Having collected various items throughout my life, the majority of which pertain somehow to the automotive, gas and oil, or food and beverage industries, I’m very proud to say I have a sweet balance of reproduction pieces and originals. But I’ve noticed recently a number of newer and reproduction pieces entering the scene. I’m fine with it, I applaud reproductions, but like a sailboat, I’m listing to one side more heavily than the other and need to correct a bit. I’m sure you can relate. It’s good to have a few original pieces blended into your collection to balance out both the visual enjoyment with the investment values. Fortunately, Richmond Auctions has a three-day sale coming up, and it’s packed with original pieces from all the industries we love. In this issue, we’re highlighting a few of the extraordinary pieces on offer, but I encourage you to cruise their other listings as they are spectacularly phenomenal. And remember, paper and plastic are your friends at this point. As we watch porcelain and neon items find stratospheric prices, look to tin, paper, cardboard, and plastic for economical alternatives. There are a few at this sale, and I’ve bid on a couple. These pieces are up and commers largely because so many people simply won’t pay what porcelain and neon are commanding. But the bottom line – find those pieces that stop you in your tracks. Buy those. Because you’ll enjoy sharing them and looking at them more. Okay, I’m off the soapbox – take a look below, click over to the website and enjoy. Register to Bid here.
Featured Lots
Lot 118 - Republic Gasoline and Motor Oils
Showing excellent gloss and color, this Double-Sided Porcelain sign has a few minor imperfections such as light cloudiness and some chips. But, find another one. It’s exceedingly rare to come across an original Republic shield sign in any condition.
Extraordinarily rare, this Wings Ethyl Gasoline sign presents in absolutely exquisite condition. The four factory grommets are intact, the colors and graphics are exquisite, the only flaw we see being the perimeter has small areas of color-matched chip corrections. Wings Ethyl was, of course, a product of the Security Oil Company of Wichita, Kansas, a variant of which remains in business to this day, having been established in the 1920s. Difficult to find indeed, a Wings-branded item is a fun piece, an instant conversation started.
Lot 740 - Single-Sided Porcelain Neon Gas Sign with Arrow
This three-piece factory-built neon sign has light bulbs and a new metal can. Illuminated with three-color neon with triple-stroked “GAS” lettering, the arrow has red light bulbs and sequenced flashing. The porcelain fields have light surface wear with marks and some cloudiness to the “GAS” lettering.
Lot 853 - Lion Gasoline Motor Oils Double-Sided Porcelain Sign with Ring
Professionally restored, this 30-inch diameter Double-Sided Porcelain sign shows brilliant color throughout. Mounted with a new metal ring, both sides exhibit heavy shelving with a highly detailed Lion graphic.
Lot 919 - Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes Die-Cut Double-Sided Tin Flange Sign
This sign succinctly demonstrates why we all love “the art of the sign.” No, it’s not automotive related, but does it matter? Visually, this thing is spectacular. A Double-Sided, Die-Cut, Tin sign, the early lithography and colors are spellbinding. It has a custom flange mounting bracket, and displays gorgeously with only minor blemishes to detract from the overall art. Marked “Copyright 1910 Kellogg Toasted Corn Flake Co., The American Art Works, Cohocton, Ohio.”
Lot 1211 - Plymouth Single-Sided Porcelain Lighted Milk Glass Sign with Early Chrysler Motors Tree Logo
Measuring 66-inches wide, this Single-Sided, Porcelain sign features illuminated “PLYMOUTH” milk glass lettering. With only minor blemishes, one from the factory, the sign shows beautifully overall. Chrysler Motors debuted the tree logo toward the end of 1928 to demonstrate the Chrysler Motors Family Tree, consisting of Chrysler itself, Plymouth, Dodge, and DeSoto, each becoming divisions of Chrysler in 1928. Imperial was not its own division until 1955, but rather an upscale model of Chrysler, so it wasn’t counted in this Family Tree.
Lot 1243 - Consigned by Jersey Jon of "American Pickers" Ford Double-Sided Tin Smaltz Factory Neon Sign with Terra Cotta Letters
Truly an amazing story, this sign was found by Jersey Jon of “American Pickers” while filming the show in California. While visiting a friend and buying motorcycle parts, he noticed the sign tucked away in one of the eaves of the shop. His friend found the sign in the 1960s on an old dealership while flying in a plane. The next day, he went to the dealer to buy the sign. An astonishing example, it features two-color neon and terra cotta “FORD” lettering by Metlox, a Manhattan Beach, California-based pottery company known for its colorful plateware. The Metlox name is derived from metal and oxide, or metallic oxide, which was locally sourced and used in the glazes to heighten the color and gloss of the products they made. The display features early paint with a lovely, even patina throughout. The original smaltz is visible only behind the terra cotta letters and is completely removed from the remainder of the sign.
Lot 1357 - From the Collection of Paul Teutul Jr. of "American Choppers" Gilmore Gasoline "Record Breaker" Double-Sided Tin Sign with Ring
One of those ‘Kings of Rarity’ signs, the Loch Ness Monster has been seen more often than this rendition of a Gilmore Record Breaker sign. This one is being consigned by Paul Teutul Jr., star of the hit Discovery Channel TV show “American Choppers.” The Double-Sided, Tin sign shows wear on both sides, but the massive lion graphic remains very nicely preserved with minor wear.
This is an online and in-person auction with bidding through RichmondAuctions.com, the Richmond Auctions App in the App store, LiveAuctioneers, and Proxibid. Phone bidding can be accommodated the day of the auction as well as absentee bids. Please contact Jordan Richmond at 864-382-1302 or at jordan@richmondauctions.com.
