An Interview With Vintage Coca-Cola Collector Ray Kilinski
September 14th, 2009
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By Maribeth Keane and Jessica Lewis (Copyright 2009)
Ray Kilinski talks about collecting vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia. He discusses the differences between old and new Coca-Cola items, favorite pieces from his collection, and the hobby in general—from the way people specialize to events held by clubs.
I started collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia back in the early 1970s. I was working the night shift at a company, and as I walked home one morning I took a shortcut through the woods and came across an old abandoned barn. I went inside and saw a stack of old Coca-Cola serving trays from the 1950s on one of the shelves. The ones on the bottom and top were all rusted, but all of the trays in between were in mint shape.
1950s menu girl tray
Of course, I didn’t know if they were worth anything, but I brought them to an antiques shop and I found out there was a variety of Coca-Cola serving trays. I just started collecting different trays. Before I knew it, I started telling people that I had all these old Coke things in my house, and they started saying, “Well, I’ve got this old Coke sign hanging in my garage. You want it?” So it just snowballed from there.
I only collect vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia, and when I say vintage I mean anything that’s pre-1960. There are a lot of collectors who collect new items, and there’s a lot of new items out there made for the collectibles market. You can buy a lot of things at Wal-Mart, like Cola-Cola tins or plastic cups. I don’t collect any of that.
I always tell people, “if you enjoy collecting it, that’s fine, but don’t think of it as an investment.” They make millions of copies of those things, so it’ll never appreciate in value.
It’s getting harder to collect the older material. A lot of the pieces in antiques shops are overpriced, even the ones that are in bad shape. People think, “I’ve got a Coke item, so it’s worth a lot of money.” It’s not. Coca-Cola items have become known as being highly collectible, so a lot of the pieces in antiques shops are overpriced.
I do look on eBay a lot because at any given time there are more than 20,000 Coca-Cola items for sale. But on eBay, you’re buying without actually touching the item or looking at it in person, and there are a lot of items that are questionable. For example, you’re able to buy Coca-Cola decals nowadays, just the Coca-Cola logo, and a lot of people do that and attach it to an old gumball machine and then advertise it as an old Coca-Cola gumball machine. Coca-Cola never made a gumball machine. You have to do your research.
Collectors Weekly: Are there a lot of collectors of vintage Coca-Cola?
Kilinski: I’m a member of the Coca-Cola Collectors Club. It’s an international organization. We currently have about 3,000 members worldwide. Probably half to three-quarters of those members are vintage collectors. Of course, a lot of vintage collectors are not members of the club. I’ve met a lot of people who collect vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia, but they’re not part of any organized club.
The Coca-Cola collectibles shows are the same for new and vintage Coca-Cola collectors, but a lot of the vintage people like me don’t really like associating with the new collectors.
Collectors Weekly: Did the Coca-Cola Company ever think that these items would become collectible?
Kilinski: No. I met one guy who worked for Coca-Cola back in the 1940s, and his job was to take all the surplus stuff to the dump. I cringed when I heard his stories about how they would open up boxes of old serving trays and throw them out into the woods like Frisbees. Now these items are worth $400 or $500 apiece. So no, back then they had no idea that people were going to be collecting any of these things.
Collectors Weekly: What types of items do you have?
Kilinski: I have a room dedicated to Coke. I’ve got more than a thousand items. Not everything is huge. I’m starting to collect paper items, like Coca-Cola paper cups. I have probably 30 different Coca-Cola paper cups starting from the 1940s. They were drinking cups, serving cups, specifically made for Coca-Cola.
I also have a Coca-Cola Vendo 44, which is a vending machine that was made in the 1950s. It’s called the Vendo 44 because it only holds 44 bottles. I think every serious Coca-Cola collector wants one in their collection. Mine is all in original shape and it still works, too. It used to vend the old 8-ounce Coca-Cola bottles.
Coca Cola Vendo 39
Coca-Cola produced a lot of in-house publications. One was called The Red Barrel, and it was a magazine given to Coca-Cola employees. That was published from the 1920s until the 1950s. I collect those, too. There are other publications and newsletters, and Coca-Cola produced a lot of advertising manuals showing the different advertising materials for each year. Those are highly collectible.
