Rich Penn May Auction features great Coin-Op, Advertising and Petroliana
May is the month when things start to spring up and fill the world around us with bright colors. The May Rich Penn Auction event is a colorful example of that. Gas and oil memorabilia has popped up from the massive Earl Cheese collection and is being offered along with the superb collection of the late Jim Gerchow. Both collections offer a tremendous amount of quality multi-color porcelain, neon and tin signs, light-up clocks and gas globes and a wide variety of other petroleum memorabilia. This could no doubt be the premier gas & oil auction of the year.
This Rich Penn Auction event is May 1 - 3 and is held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Preview day is May 1 and the auction event starts promptly at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday & Sunday.
But there’s much more than gas & oil. Every “man cave gas station” had more than just petroliana. Many gas stations also had peanut and candy vending machines, scales, soda machines, coin operated rides and some even had slot machines. All those items will be represented and more. With a number of rare and unusual machines in the offering, favorites will be difficult to pick.
{image_7}For the thirsty garage crew, a pair of completely restored Coca-Cola machines: a Vendo 44 and a Vendo 81 will keep your bottles of Coke well chilled. To keep the kids occupied while you’re wrenching on that street rod, drop a nickel in the great original condition Wurlitzer #780 Juke Box or drop a dime in the perfectly restored Indian Motorcycle Kiddie Ride.
{image_8}Certain to generate strong interest is “The King” peanut vending machine. With no other example known, it’s lineage is a mystery. A cast iron vender, standing on four feet, it’s well marked with it’s name “The King” in raised letter surrounding the coin entry and handle. The finish appears to be all original.{image_1}
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Another rare machine in the auction was made by the Unit Sales Company in Omaha. Both a Strength Tester and Cigar Lighter, you could light up and test your grip for 1 cent! If you were more inclined to drop your coins in a gambling machine, there are several, including a c.1930’s Mills Lion front slot, a 25 cent Jennings Sun Chief Buckaroo with a Nevada Club marquee and a 10 cent Jennings Prospector club console. Both Jennings machines are wonderfully restored.{image_5}
{image_6}For a c.1900’s high tech slot machine, nothing would be more desirable than the Paul Berger 5 cent electric floor model slot machine. Designed to originally work on batteries, this machine has been expertly restored and is fully functional on 110 volts. A rare machine in rare condition! Two other rare and expertly restored machines are both scales.
The Washington 1 cent scale is highly sought after because of the great dial graphics of George Washington. Made by the Caille Bros., c.1905, this walnut/mahogany cabinet machine is serial number 3679. The other scale, c.1910, is cast iron and made by the Caille Bros. for Cadillac Scale Co. in Easton, PA. Called the “Weight Teller,” it carries serial number 594.{image_2}{image_4}
As with all Rich Penn Auctions, there will be two full days of live bidding on site in addition to online bidding through LiveAuctioneers, iCollector and on Penn's web site. Go to RichPenn Auctions.com ; to register or to preview the auction and take a look at some of the preview videos on YouTube. Absentee and phone bidding are both always welcome.
Auction preview will be on Friday, May 1, from 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm and from 8:00 am to auction start each day. Full color catalogs will be available for $40, including post auction prices realized.
To order a catalog or for additional information: contact Rich Penn Auctions at 319-291-6688 between 9 AM & 5 PM CST, M-F.
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