(ANN ARBOR, Mich.) – A rare antique Pepsin Gum (“And Your Fortune – One Cent”) embossed tin dispenser, coin-operated to accept one cent for both gum and fortune, sold for $57,000 at an auction held Oct. 4-6 by Showtime Auction Services, at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds in Ann Arbor. The dispenser was the top lot in a sale that grossed $1 million.

“This was by far the best collection of antique advertising we’ve ever had the privilege of selling,” said Mike Eckles of Showtime Auction Services, based in Woodhaven, Mich. “The headliner, of course, was the lifetime collection of Don and Diane Sayrizi, collectors in many categories, especially antique advertising, plus items from over 100 other advanced collectors.”

Around 1,800 lots crossed the auction block over the course of the three days, with about 275 people attending the event in person and more than 2,000 bidders participating online, via LiveAuctioneers.com and iCollector.com. Phone and absentee bids totaled more than 500 combined. “It was a successful sale by any measure,” Eckles said. “Everyone went home happy.”

The Pepsin Gum tin dispenser was in good condition, with a key, and was desirable for its rare tin litho fortune teller – a surefire conversation starter. The auction’s second top lot was a salesman’s sample tobacco humidor store showcase, made by Whitcomb Cabinet Co. (Kansas City, Mo.). Detailed with beveled mirrors and glass, galvanized steel-lined drawers, a copper base with vents, richly detailed wood carved base and carrying case, the lot fetched $36,000.

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a buyer’s premium that ranged from 14-20 percent, depending on how the winning bid was placed.

A mid-19th century E. R. Durkee & Co. Salad Dressing etched glass window, attributed to the Dorflinger Glass Company (White Mills, Pa.), 20 inches by 24 inches, in excellent shape, garnered $27,000; and a Coca-Cola salesman’s sample glass cock cooler with original opener, cap catcher and sample cases of bottles, with just some minor rubs and scratches, made $18,000.

An extremely rare Red Crown Gasoline and Polarine self-framed beveled edge tin-over-cardboard sign (copyright 1913, Standard Oil Company), depicting lazy drivers and measuring 19 ¼ inches by 27 ½ inches, in overall very good condition, garnered $15,960; and a gorgeous Regina coin-operated disc changer (serial #45766), 33 ½ inches by 69 inches, rose to $10,800.

A Winchester Repeating Arms advertising clock (“Big Game Rifles and Ammunition”) made by the Baird Clock Company, with pendulum and key, with some age stains to the face but in otherwise good condition, commanded $9,300; and a rare Musgo gas globe (“Michigan’s Mile Maker”), with Native American image painted on milk glass, 15 inches in diameter, hit $9,000.

A professionally restored, 72-inch-long 1926 Gendron Packard rumble seat pedal car with running board step plate, cowl lights, running board mounted spotlight, dual fender well spares and dramatic opening rumble seat, sped away for $8,265; and a scarce Gendron Stutz Roadster pressed steel pull toy with a Packard hood ornament, 18 inches long, earned $7,410.

Two lots posted identical selling prices of $7,200. One was a 19 inch by 25 inch Prince Albert tin sign depicting Chief Joseph, Nez Perce, compliments of R. J. Reynolds Co. American Art Works (Coshocton, Oh.). The other was a Peerless Shoe Repair outdoor trade sign, two-sided (“Satisfaction Guaranteed – Work Done While You Wait”), 56 inches by 32 inches by 1 inch.

A Watling five-cent “Rol-A-Top” cherry front slot machine, professionally restored and in good working condition, complete with keys, went for $6,600; and a 1937 Steelcraft Auburn Super Charger Deluxe pedal car, colored Honolulu blue and silver, with chrome exhaust pipes, windshield and upholstered seat, professionally restored, 50 inches long, charged off for $4,680.

A hard-to-find Sykes After Shaving Powder tin with barber shop image and a scene titled “Next”, made by The Comfort Powder Co. (Boston, Mass.), 4 ½ inches tall, breezed to $3,420; and a “St. George” fishing reel made by Hardy Brothers, Ltd. (England) topped out at $1,260.

Showtime Auction Services’ next big auction is scheduled for the weekend of April 4-6, also at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds in Ann Arbor. Featured will be the Robert and Janet Staub lifetime collection and Neil J. Frick antique store collection. Quality consignments for this and all future auctions are actively being sought. To consign a single item or a collection, you may call Mike Eckles at (951) 453-2415; or, you can e-mail him at MikEckles@aol.com.

Specific categories for which Showtime Auction Services has become renowned in the industry include petroliana (gas station collectibles) and automobilia, salesmen’s samples, general store and country store, match safes, advertising signs, trays, cast-iron toys, pressed steel toys, tin toys, pedal cars, barber shop, tobacciana, cigar lighters and tip cutters and hardware.

Additional categories include telephone, store tins, Coca-Cola, Western, Native American, guns, whiskey, primitives, lamps, bronzes, drug store, saloon, post office, coin-op, arcades, scales, gambling, cash registers, fishing, folk art, clocks, fine art, firefighting antiques and memorabilia, slot machines, breweriana, displays and showcases, firearms posters and more.

To learn more about Showtime Auction Services, and the upcoming April 4-6 auction, please log on to www.showtimeauctions.com. Updates are posted frequently.

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