A lot of Coca-Cola bottling plants produced their own tour guides, and those are interesting to collect. They had Coca-Cola matchbooks, even Coca-Cola ink blotters. Coca-Cola was the number-one producer of these sorts of advertising materials way back in the early days. They put their name on just about anything you can imagine. They produced a different calendar every year, starting from 1898, and hundreds of different tin signs in all shapes and sizes.
Nowadays, cost is a factor in what I collect. I can’t afford everything. I’d love to have one of those old Coca-Cola toy trucks from the 1930s that are going for $1,500 apiece right now, but I just can’t afford it. I collect anything that I can afford that is pre-1960. I’m not really looking for anything in particular, whatever catches my eye, although I like a lot of the Coca-Cola cardboard displays because they’re very colorful.
Some of the cardboard displays are still in good condition. Every once in a while you’ll see someone on eBay who says he found a stack of them in a warehouse and they were never even used, but most of the time the corners are bent or they have water damage. But a lot of the tin signs sold today are still in good shape.
I’m probably one of the rare collectors who doesn’t really care about condition. Granted, it has to look good, but I don’t mind scratches or bends or any character flaws. I like things that were actually used for their intended purpose. I don’t like to buy items that were found in a warehouse but never actually used. Collectors refer to it as NOS, new old stock. It’s old, but it was never even used. It was found in a warehouse or something. So I don’t mind stuff that’s a bit beat up. I think it adds to the character. Every item that I have has a history to it. I’ve got a tin sign hanging up in my room that’s from the 1940s, and I wonder where it originally hung and who leaned against it.
Collectors Weekly: How has Coca-Cola advertising changed since then?
Kilinski: It was a lot more ornate back then. They made things out of tin and porcelain and ceramic. For example, they used to serve Coca-Cola in soda fountains. You’d pour the syrup in a ceramic urn, and then add crushed ice and carbonated water. Today the urns are highly collectible because back then, Coca-Cola put a lot of attention into the details—the logo on the urn was embossed. Nowadays everything is paper or plastic, disposable. But back then it was made to last, and that’s why it’s still around.
Collectors Weekly: Coca-Cola seems to have generated a special kind of relationship between its customers and its brand. How did that happen?
Kilinski: I don’t know. I compare Coca-Cola collectors to Harley-Davidson riders. Not only do they ride the Harley-Davidson motorcycles, but they wear the Harley-Davidson jackets and the T-shirts and some of them have Harley-Davidson tattoos. So that’s kind of the same thing.
I just like Coca-Cola memorabilia because of how it looks. It’s mostly red, a primary color, so it stands out. They made thousands and thousands of different types of items with the Coca-Cola logo in it—clocks and thermometers and calendars and signs and coolers. It’s a part of our heritage. We grew up with it. My parents used to have a Coca-Cola picnic cooler. So it’s like we collect it because we grew up with it.
Collectors Weekly: Is collecting Coca-Cola an American thing?
1944 ink blotter
Kilinski: No. It’s international. Like I said, I’m a member of the Coca-Cola Collectors Club, and every year we have a national convention in a different city. Last year [2009] it was in Denver, and next year [2010] it’s going to be in Milwaukee. It’s a weeklong convention, and they have seminars and a silent auction and a live auction and a swap meet. There are usually about 700 members there, a lot of them from Japan or Germany or Switzerland. So it’s worldwide; people all over the world collect Coca-Cola.
A lot of collectors are specialized. I’ve noticed there are a lot of collectors overseas who focus exclusively on collecting Coca-Cola bottles because Coca-Cola made millions of bottles and they made some in different languages, too. You see the Coca-Cola logo, but it’s spelled in a different language. They also made different types of Coca-Cola cans, so there are a lot of can collectors out there.
You don’t have to specialize; there are just some collectors who like to. For instance, there’s a guy here in Orlando who just collects Coca-Cola calendars. Some of those early calendars can go for up to $15,000 apiece. I think he’s got every one ever produced, and they’re all in mint shape. He’s got them framed in museum-quality glass and matted and everything.
Collectors Weekly: What are some of the more obscure items that you’ve come across while collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia?
