Bodnar’s Auction sold a single-owner estate collection over four sales spaced out over several months. Sale one was March 30, two and three were April 12 and 13, and the fourth took place May 3. This collection featured several categories, including early trains, toy boats, toy airplanes, signs, advertising, engines, and other items that focused on the history of the industrial age. The series of sales attracted over 3,500 registered bidders to participate in the online-only auctions.
The top lot of the estate was a Marklin key wind tin Jolanda boat, marked on rutter “Germany” with a Marklin insignia, selling for $18,880. It was in very good condition and appeared to be all original and near complete with just minor scratches and missing the top of one mast. This boat was named after the daughter of Marklin, who took pride in his toys. Other highlights from the toy boat and airplane collection was a gas-powered toy boat outboard motor. Marked Clarke #42, it brought $3,186. A gas-powered Morton radial M5 model airplane engine sold for $1,652; a Lionel-Craft key wind tin speed boat in mint and working condition sold for $1,298; and an antique electric-powered wooden "The Golden Arrow" toy boat realized $3,068.
A clean Lionel train collection that highlighted the pre-war era sold. Highlights included a Lionel brass and nickel steam engine #7 with tender, standard gauge, built between 1910-12, realizing $1,062. A custom Made-N-Gauge coffee table train layout that had two main lines, two sidings, nine structures, and train set with engines and rolling stock and was enclosed in plexiglass on legs steamed to $1,888. A Lionel standard gauge 5-51 steam engine O4O with eight wheel tender in black sold for $1,003.
The second sale included a unique collection of flashlights, lightbulbs, and batteries all in near-mint condition. Most items in this collection were featured in reference books and spanned over 100 years. Highlights from this sale were a vintage USALite Redhead Motorist safety flashlight, ca. 1921, which lite up to $1,032.50. A vintage tabletop battery and flashlight store display that came with 63 batteries and four flashlights sold for $973.50, and a vintage Ray-O-Vac flashlight handled walking stick/cane in very good condition sold for $796.50. An Eveready clover leaf bicycle lamp (front light) brought $295.
Sale #3 featured the history of the industrial age. The top lot was a rare antique Waterman gas-powered outboard porto motor, serial #32544, restored, selling for $12,980. An antique gas-powered Waterman outboard porto motor, restored, with brass and copper highlights sold for $7,375, and an antique Junior gas-powered fan made of cast-iron and other metals, by CT Fardwell Plumbing, Baltimore, Md., blew to $3,835. A vintage porcelain advertising sign for “Martin-Senour 100% Pure Paint Varnishes, Enamels Sold Here” sold for $2,360.
A vintage gas-powered skateboard, “The Motoboard T140,” new in box, sold for $2,242; an antique key wind Duck Nodder with felt body with working beak quacker, cast-iron feet in working condition, sold for $1,298; a National Brass tabletop cash register, restored, serial S1017453 312, sold for $855.50; and a Little Gem "Martian" crystal radio set, ca. 1920s, with headset, sold for $531.
Bodnar’s Auction conducts online auctions every three weeks featuring estate collections with no reserves. The next auction to highlight the balance of this collection will be Thursday, June 8, featuring about 75 lots of toys, including a nice antique wagon collection.
To view all prices realized or for additional information, visit www.bodnarsauction.com or call 732-951-2100.