Ballantine Beer Clocks

Has anybody noticed the prices on Ballantine beer clocks lately? Wow! Sure, bar clocks have always been a hot item amongst breweriana collectors, but it seems in the past 2 months or so this particular clock is commanding some fairly hefty cash.

I love the Ballantine clocks, and have more than a few myself in the beer room. I'm almost tempted to list a few and see what happens.

Vintage 1963 Pam Lighted Clock Ballantine Beer 15x15

 I have one square red one, just the pictured here, that I won't part with as it is in pristine condition and it just looks so good hanging over my bar in the dimly lit room.

some of the other ones however, I could probably part with if it means making a profit and thus allowing me to feed my collecting addiction even more!

P. Ballantine & Sons Blue Bar Clock

 It's the square ones, the 15 x 15 inch size, that are getting all the attention lately. Just goes to show you how this crazy hobby can trend from one extreme to the other. Less than a year ago I recall these very same Ballantine bar clocks, in similar condition, going for less than $50 almost daily. Now I'm seeing $75-$125!

Valuable Beer Cans

Often when someone is new to collecting beer cans, or anything for that matter, they want to know what is most valuable. Most collectors who are passionate about their beer can collection will tell you they are all valuable.

Collecting truly is a passion for most, and not a business venture. Different cans from varying time periods or locations have individual values to people. Some monetary, some emotional or sentimental.

This Busch beer tab top test can  sold for $430.00 on eBay!

With vintage beer cans, there are so many out there it's tough to place a title as "most valuable" for these. Even in strictly a money sense, cans go up and down in value according to supply and demand.

Supply and demand go up and down for who knows why! It's one of the crazy, unpredictable and fun givens when it comes to collecting.

Of course, there are some very valuable cone top and flat top beer cans out there that are rare to start with and in pristine condition too. Those I suppose could be placed in the top 10% most valuable beer cans.

This Krueger  Flat Top w/ Opening Instructions ran somebody a cool  $735

But truly the value of beer cans is totally dependent on the relationship  between the person selling and person buying. If you've got what he wants, and a trade is in order, how do you place a value on that?

I think the most valuable beer cans are those that make up a set for a collector. It doesn't have to be a series type of set, but rather what the collector considers a set. If this collector wants every type of can with every flaw from the beginning of the brewery, then even some of the not so rare cans will be valuable to him when discovered, even if the seller deems it to have little value.

This super clean Metz Malt Liquor Flat Top was valued at $430.00 according to the highest bidder. There were 21 bids.

I always try to upgrade my cans. I have a relatively small collection of about 500 cans, but my cans are all in order and in very good condition. I know what I have and when I find a can in better shape than the one I have, I buy it and sell the old one.

Often, believe it or not, I pay less for the new one than the one I end up selling! And from a collectors point of view, the new one will always be a better addition, and should bring in more money, but it doesn't always work that way with what most people would consider valuable beer cans.

Spuds Mackenzie Merchandise

It's hard for me to believe it's been over 20 years since this famous English bull terrier stopped peddling Bud Light with his cute TV ads.

Spuds Mackenzie was actually a female, and died in 1993. She was 70 years old...in dog age! 10 in people age.

There was a ton of merchandise put out in the 1980's with this logo on it. It is still highly sought after today, particularly some of the bar-ware.

Authentic Original Vintage Spuds MacKenzie Bud Light T-Shirt

My Shirt is Made in the USA label on Vintage Spuds Shirt from 1986

T-shirts, hats, beach balls, Igloo coolers, mirrors, umbrellas, duffel bags and countless other items could be found with his image. You couldn't walk down a busy street in the mid-late 80's without seeing someone sporting a Spuds shirt!

One item in particular that is very collectible today is the 3-D night light, or bar light. This little light has a pull chain and is lit by a small 10 watt bulb.

Vintage Spuds MacKenzie Bar Light 1987

 Amazingly, you can still find these Spuds Mackenzie lights through dealers or online auctions, although they are starting to get pricey for the nice ones. To be honest, even one that's got a little wear looks great when illuminated in the dark and you won't have to spend nearly as much for one!

T-shirts abound, but of course the true vintage ones are harder to find. There are many replicas and those will always be around as long as people still embrace this iconic dog. Many folks don't mind the replicas. I'm partial to the original Spuds beer shirts and am very careful in making sure I'm not purchasing a reproduction.