LAS VEGAS, NEV.- A late-19th-century cigar store Indian figure attributed to the shop of Samuel Robb (American, 1851-1928) rose to $60,000, and a Mosler Safe Company (Hamilton, Ohio) “Cannonball” salesman’s sample safe brought $56,580 to dominate prices realized at Morphy’s October 16-17 Coin-Op & Advertising Auction. The much-anticipated event was held at Morphy’s West Coast satellite gallery in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The auction included more than 1,100 lots of rare, high-quality antiques and vintage collectibles. They included tobacciana, slot machines, salesman’s samples, barber shop collectibles, advertising signs (some of them neon), advertising trade figures and many other rare and sought-after items.



The 84-inch-tall, carved and polychrome-painted wood tobacconist cigar store Indian figure attributed to the shop of Samuel Robb (NYC, 1851-1928) depicted a Native American warrior wearing an elaborate eagle and feather headdress, feather-decorated costume and “jewelry.” The raised right arm held a bundle of cigars. The $60,000 final sale price was considerably higher than the $45,000 high pre-sale estimate.



Another American carved and polychrome-painted wood tobacconist trade figure, from the same era as the top-finishing lot, also depicted a standing Native American man in a feathered headdress and elaborate costume. It sold within estimate for $34,800. Reportedly, the figure was once the property of James “Sunny Jim” Rolph Jr, the longtime mayor of San Francisco and governor of California from 1931 until his death in 1934.



Also, a circa-1880 carved and painted countertop wood cigar store Indian figure by Thomas Brooks (American, 1828-1895) depicted a standing warrior in an elaborate feathered headdress and decorative costume, holding tobacco-related objects and a knife at waist level. The figure was attractively carved and painted and mounted on an architectural pedestal. It sold within estimate for $26,400.



The Mosler Safe Company “Cannonball” safe salesman’s sample was created in small scale so company salesmen could demonstrate one of America’s most formidable bank safes directly to prospective customers. It weighed just 25 pounds (versus the full-size Mosler Cannonball safes that weighed from 3,500-4,500 pounds). The $56,580 winning bid more than doubled the $25,000 high estimate.

A single-sided porcelain thermometer sign from Campbell's Soup of Camden, New Jersey, taking the form of the company’s iconic tomato soup can, had a face that read, "On so many days – Soup is just the thing!" The sign was in outstanding shape and the gloss and color were superb. The silver rim showed a bright nickel finish and the thermometer read accurately. It sold for $30,000, its exact high estimate.

What’s a coin-op sale without slot machines? The auction featured many fine examples, including these:



• A circa-1904 Caille Brothers (Detroit) “Big Six” upright slot machine, 63 inches tall and 26 inches wide, with patinated nickel plating to all original castings, and the original coin head, back door and wheel. The machine boasted solid mahogany construction. It changed hands for $21,600.

• A 25-cent Mills gold glitter-finished three-reel slot machine custom-made in 1957 for the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas. Everything on the machine was original and it showed very little wear or use, plus it played and paid correctly. It sold for $11,4000, against a $4,000 high estimate.

• A restored Mills War Eagle slot machine with a Native American stand (a composition figure in great paint and full dress, with very little wear). Included new paint and plating, new reel strips an award card and a correct back door. It sold for $10,455 against a $4,000 high estimate.

A cousin to the slot machines was the 5-cent Mills “Little Duke” trade stimulator, which sold within estimate for $11,400. This was an ornate and intricately-cast trade stimulator made by Mills at the turn of the 20th century. The very high-relief casting showed ladies, cherubs and foliage on all four sides and at the top. A classic poker machine, with payouts in cigars, this particular example had nickel play.



Sleeper lots included a spectacular oversize retro-futuristic rocket/spacecraft display, 145 inches long, constructed in metal and finished in silver with darker shaded accents. It’s possible that it was the work of, or closely related to the work of, Los Angeles artist Baron Margo, who was known for spacecraft incorporating neon. This amazing example blasted past its $6,000 high estimate to bring $28,800.



Another surprise overachiever was a rare version of the round "Energy Up / Dr Pepper / Good for Life!" sign, reading "Drink a Bite to Eat" and showing the iconic Dr Pepper 10-2-4 clock in the bottom, with the Dr Pepper brickwork across the middle. Eager bidders pushed the rare piece to $23,370, more than nine times the $2,500 high estimate.

A circa-1880s Corliss Safe Co (Providence, RI) salesman sample bank vault, engineered in miniature for the salesman’s hand, achieved $39,360, a little above the $35,000 high estimate. This was a very rare Corliss salesman’s demonstration model, created to showcase the construction, security and mechanical operation of a full-size bank vault to prospective customers, in a cast-iron and brass model that was faithful to the full-size original.



A late 19th/early 20th century salesman’s demonstration model of a physician’s examination chair represented a remarkable piece of early medical history, only in miniature. This sample allowed medical-equipment salesmen to demonstrate the construction, positioning and mechanical operation of the full-size chair to doctors and medical practices. It sold for $24,600, just under the high estimate.



Returning once more to tobacco trade figures, a circa-1880-1890 American carved and polychrome-painted wood tobacconist's advertising figure depicting a fashionably dressed woman in an elaborate late-Victorian costume, 33 inches tall on a base, fetched $26,400 against a $15,000 high estimate. Her left hand gathered her skirt while her raised right hand prominently displayed a small cigarette package.

A rare Stanley Wanlass limited-edition bronze sculpture titled Dream Machines, #10 of just 30 produced, breezed past the $10,000 high estimate to settle at $19,200. The elaborate composition captured the imagination and excitement of early motoring through a wonderfully animated childhood racing scene. It beautifully combined fine sculpturing, early automobilia and Americana in a single dramatic creation.

To discuss consigning to a future Coin-Op & Advertising auction or other auction hosted by Morphy’s, call Dan Morphy at 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. All enquiries are kept strictly confidential, and there is never an obligation to consign. Online: www.morphyauctions.com.