The Al Wiseman Auction December 2007

By Elmer Dippel

Marg and I had the privilege of attending the Al Wiseman auction this winter at Tarpon Springs, Florida. This 3 day event ran from November 29 to December 1, 2007. The first day was for previewing, followed by RM conducting the auction the next 2 days. Advertised world-wide, the auction also took bids by telephone and internet.

Al’s career was in aviation but his real joy came from collecting cars and service station memorabilia. He grew up in Duncan, Oklahoma, graduated with a degree in aeronautical engineering from Oklahoma State University and retired from the airline industry as president of Airborne Express in Oklahoma. He loved to work on his collection of service station memorabilia and classic cars. His restoration shop was often referred to as Al’s Playpen.

One area of collecting included 475 lots in antiques such as household items, tools, phones and media equipment, musical instruments, barber shop items, automotive mascots, advertising posters and signs and many neon displays.

The 50 lots of service station memorabilia dated back to pre world war cans and signs. A major segment focused on Texaco. One large historic package consisted of a 1903 Studebaker Texaco horse drawn tanker, a 1913 White Texaco tanker and a 1923 Ford Model T Roadster oil tanker. This single $130,000.00 lot included much Texaco petroliana.

There were 51 lots of motorcycles, scooters and motorized bikes. Every bike manufacturer was represented. Remember the old engine-assisted pedal bikes, Red Indians and early Harleys? Another 50 lots included game arcades, jukeboxes, kiddy riders, pedal cars and popcorn machines.

The car collection consisted of 80 cars. Everything from Jeeps and Model T Speedsters to a 1995 Batmobile. Highlights in this lineup included a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette cut-away autorama display bringing $640,000.00, a 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Merlin for $375,000.00 or the 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, “The Raindrop Car”, for $300,000.00. All motorized vehicles (scooters, bikes, cars and trucks) had their engines pre-sale sparked, run and driven. It certainly was a memorable experience to see such a quality collection.

See next page for photos.