Ok can collectors, I was thinking about bidding on this can on ebay. My gut says ask you guys. I don't have a ton of cans and would like to increase the size and quality of my collection but I am not sure on this one. It does not look right to me and the bids are low on a $1000 can. The colors look off to me and the wear on the edges does not match the lack of wear on the body of the can. I am thinking it may be a viynl label or something. Any input would help. Thanks

Sorry here is what I am talking about. http://cgi.ebay.com/POLLY-PREMIUM-OIL-CAN_W0QQitemZ7216632661QQcategoryZ35682QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I was checking this can out also and the tail feathers either are discolored or a terrible camera flash. I emailed the seller and asked if it was a wrap or real can and the only reply was real can. His other items are real but I am staying away from this one. I have the other two Polly cans and waiting for a decent Prem to come up. I don't think this one is worth $1000. Maybe $450 if real tops. I don't see a refund policy either. My 2cents. Ted

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Ted Pam & Ethyl Roach
Lodi CA.
Looking for Signal, Hancock, Mohawk, Douglas, Gilmore and Richfield
pca-west.org

[This message has been edited by troach (edited 02-07-2006).]

I am by no means a quartcan expert. I have looked at the pictures of various original polly quartcans and have compared it to a fake that I purchased from earlyman34 a few years back just for this purpose. The key seems to be the feathers on the tail of the bird. All original polly cans that I have seen have a parrot with certain markings on the feathers of the tail that are similar. The fakes seem to have more of a random pattern on the tail feathers. Now this is just my assumption, but I think the can is fake. It looks identical to my polly prem can that was purchased from earlyman 34. I will try to come up with some pictures later. Any other input would be greatly appreciated. Hope it helps. ~Jason

Roger...here's a picture of the Polly quart that is in my auction, maybe it will help.

Here is an original:




Here is my fake (bad picture - this is the only camera i could get a hold of today):



All the original cans have tail feathers that you can see distinct vertical black parallel lines that are continuous. The fake cans have tail feathers thatare more random. The rest of the feathers on the parrot are different as well, but they are diferrent on even the original cans. The only way I can tell is by the tail feathers. Hope it helps. ~Jason

Wow,

That's a close one.

I put the two pics side by side. If the ebay is a fake and Seth's is real then it's a pretty good fake on ebay.

Minimize both pics and compare side by side.

I agree, the ebay pics could be better.

You would think if it was real they would take care to take good pics and more than two, from far away at that.

Too many questions I guess.

Just my two cents.........

Just noticed something.....

What about the top of the wing near the head? Seems to be a diference there in teh details between the fake cans and real cans.

Also what about the end of the stick that teh bird id on? Any difference there?

Just an observation.

These are tough cans to tell apart.....

Thanks for the help guys, I think I will just be safe and stay away.

If I ask a seller a question about a $400 item and the only response is "real can" with no further explanation, I'm for sure staying away.
You would also think he would post much clearer pics.

yeah it's a real can alright, it just happens to have reproduction decals on it.

Roger...just wait til the 18th when you can hold one in your hand...plus it's still full!

Buyer alongrider ( 331) Aug-13-05 10:51 7174071036

Alongrinder (the seller of this can) won an auction from earlyman34 on Aug 13, 2005. Don't know if it was the Polly Prem can, but that can sure looks identical to my fake earlyman 34 can. Doesn't prove anything for sure, but even makes it more suspicious. Just thought I would share.

Jason,

That's what I was going to say... Of course it's a can, and it exists, so the guy is technically not lying. Sounds Clintonesque to me...

Has anyone asked for clearer pics?

Wes

Here's a repro Polly Penn with straight tail lines.
http://cgi.ebay.com/AWESOME-POLLY-PENN-O...1QQcmdZViewItem

Wes,
Clintonesque. I like that. Excellent description of what is going on.
You're right, that ebay fake does have more vertical lines in the tail, but the detail in the lines is missing. You would be surprized how real the fake I have looks. It has the greese marks small scuffs and wear areas that look very natural. Without touching the can and trying to peel of the label with you finger nail, you could not tell it was a fake. These guys are very good and its scary how good they really are if your bidding on ebay.

It's a perfect example of why ALL reproduced items should be clearly marked!!! I'm SO sick of people saying oh they never had bad intentions, it just turned out that way. That is such **** , it always has and always will. It's just like the 30" signs that are being repoped and NOT MARKED. Eventually someone will get burned, look at the 30" Gulf signs that are on ebay about every day!

