I am fortunate to be able to see and touch some of the most unusual objects ever created. But the definition of “rare” takes on a new meaning when you work in the antique and auction business. I mean, we see this sort of stuff all the time, perhaps more than the general public has the opportunity to. For this reason, the more we’re exposed to it over time, we can’t help but to become a little jaded or somewhat cavalier. So when something completely out of the ordinary or off the wall comes along, it’s a special occasion. In some cases, unless one can witness them personally, it’s sometimes difficult to believe that some of these things actually existed, not to mention survived these many years.

One never knows what we’ll see from auction to auction, so every day is an adventure. Where else does one get the chance to see a stunning carbon microphone from the 1930s era by General Sound Equipment? With the classic Art Deco nickel styling, it looks straight out of a Frank Capra movie. Or how about a nifty 50s Philco Predicta television with its futuristic bubble tube sitting atop a stylish tower speaker base to help complete your hipster Mad Men décor. Or maybe a Dr. Magaura’s “Blood Circulator”, a quack device from around the turn of the century. This hand crank apparatus claimed to improve one’s circulation when in actuality it did no such thing. The pulsing vibrations it produced did nothing more than give the user a curious sensation. It most certainly served other functions. Even the accompanying instruction literature reads like a veiled romance novel.

The fun continues with one of the earliest forms of advertising, the figural trade sign. Before literacy was commonplace, it was typical for a business to have a three-dimensional representation of their trade hanging above their door so passersby would know where to go. These signs surface rather infrequently and are highly sought after today. A wonderful dentist trade sign in the form of a gold capped molar is hand painted and (for those able to read) it mentions particular services such as “Artificial Teeth” and “Teeth Extracted” on the sides. With traces of old red paint on the roots it suggests that this was perhaps one of the more graphic examples created.

A scarce Victorian lithograph for Chichester Chemical Co. shows an elegant well-dressed woman standing beside a stock ticker, getting the latest report on her investments. It is a terrific go-with for classic Wall St. related collectors. It is joined by a fabulous, all-original Western Union ticker tape machine with aged brass components and more style than you can shake a stock at. It comes complete with its original glass dome and a fluted wooden column pedestal. These things and more are just a few of the fun and unusual items in our upcoming auction. Come play with us.