Steel Collectibles and Curiosities

S.S. White Dental Manufacturing Company Treadle Drill, Operational * USA, circa late 19th century *Operational means, when the foot pedal is engaged the engine wheel turns, there are no attachments to test, we do not know if the mechanism will do anything more than spin the 'wheel engine' An intact, very complete (except for drill attachments ) antique dental...

Desk cigarettes humidor box with lighter designed by Ronson. This is an amazing desk cigarettes box & touch-tip lighter, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Lighter Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1937. This is a rare near mint box with a single lid with a five-barrels hinge and an integrated touch tip striker lighter. It was designed with strong geometric patterns and crafted in solid chromed steel. Embellished with black lacquer, creating a great color contrast and the interiors are lined up with natural cedar wood. Extremely well made and solid construction with great care and attention to details. This surely is a very decorative piece and should be a great conversation item. Model: 16268. Country: New Jersey, United States. Period: Art Deco, 1937. Materials: Chromed steel, cedar wood, black lacquer. Weight: 897.5 Grams, (1.96 Pounds). Measurements: 203 mm by 102 mm by 89 mm (8.0 x 4.0 x 3.5 Inches). Marks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "FASHIONED BY RONSON NEWARK NJ US PATS BRITISH PAT IN CANADA 1935 NEWARK NJ-USA-ART METAL WORKS INC. RONSON-TOUCH-TIP ". The Ronson Lighter Company The company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander Harris (1910–11) as Business Manager, the company soon became World Famous. In the 1910s The Art Metal Works were producing very good quality Hood Ornaments and gained a reputation as a dependable supplier of same. All accounts state that Louis Aronson was a gifted man, who at 16 years old set up a money-making shop in his parent's home - before receiving a U.S. patent for a commercially valuable metal-plating process he developed when he was 24 years old, and he sold half the rights while retaining the Right to Use. "His experiments, which he has been conducting since his early youth, resulted in 1893 in the discovery of a process for electrically producing tinplate. Much money was expended upon improving the process... and has been of great practical value to the whole industry. Retaining its rights, he sold half the patent rights, and later used part of the proceeds to open the Art Metal Works in Newark, N.J. Soon the company was producing a variety of high-quality Lamps, Book ends, Art Statues and other decorative items, prized today for their detail in the collector marketplace. Louis Vincent Aronson Louis Vincent Aronson was an American inventor, industrialist and philanthropist who is best remembered as the inventor of Ronson lighters. "He was a son of Simon and Jennie Aronson, who were natives of Prussia. He was born December 25, 1869, in New York City, and there his boyhood was spent. Aronson was an exceptionally gifted young man who graduated from public school at the age of 12 before entering a New York Technical School specializing in metallurgy, practical metal working and mechanical drawing. At the same time, he set up a laboratory in the basement of his parents' home where he experimented with plating processes and turned-out money-making items while he devised ways of metalizing common items, in a durable finish of matte gold, including flowers, butterflies, animal claws and baby shoes. Aronson natural ability for designing was honed at the technical school and served him well throughout his life. He excelled and completed the School four year academic program in three years. When he graduated in 1886, at the age of 16, he was qualified as an Expert Metallurgist, Draftsman and Designer, he also had a high-level knowledge of Chemistry. He returned to the school five years later as an instructor in metallurgy for several years before devoting all his time to his own company. When he was 24 years old, he sold the rights to a commercially valuable metal plating process according to Urban Cummings book Ronson, The World’s Greatest Lighters, Wick Lighters 1913–2000. He gained public recognition when he won an award in 1893 from the Belgian government for the creation of the first non-toxic match, and young businessman Aronson received 50,000 Francs, equaling $10,000 in U.S. dollars. In 1897 he received a U.S. patent (592,227) for a match design (called the Wind-match) that would light in windy conditions or when wet. He continued working on his match designs including inventing the “Birds Eye” or “Kitchen” match that had a dual-tip design in 1903; this was an important safety improvement because friction matches of the day would sometimes light accidentally especially when stepped on or while in one’s pocket. He realized that placing a small friction ignition chemical on the tip instead of the entire match-head greatly limited accidental ignition. This style of match is still in use today. Literature: Urban K. Cummings, Ronson, the World's Greatest Lighter: Wick Lighters 1913-1966 Bird Dog Books, California. 1992. Pp-168 Figure-187 for this box illustrated. Note: This piece and the touch-tip lighter are empty of any flammable, gas or butane substances and is ready to be ship by any carrier, Condition: The overall condition of this Ronson cigarettes...

