Posted 14 years ago
potrero
(156 items)
These 12 flasks were produced by an earlier incarnation of The Collectors Weekly, the newspaper started by Frank Knight in Kermit, Texas in the early 1970s.
I wish Frank was still around to talk to, I would have loved to meet him. He was very into collecting - he was also involved in the start-up of Coin Week and a 1970s reincarnation of American Collector (which had a brief earlier run from 1933-1948).
In any case, The Collectors Weekly was published for three or four years in the early 70s and Frank had these flasks made as a premium for subscribers. They commemorate important events in American history, and also important milestones for Collectors Weekly (e.g. hitting 50,000 subscribers).
I have a small collection (10) of these. Do you have anymore information on these? Who made them? Are these worth more individually or as a set? Thank you for any information you can provide. Diana
I do have some information that someone sent me about the company that made them. They were reproductions of 19th century flasks. However, it will take me some time (weeks) to dig it out and put it up - I'll let you know when I do. No idea on value.
Okay, potrero, Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I just don't want you to go way out of your way to locate it. Thank you.
I knew Frank and his wife. I think her name is Francis. I went to school with his daughters. One of them was named Nancy. My father invested in the Collector's Weekly Newspaper. My parents were friends and neighbors of the Knights. I have a set of these bottles including one that was only made for investors. I wonder what they are worth.
My Husband has a couple of these ..would be nice to get information on them
G'day collectors weekly readers. It is with great pride and first hand knowledge that I can tell you that these 12 commerative flasks were made by the Big Pine Key Glass Works for the subscribers of the collectors weekly magazine on the Island of Big Pine Key in the Florida Keys from 1970-1973. There was a total of 13 of these flasks made in a variety of colors, the first commerative flask was made in two different colors. I have researched these for the past thirty years because my family was there to build the glassworks with Mr. Cunningham in 1964. From 1964-1969 my family worked for, with, and ran the BPKGW with and for the sole owner of the Big Pine Key Glassworks Mr. Lester Cunningham. My family formerly being from the BPKGW I have sought out for any and all artifacts for over 40 years now trying to collect all of them that I can. So far I have been able to find two complete sets of the Collectors Weekly Flask Series made by the BPKGW and over 300 glass artifacts. I also have one of the two original stamps we used to stamp the base of the glass artifacts with. You will notice that the first 10 Commerative flasks were made by the Big Pine Key Glassworks with the Letters "BPKGW" and a triangle mark next to the Letter "W" or a triangle stamp on the base of the flask with the letters "BPKGW" inside the triangle stamp. This stamp was actually in the base of the mold the flasks were blown into, signifying that the "BPKGW" made these flasks. This was the well known mark of the Big Pine Key Glass Works. Many glass artifacts from the Big Pine Key Glassworks were stamped on the base with a traingle stamp and the letters "BPKGW" inside the traingle stamp. The Big Pine Key Glassworks was in operation from 1964-1973. In the nine years of operation there was an estimated production of 16,000+/- flasks, bottles, ashtrays, paperweights, plates and ashtrays made. My family was there from 1964-1969 and then another crew came in in early 1970 and ran the factory with and for Mr Lester Cunningham until his untimely death in a car accident in the Summer of 1973. The last two flasks (Little Drummer Boy & Texas Rangers) were finished by Mr James Travis of the Clevenger Brothers Glassworks out of New Jersey because of Mr. Cunninghams passing. They are flasks 11 & 12 of the series. The first flask was made in two different colors, that is why there is 13 different colored flasks in the series of twelve. I just recently recieved a copy of a 1972 issue of Collectors Weekly Magazine that talked exstensively about the commerative flasks. At that time they were selling the flasks for $7.95 each. Hopefully in the near future I will be able to write more about the History of the Flasks. I have the original write up about the History of all 12 Commerative flasks that was published sometime in 1974. A big "THANK YOU" to Mr Lester Cunningham the owner/operator of the Big Pine Key Glass Works (1964-1973) for adding another chapter to American glass making History. I thank you for listening and Happy Bottle Hunting!!!!! Dwight A. Pettit Jr., formerly of the Big Pine Key Glassworks (1964-1969)
I have three purple bottles my daughter asked me to sell for her - Wheaton's Berring's Apple Bitters and Horse Shoe Bitters, and a purple Collectors Weekly Commemorative Flask. I found this site while researching. On the front is imprinted 1920-1970 RIGHT TO VOTE. It shows 2 women, I believe shaking hands ... the one on the left is dressed to represent women of the 1920s, the one on the right representing 1970s. The back has a star above a flying eagle and COLLECTOR'S WEEKLY - KERMIT, TEXAS. All I can see on the bottom is the PK and a triangle. Anyone have any idea what it would be worth? Also, I would love to know what the other bottles commemorate.
If I was going to sell my collector's weekly-kermit. How much would get for them.
i have an abe lincoln one light blueish any value thanks
I have wondered about this site since I fell in love with it. Bless you potero and everyone else for the information. I would LOVE to have one of these.
Very, Very interesting.
Thank you !!
I think they should make us all one. :P
anyone looking for commemorative flasks from 1970 or information on flasks i might be able to help i have Collector Weekly papers that tells about them....
So THAT's where I have heard the name Collectors Weekly from!!! I knew it sounded familiar!!!!
shareurpassion do you have any flasks or know about them????