(RAYMOND, Ill.) – A monstrous two-day auction dedicated to farm and construction toys, Lionel toy trains and vintage toys will be held the weekend of Feb. 20-21 at a former furniture store building in Raymond, Ill., located halfway between St. Louis and Springfield, Ill. In all, nearly 1,000 lots will cross the block. Online bidding will be facilitated by Proxibid.com.

The sale will be a collaboration of two auction houses: Matthews Auction Company, based in Nokomis, Ill., and Gavin Pope Auction Company, headquartered in Raymond. A crowd of around 80 people is expected for the two days, while pre-registration for Internet bidding has been brisk, according to Dan Matthews. “I expect many of these items will sell online,” he said.

The Saturday, Feb. 20 session, beginning promptly at 10 a.m. (CST), will comprise over 500 lots of farm toys and construction toys. Featured will be a fabulous John Deere memorabilia collection, to include oilers, pencils, pens, pocket knives, calendars and more. The Sunday, Feb. 21 session will boast over 300 lots of Lionel toy trains (mostly new in the box), circa 1950s-’90s.

Feb. 21 will also feature more than 75 intriguing vintage toys, to include pedal cars, toy wagons and more. A partial listing of what will be offered both days may be viewed on the Matthews Auctions, LLC website, at www.MatthewsAuctions.com. A full catalog will be posted online soon. A 10 percent buyer’s premium will be charged on Sunday only (none on Saturday).

The Feb. 20 session will have four primary components: custom toys, John Deere items, International and other farm toys, and construction toys. The custom toys will feature Ertl trucks, highly coveted by collectors. Sold will be a rare IH Loadstar cement mixer (possibly with box); an IH Loadstar wrecker; an IH Loadstar equipment trucks; white cab-over box trucks; and more.

The Ertl brand will cross over into the John Deere category, too. Sold will be Ertl John Deere precision models #1-25, all new in the box (including all the hard-to-find ones); an Ertl John Deere A, with drive and arcade wheels; and an Ertl John Deere A, with two-hole flywheel. Also sold will be John Deere 2-cylinder tractors (1990-2008), all new in the box, in great shape.

Other John Deere pieces to be offered include 620, 720 and 820 industrial examples; a Plow City 1010 crawler; a 430 crawler; 4320 and 6030 examples, new in the box; 4960 and 8400 MFWD; a restored 12A and 30 augur combine; a 6600 combine with metal gear drive platform; a near-mint dirt scraper; combines (Turbo and Titan II); and disk plows and other implements.

International toys will include a 5288 farm set; three Precision F-20s; 1206 and 806 models, both repainted; a 1026 gold; a model 560; an F-20 Iowa Welcome Center; several Cubs; an MTA SE; and several other pieces. Additional farm toys will feature a Tru-Scale combine; an Oliver OC-3 Crawler, new in the box; and Ertl Texaco truck and airplanes banks (No. 1 thru 22).

The farm toys category will also feature a large selection of other Texaco toys; a Buddy L Texaco tanker; a Brown Bigelow jet fuel tanker; and pedal tractors, to include a Case CA; John Deere small 60, 20, 730 and 4430 models; a small Massey model 44; and several other examples.

Custom toys will include a Weber Case with dual elevators; an Allis WD-45, with picker; a Woods Brothers one-row picker; a Cottonwood Acres State Highway truck; a Standard tank truck; a Riecke F-20; a Freiheit International Harvester Farmall 300; a Hartz-Partz John Deere 330; a Nolt John Deere L; a custom John Deere AR; and a custom Yoder John Deere model 730.

Construction toys will be abundant and feature Revell Caterpillar scrapers, graders and bottom dumps; an Ertl Cat motor grader; an NZG or Conrad Caterpillar 1/50 scale truck, almost new in the box; a 2-944 Wheel Loader NZG; D8N and D9N, silver edition; a 797 off-highway truck; a D11R track-type tractor, gold and silver edition; and a 793D off-highway toy truck.

Other construction toys certain to get paddles wagging and online bidders juiced include a 245 excavator; a 245 shovel excavator; a P-450 Profiler; a 988B wheeler loader; a 627push-pull scraper; a D400 articulated dump truck; a 615 scraper; a 769C truck; a 416 backhoe; a 966D wheeler loader; a 215 excavator; a 224 wheeler loader; and a 416 backhoe loader, silver edition.

Matthews Auctions, LLC’s next big sale after this one will be a Spring 2010 Peotone Petroliana and Advertising Auction scheduled for Friday, Mar. 5, in Peotone, Ill., starting at 12 noon (CST). Featured will be the Gulf collection of Pat Lutz. Then, on Saturday, April 24, the firm will conduct a Petroliana and Vintage Advertising Sale in Redlands, Calif., at 2 p.m. (PST).

On Saturday, May 1, Matthews Auctions, LLC will hold a Classic Car, Petroliana, Gas Pumps and Vintage Advertising Auction in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc. Offered will be over 20 classic cars, a great selection of gas pumps and signs, and more. Then, on May 15, an Absolute Petroliana and Automotive Advertising Auction will be held, in Loveland, Colo. Featured will be the single-owner collection of Clyde Hodge. Signs, globes and other collectibles will be offered.

Matthews Auctions, LLC is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them toll-free, at (877) 968-8880. Or, you can e-mail them at danm@matthewsauctions.com. To learn more about the firm and its calendar of upcoming sales, to include the Feb. 20-21 auction, log on to www.MatthdewsAuctions.com
To learn more about Gavin Pope Auction Company, you may call them at (217) 825-8682.

Not much to go on without a product number, but we did track down a Buy it Now on eBay listed as “Lionel Uncle Sam Box Car – #6-7700 – 1975” with a price of US $59.00.

