Auction Details

Coin-Op & Advertising – Las Vegas

Auction Address: 4520 Arville St. #1, Las Vegas, NV 89103

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Morphy’s Oct. 16-18 Vegas Coin-op & Antique Advertising Auction cashes out at a robust $3M

Highlights: Extremely rare circa-1911 Mills 5¢ Totem gum-vending floor model token trade stimulator, $147,600; 1906 Victor ‘Square Deal’ music machine, $54,120; Deluxe Violano-Virtuoso, $46,740

LAS VEGAS – There was nothing artificial about the intelligence behind coin-op machines of the early 20th century. The ingenious mechanisms inside those omnipresent devices of their day – whether gambling, music or vending machines – were hailed as marvels of engineering a century ago, and still are. At Morphy’s October 16-18 auction in Las Vegas, that point was amply validated as a fresh crop of expertly-curated coin-ops, together with a choice selection of antique advertising, commanded a sale total in excess of $3 million.

An extremely rare circa-1911 Mills 5¢ Totem token trade stimulator lived up to predictions that it would finish as top lot of the day. Its imaginative design included three arrows that spin individually in two directions and stop at Native American symbols reverse-painted on front glass, with a wheel flanked by detailed totem poles in the casting. It retained its original Mills decals, as well as all of its original interior components and Yale locks. In VG-Excellent condition and in perfect working order, it was possibly the only surviving example of a gum-vending floor-model version of the Totem. Bid to the midpoint of its estimate, it retired at $147,600.

 

A rare and wonderful example of a hard-to-find upright slot, a 1906 Victor Novelty Works “Square Deal” machine featured brightly-colored glue-chip front glass, highly decorative hand carvings and ornate nickel castings, with a beautiful musical accompaniment. A fresh-to-the-market all-original machine, including the castings, wheel, back door and music box, it rose to the upper end of its estimate range, achieving $54,120.

A true American classic, a circa-1920 Mills Novelty Co., 5¢ Deluxe Violano-Virtuoso music machine included two violins that played masterfully and simultaneously. The Violano-Virtuoso was such an engineering marvel, the US Government even designated it as one of the greatest scientific inventions of its age. The auction example was housed in a stunning Brazilian mahogany cabinet, and its interior works had undergone a 36-month restoration that spared no detail, including the rebuilding of the mechanical systems and restoration of the violins. In flawless condition and accompanied by six music rolls, it sold within estimate, for $46,740.

Collectors were California dreamin’ as they bid on the two top-selling advertising lots, since both represented early breweries in the Golden State. A California Brewing Co. (San Francisco), five-color reverse-painted on glass beer advertising sign with a wonderful graphic of a California bear. Gold-leaf lettering was noteworthy for its rich, bright colors and exceptional artistic detail. Retaining its original oval frame with original wood backing, the 16¼-inch by 20-inch sign was graded a strong condition 9.0. Estimated at $15,000-$30,000, it brewed up a winning bid of $36,900.

A reverse-on-glass circular sign for Napa City (Calif.) Brewery Beer advertised the company’s “Hop & Malt Beer” and was maker-marked for Dawes Mfg. Co., Pittsburgh. A pre-Prohibition production (circa 1890s-1910s), it boasted beautiful colors, gold-leaf lettering, and its original gilt gesso frame. Measuring 19¾ inches in diameter and assessed a condition: 9.0, it sold for $30,750 against a $12,000-$24,000 estimate.

An Oliver Chilled Plow Works (South Bend, Ind.) single-sided, self-framed, embossed tin sign was adorned with a scene that exemplified America’s growing mercantile sector at the turn of the 20th century. The graphic depicted a customer on horseback being shown an actual plow in front of a general store. Graded condition 8.0, the 28¾-inch by 27¾-inch sign sold for $19,680 against an estimate of $6,000-$12,000.

One of the most visually stunning Wurlitzer jukeboxes is the Model 850 “Peacock,” made circa 1941. The example offered by Morphy’s, with its multi-coin grinder and original plastics, was capable of accepting nickels, dimes and quarters. With a tight veneer and showing only light wear, it was in fine working order. Although in need of some maintenance, it illuminated nicely and was assessed to be in VG condition. Fresh to the market, it sold above the high estimate, for $20,910.

Sometimes an auction item just has “the look” that collectors can’t resist. That was the case with a circa-1950 O D Jennings $1 “Gold Nugget Chief” slot machine that turned out to be the auction’s “sleeper.” Its visually-stunning bronze and peacock blue façade with bright accent colors was enhanced with bas-relief nickel appliques of a Native American chief in profile and two female nudes hoisting gold nuggets above their heads. Although it was in need of maintenance, cleaning and lubrication after having spent many years undisturbed in cold storage, the unit’s potential certainly did not go unnoticed. It was bid competitively to an astounding $17,220 against an estimate of $600-$1,200.

Another lot that flew past its catalog estimate was a circa-1904 1¢ Mills Novelty Co., Cupid’s Post Office fortune teller penny arcade machine. Fully operational in a refinished cabinet with its correct Cupid figure, new plating, and an assortment of “mail” and fortune cards to be dispensed to patrons, it sold for $15,990 against a $3,000-$6,000 estimate.

Historically important, an original 1923 Lusse (Philadelphia) two-passenger bumper car had originally been displayed in the company’s factory showroom display. All-original and unmodified, the auto scooter was in fine working order and conveyed to its new owner with original literature, including a scooter booklet, Lusse catalogs, photos of Lusse’s 1923 crew and scooters in action; and more. It sold within estimate, for $22,140.

