Rare collectibles netted more than $1MM at Victorian Casino Antiques spring auction

LAS VEGAS - May 22, 2014 - PRLog -- Proving a continued demand for “not the things people need, but the things they want,” Victorian Casino Antiques hosted another fast-paced, fun, multi-day auction inside its Las Vegas showroom May 2-4, where 2,500 live and remote bidders competed to lay claim to more than 1,800 antique radios, slot machines, arcade games, gas and oil collectibles, advertising art, and much more, totaling $1 million in sales.

The highlight of the three-day event was the intense bidding for an exceptional salesman’s sample barber chair manufactured by Theo A. Kochs of Chicago. This beautiful, fully-detailed scale model sold for $42,000 to the top bidder.

Another standout item that attracted serious attention during “3 Days in May” was a five-cent Victor Novelty Works cast-iron table top gambling machine from approximately 1907. The very rare coin-op—only two or three are known to exist today—commanded more than $32,000 at the auction.

Along with other gambling machines such as the 1939 five-cent O.D. Jennings escalator bell slot that sold for $4,200, vintage advertising art and displays also continued to be popular among bidders, with a classic Pepsi-Cola metal floor display rack for bottle cartons—including 13 early six-pack carriers—rating $15,000 at the auction, a surprisingly intact Eveready batteries store display with moving parts going for $5,700, and a rare Harley Davidson Motorcycles five-gallon metal motor oil can rating $6,000.

Among the more than 500 lots of antique toys up for bid during the three-day auction were some excellent specimens such as a French-made, 21-inch Alfa Romeo pressed-steel race car that hammered at $4,800 and a 22-inch, German Guntherman “Silver Bullet” tin wind-up race car that sold for $2,400.

Proving that not even an auction is over until the fat lady sings, a buxom, life-sized, animatronic talking “Laffing Sal” carnival figure closed out the weekend by singing all the way to the bank, to the tune of $9,775.

VCA recently acquired the William A. Harrah Antique Gambling Machine Collection, which features one of the largest concentrations of upright single- and double-wheel slot machines in the world. This unique assemblage of vintage trade stimulators, floor consoles and assorted memorabilia from Harrah’s world-famous casinos—totalling more than 75 pieces—will be up for bid at VCA’s next multi-day auction event, taking place at the Las Vegas showroom Oct. 10-12.

Prior to that, VCA will host a Warehouse Discovery Auction on June 28 in cooperation with McManus Auctions of Henderson, Nev. This one-day live auction will feature 500 lots of antique toys, coin-ops, advertising art, neon signs, cash registers and other collectibles, up for bid live in our showroom or online via http://www.invaluable.com or http://www.mcmanusauctions.com.

ABOUT VICTORIAN CASINO ANTIQUES

With four decades under its belt and appearances on national TV programs such as Storage Wars, Pawn Stars and Baggage Battles, Victorian Casino Antiques (VCA) has built its reputation as the benchmark for American antique auction houses. VCA’s auctions provide an exciting experience for bidders live in its Las Vegas gallery or via phone or internet. Specializing in vending machines, slots, jukeboxes, arcade games, advertising, cash registers and art, VCA has sold more coin-operated devices than any other American auctioneer. A complete catalog and information about consignments can be found at http://www.vcaauction.com.