Shot of the Week



		Shot of the Week	Item number: 6158068247

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Update 3-10-05: This one issue of SOTW has generated more comments and discussion than any other since its inception. My inbox is positively sizzling from the salvoes from disgruntled buyers and sellers alike. Dick Bales has artfully distilled these exchanges and presented both sides of the argument in his latest Common Stuff article. Check it out and please post comments in the Discussion Room. Am I way off base? What do you think?! Thanks!

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OK, it's official. eBay is has gone completely nuts. This is March madness on steroids!

We always see a period of heightened competition in February or March and that can lead to some stratospheric prices, but this year is way off the chart in terms of number of participants and the amount of money that they're happy to be parted from in return for old glass.

What am I talking about? Well for starters, how about the beat-up Cutter running at the moment? True, it's a heavy-bottomed variant, but it's already up to $127.50 with two bidders dueling it out!

Then there was the S S Goldstrom from Omaha, Neb.

A nice glass for sure but it usually sells for $40 tops. I think I got mine for $15 a couple of years ago. The one shown at right cost reb3018 a whopping $102.50 after a classic slugging match with lakerdude33. Did I mention this was nuts?

Paul Van Vactor was the lucky recipient of a visit from the golden glass fairy when he put up a small gaggle of glasses a couple of weeks ago.

	The Albemarle shown at left is a genuinely rare and desirable glass so it's no surprise that it attracted significant attention. Paul started the auction at $75 but figscollectibles had to pay $177.50 to snatch it away from reb3018 after a prolonged fist-fight with bluroc.
But then there was this Spang PQ whiskey. This is a lovely glass for sure but not that rare. Typically it sells for between $30 and $50 although kdarius (another name that lives in SOTW infamy) did take one up to $78 not that long ago. reb3018 had to duke it out with chevivet to win the glass pictured at right for a staggering $112.50.

It leads and it bleeds and it's cray-zeee!!

And while we're talking fit for the funny farm, take a look at this Lo-Price Liquor Store auction from the hee-hee category: a post Repeal glass with a $125 buy-it-now! Keep your eye on that one folks!

Then we saw a new record ($36) set for a Kellerstrass by painthorse_blue, a Rhomberg Distilling Co. Key City Club tonic that sold for $77.86, a Judges Seal that reb3018 pulled down for $160.48, akkk! Enough, enough, enough. How about the SOTW? There really can be only one, although we have a couple of nice contenders for next week. This was a San Francisco classic glass, a Kentucky Mastiff.

Martinoni listed in the old city directories from 1896 to 1919, although not much is know about his history. There's a lovely example of the same glass in the database courtesy of Rich Lucchesi. San Fran picture glasses always command a three-figure sales price and this was one of the most desirable. It listed with a reserve and all the usual suspects took a poke at trying to figure out where that reserve was. Ultimately, it closed with Ralph thegenuineflask Van Brocklin in pole position at $251.50 with no end in sight. Sigh.....

(Word is that the SF pooch walked home after hours for $300 -- here little doggie, nice doggie! Ed)

THE SUBJECT OF THIS AUCTION IS A RARE SHOT GLASS FROM E. MARTINONI IN SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA . THE SHOT GLASS IS IN MINT CONDITION AND IS MARKED AS FOLLOWS: KENTUCKY MASTIFF BOURBON E.MARTINONI SAN FRANCISCO. THIS BRAND OF WHISKEY DATES TO 1906 AND MARTINONI IS SHOWN IN SAN FRANCISCO FROM 1896 TO 1919. GOOD LUCK !!

Note that some previous picks for "Shot of the Week" can be found in The Archives.