Mickey And Minnie Roar Off At $55,000

The Rare Fun auction, a two-day sale packed, accordingly, with lots of fun and rare toys, took place before a full house at Bertoia's over the weekend of April 29. The auction delivered some exciting new finds for collectors and the trade with an auction total reaching an impressive $2 million.

From the moment auctioneer Tim Luke hammered down the first lot, an Acrobat mechanical bank selling well above the $200/300 presale estimate at $1,045, to the final lot, a Railway Express pressed steel truck also exceeding estimates at $2,475, the action on the floor was at a peak level.

Rich and Jeanne Bertoia, coordinator and proprietor of the gallery, were "ecstatic with the results" and remarked about the "enthusiasm" displayed by the large number of collectors that participated in the auction.

Items for the Rare Fun sale came by way of three well known collections including Ray Burgess of Michigan, the late Arnie Hed of Minnesota, and Mel Feldman of New Jersey. Categories ranged in prominence from Mel Feldman's Mickey Mouse collection, to Arnie Hed's cast iron toys, to Ray Burgess' pressed steel collection.

Leading the auction was a tin litho Mickey and Minnie on Motorcycle by Tipp & Co. The rare piece had come from the Feldman collection and attracted bidders from around the world. In excellent condition with "striking colors" this toy was termed by the gallery as "arguably the most rare and desirable of all the Disney" tin litho toys. Estimated at $30/40,000, bidding on the rare lot shot past estimates selling for $55,000, including the ten percent buyer's premium.

Other Disney comic toys included exceedingly rare Mickey slate dancer selling at $14,300, a Distler Mickey walker at $14,000, a Mickey Mouse humming top toy with box at $3,850, and a Mickey running on Pluto celluloid toy with box finished at $4,950.

Comic character toys, also a favorite of Mr. Feldmans, demonstrated strong action with Blondie's Jalopy selling at $8,250, Dagwood the Driver with box $4,125, Uncle Wiggly Crazy Car $3,300, Howdy Doody Clock-A-Doodle with box $3,300, Smoking Popeye with box $4,950, Popeye Overhead Puncher $6,050, and Shadow Boxer at $4,125.

The cast iron auto market also proved popular with the Ray Burgess grouping bringing premium prices. Notable lots included a Hubley Packard "straight eight" sedan that sold for an impressive $24,200, and a 1927 Buick coupe in 8 1/2 inch size for $4,400.

Demand for quality was again recognized as a large Borden's Ice Cream Truck hammered down at $8,800, just before a red and black White truck stopped at $6,600, and an American Oil Co. truck by Dent realized $7,150.

Arcade, well represented in the collection, captured it's own headlines with a large White Moving Van at $8,250, a boxed set of small trucks at $4,400, and two Reo Coupes in varied colors each bringing $3,575.

Mechanical banks included a mule entering barn selling at $7,700, clown on globe $9,350, bull dog savings bank $8,250, and an Uncle Sam mechanical bank at $6,050.

Cast iron toys included a Hubley spider phaeton that sold for $3,575, a Dent three-horse transfer wagon at $3,850, and a horseless carriage brought $6,050.

The sale also featured some choice and highly collectible Buddy L, Structo, Sturditoy, Kelmite, and Keystone pressed steel trucks. Doored trucks were but a few of the special Buddy L's offered and the Red Baby did well selling at $17,600. The coal model in black was another of the favorites from the selection of doored trucks selling at $12,100. Others included an ice truck that was knocked down at $8,250, and an Express truck at $6,050.

The popular white ambulance, made by Sturditoy was offered neared the end of the sale, yet bidding remained strong with a price of $10,450 achieved. A few lots after that the elusive red Buddy L tugboat was hammered down well above estimates at $30, 800.

Other toys sold included a Wilkens mower at $1,870, a Welker Crosby 15 inch surrey brought $3,850, and the ever-popular Royal circus giraffe reached $8,250.

One of the European tin highlights was an Air Travel carousel, complete with hot air balloons and airplanes that sold for $5,500, while an amazing large scale Ferris Wheel attributed to German makers took sold for $9,350. Early American tin toys included a girl skipping rope toy at $6,050, old aunt Chloe for $5,225, and an Ives mechanical cake walk dancers, with repainted base but strong figures, sold at $5,225.

Bertoia's had become known over the years for their quality doorstops, once again weighty prices were achieved. A full figured honey bear was the top lot selling for $8,250, while a similarly scaled Pekinese full figured example realized $1,870.

Bertoia now readies for a three-day auction scheduled for November 18 - 20, which includes European autos, boats, early paper on wood toys, a mix of quality toys, and a large collection of mechanicals and still banks. Also to be sold will be part two of the Mel Feldmans collection of Disney, and Bernard Kuehnle's collection of trains.

For more information, the gallery can be reached at 856-692-1881, www.BertoiaAuctions.com.