How much might Avon bottles be worth?

Wed., Aug. 17, 2005

Larry Cox King Features Syndicate

Q: I have about two dozen Avon bottles and containers in various shapes and sizes. Could you help me find someone who might be interested in purchasing them? — Betty, Albuquerque, N.M.

A: Avon bottles are fairly plentiful. Originally called the California Perfume Company, bottles issued during that period, or before 1939, are especially collectible. Typical values are Jaguar decanter, $5; Daisies Won’t Tell toilet set from 1956, $25; and a 1973 Tee Off decanter, $5.

There are several sources that might be helpful, including the National Association of Avon Collectors, P.O. Box 7006, Kansas City, MO 64113; dealer Rhonda Schiver, owner of Avon Lost & Found, 7646 Nancy Drive, Elkridge, MD 21075; and collector Dwight Young, P.O. Box 9868, Kansas City, MO 64134.

Q: I have an older phonograph that plays all three speeds, 33 rpm, 45 rpm and 78 rpm. I need a replacement needle and can’t seem to find one that will fit my machine. — Shirley, Staatsburg, N.Y.

A: I highly recommend you contact Dave Vaughn of Dave’s Antiques in Tucson, Ariz. He buys, sells and repairs older phonographs and TVs in addition to maintaining an excellent inventory of replacement parts, including, of course, needles. I even purchase the old steel Victrola needles from him. His address and phone number are 449 West 29th St., Tucson, AZ 85713; and 520-790-2618.

Q: I have a soup tureen, complete with ladle and cracker dish. I would like to find out how much it might be worth since several people want to buy it. — Lela, Galesburg, Ill.

A: The pedigree of your tureen is probably an identification mark on its bottom. That mark can identify the maker and give you an approximate date when it was made. To identify the mark, I recommend two excellent books: Lehner’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Marks on Pottery, Porcelain & Clay by Lois Lehner (Collector Books); and Kovel’s New Dictionary of Marks by Ralph and Terry Kovel (Crown Books). After you have identified the mark, your next step should be to contact an appraiser or established dealer in your area. Expect to pay a nominal fee for his or her expertise and services.

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