, forks, baby spoon and fork sets, a food pusher, serving spoons, a sugar spoon and a knife. Also sold will be a “Little Black Sambo” book, daguerreotypes, silver dollars, around15 antique dolls , a Kool Cigarettes display, a set of Willie & Millie salt and pepper shakers, an Aunt Jemima note pad and original artwork.

Rounding out the day’s offerings: several railroad watches (some 14kt gold: Bunn Special, Hamilton, etc.), a Virginia Civil War button stick pin, gold and silver watch fobs, a Dick Tracy Detective Club badge, a Mickey Mouse bank, Shirley Temple items, a group of chauffeurs’ licenses from Virginia and West Virginia, about a dozen quality name pocket watches and a Presidential mug.

Mr. Moulton (known as “Colonel” Moulton to his friends and business associates) was a larger-than-life figure who owned and operated Carl’s Antiques in Chesapeake. He also kept booths at several area malls, in addition to being an auctioneer and pawn shop owner. He specialized in jewelry, coins, period American furniture, stoneware, collectibles and militaria.

For more information about this auction, call 757.539.2498, e-mail to tombuys [at] tomsauction [dot] com or visit Tom’s Auctions & Appraisals Web site.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

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This Schuco Pig Violinist is a Pre World War Two example made by Schuco in the 1930’s, values for these depends a great deal on their condition. The famous German toy maker Schuco had it’s start in the Schreyer & Co , formed by Heinrich Muller and Heinrich Schreyer in 1912, the company was renamed “Schuco” in 1921. The company began by making small felt and plush covered mechanized figures and animals which were exported all over the world by the early 1930’s.

By the mid-1960s Die cast metal and particularly plastics were the new high-tech materials, which had begun taking over as early as the late 1950s; tin was perceived to be slightly old-fashioned. The company did not turn to plastics to produce toys until the early 1970s, but by then it was pretty much a case of too little to late. By the late 1970′s the original Schuco company had gone out of business.

Mike Wilcox

Wilcox & Hall Appraisers

From the ancient times right up to the Victorian Age, toys were handmade, either at home or in craft-shops. Craftsmen created toys using various materials like clay, porcelain, wood, leather, paper, cardboard, fabric, lead, tin and even silver, and then sold these to toy merchants and peddlers who in turn sold them to the general public. Toys were usually stocked with other merchandise in stalls and shops; it was only in the late 18th century that the notion of separate toy shops began to gain prominence.

Mass production of toys didn’t come about until the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, when tin and cast iron toys became popular. Toy makers like Julius Chien, Strauss and Louis Marx in the USA made some rather creative and intriguing wind-up and spring-driven toys. Modern day parents will probably look upon many of these with askance, sharp edges and corners abounded and there were plenty of parts that an enterprising child could detach and swallow. Toy production was affected but not undermined by the Great Depression and the World Wars, and many types of tin and cast iron toys continued to be made until the toy manufacturers discovered the possibilities of plastic in the 1950s.

The toy industry in modern times is very big business, with brand names (Mattel, Lego, Fisher Price) and movie syndication deals (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter) adding enormously to the kitty. It helped too when smart advertising executives discovered that the appeal of toys wasn’t restricted to children and their parents, that there were other grown-up customers who liked to buy toys too – for aesthetic, sentimental or other reasons – and so began the business of creating toy collectibles with this segment in mind.

Now toy collecting is one of the most popular of all collectible activities around the world, with many collectible societies, groups, magazines, books and websites devoted to the subject.

To find the value of toys that are for sale or have sold recently at auction, check out the Worthopedia: it contains a database of prices, photos and descriptions compiled from hundreds of auction houses. Click on the word ‘Prices’ in the menu bar at the top of the page. That takes you to the Worthopedia. Use the search field in the right column to find specific items.

Click here for a direct link to the Worthopedia.

Click on any of the links below to find some noteworthy toy collectible societies.
The Mechanical Bank Collectors of America
The Association of Game Puzzle Collectors
The Train Collectors Association
The Toy Car Collectors Association
The Canadian Toy Collectors Society

You can also read about the toy-maker Louis Marx here –
Wikipedia – Louis Marx and Company
Marx Toy Museum

