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| Bidders got their motors running in Morphy's $1.7M Fall Sale |
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Consignor Andy Huffer was elated with the results his collection achieved. “The auction surpassed all my expectations,” he said. “It was a success because of the knowledge and dedication of Morphy’s staff, and the company’s good name with collectors. In fact, I’m so pleased, I’m taking the whole Morphy’s team out to dinner next week as a thank-you.”  One of many dazzling entries from the Andy Huffer collection, a cast-iron 8½-inch toy motorcycle replicating a 1930 Harley-Davidson factory DAH Hill Climber - $57,500. An unusual Chronometer cast-iron mechanical bank with an embossed image of a winged satyr-like character led its category at $20,700 against an $8,000-$12,000 estimate. Although not as fully articulated as some mechanicals, its rarity, extraordinary artwork and high percentage of original paint [95 percent] made it an object of intense interest amongst collectors.  Rare cast-iron Chronometer mechanical bank in beautiful original condition, consigned by the original owners - $20,700. The auction featured a medley of collectible metals. A near-mint circa-1930 Buddy ‘L’ Jr. pressed-steel dairy truck complete with six original accessory milk cans rolled to $11,500. Identical money was paid for a tan, green and red painted cast-iron skull with oarsmen and coxswain. Measuring 14 inches long and made by the U.S. Hardware Co., it had been entered in the sale with a $1,500-$2,500 estimate.  Circa 1930 Buddy L Jr. pressed-steel dairy truck, 24 inches long with opening doors, nickel-plated bumper with headlights, accompanied by six original accessory milk cans - $11,500. There was no lead to be found in the zeppelins that flew past expectations to top the tin toy section. A German-made 20-inch-tall hand-painted clockwork tower with zeppelins and biplanes circling beneath an American flag landed at $13,800; while a French tinplate hot air balloon with passenger toy, made by L.M. Paris, sold with its original box for $12,650 – more than 14 times its high estimate. In the comic-character area of the sale, highlighted by the Carl Lobel collection, an example of the ever-popular Linemar wind-up Mickey the Magician didn’t need sleight-of-hand to conjure a $5,750 price. Another classic Linemar production, a battery-operated Smoking Popeye with colorful original box doubled its high estimate to settle at $4,025.  M&K German hand-painted tin clockwork toy featuring three zeppelins and three biplanes - $13,800. As indicated by prices realized in Morphy’s sale, marbles continue to flex their muscle in the marketplace. The visually appealing array of swirls, sulphides, latticinos and micas found favor with collectors all over the United States, by phone, Internet and in the room. The big winner was a 2 1/8-inch onionskin swirl with alternating colors in a rainbow spectrum. It ended its bidding run at $10,350.  Extremely rare onionskin swirl marble, 2 1/8-inches in diameter with alternating colors - $10,350. As an example of things to come when Morphy’s launches its Toy Trains department, a beautiful Marklin 0-gauge PLM passenger train set made in Germany for the American market breezed past its $1,000-$2,000 estimate to apply the brakes at $13,800. Morphy noted that the Winter Sale [Dec. 11-13] will include 600 lots of trains.  Marklin 0-gauge PLM passenger train set made for the American market - $13,800. The eternal appeal of the Christmas gift-giver was evidenced by the $17,250 price realized by a 30-inch-tall, late-19th-century clockwork Santa nodder. Made in Germany, the extremely rare figure featured a bisque face with blue glass eyes and goat-fur beard; long mohair coat and accessory feather tree with miniature ornaments.  30-inch-tall 19th-century porcelain clockwork Santa with bisque face - $17,250.
 14-inch painted cast-iron scull with oarsmen and coxswain, made by U.S. Hardware Co. - $11,500. Morphy Auctions will conduct a special single-owner sale on Nov. 22 featuring the Arthur Richmond Collection of Americana, American furniture and art. All items from this important Virginia collection, which includes several George Washington portraits, will be offered without reserve. To contact Morphy Auctions, call 717-335-3435 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Visit the company’s Web site at www.morphyauctions.com.               |
DENVER, Pa. – Private collections of impeccable quality prompted an avalanche of bids in Morphy Auctions’ Sept. 11-13 Fall Sale, which realized $1.7 million (inclusive of 15 percent buyer’s premium). The sale’s headliner, the Andy Huffer toy motorcycle collection, knocked down incredible prices, with a Hubley 8½-inch cast-iron Harley-Davidson bike with nickel wheels and near-perfect paint roaring to a $57,500 finish. The faithful representation of a 1930 Harley factory DAH Hill Climber, with driver in forward “uphill” pose, made well over three times the high estimate.
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