1939 check
Kilinski: There are rare items, like a ceramic Coca-Cola urn. Those come in three pieces: the base, the main part in ceramic, and the lid. It’s rare to find the entire thing intact. A lot of times you only find the base and not the lid. They’re probably worth $8,000 apiece complete if you can find one. I don’t have one.
There are rare calendars and rare tin signs, too. When Coca-Cola first came out, they were sold in straight-sided bottles. You didn’t see these contoured bottles that they have nowadays. One of the old tin signs back then had a picture of a straight-sided bottle on it. So those are rare. Some of those old tin signs are worth about $3,000 to $4,000.
It’s amazing. It wasn’t always that way. My mom collected antiques when I was growing up, and she always subscribed to antiques magazines. I found an issue from 1970, and they had an article about a guy who collected Coca-Cola calendars. Back in the early 1970s, it wasn’t that popular, and they had prices on these calendars for $400 to $600 apiece. Now, like I said, they’re going for about $15,000 apiece. I wish I had started collecting back in the early ’70s! Of course, everybody says that they wish they kept their comic books, baseball cards, or Barbie dolls because they’d be worth money now.
Collectors Weekly: When did Coca-Cola collecting become popular?
Policeman crossing sign
Kilinski: The Coca-Cola Collectors Club was organized in 1974, I believe, and that’s when I think it started to snowball, because they had just started publishing price guides about it. You could go into a bookstore and actually buy a book that talked about all these Coca-Cola items for sale. It started to really become popular in the late 1980s or ’90s.
EBay gave everybody an opportunity to find this stuff without really looking for it, and it brought everything out of the woodwork. Everyone said, “I’ve got this old Coke sign in my attic. I don’t have to bring it to an antiques shop. I’ll just put it on eBay.” So eBay helped the Coca-Cola collectors, but it also hurt them because people started bidding on things and the prices skyrocketed.
You started seeing things on eBay that you wouldn’t normally find in antiques shops. There were salesman uniforms. People who worked for Coca-Cola or the bottling plants started bringing out their old uniforms and other employee-related items that you normally couldn’t find.
Coca-Cola put its name on just about everything. In the early 1940s, there are wooden ice picks with logos on them, and ice tongs. Cigarette lighters back in the 1930s and ’40s had the Coca-Cola logo on them. Now you wouldn’t see a cigarette lighter with the Coca-Cola logo on it because they don’t want to promote anything that’s bad for your health.
Collectors Weekly: How has collecting vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia changed since you started?
Kilinski: I just got a new publication by Allan Petretti. His books are the bibles of Coca-Cola collectibles. He started to print Coca-Cola price guides back in the ’80s—about every five or six years he comes out with a new edition. He bases his prices on the economy. Since the recession, a lot of his prices have gone down. Six years ago, his book said you could expect to pay $600 for a 1940s Coca-Cola serving tray, but now he has it for $350. So a lot of things have been reduced in value recently.
Collectors Weekly: As you’ve collected, have you sold some items to be able to add new ones?
Kilinski: Yes. I’m out of work right now. I worked as a senior art director for an advertising agency, but I lost my job in April. I work out of my house now as a freelance artist, but I’m still having a little trouble paying my bills, so I sell some of my Coke items every once in a while. But I also sold things when I was working. I’ve got a lot of duplicate items. Even if I already have an item, if I see another in an antiques shop at a good price, I’ll buy it. A lot of times I might see the same item but it’s in better shape, so I’ll buy that item and then sell my other one. So I’m constantly buying and selling. I look back at things I sold years ago and sometimes I wish I hadn’t, but a lot of times I sell because I need the money.
Collectors Weekly: You sent us pictures of your backyard. Can you tell us a little bit about what you did there?
Kilinski: I had a huge backyard, and I never really utilized it, so I just decided to hire a builder. I designed the whole thing. I had a deck built, and a hot tub and a Coca-Cola bar, and I found this old Coca-Cola cooler on craigslist for like $150. It was all beat up because it was from the 1940s, but it was six feet long.
So I had my builder build a Coke bar around that, and he raised it up and made it into a counter with bar stools. He built the bar out of cypress wood and added a tin corrugated roof to it, and then I just added my old rusted Coke signs that had been outside anyway. We’ve had company parties out there with up to 60 people. It’s just a fun party atmosphere because there’s built-in bench seating and the bar has a mini fridge and cable TV. It’s like a little party central.
