A question of value

mile-ender · Dec 12, 2011

I need to sell off a few things, and was thinking of getting rid of a couple of my more interesting bottles and was wondering if anybody could give me a guesstimate on what they're worth? Try as I might, I'm finding it hard to figure the value on a lot these things, and I don't wanna screw myself over. The two I was wondering about, are embossed sauce bottles I can't find anything on, I assume that means they're rare; as far as I understand, that should increase the value, no? Anyway, I'm putting them up on ebay, but I wanna stick a reserve on 'em; what do you think?
The two of 'em are BIM with applied lip and from the pits they came from I'm dating them at 1880-1890. You can't see it in the pics but the texture on the Heslop is great (whittled? I believe).

mile-ender · Dec 12, 2011

And the second bottle from Lewis & Co.

gleaner1 · Dec 12, 2011

mile-ender said:
I need to sell off a few things, and was thinking of getting rid of a couple of my more interesting bottles and was wondering if anybody could give me a guesstimate on what they're worth? Try as I might, I'm finding it hard to figure the value on a lot these things, and I don't wanna screw myself over. The two I was wondering about, are embossed sauce bottles I can't find anything on, I assume that means they're rare; as far as I understand, that should increase the value, no? Anyway, I'm putting them up on ebay, but I wanna stick a reserve on 'em; what do you think?
The two of 'em are BIM with applied lip and from the pits they came from I'm dating them at 1880-1890. You can't see it in the pics but the texture on the Heslop is great (whittled? I believe).

mile-ender, you have a couple of very common bottles in uncommonly sick condition. To be perfectly honest with you, those two pieces are fifty cents or a buck in the antique shop.

mile-ender · Dec 12, 2011

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mile-ender, you have a couple of very common bottles in uncommonly sick condition. To be perfectly honest with you, those two pieces are fifty cents or a buck in the antique shop.

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So why can't I find any info anywhere? :icon_scratch:

gleaner1 · Dec 12, 2011

Its probably an off shore brand, or just too common to be noted in most US reference books or price guides. Believe me, if it were rare or valuable, you would get google hits on it.

mile-ender · Dec 12, 2011

gleaner1 said:
Its probably an off shore brand, or just too common to be noted in most US reference books or price guides. Believe me, if it were rare or valuable, you would get google hits on it.

I'm sorry, I can't agree with your logic that if it were rare I would find it on google. Rare by definition is unusual or uncommon. A Perrins or a Gartons I would say is common; I find all sorts of information on these easily through google; but when I search rather meticulously through all aspects of google, news archives, patents and such and I find no information; when I post the bottles on various forums here in North America and the U.K. and I get no responses; I have to believe that the bottle is rare.
As to the value :dontknow:

you could be right. Value is always subjective though, no? I've sold bottles I figured were worth five bucks for five times that. I've sold busted bottles for the same. Then they are bottles I think are great, that people wouldn't give me fifty cents for :wink:

I do appreciate you input though, thank you.

epackage · Dec 13, 2011

Couple of dollars each is all...

PikesPeakCharlie · Dec 13, 2011

My apologies !!!! but have to agree with the earlier replies,Sorry ,not rare

mile-ender · Dec 13, 2011

Okay. So, it's not rare :crybaby2:

I can't argue with experience :icon_thumleft:

But I can ask some questions.... If you don't ask - you can't learn
What should I be looking for? I'm guessing a good rule of thumb would be Odells "twelve value factors"?
Which means - if I'm getting this - the bottles above would bring me 5-10$ if I'm lucky and selling to someone who doesn't really know anything; and let's say the bottle below (a squat ale from the same period) could get me 30-40$ if I'm lucky :dontknow:

and what I should be looking for are things I'm seeing selling at Hecklers and other such online auctions?
Thanks again for every ones help :hello2:

Havilah_Springs · Dec 13, 2011

Hello Mile-ender,

I have to agree with the others about the first two bottles. You may want to check out this web site for bottle values, it changes constantly:

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/bottles/overview

Best of Luck,

H_S

gleaner1 · Dec 13, 2011

mile-ender, you did a complete 180 with that indescribable and stupendous yellow?? squatty. Now when you see stuff like that, you know you are eyeballing a winner. If a common US pictoral flask was that color, it would double or triple the price. Your piece is damaged, and it is not a US bottle. So you lose a good percent of your value. If I saw it in a local shop for $20.00, damaged and all, I would suffer a tormented spiral of indecision and agony and self-loathing because I would just have to own it, and I would start haggling with the guy, will you take fifteen for it? And if he said no, I would flip out a Jackson, take the damn thing home, and take a good long look in the mirror wondering what the hell is so addictive about bottles.

mile-ender · Dec 14, 2011

gleaner1 said:
mile-ender, you did a complete 180 with that indescribable and stupendous yellow?? squatty. Now when you see stuff like that, you know you are eyeballing a winner. If a common US pictoral flask was that color, it would double or triple the price. Your piece is damaged, and it is not a US bottle. So you lose a good percent of your value. If I saw it in a local shop for $20.00, damaged and all, I would suffer a tormented spiral of indecision and agony and self-loathing because I would just have to own it, and I would start haggling with the guy, will you take fifteen for it? And if he said no, I would flip out a Jackson, take the damn thing home, and take a good long look in the mirror wondering what the hell is so addictive about bottles.

Is that good or bad?

illinidigger · Dec 14, 2011

I disagree as far as the common statement on the two sauce bottles. I have been digging and collecting for a long time and have a bunch of different Perrins look alikes and have seen a couple of the Lewis' and never the Helsops. Condition is a problem, that and the fact these types are not widely collected would keep value down.

gleaner1 · Dec 14, 2011

Great post mile-ender. You covered the gamut of bottles. Crappy common sick aqua saucies, and a killer rare shiny straw yellow squatty. The mysteries of the bottles will never cease to confound......