Milestone Auctions
38198 Willoughby Parkway, Willoughby, Ohio 44094
440-527-8060
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone’s January 10-11 Toy Truck Spectacular rings in the New Year with the rumble of heavy metal
All top manufacturers of pressed-steel trucks represented, including Buddy ‘L,’ Tonka, Keystone, Smith-Miller, Cor Cor Steelcraft and so many more, with a big selection of coveted new/old stock WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – The heavy metal motor pool is revved up and ready to roll at Milestone’s big January 10-11 New Year’s Toy Truck Spectacular. The auction lineup featuring 1,000+ rugged big-boy toys from the 1920s through 1970s came primarily from a single lifelong private collection. Bidders can look forward to seeing rare and beautiful examples from literally all of the most popular pressed-steel toy manufacturers: Buddy ‘L’, Tonka, Smith-Miller, Cor Cor, Keystone, Sturditoy, Kingsbury, Steelcraft, and many more. A special highlight is the subsection devoted to pristine new/old store stock with the original factory boxes. Buddy ‘L’ #5033 Warehouse Set, new/old stock, with multi-level interior-insert box replicating a loading dock specifically designed to hold Buddy ‘L’ Coca-Cola delivery truck with Coke bottle cases and handcarts; and turquoise and white stakebed delivery truck with barrels and handcart. Also comes with roller conveyer belt and tin friction forklift. Very rare set also retains its original Buddy ‘L’-logo’d cardboard exterior box. Length: 21in. Condition: Near Mint. Estimate: $1,500-$2,500 The Buddy ‘L’ convoy is led by a rare 1930-1932 doored Baggage Truck accessorized with rubber tires, headlights and a bumper. Measuring a full 27 inches long, it is graded Excellent with only small areas of touch-up on the truck bed’s left side and minor touch-up on the fenders. There’s already a buzz building amongst collectors who recognize how exceptional this truck really is. It would not be a surprise to anyone in the toy hobby if it were to exceed its pre-sale estimate of $8,000-$10,000. A super-clean Buddy ‘L’ that will appeal to collectors who love complete, well-accessorized sets is a new/old stock #5033 Warehouse Set. It’s as crisp and nice as the day it left the factory. The multi-level interior-insert box replicates a loading dock and was custom-designed to secure a Buddy ‘L’ Coca-Cola delivery truck with Coke bottle cases and handcarts; and a turquoise and white stakebed delivery truck with barrels and a…
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Auction Result, Press ReleaseBeautiful bell toys, rare banks and rare Victorian Christmas cards rose to the top at Milestone’s Dec. 6 Winter Premier Antique Toy & Bank Auction
Star lots: Group of 20 19th-C. 3-D pop-up Christmas cards, $20,400; Bread Winners mechanical bank and Clown with Crooked Hat still bank, $15K each, Drummer Boy Chariot bell toy, $12K WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – You never know what will happen at an auction, and the latest case to prove that point was Milestone’s December 6 Winter Premier sale featuring antique toys, banks and high-quality vintage collectibles. The 633-lot selection chalked up $670,000 in sales, with several pieces well surpassing expectations and one “sleeper” rising from its “long winter’s nap” to command a price that was a staggering 51 times its high estimate. The auction’s top lot turned out to be this grouping of 20 Victorian-era 3-dimensional pop-up Christmas cards. The selection included some especially rare and beautiful examples, which did not go unnoticed by collectors of Christmas antiques. Against an estimate of $200-$400, the lot sold for $20,400. While undeniably beautiful, the group lot consisting of 20 Victorian-era 3-dimensional pop-up Christmas cards harbored additional hidden value that probably would not have been recognized except by bidders with a deep involvement in Christmas antiques, ephemera in particular. The selection included a number of extremely beautiful designs, and the fact that they were three-dimensional pop-ups as opposed to standard-format cards, set them apart from the get-go. But within the small specialty collection, there were also some very rare examples, which did not evade the eyes of seasoned aficionados of Christmas goods. Estimated at $200-$400, the lot was bid to $20,400 – a stunning 51 times the high estimate, equating to an average price of $1,020 per card. “This was a classic case of crossover-shopping success,” said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auctions. “Collectors of toys, banks, pop culture items and holiday antiques are very smart about scouring auctions that aren’t specific to what they collect. They always have an eye out for something great that might appear in an auction that isn’t focused solely on the specialty they collect. We were delighted to see how much interest there was in this lot and also to be able to deliver the good news about…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone’s Dec. 6 Winter Premier Antique Toy & Bank Auction delivers goodies that would make Santa’s elves green with envy