A rare meat slicer made by one of the most famous manufacturers: Berkel, Holland. This model is an H9 and comes in two parts, the base which can be removed from the main machine and ...

Interesting Department Store Window Display Prop Shelf. Heavy clear glass cloud form abut 3/16th on steel jack base, rubber feet to one side and ball feet...

ABOUT Vintage steel parrot beak pruning shears with brass spring-loaded handle and lock. CREATOR P.S. & W. Co. Pexto, Cleveland, OH. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1920. MATER...

Antique National Cash Register on Custom Antique Industrial Self Standing Cash Drawer Tower Made by National, this commercial cash register is beautifully decorated with flower and ...

1920s Steelcraft "inter-city-bus" antique pressed steel truck, wonderful original condition, color surface, patina.

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super rare and highly collectable Shark’s Vertebrae walking stick A super collectable piece of Victori...

A remarkable, rare early 20th century Khanjali dagger handmade in the Caucasus. Crafted of silver, the handle and one side of the sheath are decorated in niello with Magen David...

Intriguing historical 19th Century Indo Persian shield handcrafted in steel and decorated with four floral protuberances and engraved figures, reta...

ABOUT Vintage salesman’s sample picnic table with three wooden slats for the table top and one each for the seats. Painted green steel base. Shown with life size hand model for sc...

Quartz sweep seconds / non ticking wall clock finished in Yellow Pantone 13-0647 Illuminating. Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back t...

Display this modern industrial menorah in walnut wood and steel to celebrate eight days of Hanukah miracles. Made with solid urban wood, so it's eco-friendly. Steel has a black patin...

Born from the collaboration between ELIE SAAB Maison and Giobagnara, the Monogram Lighter is a refined tabletop accessory that brings elegance and sophistication to the art of living...

Born from the refined collaboration between ELIE SAAB Maison and Giobagnara, the Monogram Ashtray embodies the perfect balance between elegance, practicality, and artisanal excellenc...

An Octette desk lighter designed by Ronson. This Ronson Touch-Tip Octette table lighter was made between 1935 and 1951 by the Ronson Art Metal Works Inc. located in Newark, New Jers...

An extremely rare Columbia Studios motion picture reel case with three reels of 35mm movie "Tarzana", circa 1969. The case was manufactured by Goldberg...

Vibrant, sleek and full of character, this vintage pedal plane was once the prized possession of children all across America. A popular toy since the late 19th century, pedal cars an...

A stylish gentlemans pocket knife featuring a hammered silver frame in hall-marked sterling. The two knives are made by G. Felix in Solingen Germany. Suitable for pipe cleaning or fr...

Rare Switzerland mahogany & ebonized hinged music box with the original crank, three interior paper labels, and cylinders. Music box is stamped by maker and is In working condition, ...

This striking and rare pair of Chilean wooden stirrups are true gems. Also known as estribos, these stirrups are carved from a solid block of wood. Tak...

Seiko super tanker slave clock original aqua blue finish A reclaimed and restored maritime slave clock. These clocks were used in great numbers on super tankers, cargo ships an...

This gigantic - nearly man high - steel hoisting crane will give a dull corner the right Industrial look and feel you are looking for. The fully operational toy dates from the firs...

Vintage, 1940s, painted, pressed steel hobby horse manufactured by Mobo Toys, England with casters on feet and excellent patina.

A very good example of a flintlock light Dragoon pattern pistol with walnut stock and good tower marks on the lock. In wonderful untouched condition Circa 1800 Barrel length 9"

ABOUT Rare D handled smooth coffin plane. CREATOR D.R. Barton. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1832. MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Walnut, Steel. CONDITION Good. Wear consiste...

A ball table lighter designed by Ronson. Very beautiful RonDeLight Junior desk lighter, created in Newark United States by Art Metal Works Inc. for The Ro...

From the Ub Iwerks Estate! Consider extremely risque for its time. Everything original and working beautifully. It only accepts old British pennies.

Incredible boat: in solid wood. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushin...

Binoculars Navy with polished steel adjustable tripod base. With polished aluminium and steel binoculars with clear glass lens, magnifying x8 times. Adjust...

Seiko super tanker slave clock original aqua marine green finish A reclaimed and restored maritime slave clock. These clocks were used in great numbers on super tankers, cargo ...

Articulated medieval style steel gauntlet. Well made, mid-20th century.