If you repop something and DO NOT mark it reproduction. You are doing it with bad intentions, that is a guarantee!

Thanks John for the input. I emailed off another question and will see what kind of reply I get this time. Here it is. Ted

"I asked earlier if it was a real can and thanks for the reply but what I want to know is this an original Polly can and not a remake by earlyman34 that sells on ebay. If I am going to bid on this I need a close-up of the tail section on the bird. Thanks Ted"

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Ted Pam & Ethyl Roach
Lodi CA.
Looking for Signal, Hancock, Mohawk, Douglas, Gilmore and Richfield
pca-west.org

I see that it is at $380.00 as of 1 p.m.

Somebody wants it........

I also emailed about this can...I asked if it was an old can with a new vinyl label and this is the response:


looks all original to me. not an added or painted label, as seen by the
bubbles of minor rust under original label. appears to have a soldered
seem. really beautiful colours!!!!!1

The part that gets me is "not an added or painted label" so then it is not new and vinyl nor old and painted??? He also sent me some pictures and he is right, there are little bubbles under the label...if you have ever done anything with vinyl decals you know what these look like and I believe that is what I am seeing in his pics. My opinion is that this can is fake.

Kevin

The story goes on. Here is the dialog so far. Ted
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 9:30 AM
Subject: Re: Question for item #7216632661 - POLLY PREMIUM OIL CAN !!!


> OK, LET ME GET THAT FOR YOU. IS THERE SOME GUY SELLING REPRO POLLY CANS ON
> EBAY? AND CAN YOU TELL ME MORE OF WHAT i SOULD BE TELLING PEOPLE OR WHAT i
> SOULD BE LOOKING FOR? i AM NOT A COLLECTOR AND DON'T PRETEND TO KNOW ALL
> ABOUT THIS SORT OF THIBG.
>
> gEORGE

Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 9:39 AM
Subject: Re: Question for item #7216632661 - POLLY PREMIUM OIL CAN !!!


> OK, here are the tail pics for you. Let me know what you are looking
> for. I am an honest seller and would like to know what I have. As I have
> said i HAVE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM AND HAVE SENT ALOT OF
> PICS, BUT i REALLY ONLY KNOW THAT IT SEEMS TO BE THE REAL DEAL.
>
> tHANKS, gEORGE.
>
> P.S. I case you can't tell I am not the best typer in the world, sorry.

Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 10:30 AM
Subject: Re: Question for item #7216632661 - POLLY PREMIUM OIL CAN !!!


>I have never heard of him, so I don't think it is one of his. And I DO
>think it is original. And I sent you some pics, let me know if you got
>them.
>
> George
Here is his ebay profile for the guy he has never heard of????
alongrider (331


Excellent Customer, fast turn around, good communication.
Seller earlyman34 ( 99) Aug-11-05 18:58 7174071036

Look at this and you make the call.Thanks to all that helped on this. I have not heard from him again. I emailed him again and gave him my phone number to discuss the can. Ted

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Ted Pam & Ethyl Roach
Lodi CA.
Looking for Signal, Hancock, Mohawk, Douglas, Gilmore and Richfield
pca-west.org

Good info. I never knew that about the tail feathers. I always assumed a repo labeled can could be easily detected, in person anyway. Ebay would be different. I just got back from checking mine and the tail feathers are verticle and continuous, thank goodness. I don't know if I could stand another "in doubt" item in my collection. Thanks.

Gary this guy earlyman34 makes wraps that you have to try and catch your fingernail on to tell. WITHOUT HOLDING IT YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE. When this is all over I will run some pictures and add this to Known reproductions on this site. Ted

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Ted Pam & Ethyl Roach
Lodi CA.
Looking for Signal, Hancock, Mohawk, Douglas, Gilmore and Richfield
pca-west.org

Unbelievable! The guy claims he has never heard of earlyman34, and he has feedback from buying something from him?? Honest seller my adze...

Wes

Earlyman34 makes the fabules fakes 1qt can's but he sells them as that its the peaple that buy then resell that got to watch for. Here's an idea i have been doing for a lil while now. I added earlyman34 to my favorite sellers so when he picks his best buys or top picks etc... I get a email about it , then i go in and save every one of his pics to my computer to be burnt on a cd . That way if i have ? about a can i look at the pic of the fake & the pic of the ? can . Hope this helps!