Featured: James Fetzer collection of mechanical banks, bell toys, chocolate molds and Christmas games; and Ed Steinberger collection of early banks and antique McLoughlin board games One of the top examples from the James Fetzer collection of antique chocolate molds, this rare 21in-tall Santa Claus with Toys is marked for the manufacturer ‘Anton Reiche’ (Germany). Excellent condition. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500 WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Milestone Auctions will light up the holidays this year with a festive December 6 sale of high-quality antique toys, banks and Christmas antiques. The 626-lot selection is led by two advanced collections that couldn’t be more compatible. The James Fetzer collection includes American bell toys, rare German chocolate molds, and Christmas games; while the Ed Steinberger collection adds board games by the revered mid-19th to early 20th-century publisher and lithographer McLoughlin. Both collections contributed to the broad array of nearly 200 cast-iron and tin mechanical and still banks. Additionally, the auction lineup is brimming with horse-drawn cast-iron toys, pressed-steel trucks, cast-iron motorcycles and racers; antique and vintage German tin toys, Christmas tree ornaments and candle clips. The mechanical bank section is one of the largest and most diverse to appear at auction in years, with many rare examples in very fine condition. A J&E Stevens (Cromwell, Conn.) “Girl Skipping Rope” cast-iron mechanical bank displays all-original paint with no cracks or repairs. The bank is in Excellent condition and, when tested, its mechanical action worked properly. The pre-sale estimate is $15,000-$25,000. The top tier of mechanical banks also includes several elusive productions from Kyser & Rex of Philadelphia. A “Confectionary” bank – always a favorite with collectors – depicts a woman attendant in a candy store with the names of various sweets marked on apothecary-style storage drawers behind her. The bank is all original except for its rear access door, which appears to be a very good replacement. There are no cracks or repairs to the casting, and the mechanical action works well. The Confectionary bank is hard to find in any condition. This one, which is graded Excellent, would make a worthy addition to even the most advanced…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone’s Sept. 28 Auction Spectacular rolls out rare motorcycles & dazzling neon, including a 1930s Harley-Davidson bullnose dealership sign, untouched in original crate
Incomparable headliner is estimated at $200K-$400K, alongside a Harley “bars & shields” neon sign, $100K-$200K, and ’47 Harley Knucklehead that starred on ‘American Pickers,’ $80K-$120K 30S Harley Davidson Bullnose Neon Porcelain Sign WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Milestone Auctions’ gallery will come alive with dazzling neon mega-signs and the bad-boy sounds of coveted vintage motorcycles in a September 28 Auction Spectacular that collectors won’t soon forget. The electrifying 643-lot auction, rich with signage rarities and bikes from long-held collections, goes above and beyond any other event the suburban Cleveland company has produced in its colorful 11-year history. Beaming brightly over the stellar array of neon is a sensational “unicorn” from the Depression Era: a Harley-Davidson bullnose dealership sign that sat crated and “sleeping” for decades in a rural schoolhouse until fate landed it in the hands of its present owner. That gentleman, a fan of both motorcycles and antique advertising, chose to consign it to Milestone’s September 28 sale, where it is expected to attract a hefty six-figure price. The auction headliner writes its own chapter in Harley-Davidson history through its remarkable story of ownership. The fabulous double-sided bullnose porcelain neon sign was originally intended for use at a Harley-Davidson dealership but has remained in its own virtual time capsule – an unopened original factory crate – since it was first shipped in the early 