Milestone Auctions
38198 Willoughby Parkway, Willoughby, Ohio 44094
440-527-8060
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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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Auction Industry, Press ReleaseFuturistic Atom Jet Racer streaked past $25K mark at Milestone’s second auction of Elmer’s Toy Museum collection
International bidding was strong, with buoyant prices paid for early Lionel auto sets, Tonka pressed-steel vehicles, postwar Japanese and European toys Large and wildly futuristic Yonezawa (Japan) tin friction #58 Atom Jet racer with driver inside clockwork. Beautiful colors, graphics and details. Both friction and motor sound are functional. Length: 26in. Sold for $25,740 against an estimate of $10,000-$15,000 WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Ever since Milestone Auctions’ October 2023 debut offering of toys from the legendary Elmer’s Toy Museum collection, the question many vintage toy fans have been asking is, “When will we see Part II?” Their long wait ended on May 11 when the suburban Cleveland auction house rolled out 774 lots of tin windups, battery-operated toys, pressed-steel trucks, Japanese tin cars, Dooling gas racers, and both automotive and character toys from Germany’s pre-war era. The single-consignor event closed the books at $460,000, a figure that was comfortably within Milestone’s range of expectations and a full $100,000 above the overall low estimate. “Across all categories, better things brought better prices. Some of the numbers were insane, like on the Atom Jet Racer and the small Lionel autos,” said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auctions. “European toys were shipped everywhere, and the number of bidders for postwar Japanese toys was way up – collector interest just keeps on growing for that particular category.” Made by Yonezawa, the wildly futuristic tin friction #58 Atom Jet Racer finished at the top of prices realized. With its distinctive midcentury colors, a toothy chrome grille, and cool 1950s/’60s graphics, the oversize toy measured an impressive 26 inches long and had all its bells and whistles. Sought after by collectors of race cars as well as postwar Japanese toy aficionados, Atom Jet always creates a stir on those rare occasions when an example appears at auction. At Milestone’s sale, it stormed across the finish line to claim $25,740 against an estimate of $10,000-$15,000. Lionel is a revered American toy train company, but over the years they’ve produced a number of interesting sidelines. An unusual Lionel production from the Elmer’s Toy Museum collection was a rare 1912…
Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone brings summertime fun with eclectic June 15 auction of vintage advertising signs, toys, coin-ops and old coins
Fresh-to-market California collection of squeaky-clean gas and oil advertising is joined by other top-quality signs and country store items, many in mint/near-mint condition 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. Estimate: $15,000-$25,000 WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Milestone Auctions is mixing it up for their June 15 sale, with a pop culture-focused selection that’s right in sync with the fast-approaching first day of summer. Collectors can take a virtual road trip across America as they explore the catalog for this 794-lot auction. The emphasis is on fresh-to-market gas, oil and travel-related signs, along with toys, coin-op machines and amusements; country store items, and dozens of other types of antiques, including timepieces and gold coins. “Throughout the auction inventory, the keyword is condition,” said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auctions. “Many of the signs are in amazing condition, either mint or near mint. At the heart of the category is an advanced collection we picked up recently in California.” The star attraction is an all-original Studebaker Art Deco porcelain neon bullnose sign. Double-sided with a sharp-looking cobalt blue, red and white motif, this automotive classic measures 10 feet 6 inches long, 47 inches tall from the top to the Studebaker red dot, and 2 feet tall at the other end. Made by the noted sign manufacturer Walker & Co, this dazzling Art Deco sign comes from an advanced private collection and is expected to sell for $15,000-$25,000. A double-sided round porcelain sign for Cadillac Authorized Service is another example of how effective a combination of primary colors can be in conveying a message. In equally fine condition on both sides and marked Walker & Co. Detroit, this appealing sign emblazoned with the distinctive Cadillac brand’s crown-and-shield French coat of arms is estimated at $5,000-$7,000. Yet another boldly-colored production is the red, white and blue double-sided porcelain sign for Buick Valve In Head Authorized Service. Large and impressive at 42 inches…
Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone’s May 11 auction exclusively features Elmer’s Toy Museum collection, Part II
