Morphy Auctions features antique advertising, coin-ops and mechanical music Aug 10-11
Morphy Auctions rolls out antique advertising, coin ops and the Peter V. Fritsch mechanical music collection, Aug. 10-11.
DENVER, Pa. – The festive sounds of turn-of-the-century music boxes and coin-op machines will ring through Morphy Auctions’ gallery Aug. 10 and 11 as the company presents a varied and colorful 1,100-lot sale of antique advertising and mechanical amusements.
The Friday session features the 50-year music box collection of Peter V. Fritsch of Kutztown, Pa. The assemblage of 30+ music machines consists mainly of American productions, with highlights including a Regina 27-inch automatic changer, $16,000-$18,000; a Regina 15½-inch automatic changer, $14,000-$18,000; and a Symphonium wood-cased hall clock, $10,000-$12,000
Morphy’s CEO Dan Morphy remarked that Peter Frisch has always been “a very particular buyer. Every machine he owns is special and has an extra or unusual feature that would not be considered standard.”
Over 250 general store lots – including showcases and signs – will be offered to the highest bidder. A very rare circa-1880s Perry Davis Pain Killer tin sign is lithographed with busy, colorful images of people performing different tasks to produce a bottle of the pain medicine. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000. Also within the grouping of signs is a 1914-1915 Buffalo Bill Wild West Show poster estimated at $2,000-$3,000.
More than 50 coin-operated machines will open the Saturday session. An outstanding dual vending machine that dispenses both Chiclets chewing gun and Stollwerck chocolate leads the group. In untouched condition with beautiful porcelain panels, the machine could reach $10,000-$15,000 on auction day
Other noteworthy coin-ops include a 10-cent Rol-A-Top slot machine with an eye-catching cherry design on its façade, $6,000-$7,000; and a functional, circa-1920s Novelty Merchant Co. “digger” machine, $2,000-$4,000.{image_1}
An attractive array of soda pop advertising awaits bidders, including an elusive and very desirable 1955 7-Up double-sided policeman store display sign. Of double-sided lithographed metal, it is similar in design to the more commonly seen Coca-Cola police crossing-guard figure. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000.
The Saturday session will conclude with a 100-lot offering of tobacciana. Possibly by Robb or DeMuth, a well-detailed circa-1900 carved figure resembling Hercules – with a club in one hand and a pack of cigars in the other – is entered in the sale with a $10,000-$15,000 estimate.
A circa-1870s plaster sign advertising Hondarez Cuban Cigars will cross the auction block with hopes of achieving $1,000-$1,500.
Both the Friday, Aug. 10 and Saturday, Aug. 11 auction sessions will commence at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through Morphy Live or LiveAuctioneers.com.
View the fully illustrated catalog online
For additional information, call 717-335-3435 or e-mail serena@morphyauctions.com.
Visit Morphy Auctions online at http://www.morphyauctions.com.