1930s by Everbrite Electric Signs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The sign’s original owner, Ellsworth A “Shorty” Schaber (1901-1984) of Ithaca, New York, is believed to have become an authorized Harley-Davidson agent shortly after attending a 1927 Harley dealers’ meeting in Milwaukee. The sign he ordered was shipped from Everbrite to his place of business in Ithaca in the early 1930s, with the intention being to move it later on to a new retail location. However, that plan was derailed by the post-Depression economy and, later, Schaber’s service in the US Army Motor Corps during World War II. When the sign initially arrived, Schaber stashed it away under a tarp at a one-room schoolhouse he regularly used as a storage facility. There it remained, untouched in its factory crate,…
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Auction Result, Press ReleaseRare postwar Japanese toys smoked to the top of prices realized at Milestone’s $1.1M auction
Yonezawa Atom Jet 58 Racer sped to $47,970, while boxed space toys explored the outer limits: Jupiter Robot, $43,290; Astroboy Motorcycle, $25,830; XY-105 Space Fighter, $25,800 Yonezawa Tin Friction Atom Jet Racer W/ Box WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – On May 3, Milestone Auctions unleashed a fantastic selection of vintage and antique toys that kept bidders engaged from start to finish, whether they were competing live in the gallery, over the phones, or burning the midnight oil via the Internet from Europe and beyond. Finishing at $1.1 million (inclusive of buyer’s premium), the auction was Milestone’s second dedicated toy auction to surpass the million-dollar mark, with last year's New Year’s Toy Extravaganza blazing the trail for seven-figure results at $1.3 million. “We had a great variety of toys to offer to collectors, including high-quality antique European autos and character toys. Every category attracted its own following, but even before the sale, we knew the hottest group would be the postwar Japanese toys. The prices on some things were just astonishing, like a tin Space Pistol that sold for ten times the high estimate,” said Miles King, principal auctioneer and co-owner of Milestone Auctions. The grand marshal of the Japanese tin toy parade was a rare and coveted Yonezawa Atom Jet 58 Racer. Friction-powered and all original, including its tailfin, tires and hubcaps, the impressive 27-inch-long showstopper was offered complete with its original paper-label box. “On top of being very rare and one of the largest Japanese cars ever produced, It appeared never to have been played, so that was the perfect trifecta. Bidders didn’t hold back,” King said. Against an estimate of $30,000-$40,000, it sold for $47,970. Robots can bring the big bucks, whether they’re more than a foot tall or roughly half that size. Examples of both were entered in the sale and commanded above-estimate prices. A rare 13-inch battery-operated Yonezawa Jupiter Robot accompanied by its extremely scarce original pictorial box presented in all-original condition, complete with its correct remote-control battery box. It defied its $15,000-$25,000 estimate and was chased to $43,290. At the other end of the size spectrum, a 7¾-inch…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone’s May 3 Premier Vintage Toy Auction casts wide net across many genres, showcasing museum-quality classics made in Japan, Germany, France and USA
Featured: 1 of 3 known Felix the Cat Carousels, fresh-to-market collection of battery-op robots and characters: Tarzan, Snappy the Dragon, Capt. Hook, Walking Batman, Smoking Popeye on Spinach Can WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Milestone’s May 3 Premier Vintage Toy Auction offers a treasure trove of classic 20th-century toys from the legendary manufacturing hotspots of Japan, Europe and the United States. Led by an extraordinary Gunthermann Felix the Cat tin carousel, the 814-lot sale is also highlighted by a 330-piece fresh-to-the-market battery-op collection, Continental toys and autos; robots and space toys; motorcycles, and big, super-hot postwar racers. Most of the toys entered in the auction come with their coveted original boxes, some of which are even harder to obtain than the toys they house. That irrepressible cartoon feline, Felix the Cat, leads the esteemed toy lineup in his usual fun-seeking fashion, this time in the form of an extremely rare Gunthermann (Germany) tin windup Felix the Cat Carousel marketed in 1928. The visuals on this wonderful toy show Felix driving an open roadster and also riding on top of a