Rich Penn – An Auction Event Featuring Great Collections Gathered From Across America
May 17th-19th
Waterloo Convention Center, Waterloo IA
richpennauctions.com

WATERLOO, IOWA — May is the month when the world around us begins to blossom in colors other than white. And thoughts of getting outside and maybe even an image of making a road trip appears in the front windshield of our minds. Rich Penn Auctions always brings an incredible auction in May. This year will be an auction on May 17-19. As always, the auction will be at the Waterloo Convention Center.

Get ready to take that road trip back to the “Glory Days.” Cool things were everywhere, and life was much simpler. This gathering promises to captivate enthusiasts, collectors and history lovers alike, offering an assortment of cars, toys, cash registers, coin-operated machines, sports cards and autographs, country store memorabilia, gas and oil artifacts, signs, tip trays, watch fobs, fountain pens and decorative items.

There will be a sizable offering of some unique cars, trucks and motorcycles. From a 1956 Ford Victoria two-door hardtop to a cool 1969 VW 21 window bus, a 1927 T-Bucket Hot Rod, a 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic motorcycle and a rare Ford Model-T dump truck to a 1950 Nash Statesman Super Airflyte like Jay Leno’s. There will be more than 35 vehicles from which to choose.

Bidders will also have the opportunity to relive childhood memories with a wide assortment of antique toys. Buddy L pressed steel, Lionel trains, airplanes, model kits and even an original child’s John Deere goat wagon. It comes with complete accessories: seat, sled runners, pull tongue and goat hitch with collar and reins.

If one’s preference is advertising, there’s plenty of that, too. There’s a selection of light-up clocks and signs: porcelain, neon, tin, cardboard and paper. They once adorned streets, shops and businesses. These signs, with their vibrant colors and retro designs, evoke warm nostalgic memories. Plus, they add a touch of vintage charm to any space. Classics are offered for sodas, consumer goods and automobilia. Here’s one example: a rare 1930s Pepsi Pete double-sided metal curb sign. Standing about 6 feet tall, this sign doesn’t look like it was ever close to any curb. For Coca-Cola, Orange Crush, Squeeze, 7-Up and other sodas, there are many other great choices.

The period American country stores always elicit fond memories for many collectors. Be it a relative that was a proprietor or a great movie that featured the character of small-town retail business, the country store is remembered as a cultural, social and business community center. There are signs of every variety, neon and other light-up clocks, several brass cash registers, more than 30 spool and dye cabinets from four to nine drawers from well-known makers, candy cases, counter and floor display cases and oak counters that were all prominent in country stores. Many of these pieces are room ready.

Those with an interest in the evolution of medicine and pharmaceuticals will be enchanted by the drug store memorabilia available at the auction. From antique apothecary bottles and vintage medical equipment to old-fashioned advertisements and signage, these items offer a glimpse into the rich history of healthcare. There are more choices to include many circa 1900 apothecary bottles and hanging globes, display cabinets and counters for patent medicines, druggist compounding ingredients and many of the druggists tools of the trade. For those interested in the most unusual, there are a couple of the most unique tools for a doctor or pharmacist. In the 1800s a doctor making a house call may have arrived on a horse. With him would likely be an early pair, circa 1875, of Elliots Patent, A.A. Mellier medicine saddle bags. Of course the doctor, or collector, would need an early circa 1910 F.A. Meanea (Cheyenne, Wyo.) Western saddle for the physician’s horse. Both are offered at this auction.

When horseback transportation passed to be replaced by automobiles, a new era of collectibles was born. Gas-powered vehicles required fuel access nationwide. Gas stations shot up everywhere. Petroleum was an important part of a growing economy, and petroliana collecting is now growing full speed ahead. Among the collection of collectible cars and a diverse collection of gas and oil artifacts, there certainly should be something for everyone.

Take another step back in time and imagine life as a merchant. Explore a vast range of cash registers and coin-operated machines that served as the backbone of businesses throughout the past century. From beautifully ornate cash registers to vintage vending machines, these artifacts are not only functional but also showcase the craftsmanship of a bygone era. Additionally, sports enthusiasts will find an array of antique sporting items, baseball cards, autographs and event programs.

If that’s not enough, there are decorative pieces for the home, including a sterling silver collection from an English lord’s estate. Perhaps one of the smallest pieces, but one of the most unique is a “Sand Bottle” created by sand artist Andrew Clemens (1857-1894). This modest 4-inch apothecary bottle, dated 1884, is one of the smallest he made. But it still illustrates his masterful artistry yet to be duplicated today.

The Waterloo Convention Center is at 200 West 4th Street. For information, 319-291-6688 or www.richpennauctions.com.

Without Reserve Hundreds of Great Pieces
Contact: Rich Penn Auctions PO Box 1355 Waterloo, IA 50704
ph. 319-291-6688
fax 319-291-7136
Order Your Full Color Catalog: $40 (includes postage and prices realized available online)
Bid Live Online richpennauctions.com
Catalog is online for placing bids 4-5 weeks before the auction