Graf Zep airship art deco soda 4 the FORUM

[blobbottlebob]

At long last - a new auction to benefit the forum. This auction features a Graf Zep soda bottle. This bottle is looking at cool in the rearview mirror (because it is so far past cool). I remember finding my first one (years ago) and being really excited about it. The bottle features an airship embossed on both sides with nice detail. Here's a pic.

 

[blobbottlebob]

I will throw in the shipping. All proceeds benefit the forum we all love.

This bottle is fairly tall and thin looking. It stands about 9 & 1/4 inches tall and is 2 & 1/8 inches wide. It is embossed on each side Graf's Zep which is printed on a zeppelin airship. On the little tail flaps (at the hub) it says, "contents" on one side and "8 fluid ozs." on the other. The dirigible has ribs running across its length and there is a burlap pattern (if you will) in the glass. There are also litlle ballast things (or maybe even bombs?) on the sides. Here's a closer look.

 

[blobbottlebob]

The bottom also has some printing. It reads JOHN GRAF CO. (arched) / 1 / MILWAUKEE (arched) and WIS. (reverse arched).

You can also see the color in this shot. It is a nice aqua blue.

 

[blobbottlebob]

My guess is that the bottle dates to the early 1930s. This period before world war two featured the boom time for these airships. With the crash of the Hindenburg in 1937, they rapidly went out of use. At the time, though, they were one of the greatest forms of luxury travel.

As a weird sidenote, I saw a program (on like public TV) that a-n-a-lyzed the composition of the skin on the HIndenburg. Apparently, it was made larely of aluminum oxide which nowadays is used as rocket fuel. Its surprising that more of these didn't crash and burn!

Another shot.

 

[blobbottlebob]

My plan is to run the auction until Saturday night August 14th. That is probably longer than it needs to be but it fits into my schedule the best. It ends at 8 pm central. That's 9 pm eastern, 6 pm west coast.

I was thinking five bucks is a good opening bid.

Here's a picture of the side.

 

[blobbottlebob]

As far as condition goes, it has no major issues like chips or cracks. I will pack it very well for safe shipping. It does have some typical light wear, the worst of which is a little ring around the 'bulb' below the rim of the crown. There is a lighter ring about 1/3 down. There are a few tiny bites and bruises but (as noted) nothing serious. I would give it a seven or eight out of ten condition points. It is clean and relatively stain free. It has no repairs and it is original found by me.

Thanks for supporting the forum. I would be happy to post any pics or answer any questions.

 

[surfaceone]

 

[blobbottlebob]

Allright! Thanks surfaceone. I was begining to think there was no interest in this beauty.

 

[GuntherHess]

Nice historic bottle.

 

[blobbottlebob]

The end of Zeppelins.