zeppelin, both forms of transportation that captivated the public at the time of the toy’s release. Another Felix figure on the base cranks the carousel, and graphics of the wide-eyed cat running in full stride encircle the carnival-style canopy. “Felix was a phenomenon in the 1920s,” said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auctions. “His image was chosen for the first-ever balloon to appear in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (in 1927). The following year, a helium-filled Felix balloon was released at the end of the parade so it could fly high and thrill kids all over New York City. Also in 1928, RCA and NBC began testing their early television equipment with an image of Felix, and 18 years later when a coin-operated TV receiver was set up in Manhattan to introduce consumers to the new form of entertainment, they chose Felix to share the screen with test patterns. He’s been a hugely popular multimedia icon for over a century, since his debut in a 1923 comic strip.” The Gunthermann Felix the Cat…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone’s Jan. 18 Premier Military Auction surveys 250 years of war and conflict, with special focus on rare WWII and Nazi material
Featured: Regimental swallowtail standarte for Third Reich pageantry, massive Japanese flag from Battleship Nagato, Hitler’s standarte photo-matched to Nuremberg, ID’d Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross WWII US 1St Combat Cargo Patched A-2 Flight Jacket WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Milestone Auctions will ring in the New Year with a January 18 Premier Military Sale that commands collector attention throughout its 705 high-quality, well-provenanced lots. The 250-year timeline starts in the 18th century with coveted Revolutionary War items and progresses to the modern-war era. Significant sections are devoted to Civil War (Confederate and Union) and World War II/Nazi relics, including important uniform groupings, helmets, flags, medals and insignia; photographs, and a comprehensive array of military swords, knives, daggers and katanas. All forms of bidding, in-person and remote, will be available for this auction, which will be webcast live from Milestone’s gallery. Leading the exceptional selection of World War II Axis artifacts is a massive handsewn Imperial Japanese flag ID’d to the Battleship Nagato. It was recovered from the Nagato captain’s quarters during the Occupation of Japan by US Navy veteran Neil Huntington, who served on the USS Texas. The frayed edge on one side suggests the flag may well have been flown on the Nagato, but it also stands apart from other Japanese flags because it bears the signatures of several American POWs who signed it aboard the USS Texas en route home to the States. Accompanied by Huntington’s photo album and documents pertaining to his military service, the lot will be offered with a $30,000-$60,000 estimate. Parades and pageantry were part of the Nazi propaganda campaign, and no expense was spared when it came to the creation of standartes (flags or banners) used at significant events. The January 18 auction includes a true rarity: a double-sided World War II Nazi regimental swallowtail standarte (flag/banner) reflecting the highest level of artistry of its day. The standarte is intricately hand-embroidered with eagles in relief, silver bullion wire oak and laurel leaves; and hand-applied silver wire edging. The silk fabric is of a particular shade of red that denotes the artillery branch of the…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone’s Jan. 4 auction of Dr. Jim Reynolds’ Buddy ‘L’ collection features samples, prototypes from storied toy factory ‘morgue’
450-lot auction lineup features one of the most complete assemblages of early Buddy ‘L’ trucks ever to come to market, led by one-off Insurance Patrol truck sample and extremely rare Red Baby trucks Buddy L Prototype Insurance Patrol W/ Box WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – On Saturday, January 4, 2025, Milestone Auctions in suburban Cleveland will offer collectors the opportunity to bid on treasures from the renowned pressed-steel toy collection of the late Dr James R Reynolds (1943-2020). An esteemed heart surgeon, hobby farmer, philanthropist and South Dakota Hall of Fame inductee, Dr Reynolds lived life to the fullest, with a long and varied list of interests that included hunting, fishing, sailing, NASCAR, spending time in the field with his dogs, and traveling the world. But a visit to his spacious country home left no doubt as to which hobby consumed the majority of