Rare and unusual models and toys from two deceased estates pays dividends for Leksi Auctions.

By Richard Brewster, on 24-Mar-2020

Despite the constant coronavirus threat, collectors bid enthusiastically at Leski Auctions Melbourne sale of toys, trains and models on March 22, 2020 – so much so that auctioneer Charles Leski kept reminding them to keep the recommended government ordered distance from each other to minimise the risk of infection. By the end of the sale, about 75 per cent of lots had been sold – most within the catalogue estimates. 

Collectors bid enthusiastically at Leski Auctions Melbourne sale of toys, trains and models on March 22 one of Australia’s leading master model railway builders, the late Frank Kelly together with the late Queenslander Brian Telfer’s collection of stationary steam engines. The highest priced lot was $5,500 paid for a Yonezawa 58 Atom Jet Racer tin friction space toy, circa 1958. With a length of 69 cm (27 inches) it is believed to be the largest tin friction toy car ever created by the Japanese toy industry

Collectors bid enthusiastically at Leski Auctions Melbourne sale of toys, trains and models on March 22 one of Australia’s leading master model railway builders, the late Frank Kelly together with the late Queenslander Brian Telfer’s collection of stationary steam engines. The highest priced lot was $5,500 paid for a Yonezawa 58 Atom Jet Racer tin friction space toy, circa 1958. With a length of 69 cm (27 inches) it is believed to be the largest tin friction toy car ever created by the Japanese toy industry

The highest priced lot was $5,500 paid for a Yonezawa 58 Atom Jet Racer tin friction space toy, circa 1958. With a length of 69 cm (27 inches) it is believed to be the largest tin friction toy car ever created by the Japanese toy industry.

A 1960s Masudaya Batmobile (Lot 162 ) changed hands for $3800, while an early Marklin composite steam plant with boiler and engine (Lot 75 ), part of the late Queenslander Brian Telfer’s collection, for $2200.

Lot 97, a circa 1925 colour lithograph poster with the words “Xmas Presents”, another valued possession within the Telfer collection, sold for $1400.

Railway models belonging to fellow collector the late Frank Kelly, a much admired builder of scale models from the ground up, featured prominently among the top prices with an 1880s B class steam locomotive (Lot 9 ) bringing $1100 – the same price as an 1889 A class steam locomotive (Lot 12 ), 1890 Y class tender locomotive (Lot 31 ) and 1909 Tasmanian Garratt K class compound steam locomotive (Lot 50 ) also in the collection.

Two more of his collection, a circa 1907 AA class steam locomotive (Lot 21 ) introduced that year to be used on express/premier services hauling the heavier E type passenger carriages that came into service in 1906, and a circa 1947 K class branch line steam locomotive (Lot 26 ) built post World War II at the Newport workshops, each brought $1000.

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About The Author

Richard Brewster has been writing about the antiques and art auction industry for almost 20 years, first in a regular weekly column for Fairfax's The Age newspaper and also in more recent times for his own website Australian Auction Review. With 45 years experience as a journalist and public relations consultant, in 1990 Richard established his own business Brewster & Associates in Melbourne, handling a wide range of clients in the building, financial, antiques and art auction industries.