ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A magnificent Brunswick, Balke, & Collender Company front and back mahogany bar with the original matching liquor cabinet was far and away the highlight of an Oct. 3-4 auction conducted by Mike Eckles of Showtime Auctions. Ornate, neoclassical-style bars were popular in the late 1800s and the Los Angeles model was one of the most desirable models. The bar had life-size nude supports between the mirrors, adjustable shelves and a zinc-lined base for tobacco and cigars. It sold for $302,500.

For those wishing to set up their own bar, a pair of mahogany swinging saloon doors, also manufactured by the Brunswick, Balke, & Collender Company crossed the block for $77,000. They were originally from a saloon in Milwaukee, Wis. Among the features were applied carvings at the top and beveled glass was incorporated in all panels and highlighted with double glue-chipped and cut glass sections.

These magnificent pieces were from the collection of Ron Wallace, former president of UPS. Wallace was a dedicated collector of vintage advertising, gambling, saloon, and brothel items found in the Old West. Now however, Wallace is collecting in a new direction and is concentrating on Celtic pubs. He is interested in developing a chain of Irish pubs called The Olde Blind Dog and is now searching for original fixtures to decorate his new pubs.

One wing of his home in suburban Atlanta contained 14 facades, which created a full-scale replica of Tombstone, Ariz., as it was in 1892. It was in this replicated town that his large collection was displayed. There were approximately 200 running feet of store fronts which included the Oriental saloon, Epitaph News, the Birdcage Theatre, the Cochise County General Store, Amelia’s Gentleman’s Club, J. L. Halbert Undertaker, and J. Behan U. S. Marshal along with several others. To prevent excessive handling this “town” was sold by picture with the winning bidder to pick up it up at Wallace’s home. For $330,000 the Tombstone town in Atlanta is now in a new location.

If you couldn’t use a bar or a town, there were many other desirable items that crossed the block. In the shape of a train engine there was a cast iron cigar advertising clock for Katy Flyer cigars. This was made by the Golden Novelty Company of Chicago, was in excellent condition and had its original copper-flashed finish. This interesting piece of tobacciana sold for $5,775.

An Ashbury Bar, Jackson Lager, reverse glass corner sign, circa 1910, proved to be desirable and sold for $24,150. This was made by Berke Bros. in San Francisco and was made to be back-lit.

The trade sign for Eagle Halls Light Divine Optometrist retained 80 percent of its original paint and was in very good original condition. This trade sign was in the shape of a pair of glasses and sold for $6,600.

Made by the Tuchfarber Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1909 the sign for LaPreferencia cigars was titled 30 Minutes in Havana. It depicted a man leaning back in his chair and daydreaming of a beach in Cuba. This excellent sign sold for $16,500.

From the 1890s there was a prostitute’s garter with fancy beaded trim with the admonition Oh Stop. Outside of a little fraying it was in good condition and sold for $8,800.

A Faro case made of cherry and produced by Will & Finck, one of the most prestigious gambling supply makers in San Francisco, saw a final bid of $5,463.

An advertising piece for Consumers Brewing Co. was a glass display mug measuring 10 inches tall by 8 inches wide. While it had a small chip to the lip and a one-inch factory flaw at the top, it was still highly desirable and crossed the block for $15,400.

A pair of gambling ring guns came in their original case marked Les Companions. The larger ring was marked La Petit Protector and the smaller one Femme Fatale. The original bullets were included and this rare piece saw a final bid of $14,300.

A reverse glass and mother-of-pearl inlaid sign for the Rock Island System Railroad depicted a train, cows, and a cowboy on a horse in the foreground and Pike’s Peak in the background. The railroad company awarded a contract to the Western Sand Blasting Company in Chicago to produce 50 of these over a period of two years at $50 each. Only a few remain and this one, which was in excellent condition, crossed the block for $33,000.

With great graphics, a Gold Medal Oils two-sided porcelain sign made by Veribrite Signs, Chicago, sold for $44,000.

With its original paint and only a few minor scratches and a small amount of rust the 1932 Hudson made by the American National Pedal Car Co., Toledo, Ohio, did not appear to have been played with very much. This item crossed the block for $11,000.

Poker “Bucks” are the antique version of today’s dealer button to designate who the dealer is in a game of poker. In very early poker games a buck knife was used and it was from this beginning that the name “buck” evolved. Several crossed the block with the most desirable one being the one that read Jack Pot on the front and had the image of a chamber pot on the back. This item earned $10,350.

The Oliver Chilled Plow wood sand sign from the late 1800s was in excellent original condition and very good graphics. It crossed the block for $7,700.

From the 1800s there was a hand-carved ivory playing card press with an unusual screw mechanism. The hammer fell on this item at $9,350.

Entitled The Happy Daisy Boy, there was a Daisy air rifle paper banner that measured 14 inches by 21 inches. This crossed the block for $7,150.

Roulette began in France in 1655 and is now one of the most popular gambling games in the world. An extremely rare double roulette table made by the B. C. Wills Company, Detroit, Mich., was one of the most desirable roulette items to cross the block reaching a final bid of $11,000.

Another gambling table was the Big Six gambling table complete with chip tray and chips. This piece earned $15,400.

A straight razor display case, complete with 18 assorted celluloid-handle straight razors with individual brass price tags and an original decal that read Ask the Man who uses a Terrier Razor had several interested bidder and was sold for $16,500.

A rare oak-framed Lucus Beer reverse glass sign featuring A Critic and with the statement: No Better Beer Made….No Beer Better Made found interest and a selling price of $12,100.

From Belgium there was a Coca-Cola porcelain thermometer dated 1938 that found a final bid of $3,795.

A Cigars and Tobacco paper sign manufactured by Spaulding and Merrick was one of only two known. Entitled A Prosperous Merchant it depicted a well-dressed man standing outside of a tobacco store puffing on a cigar. This interesting sign sold for $6,325.

Prices reported include the buyer’s premium.

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