Question: {mosimage}
Hi, I have a piece of saffron that I have not seen before and wonder if you can help. The piece is 7 1/" high and approx 8" wide. No discoloration and signed on the bottom. I have attached some pictures.

Answer:
Ron, this is a nice Red Wing Saffron-ware butter pail. I have seen them in Gray line, but yours is the first in Saffron for me. It looks to be in great condition and staining always seems to be a problem with Saffron-ware. So without the staining you have a very nice and somewhat rare piece. I would place the value on this piece between $200 & $300. Al Kohlman

Question:
I just bought a 25 gallon red wing crock. I paid 140. Is it worth that or more. Looks to be in great condition, no cracks or chips.

Answer:
Nancy, your 25 gallon Red Wing crock was a very good
buy at $140. If in great condition you can double
your money when or if you decide to sell. Al Kohlman

Question:
Hi I have an 8 gallon bubbling water cooler with lid and stand. I found under the basement stairs in a country church that my husband pastored. It was headed to the dump. Other than the dry rubber gasket on the fount it seems to be in excellant condition. I have several interested buyers but after hanging on to it for 20 years I am reluctant to sell with out good info. I live in northern Mn. but have been unable to connect with collectors in Red Wing. I also have a round cookie pot (No lid) that has been in my husbands family. Thanks Kathy

Answer:
Kathy, if I had a photo of your water cooler, it would help me give you a better estimate do to size of the red wing and how well the markings are. An 8 gallon Red Wing water cooler is harder to come by than the 3, 4, 5 or 6 gallon size therefore it has a greater value than these. I would estimate your cooler if in perfect condition between $650 & $800. Al Kohlman

Question:
Hi I was wondering, I have a jug that my grandmother left me when she passed. I was wondering if it could be a redwing. The desciption i’m giving is generic. I also have pictures but don\’t know todown load them. It’s about 3 gallons tan salt glaze with a blue insgnia shaped like 2 tornadoes wrapped together. It also has gobs of dark gray glaze dropped on the handle and side of jug. Please follow up with your expert opinion and let me know if you can. Thank you brenda

Answer:
Brenda, any time we begin to discuss salt glaze or another type of stoneware that is unmarked, I really need to have a photo of it. There were so many potteries in the mid west that I just don’t want to give you the incorrect information. See if you can find someone who could help you send a photo of this jug to me so I can better help you out. Al Kohlman

Question: {mosimage}
My mother handed down a water cooler that used to be in her one-room school house. I am curious about the year it was made and if it has any value. It appears to have a crack on the bottom edge, but it does hold water and does work when the button is pushed.

Answer:
Edie, your mother’s Red Wing water cooler was manufactured after 1930. The Red Wing on your cooler is roughly 1-5/8". The Red Wing contained Uranium which became very expensive prior to World War 2. Therefore the size of the wing can help us date the piece. Also, the words "WATER COOLER" is plain and not scrolled, which makes your mother’s cooler the latest molded version. If the cooler were in excellent condition which includes the lid and bubbler, it would be valued in the area of $600. The crack on the bottom of the cooler will reduce the value, but with out seeing how extensive it is, it is hard for me to say how much. Al Kohlman

Question: {mosimage}
I have 3 redwing jugs from Chicago Heights IL. They are Sam Jaffee, and Sol Ruvel, 2 different distributers from my local area. Althought I do see the smaller 1 and 2 gallon. How rare are the two 4 gallon, and one five gallon?
Thanks Steve

Answer:
Steve, the larger advertising jugs are always harder (and, yes rarer) to come by than the 1/2, 1 & 2 gallon advertising jugs. I have seen both Ruvel & Jaffe advertising in the 1/2 gallon jug size. Your 4 & 5 gallon jugs would be valued in the neighborhood of $750 to $800.
— jeff and sue

Question:
What is the value of a one gallon red wing crock? 4 gallon red wing crock? and value of a one gallon jug, it’s white/grey with carry ring approx. one gallon?
Thanks Melanie

Answer:
Melanie, this is somewhat hard to answer without seeing a photo of the crocks and knowing what their condition is. Does your 1 gallon Red Wing crock have a Red Wing? If so, is it a 4 1/2" wing or a 2" wing, or no wing at all. The 4 gallon crock. Does it have a 4 1/2" wing or a 2" wing? Your 1 gallon Red Wing jug. Is it stamped with the words Red Wing on the bottom or just plain? Are there any cracks, chips or hairlines on any of the pieces? As you can see, there are just to many variables that I need to know in order for me to give you an estimated value. If you could answer these questions for me or send photos, I will feel a bit more comfortable with estimating a value for you. Al Kohlman

Question: {mosimage}
I have this bowl it looks to be over 100 years old. It is 10" wide at top, it has a wire & wood handle comming across the top. Ithas a brown glaze on the inside. The markings on the botton reads THE GERMAN, then there is a star in the middle. And under the star it reads ACIDPROOF. Is this from the the north star stoneware company? Thanks Jeff

Answer:
Jeff, your bowl is not North Star. North Star did not manufacture casseroles with the words German embossed on the bottom. Also, the Red Wing Union Stoneware Company had a patent on the handles in 1915. If North Star had these handles prior to 1915, Red Wing would not have been granted a patent on them. My best guess on your bowl is The Star Stoneware Company of Crooksville, Ohio. Al Kohlman