Despite all expectations and the constant talk of the worldwide financial crisis, the November 22 sale of technical antiques by Auction Team Breker once again brought superb high prices and top sales quotas, according to the auction house.
The legendary World War II cipher machine “Enigma” realized the best price in the past eight years, garnering $38,735. It will now be housed in an American private museum collection.
The unique original US Patent Model by C. Winter, Piqua, Ohio, the “Improved Adding Machine” granted on April 21, 1859, added up to a high of $46,480, selling to a specialized European museum.
As a true Americana collectible, the estate of US inventor Abner Peeler containing America’s first typewritten letter to pass through the mail, dated June 19, 1866, the only surviving typewriter of the inventor, dated circa 1864, Peeler’s original typewriter patent from 1866 and the world’s first airbrushed painting made by the inventor himself, as well as much more totaled $38,735 and found a new home in a major private Western European collection.
More superb Americana collectibles of the famous Remington Typewriter Museum sold to well-known public museums and major private collections throughout the world regardless of their poor condition. Rarity and magic were trump for the Horton, 1885. Incomplete, not working and heavily damaged with eight frame cracks, it still went for $17,000 to a public East Coast museum.
Entirely rusted (caused by a pipe burst some decades ago), a beautifully designed International (double keyboard), 1889, brought $10,000 and is heading to Spain in a private collection.
A nice Oliver No. 1, 1896, although missing both name plates at the sides, changed hands for $7,500 and went privately to Austria.
The rare Universal Crandall, 1893, missing some parts, sold to a Japanese buyer for $7,750.
And a totally distressed “The English,” 1890, realized $23,240, the successful buyer acknowledging that a couple of thousand dollars will be necessary for restoration.
Finally, a rare English typewriter, the “Maskelyne No. 3,” 1893, went for a high $27,900 to a major Western European private collection.
Prices reported include the buyer’s premium. Auction Team Breker’s next sale takes place on May 16, with more highlights from the American Remington Typewriter Museum. For information, +49 2236 38 43 40 or www.Breker.com .
