Posted 12 years ago
tmyers2147
(1 item)
I found this clock and thought it was a great looking clock, when the antique dealer turned on the neon lights is when I was mesmerized. I absolutely love this clock, watching it spin almost puts me in a trance, it's a large 18 t0 20 inches in diameter. I have seen very few like this online for sale, but was told these were made possibly in the 40's and then I was told they were reproduced in the 90's so I set out to find a reproduction to see if mine in fact is a reproduction which would be heartbreaking knowing how much I paid for it. The photos against the knotty pine wall are of my clock and the one on the far right is a known reproduction. Do any of you experts know if mine is authentic or not, I have no idea how to tell the difference?
I will tell you this is one awesome clock!
Did you notice that yours has a rivet or screw under ice cold and 1 above the girl, the repro has 1 in the 2nd c in coca and 1 in the o of cola ? Your also has yellow inside the red stripe, the repro dosnt.
EJW no I did not, thank you for pointing that out. TGBWC the thing about this clock ; I was standing in the antique store on a Monday morning when the dealer brought this clock out to hang it, I was almost in a bidding war w/another person who wanted this clock and I knew I had to have it, I got out of the store w/the clock for just under $1000.00 and I really have enjoyed it, the dealer said he did not know if it was vintage or a repro when I bought it but that if I find out to let him know.
Because the reproduction is for sale right now online and I called the place and asked them if it was an original or a reproduction and he said a reproduction, I assume he knows the difference. You're right, it's a lot of money but I wanted it and I got it. The money I paid for this really isn't my question though, I just wanted to know if someone knew the difference between the vintage and the reproduction, that's all. Thanks.
The antique dealer online is asking $650 for the reproduction so I don't think I did too bad, the reproduction has some issues and parts that have been replaced and mine is all original parts with no issues.
As I've learned (the hard way!) a very good indicator of authenticity is documentation of the piece in collector's guides. Petretti's 12th Edition shows similar clocks but not this one. Have you determined this version was actually manufactured during the 40's? There are also Coca-Cola signs and clocks which are considered "fantasy pieces", these are authentic looking but not considered reproductions, because they are made-up, not copies of old originals.
There are a few identical to this one that have sold on ebay for big bucks that say the clock was manufactured by Neon Products Inc. in the 40's. Now I've never heard of fantasy pieces, that is interesting and I am going to find some of those. I have a pretty extensive Coca Cola collection. Thanks a lot!
I would love to find a contact for that Neon products inc but my efforts have been unsuccessful.
Welcome tmyers! It's a cool clock. I did find one that sold last month on liveauctioneers.com for $750 (in a bit of disrepair apparently):
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/11167886_coca-cola-neon-spinner-clock
I hope you'll share more of that extensive collection, we'd love to see. There's a good bunch of knowledgeable folks here, Coca-Cola lovers and... everybody else! :)
Yes, thanks for sharing that link, I saw that one earlier today. Here is one I found that sold on ebay, you have to scroll halfway down the page to see the clock.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&hash=item336b814157&item=220846965079&nma=true&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&rt=nc&si=OZjXriu2%252BkD6eiowNYKdHo3ujFM%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_869wt_1163
I will share, I just found this sight today while researching the clock. I am actively looking for either a 36" or a 48" Coca Cola button, I have all of the other sizes and wow, those two sizes sell for a fortune!!
Thanks!
Nope, auction companies don't care either way. Also they're not responsible for authenticity. That's exactly what they'll tell ya!
I finally got a return email from a coca cola collector of 40 plus years, he has been doing some investigating for me. He stated that these clocks were introduced in 1939 and that the ones made in that year had wires under the facing and when you're looking straight at the clock the wires are in the shape of a star, most of those have a black edging instead of yellow like mine,.. He said in the early 40's they dressed them up a little bit and made them w/out the wires and these had yellow and black edging and also the neon ring was a deep amber color, but again they were reproduced in the early 90's and on the back of those clocks there is a manufacture date. Mine does not have a manufacture date on the back and mine has the deep amber neon. He thinks mine is all original and I hope he is right. Thanks for all your input.