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

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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Pictorial trays helped Coca-Cola build a powerful soda brand

An original 1897 Coca-Cola tray with painted cola leaves and nuts decorating its rim, achieved $50,000 plus the buyer’s premium in February 2019. Image courtesy of Michaan’s and LiveAuctioneers

NEW YORK – Far and away, Coca-Cola is the world’s bestselling soft drink. The company claims that nearly two billion eight-ounce servings are consumed every day. So, exactly how does a sugary soda dominate all others for more than 100 years? The answer is marketing and then more marketing. Coca-Cola trays were key to building the beverage’s brand.

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Knudsen gas & oil advertising collection anchors Morphy’s Sept. 30-Oct. 3 auction series

One of only two known examples of Husky Motor Oils tin billboard sign with original wood frame, 96in x 60in, 8.5+ condition. Original backing also in outstanding condition. One of the finest examples of graphics in all of gasoline and motor oil advertising. Estimate $75,000-$150,000

DENVER, Pa. – On September 30, Morphy Auctions begin the thrilling year-long adventure of selling the Bobby Knudsen Jr Collection of World-Class Automotive, Gas & Oil and Soda Pop Advertising. The massive personal collection will be offered in a series of three no-reserve auctions concluding in the fall of 2023, with all sales to be conducted live at Morphy Auctions’ gallery in Denver (Lancaster County), Pennsylvania. The September 30, 2022 series opener, devoted exclusively to Knudsen’s collection, will be followed by October 1-3 sessions featuring high-quality automobilia, petroliana and railroadiana from other consignors. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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New book series recaptures ‘Antique Americana,’ one category at a time

Antique Americana: Coin-Operated Devices by Jim Bunte

BLANCO, Texas – In his decades-long career as a writer, magazine editor and digital publisher, Jim Bunte has covered every antiques category imaginable, from early American photographs to old railroad boxcars. He is also a visionary who was way ahead of the curve in spotting how railroad cars might be recycled and reimagined as trendy, affordable housing. But his most recent project looks back in time through a series of light, visually rich, single-topic books published under the aegis of “Antique Americana.”

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Antique soda fountain a sweet attraction at Morphy’s, Aug. 23-25

19th-century soda fountain front and backbar with lighted front fountain and Charles Lippincott 10-position marble soda dispenser; originally in a Helena, Arkansas café that opened in 1888. Size: 161¼in long by 130in high. Estimate $60,000-$100,000
19th-century soda fountain front and backbar with lighted front fountain and Charles Lippincott 10-position marble soda dispenser; originally in a Helena, Arkansas café that opened in 1888. Size: 161¼in long by 130in high. Estimate $60,000-$100,000
19th-century soda fountain front and backbar with lighted front fountain and Charles Lippincott 10-position marble soda dispenser; originally in a Helena, Arkansas cafe that opened in 1888. Size: 161¼in long by 130in high. Estimate $60,000-$100,000

DENVER, Pa. – Just as nightclubs are today’s social hubs, there was a time, more than a century ago, when the local soda fountain or soda shop was where people went for a light meal or wholesome refreshment in a cordial environment. Sometimes a soda fountain – named for the actual device that dispensed carbonated beverages – was found within a larger establishment, such as a drugstore or candy store. Soda fountain memorabilia is pure American nostalgia, and collectors revel in the opportunity to purchase such treasures from a source as esteemed as the Sharyn and Terry Brown collection, which highlights Morphy’s August 23-25 auction series.

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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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