You probably started your collection of old Avon bottles simply because they were pretty. The Avon's fragrance line for men and women had some interesting shaped bottles. There were animals, cars and women's figurines to name just a few of the designs old Avon bottles used to come in.There are a few things you need to keep in mind if you are collecting your old Avon bottles for their value. The most important thing to remember when you are collecting these old treasures is to look for a bottle that has a porcelain head. Those bottles that have a porcelain head were not mass produced. Mass produced items are not considered to be as valuable.
If you can find an Avon bottle that has a label that is still in good condition, that is a plus too. You should also see if you can find the original packaging to go along with it. Be careful that you are not fooled by a bottle with the Avon name displayed. Check that the bottle contains the words Avon Products Incorporated to be sure they are the real McCoy.
The dates the bottles were manufactured are important too. As a rule of thumb, any Avon bottles manufactured before 1975 are said to be worth money. Even more valuable are bottles that were manufactured as early as 1935 and earlier.
A Bit of History about the Avon Company
In 1886 in New York City, David H. McConnell began a business named the California Perfume Company when he was at the tender age of 28. McConnell hired as his General Agent a Mrs. P.F. Albee and she is still remembered as a model for what Avon managers should strive to become.
In 1897 McConnell built a laboratory in the small New York town of Suffern and his original lab was made of wood, was just three stories high with only 3000 square feet. In 1971 the Avon Suffern Research and Development facility could boast more than 323,000 square feet.
By the year 1906 there were over 10,000 representatives selling 117 different products that came in over 600 styles and packaging. Published in October of that same year, the first color brochure was on display for customers to peruse. Good Housekeeping magazine was the first place where advertisements for The California Perfume Company appeared.
By the year 1914, The California Perfume Company opened the doors of its first overseas office in Canada in Montreal. Fragrances that were popular at that time were Natoma Rose, Mission Garden and Daphne. Manufacturing at the plant began the next year.
In the booming 1920's sales reached their peak. There were more than 25,000 representatives selling wares all across the nation. The first items to be sold under the name brand of Avon were a vanity set, talcum and a toothbrush.
In 1937, David McConnell's son David Jr. became president of the company following the founder's death. In 1939 the name of the company changed officially to Avon Products, Inc. The familiar phrase of "Avon calling" is something that is indelibly etched in the minds of many Americans no matter what their station or income level is.
Old Avon bottles are not just remnants of an era when a bottle was as important as the fragrance inside, it is a relic of a company that has been part of the independence of women since it's inception and a piece of cherished Americana.
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Article Source: Collectibles-Articles.com
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