RINKER ON COLLECTIBLES — Column #1503

Copyright © Harry Rinker, LLC 2015 

Questions and Answers

QUESTION:  I have what I think is a lobby card for Encore Pictures’ “Racing Luck,” featuring Monty Banks.  I purchased it for $20.00 at the Elephant’s Trunk in Connecticut.  The dealer had a second example that was torn and tattered.  I did not buy it, but the person behind me did.  I have always wondered if it was authentic.  What can you tell me about my lobby card? – KC, Leesport, PA, Email Question

ANSWER:  You did not provide the dimensions of the card in your email.  Judging from the photographs that accompanied your email, you appear to have a window card, the standard size for which is 14 inches wide by 22 inches high.

Monty Banks (July 15, 1897 to January 7, 1950) was the stage name for Mario Bianchi, an Italian actor, director, and film producer who worked in Hollywood and in the United Kingdom.  His other stage names included Montague Banks and William Montague.

“Cold Hearts and Hot Flames” (1916) marked Monty Banks’ first film appearance.  He starred in many of the films that he directed, such as “Racing Luck” in 1924. When Banks’ strong Italian accent eliminated him from acting in sound films, he focused on directing and screenwriting.  Banks married Gracie Fields, an actress and singer, in 1940. [See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Banks; Robert S. Birchard’s “Monty Banks 1920-1924 Filmography”, published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, in May 2015.]

The cast for “Racing Luck” included Monty Banks in the role of Mario (the boy), Helen Ferguson as Rosina (the girl), and Martha Franklin (the mother).  The AFI Catalog of Feature Films presents this summary: “Mario Bianchi comes to the United States and moves in with his uncle, who runs a restaurant in New York City.  Mario falls in love with his uncle’s adopted daughter, Rosina, and gets into trouble with gangster Tony Mora, knocking Tony down for forcing his attentions on the girl.  Tony forces Mario’s uncle to fire him and sees to it that Mario cannot keep a job.  Mario, mistaken for a famous racing driver, signs with a car manufacturer to drive in an important race.  Tony sabotages the car, but Mario wins anyway, receiving a substantial amount of prize money.  Mario and Rosina are married.”  Herman C. Raymaker directed “Racing Luck,” which was released on May 11, 1924.   See: http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/AbbrView.aspx?s= &Movie=1637.

The “Racing Luck” lobby card has broad collecting appeal.  Automobile racing, gangsters, Italian Americans, movie window card, silent film, and New York City are just a few collecting subcategories.  The general rule is the more subcategories of collectors that can be identified for an object, the higher its value will be.

Very little Monty Banks memorabilia appears for sale on the secondary market.  Given this, one would expect high prices for pieces that appear in the market.  This is not the case.  A set of four lobby cards for Monty Banks’ “‘Atta’ Boy’ only realized $47.00 when sold by Heritage Auctions.  A Banks’ 1932 French movie poster for “L’Amour et La Veine” (Max Dearly) was offered for sale on eBay for $600.00 in October 2015.  There were no bids.  The website www.historyforsale.com is offering a Monty Banks signed photograph for $1,529.10, reduced from $1,600.00.  The price is speculative.

Again, based on my review of the images that accompanied your email, your window card appears to be period.  The quickest way to confirm this is by size.

Given the strong crossover values associated with your “Racing Luck” window card, I estimate its value between $200.00 and $250.00.  You spent your $20.00 wisely.

QUESTION:  I have a Bob-o-Link bobsled.  It is missing a runner.  Does it have any value? – R, Shenandoah, PA

ANSWER:  I usually run across bobsleds and toboggans as decorative elements hanging from the walls of restaurants such as Cracker Barrel or T.G.I. Fridays.  Although I am certain there are collectors for both devices, their number is small.

The Bob-o-Link steerable bobsled was manufactured from the late 1940s through the 1960s by Withington of Minot, Maine.  Withington made a variety of skis and snow recreation equipment.  Withington produced a number of different bobsled models, including the Pursuit which had padded seats, and wooden toboggans.  When the factory was destroyed by fire, the company ceased operations.

