30th Annual Bicycle & Automobilia Post Sale Article

Copake Auction Inc. 30^th Annual Bicycle & Automobilia Auction

On Saturday October 15, 2022 at 9am the father and son team Michael and Seth Fallon of Copake Auction Inc. conducted their 30^th annual antique & classic bicycle auction including automobilia and transportation items. This was a highly anticipated event for those in the hobby who travel from all over the world for the historic event as it was the first ‘live in person bidding’ bicycle auction since April 2019. As is tradition the event also featured the Friday pre-auction swap meet with vendors and buyers filling the Fallon sheep field to capacity. Other events included a Historic bicycle photography presentation by Lorne Shields from Toronto Canada and a 10-mile bicycle ride in memorial of long-time collector and Fallon friend Walter Branche. The event was filled with energy and camaraderie as old and new friends participated in the weekend’s events & auction preview and of course bidding which included buyers from thirty one states and five countries.

The auction hit the ground running with Lot 1 a wooden pneumatic safety bicycle surpassing it’s estimate at $4,500. A similar wooden bicycle of the highest collectability a circa 1898 Chilion wooden frame lady’s safety (Lot 100A) would later bring double it’s estimate at $9,600. The bidding continued in intensity with (Lot 2) a rare one off ‘Moulton-Type” bicycle fetching $7,800 and (Lot 6) a highly anticipated crossover collectible Henderson motorcycle poster closing at $10,200. Other notable ephemera included a rare Schwinn original artwork collection (Lot 198) used in the book “50 Years of Schwinn Built Bicycles” which brought $1,200 and a Columbia bicycle archive lot (Lot 321) of over 80 pieces bringing $1,080.

Terrific accessories were sold including plates, steins, cyclometers, tintypes, pins & buttons, pipes, badges, clocks and more. The standouts were a scarce large size “All-Heil” stein with high wheel rider (Lot 41) $1,680 and “Sterling Bells” counter top display which would spin to feature the different bells (Lot 42) closing at an impressive $8,400.

Lot 21 a 19^th C. adult tricycle (possibly a Humber) brought a reasonable $2,520. “Similar models with clear identification (badge/plate) can bring twice that. This was a great deal on an early trike”, Seth Fallon commented. Other early cycles of note were an 1885 Columbia 50” high wheel bicycle (Lot 44) $4,500 and a circa 1880’s Pony Star Mfg. by H. B. Smith Co., New Jersey (Lot 98) $10,200. A similar era rare bicycle was the star lot of the auction, (Lot 90) a White Cycle Co. circa 1890-92 important Bronco style hollow cross-frame hard tire safety featuring rear hub drive which Seth Fallon closed the bidding for at $52,800. Mike Fallon noted, “This bicycle had been in the consignor’s family for generations. After listing it on Facebook Marketplace for $75.00 they were flooded with interest, this led them to us for proper valuation and exposure of the item.”

Four boneshaker bicycles were sold with the top lot (Lot 31) being a scarce 19^th C. model labeled “WMH PARKERTON / 145-7-9WEST18STNY” which brought an all-time record in this category for Copake Auction at $16,800. Pre and post war balloon tire bicycles were offered including (Lot 26) 1935 Elgin “Gull” $3,600, (Lot 374) a 1940’s Monark Silver king $2,520, (Lot 396) a 1950’s Hopalong Cassidy girl’s $720, and (Lot 104A) a 1948 Schwinn B-6 $2,640 of which Mike Fallon commented, “This one of the best examples of this bicycle we have ever offered”.

Lightweight and race bikes were sold including (Lot 102A) a Sean Yates 1991 Eddy Merckx Corsa extra Motorola team bike $2,640 and a Rene Herse Lightweight Bicycle Circa 1950 (Lot 20) $1,320. It’s worth noting that one could also purchase rideable cycles of great quality without breaking the bank such as a Mid 1980’s Colnago Master Lightweight $780 or the Alan Fanini Record aluminum bike for $300.

1970-80’s Muscle and BMX bikes included a 1970 Schwinn Sting-Ray Lemon Peeler 5-speed (Lot 69) which brought $3,000 (this same bike in original condition brought $1,495/2012 and $1,053/2016), and a rare Hutch HPV Superbike BMX (Lot 517) with 12 gears total advertising a pedal speed of 40mph (recorded at 139mph downhill behind a car in slip-stream) which hammered down at $4,500.

Automobilia/Transportation items were offered including signs both hand painted and manufactured ranging from $100-$1,800, a “Speedway Special 12” race car model $900, outboard motors including a “Johnson Seahorse Single” Model 100 $780, a counter top Wilson goggle display $660, a racing pedal car marked “AR” $570, a vintage soap box derby car $480, photography lots, original artwork and other ephemera, as well as parts, accessories, and other collectibles.

All post sale results are available from their website www.copakeauction.com and they can be reached at info@copakeauction.com or 518-329-1142 for more information.