Question:

I always enjoy reading all the question and answers, thanks for taking time to do this!  My question is about hand turned water coolers and the correct lid.  I know the earliest hand turned coolers would have had a button lid, but I wonder if they switched over to the bar style lid while still making hand turned coolers because they were less time consuming to make.  The reason I ask this is because I’ve seen several hand turned water coolers over the many  years of going to farm auctions that came right out of a cellar with a bar handle lid that matched perfectly with the cooler.  My thoughts are a button lid looks great on a cooler but if it came out of an old estate sale with a bar lid, that

was probably the correct lid it always had.  What do you think?   Am I

crazy?!

Answer:

You raise a good point.  I am not sure there is any way to prove it one way or another.  Most collectors and books on Red Wing say the button lids were made for the hand turned coolers.

Question:

I am interested in what type of markings North Star pottery has, whether it be a logo, lettering(stenciled or stamped), or bottom stamped.  Any and all info you can give us on this matter will be appreciated. 

Thanks, Jim and Penny

Answer:

North Star used a plain star—both raised and indented stars were used.  Also used with both stars were the letters N-O-R-T-H within the stars.
A more fancy mark was the word NORTH, a star, and RED WING and MINN.  Lids are believed to have a raise star on the knob or a star surrounding the lid knob.

Question:

Just wondering how much my great, great Aunt’s 10 gallon red wing water cooler is worth. Sending you some pics. There are no cracks or glazing. One small dime size chip, as shown in pic. The 10 is in the inside bottom. No markings on the bottom.

Debbie

Answer:

Your cooler is valued between $900 and $1100.  If you had the lid value would increase by approximately $700.

Question:

Hi:
I have a UTAH LIQUOR CO. / 223 MAIN ST. / SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH with the line about return of the jar for 10 cents.  On the base, it is marked MINN CO / RED WING, MINN.

Height is about 6 inches and the round base measures appx. 6.5 inches. 

It’s about perfect with a small chip on the collar.

I wondered what you thought of the current value of this jar.

Thanks.

Paul

Answer:

Current value is between $600-$700.

Question:

I bought this 5 gallon crock at an auction and I believe it is a Red Wing.  It has two cracks, one on the side and another on the back.  The one on the side does not go all the way through, but the larger one on the back does go through to the inside.  Can you give me the age of this piece and a approximate value.  Thanks.  Rich

Answer:

Your salt glazed crock may have been made sometime in the 1880′s
The bird decoration is rare and very desirable.  It certainly appears to be Red Wing.  Value in cracked condition is between $4500-$5500.

Question:

I have one more Haarmann I’m looking at.  This one is not bottom signed and has some minor chipping on the spout edge.  Given the name on this is Haarmaan without the “s” on the end, this is an earlier one before the four sons took over the company.  Can Al give me a quick valuation on this please?
Thanks!
Chris

Answer:

Chris, the Haarmann Advertised Piece not signed is valued between $600 to $900. Al Kohlman

Question

I have a Red Wing Pitcher with mugs.  The pitcher is inscribed with the words “Inner City Fuel Company”.  My understanding is the set was a preminum for having you coal delivered in the summer before the winter rush.  What is the value of the set?

Answer:

The Gray line pitcher if in perfect condition has a value around $350.  If the name of a town were on the advertising, the value would be greater. The mugs are not Gray Line and would not be the correct mugs to go with your Gray Line Advertising Pitcher.  Your mugs you have here in perfect condition have a value in the range of $40 each.  Al Kohlman

Question:

As others who have asked for help, I am seeking information from the experts about this Redwing Water Cooler. It has a “4″ stamped on inside bottom of crock so  I assume it means 4 gallons.

Other than a significant chip on lid, the set is in great condition. I assume this is original lid to this crock, a 4 is imprinted in the top of lid on “petal” along with a “W” on next petal. Same blue stripes match the crock.

As you can see on the back there is a black streak, it is in the glaze, a drip from a bubble(?) in the glaze.  So it is original mark not something that happened years later. Not sure if this is “points off” on value.

I am almost certain my great grandparents were original owners of this crock so it has huge sentimental value. Great Grandfather homesteaded in area of Billings, MT in 1881 before MT was a state, just a territory.  Of course we will treasure this no matter what antique or collector value may be. From what I can piece together it is a hand thrown piece? Unique in that way, but I’m having trouble understanding year(s) it was possibly made & would like to know value… So if a family member should break it, I’d know how long to morn! I have several antiques & love to learn the history & craftsmanship that goes into them.

Also I would really like an original (or replica) spigot so we can use this crock. I found one locally that may work but its black & therefore doesn’t look right. I would appreciate contact info to trustworthy resource for original spigot I heard is available at conventions, since I’m not able to be there in person.

I hope these pictures come through with email since I am sending this from my cellphone.
Thank you for your time & information. All is greatly appreciated!

Lynae

Answer:

Lynae, you are correct on your Red Wing water cooler being hand turned.  Your Red Wing 4 gallon water cooler was produced between 1909 & 1915.  The value on just your water cooler with the turkey dripping on the back is in the area of $400.  Now the lid is a Red Wing water cooler lid, however it has the bar handle (later version).  The correct lid  for your hand turned cooler would be the button lid.  A perfect button lid has a value between $700 & $800.  Your bar handle lid if it were in perfect condition would be $350.  However, with the chip, that value drops to around $100.  The correct spigot would be a push button “Central” spigot.  You can find them on eBay or at the Red Wing convention and they sell for around $50.   Hope all of this was helpful.  Al Kohlman

Question:

What would the  value on this piece with ah …6-7 inch wing.
Thanks!

Chuck

Anwswer:

Chuck, your 5 gallon Red Wing transition jug with the 6 inch wing has a value around the area of $125 in perfect condition.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Hi.
 
I recently discovered this crockpot my father gave to me. I have no idea where he got it.
It is one gal. in size and has no markings of any kind that I can see other than the red wing as shown on the picture. It is in reasonably good condition with one or two chips on the out side. The outside is smooth with a lot of imperfections in actual material. The top edge is a darker brown colour the rest is a light tan colour. The lid is in excellant condition and has a round knob which is slightly rounded on top. The bottom is a light brown colour and is not glazed.
I would appreciate any info you can give me about this pot regards
 
Brad

Answer:

Brad, your 1 gallon Red Wing crock with the large 4 1/2 inch wing was produced between 1909 & 1930.  The lid on your crock is not Red Wing and therefore I have no value on it.  With the few dings I can see on your crock (make sure there is not hairlines or cracks), the value is between $300 & $350.  One gallon Red Wing crocks with this large wing can be a tough fine.

  Al Kohlman