This can’t miss auction takes the pole position with almost 700 lots of exciting, fresh to the market merchandise at a full spectrum of price points.
Denver, Pennsylvania, January 18, 2018 – Morphy Auctions, the finest auction destination for fresh to the market collections, is excited announce this highly anticipated sales event to be held on February 22, 2018. The auction begins promptly at 9am. All merchandise from this sale is on display in Morphy’s Pennsylvania auction gallery and available for preview now.
This sale hits the road with great examples of antique advertising from tire and car parts manufacturers. Lot #28, an early, double sided Vacuum Cup Tires porcelain keyhole sign is estimated at $6,000-9,000. This black, yellow, and white sign is decorated with a close-up image of the company’s treads and has very good color and gloss. Lot #317, a United Motors Service diecut porcelain arrow sign gets right to the point with its $5,000-8,000 estimate. This very hard to find black and orange example is decorated with an antique car and simply glows with excellent color and gloss throughout. And lot #255, a new old stock Racine Tires double sided tin flange sign is estimated at $2,500-3,500. It is in excellent condition with incredible color and gloss and is marked “Shonk Litho Company, Chicago.”
The selections of signage featuring oil brands in this sale truly strike black gold. Both tin and porcelain examples are on offer. Lot #218, a highly sought after blue, white, orange, and yellow Harbor Petroleum Products porcelain sign decorated with a seaplane is estimated at $20,000-40,000. This double-sided die-cut version is much rarer than single sided examples which appear at auction far more regularly. Lot #167, a Red Crown and Polarine Summer or Winter double sided tin sign from 1913 is estimated at $18,000-25,000. This stunning example is decorated with period graphics including two early cars and two attractive women at the wheel and is maker marked “Passaic Metal Ware Co. Passaic, NJ.” According to our catalogers, “This is one of the nicest examples of this sign you will find.” Also certain to take flight is lot #29, a Sinclair Aircraft double sided porcelain sign, estimated at $7,5000-12,500. This round, red, white, and black example – one of the most sought after signs amongst gas and oil enthusiasts – shows excellent color and gloss throughout and includes an original metal ring. And lot #123, a Husky Gasoline Service porcelain shield sign, is another top dog in this category. Estimated at $10,000-15,000, this double-sided example features a lifelike and energetic canine leaping over a rising sun.
Now it’s time to get behind the wheel of fantastic signage highlights from automobile manufacturers. All are maker marked “Walker Sign Co.” and are certain to get collector’s engines revving. Lot #5, a round, double sided Oldsmobile Service porcelain sign is estimated at $6,000-10,000. This incredibly fine red, white, blue, and yellow example with a central crest decoration shows near perfect color and gloss throughout. Lot #219, a round Pontiac Authorized Service double sided porcelain sign is estimated at $6,000-9,000. This extremely rare red, white, and blue example is decorated with the profile of an Indian; both sides have incredible color and gloss throughout. And lot #31, a round double sided Dependable Dodge Service porcelain sign is estimated at $3,000-4,500. This black, red, and white example is decorated with an arrow and shows excellent gloss and color throughout the field on both sides.
Early meters, air hoses, and other early service station memorabilia also feature prominently in this sale. It’s easy to get pumped up over lot #83, a red Eco Tireflator Air Meter Model 46, estimated at $7,000-10,000. This excellently restored example lights up when plugged in and has a water nozzle along its backside. It is marked “Service Station Equipment Co. Conshohocken PA USA.” And lot #82, a beautifully restored Air Scale Model JR. Junior with air hose is estimated at $5,000-8,000. All of its striping and “Air” letters are painted – not decals – and its face and brass tags are in excellent condition. It is marked “The Air Scale Co. Toledo OH USA.”
This sale comes full circle with fine examples of neon signs, globes and lenses, as well as hybrid advertising. Lot #96, a Petroleum Products Co. Kansas Made Dog on Good Gasoline globe – illustrated with an irresistible black Scotty dog – is estimated at $12,000-20,000. According to our catalogers and other industry experts, this is possibly the only known true example of this globe in existence. It was found in a Bulk Plant in the 1970’s in Chanute, Kansas and held by one owner since then. Lot #6, a Ford Service porcelain neon arrow sign is estimated at $6,000-12,000. This single side example is housed on a nicely made can and makes an incredible display; its field and lettering are all in excellent condition with great color and gloss. And lot #54, a Coca-Cola Gas Today embossed tin sign with a chalkboard and bottle graphic, is truly the real thing. Estimated at $8,000-12,000, this single sided 1926 tin sign shows little to no wear whatsoever and is maker marked “W.F.R.” According to our catalogers, this best-of-all-worlds piece “is one of the finest examples of this sign we have ever seen.”
