Question:

Al why my lid has an embossed 8 and a 10 W? It fits my 10 cooler perfectly.
Thanks,
Ken

Answer:

Ken, your 10 gallon Red Wing water cooler lid with the embossed 8 & 10W was produced to fit either an 8 or 10 gallon Red Wing water cooler.  Much like the 5 & 6 gallon embossed bar handle crock lids.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Hi,

I recently found this crock right out of an estate and have never seen this lip before? It came with a button pedal lid. Also has an extra oval and hand written 4 on side. Any info. is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Answer:

I have not seen a Red Wing crock with a rim like this.  My guess is that it was produced to hold a Red Wing Perfection or Success filter on top of it.  Also the  Red Wing (ski)) oval being stencilled on the back just under the lid is a first for me as well.  As far as value, a perfect Red Wing 20 gallon crock with 4 birch leaves with excellent markings and ski oval is valued at $250.  Yours with weaker markings, a crows foot type hairline, but with a ski oval on the back I think would balance things out and keep the value in the area of $250.  The cobalt 4 does not raise or lower it’s value.  Hope this helps.  Al Kohlman

Update November 2013 from an RWCS member:

I have had these crocks before with the thick ‘cupped’ lip.  These crocks were used by clinics and labs to store samples in.  The thick ‘cupped’ lip was then filled with a liquid and the lid was set on it.  This supposedly formed a water tight seal.

The Mayo clinic in Rochester had a lot of Red Wing crocks that they stored ‘things’ in.  I have seen this lip on 20 gallon wing crocks & 10 gallon water coolers (no spigot hole).  I have not seen a birchleaf crock with this lip – so this is kind of a neat piece. – Greg

Question:

Hello – I have a Mason Fruit Jar and I am curious about the size.  I have seen quart, 1/2 gallon and 1 gallon sizes.  I measured the volume of this jar to be 96 ounces (12 cups) up to the top.  Was there ever a 3/4 gallon size made?  I have included a photo (unfortunately the jar has a hairline crack across the front).  I would also like to know the value with this defect.  Thanks so much for your time.

Sue.

Answer:

Sue, in all of my Red Wing books, they only list the three sizes of the Red Wing Mason jars. They are the quart, 1/2 gal and gallon size.  Now we know that a gallon holds 128 ounces and 1/2 gallon is 64 ounces.  When you can, you are never suppose to fill a fruit jar to it’s top.  So with this being said, I am guessing that this jar should be the 1/2 gallon size, but could be mistaken.  Either way, with the crack in the front, the value is quite low.  Maybe $50 at best.  Now if indeed this is a 3/4 gallon Red Wing Mason jar, then the value with the crack would be higher and could go anywhere from $225 to $1000 depending on what a collector would pay for an oddball size.  It would take a well advertised auction to realize the true value when the gavel falls. Al Kohlman

Question:

Hello,  I  have a ”Winnebago” marked Bean Pot. This Bean Pot was part of an elderly womens estate that lived in Winnebago and was in  pristine condition. I would like to hear your opinion on if this is a fake as it is quite important to me.  Regards, Darryl

Answer:

Darryl, I can tell you that your Winnebago advertising bean pot is Red Wing.  I can’t see enough of the lid to tell if it is Red Wing, but the bean pot is.   Al Kohlman

Question:

On the birch leaf or elephant ear crocks, was the black or blue color earlier?

Thank you, Martin

Answer:

Martin both the black and blue decorations were applied in the same time period.  You just see more black ink elephant ear pieces than blue.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Hi, I have a 5 inch tall, by 71/2 inch wide crock. The crock has a red wing on the front. Also has 4 blue stripes. 2 at the top and 2 at the bottom. The lid is also on it. I’m not sure how you rate these but I would say it’s in excellent condition.

I will text you a picture.