I put earlyman34 in the same category as a counterfietter. The fact that he's not marking his reproductions as such is shameful. He obviously intends for his buyers to resell them to defraud people. If he didn't intend that, he'd mark them as repro in small text on the back.

His sales would probably go down if scammers stopped buying his wares.

Wes

we all know that some repro stuff is needed such as pump parts etc. The problem stuff is the globes,signs cans,oil bottles, salt&pepper shakers,literature,blotters, the list goes on and on. I think it's time to stop bitching about it and do something. I've been collecting for a few years and have been burnt a few times myself. I challenge those of you to do what I did when I realized I was duped. I destroyed the items. Remember the book burnings. I also agree with Wes about earlyman. Maybe we need to start somewhere ? but thats just me talking;;;;;;;;;;;;Ron

Had a 1/2 hr. phone conversation with seller last night and I will not post the discussion here. If anyone wants the details I will talk to you via the phone but not until after the auction is over. The only thing I will say is that I would not bid on this can. RIP. Ted

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Ted Pam & Ethyl Roach
Lodi CA.
Looking for Signal, Hancock, Mohawk, Douglas, Gilmore and Richfield
pca-west.org

Over $500, that must be a record for a non-original can if that is the case. Here is a better picture of the tail of my fake Polly can by Earlyman 34. Hope it helps.

Well, the can in question is its final hour and so many minutes. I have sent e-mails to a few bidders warning them that it more than likely is a reproduction. Don't know if I will get in a jam with E-Bay for doing so or not. Doesn't matter to me. Just hate to see someone get 'can-jacked' LB

Well, it ended at 587.00. And not one bid in the last hour and a half that I watched. So I think the bidders got the word from some of you and myself. Just noticed the buyer spelled colors, colours?? Lots of feedback like a genuine seller, but I wonder. LB

More money than brains..........

I have a question for you guys so I can learn something.
When I look at the pics posted real vs. ebay the feathers seem to be the big clue. But it also appears the word MOTOR appears to be much closer to the tail feathers on the ebay can, what do you think? Could be the camera angle.

Wads, you are right. There is definitely less space between the R and the tail on the real can than on the fake.

Also, look at the M in PREM. Specifically look at the junction of the diagonal and the vertical line at the top right corner of the M. Quite a difference.

Wes

I think it is picture size in combo with the camera angle that makes the word motor appear closer. However, If there is someone out there who wants to donate a real polly prem can to me I will be more than happy to measure the difference in distance for the "good of the hobby." I will even pay for shipping. I'll I ask is that I get to keep the can. HA HA HA. ~Jason


For an ebay seller that is not a collector, this guy has sure bought and sold a lot of quartcans on ebay in the past few weeks.

You noticed that also. LOL Larry

Roger, Here is a real Polly for you. Also check out his other auctions if you are looking for some good picture cans. I have most of these or I would be bidding. Great discussion guys, I didn't know about the Polly feathers either.

http://cgi.ebay.com/POLLY-PREM-Oil-Can-A...1QQcmdZViewItem


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Scott Shipers
Kansas City, MO

[This message has been edited by quartcans (edited 02-10-2006).]

Looking at the auction reminds me... i think i have had some bad dealings with him some how. Let me look when i get home and see what i wrote down. Speed1 was one of them i wrote down i am sure.

1800 + feedbacks with 1 negative. Are you the one negative John?

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Scott Shipers
Kansas City, MO



[This message has been edited by quartcans (edited 02-10-2006).]

I have dealt with him through ebay...no problems at all.

Hey Guys:

Speed1 is a STAND UP GUY, from Greenville, MI.. I bought my first globe from him. His name is Wade something. Him and son have been collecting forever. He has invited me up to see his hotel where alot of his collection is displayed. I havn't made the trip yet. I don't think he's selling reproduction stuff... Hope this helps out.

Doug

I'm surprised no one has said anything about the letter P in Polly.
On the original the horizontal stroke is straight and angled downward into the vertical stroke.
On the repro the middle stroke is curved upward into the vertical stroke.

Scott... no i am not the negitive. I am not sure i even bought anything from him. It was either me or someone that bought something. I just wrote down what happened. I forgot to look and see.