By William Flood LONE JACK, Mo. — Soülis Auctions conducted what they termed a historically significant railroadiana auction featuring relics from the golden era of rail travel. It was indeed noteworthy, with high-grade train and railroad company artifacts along with other transportation collectibles spanning from 1865 to 1950. Right at the outset, bidding was impressive even though the lots related to air travel rather than train travel. Lot 1, a travel agent desk model of a Northeast Airlines piston-powered Douglas DC-6B, circa 1950, sold for $2,000. Two other desktop airline models sold just as impressively. A mid-20th-century American Airlines Lockheed Electra Flagship flew past bidding estimates of $200-$300 to grab $2,400; and, a Seaboard & Western Airlines Super Constellation picked up $1,700. Railroad signs led the auction both in terms of quantity and price. A 37-inch porcelain sign for B&O overalls, featuring a railroad worker carrying an oiler, graded 9 plus, sold for $23,000 against pre-bid estimates of $3,000-$5,000. Next came a streamlined backlit aluminum sign for New York Central’s 20th Century Limited crafted by industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss who designed everything from fountain pens to rail cars. That piece went for $19,000. A 28-inch original Santa Fe Super Chief drumhead lighted sign in very good condition reached $18,000. Three additional signs sold for five-figures and about four dozen more reached four-figure sums. Beautiful Art Deco style was reflected in several floor-standing, ash receivers. A chrome two-tier Central of Georgia Railroad lounge car model with drink holders, in very good original condition, sold for $2,600 against original estimates of $400-600. One from the Northwestern Railroad, also in very good original condition, with two-tier brushed stainless steel trays, drink holders, and nickel-plated base came close at $2,200. And, a winning bid of $1,800 got a 1930s Pullman club car receiver on a three-rod stand. Six others from rail lines like Burlington and New Haven sold anywhere from $250-$1,800. Railroad lamps of all types also sold well. A very rare intact set that included the headlight, 1938 builder’s plate, and number board from New York Central locomotive number 5449, which saw service as part of the 20th Century Limited, brought a walloping $17,000. An 1855 locomotive lamp case with an internal burner, nickel-plated interior, and bowl-shaped reflector sold for $3,200 despite a missing trim piece on the base. A Mars Pyle-National steam locomotive sealed beam headlight attributed to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with typical wear and effects of age sold for $2,800. Porter’s step boxes are somewhat unusual finds even at railroad shows and auctions — yet, this auction featured 11 of them. A good condition Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad stepstool with embossed lettering sold for $3,000. A $1,000 bid acquired a Burlington stainless steel step box, with an embossed Burlington Route nameplate. The nine others, from lines like Canadian National, Chicago & Eastern Illinois, and Burlington sold from $275 to $900. Several kinds of railroad-connected furnishings were available for those devoted to train decor. A circa 1940 parlor car lounge chair from the New York, New Haven & Hartford line sold for the price of a modern recliner at $800. A pair of Pennsylvania Railroad lounge chairs went for $475. A streamline-style aluminum chair from Pullman’s Clover Bluff car, in very good condition, still possessing its original red leather covering went for $600. Wood pieces included an oak roll-front ticketing cabinet, circa 1880, in good exterior shape but lacking its original interior elements went for a relative bargain at $800 while a 19th-century cast-iron and wood depot bench with Chicago and North Western Railroad logos, graded in very good condition sold below estimates at $700. Nautical transportation artifacts were also represented. A brass ship’s engine order telegraph signed Cory & Son sold for nearly 10-times estimates at $2,200. A brass and mahogany Lionel ship’s binnacle grabbed $900. And, a 19th-century oak ship’s wheel with brass fittings, a red iron hub and eight turned oak spokes was purchased for just $475. In addition to the aircraft models mentioned, collectors had several rail and ship models to pursue. A brass “O” scale Pennsylvania Railroad 6-4-4-6 Class S-1 Steam Locomotive and tender painted for the 1939 World’s Fair snagged an impressive $6,500. Also impressive was a 6-foot lighted waterline model of the Queen Mary, circa 1940s that a buyer picked up for $850. Contact: (816) 697-3830, www.dirksoulisauctions.com |