Tag Archives: breweriana

Circa 1884 Winchester Cartridge Board will Highlight Miller & Miller’s Online Petroliana & Advertising Auction, April 23

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New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada, April 9, 2022 — An exceedingly rare Winchester cartridge board from around 1884 – one of the most sought after, iconic examples of American sporting advertising – is an expected highlight lot in an online-only Petroliana & Advertising Auction planned for Saturday, April 23rd, by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., starting promptly at 9 am Eastern time.

The monumental and historic Winchester cartridge board, which measures 38 inches tall by 28 inches wide, is a lithographed hardboard with an applied representation of one of Winchester’s earliest lines of ammunition. Few survived intact due to their size and the fact that they were often displayed in store windows and areas exposed to light. The one in the auction, in the original frame, is in untouched, original condition and is expected to sell for $35,000-$50,000.

All estimates in this report are in Canadian dollars.

The rest of the auction is a wonderland of offerings for every level of petroliana and advertising enthusiast – 481 lots of fresh-to-the-market, investment-grade advertising signs, tins and related memorabilia from the 1890s to the 1970s. The petroliana, soda and general store advertising signs include many high-grade and seldom-seen examples.

Also included is a clean offering of Canadian motor oil quarts, gas pumps and petroliana, and a recently discovered hoard of advertising from the Black Horse Brewery. The Helen and Gordon Vokey collection includes a run of Coca-Cola trays from 1910-1961, as well as a curated gathering of signs and related collectibles. There’s something for everyone.

“Advertising is one of the hottest categories of collectibles we sell,” said Justin Miller of Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. “Demand outweighs supply and fresh-to-the-market signs are becoming very difficult to find as collectors fight over what does turn up. Many collectors are building long term collections. The Vokey collection contains many items that should get collectors excited.”

Mr. Miller said the Vokeys purchased most of their collection in the 1980s, “when you could find quality signs without as much trouble as today. A favorite of mine in the auction is lot 296 – a sign that has everything going for it: porcelain, die cut, curved corner sign and condition to boot. On top of all that, it was just discovered less than a month ago here in New Hamburg.”

He was referring to the circa 1905 Carhartt’s Overalls corner sign, recently discovered during the liquidation of a longtime business in town, Murray’s Clothing & Footwear. The single-sided porcelain sign, graded 9 for condition and 22 inches tall by 18 inches wide, features a mint green car and is known to have been produced for the Canadian market. It’s expected to fetch $5,000-$7,000, although Mr. Miller said he wouldn’t be surprised if it brought much more than that.

A Cities Service Koolmotor double-sided porcelain curb sign, known as the “Kite Sign” for its shape, was produced in America in the 1930s and used in the Canadian market. Graded 9 for condition, with bold colors and a glossy finish, it should bring $12,000-$15,000. Also, a 1947 two-door, right-hand drive MGTC roadster convertible car, a true “survivor” car with just 24,790 actual miles, fully restored in 1982 and with a good engine, has an estimate of $9,000-$12,000.

A Canadian Ford V8 dealer double-sided porcelain sign from the 1930s with the original hanging bracket, exhibiting some chips and losses but still boasting vivid colors and a glossy finish, 35 ¼ inches by 28 inches, should sell for $7,000-$8,000; while a Ford oval, double-sided painted metal smaltz sign (Canadian, circa 1930), with a reproduction metal hanging bracket and measuring 20 ½ inches by 27 ½ inches and graded 7.5, is expected to finish at $3,000-$5,000.

A World War II-era Canadian Supertest Bennett 541 gasoline pump with a reproduction “High Compression” globe, original ad glass and tagged, “Service Station Equipment Co., Ltd., Toronto, SSE Bennett ECO,” has an estimate of $4,000-$6,000. Also, a Canadian circa 1930 Clearvision gasoline pump with an older repaint to Supertest colors, a glass cylinder and a reproduction “Wonder” globe, impressive at 119 inches in height, should make $3,000-$5,000.

A circa 1940 Canadian Coca-Cola Vendo 44 vending machine, mechanically functioning and cooling properly, an outstanding all-original “survivor” with the original side-mounted empties rack, is estimated to ring up $4,000-$6,000; while a circa 1950 American Coca-Cola Vendo 44 vending machine, iconic and highly desirable, with the original paint and in original working condition, with some of the embossed raised lettering replaced, should achieve $4,000-$5,000.

