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A FEW WORDS ON COLLECTING SODA CANS
    Two conflicting schools of thought dominate popular notions about "old things". For some, anything old is an antique and thus becomes a collectable... while to others, so called antiques belong in the trash.

    If you are enjoying your travels through our Virtual Museums, you are either curious as to how much your "trash" is worth, or you are part of the ever growing horde of individuals who call themselves collectors.

  A word of caution is in order, the "collecting habit" can become addictive. Many who pick up that first strange soda can brand from the local grocery store and decide to save it claim they just "can't stop", that "one drink just led to another", but the hobby of soda can collecting is educational, it's displays are pleasing sights, and more than anything else... it's just plain old fun!

  Collecting cone top soda cans is a very narrow specialty of the broader hobby of soda can collecting. The soda cones shown in this Virtual Museum probably represent about 95% of all of the different cone top soda cans produced during a rather narrow time span from 1938 to about 1955.

  The cone top cans are the value heavy-weights of all the collectable soda cans, with some examples being sold in the $1000+ range. Values of cone top soda cans, like any other antique collectable depend primarily on the supply available, and the condition or grade of the can. To follow is a table describing soda can grades:

GRADING SODA CANS
The value of a can is very sensitive to the GRADE which defines the physical condition of the can. The grading system for cans ranges from MINT to GRADE 5, and is defined as follows:

MINT- This highest grade is reserved for those cans in new and perfect condition. No scratches, small dents, or paint imperfections.

(1+)- Tiny scratches or handling marks that can be seen by close inspection. No rust, dents, or heavy scratches allowed.

(1) - Typical average inside or off-the-shelf can with tiny dents near rim and small scratches not visible from a couple of feet.

(1-)- An older inside can that has age spots, ripples, rim wear, and small dents. The can will still have a bright inside shine with no obvious rust spots on the painted surface, top, or back seam.

(2+)- A top condition "Dumper". Some light rust allowable on top and seam, with very slight paint blisters on surface. Colors should be true, but inside shine is gone. The display face should be close to a Grade 1 category.

(2) - Light rust and blisters allowable with slight fading of true colors. Can have tiny pin-holes if not noticeably visible on the display face.

(2-)- All of the can is readable, but the display face will have a noticeable defect. Most of the original color is on the display face and the can does not present an overall rusty appearance.

(3+)- Basically a sound can with one or more colors faded badly. May contain rusted seam and top. No large holes.

(3) - Presents a solid display face, but may show some paint blisters. Rust may be heavy on seam and top. May have noticeable holes in seam.

(3-)- Faded but readable display face with heavy rust or sun- burn on back side, seam, and top. Pencil sided holes allowable on back side and small holes allowable on the display side.

(4+)- Overall rust-aged appearance with rust nodules on seam and rims. Major holes in back and seam with minor holes and paint blistering on display face. Part of display face may be badly faded, but still legible.

(4) - Has bad overall appearance on shelf with major defect in display side such as rust nodules, sever sun fading, or holes. Some of the wording may be unreadable.

(4-)- One would not consider saving this can unless it is very rare or fills a gap in the collection. The appearance will probably cause its placement in a dimly lit, out-of- the-way corner of your display room.

(5) - The lowest grade of can. Brand name is barely readable. Full of holes and heavy rust. Of no value and seldom saved.

 
GRADE VS VALUE CHART
  The grade of a can not only defines the physical condition of a can, but also drastically effects the can's value. Shown below is a table describing the relationship of the can's grade to its value:

MINT       -     1.25 x VALUE
GRADE 1-     1.00 x VALUE
GRADE 2-       .50 x VALUE
GRADE 3-       .25 x VALUE
GRADE 4-       .10 x VALUE

VIRTUAL MUSEUM NUMBER (VM #)- If collectors are to gain the most enjoyment from their hobby, they need to know: (1) What items that are available, (2) The item's relative value, (3) Which items they have in their collection, and (4) An easy way to communicate with other collectors as to what they need and what they have for sale or trade.

  The V/M# is assigned once to a cataloged item and never changed Once assigned, the number can be used to tag collection items and to communicate with other collectors.

  All new items submitted by collectors to the Museum will be assigned an V/M# and included in the next internet update.

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