his free time. He loved acquiring and displaying vintage pressed-steel toys, especially Buddy ‘L’s, and had an extensive network of dealers and fellow collectors from whom he purchased rare, immaculate examples. The decades Dr Reynolds spent in pursuit of toys took him to groundbreaking toy shows and auctions during the late 1980s and ‘90s, and later, to the most famous of all pressed-steel specialty events: the March 2001 Buddy ‘L’ Morgue Auction of factory prototypes and samples. Dr Reynolds’ prized purchases from that sale and many other sources are included in the 450 lots to be sold on January 4. The Reynolds trove is anchored by one of the most complete assemblages of early Buddy ‘L’ trucks ever to come to market, including doored trucks, Buddy ‘L’ Jrs, flivvers, ride-on trucks, and wood prototypes that the famed Illinois toymaker produced during the World War II era when metal was scarce. Leading the selection is the only known example of a Buddy ‘L’ Insurance Patrol fitted with headlights and a bumper, complete with factory prototype tag reading 205C 1928 9LBS. All original with its original pullcord and NM paint and decals, this model never saw production. The 27-inch-long truck comes with its original box and distinctive Buddy ‘L’ blue-and-white…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMarx prototype robot ‘Charlene’ used her feminine wiles to win gold at Milestone’s $861K Premier Vintage Toy Auction
Other big winners: boxed Tremendous Mike robot, Buddy ‘L’ pressed-steel Tugboat, American National Packard Roadster pedal car, comical Distler Directional Policeman Car, and 1966 tin Batmobile Marx Big Loo Charlene Prototype WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – A comical German-made police car, pressed-steel rarities of the pre- and postwar era, and a robot that was pretty in pink were among the entries that landed in the top 10 at Milestone’s October 5 Premier Vintage Toy Auction. More than 700 high-quality lots from long-held collections took the spotlight at the company’s suburban-Cleveland gallery, with hundreds of phone and Internet competitors vying against in-person bidders to produce an exciting day of estimate-topping prices. After the hammer fell on the final lot, presiding auctioneer and Milestone Auctions co-owner Miles King confirmed that the sale had achieved a robust $861,000. Even those with little knowledge of robots could have taken one look at “Charlene” – the auction’s top lot – and recognized that she was something quite special. A prototype made by Marx, the 38-inch-tall plastic robot was designed by Harry Evanhoff in 1963 as a “wife” for the legendary toy manufacturer’s male ’bot named Big Loo. Like her hubby, Charlene was designed with a green plastic body and cone-shaped head, but her eye-catching color scheme also included pink secondary and accent colors, red lips, and decidedly feminine lace and fishnet trim. She came to auction with a blue Louis Marx & Co., Glendale, West Virginia, sample tag that said 7650-X Loo and SEND GLENDALE/CHARLENE. Uniquely historical and with provenance from the Frank Bartzyel collection, the robot intended to be “Mrs Loo” sold for $21,600 against an estimate of $10,000-$15,000. Following closely Charlene in the robot stakes was an ASC (Aoshin Shoten, Japan) tin windup Tremendous Mike Robot accompanied by its rare original box. All original, super-clean and complete – even including its easily-lost antenna – the highly desirable 10-inch robot commanded $19,065 against a pre-sale estimate of $8,000-$10,000. Of all the vintage superhero toys favored by today’s collectors, few have enjoyed a winning streak in the secondary marketplace to rival that of Batman. The Caped Crusader…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseAntique and vintage European, American and Japanese rarities top the bill for Milestone’s Oct. 5 Premier Toy Auction
Featured: 28in Buddy ‘L’ red Tugboat, American National Packard Roadster pedal car, super-rare Yonezawa Mechanical Commander Robot, Distler Directional Policeman Car, bevy of motorcycles Very rare Buddy ‘L’ pressed-steel red Tugboat. All original with vibrant paint and decals. Non-motorized version believed to have been intentionally produced that way at the company’s East Moline, Illinois factory. Length: 28in. Provenance: Fred Castan collection. Estimate: $15,000-$20,000 WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – College football, newly-harvested crops, and the announcement of Milestone’s Premier Vintage Toy Auction are all sure signs that autumn has arrived. This year, Milestone’s bounteous fall