Legendary Broadcaster to shed some history

Legendary broadcaster, Art Astor, owner and operator of KCEO-AM 1000, KFSD-AM 1450, and KSPA-AM 1510, Ontario is shedding some of his vast collection of cars and other broadcast related material.

From vintage radios and telephones, through to celebrity memorabilia, antique clocks and an assortment of Art Deco furniture and decor, the eclectic collection offers a diverse range of fascinating finds for professional collectors.

This June, as renowned Californian entrepreneur and broadcast veteran, Art Astor, prepares to downsize his collection, approximately 800 lots of his treasured nostalgia will cross the auction block without reserve. The three-day auction, which will also incorporate the sale of over 200 vintage automobiles, will be held in Anaheim, California from June 27 through 29.

“For dedicated collectors and history buffs, the Astor Collection is a trip through America’s pioneering years of the automobile and technology,” says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director of RM Auctions.

“It is quite possibly one of the country’s most diverse and comprehensive collections of pre and postwar memorabilia, with a particular focus on America’s early communications industry and the Art-Deco era,” he added.

Highlighting the memorabilia line-up is the remarkable Astor Communications Collection, which offers a retrospective look into some of America’s early communication technologies through its diverse assortment of vintage radios, telephones, televisions and microphones – all in working condition.

Included in the auction line-up are more than 250 original and restored radios, including some of the twentieth century’s most rare and sought after examples. Highlights include: a 1938 Zenith 9-S-232, commonly referred to as the ‘Walton’ radio as it was the model used in the popular TV series, ‘The Waltons’; a 1940 Scott Phantom, which was considered a status symbol of its era and is now amongst the most rare and desirable on the collector market; and a 1946 FADA 1000, a prominent example of the demand for the bright colored radios made of catalin.

Additionally, the auction line-up will also include a group of fully restored vintage microphones, including numerous examples dating back to the earliest days of broadcasting. Whilst selecting highlights is a difficult task, some of the more notable examples include: a rare, ribbon-type RCA-Type 77-DX Model, one of the most desirable and rare of the classic broadcasting microphones; a Shure Brothers 55S Cardioid Microphone, which shortly after its introduction became an icon in the world of entertainment, appearing in many performances and photography of the Elvis era; and a rare and valuable Western Electric RA 1142 Ribbon Type microphone, a model commonly used for sound recording in motion pictures, as well as at radio and television studios such as KCBS.

In addition to these various communication pieces, the auction will also offer a series of beautifully presented celebrity memorabilia, including: a display card featuring the signature of Princess Grace of Monaco; a signed check from the account of Charlton Heston; a typed personal letter autographed by iconic screen actress Bette Davis; an autographed photo of popular comic actor, W.C. Fields; an autographed photo of US stage and screen icon Bob Hope; and a handsome display containing a signed contract between Bing Crosby and Selmur Productions Inc.

Astor’s collection of telephones is equally impressive. Considered one of America’s most significant and comprehensive collections of vintage telephones, the Astor Collection features many rare examples, tracing the history of telephone communication from its earliest beginnings. Set to cross the block as part of the June auction event are over 50 beautifully restored, antique telephones, including an early 1892 LM Ericsson Cradle Telephone; a 1908 Gray Paystation Telephone; and a 1908 Strowger Wall Set, will be up for auction at the June event.

Other notable highlights include:

• A beautiful selection of Art Deco-era furniture and decorative art pieces
• A fine collection of vintage slot and vending machines, kiddy rides and jukeboxes, including a 1957 Mutoscope Voice-O-Graph Recording Booth – a fascinating coin-operated booth which enables a customer to record their own voice on a record for 50 cents.
• A selection of original art works, including an example by noted automotive artist, Ken Eberts, and neo-expressionist artist, Peter Max.
• A range of professionally restored petroliana, including gas pumps, lubesters, air meters and other accessories.

For further information on this auction event, please visit RMAuctions.com.

AstorClassics.com is the web site for the collection.

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