Also from the World of Coke, a monumental 4-foot-by-8-foot single-sided porcelain Coca-Cola sign from 1937, Coke’s largest porcelain sign before World War II restrictions halted steel production, graded a near-perfect 9.5, has an estimate of $4,000-$6,000. Carrying an identical estimate is a Canadian circa 1920 Red Indian Oil bottle rack panel sign with colors that are bright and glossy, with a later mounting frame, graded 7.75 due to scratches and porcelain loss.

A circa 1930 American cast iron United States Customs border crossing sign (“Avoid Penalty / Report to Customs / Vehicles Entering United States Must Be Reported”), 28 ½ inches by 36 inches, with considerable paint loss, should rise to $3,500-$5,000. Also, a Wurlitzer Model 2104 jukebox (American, 1957), mechanically functioning and outfitted with an assortment of period records and respective labels, complete with access keys, carries an estimate of $3,000-$5,000.

One of the older items in the sale is a Canadian, circa 1894 Thomas Davidson Mfg. Co. single-sided tin sign (est. $3,000-$5,000). Davidson was an early manufacturer of lithographed tin signs and various other tin products. This sign was made to represent the company’s world-class level of quality and features a detailed and heavily embossed image of the firm’s factory in Montreal.

Internet bidding will be via the Miller & Miller website (www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com), as well as the popular online bidding platform LiveAuctioneers.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted. The major categories include advertising signs, advertising tins, soda advertising, breweriana, petroliana (gas station collectibles), toys, clocks, general store and tools.

While this is an Internet-only auction, with no in-person event to attend, bidders can tune in to the live webcast on Saturday, April 23rd, to watch the lots close in real time. Here is a link to the auction: https://live.millerandmillerauctions.com/auctions/4-5C60JW/petroliana-advertising.

To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. and the auction on April 23rd, please visit www.millerandmillerauctions.com.

Important Black Cat Shoe Dressing Clock Rings Up $11,210 (Canadian) in Miller & Miller’s June 19th Online-Only Auction

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New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada, June 26, 2021 -/DailyVoice/- An important Black Cat Shoe Dressing clock (known to collectors as “The Black Cat Clock”) sold for $11,210, and an early 20th century Peabody’s Overalls single-sided porcelain sign realized $8,850 in Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.’s online-only Advertising & Breweriana sale held June 19th. All prices quoted are in Canadian dollars.

“Antique and vintage advertising continues to flex its muscles,” said Ben Lennox of Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. “A whopping 68 percent of the top 50 grossing lots from the 650-lot sale smashed past the high estimate. The desire for high-end advertising continues to climb at a feverish pace with both new and seasoned collectors looking to add rarities to their collections.”

The iconic Nonsuch Black Cat Shoe Polish clock settled in as the top lot, just as one did almost 40 years ago, in 1982, at the famed Bill & Pauline Hogan Collection auction – a sale that really solidified country store antiques and collectibles in Canada. While the clock hammered down $5,400 back then, in the recent sale it more than doubled that, when adding the buyer’s premium.

Well represented throughout the sale were signs and advertising pieces covering tobacciana, breweriana, gas station memorabilia (petroliana), soda pop collectibles and work wear. “In speaking with collectors post-auction,” Lennox said, “the consensus is that the rare and unusual will always attract eager buyers, and this has led to many signs hitting new price benchmarks.”

He added, “There is really no sign of a letup. Country store, service station, general store – whatever term you choose to put around it – the trajectory for advertising antiques continues on an upward trend with no signs of slowing down.” The auction grossed a healthy $389,164 and was headlined by the Peter Rea breweriana collection, a superb assemblage of top-quality pieces.

Following are additional highlights from the auction, which attracted 467 registered bidders, who participated through LiveAuctioneers.com and the Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. website: www.millerandmillerauctions.com. Just under half of lots sold met or exceeded estimates, and 20 percent of lots blew past the high estimate. All prices include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.

The Black Cat Shoe Dressing clock is considered one of the most significant pieces of Canadian advertising ever produced. It depicted a black cat, its jaws and whiskers erect, engaging with the product in pursuit of something beyond. It boasted, “Leads all others / Challenge the world to produce its superior” and was clearly marked lower left, “MacDonald Mfg. Co. Ltd., Toronto”.

The Peabody’s Overalls single-sided porcelain sign, 15 ¼ inches by 48 inches, is one of Canada’s great general store porcelain signs, achieving everything a good sign should. The “Peabody’s Overalls” script spanned the sign, but the humor and salesmanship filled in the blanks: “Wears like a pig’s nose”, “Guaranteed Honorable” and “Railroad King”.

