Inman Auctions’ Grand Opening Set for June 11-13 Toy Sale: West Coast Treasures
June 7, 2004
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Home sweet home. That’s what Inman Auctions co-owners Randy Inman and Rick Both must be thinking, now that they’re over the hump with the massive renovation project that has culminated in the company’s wonderful new headquarters at 727 Union Boulevard in Allentown. Formerly an automobile dealership, the 15,000 sq. ft. saleroom, preview gallery, office and storage facility was introduced to the public over the weekend of April 16-17, with Inman’s sale of Antique Advertising & Coin-ops. The soft opening, which drew many approving comments from auction patrons, will be followed by the official grand opening on June 11-13, when Inman Auctions hosts its West Coast Treasures Toy Sale. Internet bidders can participate from anywhere in the world via LiveAuctioneers.com.
The June event will consist of approximately 2,000 lots of premium-quality toys, mostly coming from three major California-based collections. The first collection contains a heavy concentration of early 20th century Lehmann windup character toys, more than 100 in all, some in their original boxes. “This particular group comes from a longtime collector,” said Inman. “There are some very nice examples, such as a boxed Snick Snack – one of the most elusive of all Lehmann toys – an Anxious Bride, and a Tyrus walking dog.” Also included are three Lehmann zeppelins, one of which is boxed; a double-decker omnibus, a Mensa three-wheel cycle, a Vellenda open touring car, and one of Lehmann’s most desirable Chinese character toys, a Kadi.
In addition to the Lehmanns, the same collection has produced a charming Gunthermann merry-go-round, a JEP seaplane, Marklin airplane and Cardina hangar with biplane.
Another important lot is a circa 1900 German-made Vielmetter drawing clown with original box. This toy was considered a mechanical marvel at the time of its production and still fascinates collectors. The clown draws actual pictures according to which of its accompanying templates is inserted inside its base.
The toys coming from the second California collection are of a different nature and timeframe altogether. There are approximately 100 Smith-Miller trucks, almost all of which display some sort of advertising. Among them are a Texaco tank truck, early Coca-Cola delivery truck with original box, Blue Diamond dump truck, Heinz pickle truck and a Mobil tank and tandem truck. Also to be sold are a Fruehauf 18-wheeler, L model Mayflower moving van, B model Garrett tandem truck and Wonder Bread L model delivery truck. Other desirable examples include an L model Mohawk Gas truck, L model Hook and ladder truck, B model car carrier with cars, MIC Mohawk tank truck and many more.
“The conditions of these toys are really beautiful,” said Inman. “Many look brand new and have their original boxes.
The third collection to come to Inman’s June sale from the Golden State comprises more than 200 toy racecars. The owner played no favorites in amassing the collection and bought a wide range of racing toys, from 3in models to large JEP racecars.
Several other excellent collections round out the big June event. From North Carolina comes a major collection of comic character toys, an unusually high percentage of which are mint and boxed. Within the Popeye section are: Linemar’s Popeye Basketball Player, like new with original box; a boxed Popeye and Olive Rooftop Jigger, boxed Popeye Heavy Hitter, boxed Popeye the Champ, boxed Popeye Juggling Olive, and boxed Popeye with Parrot Cages.
“Most of the comic crazy cars that are known to have been manufactured are found in this collection, as well,” said Inman, “like Milton Berle, Mortimer Snerd, Charlie McCarthy, and others. They’re all mint, and some are boxed.”
Other noteworthy pieces within the comic character section include a mint/boxed Disney television car and mint/boxed Marx Hey-Hey Chicken Snatcher. “There are many, many more,” said Inman. “Comic character collectors should have a careful look at this section of the catalog because there are so many really crisp, clean examples. There are almost 200 toys in this collection, and you can tell the owner was very fussy about what was bought.”
Additionally, there will be a strong selection of cast iron automotive toys available, from makers like Arcade, Hubley, Kenton, etc. Within the grouping are an Andy Gump open car, Chevy coupe and Wyman’s delivery van.
Also in the cast iron category is a fine lineup of horsedrawn toys, including two-, three- and four-seat Hubley brakes, with figures.
In keeping with tradition, there will be an abundance of classic pressed steel automotive toys, representing such brands as Buddy ‘L,’ Sturditoy, Steelcraft, Doepke, Tonka and others. A highlight of the section is a Turner Lincoln sedan. “All of the pressed steel toys in the sale are in nice condition, and a lot of it is in exceptional condition,” Inman noted.
More than 50 pedal vehicles from two important collections will be offered. Makes like Gendron, Steelcraft and American National are included, with a range of manufacturing dates that starts in the 1920s and concludes in the 1960s. Some novelty types have been cataloged, such as a pedal airplane.
Rounding out the inventory is a good, solid selection of mechanical and still banks, an assortment of robots and space toys, “a bit of paper litho, some model kits, some Disney toys and games.” A special highlight is an array of early sales catalogs and toy reference books going back to the early 20th century.
Randy Inman Auctions’ West Coast Treasures Toy Sale starts at 5 p.m. EST on Friday, June 11 and 10 a.m. EST on both Saturday, June 12 and Sunday June 13. A fully illustrated catalog can be viewed on the LiveAuctioneers website: www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
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