Before I start, let me acknowledge that I am neither a sign or a globe person, I don't have any of either of them.

I would also like to state the Morph organization did a very good job with their estimates.

I just looked at the results of all 800 lots and here is what I observed:

Signs were really hot but that is what most expected because Kyle specialized in signs. Globes were strong but nothing like the signs. Not a lot of interest in the gas and air pumps, mostly selling for average prices.

Early on in the auction 13 signs were sold for $191,255 for an average of $14,711 per sign.

Lots 301 to 313 (13 globes) sold for an average of $11,442 per globe.

Lots 346 to 352 (7 signs) sold for an average of $19,357 each.

Lost 382 to 388 (7 signs) sold for an average of $14,642 each.

Lost 498 to 503 (6 signs) sold for an average of $13,275 each.

Lots 558 to around 600 sold for about what the estimates were.

Lots 612 to 628 (17 items) sold for mostly below the high estimates.

Lots 628 to 645, globes were strong in or above the high estimates.

Lots 646 to 709 (64 items) almost all sold at below the high estimates.

The "AIR" globes were really hot, both selling way over the high estimate. Lot 794 Air globe was for the mid-1920s ECOs.

Anything with the word "Michelin" was hot.

If you wanted to be able to say you purchased something from the great Moore collection, Lot 527 & 623 both sold for $75.00.

Question: Again I am not a sign or a globe person, but there was many globes and signs where they mentioned "repainted" "touch-up" etc. Here on OG I read where many of you will not buy these items if they are not original. So...what are your comments on the many items that were repainted or touched-up?

Jack Sim
_________________________
Author, Gas Pump Identfication books 1st & 2nd Editions & Air Meter Identification books
We rebuild ECO air meters and sell parts.

All I can say is these novice eyes will remember this one for a long time. Couldn't believe the kind of money that gets thrown around on this stuff!!! It was a thrill to watch.

I can't speak for the big dollar stuff, but two strange stand outs for me on the smaller scale pieces were these. A grand + premium for a $275 skychief sign. And $1800+ for 15" Texaco sign. Nuts!! Don't these people know about ebay??

It seemed anything with a tire or an Indian on it was hot.

I would agree Dan did a great job on the estimates. The auction also went well, from an online bidders perspective (i used Morphy/Hibid interface and had no problems). It seemd to me that many more of the globes exceeded estimates than the signs did. The graphic/picture globes were very strong! Not that the graphic/picture signs were weak of course:). I was also impressed by what some of the early tin signs did. Just an amazing collection of quality and rarity. Can't wait for the next auctions.

Jack, the one item that stood out as a real buy that made me wish I were there was the four compartment Imperial Car Bar oil dispenser for only $1000! Are you kidding me? I guess since I have an interest in those and just purchased three of the double head dispensers to restore that this was amazing to see that a restored example complete with the top enclosure and globe holder only brought that much. The other thing, regarding the repainted globes, was that that didn't seem to matter much on what they brought. Scott has always said that the repainting of the OPE globes was an acceptable practice and this sale seemed to prove that out. I can't speak for much else as I am definitely not a sign guy and wasn't there to see them up close and determine which ones had been retouched and those that were left alone. It was an interesting sale to watch, I only bid on one globe and had it not been for the buyers premium and shipping that went on top, would have probably tried a little harder to buy. Like all auctions, this morning I wish I'd tried a little harder.......GB

Estimates mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING....

i thought most of the pumps went low... a lot of them didnt even go for what the restoration would cost on them

This was probably one of the coolest globes I've seen. Can't be more than one or two in existence.

I would have to go back to the book and look at the pumps but it would have been interesting if there was an original that was not restored to see what it would have brought.

the fry pumps were a good example of restored vs unrestored...

Just plain a lot of money, no matter who you are. I wonder though on the touched up signs if anyone bought them unknowing. Unless you were there tough to tell.

Not having watched the auction It appears that Dan did a good job of pointing out the restored signs. Yes I have a couple high end restored signs and am very happy to have them. I would not be able to afford these signs in unrestored condition. The year prior to the "big recession" restored signs were selling for almost what unrestored ones were. When I sold my sold my collection at Iowa 5 years ago the restored signs took a big
s..t however I'm seeing these signs coming back today and, yes, selling for great prices. There are 90% of us that just can't pay the prices these rare signs are going for

Well I bought the sky chief pump plate. I have asked for a year about this pump plate and haven't been able to find one. This is one of the 8"x12" that I was missing. I wasn't able to attend the auction but had a person bidding for me up there and I didn't put this on my list so I decided to bid online. First I saved $1200 on the flight alone to attend the auction. I set prices I wanted to pay on certain pieces and I came in on one a $1000 below my high bid. I decided that I had been looking for this pump plate for a while and this was my chance. If anyone has any other 8"x12" pump plates lawns me a PM I pay CRAZY prices for them.
Thank you
Chad Duncan

Chad, there is always at least two people bidding to get the price where it went. Just enjoy your sign and don't let any comments here bother you. Someone is always going to have an opinion, many of them negative

LOL; An honest man! LOL

Congrats on winning an item you wanted, Chad!

