Question:
I am a 10 year old Red Wing Collector. I have a question about an interesting piece of Red Wing I bought at an Auction in Kellog, MN. It is a normal Red Wing Potteries 5 gallon jug with small wing and oval, but the inside is Albany Slip, not the usual white!! Yes, It is a glaze, not dirt. (I checked) Have you seen any others like it? It is not worth much because it has a big chip, though. I would appreciate any other info. I really like your Q and A page. Thanks, Sam

Answer: Sam, I love to hear from collectors of your age and really appreciate your nice compliments on the Q and A Page. Now here is my thoughts on your 5 gallon shoulder jug with small wing and potteries oval. Your 5 gallon shoulder jug could very well be one of the first shoulder jugs developed after the beehive jugs (this would justify the Albany slip interior of the jug). However, it was most likely set aside and not decorated with the larger wing and oval when first manufactured. As time passed your jug may have been found in an old storage room or under some shelf and rather than throw it in the dump. It was then stamped with the small red wing and potteries oval which was the current stamp used by Red Wing at the time your jug was found in storage.

Year’s passed I found what was a Red Wing Ice Water body (the shape of the cooler) which had a Water Cooler stamp. It was hand turned and not molded, there were no blue lines as you would find on a water cooler either. It was definitely an Ice Water piece with a Water Cooler stamp. After many questions and investigations the same answer I gave you on your jug was given to me on the water cooler. Though my answer may not be correct, it is the only possible solution to your jug that I have. Thanks for your questions and good luck with your collection. Al Kohlman