Old Coffee Cans Selling For Big Bucks
At the turn of the 19th Century, many towns of any size had their own roaster and coffee brand. The graphics on the cans were important for promotion, and today that antique advertising can bring big bucks. For example, recently a Tavern Coffee can sold for $1,375 at an upstate New York auction.
But if you have old coffee cans filled with nails and screws in the workshop, don't get too excited, says Bill Morford, owner of the New York absentee auction.
"The ones that bring money have to be in excellent condition," he says. "We've had multiple cans in the thousands of dollars range."
Though the Tavern Coffee can had some rust spots, the lithographed image of taverns on the front and back caught the eye of a collector. Other cans in the same auction started at $253 for an Abbey Garden Coffee can. A Golden Days Coffee can with a hook on top sold for $605.
As always with collectables, condition and rarity set the value. At a later Morford auction, a stained Boston Special Coffee can sold for just $50, while a rare Mammy's Favorite Brand Coffee can earned a top bid of $2,100.
People purchase the cans to decorate with as well as to add to collections, Morford says. Most of the 4 to 6 auctions he has each year have some coffee cans. Morford Auction consigns items and puts them in a catalog sent to subscribers or available on the company's website. Bidders can bid through the internet or by phone. After the auction, Morford reports the prices paid on the website.
Besides coffee cans, he deals with all types of vintage antique advertising items and related collectables. Tobacco cans are also popular with collectors.
"Some plug tobacco tins bring over $10,000," he says.
Farmers may also have antique oil and grease cans that may be valuable, he adds. FARM SHOW readers who think they have items suitable for Morford's auction can send him photos. He generally lists items that will sell for $300 or more and takes a 10 to 25 percent commission depending on the item's value.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Morford Auction, Rt. 2, Cazenovia, N.Y. 13035 (ph 315 662-7625; www.morfauction.com).
Click here to download page story appeared in.
Click here to read entire issue
Old Coffee Cans Selling For Big Bucks AG WORLD Ag World At the turn of the 19th Century many towns of any size had their own roaster and coffee brand The graphics on the cans were important for promotion and today that antique advertising can bring big bucks For example recently a Tavern Coffee can sold for $1 375 at an upstate New York auction But if you have old coffee cans filled with nails and screws in the workshop don t get too excited says Bill Morford owner of the New York absentee auction The ones that bring money have to be in excellent condition he says We ve had multiple cans in the thousands of dollars range Though the Tavern Coffee can had some rust spots the lithographed image of taverns on the front and back caught the eye of a collector Other cans in the same auction started at $253 for an Abbey Garden Coffee can A Golden Days Coffee can with a hook on top sold for $605 As always with collectables condition and rarity set the value At a later Morford auction a stained Boston Special Coffee can sold for just $50 while a rare Mammy s Favorite Brand Coffee can earned a top bid of $2 100 People purchase the cans to decorate with as well as to add to collections Morford says Most of the 4 to 6 auctions he has each year have some coffee cans Morford Auction consigns items and puts them in a catalog sent to subscribers or available on the company s website Bidders can bid through the internet or by phone After the auction Morford reports the prices paid on the website Besides coffee cans he deals with all types of vintage antique advertising items and related collectables Tobacco cans are also popular with collectors Some plug tobacco tins bring over $10 000 he says Farmers may also have antique oil and grease cans that may be valuable he adds FARM SHOW readers who think they have items suitable for Morford s auction can send him photos He generally lists items that will sell for $300 or more and takes a 10 to 25 percent commission depending on the item s value Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Morford Auction Rt 2 Cazenovia N Y 13035 ph 315 662-7625; www morfauction com
To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click
here to register with your account number.
