Lot
Number | Description | Final Bid |
|---|
| G.P. MORRILL. Applied top. Here is a nicer than usual example with loads of whittle and lots of tiny bubbles. Grade: There is some scratching on the right front shoulder that extends around to the back. As far as highpoint wear, it’s pretty much non-existent. Tons of whittle and overall crudity, this one grades 8.9, due to the shoulder wear. | $ 300 |
| BAY CITY SODA WATER CO. SF. Blob top. A pretty example in a nice medium coloration and loads of whittle. Good drippy top. Grade: On close inspection, this is a superior example, as a slight patina tells us this has never been cleaned. The ideal condition for a soda. With all the whittle and virtually no highpoint wear, we’ve got an easy 9.2 grade. | $ 130 |
| HOFFMAN & JOSEPH ALBANY, OGN with embossed lion. Blob top. Here’s a rarely seen Oregon transplant. It’s apparent that bottles from the west, period, not just California, Oregon or Washington are falling into that same category, simply western. These are considered scarce. Grade: We do see some light highpoint wear but really, nothing too harsh in the way of scratches or other wear. A nice conditioned example that grades an 8.8. | $ 90 |
| GOLDEN GATE with smooth base. Here’s one of the few western sodas that come with a slug plate and pontil, although this example has neither. It does have a beautiful medium to deep teal coloration and a very drippy top. Grade: Also included is the original cork. There is an area around the bottom on the blob that appears to have been worn a little from the wire bale. Also, there are some minor scratches on the left shoulder but no highpoint wear and never cleaned. Good condition soda with just a few imperfections. Grades 8.7. | $ 180 |
| BAY CITY. Blob top. Another beautiful example, once again no highpoint wear. Grade: Under high magnification, there is really no highpoint wear only the most minor, tiny scratches. Loads of whittle and a pristine color make this a grade 9 bottle. | $ 140 |
| E. HIGGINS OROVILLE with applied blob top. A fine looking bottle and one we don’t see often. Grade: Although we wouldn’t call this rare, the Higgins turn up on occasion. This example has virtually no highpoint wear and just a few tiny scratches that create what we would call a grade 8.8 soda. Never cleaned, this is a strong example. | $ 190 |
| G.G. MERCED with smooth base. Here we have what is considered a rare soda from the gateway to Yosemite. Grade: Here’s one that is loaded with whittle and overall crudity. Under a loupe, it’s possible it was cleaned but it doesn’t seem to matter, as this one really shines. For eye appeal we’d give it a 10 but for grading purposes we’d have to stick with an 8.5. | $ 375 |
| EMPIRE SODA WORKS VALLEJO with embossed bird on reverse. These popular Vallejo sodas resemble the Bay City in numerous ways. This is a light green and there is no strong highpoint wear to speak of. Grade: Some light scratching and some light body wear will detract from the overall grade. We have to give this one an 8.8, however. No real distractions. | $ 220 |
| C & K EAGLE WORKS SAC CITY. Here’s a really popular soda in that it is cobalt and is somewhat scarce. These come in another variant, which is much rarer. C & K stand for “Casey & Kelly.” Grade: This example has really no highpoint wear to speak of, there is a little scratching and this may have been cleaned, mostly on the exterior. An overall solid example. Grades 8.9. | $ 170 |
| EASTERN CIDER CO. The Eastern Cider bottles are really a must have for western soda collectors, as the number of amber sodas available are quite few. This one is an excellent color and condition is great. Grade: Never cleaned, we see no highpoint wear on the lettering and really very little in the way of scratches. There’s plenty of whittle to go around and we can honestly say this is one of the better Eastern Ciders we have come across. Grade 9.2. | $ 375 |
| EL-DORADO. For years, we thought the El Dorado was a car. Now that we know it is a soda, we are quite impressed by this example. Recently found in Sacramento, this one has been barely rinsed out. This is as deep in color as any we’ve seen and although it is believed that these come also in a hutch style, these are fairly early bottles and are believed to have been made from the 1860’s to 80’s. Grade: Frankly this still has dirt between the letters and with just a hint of stain and a few scratches, we believe this grade 8.8 soda could be rendered a little higher. | $ 325 |
| EMPIRE SODA WORKS SAN FRANCISCO. There are a number of different Empire bottles, most made starting in 1861 and some are certainly rarer than others. This example has two slugmarks where it was believed, either the D & M or D S & CO were removed. Grade: This has a drippy top and although it may have been cleaned, it’s not really apparent without a closer look. Just a nice example with very little highpoint wear and a couple open bubbles as you can see in the photographs that may or may not bother you. Generally an 8.8. | $ 325 |
| EMPIRE SODA WORKS D & M SAN FRANCISCO. Here’s a pristine example of what a nice looking cobalt soda can look like. Grade: Although possibly cleaned, there is simply nothing to critique on this example. No highpoint wear, a nice big top and a beautiful color. What can we say? Grades 9.2. | $ 500 |
| EMPIRE SODA WORKS SAN FRANCISCO. Here is an example that, although is not blue, is still very presentable in a bluish teal with loads of bubbles and whittle. Grade: There is some very minor areas of where it caught a scratch or two, but for a fairly common soda, this has loads of eye appeal and would grade an 8.8. | $ 60 |
| OWEN CASEY EAGLE SODA WORKS. Here is another example that would be hard to critique in a negative way. Grade: No highpoint wear, the bubbles are beautiful along with the color. It’s doubtful this was cleaned, just a first class example that grades 9.2. | $ 190 |
