A similar example is featured in Christian Bailly’s reference book Automata, the Golden Years and also appeared on the cover of the catalogue for Bailly’s 1994 exhibition in Liège, Belgium.
Described as “in excellent working order”, the example shown here from the Bill Howard collection took $17,000 (£13,600) against an estimate of $5000-10,000 at Morphy’s (23% buyer’s premium) Las Vegas Coin-op & Antique Advertising Auction on April 11-13.
Go nuts for a machine
One of the top performers over estimate at the sale was a fully functional c.1920 electric peanut-roasting machine.
The jaunty mascot for Planters Peanut Company complete with top hat, cane, monocle and spats, was the focal point of this machine.
When activated, the figural character, who straddles the roasting barrel, renders the appearance that he is powering the machine with his cane, as an oarsman might do on a sculling team.
Probably the “finest of the few that are known to exist”, said Morphy, the roaster easily surpassed its $30,000-60,000 estimate to reach $110,000 (£87,970).
