Tag Archive for: Machine Man

Famed antique toy, bank & Christmas collections unite at Bertoia’s, Nov. 17-18

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Boxed Yonezawa Atom Jet Racer, est. $20,000-$30,000

VINELAND, N.J. – Those who were immersed in the toy-collecting hobby as far back as the 1970s, ’80s or early ’90s – a golden era for toy buying – have fond memories of that time and often can recall exactly where and when they acquired certain prized pieces for their collections. The fun was not just in the acquisition of the toys, but also the friendships that developed. That sentiment certainly applies to the individuals whose blue-chip collections are featured in Bertoia’s November 17-18, 2022 Annual Fall Auction, which welcomes absentee and Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.

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Meet Ozzie Bilotta, whose vintage toys are off to a new Florida museum

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Super-collector Ozzie Bilotta with some of his prized robots, space toys and movie posters, which will be on display at The Bilotta Collection, a soon-to-be-opened museum in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Image courtesy of Ozzie Bilotta

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Ozzie Bilotta collects rare vintage toys and is set to open a museum of vintage toys, arcade machines and related memorabilia called The Bilotta Collection. It will open this fall from a purpose-designed venue in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

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Robots and space guns were unstoppable at Morphy’s $1.5M toy auction

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From Masudaya’s (Japan) famed Gang of Five robot series, a circa-1960 Machine Man Robot accompanied by original graphic box with inserts. One of very few known examples, it was discovered in the attic of the original owner’s home. Sold near the top of its estimate range for $84,000

DENVER, Pa. – It was playday but it was also payday for those hoping to acquire rare robots and space guns at Morphy’s August 9-10 Toys & Collectibles Auction. The sale took in $1.5 million, with big-ticket items that included a boxed Machine Man Robot, a whimsical Electroman Robot, and an Italian robot-man gumball machine that prompted ferocious bidding before landing at six times its high estimate. Absentee and Internet live bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.

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Morphy’s Aug. 9-10 toy auction a bonanza of rare robots, space toys, banks, high-grade comics

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Extremely rare S.Y. (Japan) battery-operated Electroman Robot. Bump-and-go action. Fresh to the market from a European collection. Estimate $50,000-$100,000

DENVER, Pa. – Many a great toy and bank collection is highlighted by rarities acquired from Morphy’s, which still holds the world record for the highest-grossing one-day toy auction of all time. Many would recall the record-setting event: Morphy’s 2007 sale of the legendary Stephen and Marilyn Steckbeck bank collection, which drew national TV crews to the Pennsylvania gallery and knocked down an astonishing $7.7 million.

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Mickey & Minnie Mouse motorcycle sells for a staggering $222K at Bertoia’s

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Circa-1932 Tippco (Germany) Mickey and Minnie Mouse motorcycle, tin wind-up, 9in long. Provenance: Donald Kaufman collection, Doug and Pat Wengel collection. Sold for $222,000, a world auction record for any Disney toy, against an estimate of $25,000-$45,000

VINELAND, N.J. – One of the most exciting events ever to be held at Bertoia Auctions’ New Jersey gallery took place on March 11-12 with the sale of the spectacular Monique Knowlton antique toy collection. The globally publicized auction of mostly 20th-century European, American and Japanese toys kept collectors riveted as examples with stellar provenance commanded unheard-of prices. After the hammer fell on the last of 628 lots, Bertoia’s president and principal auctioneer Michael Bertoia confirmed to the media that the single-owner collection had achieved a grand total of $2.16 million, inclusive of 20% buyer’s premium. Absentee and Internet live bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.

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Bertoia’s to auction top model’s phenomenal antique toy collection, March 11-12

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Boxed Lehmann (Germany) ‘Mandarin’ wind-up toy. Estimate $4,000-$7,000

VINELAND, N.J. – On March 11 and 12, Bertoia’s will auction, without reserve, the Monique Knowlton antique toy collection, a spectacular assemblage of comic character, German automotive, American toys, and out-of-this-world Japanese robots and space toys. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

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