Many Century-Old Irons Still in Fire

Question: I don’t know if this falls into the category of a kitchen collectible, but my mother passed on to me an old iron that’s been in the family for years. It runs on gasoline like a car! Anyway, we wondered if it’s an authentic relic.

--R.A. Answer: From your brief description, the iron could date back more than a century. Alcohol- or gas-powered irons didn’t fade out of existence until a decade or so into this century. However, it appears that plenty of these models have survived over the years, so the collectible value of your particular iron is not astronomical. As a general rule, collectible irons that we have seen at flea markets and the like haven’t carried price tags much in excess of $50 anyway--and often much lower.

Actually, collectors in this rather specialized area look for much older examples that could date back a couple of hundred years or more. As you might guess, one problem is rust, and it’s often difficult to find one in reasonably good condition. But when you do locate an antique iron that attracts your interest, it certainly is, as you suggest, an interesting kitchen-type collectible.

While on the general subject of kitchen collectibles, this area seems to be experiencing something of a boom--maybe because of so much emphasis on “natural,” country-type and Americana kitchen settings. Most popular among collectors is the post-Civil War period up to the turn of the century. Everything from breadboxes to food grinders falls into this category.

On a somewhat related note, we’ve also had some inquiries into the value of old ice cream scoops. This item seems to have surfaced on the American scene shortly after the Civil War. What’s interesting about these scoops is that in the 1920s some ice cream manufacturers began issuing scoops as a premium advertising their products. Such scoops can be approximately dated and, of course, have more collectible value. Moreover, according to catalogue records, some of these premiums have exchanged hands for more than $100.

Q: Is the Moxie company still producing a soda drink?

--T.C. A: Moxie apparently continues to be popular in the East, particularly in New England, according to our sources there. Its heyday, however, was about half a century ago, and Moxie bottles certainly are popular with collectors.

Moxie appears to be the oldest continuously produced soft drink in this country and, last year, celebrated its 100th anniversary. Originally called Moxie Nerve Food, the company name--Moxie--eventually became part of the language and can be used to describe someone who is plucky or audacious. Much of its once-great popularity stems from the firm’s imaginative and aggressive advertising.

Aside from the collectible Moxie bottles themselves, a number of Moxie advertising tie-ins are sought by collectors, ranging from ice cream dishes to pencils and thermometers. Posters are particularly popular and have sold in the low three-figure range.

Although Moxie is believed to have outsold the ubiquitous Coca-Cola during the height of its popularity, collector organizations associated with the soft drink do not begin to approach the number of groups that collect and trade Coke memorabilia.

Ronald L. Soble cannot answer mail personally but will respond in this column to questions of general interest about collectibles. Do not telephone. Write to Your Collectibles, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.