Milestone Auctions – Elmer’s Toy Auction #1
SATURDAY OCTOBER 28, 2023 at 10:00am
www.milestoneauctions.com
38198 Willoughby Parkway Willoughby, Ohio 44094

WILLOUGHBY, OHIO — Just about everyone in the antique toy hobby knew about “Elmer’s place.” Formally known as Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum, the one-of-a-kind haven for vehicles and automotive toys of all types was almost as legendary as Elmer himself, who passed away in 2019 at age 79. Now, with the blessing of Duellman’s heirs, Milestone Auctions is auctioning the vast collection of antique and vintage toys that Elmer displayed at his Fountain City, Wis., museum.

The multi-year series of quarterly sales will debut on October 28 at Milestone’s Willoughby gallery, with all forms of remote bidding available, including live via the Internet through a choice of online-bidding platforms.

“It’s impossible to describe how comprehensive Elmer’s collection is. He had a head start on all of us,” said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auctions. “As far back as the 1980s, Elmer was buying and selling at a rapid pace and had a small army of pickers from coast to coast who were always on the lookout for items of interest.” Duellman was also known for his encyclopedic knowledge of toys. He authored two volumes of the now-classic Elmer’s Price Guide to Toys and contributed significantly to Volumes 1 through 5 of the Evolution of the Pedal Car books.

Duellman’s museum opened in 1994 and operated for 28 years. Inside and around five barns and sheds, visitors could view a mind-blowing array of more than 100 cars, 175 motorcycles, 800 pedal cars, 250 bicycles, advertising signs and a staggering collection of antique and vintage toys of all types.

Elmer’s son Les Duellman recalled: “Dad collected a lot of pressed steel toys and a lot of tin — Japanese, German and American — plus tether racers, Dinky Toys, TootsieToys and ride-on toys. He always sought out original condition and original boxes because he knew that’s what really made the piece. He also liked boxed sets that were complete with all of their parts present, as well as ships, airplanes, car- and car-racing memorabilia and board games.”

The October 28 auction-series opener showcases many museum visitors’ favorites. A rare pressed steel Tonka #210 Road Builders set is new/old stock in never-played-with condition. It includes a Big Mike dump truck, a second dump truck, a lowboy semi (tractor trailer) truck, steam shovel, road grader and plow. It is possibly the nicest of all surviving sets of its type and is presented in its crisp original box with inserts ($6/10,000).

Also by Tonka, a scarce private-label United Van Lines semi truck, 24 inches long, is estimated at $1,5/2,000.

Pressed steel toys by other Midwestern manufacturers will be ready to rumble, like a seldom-encountered Buddy L International Harvester “Red Baby” express truck. The 24-inch-long truck with original paint and decals is one of a limited number that International Harvester marketed exclusively through their dealerships ($3/5,000).

A Metalcraft Pure Oil Airmail Toy Airplane displays original paint and decals. It comes with its rare original box whose artwork depicts the well-designed pressed steel airplane line for line. “It’s the nicest example of its type that we’ve ever seen,” King remarked ($2/3,000).

Another head-turning pressed steel highlight is a zippy 29-inch-long American National Packard Roadster. The stylish convertible has been restored in a cream and British racing green motif. Its dash, with artistic interpretations of gauges, is in original condition ($2/4,000).

Coveted postwar Japanese toys will cross the auction block, led by an Alps Japan tin friction Lincoln Futura. All original and retaining its pictorial box, the sleek 11-inch-long bubble-topped beauty looks as though it has never been played with. “It’s beautiful. You won’t find a better example,” King said ($2,5/3,500).

Two of the most sought-after of all postwar tin friction motorcycles, both by I.Y. Japan, are part of a lineup that features dozens of great bikes and scooters. Each of the I.Y. cycles is 12 inches long. The first, a “Condor Motor Cycle,” is accompanied by its original pictorial box ($2/4,000). The other, known as the “large blue version” of the “Romance” motorcycle, has a $2/3,000 estimate.

A Bremer Whirlwind tether gas-powered race car measures 18 inches long and comes complete with its motor, ignition, gas tank and drive system ($1/1,500).

Those who love European toys will find a German-made Bing tin clockwork Diamond T delivery van emblazoned “Boston Store” on both its sides and rear portholed doors ($1,5/2,000).

Many other types of toys will be offered, including comic character, German nautical toys, robots and space toys, buses, boxed TootsieToy sets, Disney toys and Marx battery-op favorites like Frankenstein, Mighty King Kong and Whistling Spooky Kooky Tree.

Milestone Auctions’ gallery is at 38198 Willoughby Parkway. Start time: 10 am ET. For more information, 440-527-8060 or www.milestoneauctions.com.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF AUCTIONS OF THE EXTENSIVE VINTAGE TOY COLLECTION OF ELMER & BERNADETTE DUELLMAN!!
This kickoff auction will consist of 800+ lots from the museum collection which consists of over 20,000 toys of all kinds. Pressed steel trucks, Japanese tin cars, race cars, tether cars, motorcycles, German toys, tin windups, character toys, battery ops, space toys, & much more!!!
PREVIEW AVAILABLE WEEK OF AUCTION & 8:00 am AUCTION DAY
Live Bidding Thru: www.milestoneauctions.com | Liveauctioneers | Invaluable PHONE BIDS & ABSENTEE BIDS: Call 440-527-8060 AUCTION
Buyers Premium: 20% Online | 17% In-House, Phone, & Absentee | Credit Cards Accepted with 3% Charge
MILESTONE AUCTIONS GALLERY 38198 Willoughby Parkway Willoughby, Ohio 44094 (440) 527-8060 | milestoneauctions@yahoo.com | Auctioneer: Miles King
MILESTONE AUCTIONS IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR QUALITY CONSIGNMENTS! ONE PIECE OR ENTIRE COLLECTIONS!! CALL 440-527-8060 FOR DETAILS