Question:

Yesterday while working my job as an operating engineer in Portland, Oregon we hit a buried garbage pit while excavating for a new building footing.  The pit was about four feet below the existing ground level and contained numerous broken bottles, ash, rusted out cans, etc, and I would guess to be 1940′s-1950′s era judging from the bottles.

One of my crew noticed something other than glass at the exposed edge of the excavation and investigated it, exposing the Red Wing logo and #4 of a stoneware crock.

We carefully unearthed the crock but expected to find it broken on the unexposed side.  We were quite surprised to find it intact with only a couple small chips at the base.

I took some photos with my phone and have attached them with this email.

Sincerely,

Eric

Answer:

Eric, nice little find here.   Your Red Wing Stoneware 4 gallon crock was produced between 1909 & 1915.  In the condition you described the value is right around $50.   Al Kohlman