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Friday, November 25, 2005

The Nic Costa Sale

Here's what I have so far on Nic Costa's Collection of Amusement Machines sale at Christie's, South Kensington. More details to follow.

Contents:
Mutoscopes and Stereo Viewers (9)
One-armed Bandits (7)
Dispensers and Vendors (14)
Skill and Chance (9)
Wall Machines (51)
Electric-shock Machines (7)
Fortune Tellers (13)
Bagatelle and Pinball (10)
Parts and Accessories (8)
Working Models and Automata (10)

From Laurence Fisher (+44 (0) 20 7752 3278) :

"The Collector's department is pleased to announce the forthcoming sale of coin-operated machines, vendors and models on Thursday 19 January 2006.

This single owner sale of over 140 lots reaches into the depths of time from the mid 1870s with an unusual coin-operated shock machine in the form of a German soldier, right the way through to a selection of Mills Company one-armed bandits from the 1930s. Interesting pieces include three Mutoscopes (estimates range from £1,000-2,200), an Airship Profit Sharer wall machine by Jentsch & Meerz of Leipzig, featuring the R-100 Zeppelin ball-catcher (estimate £1,800-2,500) and a Rol-a-Top one-armed bandit by the Watling Manufacturing Co., Chicago, 1935 (estimate £1,000-1,200). The defining sections in this sale are entitled Mutoscopes and Stereo Viewers, One-Armed Bandits, Dispensers and Vendors, Skill and Chance, Electric Shock Machines, Wall Machines, Electric-shock Wall Machines, Fortune Tellers, Bagatelle and Pinball, Parts and Accessories and Working Models and Automata.

With so much to offer both the supplier and collector, this sale charts the success of the humble coin-freed device with unique 16mm film footage of the Mills Company factory from the mid 1930s, showing the construction of their machines through the many processes of production, accompanied by further reels of Mills' private family life (estimate £3,000-5,000).

I look forward to welcoming you to Christie's South Kensington when the viewing for this extraordinary sale starts on Saturday 14 January at 10.00am and if you have any questions in the meantime, please contact me."


Costa Sale

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Sale of the Last Century Catalogue

Here's the Wookey Hole 12th of November Sale of the Last Century catalogue. There are a few old slots here, plus a heap of other amusement related stuff. I haven't seen any publicity for the sale (apart from a few printed leaflets handed out) so maybe there'll be some bargains. Click the image below, and follow the links for the full catalogue listing.

Wookey Auction Catalogue