Dorothy

Answer:

Dorothy, you have a Red Wing pantry jar.  My guess that it is the 5 pound size.  These Pantry jars are very collectible, especially with the lid.  In perfect condition, the value is between $550 & $650.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Here are a couple of neat pieces of Red Wing in my collection. 
The first two pictures(front & back) is a advertising pantry jar (I believe).  There is one little nick on the inside rim and it measures 6 1/2 in wide x 5 in high.  Can you tell me what size of a pantry jar this is and it’s approx value?
Picture #3 is a 4 & 5 gallon Minnesota Stoneware leaf crock.  Both are in almost perfect condition.  The 4 is bottom stamped but the 5 is not.  What is the approx value?
Picture #4 is a complete set of brown top wing jugs.  They are in great shape but the 1/2 gallon has some factory glaze imperfections.  There is also a perfect 5 gallon beehive jug in the pic.  What is approx value.
 
I would appreciate your input.
 
Thanks, Dru

Answer:

Dru, your advertising Red Wing pantry jar without the lid and small chip has a value between $400 & $500.  It is a 5 pounder and the Fennimore advertising is the most common found on this jar.  Your bottom signed 4 gallon leaf crock has a value between $500 & $550. The 5 gallon leaf crock has a value between $375 & 475.  That 4 leaf crock has a much stronger leaf than the 5 and is bottom signed to boot.  So this is why the higher value falls on the 4.  The set of winged brown tops is pretty standard.  1/2 gallon $200 ot $225, 1 gallon $200to $225 & 2 gallon $450.  They need to be dead mint and gorgeous to hit this value.  Lastly is the 5 gallon winged beehive.  These are down some.  In perfect condition $275 to $300.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Hello,
   I have a couple of questions about this churn.  I recently bought it at an auction and a few thing confused me about this churn.  It is in great condition, no chips or cracks.  It has the birch leaf logo but I’m thrown off by the “3″ stamp.  I’ve never seen the gallons displayed in this manner.  The other thing is the lip of the churn.  It bells out more than usual instead of being more rounded.  What can you tell me about this piece and its aprox. value.
 
Thanks, Dru

Answer:

Dru, you have a Red Wing/Fort Dodge piece.  Red Wing bought out the Plymouth Clay Products Company of Ford Dodge, Iowa  around 1912.  They used the birch leaves to replace the Plymouth Chicken as a trademark.  They however still used the block shaped numerals for easy identification.   Value on these pieces are about the same as if they were produced in Red Wing.  In perfect condition and with today’s market in this downturn economy and no lid.  $130 to $160.  Hope this was helpful.  Al Kohlman

Question:

Al:

We found this crock in an antique store and would like to buy it but do not know what it is worth.  Can you help?  We know it is a 4 gallon crock, salt glazed inside, and it has a upturned leaf on it.  It is in really good shape, i.e. no cracks or chips.  But, it seems to have a lot of “greasy looking” markings on it as you can see in the picture.  We would appreciate it if you would get back to us asap so no one else buys it before we can. Thanks for your help.

Carol & Mike

Answer:

Carol & Mike, this 4 gallon crock is a North Star upturned leaf.  Even though the crock is not chipped or cracked, the staining does take away from its beauty.  With that staining, the value is around $100.  Al Kohlman

Question:

I have a 5 gallon ball locking jar that looks just like the one that Kenneth posted, except that it has a big red wing instead of the small one. Does that change the value of the jar at all?    Otherwise, very beautiful.  What is the estimated value of this piece?

It is in very good shape, no cracks, locking mechanisms and handles intact, but, you can see the chip on the bottom (left side) but not on the lid. The chip on the lid is about the same size and on the left side of the lid too.  

 My mother bought it for $125.  I think she got a good deal!  I will keep it as a decorative piece in my living room for many years to come.  : ) Do you know the approximate age of it?  From researching, I found that the big wing signifies an earlier crock than a small wing. I am assuming this one was made in the 30′s.  Any additional information about it would definitely be appreciated.  Thanks again!  Nicole

Answer:

Nicole, your Red Wing packing jar was produced anywhere from 1915 or so and before 1930.  With the lid, hardware, chip in lid and jar, the value with the 4 1/2 inch wing is between $200 & $225.  Al Kohlman