The 2014 Red Wing Collectors Society Commemorative is a Success Filter with lid. First produced in Red Wing in 1894, they came in two sizes – 4 gallons for home use and 10 gallons for hotel use. The upper crock contains a natural stone filter that collects the impurities in the water, thus leaving the user with clean water in the bottom crock. Production of filters was phased out in the 1930s.
The RWCS produced three different versions of its commemorative in 2014. Version A is zinc glazed and decorated with a RWCS ad and red wing. Version B is salt glazed with a cobalt ad. Version C is the seldom seen blue sponged Success Filter.
Version A is 90% of total production, Version B is 9% and Version C is 38 pieces to match the Convention’s anniversary. Members did not know which version they received until opening their box at Convention or receiving it in the mail.
The lower crock is ink-stamped “RWCS July 10-12, 2014” on the bottom. The crocks were cast in a four-piece mold and the lid was pressed. The decorative toggling on the crocks was built into the mold. All commemoratives were produced by the Red Wing Stoneware Co. The Version B pieces were salt glazed at Red Wing Pottery. Both potteries are under single ownership. This is only the second time in the history of the club that the commemorative was made in Red Wing. The first time was 2007. There were no potteries actively producing stoneware in Red Wing when the club started in 1977.
For the second-straight year, the RWCS also offered an accessory piece that could be purchased only by members who attended the Convention. The 2014 accessory piece is a stoneware riser with decorative toggling that the Success Filter rested on top of, allowing users to fit a mug under its spigot when dispensing water. It was produced by the Red Wing Stoneware Co. and cast in a six-piece mold. A limited number of risers were made in zinc glaze, salt glaze and blue sponge.
The RWCS Special Commemorative is a German Spittoon. Eighteen spittoons were hand-turned on the wheel. The toggling was applied by hand. Half the spittoons are zinc glazed and half are salt glazed. All have an Albany slip interior and all are ink-stamped “RWCS July 10-12, 2014”. The zinc pieces were given away to display winners. The salt glaze version was used for prizes and various drawings. One of each was also silent auctioned in the Commemorative Room during Convention.
A limited number of filters were also specially made for KidsView. The pieces are zinc glaze and have various color handprints randomly stamped on them. The pieces were auctioned and proceeds went to KidsView.