event is slated for October 5 at the company’s suburban-Cleveland gallery, with all forms of remote bidding available, including live online through a choice of Internet platforms. The auction lineup is packed with 715 high-quality lots representing the most-sought after categories of antique and collectible toys sourced from across the United States and beyond. In anticipation of this sale, Milestone’s co-owner Miles King and his team of road warriors have crisscrossed the country, picking up automotive, nautical and character toys; early motorcycles, pressed-steel trucks, banks, and Japanese tin and battery-op productions, including coveted robots and space toys. In addition, the selection includes early European hand-painted and windup toys – some with rare factory boxes – by Lehmann, Martin, Gunthermann and many other sought-after German, French and British brands. American pressed steel is a strong category in the October 5 sale, with several rarities deserving special attention. First, there’s an elusive Buddy ‘L’ pressed-steel Tugboat, all original with vibrant red paint and intact decals. It’s a non-motorized version believed to have been intentionally produced that way at the fabled Buddy ‘L’ factory in East Moline, Illinois. A sizable 28 inches long and with provenance from the Fred Castan collection, it comes to auction with a $15,000-$20,000 estimate. Another cast-iron rarity is an all-original 27-inch-long Gendron Sampson pressed-steel stake truck with good-looking orange-and-black paint, and decals. It’s the only original example of this truck Milestone’s team of toy experts has ever encountered. Auction estimate: $6,000-$8,000. Following closely behind is another all-original pressed-steel toy, a Turner Lincoln nicely finished in a…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseWint Johnson’s rare German Schucos and pre-war tin planes consistently defied pre-sale estimates at Milestone’s Aug. 24 Premier Toy Auction
Schuco Felix the Cat perfume had the scent of success, selling for nine times its high estimate at $4,674; while a French Hispano-Suiza 900 seaplane dominated the aviation group at $9,225 Schuco Felix the Cat perfume, 5in tall, all original and in excellent condition. Provenance: Wint Johnson collection. Sold for $4,674 against an estimate of $300-$500 WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – A phenomenal legacy collection of German Schuco toys and fine pre-WWII airplanes joined forces to conquer the top 10 at Milestone’s August 24 Premier Toy Auction. While most of the Schucos are now en route to successful bidders across the pond in Germany, France and other Continental destinations, the majority of the airplanes – mostly of European manufacture – will remain on US soil. All of the toys entered in the 639-lot auction came from the estate collection of Minnesotan and lifelong toy enthusiast Winton “Wint” Johnson (1937-2022). According to Milestone Auctions’ co-owner Miles King, online participants kept their bidding cards close to their vests. “They must have all had the same strategy in mind, because they seemed to appear all at once to view the catalog and leave bids in the hour before the sale began,” he said. “We knew that probably every major Schuco collector would be interested in Wint’s collection – there was just no way they were going to miss the opportunity – but we had no idea how strong the interest would be in his vintage airplanes, which were in beautiful condition.” Nearly 300 lots of Schucos were offered at the live gallery sale, each an outstanding original example. Johnson was known to buy regularly at shows, auctions, online and through a global network of like-minded toy aficionados. He would upgrade whenever possible and sell his duplicates, but he never parted with anything from his core collection, which contained only the rarest and best Schuco toys and prototypes. The top seller amongst the Schucos was a 5-inch-tall Felix the Cat perfume in excellent, all-original condition with a “ball-bearing” nose, red kerchief and nicely-painted facial features. Against an estimate of $300-$500, it sold for a remarkable $4,674.…
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Auction IndustryLet’s Play! Milestone Auctions’ Premier Schuco Toy Sale Highlights Antique Rarities
