We struggled to come up with a title for this auction – The Ultimate Man Cave Auction?, Father’s Day auction?, Gentleman’s auction? Mantiques? (ok, that was never really in the running), but ultimately we realized that the sheer artistry of so many of these pieces, be they hand made models of sailing ships, intricately constructed brass trench art, functioning steam engines, or model cars and airplanes, can be appreciated by anyone with an eye for the exceptional. Largely from the estate of one consignor, the scope of this collection is something we very rarely come across. In fact this is just the first of multiple auctions coming from this estate. There are still many, many mysterious boxes waiting to be unpacked!
For the automobilia collector, this auction is an embarrassment of riches. The Hohm instructional cars were created in 1939 in Germany, as instructional vehicles for automobile mechanics and driver training – including for the German military in WW II. In the early days of the automobile industry, drivers were expected to have a thorough knowledge of this new fangled invention. The German Chauffer School was founded in 1904, to teach drivers not only how to drive, but the rules of the road, and a basic understanding of how the automobile worked. Recognizing the need for a functional model car,Emil Hohm, an Opel dealer, produced a portable, cutaway car, with the mechanics exposed, to demonstrate the mechanical and operational functions of the automobile. When a true to scale model of an Opel Admiral was introduced at the 1939 Automobile exhibition in Berlin, it was an instant hit with the crowds, and production started in earnest. Due to the quality of construction, these were expensive items, and only 7000 were produced. They were exported world wide, and the Hohm name become synonomous with these models, having captured over 70% of the instructional vehicle market. The two examples in our auction, lots #2 and #237, were likely produced in the 50’s, but are based on a 1930’s vehicle design.
At the other end of the car collecting spectrum is our model of the 1938 Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen, lot#1. Made by the Compulsion Gallery, this sleek aluminum reproduction of the famous streamliner is truly a work of art. # 276 of only 3000, this limited edition car was originally driven by Rudolf Caracciola on the Autobahn, near Frankfurt. An experimental V12 engined, 755 hp car, it set a world record of 432.7 km/hr over the “Flying Kilometer” – a record that was surpassed only in 2017, as the fastest ever officially timed speed on a public road. Keep in mind, this was at a time when the average top car speed was 50 mph!
We all know the name Dodge – a highly successful motor car company created in the early part of the 20th century. Less well known is the fact that both the Dodge brothers – Horace and John, died from influenza in 1920. Horace Dodge Junior, Horace’s only son, was encouraged by his mother to start his own company – the Horace E. Dodge boatworks, in 1923. Calling his boats “WaterCars”, he used car assembly techniques to build his wooden boats. With the marketing power of the Dodge name behind him, his luxurious boats seemed poised to take on competitors like Chris-Craft and Gar-Wood. Sadly, the stock market crash of 1929 meant that his fabulous boats were simply unaffordable to the majority of the boat buying public, and they were forced to close in the mid 1930’s. Horace was determined that his boats would be like no others- Dusenberg steering wheels were used on the larger boats, a Cord gear lever was installed through the dash to operate the gearbox, and he developed a relationship with the Lycoming Co., well known for building aircraft engines. They worked with Dodge, modifying their engines for marine use. Hardware was of the highest quality, and the unique “Mermaid” sculpture was attached to the bow. We are thrilled to have one of these rare beauties on offer, in excellent condition, and a real piece of early 20th Century maritime history.
The tradition of trench art flourished in the first world war, although it is unlikely that the majority of pieces were actually made in the trenches of a battlefield. More likely is that they were crafted by soldiers convalescing in hospitals, as prisoners of war, or shortly after the war ended,before they returned home.They were often made as personal souvenirs, for family, or sold to other soldiers to earn money. Using the materials available to them – often tools of warfare such as bullets and shell casings, they range from the crudest of examples, to pieces that are truly works of art. We have many examples available in this auction, from a working brass lamp, constructed from a shell casing and mounted beside a 40 mm Bofors gun, to a cleverly crafted brass whistle, to an incredibly intricate and finely fabricated, polished brass wheeled mount and limber.One of our favourites is a brass car, lot #246, signed on the bottom with name and POW camp of an interned soldier. It is the sort of provenance that brings an unusual intimacy to these objects from our dusty past!
It is an interesting auction, full of the unexpected, and rarely seen. Take a drive out to Brantford to preview in person – you’ll be glad you did!
Please call John at 416-453-0920 to make an appointment if you would like to preview this auction.
