Stunning beer sign may yield $45K at 2,400-lot live, online auction

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – More than 2,400 lots from three major collections of country store, pedal cars, toys and firefighting memorabilia will be offered the weekend of April 12-14 by Showtime Auction Services, at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor/Saline Road in Ann Arbor, Mich. Internet bidding will be facilitated by both LiveAuctioneers.com and iCollector.com.

Hard-to-find Kelly Tires tin sign in good original condition, 24 inches in diameter (est. $15,000-$25,000). Photo courtesy Showtime Auction Services

Hard-to-find Kelly Tires tin sign in good original condition, 24 inches in diameter ($15,000-$25,000). Photo courtesy Showtime Auction Services

Headlining the event will be the outstanding lifetime collection of Bill and Kathie Gasperino. The couple is well known in antique circles as having one of the finest country store and advertising collections in the United States. Also sold will be Part 2 of the Robert and Harriett Potter firefighting collection and Part 3 of the Ed and Christy Ramsey collection of pedal cars and toys.

“This is shaping up as our best spring auction ever,” said Mike Eckles of Showtime Auction Services, based in Woodhaven, Mich.

This article originally appeared in Antique Trader magazine
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Additionally, bidders will be treated to a lengthy list of categories, including country store, advertising signs, store tins, soda fountain, Coca-Cola, Western, Native American, farm signs, whiskey, breweriana, match safes, drug store, barber shop, general store, saloon, post office, coin-op, arcade, scales, gambling, cigar and tobacco tins, cash registers, petroliana, showcases, store fixtures, millinery and more.

Circa 1880s wooden cigar store Indian, 83 inches tall, possibly carved by Thomas Brooks (est. $50,000-$75,000). Photo courtesy Showtime Auction Services

Circa 1880s wooden cigar store Indian, 83 inches tall, possibly carved by Thomas Brooks ($50,000-$75,000).

One of the expected star lots is an 1880s cigar store Indian with forged iron wheels, with attributes suggesting it was carved by Thomas Brooks (estimate $50,000-$75,000). The figure is 83 inches tall (including the base), in very good condition and with most of the original paint intact.

Just two of the many automobilia and petroliana items offered are a Kelly Tire tin sign in good original condition, 24 inches in diameter ($15,000-$25,000), and a Hudson neon outdoor dealer sign in near-mint condition ($12,000-$15,000).

Coin-ops include a rare Mills Silver Cup trade stimulator slot machine, one of only four known and in excellent, restored working order ($30,000-$50,000), and a full set of War Eagle slot machines with various denominations represented ($10,000-$15,000).

The first day of the sale (April 12) will be for the live audience only (no phone or Internet bidding). The hours will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (EST).

The next two days, April 13-14, will have live, Internet, absentee and phone bidding on Saturday from 9-6 p.m. (with a preview from 8-9 a.m.) and Sunday from 10-6 p.m. (with uncataloged items for live bidding only from 8-10 a.m.).

For more information, contact Michael Eckles at 951-453-2415, mike@showtimeauctions.com, or visit Showtime Auction Services.