Four lots finished with identical selling prices of $5,015. They were as follows:

  • A Teddy Chocolate Soda single-sided embossed lithographed tin sign (Canadian, 1920s), 13 ½ inches by 20 inches, marked “St. Thomas Metal Signs, St. Thomas, Ontario”.
  • A Ward’s Lime Crush porcelain syrup dispenser (American, 1920s), the rarest of the three Ward’s figural syrup dispensers, with a ball style pump, 14 inches tall by 9 inches.
  • A Forest & Stream Tobacco lithographed heavy cardboard die-cut sign (Canadian, 1930s), 39 inches by 41 inches, with remnants of an easel on the rear, for counter display.
  • A Firestone Tires double-sided porcelain wall mounting porcelain flange sign (1940s), marked “Made in USA”, 36 inches by 28 ¼ inches, with no restoration or color touch-up.

A circa 1938 Orange Crush porcelain sign, although not marked, was certainly a product of St. Thomas Metal Signs, Ltd. (Canada). The store side sign was made from self-framed heavy-gauge pressed steel with heavy-shelved porcelain and went for $4,720. Also, a Stubby Soda vertical tin lithographed sign (Canadian, 1940s), changed hands for $4,425. The single-sided embossed sign, measuring 47 ½ inches by 17 ¼ inches, was marked “CCC WS166” to lower right and left edge.

The Kuntz Brewery beer tray is among Canada’s most sought-after beer trays. It’s called “The Bologna Girl” because the subject, a young woman, is shown serving a bologna sandwich alongside a bottle of Kuntz Export Lager. The tray in the auction, 13 ¾ inches in diameter, was marked, “Kaufmann & Strauss Co. N.Y.” It finished under estimate, gaveling for $3,540.

A Brading Brewery Company early Canadian paper-under-glass lithograph from the 1910s, featuring the Brading’s “Stag” trademark icon flanked by the product, 23 ½ inches by 33 inches (sight), knocked down for $4,720. Also, a Kuntz Park Brewery lithographed paper, extremely rare, featuring a vignette of the Waterloo (Canada) brewery, followed by photos depicting the various equipment involved at each stage of the brewing process, framed, commanded $4,130.

A Regal Brewery (Hamilton, Ontario, 1920s) lithographed tin beaver tray, among Canada’s most sought after beer trays, featuring an outdoor scene with two beavers constructing a dam by a riverside, 13 ½ inches in diameter, brought $4,425. Also, a Pay Roll Tobacco single-sided tin lithographed sign (Canadian, 1920s), measuring 16 ¾ inches by 11 inches and marked bottom right, “The Thos. Davidson Mfg. Co. Ltd. Montreal”, went to s determined bidder for $3,540.

A Teddy Chocolate Soda single-sided lithographed tin sign (Canadian, 1930s), a product of Renfrew Bottling Works, 13 ½ inches by 20 inches and marked bottom center, “St. Thomas Metal Signs Ltd., St. Thomas, Ont.”, went for $4,130; while a Stubby Root Beer single-sided embossed lithographed tin sign (Canadian, 1940s), 19 ¼ inches by 27 ¼ inches, hit $3,540.

Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. has three major auctions planned for autumn, all of them falling on a Saturday. A Toys & Nostalgia auction featuring the Bryan Beatty collection will be held on September 11th; a Canadiana sale is scheduled for October 9th; and a Watches & Jewels auction will take place on November 20th. All will be online-only.

To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. and the auctions planned for fall, please visit www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com.

Miller & Miller’s Online-Only Auction, June 19th, Features Beer Collectibles, Advertising Signs and Tins, General Store

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New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada, June 4, 2021 /DailyVoice/ — An important Black Cat Shoe Polish clock (known to collectors simply as “The Black Cat Clock”), a 4 foot by 8 foot circa 1938 porcelain sign for Orange Crush soda, and an early 20th century Kuntz Brewery “Bologna Girl” lithographed tin beer tray are just a few of the expected highlights in Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.’s upcoming online-only Advertising & Breweriana sale slated for Saturday, June 19th at 9 am Eastern time.

The 650-lot sale will be headlined by the Peter Rea collection. “Fans of breweriana will quickly recognize that ‘condition’ is the common thread in what Peter Rea collected,” said Ethan Miller of Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. “Never have I met a collector so focused on perfection.”

Mr. Miller added, “We’re also featuring an outstanding cache of general store advertising that ranges from overalls to soda. It’s clean, fresh to the market and offered without reserve. Original, unrestored advertising is hard to find these days. In this sale, collectors will have their pick.”

