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The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 46, NO. 18 FRIDAY MAY 1, 2015
“In May We P l a y ” Bertoia’s Will Celebrate Spring On May 8 And 9 With 1,400 Lots Of Toys And Tr a i n s he list of high-profile collectors who’ve sold their toys at Bertoia’s is a long and impressive one that includes Stan Sax, Donald Kaufman, Dick Claus, Donal Markey, and, most recently, Max Berry—all giants of the antique toy hobby. But sometimes the Bertoia family likes to host an auction that draws from a broad base of collectors with many different interests and specialties. On Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9, just such a sale will take place at Bertoia’s gallery, with approximately 1,400 diverse lots that encompass the categories of cast iron, tin, paper on wood,
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represented, and many are examples that have never been seen before at any Bertoia sales. Highlighting the light pressed steel grouping is part one of the late Bill Moody’s Metalcraft advertising trucks. “Bill was a very wellknown and well-liked collector,” said Bertoia. “He had one of the best Metalcraft collections known.” Within the colorful selection are vans, dump trucks, tow trucks and more. Some exhibit attractive Art Deco styling. The lineup is joined by an abundance of light pressed steel trucks and cars by other manufacturers that collectors pursue, “from Kingsbury to early Daytons and everything in between,” said Bertoia. Additionally, there is an outstanding grouping of early trolleys, both in light pressed steel and tin.
This Batman car with box from Japan, Yanoman, from the 1960s, is a lithographed tin friction auto done in a colorful body pattern featuring a peering Batman at the wheel with movable arms. The hood screen depicts Robin in action against notorious crooked characters, and bat motifs complete detail of the auto body. It is 6 inches long. The bottom of the box has some damage (est. $4,000-$5,000).
pressed steel, mechanical and still banks, comic character toys, early trains and figural cast-iron doorstops. “We wanted to launch into spring with a broadly mixed sale where everyone could find something great for their collection,” said Rich Bertoia, describing the goal behind the event being called “In May We Play.” “Collectors really go for our multiple consignor sales because they’re unpredictable. You don’t know what will come in when you have so many different consignors involved. It’s a chance to dip into many different collections and see the great toys other collectors have found over the years,” said Bertoia. The cast-iron automotive section includes more than 150 vehicles such as autos, buses, farm and work vehicles, as well as numerous toy gas stations, mostly of tin. Both American and European stations are
This General Grant smoker from Ives, patented 1877 by Albert H. Dean, is an extremely rare clockwork example, seated on cast iron chair mounted to wood base concealing intricate mechanism, original clothing, and in working condition. It is 14.25-by-8.75 with a minor tear at the paper collar (est. $10,000$12,000).
After the lighter vehicles have found new homes, it will be time for the big boys, the heavy pressed steel toys, to strut their stuff. One of the highlights is an extremely rare Buddy ‘L’ tugboat. Another prize in the category is a 28-inch tan and red Gendron Stutz. This striking push toy comes with provenance from the Don Kaufman
An Arcade Parmalee yellow cab, cast iron, done in yellow with black roof, nickel grill, license plate, rubber tires, stenciled “Yellow Cab Co.” on sides, is 8 inches long. There are minor scratches to paint (est. $2,500-$3,500).
collection and is known to have in half to expose the entire interior, and spice shop room display, both been one of his favorite pressed- from roofline to fenders. “This is a by Gottschalk, came from the same family collection, noted very exciting model, and steel vehicles. Bertoia. again, it’s Pedal toys will follow, Nearly 250 lots of trains will with several examples that cross the New Jersey gallery’s are already creating a stir, railroad tracks, with most starting with the only known coming
electric-drive Packard pedal car. Red with black fenders, it has a rumble seat and removable canvas top. A beautiful survivor, it was made by American National and probably dates to the 1920s. Another gem is an extremely rare Hispano-Suiza pedal car with a bonnet that lifts to expose a simulated engine. “We were very lucky to get this car, which came to us from a European consignor. You just don’t find pedal cars like this one here in the states,” said Bertoia. The same collector consigned a collection of more than a dozen Hispano-Suiza toy cars, manufactured either in Spain or at the company’s auxiliary factory in France. Each is a handpainted, faithful representation of a real Hispano-Suiza car of the 1920s. One of the cars is 26 inches long and is so rare, it was not even known to Rich Bertoia, who has spent decades in the toy hobby and auction business. “This is a car for connoisseurs because it’s only likely to turn up once in a lifetime,” he remarked. “Because of its size, you have to wonder if maybe it was a dealer display.” Another special piece in the Hispano-Suiza collection definitely was a dealer display and was cut
This HispanoSuiza demonstration model is a rare dealer display model of the luxury Hispano-Suiza sedan. Literally exposed in half for optimum interior view of body frame, these were made in very limited production by the company. It is 21 inches long with scratches at bonnet and some dislodging to the roof frame (est. $5,000-$7,000).
A Marklin “O” gauge Crocodile locomotive, Germany, with Swiss style engine, is a desirable example done in green body, and nickel pantographs on roof. It is ex. Borowski collection and 18 inches long (est. $15,000$20,000).
something for the advanced collector,” said Bertoia. The European nautical category includes both a Marklin ocean liner and battleship, a very
from the late Michael Cann’s collection. A college professor with a keen analytical eye, Cann was especially fond of later Marklin trains. Part one of his railroad (Continued on page 2)
This Buddy “L” red tugboat is a rare example. It is pressed steel, painted in red overall, with railed cabin, decal on funnel, and with searchlight on pilot’s house. This color version has rarely been found; only two are known by Bertoia. These offcolor examples are thought to be salesman’s samples. It is unknown whether mechanism should have been produced for this model, although appears to have internal parts and several broken parts dislodged from interior. It is 27.5 inches long with minor repair at bottom of hull (est. $10,000-$14,000).
nicely detailed Carette battleship, and a fine collection of hand-painted lead ships. Rounding out the fleet are early tin penny toy ships, some dating to the later 19th century and of a type seldom seen in the marketplace. American paperover-wood toys range from ships to arks with animal pairs, one measuring 24 inches long, and unusual Soldier Scissor diecuts on foldThis able wood. clown S o m e a n d v e r y chicks appealskittle, Geri n g many, is an excepSchoenhuts will tional clown figural skittle march across the made of composition and colorfully hand-painted overall. The prone auction block, posed clown holds an original barincluding a single lot bell roller in hands and of rare band members features a paper label on and many Teddy the base. Molding effects Roosevelt Safari figare well detailed, and outfit ures, including Teddy, has extensive multi-coloring overall. natives, a cameraman It is a rare offering from a 50and a few accesyear-old collection that includes sories. Some of the two duck and two chick skittles, one of which was repainted by Schoenhut animals owner. It is 23 inches long. The are glass-eyed, clown shows some age cracks (est. while others have $8,000-$9,000). painted eyes. Highlights in the menagerie The Wood Duck lawn sprininclude a hyena, kler, cast iron, signed “NUYDEA, PAT 53691,” wolf, rabbit and with superb paint colors gazelle. depicting a realistic For those who like male duck, sprinkler detail in diminutive form, nozzles on head and Bertoia’s will offer hose attached at tail, miniature doll furniture, stands 13 inches. In a few dollhouses, and near mint condition, several room displays it is estimated at $5,000-$6,000. and shops. A butcher shop