Bertoia Auctions – The Annual Fall Auction
November 17-18 2023
BertoiaAuctions.com
2141 Demarco Drive Vineland NJ 08360

VINELAND, N.J. — Antique toy collectors won’t have to wait until December for their holiday gifts to arrive. The 2023 edition of Bertoia’s festive Annual Fall Sale, slated for November 17-18, features an array of exquisite European and American toys as well as mechanical, still and spelter banks from premier collections.

European toys will take their turn in the spotlight, with all forms of transportation ready to roll — on land, sea or in the air. A large grouping of early German boats includes a fabulous Marklin paddle wheeler, a near-mint Marklin battleship, an enormous Radiguet gunboat and several other awe-inspiring vessels. Grand automobiles, including limousines by Marklin, Carette and Gunthermann, will line up alongside race cars by Distler and Tippco. A 1895 Bing fire engine adds even more charm to the blue-chip Continental fleet.

A luxe assortment of lithographed tinplate toys includes a dozen motorcycles from KiCo, Muller & Kadeder and Fischer, as well as boxed Lehmann cycles. Other Lehmann toy highlights are led by a coveted Primus roller-skater, a Berolina auto and Ampol Artic explorer. The latter two toys are accompanied by their very rare original boxes. Other tinplate toys include comic character-themed figures, a Vielmetter Clown Artist with six cams and a boxed Distler Porter. An abundance of penny toys will be on hand to tempt the many collectors who never tire of the diminutive tin whimseys that were sold on European street corners well over a century ago.

A select grouping of Japanese robots and other toys will roll across the auction block, including a stellar ASC Tremendous Mike with its crisp original box, a sought-after Nomura Walking Batman and a boxed Bandai Atom/Astro Boy. Among the Japanese automotive toys to be auctioned are several race cars, with a fresh-to-the-market, near-mint and boxed Yonezawa Atom race car adding retro style to the fleet.

The approximately 150 still and mechanical banks to be sold are anchored by the collection of the late Heath Hurlbert, who was an active member of the MBCA. The Hurlbert mechanicals include a superb example of a Shepard Hardware Mason bank, a white Owl Turns Head, a Circus bank and many others. A small but very choice grouping of still banks features a Two-Faced Indian and painted Songbird — both by A.C. Williams — and a variety of painted building banks.

Antique bank enthusiasts won’t want to miss the chance to bid on Part I of the Jim and Genia Willett collection of colorful German spelter still banks. The Willetts spent decades amassing their whimsical, ornately detailed banks, which rate very highly for condition.

Californian Bob Davis’ collection of airplanes and aeronautical toys includes dozens of lithographed and hand-painted tinplate rarities, from primitive Ernst Plank pusher planes to Gordon Bennett-inspired Gunthermann productions and numerous examples of aviation ephemera, posters, prints and other “go-alongs.” Davis is donating 50 percent of the net proceeds from the sale of his collection, in equal shares, to the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum in Washington DC, and the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Conn.

Collectors of early cast iron can take their pick from prized items across several categories, including mechanical and still banks, doorstops, horse-drawn toys and vehicles. Automotive highlights include a nice Hubley Packard Straight-8, several Arcade autos, a rare Vindex Rapid Delivery truck and more.

High-stepping horse-drawn toys are ready to march and entertain, starting with a large white Bandwagon and other examples from the Hubley Circus series. An ultra-rare Hubley Firehouse will be offered — only the second of its type ever to appear in the marketplace — as well as a Pratt & Letchworth Burning Building and an Ives Firehouse.

Figural cast iron doorstops are expected to attract a diverse audience, given the variety of themes and consistently pristine condition seen throughout the selection. Notably, the grouping includes a few remaining holdouts from Jeanne Bertoia’s decades-old collection, including a Hubley Giraffe, Rhumba Dancer and Spanish Guitar Player.

Those who love pressed-steel toys and pedal cars will be treated to airplane pedal cars from the Bob Davis collection as well as several automotive cars, large trucks, a Keystone Packard Coast-to-Coast Bus and more.

The Philadelphia toymaker Schoenhut leads the wooden toy category with favorites that include an Abbott’s Milk Wagon, Alderney Dairy Wagon and Hood’s Dairy Wagon. Circus and Teddy Roosevelt Safari figures will be sold alongside several large Schoenhut tents. Among the other early wooden toys are an incredible Fire Brigade Ladder Wagon, several sets of nine-pin skittles and antique Erzgebirge (Germany) figures.

Top-quality country store and advertising items from the Ray Burgess collection, including a Hires Root Beer embossed tin sign and a Cherry Smash soda fountain dispenser will also be available.

Bertoia’s will host an exciting “Holiday Exclusive” live auction of Christmas, Halloween and holiday antiques at their gallery on Friday, December 1, with all of the usual forms of remote and internet live bidding available.

Previews will be conducted the week before the auction or by appointment only. Live attendance is limited and by reservation only.

Bid absentee, by phone or live online at www.bertoiaauctions.com or www.liveauctioneers.com or 856-692-1881. Bertoia’s gallery is at 2141 DeMarco Drive.

Upcoming: DECEMBER 1st The One-Day Holiday Auction
THE WILLETT SPELTER BANK COLLECTION THE BOB DAVIS AERONAUTICAL COLLECTION HEATH HURLBERT MECHANICAL COLLECTION
Mechanical & Still Banks European Wind-ups & Tin Toys German Boats, Trains and Airplanes Pressed Steel 8. Pedal Cars Schoenhut & Early Amerian Tin Cast Iron Auto’8 Horsedrawn Penny Toys and so much more!
Auction details at BertoiaAuctions.com
Hosting the finest specialized auctions since 1986. Accepting quality consignments 2141 Demarco Drive Vineland NJ 08360 Toys@BertoiaAuctions.com 856-692-1881