Collectors Weekly: Do you think vintage Coca-Cola collecting is growing?
1950s clock
Kilinski: I actually think it’s dwindling. When I first joined the Coca-Cola Club back in 1996, we had 8,000 members worldwide. Now we have less than 3,000. We need to get new members excited about it. I’ve got two sons in their mid-20s, but they have no interest in it at all. They don’t collect anything. They used to collect baseball cards but not anymore. I don’t think there are a lot of young collectors in any field right now, and I think that’s going to hurt a lot of people. It’s going to hurt not only Coca-Cola collectors but all types of collecting organizations. So that’s our struggle, how to go after the young collector and get him excited about this.
Our Coca-Cola Collectors Club is trying to do an aggressive membership drive right now, and we’re trying to get younger people to join because most of our members are in their 50s and 60s. We’re not going to be around that long. We have to target the younger audience and make it interesting for them. Right now our national conventions are pretty much geared towards the older crowd, so I suggested inviting younger members and having a social hour or a happy hour for them.
A lot of people think they can’t afford any vintage things, but they really can. You can still buy a lot of old stuff that isn’t going to cost you an arm and a leg. You can still buy some calendars from the 1940s and ’50s for under $100, and a lot of items from the ’60s and ’70s are easy to come by and not that expensive right now. But 30 or 40 years from now, they’re going to be.
Collectors Weekly: Do you have any other advice for someone who is just starting a Coca-Cola collection?
Kilinski: I would say that if you can afford it, buy old items and buy them in the best shape that you can. Don’t buy an item that is old but is all beat up because you’re not going to get any investment value out of it. I met a guy who started collecting old Coca-Cola cardboard signs, and his father always used to tell him to buy the very best that he could. Don’t settle for old, beat-up items, because they’ll never retain their value. But for the younger collector, like I said earlier, if you’re going to collect the newer items that you can find in Wal-Mart or Kmart or Target, just buy them because you enjoy them. Don’t expect to buy for an investment.
Collectors Weekly: Thank you for taking the time to talk with us, Ray.
(All images in this article courtesy Ray Kilinski)
Fantastic interview. Thanks.
Any advice on how one can find a lid for a coke soda fountain that was refered to as the outboard motor due to it’s shape?
Hi Ray. I am having a hard time finding any info on a mint condition Drink Coca Cola 1940 tin button sign…stamped from a sign company in Lynchburg, VA. Any advice on how to find it’s value?
Awesome article. I’m a bit of a Coca Cola collector. Although I don’t have many things yet, I am slowly building up a collection. I just love the coke logo and the many different slogans they have had over the years. I have some photos of my 1960’s yo-yo and paper cups on my blog if anyone is interested http://madeleineellis.com/1966-coca-cola-genuine-russell-yo-yo-strings/
Hey Brooke:
Give me the measurement of your sign or go to your nearest Barnes & Noble bookstore and look at a Petretti’s 12th Edition Coca-Cola price guide. He has a section devoted to tin and porcelain signs and shows various button signs. Hope this helps. Ray
Hey Bill:
That’s a tough one. Keep searching ebay. Sometimes you’ll see parts to Coca-Cola dispensers for sale. Good luck. Ray
Hi Ray,
I have some Coca-Cola bottles from 1972 superbowl VI never been opened. My question is are these worth anything yet or will they ever be worth anything? Can you help me?
Thank You
Darlene:
Since I’m not a bottle collector, I’m referring you to Bobby Liao. He has an article on Collectors Weekly as well and could probably give you more info. Search: An Interview with Coca-Cola Bottle and Memorabilia Collector Bobby Liao. December 30th, 2008. Thanks. Ray
I have this tray that you have pictured (1950 menu girl)that is signed by the model in 1950 at a diner in CA. It was purchased in the 70’s for $275.
I have to dig her out of storage to get her name, and I have never inquired about her idendity. I’m pretty sure it is not a fake. Any thoughts on this? I’ve never seen autographed Coca-Cola collectables anywhere. Has anyone else. If you want her name respnd and I will be happy to reply.