A stainless steel lighter designed by Ronson. Very beautiful desk Rondette lighter, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1934. This is a very unusual lighter designed with wonderful geometric patterns and crafted in solid steel with a central round body set upon two smaller cylindrical feet. Embellished with black lacquer, creating a great contrast with the base polished steel. Extremely well made and solid construction with very nice care and attention to all details. This surely is a very decorative piece and a great conversation item in gorgeous and exceptional preserved condition. Weight: 104.9 Grams, (67.24 Dwt). Measurements: 66 mm by 21 mm by 82 mm (2.59 x 0.83 x 3.23 Inches). Marks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "RONSON US PAT.RE.NO.19023 RONSON RONDETTE ART METAL WKS INC NEWARK NJ US PAT.RE.NO.19023". The Ronson lighter company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander...

Large piece of British motoring history circa 1950. Was in everyday use when we purchased.  Rectangular tall container with removable lid and fully functioning perfect pour shut off...

Nice vintage Italian toy of the 50's for girl, of Italian manufacture. The toy is a pretty carriage with its horse attached for little girl, the carriage still has working its pedals...

ABOUT Pair of World War II bomber airplane wheels with red enameled, cast aluminum rims and balloon tires. CREATOR U.S. Airforce, United States. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1940...

Wonderful TV towers from the 1960s-1970s. Some made of steel, metal, aluminum, bronze. The little one golden ist made in plastic. Various heights from 22cm to 47cm! Have the normal...

Art deco magic monkey mechanical dispenser box designed by Ronson. An extremely rare and very decorative mechanical desk box, created in the city of Newark, New Jersey United States by The Ronson Metal Works Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1936. This is the mechanical Pik-a-Cig Monkey box...

A Maltese clock & touch tip lighter designed by Ronson. This is an extremely rare Ronson Maltese clock Touch-Tip lighter. This is a very iconic piece made in 1936 at Newark, New Jersey in the United States by the Ronson Art Metal Works Inc. This touch tip lighter began a very successful era for Ronson Touch Tip series of lighters which pushed out the strike lighters from the market. This fabulous Art Deco / Machine Age design, was crafted with streamline patterns. Solid construction in polished chromium plate and parts of the metal body are treated with black lacquer and the lighter base is padded with green felt. This surely is a very decorative piece and a great conversation item in gorgeous and exceptional preserved and almost mint condition. This version with the large dial are more rarer and more prized and desirable for collectors than the small dial version. It is illustrated at the Cummings book as very rare. This piece was used in 1941, in the Hollywood movie titled The Maltese Falcon, there the nick name for this specific model. Weight: 897.45 Grams, (1.87 Pounds). Measurements: 108 mm by 64 mm by 103 mm (4.25 x 2.52 x 4.06 Inches). Marks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "RONSON TOUCH TIP US PATS. 1,986,754-DES PAT. 97,247 BRITISH PAT. APPLY FOR CANADA PAT. 349,148 NEWARK NJ-USA-ART METAL WORKS INC". With all supportive Ronson stickers and labels at the bottom. The Ronson lighter company The company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander Harris (1910–11) as Business Manager, the company soon became World Famous. In the 1910s The Art Metal Works were producing very good quality Hood Ornaments and gained a reputation as a dependable supplier of same. All accounts state that Louis Aronson was a gifted man, who at 16 years old set up a money-making shop in his parent's home - before receiving a U.S. patent for a commercially valuable metal-plating process he developed when he was 24 years old, and he sold half the rights while retaining the Right to Use. "His experiments, which he has been conducting since his early youth, resulted in 1893 in the discovery of a process for electrically producing tinplate. Much money was expended upon improving the process... and has been of great practical value to the whole industry. Retaining its rights, he sold half the patent rights, and later used part of the proceeds to open the Art Metal Works in Newark, N.J. Soon the company was producing a variety of high-quality Lamps, Book ends, Art Statues and other decorative items, prized today for their detail in the collector marketplace. Literature: Urban K. Cummings, Ronson, the World's Greatest Lighter : Wick Lighters...

Seiko super tanker slave clock original re-finished in Millenial Pink. A reclaimed and restored maritime slave clock. These clocks were used in great numbers on super tankers, ...

ABOUT A set of antique steel and wood chisels with bronze collars. One steel nail punch. CREATOR Stanely. Buck Brothers. E.A. Berg Eskilstuna. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1850-1...

