This much anticipated, 1100+ lot auction includes the carefully curated Jon Torrence collection, as well as sweeping selections of vintage music machines, advertising, and other fine antiques.

Las Vegas, Nevada, December 20, 2017 – Morphy Auctions, the finest auction destination for fresh to the market collections, is pleased to announce this multi-million dollar Las Vegas Coin-Op and Advertising sales event to be held on Saturday, January 27th and Sunday, January 28, 2018 starting at noon, EST both days.   Both Morphy’s coin-op and advertising divisions enjoy a well-deserved reputation for leadership and hold several world record sales in these important categories. All lots from this auction are on display in Morphy’s Las Vegas auction gallery and available for preview now.

There’s certain to be much friendly competition over this sale’s museum-quality selections of antique arcade machines.

Two extraordinary baseball themed machines from the Torrence collection are the diamonds in this category.  The first is lot #85, a 5¢ Rock-Ola 1937 World Series pinball machine manufactured between 1937-1940.  It just might hit it out of the park with its $40,000-60,000 estimate. Housed in exceptional cabinetry, this fun arcade machine resembles the 1937 World Series and contains 9 figural characters from the 1937 All-Star World Series team. This phenomenal game is thought to be one of the most collectible arcade machines every produced.  The second is lot #193, a 1948 5¢ H.C. Evans Bat-A-Score arcade game, considered by many elite collectors to be the holy grail of early post war machines.  This absolute rarity is estimated at $40,000-60,000, and only five total examples are known. This near pristine version features a curved glass housing cabinet and clean interior field, which contains two animated players- a pitcher and a batter. Unlike most baseball arcade games, the steel ball is not rolled but thrown overhand;  as such, this game is challenging and fun but definitely requires skill.

Next, we are off to the races with lot #9, a circa 1929-1930 5¢ Chester-Pollard Play the Derby horse racing arcade game in immaculate condition.  Estimated at $35,000-50,000 this extremely rare, two-person game requires players to rotate the wheels located on the front of the machine clockwise and as quickly as possible to advance their horse around the track. This visually stunning machine, from the Torrence collection,  is one of fewer than five examples known to exist.  Also of Superbowl status is lot #84, a circa 1935 5¢ A.B.T. All Stars electro-mechanical pinball machine, estimated at $35,000-40,000. This arcade game, from the Torrence collection, features 22, fully dimensional football players evenly distributed between the blue and red teams. The objective of the game is to get one of the balls into position in front of the kicker for it to shoot towards the touchdown hole. This museum quality piece is the only known complete working example in existence.

It’s a safe bet to say that this sale’s selections of antique gaming machines will catch the attention of enthusiasts worldwide!

Four floor models deserve a standing ovation.  The first, lot #473, an early 1900’s 5¢ Caille Centaur Eclipse twin double upright slot machine, is estimated at $75,000-110,000. Housed in a mahogany cabinet, this twice-as-nice example is decorated with a Centaur on one side and an Eclipse on the other, both accepting nickels. The cabinet is adorned with copper flashed castings including claw feet, handles, and two six-way coin heads.  Lot #448, a 1906 25¢ Mills Lone Star musical upright slot machine, is estimated at $40,000-60,000. This superstar example features a beautiful oak finished cabinet with antique copper metal trim, a fixed position color wheel, and a spinning arrow.   Fewer than five examples of this grand machine are known to exist.  Lot #426, a 1904 5¢ Mills Two Bits Chicago musical upright slot machine is estimated at $20,000-30,000.  This model, in excellent, working condition is housed in a very nicely finished oak cabinet.  And lot #403, a 25¢ Mills Dewey Jackpot upright slot machine, just may hit the lottery with its $18,000-25,000 estimate. This all original oak finished machine with antique copper metal trim retains its original 1935-1936 tax stamp on its front glass.

