Morphy’s July 19-20 Automobilia & Petroliana auction crosses finish line at $2.3M

Outstanding Sinclair Aircraft double-sided porcelain service station sign with airplane graphic. Clean, fresh-to-market example. Condition of each side: 9.0 and 8.9+. Sold within estimate range for $62,400

DENVER, Pa. – Led by an enviable array of rare advertising signs, gas pumps, globes and early service station and motoring accessories, Morphy Auctions July 19-20 Automobilia & Petroliana auction attracted bidders from coast to coast and cruised to a grand total of $2.3 million, inclusive of buyer’s premium. Absentee and Internet live bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers. Continue reading

High-octane Automobilia & Petroliana on track for success at Morphy’s, July 19-20

Outstanding Sinclair Aircraft double-sided porcelain service station sign with airplane graphic. Clean, fresh-to-market example. Condition of each side: 9.0 and 8.9+. Estimate $50,000-$100,000

DENVER, Pa. – The demand for rare, high-quality automobilia and petroliana has never been greater, and Morphy Auctions‘ experts have never been more active in their quest to secure superior-quality consignments from long-held collections. The Pennsylvania company’s July 19-20 auction is packed with obscure advertising signs, gas pumps and globes; plus a specialty selection of more than 230 graphic motor oil cans touting such brands as Bisonoil, The Bomber, Skunk Oil, Iroquois and many more. In addition, the 1,000-lot sale features other types of signage, including neon, clocks, and soda pop advertising. Absentee and Internet live bidding is accessible through LiveAuctioneers.

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World records tumbled at Morphy’s $8.1M petroliana auction featuring Knudsen collection

The top lot of the three-day sale was this stunning and rare Wasatch Gasoline 48-inch-diameter porcelain service station sign, which sold for $324,000 against an estimate of $75,000-$150,000. New world-record auction price

 DENVER, Pa. – The energy was palpable at Morphy’s March 21-23 Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana Auction featuring Part II of the incomparable Bobby Knudsen Jr. gas and oil advertising collection. Aggressive bidding sent prices to the Moon, with the four top sellers knocking down nearly $1.1 million. The three-day event containing 1,600 lots from the Knudsen collection plus other select consignments, chalked up a grand total of more than $8.1 million, inclusive of buyer’s premium. Absentee and Internet live bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.

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Morphy’s Mar. 21-23 auction rolls out Part II of Knudsen petroliana collection

Incredible 48in Frontier Gasoline (Denver, Colo.) ‘Rarin’ To Go’ double-sided porcelain sign with image of cowboy on rearing horse. Marked ‘S.P.S.’ and dated 1954. One of only a handful known. Side 1 graded 8.75+; Side 2 graded 8.5. Provenance: Bobby Knudsen Jr. collection. Estimate $50,000-$100,000

DENVER, Pa. – On March 21-23, Morphy’s will continue the exciting year-long adventure of auctioning the Bobby Knudsen Jr Collection of World-Class Automotive, Gas & Oil and Soda Pop Advertising. The series debuted to rave reviews on September 30 of last year and continues this month with Part II of Bobby’s collection anchoring the sale on day one, and additional select consignments following on days two and three. It’s going to be a high-octane event with more than 1,600 lots, enough to ensure that every bidder has a great chance of landing something special from a highly pedigreed source. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

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Stephenson’s recalls Fab ’50s and More with July 29 auction

Seeburg Select-O-Matic 100 High Fidelity Model HF 100R jukebox, plays 45rpm records, 1 play for a dime, 3 plays for a quarter. Comes with original manual and keys. Estimate $1,000-$2,000

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. – On July 29th, Stephenson’s Auctions will return to the days of sock hops, drive-ins and old gold Chevys as they host a colorful 252-lot auction titled Fab ‘50s and More. The sale features a single-owner collection of advertising signs and store displays; boardwalk amusement games, vintage clocks and telephones; cash registers, vending machines, railroadiana, a diner booth, vibrant Fiestaware, and a Dunhill stainless steel soda fountain and related accessories. The saleroom will be filled with not only colorful sights but also the nostalgic sounds of vintage radios, a Bally Mr. and Mrs. Pac-Man pinball machine, and a Seeburg Select-O-Matic jukebox, wall-mount speaker and Wall-o-Matic tabletop music selector.

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Morphy’s rings up $2.4M at Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana Auction

Buick Authorized Valve In Head neon porcelain sign in complete, original condition graded 9.0+ on both of its sides. Sold above estimate for $27,600

DENVER, Pa. – Trains, planes and automobiles were on the minds of bidders who brought their A-game to Morphy’s big March 29-30 Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana auction. The colorful 1,498-lot sale featured rare, fresh-to-the-market examples of signage, gas pumps, globes and other service station equipment from motoring’s golden era. The two-day grand total came to a hefty $2.4 million. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Collectors can fill ‘er up at Morphy March 29-30 Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana Auction

A selection of top lots from the railroadiana to be auctioned during the opening session of Morphy’s March 29-30 auction, including a green-glass D&H Railroad lantern ($1,000-$4,000); single-sided die-cut porcelain MKT Railroad sign ($3,000-$5,000); and one of few known Crosby bronze three-chime factory steam whistles in the 40½-inch size ($2,000-$15,000)

DENVER, Pa. – Ever since the first Model A car rolled off Ford’s assembly line in 1903, America has had a fascination with cars. Now, nearly 120 years later, that attraction has become more of an obsession for the legion of collectors from coast to coast who covet signage, gas pumps, globes and other service station equipment from motoring’s golden era. Morphy Auctions is the destination of choice for hobbyists seeking antiques of exceptional quality, condition and authenticity. They’ll have their next chance to bid and buy on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 29-30 at the central Pennsylvania company’s Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana Auction.

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Morphy Auctions reports blockbuster year with 2021 sales exceeding $50M

Rare and exceptional Mohawk Gasoline circular porcelain neon service station with Native American graphic and original cast-metal mounting stand. Produced in the 1930s for Mohawk Oil Co., Bakersfield, California. 9.0+ condition. Sold at Morphy’s Oct. 3-4, 2021 Automobilia & Petroliana Auction for its high-estimate price of $120,000

DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions is pleased to report a year of unprecedented new-buyer interest and stellar results across all categories in 2021, with gross sales surpassing $50 million.

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Seeburg Select-O-Matic jukebox to perform at Miller & Miller Dec. 4 sale

1956 Seeburg VL200 Select-O-Matic jukebox, est. CA$4,000-$6,000
1956 Seeburg VL200 Select-O-Matic jukebox, est. CA$4,000-$6,000
1956 Seeburg VL200 Select-O-Matic jukebox, est. CA$4,000-$6,000

NEW HAMBURG, Canada – Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. will usher out 2021 with an online-only Petroliana, Advertising Signs & Memorabilia auction on Saturday, December 4, beginning at 9 am Eastern time. The sale will include seldom-seen Canadian soda signs from the 40-year collection of James Burridge and the advertising collection of the late Dave Toccalino. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers. All prices are given in Canadian dollars.

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Mohawk Gas fuels petroliana collectors’ interest

A double-sided Mohawk sign depicting the Native American figure with a drooping feather in his hair brought $70,000 plus the buyer’s premium in October 2016 at Mecum Auctions. Image courtesy of Mecum Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — Back when cars were fairly new, gas stations were few and far between. To attract customers, gas stations touted themselves with bright, colorful signage to serve as a beacon — sometimes literally — to drivers day and night. Vintage gas station memorabilia is highly collectible, and the brands that collectors like most are early examples with striking graphics deployed in the service of now-defunct brands. Mohawk Gasoline certainly fits the bill.

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