As far as price guides go for Lionel Train products, Allan W. Miller (managing editor of Antique Trader Books) writes on www.lionel.com that, “In the area of Lionel train collecting, there are two respected, affordable, and long-established guides that are considered to be the most comprehensive and authoritative: TM’s Lionel Price & Rarity Guide (two volumes) and Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 1901-2010 (Greenberg’s Pocket Price Guide Lionel Trains). Both are updated and published annually, and each has, over many years, developed a devoted following.”

The Greenberg guide is available through the link above from Amazon, and it looks like the TM guide is no longer updated (see www.tmbv.com). Used copies are available on Amazon, though -follow this link: TM’s Lionel Price & Rarity Guide.

For some current live auctions for Lionel train products, see our previous post here >>.

Even though we may only realize it in retrospect, children often display behavior very early in life that points to their destiny. In the early 1890′s seven year old Joshua Lionel Cowen whittled a miniature locomotive from a scrap of wood. It was a remarkable likeness considering his young age. He then tried to fit it with a tiny engine. …and it exploded. He was unharmed, but his mother’s kitchen sustained considerable damage. Many years later, in his early twenties, he would try the experiment again. This time he met with success. He gave his invention his middle name, and the model train was born.

Cowen sold his first model train to a Manhattan shop owner in 1901, by convincing him the small train running through his Christmas window display would draw attention to his other merchandise. The shop owner returned the next day to order half a dozen more tracks and trains. It appeared while the merchandise in his window was getting attention, the customers main question was… “where can we buy the train?” Lionel quickly provided the shop with a dozen train sets consisting of of one electric flat car and thirty feet of track and dubbed it the “Electric Express”. With in twelve months Cowen acquired enough capital to start his own company, The Lionel Corporation.

Though a prolific inventor, Cowen’s marketing skills would prove just as valuable to his success. Working from a German tradition, linking toy trains to Christmas, Cowen approached a number of large department stores in New York City convincing them to incorporate elaborate train set ups around their Christmas tree displays. He provided the trains, tracks, building and landscapes. The public reaction to the displays was overwhelming, sales boomed, and America had officially entered the “Golden Era of Toy Trains”.

The years brought many changes as Cowen constantly improved upon his original concept. In 1902 a train set with a “City Hall Park” trolley and a two foot suspension bridge met with great success. 1903 saw the introduction of the B&O locomotive and the motorized Derrick car. And in 1906 Lionel added a third rail which carried the current and the outer rails, which were the ground rails. Three trolleys, two steam engines, two passenger cars, seven freight cars and a small wall transformer completed this ground breaking set.

In 1907 the Cowen’s became the parents of a son, Lawrence. Not unlike other parents showing off pictures of their little ones, the proud papa placed his son’s likeness on the company emblem. From that year forward it would be seen on all Lionel train boxes and featured in the catalogs. To no ones surprise, Lawrence went on to become the company’s president.

In 1929, Cowen unveiled the “Transcontinental Limited”, which stretched nine feet from its massive headlight to its ornate observation platform, complete with brass rail. It cost an unheard off $110, more than price of a used Model T. Lionel was at the peak of their success when the Depression of the early 1930′s hit. People were struggling to feed their families and very few had money to spend on toys. Obtaining government contracts for his other manufacturing concerns, Cowen managed to keep the Lionel Corporation afloat.

The war years of the 40′s left toy manufacturers with a metal shortage. Lionel stepped up their production of plastic accessories, and once again kept their doors open. When production resumed in the mid-40′s, Lionel turned out trains and accessories that are considered by many to be the best in their long company history. By the mid-1950s, public interest had shifted from trains to airplanes and slot-cars. Christmas of 1953 saw the first considerable drop in sales and with no resurgence of interest to save it, the Lionel Train Corporation and it closed in 1965.

In 1995 a group of investors, headed by singer/song writer Neil Young formed what is known as Lionel Limited Liability Corporation or Lionel LLC. The trains produced by this company, while of fine quality. are of little interest to collectors.

In 1999 the Lionel electric train was recognized as one of the top ten toys of the twentieth-century. The little seven year old boy, who had once blown up his mothers kitchen died in 1965, the undisputed “king” of the toy train industry.

{Linda Hamer Kennett is an associate member of the International Society of Appraisers specializing in the valuation and liquidation of antiques and may be reached at 317-356-8967 or lkennett@indy.rr.com}

Some current live auctions on eBay for Lionel Train items:

Lionel: Lionel

• PRE-WAR LIONEL TRAIN BRIDGE .

US $49.87 (4 Bids) End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 19:50:00 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

• LIONEL TRAINS POSTWAR TRANSFORMER SWITCH SERVICE MANUAL

US $63.43 (13 Bids) End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 19:50:42 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

• Lionel 646 Steam Engine and 2046W Tender

US $124.49 (4 Bids) End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 19:51:58 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

• Lionel 212 AA Units power & Dummy Santa Fe

US $65.00 (3 Bids) End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 19:54:27 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

• VINTAGE MONCLER LIONEL TERRCY MENS DOWN JACKET BLUE MED

US $99.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 19:56:41 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

• Vintage Lionel 1033 90 Watt Transformer Original

US $39.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 20:00:32 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

• Lionel 2404,2405,2406 Passenger cars Santa Fe

US $59.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 20:06:01 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

• LIONEL 1668 NEW YORK CENTAL LOCOMOTIVE AND TENDER

US $50.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 20:09:09 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $60.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

• Aurora Vibrator #1543 red 60 Chevy Corvette Convertible

US $64.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 20:10:08 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

• Lionel Standard Gauge 384T Tender for 385E Locomotive

US $75.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 20:11:14 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list