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Red Wing, MN – The 2017 Red Wing Collectors Society Commemorative has been unveiled! This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Red Wing Collectors Society, so it’s fitting that 40 gallon crocks were produced as this year’s RWCS Commemorative. Three versions were produced. Version A made up 90 percent of total production, Version B covered 9 percent and 40 Version C pieces were made to match the club’s anniversary. Members received versions at random at Convention and in the mail.
Except for a single salt glaze example that exists, Red Wing only made 40 gallon crocks during the zinc glaze era. The large crocks were popular in the soda and chemical industries, but could also be used for making wine, pickles and sauerkraut.
Version A has three decorations: “40”, wing and oval; “40”, birch leaves and oval; and “40”, elephant ears and oval. The member can choose which decoration to display with the other decorations not visible from the front. Version B has advertising from two companies: San Francisco’s John Mulhern Co. and Prell Mercantile Company of Bremen, KS. Once again the member can choose which ad to display with the other on the back of the crock. Version C is a transition crock with two hand-decorated cobalt leaves. All crocks came with a lid.
The crocks are bottom ink-stamped “RWCS 40th Anniversary 1977-2017”. Crocks and lids were pressed at Rowe Pottery in Cambridge, WI.
The RWCS also commissioned Rowe Pottery to produce a Koverwate to serve as the 2017 accessory piece. These could be purchased at Convention or via mail.
The Special Commemorative is a 40 gallon self draining jar. The self draining jars were also used in the soda and chemical industries. Eighteen specials were made. Half were decorated with a “40”, self draining logo and wing, while the other nine have a “40” and advertising for H.C. Schranck Co. of Milwaukee. The wing versions were given as awards for display winners. The Milwaukee advertising versions were used as prizes in various drawings at Convention. One of each was silent auctioned in the Commemorative Room at Convention.
Twelve crocks were decorated with multi-color handprints to represent KidsView and the Young Collectors programs. These crocks were auctioned at Convention and MidWinter, with the proceeds benefiting the youth programs.
THERE IS STILL TIME TO ORDER THE 2017 COMMEMORATIVE AND ACCESSORY!