July 2002 News from Readers

A Pennsylvania reader wrote to us about the results of the search for the oldest 3-in-One Oil bottle. I was disappointed that you did not publish a picture of the winning bottle. I, and I’m sure others, expected to see a picture of the bottle whose owner won the $1,000 prize. We were able to get a photo of the bottle, which dates from 1894-95. WD-40 Company, makers of 3-in-One Oil, and the San Diego Antique Bottle and Collectibles Club sponsored the contest. More than 2,000 entries were submitted, and a Wyoming bottle collector was declared the winner. He found the bottle, which has a tooled top, tapered neck, crude embossing, and a flat lip, in a Laramie, Wyoming, trash pit that was once an outhouse site.

From a Monticello, Indiana, reader-dealer concerned about the cost of handling mail inquiries: It is important to educate people about SASEs, and they don’t take offense at this wording. He sent a copy of his business card, which includes this message: “It’s good manners to enclose a stamped envelope with mail inquiries. Otherwise you imply that telling you what you want to know is a privilege I should have to pay for. Unlike a Chamber of Commerce, I’m not funded to provide this service.” Those who advise companies about expenses say the actual cost of sending a personal letter is now over $8 when you include the paid time spent by an employee.

A reader emailed about a suspicious email she received from “Eldad.” It offered old synagogue items found in East Berlin. The seller claimed he did not know anything about the source or worth, but urged our reader to just make an offer because he needs quick cash. Our advice is never to buy any unknown item from an unknown seller, especially one from another country. Does anyone have any information on this?

A Glencoe, Illinois, reader and costume jewelry collector gave us information about jewelry marked HAR (see “On the Road,” February). Joseph Heilbronner and Edith Levitt were partners doing business as Hargo Creations from 1957 to 1967. The company was listed at 151 West 19th St., New York, NY 10011.