5 cuts on CD

1068 1c

The top lot of the auction was a figural syrup dispenser in baseball form, “Fan-Taz, Drink of the Fans — a Pennant Winner” that achieved $47,300.

1049 1c

A Ward’s Lime Crush-Color Added syrup dispenser in original paint fetched $8,525.

2c 783a does cutline make sense? More than 3 people?

Floor person Emily Phelps displays a Humphreys’ cabinet that brought a record $9,625, while auctioneers Chad Shepard, left, and R.J. Brinkmeyer take floor bids.

2c 954

The top lot of the mechanical banks was Dentist, attributed to J.E. Stevens, circa 1880–1890, that sold for $4,950.

2c 337

A rare Vandergrift self-weighing shot case took a record $6,380.

2c 439

A restored 1885 Brunswick billiard table, full 4 feet by 8 feet, attained $12,100.

FOR 6-8

‘FAN-TAZ’ SYRUP DISPENSER SCORES SWEET $43,000 AT RICH PENN SALE w/6 cuts

avv/gs set 5-24 #701177

WATERLOO, IOWA —  When Rich Penn Auctions brought The Montross Drug Store collection to auction at the Iowa State Fairgrounds April 28–29, eager collectors gathered from across America and across the world.

The highlight of Sunday’s session was the selection of syrup dispensers. The top lot in the auction was the original condition Fan-Taz baseball-shaped dispenser that achieved $47,300 from the phone.

“This is one of the most rare and desirable of all the syrup dispensers. Because of its baseball theme, it has powerful cross collectibility among baseball collectors as well as syrup dispenser collectors,” auctioneer Rich Penn told the crowd. Other dispensers included the Ward’s Lime Crush, at $8,525, and a Cherry-Fizz that made $6,600.

More than 1,800 online bidders registered from the United States and 17 other countries in Europe, Asia and Australia. Those bidders were successful on more than 20 percent of the lots in the 1,300-lot auction.

The auction brought several record prices, including a rare shot dispensing cabinet, “The Vandergrift Self-Weighing Shot Case, patd May 10, 1881.” When this lot came up, all the phone lines were full and the cabinet was hammered to a successful phone bidder for a record $6,380.

Other highlights in Saturday’s session included a two-piece floor model oak “clamshell” cigar case. Circa 1880, the original condition case was made by The Waddell Wooden Ware Works Co., Greenville, Ohio, and sold at $5,775. Another clamshell, without the base, realized $4,675.

An unusual display case was a double tower flat front made by a Nashville, Tenn., display company that brought $4,400. It sat on a base with hand wrought iron ornamentation, including deer legs and hooves.

A single tower steeple display case sold for $4,290 to a bidder from Hong Kong, who had come specifically for a specific display case in a specific size.

Display cases were not the only thing to draw interest on Saturday. There was a flurry of online, telephone and in-house bidding on a restored Brunswick billiard table that went to a New England bidder for $12,100.

Highlighting an offering of nearly 30 spool cabinets, a double Merricks, with revolving cylinders, brought $3,080. An original Corticelli spool cabinet, also with a revolving cylinder, full of thread and with kitten transfers on the crown, fetched $3,080.

Advertising included a paper mache hanging Poll Parrot Shoes display that realized $3,100. An extra large litho on fabric stove sign for the Splendid Stewart Stove made $2,475, in spite of bottom damage, and a self framed litho on tin sign for Ruhstaller’s Gilt Edge Beer went to a West Coast phone bidder for $3,190.

Many of the original condition counter display cases, with etched advertising, sold on Sunday, including a single tower with etched advertising for three kinds of remedies that realized $4,400.

Larger display cases included one of the two rare original condition double tower “Tombstone” showcases, manufactured by Claes & Lehnbeuter, circa 1875, brought $9,350. A restored floor apothecary cabinet with 14 drawers realized $3,575.

When the Humphreys’ Homeopathic Specifics display cabinet came to the block, everyone expected considerable interest. The earliest of the Humphreys’ cabinets with a tin litho front panel, it showed a nude woman and lion and promised, “The Mild Power Cures.” Only six or seven are known to exist and this one was in fine condition. Phone and floor bidders took it to a record $9,625.

A framed paper litho of the “Prairie Girl,” advertising Hopkins & Arms Revolvers, drew $5,500. Even smalls brought big prices. A tin litho tip tray for Telling’s Ice Cream sold for $990.

Sunday’s session also included a selection of cast iron mechanical banks. The top selling bank was The Dentist, attributed to J&E Stevens. It took $4,950, followed closely by another J&E Stevens bank, the Darktown Battery, at $4,675.

As in most turn-of-the-century drug stores, The Montross Drug Store had a wide variety of display jars. A 15-inch high lemon drop counter display jar drew a top bid of $1,430. A 13-inch-high cranberry glass straw holder in thumbprint pattern, with a glass lid, fetched $2,640.

All prices reported include a ten percent buyer’s premium. For more information, 319-291-6688 or www.richpennauctions.com.