A firemen’s Hunnemann hand-drawn handtub with pumper, built in 1860 and beautifully restored after a barn fire, sold for $99,000 at a multi-estate sale held April 9-11 by Showtime Auction Services in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Hunnemann handtub was the top lot of the sale and one of three offered, along with over 200 other items from the Granite Handtub Museum in Newmarket, New Hampshire. The Hunnemann example was purchased in 1860 by New Ipswich, New Hampshire, along with two other Hunnemann machines (a Southern Hero and Tiger, both of which are still displayed in Ipswich.)
In 1972, in Massachusetts, the Hunnemann that brought $99,000, plus 14 other handtubs and hose reels, were involved in a barn fire. The ensuing restoration on the Hunnemann was based on photos from the 1920’s and 1930’s (and from photos of its sister machine, the Southern Hero.) The gold leaf on the pump box was copied from the picture that came with the machine.
In addition to the pieces from the Granite Handtub Museum, the three-day Spring "Live" auction also featured a private arcade machine collection, around 150 rare toys and banks, barber shop, advertising, country store, gambling, general store, soda fountain, Coca-Cola, breweriana, petroliana, automobilia, Western Americana, tobacciana, saloon, Black Americana, and more. In all, nearly 2,000 lots from several major collections, came up for bid.
Additional highlights (all prices include a 10 percent buyer’s premium) follow. An ornate firemen’s hand pumper brass lantern (circa 1890) soared to $30,800. A Mills Novelty Company "Sweet Perfume" coin-operated machine in excellent working condition, instructing users to place their handkerchief over an opening in the machine and drop in a penny to get a squirt of perfume, made $20,900; and a very early "Yellow Kid" wood gum vendor in good original working condition and complete with key, brought a respectable $6,000. A wonderful turn-of-the-century Cigar Store Indian standing 100 inches tall, attributed to Thomas Brooks with later re-paint, went for $21,850; a Buddy L pressed steel "Red Baby" toy truck, with original pull string, decals and tag, 24 inches long, rolled off for $8,250; and a Wurlitzer jukebox, model #1015, in all original working condition, commanded $8,050.
Mike and Lori Eckles of Showtime Auction Services have been working and/or attending auctions all over the country since 1968. In the last 6 years, they have been devoting their time to becoming the best professional Auction House possible. Showtime is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To learn more about Showtime Auction Services and its upcoming auctions, log on to www.showtimeauctions.com; phone (951) 453-2415; or e-mail mikeckles@aol.com.