I've been doing my homework and can't seem to find a single Mountain Dew bottle that has the word "Ya-hooo" on it prior to about 1968. I'm not saying the phrase wasn't used prior to this, only that I can't find it "applied" to a "bottle" prior to 1968. Is it possible that I just haven't looked in the right place yet, or did the "Ya-hooo" actually get introduced in 1968? And just to be clear, I am not referring to the phrase "It'll tickle yore innards." That's altogether different. And if it wasn't introduced until 1968, then what the heck is "Ya-hooo" doing on a 1965 bottle?
Just tell me I'm crazy and I will back away from this obsession of mine and call it a day.
That is a good point, the Ya-hooo doesn't appear until the Laughing pig era around 1968, even more evidence that this is a possible prototype. Soda quit freaking out you still haven't breached the reserve yet so you haven't won it. I'd say he has at least five hundred on this bottle. Pepsi era Hillbilly, Pepsi era font on Mountain Dew, the presence of Ya-hooo, all makes me think this is a prototype even more.
Yeah, I knew about the reserve part. But what I actually meant was (thinking to myself) should I stay involved with the bidding war or just let it go based on the possibility of a hoax? There is a big difference between "prototype" and "fake."
For starters: The bid is up to $305.00 now - reserve still not met - 19 bidders.
Out of respect for Morbious_Fod and my genuine desire to help keep this thread fresh and interesting, I hope my ongoing enteries are truly worth posting. Which requires me to admit that I am somewhat confused at the moment regarding the bottle's authenticity. But I suppose this is to be expected by a so called mystery item that has never been seen before. Although contridicting myself, on one hand I honestly feel the bottle is genuine, and yet at the same time I think it's a fake. Go figure. Earlier I was 80% convinced it was the real deal, but now that figure stands at 50/50. Which is enough for me to draw my reins in a little and hold off placing any more bids until further research can be done. But as there are only about three days left on the auction, I better hurry and make up my mind. If I knew with absolute certainty that the bottle was genuine I wouldn't hesitate for one moment to hang in there to the bitter end. I have about $1000.00-plus to (invest ?) play around with here that wouldn't effect me all that much one way or another. But I definitely don't want to invest that kind of money in a fake! I won't deny that my original intent here (and hope) was to snag the bottle for about $500.00 max, hold onto for a while, and ten try and re-sell it for three times that much - or more. Remember; the Party Jug typically sells for about $3000.00. But if something more substantial and positive doesn't present itself soon, then I'm outta here!
So the research continues ... which brings me to the following questions that I hope some of you will be able to help me answer.
1. I'm wondering why the jug the hillbilly is holding on the mystery label doesn't have the words "Mountain Dew" on it? I know there are exceptions to this feature along the way, but in this case is it correct or incorrect?
2. There are at least two variations that I know of regarding the hillbilly itself. One I call "The Bug-eyed Hillbilly," and the other I call "The Realistic Hillbilly." The mystery label is of the more realistic looking hillbilly. Question: When did they change from the "bug-eyed" to the "realistic" image?
Following are two examples of the hillbilly that may help answer my questions.
The photo below and the photo to follow on the next page are of similar signs that are currently on e-bay. Both are being offered by the same seller at the same price of $750.00. (I will provide links to both for yore examination). The seller shows photos that one is dated 5-65 and one that is dated 9-65 ... Which are May and September of the same year (1965).
The seller claims that both signs are 100% original - and that each sign has the date of origin on it.
First up is the (5-65) May 1965 sign showing the "Bug-eyed" hillbilly and no "Mountain Dew" on the jug.
Footnote: Regarding the 19 "Bidders" I referred to, the actual count is as indicated below ... Two of which are mine. (And for those that may not know this, the count can be found by clicking on the number 19 on the original e-bay page). I guess some of the "other bidders" are like myself and are just trying to determine what the reserve is.
Here is the original link again so we don't have to back-page to access it.
In an attempt to educate myself I have a couple questions. I don't collect ACL.
1) Is that the way paint chips on these, is it a flaw, intentional or not caring with a prototype?
2) When were things like Fl Oz, ingredients etc. required?
I guess that's it until I find a book.