SUGARCREEK, Ohio – A wide assortment of farm collectibles and antiques kept bidders engaged during the July 14 online auction conducted by Kaufman Realty & Auctions. Though modest in size with 160 lots, the sale offered an appealing mix of farm toys, agricultural advertising, cast iron tractor seats and other nostalgic pieces that drew plenty of interest.

More than 15 farm toys crossed the block, with several attracting spirited bidding from participants. Leading the category was a 1/8-scale Farmall 1066 signed by Joseph Ertl, which drew 36 bids before selling for $220.

A Spec Cast New Holland 66 PTO baler in its original box followed at $75 after 17 bids. A Firestone IH 544 Farmall Hydro 1/16-scale tractor, also in its original box, drew 28 bids before hammering close at $70. The sale’s sole pedal tractor, a Kubota Works M1055 in expected used condition, received 20 bids, bringing $55.

Collectors also found a selection of vintage boxed play sets among the farm toys. A Firestone Agricultural Tire Co. 1955 Massey-Harris tire set in its original box led the group, drawing 21 bids, closing at $35. A Marx Co. Modern Farm Set, also in its original box, brought $22, matching the price of a mid-century REL Western Set, also with its original packaging.

Attention then turned from miniatures to pieces from the real thing, with three cast iron tractor seats. A duo of similar seats, one painted red and the other green, took top honors at $55. A Coates cast iron seat, featuring the company name cast into the metal, sold for $45, while a Keystone cast iron seat, also bearing its brand name in the casting, brought $30.

Agricultural advertising signs made up one of the auction’s largest categories, with approximately four dozen available. The top seller was a double-sided “Kohler Engine Service” flange sign measuring 18 by 16 inches, which attracted two dozen bids before selling for $210.

Close behind was a 32-by-18-inch single-sided “Winchester Ranger Smokeless Shot Shells” porcelain sign. Despite showing expected age-related cosmetic wear, it brought $200. A 48-by-24-inch “America’s Best Herefords” metal sign, in like-new condition, came close at $190.

Two signs shared the next honors, each at $160. One was a 12-by-16-inch “Crow’s Premium Hybrids” tin tacker in solid overall condition. The other was a 7-by-10-inch “Land O Lakes Sweet Cream” metal sign with evident dents, but still an attractive display piece. Among the more unusual signs was a Conoco coat rack sign. While its light no longer worked, the piece still found a buyer at $60.

Advertising collectibles continued with five vintage thermometers. Prices ranged from $2 for a 29-by-8-inch Coca-Cola sign with a broken thermometer to $30 for an 11-inch Summer Feed Co. metal thermometer with apparent age-related patina.

Then came 11 lots with promotional pens and pencils. The collections featured examples mainly from Midwest companies – such as the Missouri Farmers’ Association Seed Division, Sommer’s Poultry & Feeds and Crow’s Hybrid Corn Co. Prices ranged from $2 for a collection of 17 mixed pieces to $10 for a single B.J. Yoder and Sons Ohio Seed Corn advertising pencil.

Yet another category of agricultural collectibles was 14 lots containing advertising watch fobs. Those featured names from Midwest businesses and other agricultural-related firms. A collection of seven heavy equipment fobs brought $30, while two additional lots tied at $26 each – one featuring nine local advertising examples and the other containing eight.

Numerous other pieces rounded out the agricultural advertising offerings, adding additional variety to this auction. A Larro Feeds chicken feeder led the group at $35, followed by a 16-by-18-inch Crane Deming Pumps electric works plastic clock at $12. A vintage one-gallon Gulf Livestock Spray can fetched $9, while a lot with 12 vintage farm machinery manuals made one buyer happy, going for just $5.

For information on upcoming Kaufman auctions, visit: kaufmanrealty.com.