LaCrosse Automobilia Collection Does Well At Meissner's

NEW LEBANON, N.Y.

:For more than 20 years, Connecticut collector Terry LaCrosse scoured the countryside in search of automobilia, advertising items and automobile related toys and trucks. With an assortment of more than 500 pieces, the collector decided the time had come to let go and over the weekend of April 1 and 2, his beloved items found new homes as they were auctioned at Meissner's.

Meissner's normally conducts two specialty auction of this type per year, February and November, but this collection was so good that a third date was added to the firm's schedule.

The sale attracted national attention and hefty prices were paid throughout the weekend. "We got calls from all around the country," stated auctioneer Delores Meissner, "and we had active phone bidders from Canada, Ohio and Florida," she said.

A large standing room only crowd was on hand for the sale with auctioneers Keith and Delores Meissner commenting that preview had been crowded right from the start.

While there was a wide range of materials offered, it was evident that Texaco and Coca-Cola had been the focus of LaCrosse's interests. The auction got off to a quick start with a loose-leaf binder filled with Texaco-related paper materials ranging from early advertising pieces to post cards that went reasonably at $88, followed by a box of lighters with Texaco logos that brought $55.

It was not long before some of the serious items started crossing the auction block and a bidding war erupted as a round leaded glass window insert with the Texaco "star" was offered. The lot opened at $100 and moved back and forth between several in the crowd to the $750 mark. There competition narrowed, although the price continued to escalate with the lot finally selling for $1,430.

An early Sky Chief gas pump that had been restored to like-new condition was another lot to attract serious attention with the pump ultimately bringing $1,870. A rare Smith Miller pressed steel Union 76 tanker truck with its original box was another lot to do well, bringing a surprising $1,540.

The top lot of the sale came as a reconditioned Wurlitzer juke box was offered with serious action from the telephone and the room resulting in a strong price. Prior to opening the 1947 "bubble" model jukebox for bidding, the machine was fired up and a 1940s swing-tune played loudly. Two of the auction galleries' runners danced down the aisle, spinning and dipping, as Keith Meissner asked for an opening bid of $3,000. Bids progressed rapidly with the telephone dropping from the action first. A bidder in the rear of the room bid persistently against a bidder in the front of the gallery, eventually claiming the lot at $7,150.

LaCrosse's collection featured a couple of fun items, including a sofa made from the tail section of a 1955 Chevy. With a chrome bumper, tail lights that worked and a bright red paint job contrasting nicely with the white leather seat cushions, the piece attracted a bevy of bids on its way to a selling price of $3,850.

A couple lots later a 1926 Lusse Brothers bumper car was offered. Fully restored with a flame paint job, the crowd erupted in laughter as Delores Meissner jumped into it, floored it and shot down the aisle.

While not "bumping" anyone or anything, she turned the bumper car around and headed back to the auction block. As a final bid of $5,500 was executed, she once again drove the car down the aisle to the check-out area.

Toys and trucks from the collection included a Smith Miller Coke truck that sold for $495, a Hubley tow truck made $121, two RichToy wooden gas stations sold at $880 and $550, a pressed steel Texaco tanker brought $1,540, and a Richfield pedal car sold at $1,825.

Other items of interest included a Mills slot machine that sold for $2,090, a 1901 oil pump with globe, $577, a sapphire blue seltzer bottle marked "Coke," $357, a Texaco glass oil bottle, $121, a Texaco neon clock, $990, and a spinning barber pole sign realized $660.

Several enameled signs did well with a Coke "Fountain Service" topping the list at $2,310. A Fiske tire sign brought $1,220, a 1952 Farm Lubricants sign fetched $945 and a rare blue oval Coke sign went out at $522.

A cardboard Coke sign with a girl in a boat sold for $440, a Mason's Root Beer bottle cap sign brought $275 and a Nesbitts tin California Orange thermometer realized $275.

A large collection of Texaco dinner service items included a selection of plates, creamers, match holders and cups and saucers, all with the Texaco star logo within a green flag.

Close to 40 pieces were divided up into ten lots and the sold for an accumulative price of $1,190. Individually lots sold for $286 for a pair of creamers, $247 for two egg cups, $192 for seven coffee cups and $77 for a match holder.

Two Coke machines were sold with a 10-cent Coke cooler box style machine selling at $1,760, while a stand-up Coke machine brought $2,090.

"The crowd on Sunday was a little smaller, but they bought," stated Delores Meissner. Top lots from the Sunday session included a Texaco leaded glass globe that sold for $550, a Coke coin changer, $935, a restored Visible gas pump with reproduction Texaco globe, $1,100, a Socony gas pump, $1,155, and a Seeburg selectamatic juke box brought $2,420.

The next auction to take place at the gallery will be April 29, with a general line of antiques offered. A tilt-top checkerboard table, punched tin pie safe, one-drawer blanket box in original paint, an 1890s Victorian cast iron garden set, reverse painted lamps, a selection of oil paintings will be sold.

The Memorial Day sale will be one of Meissner's major auctions of the year and it will feature several special items that the gallery has culled from estates. Highlighting the assortment will be a Queen Anne tavern table, a sampler dated 1799, a large collection of decorated stoneware, assorted Shaker items and an 1820s hand painted box.

Prices include the ten percent buyer's premium that was charged. For further information contact Meissner's at 518-766-5002 or www.meissnersauction.com.