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LARGE HANDMADE MODEL OF GREYHOUND BUS

Currency:USD Category:Toys & Hobbies Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
LARGE HANDMADE MODEL OF GREYHOUND BUS
LARGE HANDMADE MODEL OF GREYHOUND BUS. Logging over 1,500 hours on this meticulous masterpiece, grocery store owner Russel Diener replicated the 1930s vehicle with special touches like individual seats, curtains, fire extinguishers, hand carved mirrors, luggage rack, and more. He even sought Firestone to custom craft miniature tires for his model like the real ones, which they gladly provided. He wished to sell the model to Greyhound, who stated they were not in the business of buying models. However, so impressed were they by the model, they awarded him a free trip to the 1933-1934 Chicago Worlds Fair where he was able to display his handiwork at Greyhounds pavilion, thus becoming a quasi-celebrity, likely helping a promising folk art career. It was right after the Great Depression and Diener tried to make ends meet by selling raffle tickets for the bus to the public at 10 cents apiece. The fair management put a stop to this because of the gambling nature of the raffle. Included with this lot are some of the original raffle tickets, newspaper clippings on Deiner, and several vintage photographs taken shortly after the completion of the bus. A truly amazing piece of folk art. SIZE: 36 3/4" l. x 8 1/2" w. x 9 1/2" h. CONDITION: Some slight repairs, rubber tires have stiffened and have cracked in places, otherwise near excellent. 1-4975 AT