Schuco– originally named Schreyer & Co. in 1912 by Heinrich Müller in Nuremberg, Germany– is one of the oldest and most recognized European toy manufacturers. The company originally specialized in producing clockwork tin playthings, novelties with moving or functional components, wind-up pets and birds, and miniature replicas of cars and trucks. Today, the firm is owned by the Simba Dickie Group and makes die-cast scale automobiles, planes, boats, and commercial vehicles. Milestone Auctions of Willoughby, OH is offering its 639-lot Premier Schuco Toy Sale & More on August 24, 2024. This event features a remarkable and complete collection of early to mid-century Schuco items, including samples and rarities. Here are some highlights that caught the eye of the Auction Daily team. Lot #0266A, a wind-up Mickey Mouse riding on a scooter, is estimated at $2,000 to $3,000. Image courtesy of Milestone Auctions. Schuco Mickey Mouse Toy One of the top lots in this Schuco toy sale is #0266A, a wind-up Schuco Mickey Mouse riding a scooter. It is estimated at USD 2,000 to $3,000. This all-original and working clockwork toy consists of a four-inch-tall black and white Mickey Mouse made from velvet and felt riding upon a three-wheeled metal vehicle with a green chassis. Mickey wears red felt shorts decorated with white circles and a red and white bow tie. The tricycle has gray metal wheels, a handlebar, and a wind-up mechanism on its side. This Schuco Mickey Mouse toy is branded with a Schuco mark near the key opening. Mickey Mouse made his worldwide debut in 1928. Soon after, toy companies around the world began producing items based on this cartoon hero. Steiff, another German toymaker that competed with Schuco for ideas and market share, produced a Mickey Mouse figure from 1931 to 1936 in six sizes ranging from 11 to 48 cm. This Schuco Mickey Mouse vehicle is likely to generate impressive results at auction because it is at the intersection of several important collecting categories. These include Disney, Mickey Mouse, prewar toys, vehicles, and clockwork toys. As such, cross-collectibles often get lots of eyeballs and many bids…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone’s Aug. 24 auction features estate collection of rare German Schucos, other fine European, American & Japanese toys
Highlights: Winton Johnson’s ‘ultra-complete’ collection of early German Schuco toys, pre-WWII airplanes, toy boats/motors, Minics, three real wooden race boats & motors, duck decoys Schuco felt and tin windup Boxer Jack with platform and punching bag. Figure has painted facial features and wears original Schuco Germany imprinted fabric sash that says ‘Boxer-Champion.’ Height: 6in. All-original and in working order. Beautiful condition. Estimate: $2,000-$2,500 WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – One of the world’s finest and most-complete assemblages of antique and vintage Schuco toys – the estate collection of the late Winton “Wint” Johnson (1937-2022) – will headline Milestone’s August 24 Premier Toy Auction. Alongside the blue-ribbon Schucos are Wint’s other prized holdings: Japanese toy boats and prototypes, toy outboard motors (some boxed), pre-WWII airplanes, and English clockwork Minic toys. Wint’s love of lakes and boating was lifelong, as reflected in the three real-life wooden racing boats, boat motors and carved duck decoys also entered in the sale. Wint Johnson was a Minnesotan of German heritage, and it has been suggested that perhaps his interest in German-made Schuco toys was inspired by having received a Schuco toy as a child. Whether that was the case or not, Wint’s family says he was intrigued by the windup nature of Schuco toys and proud of the German engineering that went into their design. This was not surprising, since Wint was, by profession, a mechanical engineer. Established in 1912 in Nuremberg, Germany, the Schuco toy brand was known for its small-scale designs replicating people, various types of vehicles, and storybook and comic characters. The precision-made toys delighted children because of their clever actions, which could be initiated by the turn of a key or, in some cases, by friction. Even now, a century after the first finished examples rolled off the production line, Schucos are in high demand. Collectors are especially keen to acquire the classics manufactured during the golden era between World Wars I and II, however, top-of-the-line examples are hard to find. And that’s where the Johnson collection excels. Nearly 300 lots of Schucos are offered in the August 24 sale, each toy an outstanding…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseStudebaker neon sign lit up the top 10 at Milestone’s vintage advertising, toys and coin-ops auction
