Oil Can Collectors Love Rare Finds

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #1, Page #19

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A Husky motor oil can is one of Addie Ehrlich’s favorite high school graduation gifts. It was given to her by her father, Chad Ehrlich, and is displayed with other vintage oil cans in their collections.
“With cans, it’s all about the graphics,” Chad explains. “There are thousands of cans, many made in limited runs.”
Animal graphics, like the dogs on the front and back of Addie’s Husky can, are especially sought by collectors. Regionally, cans differ because of the many small companies that made them. For example, White Eagle Oil had a refinery in Kansas, where the Ehrlichs live, and those cans are among Chad’s favorites. The company was only in business for 10 years before it was bought out by Standard Oil.
Ehrlich knows about cans through his business, selling classic cars, parts and memorabilia, and he shares that information on his YouTube live shows called “Nobody’s Show”.
“Right now, the old car and collectible market is hot,” he says. Smaller items like cans or signs don’t require a lot of space to collect and they can be used as décor.
Beyond the round quart cans, there are many shapes and styles of cans that go back to the turn of the 20th Century, starting with kerosene cans.
“We have some that say harness oil for horses, buggies, carriages, wagons and motor vehicles,” Chad says. “The 5-gal. cans have really taken off. The nice thing about them is they’re bigger and easier to see so they are great for decorating in larger venues such as restaurants.”
“What appeals to me is the graphics and what they put into the designs,” says Addie, who got interested in collecting when she was about 9.
She is a big fan of the Husky cans and Silent Chief that came out of Wichita. Because of her interest in paleontology, she also collects Sinclair cans. Addie notes that graphics often focus on specific markets; some have pictures of boats and farm equipment, for example.
Cans come in all shapes from round rocker cans to square, oblong and other shapes. Even cardboard cans from the 1970’s are collectible, Chad says.
Prices vary from $5 to $5,000, he says. At a recent Indiana auction, the highest price paid was $861 for a rusted 5-gal. can with Lincoln on it. A 5-gal. Bingham’s Cardinal Brand Oil can with a picture of a cardinal on it sold for $295. A couple of typical quart oil cans, Blue Seal and Hudson, sold for between $300 and $400.
Rare, good condition cans can sell for much more. Rare Silent Chief cans with a graphic of an Indian Chief are worth between $2,500 and $4,000. A 2-gal. Big Chief Motor Oil can sold at an auction for $10,500.
For people interested in finding the value of cans they own, Chad suggests going online. There are also a couple of reference books, American Oil Cans Identification & Price Guide by Tom Allen on Amazon and 2021 Oil Can Collector’s Guide at www.gasandoilcollectibles.com.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Chad Ehrlich, Great Bend, Kansas (ph 620-786-4428, YouTube - Nobody’s Show, Facebook - Nobody’s Show).

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Oil Can Collectors Love Rare Finds FARM HOME Novelty Items A Husky motor oil can is one of Addie Ehrlich’s favorite high school graduation gifts It was given to her by her father Chad Ehrlich and is displayed with other vintage oil cans in their collections “With cans it’s all about the graphics ” Chad explains “There are thousands of cans many made in limited runs ” Animal graphics like the dogs on the front and back of Addie’s Husky can are especially sought by collectors Regionally cans differ because of the many small companies that made them For example White Eagle Oil had a refinery in Kansas where the Ehrlichs live and those cans are among Chad’s favorites The company was only in business for 10 years before it was bought out by Standard Oil Ehrlich knows about cans through his business selling classic cars parts and memorabilia and he shares that information on his YouTube live shows called “Nobody’s Show” “Right now the old car and collectible market is hot ” he says Smaller items like cans or signs don’t require a lot of space to collect and they can be used as décor Beyond the round quart cans there are many shapes and styles of cans that go back to the turn of the 20th Century starting with kerosene cans “We have some that say harness oil for horses buggies carriages wagons and motor vehicles ” Chad says “The 5-gal cans have really taken off The nice thing about them is they’re bigger and easier to see so they are great for decorating in larger venues such as restaurants ” “What appeals to me is the graphics and what they put into the designs ” says Addie who got interested in collecting when she was about 9 She is a big fan of the Husky cans and Silent Chief that came out of Wichita Because of her interest in paleontology she also collects Sinclair cans Addie notes that graphics often focus on specific markets; some have pictures of boats and farm equipment for example Cans come in all shapes from round rocker cans to square oblong and other shapes Even cardboard cans from the 1970’s are collectible Chad says Prices vary from $5 to $5 000 he says At a recent Indiana auction the highest price paid was $861 for a rusted 5-gal can with Lincoln on it A 5-gal Bingham’s Cardinal Brand Oil can with a picture of a cardinal on it sold for $295 A couple of typical quart oil cans Blue Seal and Hudson sold for between $300 and $400 Rare good condition cans can sell for much more Rare Silent Chief cans with a graphic of an Indian Chief are worth between $2 500 and $4 000 A 2-gal Big Chief Motor Oil can sold at an auction for $10 500 For people interested in finding the value of cans they own Chad suggests going online There are also a couple of reference books American Oil Cans Identification & Price Guide by Tom Allen on Amazon and 2021 Oil Can Collector’s Guide at www gasandoilcollectibles com Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Chad Ehrlich Great Bend Kansas ph 620-786-4428 YouTube - Nobody’s Show Facebook - Nobody’s Show

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