Second in series of sales featuring famed assemblage of antique and vintage toys includes avant-garde Atom Jet Racer, huge selection of European antique tin toys, motorcycles, boxed Tonkas, battery ops Large and wildly futuristic Yonezawa (Japan) tin friction #58 Atom Jet racer with driver inside clockwork. Beautiful colors, graphics and details. Both friction and motor sound are functional. Length: 26in. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000 WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Last October antique and vintage toy fans added a new chapter to the legend of Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum, which closed its doors in 2022 after 28 years of operation. Stoked by intense media coverage and toy-hobby chatter, bidders worldwide set their sights on rarities from the Wisconsin museum’s archive of 25,000 toys and paid estimate-shattering prices at Milestone’s first of a series of sales. After the event, collectors clamored for more and asked when the next auction of museum treasures would take place. The answer is, on May 11 at Milestone’s suburban Cleveland gallery, with all forms of remote bidding including live via the Internet. The museum’s vast and storied collection of American, European and Japanese toys was built over 50+ years by an inveterate gearhead and visionary of the toy hobby, the late Elmer Duellman. “Everybody knew Elmer, or if they lived overseas, they knew of him. He had an army of pickers from coast to coast, and if necessary, he would drive through the night in a blinding snowstorm just to pick up a toy, motorcycle or car that he wanted. He was the king of all toy networkers, with a reputation for tracking down rare toys that was second to none,” said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auctions. The 774-lot May auction traverses scores of categories, such as tin windups, battery-operated toys, pressed-steel trucks, Japanese tin cars, Dooling gas racers, and both automotive and character toys from Germany’s pre-war era. The session will open with European tin, starting with windup double-decker buses, limos and convertibles by Gunthermann, Bing, Carette, Karl Bub, Distler and Fischer; and a wonderful array of early 20th-century Lehmann clockwork toys. Lehmanns include: Anxious Bride, $1,000-$1,500; Masuyama,…
Auction Result, Press ReleaseMilestone Auctions sets house record for an antique toy sale at $1.3M New Year’s Extravaganza
Robots, space toys and pre-WWII Japanese toy motorcycles grabbed the lion’s share of the top 10 Exelo Battery Op Mars Explorer W Box WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – For more than 12 solid hours, bidders across the globe ignored the clock and stayed the course to bid in Milestone’s January 13, 2024 auction, the Ohio company’s first-ever toy sale to cross the million-dollar threshold. Finishing near $1.3 million, the 723-lot offering kept antique toy fans competitively engaged as they vied for extreme rarities and prototypes. In so doing, the current hot market for antique and vintage toys continued its unabated run, revealing which types of toys currently hold most-favored status and which are enjoying a revival of interest. Categories that grabbed the spotlight and brought consistently high prices included robots, space toys, motorcycles, and the ingenious, sometimes humorous, tin toys of pre-WWII Japan that, in decades past, had been underappreciated and thought of as “niche” collectibles. The auction’s top lot was something of a dark horse: an all-original and complete Exelo (Japan) battery-operated ‘Mars’ Explorer space car that had been estimated at a very respectable $12,000-$15,000 but ended up blazing a Red Planet trail to $42,120. Looking a bit like a 1950s/’60s “car of the future” and manned by two astronaut passengers, the two-tone green tin vehicle was emblazoned with MARS on its sides and came with its complete and colorful pictorial box depicting a Martian landscape. Both the exotically-styled toy and its super-graphic box manifest a world of space travel as originally visualized by 20th-century Japanese artists. The amusing, sometimes bizarre, fantasies incorporated into the designs from that period in Japan are what make post-WWII Japanese space toys so irresistible to collectors. “So much imagination went into the design of mid-20th century Japanese toys,” said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auctions. “You can get lost studying the art. On the Mars Explorer box alone, you might ask yourself who’s inside the flying saucer that landed in the clearing, who fired the primitive rocket that’s whizzing past in the sky, who paved the road on which the space car is traveling, and…
Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone Auctions’ Jan. 13 Antique Toy Extravaganza presents international mix of European, Japanese and American rarities from fine collections
Featured: Boxed Mechanical Popeye & Olive Oyl Tank, super-rare blue/red arms Diamond Planet Robot, Marx Big Loo Moon Robot prototype, Batman Tank, hundreds of early European windups & motorcycles WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Toys, toys and more toys! That’s what’s in store for collectors at Milestone’s big January 13 New Year’s Antique Toy Extravaganza in suburban Cleveland. The 732-lot sale includes some of the most sought-after of all European, American and Japanese playthings from the golden era through postwar-production years. Many have their rare factory boxes and present in excellent original condition. Marquee highlights include a super-rare boxed Linemar Mechanical Popeye & Olive Oyl Tank, a stellar Diamond Planet Robot, and a Marx Big Loo robot prototype with impeccable documentation and provenance from its original designer. Extraordinarily rare Linemar (Japan) Mechanical Popeye & Olive Oyl Tank, 11in long, with original box. Consigned by original owner in Western Australia who received it on his 7th birthday in 1957. Toy is excellent and even retains its original 2-shilling price tag. Estimate: $40,000-$60,000 The toy hobby is still buzzing about the boxed Popeye & Olive Oyl Tank that set a world auction record on April 9, 2022 when Milestone auctioned it for $105,000. One of perhaps a half-dozen