Favorite Lunchbox?

[Hector]

If you continue collecting; pay special attention to condition. Similar to Mego's, the better the condition, the price goes up exponentially.

I would probably rate the box at a C-7 which is about a grade lower than a
C-8 which is what the price guide books base their prices on. The rust on the clasps, rim wear, and it's missing the thermos clip along with the inside wear is what would cause the grade to go down a bit.

The thermos looks likes it is in great shape and although I haven't been collecting boxes for years, someone would have paid $75 for the thermos alone.

As some of other box collectors will tell you, there is a bit of controversy surrounding cleaning up boxes. Some collectors will pay premiums if you put a little elbow grease into them while some purists say it diminishes the value.

I have always cleaned up every box I have purchased. If you want to clean it up a bit (your preference), you can shine the metal clasps and remove most of the rust with chrome polisher which can be purchased at Wal-Mart.

I usually would wash the box gently with warm soapy water and dry with a cotton rag. I would then place a coat of high quality wax on the box (I like Zymol...again can be purchased at Wal-Mart). You will be shocked at the difference.

For the thermos, you should unscrew the glass liner, wash and wax the thermos as well. If it looks like there is rust and is going to require some force, just spray a little WD-40 and it should unscrew relatively easily.

Some collectors would even cover the rust on the inside with white rustoleum but I personally don't like it. The main thing is they are made of metal and you want to prevent the box from rusting further which is why I recommend the cleaning and wax (it looks nicer too).

The person who was accredited with starting the lunchbox collecting craze was Larry Aikens (I think that was his name). He used to sell a product called Aikens cleaner which he swore did everything from remove rust to shine and seal the box. I have tried it and it never did what he claimed. It also wasn't some kind of magic concoction. It smelled like a combination of some type of linoleum and wax. I believe Aikens sold his entire collection off at some point (he had a warehouse full of lunchboxes) and I don't know who currently has it.

It is a fun hobby but can get very expensive just like anything else. One thing I love about the 80's super hero boxes is that they are generally common and if you are patient, can pick up mint boxes fairly cheap. I don't know if it is still the case but at one point, you could pick up the Super Powers box still with tags and sticker on it for about $40. Most everyone was chasing the grail boxes like the Beatles Blue Box, Superman 1954, Star Trek Dome, etc. so it was fun to cherry pick mint lunchboxes on the cheap.

If you need any other advice, feel free to send me a PM.

Major thanks for all that great info...I will follow your advice on cleaning and preserving these things.

But I'm just interested in the Superman ones...I have the 54, 67, 78...the 80s Super Powers...and I only need the Super Friends...and that's it...those are the only vintage lunch boxes with Superman...that would finalize my lunch box collection...until of course...if I upgrade...then I'll definitely do that.

Thanks again!



Hec

[Remco Monster]

The KISS lunchbox. Still have mine from when I was a kid.

[Adam West]

I also won this auction yesterday...another great deal...

SUPERMAN LUNCH BOX W/Thermos! 1967 (NO RESERVE) - eBay (item 140393403769 end time Mar-29-10 15:21:56 PDT)




I have been following the Superman lunchboxes like a hawk...only going for the best deals possible...

If you continue collecting; pay special attention to condition. Similar to Mego's, the better the condition, the price goes up exponentially.

I would probably rate the box at a C-7 which is about a grade lower than a
C-8 which is what the price guide books base their prices on. The rust on the clasps, rim wear, and it's missing the thermos clip along with the inside wear is what would cause the grade to go down a bit.

The thermos looks likes it is in great shape and although I haven't been collecting boxes for years, someone would have paid $75 for the thermos alone.

As some of other box collectors will tell you, there is a bit of controversy surrounding cleaning up boxes. Some collectors will pay premiums if you put a little elbow grease into them while some purists say it diminishes the value.

I have always cleaned up every box I have purchased. If you want to clean it up a bit (your preference), you can shine the metal clasps and remove most of the rust with chrome polisher which can be purchased at Wal-Mart.

I usually would wash the box gently with warm soapy water and dry with a cotton rag. I would then place a coat of high quality wax on the box (I like Zymol...again can be purchased at Wal-Mart). You will be shocked at the difference.

For the thermos, you should unscrew the glass liner, wash and wax the thermos as well. If it looks like there is rust and is going to require some force, just spray a little WD-40 and it should unscrew relatively easily.

Some collectors would even cover the rust on the inside with white rustoleum but I personally don't like it. The main thing is they are made of metal and you want to prevent the box from rusting further which is why I recommend the cleaning and wax (it looks nicer too).

The person who was accredited with starting the lunchbox collecting craze was Larry Aikens (I think that was his name). He used to sell a product called Aikens cleaner which he swore did everything from remove rust to shine and seal the box. I have tried it and it never did what he claimed. It also wasn't some kind of magic concoction. It smelled like a combination of some type of linoleum and wax. I believe Aikens sold his entire collection off at some point (he had a warehouse full of lunchboxes) and I don't know who currently has it.

It is a fun hobby but can get very expensive just like anything else. One thing I love about the 80's super hero boxes is that they are generally common and if you are patient, can pick up mint boxes fairly cheap. I don't know if it is still the case but at one point, you could pick up the Super Powers box still with tags and sticker on it for about $40. Most everyone was chasing the grail boxes like the Beatles Blue Box, Superman 1954, Star Trek Dome, etc. so it was fun to cherry pick mint lunchboxes on the cheap.

If you need any other advice, feel free to send me a PM.

[Adam West]

Awww, that sucks! Mine is one of the later ones, no glass.

During the early 70's, lunchbox companies were switching from glass lined thermoses to plastic thermoses.

There are quite a few lunchboxes where there was both a glass lined and plastic thermos...usually on the EBAY market the glass lined thermos will sell much higher.

[HardyGirl]

The one thing I remember about that thermos is it had a glass liner. I dropped my lunch box in either 1st or 2nd grade and the liner broke.

Awww, that sucks! Mine is one of the later ones, no glass.

[mitchedwards]

I have this thermos.

The one thing I remember about that thermos is it had a glass liner. I dropped my lunch box in either 1st or 2nd grade and the liner broke.

[HardyGirl]

This was my favorite.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...schlags/10.jpg

I have this thermos.

[Hector]

I also won this auction yesterday...another great deal...

SUPERMAN LUNCH BOX W/Thermos! 1967 (NO RESERVE) - eBay (item 140393403769 end time Mar-29-10 15:21:56 PDT)




I have been following the Superman lunchboxes like a hawk...only going for the best deals possible...

[starsky]

lol, i feel you! i had the same one and always tried to use a bag instead of bringin that to school!

[Blue Meanie]

This was the only lunchbox I ever had when I was a kid:


I was mainly a brown bagger

I can say that looking back on it I used to envy the kids that had the Planet Of The Apes Lunchboxes. These days I am still looking for the Yellow Submarine Lunch Box with Thermos. I had a chance a while back to pick one up at an antique store that looked like it was never used...for $200. I passed it up and when I went back it was gone...and to make things worse the guy at the counter said that the Lunch Box had the Thermos inside

[mitchedwards]

This was my favorite.

[huedell]

For me, nothin' beats MARVEL/DC lunchboxes from the 70s/80s
....always liked the DUKES one too.

[starsky]

cant lose for that price! i've always wanted a smdm or wild wild west lunch box!

[megoapesnut]

Great pickup

[Hector]