A treasure trove of fantastic toys, banks and holiday antiques from premier collections awaits bidders at Bertoia’s Nov. 21-22 Annual Fall Auction

Featured: David Bausch’s fine posters & automobilia, Dale Buchardt’s Ives & AMRR trains, Marklins, Steno Tonelli’s Japanese tin, Richard Mueller’s litho’d paper-on-wood toys, spotless cast-iron rarities

VINELAND, N.J. – Bertoia’s Annual Fall Auction is always one of the most keenly-anticipated events of the year for collectors of toys, banks, advertising or holiday antiques. The lineup of featured collections entered in this year’s edition, which is slated for November 21-22, offers bidders a level of quality and variety that rivals anything seen in Bertoia’s past pre-Thanksgiving sales. The opening session is packed with rare toys, banks and trains; while the artful selection chosen for Day 2 will usher in the gift-giving season with beautiful Christmas and other holiday antiques, as well as early 20th-century advertising and posters.

Auction headliners include Ives and AMRR trains from the personal stash of the late Dale Buchardt, whose collection is also the source of an incredible Kenton Coca-Cola truck that Dale regarded as his very best toy. It is possibly the only example of its type known to exist. Also sharing the spotlight are the prints, posters and automobilia amassed by a renowned pioneer of the toy hobby, David Bausch; and lithographed paper-on-wood toys from the collection of the late Richard Mueller.

A stunning collection of cast-iron automotive toys came to Bertoia’s in such immaculate condition, the task of assessing them for the auction catalog proved to be quite a challenge for even the company’s president and principal auctioneer, Michael Bertoia. “You just don’t see cast-iron toy collections with contents so close to flawless, there’s no other way to accurately describe them than ‘mint,’ or at the very least, ‘near mint.’ Cast iron fans are going to pounce on them. They really do live up to the standard of ‘unplayed-with’ condition.”

Leading the cast iron highlights are an incredible Arcade “Hathaway’s Bread & Cake” truck and several outstanding taxi cabs, some of which are even accompanied by their factory boxes. Several choice figural cast-iron doorstops will cross the auction block, along with a dozen or so premium-quality cast-iron horse-drawn toys from a Florida collector. That particular grouping is led by a fine and highly desirable Pratt & Letchworth combination wagon. 

Lithographed paper-on-wood toys, comprising boats, trains, carriages and other vehicles, come from the late Richard Mueller’s collection. A member of the Antique Toy Collectors of America (ATCA) and the gracious host of the club’s past annual convention in New Orleans, Richard accumulated one of the world’s largest collections of vintage pull toys. At an early age, he developed a love for collecting model trains – and later in life, pizza stores! While he was a student, he began working for Domino’s Pizza. This led to a successful four-decades-long career during which he operated the largest number of Domino’s locations of any single franchisee in the United States. 

Richard and his wife, Linda, took great pleasure in restoring their 100-year-old Castle Farms property in Charlevoix, Michigan, which is now an award-winning wedding and event venue; as well as the nonprofit Hungry Ducks Farm. Also, Richard and his brother Glenn founded the nonprofit TrainTastic in Gulfport, Mississippi, the largest model train Museum in the USA.

During the November sale, Bertoia’s gallery will serve as a crossroads for all sorts of rare trains, including sought-after Marklin productions. A Marklin Schlitz Beer Car from a Midwestern consignor is fresh to the market following Michael Bertoia’s on-air appraisal of the piece on a 2025 episode of Antiques Roadshow. Another top prize is an extremely rare Marklin 0-gauge car richly emblazoned with “Anheuser-Busch Budweiser / King of All Bottled Beers” and “Anheuser-Busch Beer Car.” Additionally, there are some larger-gauge German trains and a number of elusive accessories of a compatible gauge.

The parade of collections continues with more blue-ribbon consignments from both sides of the Atlantic. From the UK comes the second round of Tony Cuff’s toys, including a sizable fleet of German boats and battleships, and English-outline trains. The expansive American train category is highlighted by Dale Buchardt’s Ives trains, a high-grade selection of boxed Lionel sets and colorful trolleys; and early 2-inch-gauge American trains by notable manufacturers such as Carlisle & Finch of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Knapp of New York City.

European tin automotive and wind-up toys are featured on Day 1, as are Japanese tinplate autos of the 1950s and ’60s. Among the postwar Japanese vehicles set to make a big splash are a dazzling Lincoln Imperial and a large and spectacular Atom race car. Also to be auctioned are a rare space rocket, superhero-themed toys; and from Italian theatrical set designer and longtime collector Steno Tonelli, some very nice Ventura and Ingap toys.

Day 2 of the November 21-22 auction will be a festive affair, as it is primarily reserved for the sale of antiques with a Christmas, Halloween or other seasonal theme. At every holiday sale hosted by the Bertoia family, guests find the atmosphere lively and welcoming, and there’s always an assurance that some of the rarest and best of all known examples will be waiting to be discovered. The November 22nd session is anchored by highlights from the advanced collection built over several decades by the late Ed DeGarbolewski and his wife Brenda. Ed and Brenda’s comprehensive Christmas cache includes Santas, nodders, reindeer, sleighs, belsnickles, ornaments and trees; plus wonderful skittles sets, Heubach bisque candy containers, artful terracotta items, and more. The session’s offerings also include holiday items from the collection of Jerry & Darla Arnold.

David Bausch, or “Dave,” as he is known to his many friends in the toy hobby, is a man of formidable credentials, both in his professional life and his avocation. He’s a retired Lehigh County, Pennsylvania politician, a lifelong toy collector, ATCA member, and founder of the venerable Allentown Antique Toy Show & Sale, which is now in its 47th year. As Dave said in the April 1983 Antique Toy World cover story, “There is a joy in owning and sharing a collection with others.” Luckily for those who have a passion for antique toys, 2025 is the year Dave has chosen in which to share his collection in the most literal sense.

At Bertoia’s August 22 Automobilia sale, collectors got their first glimpse into Dave’s world through a diverse assemblage of motoring-related figurines, trophies, awards, objets de vertu, and gentlemen’s desktop novelties. Also at that auction, Bertoia’s presented Part I of his vast collection of fine posters, prints and other artworks associated with transportation. Part II of his extensive archive of art posters was specifically reserved for Day 2 of the November 21-22 Annual Fall Auction, and it will be worth the wait.

An automotive theme is seen throughout Bausch’s enviable array of posters. Some of the French productions are doubly exciting because they cross over into the holiday realm as Christmas advertisements for toy stores. Two even depict Santa Claus behind the wheel of an early auto – how perfect is that? In today’s marketplace, such posters are in high demand, and not just in Europe and the United States. All over the world, interior designers, owners of high-end restaurants and bistros; museum curators, and private collectors avidly pursue these beautiful artworks from a period of time when great lithographic art was at its peak.

Bertoia’s November 21-22, 2025 Annual Fall Auction will be held live at the company’s gallery located at 2141 DeMarco Drive, Vineland, NJ 08360, starting at 10AM ET. Auction goods may be previewed the week before the sale by appointment only. In addition to live gallery bidding, remote bidding options include absentee, by phone, or live online through Bertoia Live, LiveAuctioneers or Invaluable.For additional information on any item, to leave an absentee bid, schedule a private-preview appointment, reserve a telephone line for bidding, or confidentially discuss consigning to a future auction at Bertoia’s, call 856-692-1881 or email [email protected]. Watch for November 21-22 auction updates on Bertoia’s website: www.bertoiaauctions.com. Download Bertoia’s free app through the Apple Store or Google Play (for Android) to bid conveniently from anywhere.