I’d like to buy the world a Coke. Why certain brands stay on the forefront of collectible items
Coca-Cola. Pepsi Cola. Mobil Gas. Goodyear. They are all names of brands you know and use today. These brands have been around forever and their place in history in our country has stood the test of time. For some, collecting items with brand representation isn’t just about collecting an item. It is about holding on to the past, a simpler time with honest, quality brands. If you happen into an antique store, you will see advertisements everywhere. They represent just about every brand you can think of and collectors want it all.
Brand advertising started as a way for companies to market their products and it continues today. In the 1880s porcelain signs became a way of advertising with a material that was both durable and weather resistant. The bold colors and graphics advertised everything from oil to tobacco to numerous food items with the most popular being Coca-Cola. Porcelain signs are quite rare these days and therefore make them attractive to collectors, especially with name brands that are still in business today.
Tin and metal signs were produced as a cheap alternative to porcelain ones. They were usually painted, screen-printed or stamped. These signs were prone to rust and haven’t survived too well. The ones that have survived over the years are in poor condition but yet, still highly collectible. Antique and vintage signs are highly collectible because of their beauty and historical value.
In addition to signage being popular in the commercial world, promotional items with a company logo or actual products from years gone by continue to hold value in the antique world. Items like Coca-Cola bottles from the turn of the century and oil cans, empty now but still in good condition, all make the grade among brand items that are collectible.
Why are old items of brands and companies so collectible? We think it has to do with holding onto that piece of Americana that may still be around but not made like it use to be. We all have a contention for our favorite brands and some of us just want to honor that love of them by collecting items from yesteryear. We also tend to collect items from brands that are no longer in existence today. Their memory lives on through items found in an antique store that denotes their existence. Even still, we like to collect items from local brands and companies that can only be found in certain regions of the country.
Whatever centuries-old brand it is you fancy, you are most likely to find something to collect from an era that held onto brand value a little bit more than modern companies do today. When you visit an antique store like Antique Allure, you are bound to find Coke bottles, Goodyear tire signs and Pennzoil oil cans to name a few. They are all indicative of collecting brand items from years gone by.
