PHILA., Pa. – Stephenson’s Auctioneers, estate specialists based in Bucks County (suburban Philadelphia), Pa., will open its doors to welcome toy and train collectors on Friday, May 8, as it presents the John Dieterly collection, Part I. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
A vast assemblage formed over a 35-year period, the Dieterly toys filled countless shelves and cabinets in the consignor’s spacious four-story home in Montgomery County.
“It’s such a fascinating assortment of toys, bidders will want to take their time and look at everything. Mr. Dieterly bought from many sources over the years, and as a result, there are some very good trains and toys of all types in his collection,” said Cindy Stephenson, owner of Stephenson’s Auctioneers.
In all, 400-500 lots will be offered. The sale will begin with a separate consignment of 150+ lots of dolls, including a nice selection of German bisque-head types. There are many Armand Marseille dolls: two No. 341s, a No. 560A, 351, 390 and 370; as well as Our Ann, Floradora and Kiddiejoy. The doll list also includes a Georgene Averill Bonnie Babe, Kammer & Reinhardt No. 126, Hertel, Schwab & Co. 151; Handwerck No. 119 and 108; and J.D. Kestner No. 249 and 171. There are two Alt, Beck & Gottschalk dolls – a No. 1123 and a 698 with turned bisque shoulder head. A Heubach Koppelsdorf No. 275, Gebr. Heubach No. 8192, several Ginnys, and composition and wax dolls complete the doll category.
The tin toys in John Dieterly’s collection represent some of the most popular brands in the history of American, German and Japanese toy production. A boy on sled is offered alongside other forms of toy transportation manufactured in Dayton, Ohio, including tin friction cars and an armored car. There are numerous amusement park and novelty toys, including boxed examples of J. Chein’s Mechanical Rocket Ride and Playland Merry Go Round; two Marx Busy Bridges, and several Unique Art favorites: a Lincoln Tunnel, Sky Rangers (boxed), Li’l Abner Dogpatch Band and Jazzbo Jim.
The unmistakable colors and clever actions of Marx toys are typified in three toys in particular: a Sunnyside Service Station, Wonder Cyclist, and Joe Penner and His Duck Goo Goo. Marx competitor Ferdinand Strauss produced the Alabama Jigger and a Timber King No. 112 wind-up truck with pressed-steel bed and cargo load of timber logs.
A tin wind-up boat carousel exhibits the charm and workmanship of early German windups, as does a Distler tin-litho Monkeys on Seesaw.
Pressed steel collectors will find the choices much to their liking, starting with a Kelmet Big Boy fire ladder truck, two Keystone water tower trucks, a Little Giant Zeppelin, and Marx Siren Fire Chief car. The selection continues with a Schieble coupe roadster, a Model Toys Jaeger concrete mixer, and Barber Greene bucket loader. Following right along will be a Smith-Miller Silver Streak truck, Keystone express truck, and several Buddy ‘L’ trucks: a Sit N Ride, Fast Freight, and Express Line model. Also from the famed Moline, Illinois manufacturer Buddy ‘L’ comes a Model T flivver coupe.
In the cast iron section, there are horse-drawn carriages, tractors, and a fire pumper; and a sub-collection of toy cannons. Five Arcade vehicles include a touring car, a Model A coupe, cars No. 116 and 113; a Fordson tractor and a contractor’s dump wagon. Dieterly’s Hubley Indian police motorcycle with sidecar retains both the driver and passenger figures, and teams up nicely with another consignor’s Indian bike in red with driver figure intact. Another nice addition is the Kilgore cast-iron Travel Air Mystery Plane.
The railway station will be operating full steam at Stephenson’s, as a broad array of primarily American trains is presented, both from Dieterly’s and other advanced collections. Highlights include two Ives train sets in original boxes, a set of cast-iron trains, and many examples by Lionel, such as an Electric Train Set No. 8 (boxed) and a Rapid Transit motor and dummy. Among the later productions are trains by Lionel, Williams, K-Line and Rail King, many of them in their original boxes. There are several coveted ride-on trains in the sale, led by a Buddy ‘L’ Outdoor Railroad engine, caboose and track; an additional Outdoor Railroad engine, Marx’s Lightning Express loco, and Keystone Railroad loco and passenger car.
Stephenson’s Friday, May 8, 2015 Toy, Doll & Train gallery auction will begin with dolls at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. Note: John Dieterly’s toy collection will be introduced at 2 p.m. Bid absentee or live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers. For additional information on any lot in the sale, call Cindy Stephenson at 215-322-6182 or e-mail info@stephensonsauction.com. Visit Stephenson’s Auctioneers online at www.stephensonsauction.com.
