BARANGER MOTION DISPLAY, "WEDDING CAKE," WITH A HOST OF MINIATURE BAKERS, EARNESTLY EMPLOYED IN THE TASK OF CREATING THE PERFECT WEDDING CAKE AND, ATOP WHICH, OF COURSE, STAND THE BRIDE AND GROOM. THE PLAQUE READS, "WITH ONE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL DIAMONDS YOU CAN EAT YOUR CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO."

THE FUN HOUSE COLLECTION OF AUTOMATA Baranger Motion Displays BETWEEN 1937 AND 1957, THE BARANGER COMPANY OF PASADENA MANUFACTURED AN INGENIOUS ARRAY OF CHARACTER MOTION MACHINES. THEY WERE INTENDED TO BE DISPLAYED IN SHOP WINDOWS, USUALLY JEWELRY STORES, WITH THE HOPES OF ATTRACTING THE PUBLIC EYE. THE BARANGER'S WERE NOT SOLD, BUT RATHER LEASED TO THE SHOPS AND, AFTER A TIME, ROTATED OUT AND REPLACED WITH DIFFERENT MODELS. A TOTAL OF 167 DIFFERENT MODELS OF THESE ELECTRICALLY POWERED AMERICAN FOLK ART CREATIONS WERE MADE, AND IN RELATIVELY SMALL RUNS. THE CONDITION OF THESE AUTOMATA IS GENERALLY EXCELLENT AND, IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE ALL STILL ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR CUSTOM BARANGER TRAVEL CASES, EACH ONE SPECIFICALLY TOOLED FOR A PARTICULAR DISPLAY, AND COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURURE'S LABELS. THE MACHINES GENERALLY FEATURE A RANGE OF INTERESTING MOTION, WITH SOME MORE ELABORATE THAN OTHERS. THE BARANGERS COME IN TWO SIZES, 28 IN. WIDE X 25 IN. HIGH X 15 1/2 IN. DEEP, AND 41 IN. WIDE X 22 IN. HIGH X 15 1/2 IN. DEEP. THE VARIETY OF MATERIALS USED IS DIVERSE, AND INCLUDES WOOD AND METAL, WITH GLASS, LEATHER, PAPER, AND OTHER DECORATIVE TOUCHES. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PROPERTY, INTERESTED BIDDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE SALE TO OBTAIN DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL AUTOMATON'S FEATURES, FUNCTIONALITY AND OVERALL CONDITION.

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