Hi Lynn:
I’ve seen earlier trays that had been signed by the model and they tend to de-value the tray since they are being written on and basically, ruin the condition. However, since the Menu Girl tray is the most common of all trays, I would think your signed tray would be a unique item and well worth holding onto. I believe the model is still alive and living in St. Louis, MO. Can’t recall her name though. Of course, with any autographed item, certified authenticity is needed for proof. Again, since the Menu tray model wasn’t anyone popular, you probably don’t need or won’t find someone who is able to authenticate it. Sounds like a great conversation piece if anything! Ray
Ray………do you by chance know where I can find the names of some of the CocaCola artists? I had an uncle who lived in Scarsdale, NY, and have been told thru the years that he was an artist for CocaCola. I do know he was a commercial artist (I have some very old Christmas cards he did). He would have done photos, etc. in the l930’s. PS. I do have two of the CocaCola Menu trays…in excellent condition–I acquired in 1955, so I know they are authenic. Thanks for any help !!.
C.H.Yost:
Contact Phil Mooney of The Coca-Cola Company archives. http://www.coca-colaconversations.com He could help you with identifying artists although advertising agencies for Coca-Cola used various illustrators that weren’t that well known as Norman Rockwell and N.C. Wyeth and I doubt records were kept.
About your PS: The menu girl trays were never reproduced and are very common. Even mint condition trays are only worth about $50 each.
BTW: To contact Phil: go to: http://www.coca-colaconversations.com, scroll down to bottom, click on: Report inappropriate or unauthorized content and this will bring up his email address.
ive got a coke bottle knife that is made by the parker cuttery co. i cant find anything on this an was wondering if you could help.i have found one made by the remington co. thanks buddy
Hey Buddy:
The Coca-Cola Company produced a variety of knives/pocket knives and a ton of fake/repro knives have been produced throughout the years. Without seeing a close up photo of it, I can’t tell you anything. Sorry. Check out Petretti’s 12th edition Coca-Cola Price Guide at your local bookstore for more reference info. Ray
Ray,
I am looking for early pictures of the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant on W. Gore Street. From my research, I think the first building was built on the corner of Gore and Atlanta in about 1925. I would be interested in any early pictures. I am writing an article on the current building and would like to illustrate its early history so I only need to copy/scan the photo(s). Thanks for anything you can do to point me in the right direction.
Hey Joanne:
Years ago, I bought an original watercolor painting of the “proposed” Orlando Coca-Cola Bottling plant that was to be built on West Gore Street. I still have the painting and I had it professionally framed. I can email you photos of it if you send me your contact info. The building is now occupied by Triangle Reprographics (corner of Hughey & Gore). I’m sure can find additional info from the current Orlando bottling plant on Mercy Drive. Also contact The Orange County History Center. What publication are you writing this for? Ray
Hello there:
I can tell you exactly who the Menu Girl is – she is my grandmother, who passed away last year. She did modeling for Coca-Cola in the 1940s in Chicago, while at University there. Our local newspaper here in San Marcos, Calif., did a story on her in 2004, which can be found here: http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/san-marcos/article_6e331057-8757-59ac-8dc9-7ddb30e11d93.html. She is also the model in the center of the blotter card pictured on this page – I have one of those cards myself.
I would love a photo of that painting and would use it in an article I am researching for the Triangle Reprographics newsletter. I feel employees would appreciate knowing the history of the building where they work. Send it to joanne@trianglerepro.com. Thanks.
Neill:
Thanks for sharing. Great article. Ray
I have a old Santa stuffed about 15″H. holding a coke bottle.Do you have any info. on him?