Describing a restored 1948 Withington Bob-o-Link bobsled, Gary at www.garysrestorations.com writes: “I restored this bobsled because I thought it would make a great winter recreation item for a family with kids or a conversation piece for someone with a business or ski cabin in a ski resort area.”  Note the emphasis on conversation value.

A damaged example, such as the one you own, most likely would sell in the $15.00 to $30.00 range, the higher value dependent on an “it can be displayed as is” assessment.  An undamaged but not restored example will sell in the $75.00 to $90.00 range.  Restored examples are sold on a “whatever I can get for it” basis, with the price differing wildly depending on the quality of the restoration.

QUESTION:  I recently bought a box lot at an auction.  It included a 1950s turquoise can opener, a 1950s/1960s ice crusher, and a toaster.  The toaster is marked on the back: “CALKINS APPLIANCE CO. / NILES, MICHIGAN U.S.A. / MODEL T2 BREAKFASTER / VOLTS – 115 WATTS – 730 / PATENDED.”  What is its value? –RS, Cincinnati, OH, Email Question

ANSWER:  Calkins Appliance Company made the Breakfaster Model T2 between 1936 and 1938. The Breakfaster was a 2-in-1 kitchen appliance, designed for use in an apartment or small kitchen.  A side door slides in and  out and acted as a toaster.  The top was a hot plate, ideal for a small pan used to cook eggs, oatmeal, or other breakfast items. The Breakfaster is 11 inches long (including the handles), eight inches deep, and five inches high.

The Breakfaster has a streamlined modern design, albeit most references refer to the design as Art Deco.  The body and interior are made of aluminum.  The side handles and toaster door handle are black Bakelite.  The sides are vented to allow heat to escape, a design that prevented it from being used as an oven.  A drawback was that the appliance had no on-off switch.  The unit had to be plugged and unplugged.  [For more information, see: http://blog.retroplanet.com/breakfaster-toaster-hotplate/]

Although the Breakfaster has some appeal to toaster collectors, its primary value is as a conversation piece for “modernist” collectors.  A Goodwill store in Santa Rosa, California, has an example listed on shopgoodwill.com for $22.87.  An example sold on eBay on September 6, 2015 for $112.50, about the asking price at a “Modernist” show.  As always in situations like this, my advice is to think conservatively.  A realistic value is between $45.00 and $50.00.

QUESTION:  I have a copy of “Life’s Picture History of World War II,” a hardcover book.  The book was published in 1950 and edited by Arthur Tourellot.  Does it have any value? – T, Altoona, PA

ANSWER:  Life magazine did not publish anything unless it could sell tens of thousands of copies.  As a result, the secondary market is flooded.

A quick check of abebooks.com, my favorite website for checking out the value of old books, has values ranging from $15.00 to over $50.00.  An optimistic eBay seller has an example for sale at a “Buy It Now” price of $75.00.

Harry L. Rinker welcomes questions from readers about collectibles, those mass-produced items from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.  Selected letters will be answered in this column.  Harry cannot provide personal answers.  Photos and other material submitted cannot be returned.  Send your questions to: Rinker on Collectibles, 5955 Mill Point Court SE, Kentwood, MI 49512.  You also can e-mail your questions to harrylrinker@aol.com. Only e-mails containing a full name and mailing address will be considered.

You can listen and participate in WHATCHA GOT?, Harry’s antiques and collectibles radio call-in show, on Sunday mornings between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM Eastern Time.  If you cannot find it on a station in your area, WHATCHA GOT? streams live on the Internet at www.gcnlive.com.

SELL, KEEP OR TOSS?: HOW TO DOWNSIZE A HOME, SETTLE AN ESTATE, AND APPRAISE PERSONAL PROPERTY (House of Collectibles, an imprint of Random House Information Group, $17.99), Harry’s latest book, is available at your favorite bookstore and via www.harryrinker.com.