Steam Engine Models Prove Popular with Bidders in Miller & Miller's Auction

Posted by Dinesh Kumar on September 21st, 2021

Wheels in motion appealed to bidders on Day 2 of Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.’s back-to-back online auctions held Sept. 11th-12th, as a 7 ¼ inch gauge model steam locomotive of the Great Western Railway 4-6-0 locomotive and tender No. 1011 rolled away for ,340, while an 1869 French style Boneshaker bicycle sped off for ,620.

All prices quoted here are in Canadian dollars and include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.

The Saturday, September 11th event was a Toys & Nostalgia sale, featuring the Bryan Beatty collection of toys and communication-related memorabilia, including a well-rounded offering of cast iron and tin litho toys from the Victorian to the Atomic era. Mr. Beatty’s collection also included many radios, microphones and typewriters, with examples spanning the 20th century.

The Sunday, September 12th sale was an Advertising & Historic Objects auction, featuring the Scott Vanner breweriana collection. The finely engineered 7 ¼ inch gauge steam locomotive was the expected Day 2 headliner and was the auction’s top lot. It was rebuilt and reboilered by F. West and Lee Green and came with a brazed superheated copper boiler with fittings and gauges.

The 1869 French style Boneshaker bicycle featured a painted iron frame, wood rims and restored wheels, and had a rear brake that was activated by twisting the handlebars forward. It nearly tripled its ,500 high estimate. Also, a Canadian 1897 Brantford Bicycle Company (Brantford, Ontario), fully restored mechanically and cosmetically, with original wood rims, handle bars and seat, a custom-made solid wood display stand and added stamped leather pouch, rang up ,835.

Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. has three more online-only auctions lined up for the balance of this year: a Firearms, Sporting & Canadiana auction on October 9th; a Watches & Jewels auction on November 20th; and a Petroliana, Breweriana & Advertising auction on December 4th. To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. and firm’s calendar of upcoming events, visit www.millerandmillerauctions.com.