September 20, 1991 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — Page 45


 
$2.2 Million grossed at
Bertoia/Brady Mechanical Bank Sale
 
PHILADELPHIA, PENN.
        The record books were opened and closed so many times during the course of Bill Bertoia and Bob Brady's offering of the Bill Norman Mechanical Bank Collection that the pages were worn thin. At least 35 record prices paid at auction were established for a multitude of upper echelon banks, record prices for banks in the under $10,000 range have yet to be tabulated.
     Five banks broke through the $50,000 barrier to match or beat the record price paid at auction for a mechanical bank, which was established earlier this year at Mike Clum's when a Circus Bank sold for $55,000. Three banks sold at the $50,000 mark, which equates to $55,000 after premium, including the Mikado which was bought by a private Midwestern investor, the Jonah Pedestal bank bought by English collector John Haley, and Girl Skipping Rope which sold to collector Jan Piepul.
     Two banks which exceeded the previous record price included Little Red Riding Hood which sold at $52,000, plus premium, and the eventual record setting bank, the Fowler bank which brought $55,000 plus premium. Both of these banks were purchased by promoter Bill Bertoia for his private collection.
     Other top lots included the Roller Skating bank which sold to Dr Tony Haradin for $45,000, Picture Gallery bank sold to Bob Brady at $42,000, and a Breadwinner's bank sold to collector Steve Rottman for $35,000. Among the other items purchased by Rottman was a lithographed Watchdog Safe Bank trade card which sold for a record price of $5,200.
     A full review of the Bill Norman Mechanical Bank Collection auction will appear in a future issue of Antiques and The Arts Weekly.
          DAVID S. SMITH