I watched about 100 lots and the prices got "my blood up", I will admit.

I didn't want my pacer/defibrillator to go off, so I closed the link...

Congrats to any and all that took home a prize or more than one prize....

That's my bad!!! I didn't notice it was the smaller size. I meant no harm!!! Absolutely enjoy the sign!!! It looks to be a very mint example!! And if you have the other sizes like it sounds like you do, this will look awesome having the entire set of sizes!!

Its very tough to discuss "value" in a sale like this, because so many items have no sale history out there to form an opinion from. A lot of these very scarce items, rarely get traded publically, and the sale amounts are only discussed between two people.
Items cross the block and that given day, at that moment, they are worth exactly what the top bidder has to pay for them. Very ironic that we are able to even purchase items like these at a public auction, let alone be successful in our gauging of what to pay?
This was quite an event and will be the topic of many discussions for months to come, until the next one! History is being made with these sales, and I call it history, because it will be a long time before the topic of Kyle Moores collection fades from the forefront of topics discussed about the gas & oils collectibles hobby!

Don't take it that I am mad I just wanted to post my reason for bidding like I did. I really enjoy my signs and cans as most of you know! I was told by a fellow collector buy what you like and if you think you paid to much just wait you'll be happy to have it. I have no hard feelings about any of the comments at all and I did mean what I said if any has any 8"x12" pump plates I don't have I will pay up!
Thank you
Chad Duncan

One does not see stuff like this everyday. Prices reflect that. Looks like some items went reasonably even figuring in premiums. I am glad that we can see the items and what they sold for, thanks Dan. Looked like a well run auction.

I can't imagine what it took to put a collection like that together. I don't know Mr. Moore, but it was pretty impressive stuff.

Just nice to see it.

So many items went right up to the estimate, then stopped at that price, do you think if Dan would have estimated it higher it would have gone higher? I Find it hard to believe anybody can estimate one of a kind pcs and hit it on the head. Nothing against your estimates Dan, Just seems like a lot of bidders took the estimate to heart.

What an auction....

One does not know if the estimates made the prices higher or DAN JUST KNEW WHAT HE DOES WELL.

There was a lot of great items and some at silly prices, it was great entertainment overall and I look forward to the next one. I'm just glad I was finally able to get that Polly neon.... Lmao...
Good times guys....

Going back to the fact that I was not one of the bidders, I just envy Dan and wish I was one of his helpers when he first looked at this collection. I don't think there is any display/museum etc. that will ever come close to what he saw when he walked into where all this stuff was.

For any of you who didn't know Kyle Moore, you missed meeting one of the most gracious persons in this hobby you could ever meet. Kyle made his millions in the cable business, but even before this he fell in love with old sign, petro items, etc. He only bought the best and this is what is being presented to us now. I think he knew who I was, but this was never brought into the one conversation I had with him. It had to be 20 years ago at one of the CTO conventions. A group of us were sitting around a truck, most went off to their rooms leaving Kyle and me sitting on the tailgate. We discussed a number of things, but he was never a pretentious person. If you didn't know he had just stepped out that large RV on the back lot, you would have thought he was just a guy looking for sight glass for his Tokheim pump.
Naturally we all look forward to seeing four more auctions, 2400 more items, so if you are a new "picker" you have a hell of a hill to climb to match anything like this.

Jack Sim

I haven't added up what it cost me to attend, but it was a significant amount. Two days off work, gas, meals, hotel for 3 nights. It adds up. I didn't buy anything at the auction. There were two globes that I had strong interest in (Blue Jay and Champion). I was the under bidder on one and darn near had the other bought but another bidder jumped in at the last second to keep the bidding going. There were maybe 7 or 8 more globes that I had some interest in and placed bids but I didn't really expect to get them. With what it cost to attend and not buying anything I'd still do it again. There were lots of items there I'll never have a chance to see again.

As far as Dan and his estimates..... They are just that....estimates. The only estimate that really counts is the one he gives the seller for the total collection. His track record speaks for itself.

There was a lot of talk about the restored signs. Don't misinterpret pricing of restored signs from this and the 4 upcoming auctions as wide spread acceptance of restored signs in the hobby. The fact that they were incredibly rare signs and that they belonged Kyle Moore has far more to do with it than a major shift in the way most veteran collectors feel about restored signs.

i just wish Kyle was still around so we could hear the stories about the signs & how they were acquired.

I know that one of the signs that brought big money was 1 of 8 that were found many years ago in near mint condition... those are the type of stories that seem to stick with me and I'm sure Kyle had a ton of them

I agree with Dennis Leith estimates are just estimates they dont mean anything. The only reason that I do them now is that several of the online bidding platforms that Morphy's use require them. When I worked at Aumann's or for myself at Matthews Auctions I did not publish them.

What the hell do I know what someone wants to pay for something. I know what the item has sold for in the past but that is just the past it is not now.

That's my two cents.


Dan

It was amazing to watch and be part of glad I made the trip . History was being passed on , there is no dollar value to watch that happen . Congrats to everyone involved , it was simply amazing to see.