Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Petroliana Value Questions 5 gallon Texaco can

Hello, new to the forum this will be my first post. Im hoping to find out some information about this oil can that I received as a gift from a friend. I'm usually pretty good at finding info about an items, but information about this particular can and design is proving to be rather elusive.
I may be way wrong but based on the logo I and because it's manufactured by the McColl-Frontenac company I think it's pre 1959. It's a 5 gallon square can measuring 10-3/8" by 10-3/8" by 13-3/4 it is full or at least mostly full. The cap appears to be unused there is a pull tab that is still intact and it doesn't look like any oil has been spilled around the spout. It came from an elderly gentleman's estate I'm told he had a lot of vintage items.

I would like to know the value so I can find somthing of similar value to gift back to my friend. Any other info would be great too.

Thanks for any insights and info 😁

Welcome

welcome aboard .. ...

welcome to OLDGAS

I'd say around $75-125. It's not quite old enough to be worth a large amount plus being Canadian hurts it a little IMO. Good luck

Thank you for your input, I had a feeling the made in Canada may make it less desirable. But even still that's a fair bit more than I would have guessed it worth and I assume your talking American dollars so that's like $1000 Canadian, or it will be in a month anyways 😅 i plan on keeping it regardless but that gives me a good comparison point to find somthing cool for my friend.

To add one more question as it pertains to value, is the value effected by an oil can containing oil still or I'd assume that empty is better as it is lighter and less risk of leaking if its on display?

Full or empty does not affect value. The only time it does is there are some people who prefer full quart cans in mint condition. But with your can, I would say it doesn’t matter.

-Steve

Welcome to the forums.
It is a can that was made a little after Texaco bought out McColl-Frontenac and is a cool transition piece to collectors. Yes, it's Canadian but that can could only exist up there and is desirable and unique. 5 Imperial gallons = 6 US gallons which is not a size that we had sold to us down here so, another unique and collectible fact about it. Also, it's NOS with original lid.
I would suggest cleaning it up with something like Meguirer's #6 or #2 cleaner wax after lightly washing it with dish soap water and then enjoy or sell but I have no current idea about value.