In its 33rd year, Copake Auction Inc. continues their annual Bicycle Auction tradition, which in recent years has grown to include automobilia and transportation related collections. This year is no exception with all of the “greatest hits” of high wheels, boneshakers, tricycles, pneumatic bicycles, and related memorabilia, accessories, ephemera and much more. Automobilia enthusiasts should be excited to see some historic “OFFY” powered race cars and all sorts of related museum memorabilia.
C. 1880’s Star high wheel bicycle. Mfg. H. B. Smith Co., Smithville New Jersey
The Steve Steven’s collection from Colorado will feature a group of highly desirable early bicycles including rare high wheel examples, modern racing bicycles, hub lamps, posters, photographs, collectibles, parts, and more. 137 lots total. Highlights include: (lot 169) C. 1880’s Star high wheel bicycle. Mfg. H. B. Smith Co., Smithville New Jersey; (lot 162) Lon Haldeman’s tandem bicycle. (Lon and Sue Haldeman rode across America setting a couple’s record); (lot 170) Spalding 22” chainless pneumatic bicycle (the shaft-driven “chainless” drivetrain bicycle emerged in the 1880s but were largely surpassed by chain-driven bicycles for their wider gear ranges); (lot 201) Early Lucas “THE CLUB” bicycle hub lamp; (lot 692) lot of German steins.
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- Spalding Chainless Pneumatic Safety Bicycle
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- Crypto High Wheel Bicycle
#52 Frankie Cal 220 Offenhauser Sprint Car
Coming from the Bay Shore New York Museum, the Marty Himes Racing Collection will include four 1940-50’s era race cars with substantial racing history (with an estimate range of $7,500-$35,000) as well as a large selection of memorabilia from the museum including signs, photographs, stickers, posters, decals, jerseys, patches, banners, pins, jackets & suits, racing models, ephemera, and more. Highlights from the 134 lot collection include: (lot 305A) #52 Frankie Cal 220 Offenhauser Sprint Car, built in 1951; (lot 304A) 1954 #18 Giresi Offy Midget Race Car, built in 1954 (This car was run at Daytona, FL, and reached a speed of over 139 MPH in the 1950s); (lot 306A) 1947 Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser Midget (Vintage Motorsports magazine March/April 1990 featured article on the history of this car.); (lot 303A) 1947 #77 Johnny Coy Ford V 8 60 Midget race car; (lot 613) Fying A sign; (lot 502) Schwinn 26 inch Black Phantom bicycle (NOS).
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- 1947 Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser Midget
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- “Flying A” Service Sign, Automobilia Advertising
88 Lots from a local Columbia County New York collector Don Meltz
88 Lots from a local Columbia County New York collector Don Meltz will be offered including one of the largest pedal car collections ever offered from Copake Auction (on par with the Ex J.R. Planck Collection sold at Copake in 2008), a Quarter Midget race car, as well as tiller tricycles and other unusual children’s vehicles (wagons/scooters), rare signs (including light up/neon), and various other lamps, toys, & accessories. Highlights include: (lot 93A) Shell light up sign; (lot 90A) Phillips 66 neon sign; (lot 302A) 1958 Orbit Oilzum Quarter Midget Race Car (midgets are approximately one-quarter (1/4) the size of a full-size midget race car); (lot 303) Wagon, reproduction Air Flow made by David Sherrell; (lot 463) Vintage pressed steel Kissel pedal car; (lot 469) Vintage Pedal Car in bright baby blue; (lot 490) Jolly Roger pedal boat.
Another collection of 120 antique and vintage bicycles came in a large shipment from England, including rare Boneshakers, high wheels, Delivery bicycles, a transitional Velocipede, tricycles, a BSA Roadster, a snow Ski bicycles, a folding travel bicycle, and more. Some highlight lots include: (lot 235) 19th c. blacksmith made boneshaker; (lot 236) 19th Century 48” blacksmith made transitional velocipede; (lot 679) Wooden Child’s Horse Tricycle.
The John Bergin collection from Chicago will be offered including over 100 fine examples of bicycles lamps sold individually and in group lots. Some highlights include: (lot 141) 19th c. Lucas “King of the Road” high wheel hub lamp; (lot 139) 19th c. Lucas’s Patent No. 2493 “King of the Road” hub lamp; (lot 243) 19th c. Gormully & Jeffery Mfg. Co., Chicago hard tire safety bicycle lamp.
Other featured items from various collections include: (lot 61) C. 1897 Chilion pneumatic safety wooden bicycle, (lot 26) C. 1890-92 52” Columbia Light Roadster high wheel bicycle; (lot 4a) American Boneshaker bicycle. C. 1869 (Glenn Eames collection, VT.); a selection of Pope bicycle racing trophies; various light-weight racing bicycles including (lot 228) 1960’s Legnano Racing Bicycle and (lot 71) Bianchi road racing bicycle; several gas pumps; (lot 767) Rhoades Car Quadracycle, “The 4-wheel bikes that drives like a car!”; Schwinn Sting-Ray bicycles; and more.
All absentee & live bidding options can be found at their website www.CopakeAuction.com The auction will be open to the public for preview and audience bidding. The annual pre-sale SWAP MEET will be on Friday October 10 at 7am (free for public, $25/vendor). Preview is Thursday/Friday October 9-10: 10-4PM at 266 Route 7A, Copake, New York.
Auction Link: Bicycle Auction, 2025-10-11
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https://copakeauction.hibid.com/catalog/676054/33rd-annual-bicycle-and-automobilia-auction
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