examples known to exist, the toy had emerged from Australia, a fact that became widely known after the sale. But, contrary to the old adage, lightning did strike twice in the same spot. Worldwide postsale coverage led to the discovery of yet another boxed Popeye tank in Australia, from a different, completely unrelated source. The elusive character toy’s consignor, John Elsbury of Western Australia, received the tank in 1957 as a 7th-birthday gift from his parents. He clearly remembers being instructed by his mother to sit outside Randall & Edwards jewelry store in downtown Kalgoorlie while the secretive purchase was being made. Sixty-five years later, after stumbling across an online article about the $105,000 price paid for a similar-looking tank, Elsbury starting digging though old boxes and eventually located his birthday toy. It was still in its colorful pictorial box and even retained its original 2-shilling…
Auction Result, Press ReleaseRarities commanded estimate-smashing prices at Milestone’s $850K debut of Elmer’s Toy Museum auction series
Bidders worldwide competed fiercely for postwar Japanese tin motorcycles, with a 12-inch ‘Romance’ bike leading the pack at $25,830 WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum in Fountain City, Wisconsin, achieved legendary status long before its doors closed in 2022, after 28 years of operation. While the rambling rural museum is now history, the late Elmer Duellman’s tangible legacy – his mind-blowing assemblage of 25,000 antique and vintage toys – will live on. Bolstered by pop-culture fans of all ages, the fabled collection took its first step into a new era at Milestone’s auction October 28 sale, the first in an ongoing series of quarterly events featuring the Duellman toys. With intense media interest and lively toy-hobby chatter as its catalysts, the single-day auction debut realized $850,000, with estimate-crushing prices paid by bidders across the globe. Rare I Y Japan tin friction Romance motorcycle, known to collectors as the ‘large blue version.’ Size: 12in long. Excellent condition. Sold for $25,830 against an estimate of $2,000-$3,000 Without question, the auction’s top spotlight grabbers were the postwar Japanese tin motorcycles, one of Elmer’s favorite toy categories. A rare, 12-inch-long I Y Japan tin friction “Romance” motorcycle, known to collectors as the “large blue version,” depicts a young couple out for a spin, with a boy driver and girl passenger. Bright, colorful and in excellent condition, it outdistanced its formidable pack of two-wheeled challengers to sell for an astonishing $25,830. The pre-sale estimate was $2,000-$3,000. Another distinctive I Y Japan production, a 12-inch-long tin friction “Condor Motor Cycle” in beautiful all-original condition was offered with its rare, original pictorial box. The exciting box graphic shows a helmeted driver on a speeding bike with the striking image of a condor in flight on the gas tank. The coveted toy sold for $9,300 against an estimate of $2,000-$4,000. A rare Marusan Japan tin friction “Indian Motor Cycle” with the brand name “Indian” and a graphic of a feather-bonneted Native American chief on the gas tank had visual appeal to spare. Together with its scarce original pictorial box, whose artwork faithfully replicates the toy’s appearance,…
Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMilestone’s Oct. 28 auction to launch multi-year series devoted to toys from Elmer Duellman’s fabled Wisconsin museum
Over a 28-year period, the museum’s 25,000 vintage toys attracted collectors and journalists from all over the world WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Just about everyone in the antique toy hobby knew about “Elmer’s place.” Formally known as Elmer’s Auto and Toy Museum, the one-of-a-kind haven for vehicles and automotive toys of all types was almost as legendary as Elmer himself, who passed away in 2019 at age 79. Now, with the blessing of Duellman’s heirs, Milestone Auctions is auctioning the vast collection of antique and vintage toys that Elmer displayed at his Fountain City, Wisconsin museum. Alps Japan tin friction Lincoln Futura, 11in long, all original, excellent condition with original box. Estimate: $2,500-$3,500 The multi-year series of quarterly sales will debut on October 28, 2023 at Milestone’s Willoughby (suburban Cleveland), Ohio gallery, with all forms of remote bidding available, including live via the Internet through a choice of online-bidding platforms. “It’s impossible to describe how comprehensive Elmer’s collection is. He had a head start on all of us,” said Miles King, co-owner of Milestone Auctions. “As far back as the 1980s, Elmer was buying and selling at a rapid pace and had a small army of pickers from coast to coast who were always on the lookout for items of interest.” Duellman was also known for his encyclopedic knowledge of toys. He authored two volumes of the now-classic Elmer’s Price Guide to Toys and contributed significantly to Volumes 1 through 5 of the Evolution of the Pedal Car books. Duellman’s museum opened in 1994 and operated for 28 years. Inside and around five barns and sheds, visitors could view a mind-blowing array of 100+ cars, 175 motorcycles, 800 pedal cars, 250 bicycles, advertising signs, and a staggering collection of antique and vintage toys of all types. Elmer’s son Les Duellman recalled: “Dad collected a lot of pressed steel toys and a lot of tin – Japanese, German and American – plus tether racers, Dinky Toys, TootsieToys and ride-on toys. He always sought out original condition and original boxes because he knew that’s what really made the piece. He also liked boxed…
