My Coke Can Collection

can a brotha get a light?

I love this little thing. I bought it at a collectables store. It’s a mini Coke bottle that pulls open to reveal a tiny lighter.  I’ve never tested it, but the flint is still intact and I’m sure it would work it I loaded it with fuel. It looks like it was used quite a bit. I understand this is the type of item that Coca-Cola salesmen would hand out to their customers as gifts. I think it’s worth about $35.

1950s Coca Cola lighter unused US $12.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Feb-05-2012 18:15:08 PST Add to watch list

1940s50s coke lighter US $6.50 (6 Bids) End Date: Monday Feb-06-2012 16:54:20 PST Add to watch list

I did what a lot of Canadians did when the Toronto BlueJays won the World Series in 1992. I grabbed some unopened cans and tucked them away. In fact, I put away a case of 24. I must have thought it would be a good investment. What I didn’t take into account is that these cans were not a limited run. Coke produced millions of them. You couldn’t buy a Coke at that time without the BlueJays logo on it. To make matters worse, everyone else had the same idea. I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t socked away one or two of these. Do you have one? No? Oh, you must be the person who didn’t buy one. I’ve heard rumour of such a person. Why don’t you go over to eBay and get one. Or to a garage sale. Anywhere.

Thanks to this guy for the Bluejays Coke can picture.