Hey Brooke:
Coca-Cola produced a few variations of this toy plush Santa. White boots, black boots. Even a black Santa. All from the 1950’s and worth about $125. Hope this helps. Ray
Ray, I just purchased a Marx “Sprite Boy” truck on eBay. It is the red and yellow version. I just received it in the mail to find it only had the decal on one side. The truck is overall in fair shape, it is definately original to the era. The decal that is on it appears to be original but clearly there was never one on the other side. My question is have you ever heard of them only being found with one decal? The item is still posted on eBay as I just purchased it (item #110461541617)
Glenn:
Not being a toy expert although I do have one as described only mine has both decals on it. Is there any residue or indication that there was a decal on the other side at one time? The decal looks crooked but this could just be a manufacturers error. They do make repro decals but yours looks too rough to be new. In any event, you got it for a great price as these book for around $250-$300 in this condition. Ray
Hi Ray
I have a good friend who has just found a 1948, large red, bound book all about advertising coca-cola, signage,shopfronts,posters etc. Could you give me any information about this, or its value ? Thanks
Hey Garry:
Your friend has a 1948 Advertising manual. Most sell between $250 to $400 depending on condition, wear and tear. These manuals are usually jam-packed with all kinds of unique advertising from the era. A great source for researching items. I’m actually interested in purchasing one for my collection. If your friend is interested in selling it, have him/her contact me and send me some photos of it to: raykilinski@cfl.rr.com. Thanks. Ray
Ray, My husband is a coke collector. I just brought him a set in the orginal package 12 restaurant menu cards which date to the early 60’s. Don’t have them in front of me but could you give me any inform. about the set of 12. They are dated and have the coke fishtail and a bottle of coke.
I have a cigarette lighter shaped like a ZIPPO.It is an inch tall and 3/4 in. wide and 1/4 inch thick.The front is red with COCA COLA trraditional logo,and the rest is painted ina bluish green color.Thanks,you are a great help to everyone.
i picked up a small metal coke glass holder with a 4 inch bell glass–the holder says drink coca cola on it–it is ribbed and the glass fits in it. i have seen repos of this–this is made real well and i dont think it is fake –how can i tell the age and value of this item–thanks so much k.f.
J. Walker:
Without seeing a photo, I really can’t give you any info on these. They’re not familiar to me based on your description. Restaurant cards? Are they blank sheets to fill in “specials of the day” with the Coke logo on top like a masthead? Are they all alike? Send a photo or two to: raykilinski@cfl.rr.com. Thanks. Ray
Hey Dale:
The Coca-Cola Company produced a number of cigarette lighters, from musical ones, to bottle shaped lighters. Without a photo, I can’t give you an accurate estimate. Most range from $65 to $200, depending on condition. Send a photo to: raykilinski@cfl.rr.com. Thanks. Ray
Hey Kevin:
Unfortunately your pewter glass holder is a reproduction from the 1970s, worth about $5. The original is made of silver and DOES NOT say Drink above the Coca-Cola logo. The glass is from the 1970s also most likely. If the bottom of the glass has an “F” in a shield, it’s a repro glass…worth about $5 too. Originals are worth around $1800 if you can find one! Thanks. Ray
Hello Ray,
I found three Coca-Cola signs when I was cleaning out my grandfathers house. They are all sports related and have 3d elements, one swimming with a 3d beach ball, the second golf with a 3d golf ball and one tennis with a 3d tennis ball. They are wood with metal and are stamped with the maker Kay Displays, Inc. on the back. Can you tell me anything about them and their value? Thanks so much and Happy New Year! Steve
Steve:
Sounds like you found a a great set of Kay Displays…very collectible and valuable as most Kay signs are. Probably from the 1940’s. Won’t be sure unless you can email me some detailed photos. Send to: raykilinski@cfl.rr.com Ray
Hello Ray,
My sister’s mother in law was a famous coke model in the 1940s. I am trying to locate any trays or posters of her picture on it. Any idea when I can get it? She was also a Norman Rockwell coke model as well. Her two most famous Coke pics are: 1. At a Soda fountain, legs crossed, yellow ribbon in her hair with yellow gloves and purple dress and purple shoes holding a glass of Coke with a big round Coke sign in the background and 2. An aviators hat on her holding a glass of coke.
Thanks in advance.
John
John:
Are you trying to find the actual cardboard displays and trays or just photos of the trays/posters? I’m thinking you already have photos, judging by your descriptions. I can’t find any reference of the soda fountain/purple dress image. The aviators hat one is popular. Send me some images if you have them so I can get a better idea of what they look like. My email: raykilinski@cfl.rr.com. Ray
Hi Ray,
I have a coca cola clock and I can’t find a single thing about it anywhere. It is not vintage. It was manufactured by the Burwood Products Co. about 1990 and is still in the original packaging. The front shows a seaman and little girl by a rowboat, drinking coke and it says “through all the years since 1886 and fiftieth anniversary. I’m guessing it may be a reproduction of an earlier clock. Can that be?
