Posted 12 years ago
mammi
(6 items)
My mom says she bought this bottle opener in SE Iowa. Gas station owner claimed he had it since his station opened in 1929. The first picture shows the front saying "DRINK Coca-Cola" on top and the bottom says "STARR" with the PATENT # 2333088 (possibly, some numbers are hard to read). It also says BROWN CO. The next two photos show the back which says "5 MADE IN U.S.A." It is in good condition, though I need to clean it up.
According to the big book of Coke, this style, with Pat # 2033088 came out around 1943. If it was from the original run of these it would have "April 1925" stamped on front. Still a nice piece, just as old. Here is the other one http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/44790-coca-cola-opener?in=user
oops.... just "not" as old
tommy1002, Thanks for the info and the link! My husband loves the coke items and my mother keeps giving him things she has kept around. That makes us pretty luck, right?! I thought she might have been confused; the gas station probably opened in 1929. Thanks again!
FYI that Pat # 2333088 is used on the repos that are still made today ( i know because i own a repo and Pat # are idenical to yours) Im not saying yours is a repo just that Pat # will not help you date it...
They even made repos with April 25 1923 stamped on them;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1925-COCA-COLA-BOTTLE-OPENER-WALL-MOUNT-STARR-X-/150801682213?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231c7b0f25#ht_500wt_1287
its gotten to the point were its very hard to tell an original from repo, It looks like Tommy1002 showed you his true original bottle opener with original box!
Well keep showing us all those great items, we'll help ya sort em out!
Thanks for all the ideas everyone - great advise! I'm pretty sure I listed the Pat # on the item, though as you can tell I haven't tried to clean it yet so some #s were hard to read. I am going to check out all the links though. My husband does not like computers as much as he loves the coke items! My mom said she's had it about 20 years, so I guess I'll find out...