Question:
First, let me start by saying I think it is great that you guys take the time and energy to answer questions freely to those of us with less knowledge…..Thanks! So…. what I have is a 15 in tall, 10 inch diameter 3 gallon red wing jug with Union Stoneware mark and handle. I am interested in the time frame it was made and its approximate value. I know nothing about Red Wing Pottery and fell in love with this piece at first sight! To value…it has a small chip (which can be seen in the photo) and a small hairline crack (also visible in the photo) which appears to be superficial (I filled the jug with water and had no leakage from the crack) Thanks again for your time and expertise!

Answer: Well, thank your for the nice comment on answering these questions and we are happy to help out if we can. Your 3 gallon Red Wing shoulder jug should have a 4 1/2 in red wing if it has a Union oval. If it indeed has a 4 1’2 inch wing, it was then manufactured between 1917 and 1936. If it has the 2 7/8" wing, it would have a potteries oval and therefore made between 1936 & 1947. When Red Wing began producing these should jugs, they made up to 10,000 gallons of them a week, so they are quite a few around. Value with the chip and hairline (hairline hurts the most), $30 to $50. Al Kohlman