To discuss consigning to a future Coin-Op & Antique Advertising Auction at Morphy’s, please call Dan Morphy tollfree at 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. There is never an obligation to consign, and all enquiries are kept strictly confidential. Visit Morphy’s online at www.morphyauctions.com.

All prices quoted in this report are inclusive of 23% buyer’s premium.

 

CAPTIONS:

All images courtesy of Morphy Auctions

2011 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/CALIFORNIA_BREWING_CO__REVERSE_GLASS_BEER_ADVERTIS-LOT649435.aspx

California Brewing Co. (San Francisco), five-color reverse-painted on glass beer advertising sign with wonderful graphic of California bear. Gold-leaf lettering. Bright colors, exceptional artistic detail. Original oval frame with original wood backing. Size: 16¼in x 20in. Condition: 9.0. Estimated at $15,000-$30,000, it sold for $36,900.

2012 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/NAPA_CITY_BREWERY_SIGN-LOT649436.aspx

Reverse-on-glass circular sign for Napa City (Calif.) Brewery Beer advertising the company’s ‘Hop & Malt Beer.’ Maker-marked for Dawes Mfg. Co., Pittsburgh. Pre-Prohibition manufacture, circa 1890s-1910s. Rich colors, gold-leaf lettering, original gilt gesso frame. Diameter: 19¾in. Condition: 9.0. Sold for $30,750 against a $12,000-$24,000 estimate

2292 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/OLIVER_CHILLED_PLOW_WORKS_SIGN_W__HORSE_GRAPHIC-LOT642506.aspx

Oliver Chilled Plow Works single-sided, self-framed, embossed tin sign with graphic of customer on horse viewing plow in front of general store. Size: 28¾in x 27¾in. Condition: 8.0. Estimated at $6,000-$12,000, it sold for $19,680.

 

3079 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/1923_ORIGINAL__LUSSE__BUMPER_CAR-LOT647695.aspx

Original 1923 Lusse (Philadelphia) two-passenger bumper car from the company’s factory showroom display. All-original, unmodified auto scooter in fine working order conveyed to new owner with original literature, including scooter booklet, Lusse catalogs, photos of Lusse’s 1923 crew and scooters in action; and more. Sold within estimate, for $22,140

3160 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/5__EXTREMELY_RARE_MILLS_TOTEM_UPRIGHT_GUM_VENDER_T-LOT649437.aspx

Extremely rare circa-1911 Mills 5¢ Totem token trade stimulator with three arrows that spin in two directions and stop individually at Native American symbols reverse-painted on front glass. Wheel flanked by detailed totem poles in casting. Original Mills decals; all original components and Yale locks present. VG-Excellent condition in perfect working order. Possibly the only surviving example of a gum-vending floor-model version of the Totem. It sold at the midpoint of its estimate, for $147,600, making it the auction’s top lot.

3229 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/1__MILLS_NOVELTY_CO__CUPID_S_POST_OFFICE_FORTUNE_T-LOT648516.aspx

Circa-1904 1¢ Mills Novelty Co., Cupid’s Post Office fortune teller penny arcade machine, operational, with refinished cabinet and Cupid figure, new plating, with an assortment of ‘mail’ and small supply of fortune cards to be dispensed to patrons. Sold for $15,990 against a $3,000-$6,000 estimate

3245 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/5__10__25__WURLITZER_MODEL_850__PEACOCK__JUKEBOX_-LOT648491.aspx

Circa-1941 Wurlitzer (Chicago) Model 850 ‘Peacock’ jukebox with multi-coin grinder and original plastics. Tight veneer, only light wear. In fine working order and capable of correctly accepting nickels, dimes and quarters. Although in need of some maintenance, it illuminated nicely and was assessed to be in VG condition. Fresh to the market, it sold above its high estimate, for $20,910.

3253 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/5__MILLS_NOVELTY_COMPANY_DELUXE_VIOLANO_VIRTUOSO-LOT639779.aspx

Circa-1920 Mills Novelty Co., 5¢ Deluxe Violano-Virtuoso music machine with two violins. Stunning Brazilian mahogany cabinet. Unit underwent a 36-month restoration that spared no detail, including rebuilding of the mechanical systems and restoration of the violins. US Government named the Violano-Virtuoso one of the greatest scientific inventions of its age. Flawless and accompanied by six music rolls, it sold within its estimate range, for $46,740.

3285 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_1_JENNINGS_GOLD_NUGGET_CHIEF_SLOT_MACHINE-LOT647361.aspx

Circa-1950 O.D. Jennings $1 ‘Gold Nugget Chief’ slot machine. Visually stunning bronze and peacock blue façade with bright accent colors and a motif that incorporates bas-relief nickel appliques of a Native American chief in profile and two female nudes hoisting gold nuggets above their heads. Although in need of maintenance and cleaning due to its many years in undisturbed cold storage, the unit still realized an astounding $17,220 against an estimate of $600-$1,200.

3296 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/5__THE_VICTOR__SQUARE_DEAL__MUSICAL_UPRIGHT_SLOT_M-LOT648515.aspx

Rare 1906 Victor Novelty Works ‘Square Deal’ musical upright slot machine with brightly-colored glue-chip front glass, highly decorative hand carvings, ornate nickel castings and beautiful musical accompaniment. Wonderful fresh-to-market original machine with original castings, wheel, back door and music box. Sold at upper end of estimate range, for $54,120.