Highlights from the Carl Bomstead Collection

May/June 2023 edition
Issue #34 AutoMobilia Resource Magazine

Single-owner collections grab more attention and higher prices than many other offerings in the collector car world. It carries over into the world of automobilia, making it no surprise that Barrett-Jackson’s automobilia expert, Rory Brinkman, described the pre-inquiries about the Carl Bomstead collection as “unprecedented.”
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Carl might be considered the dean of automobilia journalists. He has written over 500 columns and articles on the subject. He began collecting in 1981, scouring flea markets like Hershey and Brimfield in the East and numerous venues along the West Coast. Years ago, I visited his collection in Palm Desert, CA. It favored the classics over neon and resided in a 1,500-square-foot car condo. Carl was an early adopter of the automobile-themed “man cave” condo concept. He stated that the walls and cabinets there are now bare.

This Packard sign was reminiscent of an Art Deco movie marquee. Carl shared that it was surrounded by its original porcelain and had had some touch-up at its center; it was not as garish nor was it as large as many of the neon signs collectors crave. Was it worth the $19,500 it brought?  As Carl often says, “Where’ya going to find another one?”

This 28"x47" Packard Service double-sided porcelain sign presents in the familiar die-cut shape of a radiator. The outline is common, having been reproduced “officially” by the Packard club in a smaller size in the 1970s. The difference here is the aviation motometer motif that tops the sign. It sold for $18,975.

This five-gallon French Auto Oil can was the product of Marshall Oil Company of Marshalltown, Iowa. While not rare, it features a fabulous image of a pair of early-century race cars, each with its driver and riding mechanic leaning as far left as possible. Rated as “Very Good++ to Excellent,” it achieved a price at near or the top its range, $3,450.

California Packard dealer Earle C. Anthony thought that gasoline could be more easily distributed, and fuel quality more consistently maintained, if its purchase were moved away from grocery and hardware stores. He placed fuel pumps in front of his dealerships and elsewhere. In 1914, he sold his 250 fueling stations to Standard Oil Co. of California. He also sold the logo, the familiar red, white and blue “chevron.”  At that time gasoline cost the consumer 12 cents a gallon. As part of the deal, it was reported, Anthony received one cent for every gallon of gas sold at any of his former stations.
Evidence that not all petroleum product rights were sold is this rare 1938 Earle C. Anthony Packard Multimotor Oil can. In outstanding condition, it sold for $3,450. I asked several petroliana experts how best to preserve a full container – “empty it or not?” – and received varying answers. I liked the solution used on this quart can – it had been drained from its bottom.

This late 1920s-early 1930s single-sided porcelain sign, measuring 76"x39", was the only Anthony Packard-Reo dealership sign of this type that Carl or Rory had ever seen. Though it had heavy touch-up, its singularity and historical significance made it seem a bargain at $1,725.

More than 400 Bomstead items were sold at no reserve in Scottsdale. On the Saturday before the auction, I felt privileged to have Rory spend over an hour with me, sharing his take on items for which “there was no blue book.” A sampling of items already sold is offered on these pages. Rory states that there are another 400-plus items that will be offered at a later date.

Though the auction labeled this one a “1930s Trophy,” its engraving reads “Mobilgas Grand Canyon Run 1950” and celebrates First Place in Class C. Though records for economy runs show events dating back to the Teens, the competition reached its publicity zenith with the Mobil Economy Runs, which ran from 1936 to 1968. The trophy measures 15"x15" and features a tall metal loving cup atop a marble base. A raised Pegasus is affixed to its surface. Considering its heritage, the trophy seemed appropriately bought at $2,875.

This 30.5"x24" single-sided porcelain sign carries the familiar Packard radiator image but, unlike most such pieces, carries the Earle C. Anthony signature logo and is presented as a rectangle. The sign was described as “museum quality” and rated “very good,” but I was still amazed at the delta between it and the Anthony dealership sign. The Packard Service Station sign sold for $19,550.

The sales of two different Francisco Auto Heater signs bear mention. Both are tin lithos that measure 40"x18" and display a 1920s sedan with a transparent passenger section whose occupants appear warm and cozy. The blue one, a snow scene with a dark blue evening sky, features adults and children in a period Packard and is quite common; one can find dozens of sales mostly in the low to mid four-figure range. Carl and Rory both made mention of a group of these in NOS condition having been found by a Dallas-area collector some years ago.  In “impossible to improve upon” condition, this one sold for a high or near high of $7,130. The white sign features a blue sedan, carrying four “flappers,” on a white background. It has quite noticeable paint loss on the faux frame at its periphery, but it was accurately described as “Good ++” (its interior is very good); however, it is “nearly impossible to find” and, though less attractive, might have been a better buy at $5,750.

Carl had never seen another one like this 21"x44" framed 1920s Boyce Moto Meter dealer poster. It’s in “pristine” condition and has an attractive, but to my eyes unexciting, graphic. It sold for $2,875. There are some amazing and larger automotive-themed French posters from this era and earlier, sporting more engaging images and selling for far less. I'm not sure I always understand pricing, but if I were a Moto Meter collector, I would have jumped on it.

Sealed Power made its debut as the Piston Ring Company in 1912 and is still in existence today. Rory shared that this neon sign dates back to the 1930s and was the only one in porcelain he had ever seen. Rarity and pristine condition added up to a sale at $40,250.

This 18"x60" Auto-Lite Batteries tin sign features embossed graphics. Prior to the auction, Carl shared that vertical versions are far more common and typically sell for $3,000. This rarer edition sold for $7,705.

Packard was at or near the pinnacle of high-end automobile manufacturing between the great wars. Hundreds of Packard chassis made it to the shops of the recognized designers of their day. Hollywood stars were drawn to the marque, and their Packard purveyor of choice was Earle C. Anthony, who was one of the make’s regional distributors and an owner of several dealerships throughout California.
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Interestingly, Anthony was an early adopter of neon signage, the result of a process perfected and patented by Georges Claude. Anthony purchased a pair of “liquid fire” Packard signs from the Frenchman in 1923, and one can be seen in photos taken in Los Angeles in 1925.

Scarce Douglas Aviation Gasoline single-sided die-cut porcelain pump plate sign. Size: 7"x17". Sold for $5,750.

The auction featured many Anthony and Packard items, plus plenty of other prime pieces of automobilia. Some of the more interesting are pictured here.

​Mark Moskowitz

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