Rare Early Phonographs, Vintage Jukeboxes, Mechanical Banks All Do Well In Miller & Miller Auction

By Author: Ethan Miller
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Antique Edison phonographs, mid-century jukeboxes (one a Wurlitzer replica, another a genuine Rock-Ola) and rare, early 20th century mechanical banks by J. & E. Stevens all performed well in Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.’s online Music Machines, Toys & Advertising sale held March 19th. The 541-lot auction grossed $420,847.

All prices quoted here are in Canadian dollars and include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.

“Prices on the Edison Class M and Edison Opera phonographs were spectacular,” said Ethan Miller of Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. “The John Peel Collection enjoys cachet among Canadian collectors – especially now.” An Edison Class M cylinder phonograph, made in America circa 1890, was the sale’s top lot, besting its $15,000 high estimate to bring $35,400.

The Edison Class M cylinder phonograph was initially intended for business dictation but in time entertainment became its main role. The phonograph sold came with a ‘Standard’ reproducer, rails for listening tubes and one listening tube. It was sold by Holland Bros., Ottawa, sole importer for Canada. It didn’t ...
... have a battery, but that didn’t deter bidders.

A circa 1911 Edison Opera cylinder phonograph, Edison’s top-of-the-line model, famous for its smooth-running motor and self-supporting horn, realized $8,260. The phonograph boasted a rich mahogany finish on the case and bronze tiger striping, which added to its air of quality and luxury. Bidders blasted through the estimate, which was $3,000-$4,000.

Mr. Miller said that condition and rarity ranked foremost in determining the prices for the Tanenbaum collection of mechanical banks. “Overall they did very well, with some great surprises,” he said. “The common thread in this auction was ‘mechanical antiques’. The only thing more animated than the objects up for bid were the online bidders vying to win them.”

A J. & E. Stevens mechanical bank, exceedingly rare and depicting reliefs of Robert E. Peary’s 1909 expedition to reach the North Pole, gaveled for $7,670. Users pushed the flag down, inserted a coin into the slot and pressed forward. The painted cast iron bank showed very little wear and was in good working order. It was made in the U.S. and was patented on July 26, 1910.

A J. & E. Stevens painted cast iron ‘Boy Robbing Bird’ Nest’ mechanical bank, the hard-to-find color variation and in good working order, fetched $6,490. The user raised the limb of the tree to position, placed a coin in the slot and pressed the lever; limb and boy fall and the coin disappears into the tree. The circa 1906 bank was made in the U.S. (Cromwell, Conn.).

A Wurlitzer Model 1015 jukebox (known as the “One More Time” or “OMT” jukebox) was a replica, not an original. It was made in Germany around 1990 and had been updated to play 45 rpm records (up to 50). Boasting multi-color lights, bubble tubes and gleaming chrome on the nostalgic exterior, the jukebox beat its $6,000 high estimate, topping out at $8,260.

Selling for the exact same price was a Rock-Ola Tempo II Model 1478 jukebox, this one an original, made in America circa 1960. It was nicknamed the “Windshield” because it was designed to look like the cars of the era, with big fins and a windshield. The jukebox was in good working order (mono only) and played up to 120 selections of 45 rpm discs.

Internet bidding was available on LiveAuctioneers.com as well as on the Miller & Miller website (www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com). Telephone and absentee bids were accepted. A total of 458 bidders combined to place 10,984 bids. The many categories included gramophones, toys, banks, clocks, pocket watches, tools, music machines, vintage radios and railroad memorabilia.

Returning to early phonographs, other examples in the sale that did well included the following:

- A Columbia Type AS coin-op cylinder phonograph, made in America circa 1898 and an early example of a phonograph intended as an entertainment device (in a restaurant, waiting room or arcade, typically); with horn and all keys ($4,720).

- An Edison Model A Gem cylinder phonograph with a striking blue glass horn, a key-wind two-minute cased phono with the Gem reproducer specially made for the Model A between 1900-1902; with gold pinstriping and black enamel ($4,720).

A J. & E. Stevens painted cast iron magician mechanical bank designed by Charles A. Bailey, the harder-to-find version with the pink stairs, made in America with a patent date of Jan. 22, 1901, in working order, realized $4,720; while a Mechanical Novelty Works painted cast iron second degree mechanical bank with a goat and frog mechanism, made in America (New Britain, Conn., patented Sept. 28, 1880), in working order, also went to a determined bidder for $4,720.

A collection of scarce Canadian painted cast iron still and mechanical banks went for $4,130. The group included two Boy Scouts and an Elephant with Howdah. Many Canadian castings were adapted from American or English molds. Each was marked "Made in Canada". The Boy Scout banks were made by The Beaverton Toy Company (1918-1930).

A Pequegnat “Alberta 1st Issue” hall clock, hard to find, made around 1910 and featuring an 8-day weight-driven time and strike movement and quarter sawn oak case, chimed on time for $4,130. The clock, 81 ½ inches tall, was marked on the movement and was functional. Also, a Pequegnat “Regina” model office clock, surpassed its $2,000-$3,000 estimate to reach $4,130.

A Trippensee Planetarium Orrery – an educational mechanical model used to demonstrate the relative positions of the earth and moon to the sun – patented in Canada and the U.S. in 1908 and mechanically functioning, brought $3,540. Also, a Lehmann, 773 Masuyama Japanese rickshaw, a wind-up toy with the rare original box and a lithographed tinplate, marked "EPL Ernst Paul Lehmann", made in Germany pre-World War II, reached $3,540.

Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. has several online-only sales lined up for spring and early summer. These include an Advertising auction on Saturday, April 23rd; a Canadiana & Decorative Arts auction on Saturday, May 14th, a Watches & Jewels auction on Saturday, June 11th; and an Advertising & Nostalgia auction on Saturday, June 18th. See website for details.

To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. and the firm’s upcoming auctions, please visit www.millerandmillerauctions.com.

About Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.:
Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. is Canada’s trusted seller of high-value collections and is always accepting quality consignments. The firm specializes in watches and jewelry, art, antiques and high-value collectibles. Its mission is to provide collectors with a trusted place to buy and sell. To consign a single piece, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (519) 573-3710; or, you can e-mail them at info@millerandmillerauctions.com. To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., please visit www.millerandmillerauctions.com.