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An Edison Ajax (Class M Electric) 5-inch cylinder phonograph in a curved glass floor model cabinet, which brought $45,000 plus the 10 percent buyer’s premium at a Stanton Auctioneers’ sale.
VERMONTVILLE, Mich. – Stanton’s Auctioneers of Vermontville, Mich., had the pleasure of offering the Michael Meiselman estate, one of the largest private representations of top quality phonographs and music boxes sold in recent years, over two, two -day auctions in Nov. 19-20, 2010, and April 15-16, 2011, held at the Eaton County Fairgrounds in Charlotte, Mich. The estate from Atlanta, Ga., served up more than 1,500 high-end pieces that were combined with other fine collections to generate sales of more than $2 million over four days.
The first-rate Meiselman collection ran the gamut, including phonographs, music boxes, Coca-Cola vending machines, brass candy registers, and reverse painted and stained glass lamps. Several other estate collections, rare fans, radios, nickelodeons, cabinets and nearly everything imaginable, helped to comprise the remainder of the more than 3,000 total cataloged lots.
Regina 15 1/2-inch Model 67 floor model disc music box with a mint-condition Rookwood decorated cabinet sold for $16,000
One of the more spectacular highlights of the sale is an Edison Ajax (Class M Electric) 5-inch cylinder phonograph in a curved glass floor model cabinet, which brought $45,000 plus the 10 percent buyer’s premium. In addition, a Regina 15 1/2-inch Model 67 floor model disc music box with a mint-condition Rookwood decorated cabinet sold for $16,000; a Victor A disc phonograph garnered $9,500; a Columbia red celluloid horn with nickel bell (14 inches) brought $3,250; and a Pathe le Menestrel cylinder phonograph crossed the block at $1,950.
Over the course of the two-sale event, bidders were presented with a number of impressive floor model disc music boxes and automatic changers including a Regina 15 1/2-inch automatic changer with original clock in the top that sold for $27,500; and several Regina changers playing 15 1/2-inch to 27-inch discs ranging from $14,000 to $19,000, which was earned from a mahogany “Dragon front” 20 3/4-inch example.
Stanton’s Fall music machine auction will be held Nov. 17-19, 2011, in Charlotte, Mich.
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