civil war collapsible drink cup. clean or don't clean

[smokelessjoe]

I agree with Scott on this... The baseball engraving does not look Civil War period to me. I would not shine her up.

[GasHouseGang]

It seems like on every other episode of Antique's Road Show they have some item where they say, "Well, if you hadn't cleaned it it would be worth..." Do not clean it.

[Bugsy]

I was the seller of the cup and I believe it was either from the 1860s or 1870s because of the uniforms and the umpire. According to the Hall of Fame page on uniforms, shield front jerseys weren't worn much after the mid-1870s.

http://exhibits.baseballhalloffame.o...es/jerseys.htm

Also, the umpire is holding an umbrella and walking stick. If you are a trade card collector, you know the image on this cup easily pre-dates images of 1880s umpires.

[WillowGrove]

Originally Posted by Bugsy

I was the seller of the cup and I believe it was either from the 1860s or 1870s because of the uniforms and the umpire. According to the Hall of Fame page on uniforms, shield front jerseys weren't worn much after the mid-1870s.

http://exhibits.baseballhalloffame.o...es/jerseys.htm

Also, the umpire is holding an umbrella and walking stick. If you are a trade card collector, you know the image on this cup easily pre-dates images of 1880s umpires.

I wouldn't clean it for many of the reasons stated - mostly it's old - why make it look new? Chris, how did you acquire it? It's amazing. And where did it sell that I missed it! Maybe private sale.

Great item! Congrats.

[khkco4bls]

According to 1860s the umpire would sit or stand on first base side with top hat and cane and fancy coat. Bib front uniform crests on the fronts. Hard for u to see maybe.Also no gloves and pitcher ready to throw underhand. All indications of that era. Definitely not modern.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

It seems like on every other episode of Antique's Road Show they have some item where they say, "Well, if you hadn't cleaned it it would be worth..." Do not clean it.

Awesome piece About the only acceptable material to clean is silver....and that ain't silver!

[vwtdi]

Don't even think about cleaning it!

I couldn't type this in fast enough...then I saw you weren't going to clean it after posting.

[CarltonHendricks]

Great get Kevin…really cool and really unusual….it’s possible I may have seen one in some auction catalog at some point but can’t say I recall it…so really rare too…The shields on the jerseys say a lot to me for its era…I especially like the engraver included the players sitting on the bench…at least I think that’s what I make out on the bottom left…the bench, if that’s what it is, on top right is even harder make out…I’m with everyone else...leave it alone…

Couple of questions...so to clarify…the engraving is on the bottom exterior of the cup?...When you say civil war cup...were these used by soldiers in the civil war?...

I’ve seen antique collapsible cups with a bicycle motif…but never this…looks like something you’d see in the Halper collection…This is one of the best parts of collecting when I see something I’ve never seen before!...Congrats good eye!

[khkco4bls]

Carton its the top of the lid. Cup seems stuck and i wont mess with it. I will get better pics later. I always look for the unusual pieces. And this fits that category. Yes they carried thesr around. And right field has a bench and on the left side with players.

[ruth-gehrig]

Super piece even more so now that its going to stay this way!