According to Dan Morphy, President of Morphy Auctions, “This fantastic sale offers enthusiasts an amazing array of car and gas memorabilia from the most sought after brands. We are again excited and honored to welcome customers from around the world to this sale, which is certain to live up to our well deserved reputation as leaders in these important categories. It is possible that my favorite lot in the sale is the absolutely stunning 1913 Red Crown and Polarine Summer Or Winter tin sign. It’s interesting to see that is decorated with women and steering wheels, given that it was not until the mid-1920s that women drivers in America were a relatively common occurrence. We welcome you to visit our gallery in Denver, PA to view these outstanding items firsthand, or of course check them out online anytime at www.morphyauctions.com.”
About Morphy Auctions:
Morphy Auctions, the finest destination for a fresh to the market collectables is headquartered in Denver, Pennsylvania. The company also has a satellite office in Las Vegas, Nevada. A full-service auction house, Morphy’s presents over 35 premiere auctions annually. The company’s three-part mission includes ensuring consignor satisfaction with every auction, offering world class customer service that goes above and beyond the call of duty, and providing relentless buyer support to create confidence for all clients seeking a trustworthy purchasing experience. Morphy’s team of specialists include the nation’s finest and most recognized experts in popular collectable collecting categories; including advertising, firearms, fine automobiles, automobilia, petroliana, coin operated machines, antiques and decorative arts, dolls, bears, toys and trains, cast iron toys, marbles, jewelry and wrist watches. Morphy Auctions is owned by President and Founder, Dan Morphy, himself a lifelong and passionate collector of antiques, banks, and numerous other categories. Morphy’s has been in business since 2004 and has grown from 2 to over 65 employees in a span of a decade.
Morphy Auctions is located at 2000 North Reading Road, Denver, Pennsylvania 17517 and can be reached by telephone at 877.986.8880, Facsimile at 717.336.7115, or Email at info@morphyauctions.com. Our Denver Auction Gallery is open 7 days a week, Monday through Friday, 9.00 am-4.00 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9.00 am-1.00 pm. Our Las Vegas facility is located at 4520 Arville Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89103 and is open Monday through Friday from 9.00 am-4.00 pm. For more information regarding Morphy Auctions, please visit www.morphyauctions.com.
Media Contact:
Sarah Stoltzfus
Director, Marketing at Morphy Auctions
Sarah.Stoltzfus@morphyauctions.com
877-968-8880 x710
| Lot | Item | Low Est. | High Est. |
| 5 | Oldsmobile Service Porcelain Sign | $6,000 | $10,000 |
| 6 | Ford Service Porcelain Neon Arrow Sign | $6,000 | $12,000 |
| 28 | Vacuum Cup Tires Porcelain Keyhole Sign | $6,000 | $9,000 |
| 29 | Sinclair Aircraft Porcelain Sign | $7,500 | $12,500 |
| 31 | Dependable Dodge Service Porcelain Sign | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| 54 | Coca-Cola Gas Today Embossed Tin Sign | $8,000 | $12,000 |
| 82 | Air Scale Model JR. Junior with Air Hose | $5,000 | $8,000 |
| 83 | Eco Tireflator Air Meter Model 46 | $7,000 | $10,000 |
| 96 | The Petroleum Products Co. Kansas Made Dog on Good Gasoline Globe | $12,000 | $20,000 |
| 123 | Husky Gasoline Service Porcelain Shield Sign | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| 167 | Red Crown & Polarine Summer Or Winter Double Sided Tin Sign | $18,000 | $25,000 |
| 218 | Harbor Petroleum Products Porcelain Sign | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| 219 | Pontiac Authorized Service Porcelain Sign | $6,000 | $9,000 |
| 255 | New Old Stock Racine Tires Tin Flange Sign | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| 317 | United Motors Service Diecut Porcelain Arrow Sign | $5,000 | $8,000 |
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