VIETEJRIAN EASINEJ ANTU~DES
ADETIEJNS THE 6ETbAN EBbbEETIEJN!
By Larry Lubliner
The Mel and Anne Getlan coin-op collection, com-
prised of more than 300 lots, went under the hammer
the weekend of May 4th at Victorian Casino Antiques
in Las Vegas, NY. Not since Sotheby's Auction of the
Smith Collection in September 1994 has there been a
sale of such magnitude and importance in the world of
coin-op collecting.
Other items of interest from the Getlan Collection in-
cluded a coin operated Bicycle Pump, which brought
$14,000.00; a Caille "Jockey," which garnered
$17,500.00; Mills Hy-Lo machine sold for $12,500.00
and a Mills perfume vendor brought $9,000; a Blinkey
Eye gum machine was hammered down at $25,000.00;
The Little Duke cast iron card machine raked in
$27,500.00; and a Caille New Century Detroit fetched
$17,500.00.
The auction was well attended with over 400 floor bid-
ders and 1400 internet bidders participating. It provided
a glorious opportunity for many of the "old time" col-
lectors and dealers of Coin-Op to gather, swap stories
and catch up with acquaintances and their families. Be-
fore the Getlan collection was put up, VCA owner Peter
Sidlow, better known to his friends as "Pedro," called
for a 10 minute break so the "old timers" could gather
up front for a group photo.
The cover of the hardbound catalog featured a machine
called The Auto Doctor, which sold for $12,500.00. The
matching cabinet, brought $6,000.00.
The steal of the collection was a I-cent Trophy Tower
Sales Corp. razor blade dispenser. Pictured in Bill En-
nis' book, Silent Salesman, and perhaps the only one
known, it went begging at $1,300. All in all, the Getlan
collection brought over one million dollars .
After the photo session, paddles flew. The star of the
collection was a Caille Globe cast iron trade stimulator,
of which very few are known. It sold for $85,000.00
(prices mentioned will not include buyers premium).
The machine is relocating to a new home in Colorado.
The auction spanned three days and included 1500 lots.
Some of the other highlights included Caille Centaur/
Eclipse 25 cent double upright slot machine with mu-
sic, which fetched $75,000.00; Caille's Little Roulette,
The old cigar vending machines were the surprise of brought in $30,000.00; a Wm. Demuth zinc cigar store
the sale. Collector Ken Rubin bought six of the seven Indian, circa 1870, which sold for $29,000.00; a Regina
pre-1916 machines for his upcoming book, Silent Cigar upright music changer, selling for $8,500.00; a set of 3
Salesmen due out sometime in early 2013. Rubin says Kit Carson poker chips for $600; and an oval tin litho-
graphed advertising tray, "The Cream of Kentucky,"
the first coin operated cigar vendor debuted in 1883.
featuring an almost bare-breasted lady brought spirited
All seven machines sold for a total of$155 ,000.00, bro- bidding, closing at $4,800.
ken down as follows: Pope Cigar Vendor, 1909, $27,500;
B.F. Schwab & Co., 1889, $12,500; Bank Note Cigar The auction was a huge success - financially speaking
Vendor, 1900, $25,000; Bishop & Kline "Little Clerk," and otherwise. From the beautiful hardbound auction
1895, $25,000; Doremus Automatic Vending Co., 1901, catalogue to the limo service provided to and from vari-
$30,000; Jackson "Honest Clerk," 1905, $17,500; and ous hotels, the event was first class in every way. Victo-
rian Casino Antiques has set the bar very high.
Standard Vending Machine Co., 1915, $17,500.
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