Antiques Trade Gazette 33
float collectors’ boats 1 2 3 4 5
Maine (see caption story on page 36) but that in the Claus collection was powered by a very sturdy steam engine and replicated the vessel billed as the largest of its age, the Hamburg-America Line’s Kaiserin Auguste Victoria. Again, this was packed with detail
– as Claus points out in his book, even minute life preservers hang on the rail across from the pilot’s house – and it had received the minimum of restoration. Having purchased it at auction in upstate New York, Dick Claus later learnt that it had been stored for decades in a dry barn and probably had never been
played with. At Vineland it went on its top estimate of $120,000 (£80,000). At just over 12in (30cm) long, a
battery-powered Tip Top yacht was the smallest in a series of luxury private yachts made by Märklin and it includes some great detail – particularly a canopy- covered dining section with passengers seated around a table. The example in the Forbes collection,
with an unusual brown and orange striped hull, had sold at $15,000. This example, with a more typical red and white hull and the small stack replaced, took a treble-estimate $32,000
(£21,350). It is often said wistfully that the lakes
and ponds of the western world are carpeted with the rusting hulks of fine tinplate boats. Certainly, given the unhappy mix
of ferrous metal and water, the few survivors that have escaped significant restoration command a substantial premium. Among the gems of the Claus
collection was a ‘first series’ battleship, the New York from the ‘sweet spot’
continued on page 34
Additional highlights from the Claus collection sold by Bertoia Auctions.
1. Märklin first-series clockwork cruiser, the JOWA (a misspelling of IOWA) – $45,000 (£30,000). 2. 1. Märklin Kaiserin Augusta Victoria steam- powered ocean liner – $120,000 (£80,000). 3. Märklin Tip-Top yacht – $32,000 (£21,350). 4. Märklin clockwork first-series battleship New York with original box – $95,000 (£63,350). 5. c.1912-15 Märklin second-series steam- powered battleship Baltimore – $70,000 (£46,650).
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52