Big old stoneware crocks...Worth anything?

[Daytona R/T SE]

These big, old stoneware crocks, are they worth anything ?  

If not...

The Ol' Lady is going to plant flowers in them. 

[Chad L. Magee]

Yes, they are worth something if not cracked or broken.  I do not know exact values for what you have, but they often bring anywhere from $20 to hundreds of dollars each at local auctions here in northwest Kansas.  I have seen one go for $1500, but it was at an estate sale and I think the relatives were bidding against each other on it.  They typically bring at least fifty dollars each on average.  Redwing crocks are highly collectible, so my suggestion is to search the internet for a collector forum on the exact prices for the brands that you have.  I wish I could tell you more, but I am not an expert on them.  I only have one of them, a 20 gallon brown glazed one that I use to store scrap metal pieces for various projects.  That one was bought in Columbia, Missouri for $20 at a garage sale.  Man, it is heavy to move around.

If they are cracked or broken, she has already found the right use for them....

[Old Moparz]

My wife has a few of those crocks so I showed her & asked about your pic. She said they are somewhat collectible & sought after, but just like cars, not all are highly desirable & worth a lot. She said the numbers may represent the size of the pot in gallons, & adds some value but she is not 100% positive.

(edit)
Look what I found.  

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-04-21/news/0204200370_1_stoneware-crock-art-pottery

[Daytona R/T SE]

Interesting.

Any guesses on the age of these. ?

[Old Moparz]

Old.

[Chad L. Magee]

That got me to thinking (dangerous, I know)....

At some of the farm auctions, I have seen a few of the 3 and 5 gallon ones used in a butter churn.  Those brought big money, as people like to have them as decorations around the house here.  If you are good at building things out of wood, you could make a butter churn to put into one and use it to decorate if she does use the others for flower pots.  I think you would be able to find the plans online for it.  Just an idea....

[A383Wing]

Interesting.

Any guesses on the age of these. ?

no date stamp on the bottom?

[Chad L. Magee]

Interesting.

Any guesses on the age of these. ?

They could be anywhere from 150 to 80 years old by my guess.  Most of the ones around here are at least 100 years old, as the farmers tended to bring them with them as they homesteaded....

Most of them contain no date stamps, just a makers mark.  The shape and location of the makers mark can help identify age though, but I am not an expert on them....

[Daytona R/T SE]

Interesting.

Any guesses on the age of these. ?

no date stamp on the bottom?

Dunno...

I didn't flip 'em over...

We just plunked them down in the mud in front of the porch.

[A383Wing]

no lids?

[Daytona R/T SE]

no lids?

No lids.

[Chad L. Magee]

It is actually rare to find them complete with matching lids....

[Todd Wilson]

They are worth money! Take care of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Todd

[oldgold69]

they usually say about 5 dollars a gallon      put dirt in them they will probably start effervescing and just crumble  put a plastic liner in them to use for plants

[Daytona R/T SE]

They are worth money! Take care of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Todd

Will trade for food !

[Daytona R/T SE]

they usually say about 5 dollars a gallon      put dirt in them they will probably start effervescing and just crumble  put a plastic liner in them to use for plants

Good to know. 

[hatersaurusrex]

If they're watertight, think of the potential for homemade pickles.

I'm not kidding.  Wish I had some crocks that big - I'd be putting some up right now.

[Todd Wilson]

They are worth money! Take care of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Todd

Find you a antique store and see what they will give you for them and then go buy some flower pots!

You may have 300$ worth of crocks sitting there!


Todd



Will trade for food !

[Daytona R/T SE]

They are worth money! Take care of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Todd

Find you a antique store and see what they will give you for them and then go buy some flower pots!

You may have 300$ worth of crocks sitting there!


Todd



Will trade for food !

The only reason we have them is we're cleaning out the

"Family's" storage unit and I thought they were too cool to toss

In the dumpster.

We really don't have a strong desire for flower pots, either.

Just thought that would make some use out of them.

[oldgold69]

I make jalapeno pickles in mine   the value of the crocks is by who made them some were cheaper than others   red wing and the ones with the maples were pretty common

[lukedukem]

Pm me if you want to sell them. My wife likes those and I could score some points.

Luke.

[cazz]

Make some beans and have a party!!BEER and BEANS how could a Guy go wrong?

[Steve P.]

I don't have a clue, but want to tell you to be careful as a buddy long ago had painted something that I would have said was JUST ANOTHER PLANTER. When his mom died he had some antique dealers come check some stuff out. The very first guy that came asked if he could scrape some paint off the planter that was sitting at the top end of his driveway. Doug says: What do you want to look at that thing for?? The guy answers: I may want to buy that. We looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders. Five minutes later he offers Doug $1500.00 for it and say if he had not painted it he would have offered one hell of alot more!!!

Moral of the story, Don't paint or mess anything up that you don't KNOW it's worth.

That planter thing has been sitting at the head of Doug's driveway since we were kids. I am shocked Doug never came home bombed and hit it!!

[Chad L. Magee]

When I was growing up (back in the 80s) in Colby, Kansas, there was an estate sale that had something similar.  The family decided that the best way to disburse the farm estate was to put it up for auction.  Amoung the stuff was an old 3 or 4 foot tall vase that had paint chipped from its edges.  The grown up grandkids remembered rolling it around on the floor when they were young.  Can you guess what it brought?  It was in the neighborhood of $26,000 if I remember right.  Turns out it was a rare 18th century French vase.  Yes, most of the people attending the auction thought "WT#!" when that happened.  I knew about it because it ended up on the front page of the local newspaper.  Never underestimate what old things could be worth to another person willing to buy it....

[Daytona R/T SE]

The crocks are resting comfortably on the front porch.

Except for the biggest one...

We plunked it down in the mud in front of the porch.

They look kinda cool out there.

I guess they've found their home.