Kyser & Rex Mikado bank tops Bertoia auction at $38,400

A circa-1866 Kyser & Rex Mikado mechanical bank led Bertoia Auctions’ Sept. 25 sale in Vineland, New Jersey, bringing $38,400. The auction of the late Dr. Robert E. Booth Jr.’s mechanical bank collection and related toys totaled more than $515,000.

Why it matters: - Bertoia Auctions turned a single-owner collection into a $515,000-plus sale, showing continued demand for rare mechanical banks and cast-iron toys. - The strongest results came from scarce, high-condition pieces with known provenance. - The sale also gave collectors a chance to buy from the late Dr. Robert E. Booth Jr.’s celebrated holdings.

What happened: - Bertoia Auctions held its Mechanical Banks & Cast-Iron Toys Auction on Sept. 25, online and at the gallery in Vineland, New Jersey. - A circa-1866 Kyser & Rex Mikado mechanical bank sold for $38,400. - A scarce Mechanical Alphabet Man, also called a Yankee Schoolmaster, brought $20,400. - The auction was led by the mechanical bank collection of the late Dr. Robert E. Booth Jr. (1945-2026). - The sale included additional cast-iron toys from Tony LaSala and Ira Bernstein, an exceptional doorstop collection from Bob Brady, and Charlie Reynolds banks from Max Berry.

The details: - The Mikado bank was a rare blue-table version. - Its action featured a coin vanishing under the illusionist’s hat, moving cones, and the coin reappearing before dropping into the bank. - The $38,400 result landed within the pre-sale estimate range. - The Alphabet Man piece was described as both a toy and a 19th-century schoolmaster’s educational aid. - Pressing its lever made the figure point to his chest, which contained a revolving alphabet wheel. - The Alphabet Man sold above its $12,000 high estimate. - The Butting Ram – Man Thumbs Up bank, the only model ever produced by Wagner & Zwiebel Mfg. of Wisconsin, sold for $14,400. - The Butting Ram example was all-original and came from the Booth collection. - A J&E Stevens Milking Cow mechanical bank realized $12,000. - The thin-base version from the Connecticut maker’s pedestal series beat its $8,000 high estimate. - Hubley Mfg. doorstops drew strong bidding. - A Hubley Bathing Beauties doorstop sold for $3,900. - A Hubley Messenger Boy doorstop sold for $3,600. - A Hubley Santa still bank sold for $3,300. - A small Uncle Sam mechanical bank, one of 99 made in 1970 by Sears, Roebuck & Co.’s Research & Engineering Department, sold for $3,600. - The Sears piece was No. 60 of 99 and marked “60 99 1970.” - A Reynolds Uncle Sam Lawyer mechanical bank, a 2003 pre-production model and one of two made, sold for $3,000. - In toy cars, an Arcade REO Royale Coupe sold for $3,600. - A Kenton 1934 Chrysler Airflow sold for $2,700. - All prices include buyer’s premium, per Bertoia Auctions’ report. - The company is accepting consignments of toys, banks, holiday antiques and collectibles for future sales. - Bertoia Auctions lists the catalog and prices realized for the Sept. 25 sale online at the auction results page and company information at the auction house website.

Between the lines: - The top lots all shared a mix of rarity, condition and clear collector appeal. - Provenance mattered, especially for pieces tied to the Booth collection. - Strong results for doorstops, toy cars and presentation banks suggest the market is broadening beyond the headline mechanical banks.

What's next: - Bertoia Auctions is seeking high-quality consignments for upcoming sales. - The auction house says collectors can discuss single items or entire collections, with inquiries kept confidential. - Michael Bertoia is available by phone at 856-692-1881 or by email at toys@bertoiaauctions.com.