Question:

Hello,
   I have a couple of questions about this churn.  I recently bought it at an auction and a few thing confused me about this churn.  It is in great condition, no chips or cracks.  It has the birch leaf logo but I’m thrown off by the “3” stamp.  I’ve never seen the gallons displayed in this manner.  The other thing is the lip of the churn.  It bells out more than usual instead of being more rounded.  What can you tell me about this piece and its aprox. value.
 
Thanks, Dru

Answer:

Dru, you have a Red Wing/Fort Dodge piece.  Red Wing bought out the Plymouth Clay Products Company of Ford Dodge, Iowa  around 1912.  They used the birch leaves to replace the Plymouth Chicken as a trademark.  They however still used the block shaped numerals for easy identification.   Value on these pieces are about the same as if they were produced in Red Wing.  In perfect condition and with today’s market in this downturn economy and no lid.  $130 to $160.  Hope this was helpful.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Al:

We found this crock in an antique store and would like to buy it but do not know what it is worth.  Can you help?  We know it is a 4 gallon crock, salt glazed inside, and it has a upturned leaf on it.  It is in really good shape, i.e. no cracks or chips.  But, it seems to have a lot of “greasy looking” markings on it as you can see in the picture.  We would appreciate it if you would get back to us asap so no one else buys it before we can. Thanks for your help.

Carol & Mike

Answer:

Carol & Mike, this 4 gallon crock is a North Star upturned leaf.  Even though the crock is not chipped or cracked, the staining does take away from its beauty.  With that staining, the value is around $100.  Al Kohlman

Question:

I have a 5 gallon ball locking jar that looks just like the one that Kenneth posted, except that it has a big red wing instead of the small one. Does that change the value of the jar at all?    Otherwise, very beautiful.  What is the estimated value of this piece?

It is in very good shape, no cracks, locking mechanisms and handles intact, but, you can see the chip on the bottom (left side) but not on the lid. The chip on the lid is about the same size and on the left side of the lid too.  

 My mother bought it for $125.  I think she got a good deal!  I will keep it as a decorative piece in my living room for many years to come.  : ) Do you know the approximate age of it?  From researching, I found that the big wing signifies an earlier crock than a small wing. I am assuming this one was made in the 30’s.  Any additional information about it would definitely be appreciated.  Thanks again!  Nicole

Answer:

Nicole, your Red Wing packing jar was produced anywhere from 1915 or so and before 1930.  With the lid, hardware, chip in lid and jar, the value with the 4 1/2 inch wing is between $200 & $225.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Hello,

I recently found this at an estate auction.  It is a one gallon size.  No chips or cracks.  The imperfections in the picture are in the glaze.  Do you have an idea how old it is, and it’s value?  Any other information you may have about the jug would be appreciated too.

Thank you for your help!

Rick

Answer:

Rick, your Red Wing 1 gallon advertising jug was produced in the 1900’s maybe 1915 or somewhere in that area.  Value as I see it and in perfect condition is $600 to $800.  Nice piece of Red Wing advertising.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Al:

We were wondering if you could give us a value of this Blue Birch Leaf Water & Ice Crock. It is in excellent condition, with one small rock pop to the left of the top of the three. 

Also, we would like to get a lid but are not sure which lid goes with it.  Is it the button lid or the bar lid?  Thank you for your time.

Carol & Mike  

Answer:

Carol & Mike, your Red Wing 3 gallon birch leaf Ice Water has a value between $800 & $1000.  The correct lid for this Ice Water is a 2 gallon Red Wing button lid.  All Ice Waters that the crock button lids and for every gallon size of Ice Water you will need to go down one gallon size on the lid in order for it to fit.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Hi, I just found your website, and it’s really useful! I just bought this crock in the hopes of using it to make sauerkraut, but it’s got a chalky residue on the inside that I’m finding it difficult to remove. Any suggestions? It’s a little difficult to photograph, but it’s all in concentric rings on the inside. Also I’m assuming it was made before 1936, but if you have any more specific ideas for dating it, I’d be eager to hear it.
Thanks in advance,
Adrian

Answer:

Adrian, your 5 gallon Red Wing crock was produced between 1909 & 1915.  That white chalky stuff is lime and the best way that I have found to remove it is to use Lime-A-Way gel toilet bowl cleaner (or any other toilet bowl cleaner that is in gel form that removes lime).  Cover the inside of the crock with the cleaner and let stand for about ten minutes.  Then put on a pair of vinyl gloves and get yourself a green scratch pad and scrub the inside of the crock well.  Hose it out and you should be good to go.  Note; you will not hurt the inside of the crock.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Hi:

We have this PERFECT beehive and were wondering what it is worth. The lettering is black and the inside is salt glazed.

Thank you,

Carol & Mike

Answer:

Your Red  Wing 5 gallon beehive with just the oval and number 5 is a tough find.  However, it will take a collector looking for the little out of the ordinary that would give you the highest price.  If one were putting a set together and needed this one jug, it could fetch $600 or a little more if in perfect condition.  Al Kohlman

Question

My uncle has some Red Wing crocks he was looking to sell but I wanted to find out what value they might have prior to putting in a garage sale. The first is a 10 Gal Red Wing crock without chips or hairline cracks – handles in good condition – screw hardware a little rusted. Stamped patented Dec 1915. The second is an 8 Gal crock with chip in outer rim, handle mount chipped handles are rusted but still intact, also stamped patented Dec – 1915. Also included a photo of a 2 gal crock in good condition and a crock he owns with nothing but a crown stamp with a 3 inside. Although he has some Western crocks also I am curious to know what company may have manufactured the “crown” crock ?

Answer:

Tregg, your 10 gallon Red Wing crock has a value around $150.   The 8 gallon Red Wing with chip in rim and small wing $70 to $80.  The 2 gallon Red Wing crock with 4 1/2″ wing in prefect condition is around $60.  Your crown crock was produced in Ohio.  No idea of value on it.  Hope this helps you out.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Hello found this piece while turckey houting a couple of dates ago and i am so curisou as to what it might be. It was half

Answer:

This is a Red Wing Wax Sealer that is bottom signed.  It was the early canning jar.  Jar was filled with fruit or other eligible items from the garden.  A tin lid was placed on the opening and cover with hot wax to seal the contents.  In perfect condition the value is around $50.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Hi–

My husband was going to give this bowl to Goodwill.  think it’s a 7-inch sponge band bowl. It is in great condition. No cracks. Can you identify the piece, the year and tell me what a fair asking price would be?

Yael

Answer:

Yael, your bowl is a Red Wing Gray Line bowl and was produced in the late 1920’s and into the 30’s.  In perfect condition a fair value is around $100.  Al Kohlman