Categories will include advertising signs, advertising tins, breweriana, stoneware, automobilia, general store, tobacciana, railroadiana and more. Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and the Miller & Miller website, www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com. Bidders will be able to tune in to the live webcast on June 19th to watch lots close in real time.

With a robust pre-sale estimate of $9,000-$12,000, the Black Cat Shoe Polish clock may end up being the top lot of the auction. It’s considered one of the most significant examples of Canadian advertising ever produced. The piece depicts a black cat, its jaws and whiskers erect, engaging with the product in pursuit of something beyond. It boasts, “Leads all others / Challenge the world to produce its superior” and is marked lower left, “MacDonald Mfg. Co. Ltd., Toronto”.

All estimates quoted in this report are in Canadian dollars.

The circa 1938 Orange Crush porcelain sign, although not marked, is certainly a product of St. Thomas Metal Signs, Ltd. (Canada). The store side sign is made from self-framed heavy-gauge pressed steel with heavy-shelved porcelain. The script reads, “For Refreshment Drink Orange Crush”. The seldom seen sign, not a common Coca-Cola variation, should bring $4,500-$6,500.

The Kuntz Brewery beer tray is among Canada’s most sought-after beer trays. It earned the nickname “The Bologna Girl” because the subject, a young woman, is shown serving a bologna sandwich alongside a bottle of Kuntz Export Lager. The tray, 13 ¾ inches in diameter, is marked, “Kaufmann & Strauss Co. N.Y.” It carries a pre-sale estimate of $4,000-$6,000.

A Peabody’s Overalls single-sided porcelain sign from the 1910s (“Wears like a pig’s nose”), considered one of Canada’s great general store porcelain signs, 15 ¼ inches by 48 inches, with the Peabody’s crown (symbolizing “Railroad King”) should finish at $3,500-$5,000. Also, an 1890s Ogilvie’s Flour Mills framed paper lithograph under glass, with detailed images of Ogilvie’s five operational flour mills in Canada, is expected to hammer for $3,000-$5,000.

An American 1920s-era Ward’s Lime Crush syrup dispenser, the rarest of the three Ward’s figural syrup dispensers, 14 inches tall, with the rim marked, “Design Patent Pending”, has a pre-sale estimate of $4,000-$5,000; while a 1940 Canadian double-sided, wall-mounted porcelain flange sign advertising Coca-Cola, measuring 19 ¾ inches by 17 inches and marked on the lower edge of one side, “VILAS 1940 Made in Canada”, should find a new owner for $2,500-$3,000.

A Brading Brewery Company early Canadian paper-under-glass lithograph from the 1910s, featuring the Brading’s “Stag” trademark icon flanked by the product, 23 ½ inches by 33 inches (sight) should garner $3,500-$5,000. Also, an early 20th century Carling Brewing & Malting framed lithograph paper under glass, in an oak and plaster frame, 28 ¼ inches by 28 ½ inches and marked, “The London Ptg & Litho Co., London, Ontario”, has an estimate of $2,000-$2,500.

A Kuntz Park Brewery lithographed paper, extremely rare, featuring a vignette of the Waterloo (Canada) brewery, followed by photos depicting the various equipment involved at each stage of the brewing process, framed, should reach $2,500-$3,500. Also, a 1930s-era Western Pacific Railroad single-sided porcelain sign (American), for the Feather River Route rail line, built between 1906-1909, connecting Oakland and Salt Lake City, has an estimate of $1,500-$2,000.

A Regal Brewery (Hamilton, Ont.) lithographed tin tray from the 1920s, among Canada’s most sought-after beer trays, featuring an outdoor scene with two beavers constructing a dam at the riverside, 13 ½ inches in diameter, should hit $2,500-$3,000. Also, an early 1900s Kuntz Brewery (Canada) lithographed tin beer tray with St. Bernard graphic, marked “Kaufmann & Strauss Co., N.Y.” inside lower rim, 13 inches in diameter, is expected to sell for $2,000-$3,000.

Two very different lots have identical estimates of $2,000-$3,000. The first is a Planters “Mr. Peanut” parade costume from the 1930s, made from painted fiberglass and standing 55 ½ inches tall. The suit has some splits, craze and surface scratches, mainly in the hat’s top and brim. The second is an ornate Cutler solid brass and glass chute window. The chute once adorned the lobby of an apartment building and is tagged “The Cutler Mailing System” with patent dates to 1914.

To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. and the Advertising & Breweriana auction scheduled for Saturday, June 19th at 9 am Eastern time, please visit www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com. Updates are posted frequently.