Bruinoil Sign Roars to $92,250 at Historic Bobby Knudsen Jr. Collection Finale

A Bruinoil and Bruin Gasoline double-sided tin flange sign sold for $92,250, highlighting the third and final installment of the acclaimed Bobby Knudsen Jr. collection at Morphy Auctions. The final sale in October realized $5.1 million, driving the overall collection total to nearly $10 million.

Bruinoil and Bruin Gasoline (Pa.) double-sided tin flange sign with fantastic central image of roaring bear with slogan ‘The Bear Of Them All.’ Most likely new/old stock, 18 in. x 14 in.: $92,250 Courtesy Morphy Auctions

Each item in the auction was graded, certified and stickered by AGS, the recently launched expert grading service that specializes in antique advertising.

In addition to the Bruin Gasoline sign, a rare and outstanding Beacon Ethyl Gasoline single-sided porcelain service station sign from the 1930s sold for $72,000. a Harbor Petroleum Products (Los Angeles) single-sided porcelain sign, AGS-graded 94, sold for $60,000.

Rare 1930s Beacon Ethyl Gasoline single-sided porcelain service station sign with beautiful image of lighthouse casting beams, 48 in. x 30 in.: $72,000. Courtesy Morphy Auctions

The ever-popular aviation theme continued with an iconic Smitholene Aviation Brand Gasoline single-sided porcelain pump plate sign with a dual-prop airplane graphic selling for $40,800. Dating to around the 1940s, the 10-inch-diameter sign presented in extremely clean condition and was AGS-graded 93.

Iconic Smith-O-Lene Aviation Brand Gasoline single-sided porcelain pump plate sign with dual-prop airplane graphic, circa 1940s, 10-inch diameter: $40,800 Courtesy Morphy Auctions

Complete auction results for the three-day event are available for review at LiveAuctioneers (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3).