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Highlights from the
November 1996 James D. Julia
Advertising and Coin Op Auction

The top-seller of the sale was a rare version of a classic advertising piece, the Hires Metlach syrup dispenser with the trademarked smiling boy raising a frothy glass of root beer. The rare Villeroy & Boch dispenser in the hard-to-find brown version was in fine condition, in spite of a couple of hairline cracks. It sold for a final price of $41,400, easily tripling the $10,00 - $15,000 pre auction estimate.

Close behind on the list of top-sellers was one of three Mills Za-Za Shock machines known to exist. The incredible 22" contraption featured a can-can girl with a top hat whose spirited kicks promoted relief from "Headaches, Rheumatism, Nervousness, Neuralgia, and all Nervous Disorders." The rare machine was patented in 1900 and manufactured by F.W. Mills Co. It sold for $37,375, against the pre-auction estimate of $5,000 - $7,000.

Other top-sellers in advertising memorabilia included a rare Lillain Nordica Coca-Cola sign that went out at $21,275 and an Allen & Ginter cigarette paper sign depicting world champions of various sports. The sign tripled the estimated when it sold for $17,250.

Among displays worth mentioning, two superb tin due-cut Buster Brown show displays attracted attention and sold for $4,6000 and $2,300. The early, cast iron Doremus Cigar Vendor featured an extra cigar cutter and match holder and went out at $3,450. A Lowney's Cocoa string holder patented in 1908 also brought $3,450. Fine displays also included the Ward's cake display that sold for $3,162.50 and the Adam's Pepsin Tutti-Fruitti gum machine at $2,875.

Rare syrup dispensers are always sought after. A rare Cherry Chic dispenser with all-over embossed decoration of cherries and leaves sold for $6,900. Another heavily embossed dispenser for Cardinal Cherry included the original pump and sold for $6,555. A red ceramic Cherry Julep dispenser also sold at $4,025.

Musical machines spanning a century were also sold with a beautifully-restored Violano-Virtuoso Violin player in a very rare oak cabinet bringing $35,650. An early and very scarce Regina coin operated "Dragon Front" music box, c. 1900, sold for $17,250. A Seeburg KT Orchestrian, c 1920, west out at $15,525, while a nicely restored Stafford player piano featuring decorative art glass, carved legs, and lights brought $5175. Two Wurlitzer jukeboxes (Model 1015 and Model 1050) sold for approximately $5,000 each.

Finally, collectors of gambling antiques had plenty to roll the dice on in this sale with a nice selection of slot machines that included an oak cased Twin Centaur containing two color wheel slot machines in one which sold for a final price of $34,500. A professionally restored Mills Liberty Bell machine sold for $11,500. The "Fox" upright slot machine manufactured by Automatic Machine & Tool Co. Featured an oak cabinet and nice castings and sold for $11,212.50.

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Ken Durham
GameRoomAntiques
please email: durham@GameRoomAntiques.com