4 gallon Red Wing Stoneware Ice Water

Question:
Hello! I have a 4 gallon Red Wing Ice Cooler that was found in the basement of my 100-yr.-old home in Montana. I know very little about Red Wing pottery, and would appreciate ANY information you can provide about this piece. I am especially interested in knowing its age (are Ice Water Coolers older than Water Coolers?) and approximate value, given its condition. It does not have a lid or spigot (the cork is "original" to when I found the cooler). The back side is perfect. There are no chips along the rim or base. There is (unfortunately) a surface dent/crack that appears on the front of the cooler, just under the word "Ice"; it does not go through to the inside. There are about three glaze hairline cracks on the inside in random places; they also do not go through to the other side. The bottom is perfect, and strange to me, it has a small piece of newsprint that seems to have attached itself to the cooler maybe during production? It isn’t a label, but there are no loose edges. It seems very slightly embedded in the clay. Only a few words are legible (no dates). I am also wondering exactly what kind of lid would have been original to this model. Anyway, it’s not a perfect piece, but I love the size and the Red Wing logo/word graphics. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide; it’s very much appreciated! Rita
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12 gallon elephant ear transition and 15 gallon Red Wing Crock

Question:
I have 2 crocks that belonged to my Grandmother, I am 64, so you now know how old these are. The 15 gallon one has no cracks, 1 small chip on top of rim, can’t see it to well in picture. The 12 gallon one has 1 crack about 4" long from the top, as seen in the picture. Could you tell me when these were made, and the current value. Thanks Joan
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Basket weave bowl marked “BE” and “Red Wing”

Question:
I found a yellow bowl with a basketweave pattern at an estate sale here in Minnesota. The rim is wavy but inconsistent. There are three tiny green pinmarks. It is stamped ‘RED WING USA’ but the initials ‘BE’ are inscribed by hand on top of the stamp. Thanks. If you’d like to see more photos, see http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii220/sabarry/20101017/red%20wing%20bowl/?start=all

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Collection of jug, crocks and watercoolers.

Question:
Sirs: I have five Red Wing pieces which I purchased approximately 30 years ago and have enjoyed a great deal ever since. They are: -One 3 gallon beehive jug -One 15 gallon crock -One 5 gallon shoulder jug -One 4 gallon butter churn -One 5 gallon water cooler All, I think, are in good condition with these exceptions; The top of the water cooler has a large chip out of it and I don’t know if the top to the butter churn is the original, it looks like it but it is what came with the urn when I purchased it. A final note: I worked at the Hastings State Hospital in the early 60′s and took a group of Patients to tour the Red Wing Pottery when it was still operating. Although at a far less level than in its heyday, nevertheless, it was still a great experience since it was close to the end. I recall at least one large room with numerous wheels which once were all occupied, producing so many of the items we today find so wonderful. I realized I was experiencing something special and was so glad to have had that rare opportunity. William Pedersen
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4 gallon red wing crock

Question:
Hi I have a nice 4 gallon red wing crock with no cracks or hair lines. The crock is in very nice condition with nice coloring on the 4 and the wing and the oval. The wing is a large wing not a small one, but the oval that saids Red wing Minn. Is upside down, Ive been trying to find Similar ones and its been very hard to. Im guessing they dint make a lot like this. I was wondering if You Could give me a idea of what the value of this crock maybe. Thanks, Jesse
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