VERY RARE 1958 Rolex GMT-Master 6542 Full Set – A Vintage Icon in Original Untouched Condition Presenting an extraordinary opportunity to own a very rare Rolex GMT-Master 6542 from 1958, a true collector’s masterpiece. This iconic model is offered as a complete set, including the original box, papers, tag, and chronometer certificate, making it a highly desirable find for horological enthusiasts. Key features include: * Black Gilt Glossy Radium OCC Dial & Hands – the original dial and hands, with a stunning patina that adds to the vintage allure of this timepiece. * Cyclops Lens & Plastic Glass – the distinctive design elements that make the GMT-Master a recognizable classic. * 38mm Steel Case – the perfect size for a vintage watch, combined with the original 1958 Oyster steel bracelet, offering a comfortable and stylish fit. * Original Rolex Aluminium Red & Blue "Pepsi" Bezel Insert from the Early 60s – the iconic two-tone bezel in excellent condition, adding authenticity and value. There were two versions of the reference 6542, one with a bakelite bezel and one with a non-luminescent aluminum bezel. The first version, with the bakelite bezel, proved to be a problem for the manufacturers as the numbers and markings on the bezel were coated in a luminous material that at the time caused issues with the United States Atomic Energy Commission...

Wall smoking station created by the Doerr Company. This is an amazing piece of American history, created during the art deco period, back in the 1925. Crafted with industrial machin...

Cristallino Outdoor Foosball designed by Teckell. The playing field is structured with white Corian and teams of players are covered with black or whi...

Ladies Balloon Tire Springer Front Bicycle. Fleet Wing Blue bicycle. 26" Period correct whitewall tires show some age cracks . Light does work . Horn does...

Gulf Oil Corporation Spray Can USA, c.1957 Spray can with red, white, green, and blue text on white label and insect graphics. Round blue removable cap. No leaks, No holes. Dia 3 x H...

36" long cast steel wrench with 4" opening . Not sure what field of endeavor this was used in . Large installations need large hardware . Large hardware needs large tools . Clear ev...

Set of 2 Ashtrays and table lighter Vintage, Italian design, 1970s. The ashtray is made of brass and decorated wood. It measures 20 cm x 20 cm x 3 cm high. The lighter measures 7.5 ...

ABOUT Antique wooden carpentry toothing plane used to make trim and moldings. Lignm Vitae wood on the bottom. Original labels. Shown with life size hand mold for scale. CREATO...

Mid-century Sarome 'Cruiser' lighter, shaped like a Cruise ship, features a chrome body enameled red and crème accents and "Marine Ship & Supply" lettering. It includes a thumb strik...

This original vintage friction activated toy sedan" Fire Chief" Car by The Marx Toy Company, circa 1930, is a difficult toy to find, especially in this variation, which I have not se...

19th Century Indo-Persian Dhal Separ Steel Shield . Intricate decorative design with Brass inlay. Convex steel and iron shield with gold inlay and applied...

Rare Sheffield wick trimmer fitted with a hall marked steel wick trimmer blade. The finger loops, wick box, and wax pick are decorated with scollop shell elements. The trimmer is rai...

Backgammon is a very old strategic board game, from which its origin is still undefined. A true Classic game about tactics and luck played around the globe. Taking this Classic as inspiration, Orfeo collaboration joined skills to create a board game with stimulating materials and astounding chips. Shined a spotlight on to the raw materials used to create it. The exterior of the board is composed of two elements, a metalic box and a thinly sliced oyster cut veneer of parota wood. The oysters are sourced from reclaimed branches of these gigantic trees; a material that is commonly discarded as fire wood given the difficulties of processing it. Underneath the wood they have used a single sheet of meticulously oxidized metal that is laser cut to size, then assembled into a box by one of their master craftsmen. Opening the chest you’ll find a treasure of glass checkers and dice handmade by Orfeo Quagliata’s artisans. Orfeo takes his most interesting glass techniques to apply them to all the chips in the game. The checkers are manufactured in two different processes. The "Barcodes" technique is a fine linear design with schemes of different colors that contrast between one competitor and another. Thin strips of different colored glass are placed next to each other and then fused into a single piece, from which circular pieces are drilled, ground and hand polished to form the chip. The more sober and bitone "Roarshax" technique presents an electrifying texture on the top of a transparent body. Meanwhile the dice are solid glass cubes...

Antique 19th century German screw arm plough plane carpenters tool in beautifully aged original old color patina to wood and brass w/ very fine hand crafted construction. Stamped Ste...

This vintage metal sign has no maker's marks, but presumed to have originated from the United States and dates to approximately 1976 and done in a ...

Rare Hi-Lo Collapsible modernist streamline bicycle by Cleveland Company,, M D T,, Amazing design and condition, bike comes apart for easy compact transport and storage, Retains all ...

A magnificent quality six bell and drum cylinder music box made by Charles Lecoultre of Geneva, Switzerland in c. 1870. The fully serviced musical movement features a central drum an...