DENVER, PA.- An exceptionally clean example of a 1940s Harbor Petroleum Products porcelain sign with seaplane graphics; two rare and desirable vintage motorcycles – a 1939 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead and a 1947 Indian Chief Model 347B; and highly collectible vintage signs for OK Used Cars, Mohawk Gasoline, Sinclair Aircraft, Ford and others will come up for bid Wednesday and Thursday, July 15 and 16, at Morphy’s Automobilia, Petroliana & Soda Advertising auction.

The auction is loaded with nearly 1,300 lots of motoring-related signage and service station items certain to please even the most discerning collectors. The event will be held live at Morphy’s Pennsylvania gallery, with all forms of remote bidding available, including live via the internet through Morphy Live. Many of the higher-estimate lots will be offered on Day 1, the July 15 session.

Tops among them is the circa-1940s Harbor Petroleum Products Co (Los Angeles) porcelain sign with seaplane graphics. The sign, measuring 39 inches by 35 inches, is graded 9.0 by AGS, the premier authentication and grading service for antique advertising. It shows full color and gloss throughout, with no noticeable chipping in the inner or outer fields. This sign has great display power, and is a true icon of early California petroleum history. The estimate is $40,000-$80,000.



The 1939 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead was a legendary motorcycle famous for establishing Harley’s OHV V-twin legacy. The ’39 model year is prized by collectors because, with this model, Harley-Davidson successfully resolved its early oiling issues that plagued earlier models. The 61 cubic inch (1000cc) engine could achieve speeds to 100 mph. This is an older restoration. The bike appears to be mostly original, with minor chrome accents added later. Estimate: $30,000-$50,000



The 1947 Indian Chief Model 347B was Indian’s iconic heavy weight “big twin” motorcycle, famed for its sweeping skirted fenders. It was a larger, more powerful bike than the smaller Scout. This is believed to be an older professional light restoration, possibly an original paint with very minimal touch-up. It’s graded 8.75+ for condition and is Deluxe Jet Black in color. It has been actively used and very well-maintained and is in above-average condition for its age. Estimate: $15,000-$30,000



A complete OK Used Cars double-sided porcelain neon sign with bullnose edge attachments, graded 9.0+, is mounted on the original metal can. The sign, impressive at 60 inches by 44 inches by 21 inches and securely housed in a shipping crate, is in incredibly clean and all-original condition, with outstanding color and gloss throughout. Each bullnose is also in outstanding condition, showing just light edge wear with light mounting hole wear. Estimate: $15,000-$30,000



An antique, circa-1910s Mohawk Gasoline “Down Feathered” painted wood delivery panel wooden sign is an extremely rare piece of Bakersfield, California and Mohawk history. Until recently the only known examples of Mohawk "Down Feathered" advertising pieces were the 30-inch porcelain sign and the 16-inch porcelain paddle sign. This piece was recently discovered in San Francisco. It’s 75½ inches long by 13¼ inches tall and shows beautiful age and patina. Estimate: $15,000-$30,000



Ford offers not one but two porcelain neon signs in the sale. Lot 1016 is a complete double-sided porcelain neon sign with bullnose attachments. It’s clean, from the 1930s, and each side exhibits outstanding color and gloss. The lettering is in excellent condition on each side and lights up beautifully in bright neon. The 101-inch-wide sign is graded 8.75+. Estimate: $15,000-$30,000



Lot 1156 consists of two arrow-shaped Ford Service single-sided porcelain neon signs mounted back-to-back on what appears to be the original metal can. Each 72-inch-long sign is marked “Cook Sign Company” and each is in outstanding condition, showing brilliant color and gloss. The lot is graded 9.0 for condition and the neon is complete and unbroken. Estimate: $15,000-$30,000

A departure from petroliana, but no less important, is the Aetna Insurance Company single-sided reverse painted glass sign with early automobile graphic and original wood framing. It’s an amazing piece with only a few original examples known, measuring 31 inches by 23 inches and graded 7.75. This is an exceptional piece of early graphic automotive advertising. Estimate: $10,000-$30,000



A scarce Sinclair Aircraft one-piece baked globe with airplane graphic, 16½ inches tall, is dated February 1929. It’s a beautiful piece of advertising and one of the greatest globes ever produced. Overall it’s excellent, showing bright colors throughout on each side, with only light surface wear. A high condition grade of 9.0 certainly doesn’t diminish its desirability. Estimate: $15,000-$25,000



A Clearvision Model #702 duplex visible gas pump, 100 inches tall by 36 inches wide, shows an older restoration done in Esso Gasoline, with red and black painted surfaces. Both blue tinted glass cylinders are in excellent condition. The pump shows two single-lens Esso globes at the top, set on low-profile metal bodies. Included are black hoses with brass nozzles. Estimate: $15,000-$25,000



The circa-1930s SOCONY Aircraft single-sided porcelain sign is an incredibly clean example of an iconic sign from Standard Oil, with brilliant color and gloss throughout, showing no field chips and only minimal areas of light surface scratch. The sign measures 30 inches by 20 inches and is graded well at 9.0 This outstanding, glossy example is expected to gavel for $10,000-$20,000.



Don’t sleep on Day 2 offerings. A sample is lot 2007, a Griesedieck Bros “Light Lager Beer” double-sided die-cut porcelain hanging sign from the 1930s, manufactured by “Kirn St. Louis” as marked on the bottom edge. It’s a beautiful die-cut sign with bright colors and one of the best-known examples, 48 inches by 24 inches and graded 8.5 for condition. Estimate: $10,000-$20,000

Straight from the 1950s, a Flying A single-sided porcelain button sign is a well-displaying example of an iconic piece. The sign, measuring 62 inches by 48 inches, shows very good color and gloss throughout the majority of the field. It’s graded highly at 8.5. Estimate: $7,500-$15,000

The July 15-16 Automobilia, Petroliana & Soda Advertising auction will be held live at Morphy’s gallery, 2000 N. Reading Rd., Denver, PA 17517, starting at 9am Eastern Time both days. All forms of bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone and live via the Internet through Morphy Live. For questions pertaining to any item in the auction, to reserve a phone line, or to discuss consigning to a future Automobilia, Petroliana & Soda Advertising auction at Morphy’s, call 877-968-8880, email info@morphyauctions.com. Visit Morphy’s online at www.morphyauctions.com.