Not really buying or accumulating anymore. Will be in selling mode as I'm getting up in age now. Will be selling on eBay, and posting links here when I'm ready. If I see something interesting and at a reasonable price I may pick it up, just the collector in me, but will be letting some go...
Hi ArmyDigger;
I did come across a 26 oz. "Varsity Beverage Co. Bridgton, ME" soda bottle in very nice condition on Mercari of all places. I live in Bridgton and collect Bridgton stuff, as well as surrounding towns. Stay safe!
:)I used gravel (or coarse sand) back in the 70s. I took the bigger stones out of the gravel. Put about 3 tablespoons of gravel into the bottle, a drop of dishwashing liquid, and filled the bottle with water about 1/3 of the way, and shook the hell out of it with my thumb over the open top...
Leaving the rusted lids on any old bottles or jars are just a matter of individual preference I believe. Some collectors like their collection to be sparkly clean, others like the crusty look!;)
Try posting an ad on facebook marketplace? People buy and sell in their own town. You could try selling some bottles you don't want anymore and get some contacts with other bottle collectors/diggers. They may know some diggers as well you could dig with. Who nose you could possibly sell...
It would be nice if it had a pictorial embossing. Some flasks like that have a pic of a ship or other pic which would add to the value of the bottle. Without any embossing it just makes it a common bottle without much value I'm afraid. Keep on looking you never know what you'll find!