VINELAND, N.J. – Sometimes a toy train collection comes to market whose name value is certain to accompany each of its component pieces for generations to come. Just such a collection will be offered to collectors worldwide on April 9th when Bertoia Auctions presents the private collection of Jerry and Nina Greene. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
The couple’s trains, which were purchased over several decades from a variety of sources both in the United States and abroad, have been divided into approximately 700 auction lots. There are European and American train cars, coaches and specialty cars; train stations, specialty train sets in O, 1 and (Bing) 3 gauge. The European train accessories section comprises a virtual auction unto itself.
“Jerry Greene certainly earned his nickname of ‘Mr. Station.’ He has always felt that accessories added the magic to train collecting,” said Bertoia Auctions associate Rich Bertoia.
“When you look at the Greenes’ incredible accessories arranged on two dozen eight-foot-long tables, as they are displayed here at the gallery, you come away with quite an accurate image of what German train stations must have looked like around 1900 or 1910,” Bertoia said. “Most of them are by Marklin, a company that rarely missed any small appointment on their designs. That’s why collectors love their stations so much. If a train station roof had shingles, Marklin would realistically emboss the roof on their toy version. If a station’s base was stone, they would hand-paint the toy station’s base to replicate stone.”
Marklin’s attention to accuracy extended beyond aesthetics. “You can easily imagine why children would have spent hours playing with a layout that had the types of functional accessories Marklin manufactured,” Bertoia said. “The tower switches are electric-powered and operated exactly as real ones would have. The bells ring, the signals work, and the lamps are very realistic, with ornate bases and illuminating glass globes.”
Remarkably, the Greenes were able to locate many fine accessories that survived against all odds through more than a century of energetic play. “Many of them are rather fragile and could have been broken if grabbed the wrong way by a child. It’s no wonder these accessories were so highly prized by Jerry and Nina.”
Among the most valuable accessories are two Marklin productions: a white station with dome and canopy, est. $9,000-$12,000; and an exceptional 14-inch-tall gauge-2 girder bridge similar to examples seen in major reference books. It is expected to make $15,000-$20,000 at auction. An extremely scarce triple-globe electrified lamp could illuminate the auction room with a $6,000-$8,000 winning bid, while several desirable cattle ramps are cataloged with estimates spanning $4,000 to $6,000.
An array of train stations will cross the auction block with estimates ranging from $2,500 to $6,000. An especially attractive station hall that would make an ideal anchor for a Marklin gauge-1 layout measures 28 inches long and carries a $2,500-$3,000 estimate.
With prestigious provenance that includes the legendary Ward Kimball collection, a hand-painted Marklin tunnel features a castle turret, two lamps at the front entrance, fully railed slopes leading to the top, and a semaphore with shed. It will be offered with an $18,000-$22,000 estimate.
A red Marklin locomotive made expressly for FAO Schwarz New York (shown at top) is a great rarity, as the model’s production run was only one year. “It’s possible that it was considered too expensive in its day, or maybe it just wasn’t popular and therefore was discontinued, but for whatever reason, it’s very rare today,” said Bertoia. Estimate: $15,000-$20,000.
Two Marklin “Kaiser” cars, each estimated at $4,000-$5,000, replicate the real-life versions that transported Kaiser Wilhelm II, emperor of Germany. Also, a beautifully hand-painted Marklin gauge-1 veranda car has a $2,000-$3,000 estimate.
A Marklin 0-4-0 Electric Tramway clockwork trolley is hand-painted in red and white, has signboards on its roof, and features full bench seating inside. “Without question, this is one of the top pieces in the collection,” said Bertoia. Estimate: $10,000-$12,000.
Early Bing trains will be rolling through Bertoia’s gallery, as well. An all-hand-painted gauge-3 Jupiter set, ex Ward Kimball collection, consists of a loco and tender with three cars, each measuring 20 inches long. Boasting all original paint, the set is estimated at $30,000-$35,000. Another gauge-3 Bing set consists of a King Edward live-steam loco and tender with three cars. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Many Bing small-scale accessories will be auctioned, including lamps, crossing gates, kiosks, buffets, ticket stands, semaphores, bells and more.
A wonderful selection of American trains includes some of the earliest of Voltamp, Boucher, and Carlisle & Finch productions, as well as other rarities. There are several Knapp & Howard 2-inch trains, Dorfan trains, and an assortment of Ives trains, stations and accessories. Also along for the ride is a small sub-grouping of Lionel and American Flyer trains, stations, tunnels, bridges and other accessories.
Highlights within the American section include: a Knapp traction trolley (shown below), Voltamp United Electric trolley, and 2122 trolley with trailer; Carlisle & Finch summer trolley, Howard locomotive, est. $3,500-$4,500; Boucher 2100 loco/tender, and a variety of bridges and stations for 2-inch layouts.
Being able to examine and catalog the Greene collection has been “an honor and a tremendous amount of fun,” said Bertoia. “We enlisted the help of two seasoned dealer/collectors – Uwe Heinz from Germany and Doug Predeville, a top US train dealer – to do the grading and estimating. They worked six days a week, sometimes for 11 hours a day, to complete their mission. They were meticulous, like surgeons. They tried not to miss a thing, and they never seemed to tire of it.”
The April 9 auction of the Jerry and Nina Greene’s toy trains and accessories will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Bid absentee or live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com.
For additional information on the auction or for a detailed condition report on any piece in the sale, contact Bertoia Auctions, call 856-692-1881 or email toys@bertoiaauctions.com.