Coin-op machines to entertain Miller & Miller bidders Sept. 19

NEW HAMBURG, Ontario – An online-only auction dedicated in large part to music machines, coin-ops and advertising will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, by Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd. The 632-lot auction will start at 9 a.m. Eastern time. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

Other categories include signs, gas station collectibles, automobilia, breweriana, historical objects, general store and toys. Many of the items are Canadian in origin.

A few expected top lots include an early 1900s Seeburg Style “G” orchestrion (above), a coin-operated mechanical masterpiece (est. $20,000-$30,000); a 27-inch orchestral Regina upright music box, also coin-operated and made in 1898 (est. $8,000-$10,000); and a 1950s Shell Tokheim double gasoline pump, fully restored (est. $8,000-$10,000). All prices quoted are in Canadian dollars.

The Seeburg Style “G” orchestrion is the expected top lot of the auction. The player piano melody is backed by a tightly packed orchestra of bass and snare drums, two ranks of flute pipes, a mandolin feature, cymbal and triangle. Measuring 66 inches tall by 79 inches wide, the unit retains the correct torch mosaic leaded art glass doors and comes with 13 “G” rolls.

The 27-inch orchestral Regina upright music box is a marvelous machine, originally rented as a coin-consuming investment to shrewd bar owners as a money-maker that also provided fun entertainment, a way to divert patrons from neighboring establishments. The music box is tagged “Orchestral Regina” to the frieze board and comes with 29 discs.

The Shell Tokheim 300 double gas pump is a true beacon of prosperity from the golden age of the motoring. This iconically designed pump makes the same glowing statement as the cars of the era. It was the recipient of a master restoration and measures 58 inches tall by 34 inches wide by 16 inches deep.

Machines that play music, many of them from the Vinen and Winkler collections, are plentiful and will include the following. All four carry estimates of $4,000-$6,000.

– A coin-operated Coinola “CX” Nickelodeon, made in America in the 1920s, boasting a piano, mandolin and xylophone; marked “Coinola” inner key cover.

– A George Baker & Co. cylinder music box, Swiss, manufactured in 1892, a rare variant featuring the harmony of drum with six bells; restored, with five cylinders.

– A Wurlitzer Model 1015 jukebox, made in America in 1946, the most identifiable jukebox ever produced, with a curated library of 78 rpm records with title cards.

– An American Berliner trademark model A gramophone, made in the US circa 1897, with quarter-sawn oak case, early motor, two-weight governor and side brake.

The Berliner trademark A gramophone is among 32 Berliners offered in this sale as part of the Jack Winkler collection. The collection boasts the most comprehensive offering of Berliner gramophones ever offered in Canada.

A two-sided 1930s porcelain Ford sign made for the Canadian market, untouched and original, 27 ¾ inches by 18 inches, should bring $3,000-$5,000; while a circa 1890 high-wheel bicycle made in Canada, marked “The Goold Bicycle Company Ltd., Branford, Ont.”, sporting a 54-inch diameter front wheel, is expected to sell for $4,000-$6,000.

A 1940s Canadian two-sided, three-piece ensemble sign for IGA Super Market in a painted blue frame, 80 inches by 72 inches, a classic 20th century grocery sign, should realize $4,000-$6,000; and a Canadian 1920s tin litho sign for Mother Hubbard Shoes, 60 inches by 30 inches in the original wood frame, has an estimate of $3,500-$5,000.

An early 1900s Holcomb & Hoke (Indianapolis, Ind.) Butter-Kist popcorn machine in a walnut case, a floor model variation with assorted related ephemera, should hit $4,000-$6,000. Also, an early O-Pee-Chee chewing gum vending machine, made in Canada around 1915, with a porcelain face and wood case, is estimated to fetch $3,500-$5,000.

A Canadian circa 1880s carved wood advertising figure of a pharaoh in early overpaint, its arms extended to present chocolate samples and cigars to passersby, should achieve $4,000-$6,000; and a sheepskin jacket that Rompin’ Ronnie Hawkins custom-ordered and wore during his 1981/2 television debut “Honky Tonk”, featuring a hand-tooled hawk on reverse, is estimated at $2,000-$3,000.

The auction coincides with Miller & Miller’s announcement of exciting new updates to its online auction platform. “We’re committed to delivering a simple, safe and dependable online bidding experience,” said Ethan Miller of Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. “We’re continually investing in our digital platform to provide quality service and capability to enhance the user experience.”

For details contact Miller & Miller Auctions at 519-573-3710 or 519-716-5606 or info@millerandmillerauctions.com.

 

View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/