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March roundup now in the Arena.

That Win-a Lot was cheap!
Nice to see a Bryans Galloper. Lethal thing though, as you watch the little sister (standing watching her older brother who pushed past her to jump on first), ram the lever straight into 'Gallop', and watches him thrown off over the front.

Serves him right for pushing in.

April roundup now in the Arena.

Thanks for that. Wow some cheap machines ! Especially liked the Handani.

I missed some good stuff there

Love the Torpedo Shoot.

Coin-op results in the Arena from today's sale of Science & Technology & Mechanical Music, Fine Toys & Automata, Auction Team Breker (Cologne)

Donley Auction Services held a sale yesterday in America which also offered some high-end coin-operated mechanical music machines. Final bids were often coming in at half the low estimate, and selling, which maybe reflects the current parlous economic climate. Coin-op results in the Arena.

Magnificent Multiphone Coin Op Phonograph Jukebox (Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000) hammer $10,000.

I noticed that there were a lot of N/S and below estimate sales in the previous post re the Auction Team Breker (Cologne)
sale and was going to comment, but you beat me to it with the second post re The Donley Auction Services sale in America, where again prices were low.

Was this a misprint ? If not someone got a bargain!

Cail-o-phone Coin Op Cylinder Phonograph,

Estimate: $12,000 - $14,000

Hammer: $1,300 (£1,074)

I think this emphasises the reality of our collecting hobby, and collecting in general. These Items have no real quantifiable "value", they are worth what someone will pay. It's supply and demand.
With the current Global uncertainty over the Covid19 epidemic, people are prioritising their spending.
An example I have mentioned, pre Covid19, to fellow collectors is the rise and fall in the value of Longcase Clocks. In my childhood / early '20s they were much revered and commanded high prices, usually a thousand pounds or more for run of the mill examples. They now go through auctions for a couple of hundred.

bryans fan wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2020 10:16 am Was this a misprint ? If not someone got a bargain!

Sorry, yes, that was a midnight typo. Shift commas and place-value along one to: Hammer $13,000 (£10,741).
Corrected - thanks.

The second part of the sale is today and includes a few jukeboxes and other coin-ops, so I'll add those results when they come in.

Bryans Fan, don’t agree on the current market trends, in fact I have been surprised at how machines are selling eBay, most way above normal auction prices at Elephant and Coventry. E.g. there is an Aristocrat Starlite on eBay now which has already reached £480 and many days left. Wonders Win a Place a few weeks ago for £850, a Beromat Manhattan for £310... I could go on. Mr PM obviously does not track eBay and machines have been allowed to stay on and most fetching good money. Given the issues in collecting, it has surprised me. Some sellers have stupidly taken quick offers for cheap prices, but their loss. Of course, there still is the hard core of dreamers leaving machines on eBay for crazy buy it now prices.

The problem with these old music boxes, they are very specialist with a very small niche group of collectors with a non wider appeal. I would even argue they are not coin op as we know it and more in the music side of the collectors field, like jukeboxes...

treefrog wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2020 12:31 pm Bryans Fan, don’t agree on the current market trends, in fact I have been surprised at how how machines are selling eBay, most way above normal auction prices at elephant and Coventry.

Could be the "lock down effect" people have nothing better to do than surf the net?

treefrog wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2020 12:31 pm Mr PM obviously does not track eBay...

That's true, I visit the site infrequently, although if there was something exceptional I suspect it would get a mention here. Saleroom prices for gaming machines don't seem overly affected in the UK, apart from a little wobble when live auctions were still running while attending and collecting was problematic. Certainly one American sale doesn't make a trend. As you say, mechanical music is a rather different market, and maybe the estimates were too high anyway. There are one or two slots today, but the Morphy sale on 20-21st of next month should be a better guide to the mood in America.

I can tell you my mood right now: Grumpy!

J Peterson
Lockdown, USA

john t peterson wrote: ↑Sun May 17, 2020 4:45 pm I can tell you my mood right now: Grumpy!

J Peterson
Lockdown, USA

have you tried rubbing on Dettol?

I think you have to inject it.

I was opting for the less litigious option

Today's Antique Phonograph & Radio Auction results now added.