Thanks for any answer, Joan
Hi Joan:
Burwood made a few Coca-Cola clock versions in the 1990’s. Most made of plastic and 3 dimensional looking. You see them on ebay usually selling for $15. I’m not familar with the clock you describe. I am familar with the seaman, rowboat image, which was used on calendars and cardboard displays to commemorate The Coca-Cola Company’s 50th anniversary (1886-1936).
Yours isn’t a reproduction of an earlier clock. It’s just a new clock. I doubt you’ll find any info or value on it…even in original packing box. Thanks. Ray
Hi Ray,
A friend gave me 16 Coca Cola greyish bell shaped glasses,small, I think 6 oz. some with the word trademark on the front. They have a star on the bottom and an s mark. They were her father’s for his bar.
Do you know what they are worth? I am having a yard sale for habitat for humanity, and I thought it best to put it in a consignment store and not in the yard sale.
Thanks for your help. Ellen
Ellen
Ray:
I have a 4 piece Coca-Cola table and chairs that I purchased in the 70s. The legs of the table are all metal and match the legs of the chairs. The table has a round mable top (which I added) and the chairs have the coca-cola cap design on them. Any idea how much its worth or when it was made. The chair bottom has the scrolled “Cola-Cola” on them. Thanks, Rena
Ellen:
There are so many variations of the Coke bell-shaped glasses. When you say “greyish”, are you referring to the color of the logo? Does it say TRADE MARK under the Coca-Cola logo? Does it say anything else like: Drink or Enjoy above the logo? Do they say Coca-Cola or just Coke? Most are worth between $2 to $12 each depending on style. If the trademark is located inside the “tail” of the first C in Coca, that’s worth around $35. If you can email me some detailed photos, I’d have a better clue. Thanks. Ray raykilinski@cfl.rr.com
Rena:
Can’t really say. Most items made during the 70’s and 80’s were made for the “collectibles market” and aren’t that valuable. Are the chairs cushioned? Ray
We have a 60 year old Coca Cola Santa that originally belonged to an Aunt of mine. It is very dirty looking and would like to clean it up before passing along to my children. How can I do this. He stands about 16″ tall and has the Coca Cola face. White beard and black belt and holding the old fashioned coke bottle. You have probably seen these before, I need to get it clean. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Marjean:
My wife has a collection of stuffed animals and whenever she needs to clean one, she uses a very damp washcloth or sponge and regular dishwashing soap to clean it. Just try gently scrubbing the dirty areas. I think the Santa face is plastic, right? That should be easy to clean. Another option would be to bring it to your local dry cleaners and ask if they could help. Good luck. Ray
I have a large Coke cooler…wooden with a wooden top, galvanized metal interior ..the Coca Cola brand is painted in white on the sides and the chest is red. Seems like it was used in, maybe, Mexico because above the Coke Logo there is the word distruta …meaning distributed I suppose. It is quite large (38″ long, 24 inches wide and 22 inches high) and very heavy. Any one know anything about such a cooler and it’s value?
Thanks, Dennis
Dennis:
Photos are always helpful. If you can, email me some photos to: raykilinski@cfl.rr.com
Ray
My father is 94 years old and built aircraft during WWII. I have 20 3/12X3″ cards in color of different aircraft, on the back of the cards it tells what the aircraft are doing, the name and nickname of the pilot, the branch of military, and what the aircraft is ( SB2C Dive Bomber,PMB Patrol Bomber,P-70 Night Fighter, Etc.) Picture of coca cola bottle and emblem stating compliments of your coca cola bottler. I estimate this full set of 20 to approx.1943-1945. The packet they are contained in reads “America’s Fighting Planes in action- A set of 20 planes in full color, presented with the compliments of your coca-cola bottler.I will be happy to speak to a collector who will treasure these cards. email me at cydzzz@earthlink.net
Dennis, I am Spanish and remember in my country (I’m from Chile)those ads. The word is “DISFRUTA” and NOT “DISTRUTA” It does not mean distributed it means “ENJOY”
The verb is “disfrutar” and in this case is a command or invitation to enjoy it, that is why it should say “DISFRUTA”
I am a Spanish teacher (I teach Spanish)
If you had any question about the language just let me know.
