Citizens of the historic eastern Pennsylvania city of Pottstown have banded together with additional supporters of The Carousel at Pottstown project to plan a fundraising auction for Wednesday, April 23. All profits from the event will go directly toward the ongoing restoration of a 1905 Philadelphia Toboggan Co. carousel for Pottstown's city center.
An outstanding selection of donated antiques and quality collectibles will be offered at the auction, which will be held at Maurer & Wilson Auctioneers' 132 E. 3rd St. facility in Pottstown. Licensed auctioneers Kathy Maurer and Curt Wilson will preside over the uncataloged, country-style sale commencing at 10 a.m.
"Pottstown has always been known as a pickers' paradise for rare antiques," said Carousel at Pottstown committee spokesperson George Wausnock. "The people of our city have been very generous and supportive with our past fundraisers, but this time they've outdone themselves. We've received some terrific auction items, which will go a long way in helping us achieve our remaining goal of $400,000."
One of the sale's top highlights comes from veteran Pennsylvania auctioneer Ted Maurer, who is Kathy Maurer's father. He has donated a 3-by-3-foot galleon made around 1900 by inmates at New York's Sing Sing prison. In addition to its impressive size, the model ship boasts hand-knotted rigging and realistic plank decks.
Among the toys to be auctioned are a Lionel Model 385E standard gauge train set with individual boxes, an early Steiff bear on wheels, and numerous tin and cast-iron toys, including an antique horse-drawn cast-iron circus wagon. Another subcategory is Disneyana, with featured lots including Mickey Mouse watches in their original boxes and a boxed set of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs figures.
An enviable collection of milk glass includes musical milk-glass unicorns. Additionally, the auction includes rare stoneware, large and small advertising items, Oriental rugs, and an antique European carousel horse. A large, single-owner collection of commemorative knives includes coveted World's Fair souvenirs.
The sports collectibles category is led by a rare, SGC-graded 1953 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card. Other sports memorabilia runs the gamut of baseball, football, golf, boxing and car racing, with a number of racing photos and programs pertaining to Indianapolis and local racetracks. There are many other early, signed sports photos and ephemera items.
The auction is rounded out with a broad selection of old tools, quilts, comic books, Boy Scout memorabilia, kitchen utensils (including agate), and Beatles LPs.
The preview will be held on Tuesday, April 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. and from 8 to 10 a.m. on auction day. The Carousel at Pottstown committee welcomes any additional auction donations up to and including the day of the auction.
For additional information, contact George Wausnock at 610-327-4062 or wausey@comcast.net or call Fred Hoffman at 610-327-2871. To view images of the carousel's progress, visit www.pottstowncarousel.org.
About the Derek Scott Saylor Memorial Carousel in Pottstown.
The Derek Scott Saylor Memorial Carousel Exhibition Center is located at 30 W. King St. in Pottstown, Pa. Phase I of the carousel project was completed in the spring of 2010. The carousel's restored antique mechanism has been appraised at more than $1.3 million. Its restoration was accomplished through donations and volunteered services. Carousel animals are still available to sponsor. The Carousel at Pottstown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization whose goal is to help revitalize downtown Pottstown and return revenue to the community with profits from the operating carousel. The carousel venue will also be available to rent for parties, reunions or other family-friendly and corporate gatherings.