794-lot selection was led by fresh-to-market California collection of high-quality gas and oil signs; unexpected star lot: a vintage Louis Vuitton automobile travel trunk that sold for $19,305 All-original Studebaker Art Deco bull-nose porcelain neon sign, double sided, sharp colors, fantastic condition. Size: 10ft 6in long x 47in tall at round and 2ft at other end; 12in thick. Made by Walker & Co. From an advanced private collection. Sold for $21,000 against an estimate of $15,000-$25,000 WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Condition was the keyword throughout Milestone’s June 15 auction of vintage advertising, toys, coin-ops and old coins. The 814-lot sale, which totaled a robust $650,000, was chock-full of gasoline, oil and travel-related signs, including a high-quality, fresh-to-the-market collection from California. Many other popular collecting categories were woven throughout the sale, such as advertising clocks and thermometers; watches and jewelry; old radios, pocket knives and ships’ bells. An all-original Studebaker Art Deco porcelain neon bullnose sign, with size, originality and great eye appeal in its favor, finished at the top of prices realized. The double-sided sign with a sharp-looking cobalt blue, red and white motif measured 10 feet 6 inches long, 47 inches tall from the top to the Studebaker red dot, and 2 feet tall at the other end. It was made by the noted sign manufacturer Walker & Co., and came to Milestone from an advanced private collection. Many dozens of enthusiasts were watching the near-flawless sign prior to the sale, where it achieved $21,000 against expectations of $15,000-$25,000. “Even if a neon sign isn’t working perfectly, it will still attract bidders as long as it’s in great condition and the flaw is fixable,” said Milestone Auctions co-owner and principal auctioneer Miles King.” His comment was made specifically with regard to a single-sided, three-dimensional porcelain and neon “Chevron Dealer” sign. Formed in the petroleum company’s distinctive chevron shape and red, white and blue colors, its neon flickered, but did not light up. “Neon sign collectors would know where to go to get that remedied,” King noted. The 32- by 23-inch sign sold for $12,000 against an estimate of $2,000-$4,000. Like…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone’s June 29 Premier Military Auction led by D-Day-flown American Flag from ‘first wave’ to land at Omaha Beach
Featured: German SS general’s uniform, WWII Japanese general’s uniform and USMC Korean War flamethrower from Virginia military museum; engraved WWII Luftwaffe dagger, MacArthur dog tag Complete named grouping of Imperial Japanese Army Lt. General Tatsuji Ogura, who commanded 127 Division in Manchuria in the final desperate months of World War II. Archive includes complete dress uniform with frock coat with cased shoulder boards, aguillette and cased officer’s sash; trousers and a visor hat with plume. Housed in period Japanese-made lidded suitcase. Provenance: American Armored Foundation Inc Tank and Ordnance Memorial Museum; private collection of William Gasser. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000 WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – American military history, from the Civil War through Vietnam, will be revisited and honored on June 29 at Milestone’s Premier Military Auction, with all forms of remote bidding available in addition to in-person bidding at the gallery. Arguably the Ohio company’s finest offering of militaria to date, the 700-lot selection is led by a US Navy D-Day archive whose centerpiece is a 48-star Ensign #10 American Battle Flag that was flown on LCI-538 during the “first wave” to land at Omaha Beach during the Invasion of Normandy, on June 6, 1944. A near-sacred symbol of the coordinated effort in which the Allied Armies’ land, air and sea forces united to achieve the largest military invasion in history, the iconic flag was retrieved as a souvenir by Motor Machinist’s Mate First Class Frank R Maratea, who was aboard LCI-538 during its landing. Maratea’s archive also includes a WWII US Navy Commission streamer flag, his own Honorable Discharge and military papers; original photographs taken on Omaha Beach and on the deck of LCI-538, ephemera from D-Day Landings 50th Anniversary Reunion (including a photo with then-President Bill Clinton), and more. This unique grouping of highly important, impeccably-documented mementos will cross the auction block with a pre-sale estimate of $40,000-$60,000. The Omaha Beach West assault phase of “Operation Overlord” – the code name for the Battle of Normandy – was known as “Operation Neptune.” Among the auction highlights is a map of the area in and around the community of Vierville-sur-Mer, with landing…