The stairs that enter the basement of my childhood home lead to a world frozen in time. Aside from some freshly washed laundry, much of the basement remains exactly as my grandfather left it upon his passing in 1988. Although I never had the chance to really get to talk to him, I now feel I know him based on the legacy he left behind. My grandfather, Joe Kleefus, left the legacy of an avid collector and historical buff. One of his all-time favorite passions was collecting Lionel trains, and what a collection it was. Boasting over twenty diesel and electric locomotives, dozens of box cars and stock cars, and enough rail to warrant Amtrak’s envy, Joe’s Lionel collection is truly enormous. My father, Don, currently maintains the compilation, ensuring that the valuables remain in excellent condition and in their original packaging. I remember the days, although few and far between, where my dad would actually take some of the items out of their boxes to show me. Although hardly an expert, my young, untrained eyes displayed toys that instantly made my beloved plastic G.I. Joes inferior. The trains and accessories date from the early 1950s to the mid 1960s. The trains themselves have been set up in the past, but have not been run since the 1970s and remain in excellent condition. While all the cars and accessories have significant value, the most prized of possessions are the locomotives. Each element of the sprawling set has at least moderate value, while some of the most precious locomotives have significant worth. The single most valuable car is the high-gloss orange 2341 Jersey Central diesel locomotive. This individual item is valued anywhere from $2,000-$2,500. Don is unlikely to make any decisions on the collection’s future anytime soon. He envisions setting up most of the collection upon his retirement in a steady and organized matter, maintaining its’ excellent condition. But as with most collectibles, this anthology has one value to an appraiser, and another more personal value to the collector, and Don does not envision selling the memories in the immediate future. I look forward to returning to my former home in the future with that same moment in time still etched in a new and ever-changing world.

Value of a toy depends upon -
• The dealer selling the toy.
• The demand for the toy.
• The area where the toy is being sold.
• The condition of the toy. Toys in mint on card condition are worth a great deal more than toys that have been used.
• The rarity of the toy.
• Any unusual feature or historical significance of the toy.

Some favorite toys with collectors are – Dolls, Wind-up Toys, Mechanical Banks, Action Figures, Character Toys, Cast Iron Toys, Battery-operated Toys, Toy Soldiers, Toy Vehicles and Toy Guns.

Here are some tips for collecting toys –
• It’s a good idea, from both the financial and time management angle, to focus on a single toy line to start with. You could begin collecting by era, manufacturer, material or category – Breyer model horses or My Little Pony models, for example – and expand your collection to include other toy types later on.
• Collect toys that really interest you. Considering the investment factor doesn’t hurt, but it’s much more fun to get toys that you enjoy; deriving enjoyment should really be the main point of any hobby.
• Research the toys you want to collect. The more you know about your collection the better. With enough knowledge, you will know how to seek out the best toys, where to find them and what their current prices are, and there will be less chances of getting saddled with forgeries or inferior reproductions.
• Read all the books, magazines and newsletters on the topic, visit websites and online groups and network with other collectors and dealers. You will be surprised at how many skills you can pick up just by starting a collection – research skills, literary skills, aesthetic and cultural appreciation skills, social skills and business skills.
• Browse for toys at online antique/collectible sites and auction sites. Visit antique shops, collectible stores, thrift shops, flea markets, local garage sales and toy fairs.
• Avoid buying toys with broken parts. It can be impossible • Keep any tags that come with the toy. Toys with original tags have more value.
• Organize and catalog your collection well so you can keep track of what you have and what you would like to add.
• Store your toy collectibles carefully to prevent damage. Encased in plastic behind glass and away from direct sunlight should keep your toys safe.
• Have a budget for collecting toys. It can be a pretty addictive hobby and it wouldn’t do to spend your entire salary on it. Don’t forget to save.

The box office tally isn’t the whole story of a film’s profit margin – “It’s the merchandise, silly.” So says Mel Brooks in his 1987 science fiction parody Spaceballs, as his character displays merchandise from the film – within the film – including bed sheets and a cereal box. George Lucas gave Brooks permission to make the Star Wars spoof on the condition that there would be no merchandise from the film. Merchandise is quite important to a film’s fans and makes for a lasting collectible for years to come.

One of the great collectibles of Generation X is Star Wars memorabilia. Original-issue figurines, fighter planes, trading cards, and weapons are the foundation of a collection. Original film cells, autographed photos, Underoos, and lunch boxes are also popular items. An original one sheet movie poster from 1977 (style D) is valued at $1,500, another (style E) at $3,000, while a third (style A, a rerelease) is priced at $250. The pricing is determined by rarity and condition. A complete set of miniature figurines from 1977 go for $300 on Ebay.

Star Wars isn’t the only movie with a long and prosperous merchandising history. Tim Burton films have sparked interesting collections – especially for Nightmare Before Christmas toys and other items which continue to sell well the world over. Jack and the bunch make for great collecting, though because the toys, figurines, and school supplies remain in-stock and for sale to the public, building a collection that might become rare and valued for resale is a long term investment.

Movie t-shirts and posters can be found in many households and, more recently, unusual items as merchandise have gained in popularity. The reissued “Mr. T In Your Pocket” – a push button key ring with voice samples of Mr T catch-phrases like “I pity the fool” – pictured here, is an example of a specialty item that can pick up steam when childhood fans become grown ups who appreciate their nostalgic value.