Now pull up a chair and check out this sale’s smaller countertop gambling machine highlights.  Lot #474, a circa 1938 25¢ Watling Cherry front slot machine, is estimated at $7,000-10,000.  This aesthetically gorgeous machine, detailed with an orchard of bright red, dimensional cherries, was correctly and magnificently restored by Fred Debaugh.  And lot #401, a 1926 5¢ Mills Regular O.K. mint vender slot machine, is estimated at $3,500-4,500.  This cast aluminum machine features a side mint vender and is inscribed “Iowa Novelty Co. Cedar Rapids” in large letters at the center of the casting.

Fantastic antique advertising, including signage, displays, clocks, and ephemera, is another exciting category in this two day sales event.  Nothing says happy hour like lot #935, a 24” diameter Buffalo Brewing Co. Bohemian beer charger.   This lithographed tin tray, decorated with an ethereal Victorian woman on a green background, is estimated at $5,000-8,000 and was printed by Beach Art Display, Coshocton, OH.   And it’s a clean sweep with lot #869 a Wyandotte Sanitary Cleaner and Cleanser single sided tin sign, estimated at $2,000-5,000.  This self-framed example, illustrated with a standing Indian in full headdress,  is marked “J.B. Ford Company” at the bottom.

This can’t miss sale rounds out with carefully curated selections of trade stimulators, music and vending machines, soda fountain finds, and other outstanding antiques.  Lot #195, a mid 20th century Coca-Cola neon clock with a fantastic hanging bracket, is estimated at $20,000-40,000. This magnificent, double sided clock features the Coca-Cola logo with two different colored neon lighted tubing encircling the face and is the only example known. And ending on a high note here, lot #196, a working 10¢ Mills Novelty Panoram movie jukebox from the Torrence collection, is estimated at $15,000 – $25,000. Mills Novelty produced these wonderful machines in 1939 through 1940. Patrons would drop a dime into the machine to start the film; up to 20 dimes could be deposited at once for continuous play.

According to Dan Morphy, President of Morphy Auctions, “Our antique advertising and coin-op sales are among my personal favorites – given how rare, visually interesting, and exciting the merchandise always is!  This January sale, which includes highlights from Jon Torrence’s personal collection, is certain to be standing room only, as well as one for the record books.  The Rock-Ola 1937 World Series Pinball Machine and H.C. Evans Bat-A-Score Arcade Game are breathtaking tributes to the sport of baseball.  They would be a perfect fit for The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown! We welcome you to visit our gallery in Las Vegas to view these magnificent items firsthand, or of course check them out online anytime at www.morphyauctions.com.”

About Morphy Auctions:
Morphy Auctions, the finest auction destination for fresh to the market collectibles, is headquartered in Denver, PA. The company also has a satellite office in Las Vegas, NV. A full-service auction house, Morphy’s presents over 35 premier auctions annually. The company’s three-part mission includes ensuring consignor satisfaction with every auction, offering world-class customer service that goes above and beyond the call of duty, and providing relentless buyer support to create confidence for all clients seeking a trustworthy purchasing experience.

Morphy’s team of specialists includes the nation’s finest and most recognized experts in popular collecting categories including advertising; firearms; fine automobiles, automobilia and petroliana; coin-operated machines; antiques, fine, and decorative art; dolls, bears, toys, and trains; cast iron; coins; marbles; jewelry and wrist watches. Morphy Auctions is owned by President and Founder Dan Morphy, himself a lifelong and passionate collector of antiques, banks, and numerous other categories.  Morphy’s has been in business since 2004 and has grown from two to over 65 employees in over a decade.

Morphy Auctions is located at 2000 North Reading Road, Denver, PA 17517.  We can be reached by phone at 877-968-8880 and by email at info@morphyauctions.com.  Our auction gallery is open seven days a week:  Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm.  Our Las Vegas facility is located at 4520 Arville Street, Las Vegas, NV 89103 and is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. For more information on Morphy’s, please visit www.MorphyAuctions.com.

Media Contact:

Sarah Stoltzfus

Director, Marketing at Morphy Auctions

Sarah.Stoltzfus@morphyauctions.com or 877-968-8880 x710

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