Schmidt Coke Museum Auction

I signed up for the e-mails for this auction and received an e-mail today with this link http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/26077/page1 I was thinking (yea right) I might pick up some Coke bottles, but after picking up my lower lip off the floor and wiping the drool from my face I realized my pockets are not quite deep enough. Enjoy

sodapops ~

The following includes the September 18th auction - plus some other stuff.

SPBOB

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To see items that will be auctioned on September 17, simply visit http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/26077. September 18 auction items are at http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/26082. If you can’t attend the auction in person, you can submit bids now online.

We’ve also put together a hard-bound catalog that will be collector’s item unto itself. To find out how to order, visit our website at www.schmidtmuseum.com. While you’re there, you can also register to attend the event in person.

For more than a century, Coca-Cola has created the best advertising art the world has ever seen. While our auction will feature the best of the best, it will also have many affordable items available as well. Hope you join us September 17 & 18, whether online on in person. It promises to be a great event.

sodapops ~

I hope you don't mind my sharing this from the Coca Cola auction. It was the only listing for a John Pemberton related item I could find - and ties in with the thread I did on the subject a while back. I was hoping to get my hands on one of these someday. But even though there are no bids on it yet, I suspect the estimated $5,000.00 to $6,000.00 value will prevent me from having a shot at it. Dang!

SPBOB

[ Description ]


1880's tin sign, French Wine Coca

1880's tin sign, French Wine Coca 20" x 27" wood frame. This sign is in amazing condition, colors are bright. Some flaking, scratches and chips. This product invented by J.S. Pemperton predates Coca-Cola and bares his signature. These early pre Coca-Cola Pemberton advertising pieces are rarely found. Truly outstanding! [/align]

If you haven't done so already, you really should scroll through the 664 different auction listings and check some of them out. I just did and was amazed! Some of the items have a pre-auction estimate of up to $30,000.00 - which include a real Coca Cola delivery truck - a leaded glass lighted sign - and several Hilda Clark trays and calendars - all at $10,000.00 plus!

But the one I like best, and really blew my mind, was this 1955, one quart, cone top can. It has a pre auction estimate of $10,000.00 to $15,000.00! Can you imagine owning one of these?

SPBOB

~ COCA-COLA ONE QUART, CONE TOP CAN ~

Coca-Cola one quart, cone top can Although the company experimented with metal cans as early as the 1930's this is the first actual production can. Used as a "Test Market" from the Hayward, Ca. Plant for export to troops overseas in late 1955. Bottom reads "This can for use on planes, not to be sold" Mfg. By "Cap Sealed, Continental Can Co., Inc." To call this can rare is an understatement. Sought after by many over the years and found by so few. A beautiful example. Not original cap, (for display only). The wear on this can is very minor. Tarnishing on all non-printed areas. Some light scratches and specks, not one single dent. This has been a prized piece in this collection, over the years and admired by so many. A very rare opportunity to own an iconic piece in the history of The Coca-Cola Company.

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If this 1955 can is valued up to $15,000.00, can you imagine what one of the few known examples of a 1915 "prototype" hobbleskirt bottle must be worth? I'm not sure I can count that high. But it's doubtful that one will ever come up for sale anyway.

Following is a hypothetical question I would like to present to all members who are interested in commenting ... and especially to advanced soda bottle collectors.

Q ~ Based on your years of experience - and everything you know about soda bottles - if one of the four known examples of a 1915 "Prototype" Hobbleskirt/Contour bottle were to be presented to you for a pre-auction evaluation, how high would you set the estimate?

[ But before answering, please be reminded that vintage Coca Cola items are some of the most collectible and sought after memorbilia in the world. Frankly, I'm not aware of anything more collectible than Coca Cola, except maybe certain coins - stamps and comic books. And speaking of comic books, also be reminded that a 1939 "Action Comics" no.1, (Superman's first appearance) even in a low grade of 6.0, is generally valued at more than one million dollars ].

So where does this place a 1915 prototype hobbleskirt? $25,000.00 - $100,000.00 - or $1,000,000.00?

Remember ... You are the appraiser in this little scenario! What say you?

Thanks to all who comment.

SPBOB

[ 1915 Coca Cola Prototype Contour Bottle ] [ Bill Porter calls it "the pregnant one." ]

(The last I read there were only four known examples - one of which is owned by the Dean family)

P.S. ~

I presented this same question to Bill Porter, who I have already heard back from. But before sharing his comments, I think it only fair to hear from a few others first to see what a general consensus might be. However, Bill did tell me there are only "two" prototypes in existance.

SPBOB

I have absolutely no idea. All I know is, it would probably set a new world record for bottle price! Coke collectors are some of the most rabid out there.

I think it would sell for $759,423.69. That's on the conservative side.

The bottle and drawing will be sold through Juliens Auctions in early December. If you have a facebook acct, you'll be able to watch for updates here: http://www.facebook.com/thecontourbottle

Yea, that auction went nuts. Bob, I bid on that cone top Coke for a while but finally dropped it. It wasn't worth that much to me. However, I did pick up a few things out of that auction - a Coca-Cola chewing gum shipping box and a Coca-Cola candy bar wrapper from the teens.

I liked that box I saw in the preview.