DENVER, PENN. — Despite the freezing temperatures outside, Morphy’s standing-room-only sales event had collectors hot for petroliana at its January 9–10 auction featuring the Kyle Moore collection. The event boasted 1,180 lots of oil and gas related signs, globes and pumps. Bidding was fast and furious, and included a large number of phone and Internet bids from all over the world.
This Musgo Gasoline sign was the top lot of the sale at $164,700.
Putting the sale in the record books were a Smith-o-Lene Aviation Brand gasoline sign with airplane graphics ($40/60,000) and a Musgo gasoline sign featuring an Indian in full head dress graphics ($60/100,000) that set auction record prices at $134,200 and $164,700 respectively. This sale marked the first time an automobilia and petroliana sign surpassed the six-figure mark at auction.
The Smith-o-Lene Aviation Brand gasoline sign achieved $134,200.
The selection of car-themed signs really towed the line. Those featuring tires seemed to be the wheel-deal with collectors, including a Converse Tires “A Mileage Masterpiece” sign ($8/12,000) that realized $20,740, a Norwalk Tires “8000 Miles” sign going just above high estimate at $34,160 and a Pullman Agency sign for $21,960.
Also popular were signs featuring characters and faces. A rare mounted Oilzum Motor Oils sign featuring a man in a hat ($30/50,000) caught the eye of a lucky bidder and went on to realize $75,640. Other highlights included a Mohawk Gasoline porcelain sign featuring an Indian that sold within estimate at $46,360; and a Nourse Guaranteed Motor Oil Viking sign more than doubling high estimate at $45,750.
Other sign highlights included a lighthouse shaped Beacon Ethyl Gasoline sign at $85,400 and a Texaco Gas Oil internally lit can sign performed well at $80,520. Each bringing $36,600 were a Gillette Tires “A Bear for Wear” flange sign and a Bruinoil Bruin Gasoline tin flange sign.
A Beacon Ethyl Gasoline sign fetched $85,400.
Among choice globes and lenses were Rainbow Gasoline Tru-Test Motor Oil lenses that hit $18,910, Sunset Gasoline lenses doubling high estimate to earn $31,720, a Hi-Fly Green Gas lens, having plane graphics, more than tripled low estimate to hit $35,380 and a Texaco Motor Oil & Gasoline Fat Globe Body fetched $23,180.
Oil cans and pumps were also key categories, and standouts included a Sinclair Opaline Motor Oil can featuring early graphics for $7,320 and a Tokheim Model #36 ADC showcase computing pump going for $32,940.
According to Dan Morphy, president of Morphy Auctions, “This second of four oil and gas sales events featuring the spectacular Kyle Moore collection once again produced extremely impressive sales results, with many new enthusiasts participating in the bidding. Everyone in attendance seemed to be having such a good time, with the event becoming as much a social event as an auction. We look forward to presenting the third installment from the Moore collection at our upcoming two-day Petroliana/Automobilia sales event on April 23–24.”
For additional information, www.morphyauctions.com or 717-335-3435.