I came accross this page because I want to know information about a pocket knife that I have that says “Coca-Cola 5 c All Fountains” I don’t know what year it was made. Do you have any idea?
Thank you.
Maria Elena
Maria Elena:
Coca-Cola produced dozens of different pocket knives throughout the years and there have been dozens of other companies that produced fake Coca-Cola pocket knives. So it’s difficult to tell without seeing the knife or seeing very detailed photos of your knife. Ray
I;ve always been a coke addict. I have 117 little trade cards for
coke and sonder it it is worth much. I have the big Coke books
with prices for large posters. If I write down allt he numbers on
the back of the cards and send to you would that help me to know
if they are worth anything.
I’m now an old lady of 68 and drinking Zero coke mostly but once in
awhile I get classic coke without caffiene.
Hope to hear from you.
Carole Jakes
Carole:
Can you email me some photos of the trade cards? Send to: raykilinski@cfl.rr.com Can you describe what the cards look like?
Hi Ray,
I’m helping my dad with his antique coke cooler. It’s the floor model that cools with circulating water. He fixed the pump so that it is in working order again. I could send you pictures if you think you would be able to help me find out more about it, and the best way to sell it for a fair price?
Thanks for your time!
Dave
Yes Dave, email me some detailed photos, inside and outside of cooler, to: raykilinski@cfl.rr.com
I found wooden handled tongs (red) with the coca cola logo on it in white. The grabbing part of the tongs look like bottle caps (about 1-1/2″ in diameter). I can’t find anything like it on the internet. End to end the length is 16″. Can you shed any light on this find? Thanks. Carol
Hi Ray: I am not a Coca Cola collector, but have a stepfather that retired probaby about 15 years ago and I’m sure he has some really cool original stuff, I will call him and ask him if he has any old classic stuff and if so what he has. The problem I am having is for a gift I was given a red and green Coca-Cola Logo Musical Carousel- I looked on the bottom and all it says is The Collection Edition Coca-Cola brand MUSICAL CAROUSEL 1997 The Coca-Cola Company distributed by Franklin Mint, and I’ve only had it out of the box twice and never unwrapped it, would that be a collectable or something anyone can get, because I keep trying to look up what is would go for and cannot find anything like it? let me know thanks.
Theresapree:
Check this auction out. I think this is the one you have. Opening bid is just $15.00.
http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/showitem.cgi?catid=11047&itemid=115
Ray
My mother has a zippo style lighter she wanted me to try and figure out any information about it. One side has Coca-Cola Plant up top then Pusan Korea Nov. 1951 underneath it. The other side a coke emblem “Coca-Cola trade mark reg.” Any ideas?
Cole: Sorry but I’m not good at pricing lighters. I’ll pass your info on to another source. Thanks for sharing. Ray
If anyone has any questions pertaining to vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia, please feel free to contact me at: raykilinski@cfl.rr.com If possible, please include detailed description and photos.
Or you can donate your items to the “Ray Kilinski Museum for the Preservation and History of Vintage Coca-Cola Memorabilia.” I specialize in collecting all vintage paper items including: advertising manuals, ink blotters, employee newsletters, cancelled checks, napkins, coupons, cardboard displays, paper cups, school tablets, No-Drip bottle protectors, matchbooks, playing cards, carriers, labels, calendars, book covers, plant tour guides, vending machine manuals, letterheads/envelopes, menus, decals, fans, photos, postcards, stock certificates, and any other early Coca-Cola memorabilia.
Kindly send to: Ray Kilinski, 3909 Mockingbird Lane, Orlando, Florida 32803.
We recently purchased a Coca Cola card table made by Samsonite. The top is black with red Coca Cola bottles on each corner. The legs are red. It’s a flimsy table, but in good condition. We believe it was made during WWII. Is this correct and what is it worth? Mahalo!
Mary:
Samson produced your table, from the 1930’s. Unfortunately they aren’t highly collectible items because of difficulty to display. They average in value between $150-$200. Ray