Posted 13 years ago
ickyflea
(3 items)
I've had this old sign for almost 20 years now. I originally found it screwed to the back of an old washing machine, the original owner said to keep it, it was 'junk'. He said he pulled it off an old barn roof that leaked many years before. The trademark date on the bottle clearly says '1916' and the manufacturing company (?) on the bottom right corner looks like it says "The Elwood Myers Co. Spring...". Googling the Spring part, looks like it came from Springfield, OH, but not certain. It is embossed on the lettering and the bottle. It's been touched up, there are numbers scribbled on it and I do keep hanging outside.....just love the 'junkiness' about it. How much it's worth doesn't really matter, I'd just love to know how old it is and where it originally came from.
Aw Man! Why did you touch it up? (Or someone else?) That TOTALLY let down the value more then it was supossed too. Usually when you want to restore these things, you need to get a professional. Like, someone touched this up with pain on the script, and completely whited out the "Trade Mark Registered" on it. If I were you, I would not touch it up agaian. I wouldn't even call it restored. It's maybe worth about 45-60 bucks in the current sahpe. The Mint value for these things are about 800-1000 dollars.
These were made around the same time coca cola made the switch from straight sided bottles to the hobbleskirt, because the design of this sign were for straight sided bottles. so 1916-1917.
I knew the value was reduced when it was touched up; this was done 20 years ago and WAY before I knew anything about antiques and values. I'm the culprit, and I know it wasn't perfect. Not bad for a 20 year old kid wet behind the ears. Yes, I would NEVER do it again! It was already 'worthless' when I found it because it was completely rusted, there was barely any color at all (just in a few spots), full of holes and bent in so many places. But I DID pay enough attention to find the best translucent paint to show through. And I'm happy it has lasted 20 years! (I didn't see the 'Trademark Registered' on it under all the rust, BTW. The whole thing was pretty far gone). It's a pretty peice of junk and I still love it and wouldn't part with it ~ happy to find out it's almost 100 years old!!
cocacolakid97 what would this sign be worth if it was perfessonally restored?
Restoration of signs DO NOT increase value, only eye appeal. If this were professional restored, I would say it would be worth around 150-300 dollars.