So a number of people have expressed their surprise at the price reached by the Dreher water bottle in the ALE cozy. I too was surprised but not shocked by the amount paid. But what has been missed by all of the naysayers so far, is that there are actually quite a few collectors of pro team water bottles, some with thousands of bottles. I know this as I have sold some older water bottles myself with some success.
These collectors are much like numismatists and try to get as complete as collection as possible. Some focus on one specific teams, others on certain periods and others just on quantity.
Beyond the bottle collectors there are also the collectors of memorabilia relating to a specific team or rider, so perhaps a Patrick Sercu fan, or maybe a tifoso of Gaiardoni or Ritter; all of which are, in my opinion, worthy of particular attention. What can then be said about somebody who by chance has an official team bike from the Dreher team? I know that I have a pair of shorts, a jersey and water bottle to match the Salvarani team bike that I own. I feel that they are just as relevant to my bike as are all the original components and in some ways far more collection-worthy as they are all rarer than any component that you ever might want to find that was used on the bike.
So what makes this particular bottle special? First of all, the Dreher beer team only lasted 3 seasons (1970-1972), a period in which water bottle use was not as widespread as today, and therefore the bottles are already rare on their own. Secondly, the bottle is still equipped with its original cap and both of the attachments tabs/collars are there. Thirdly this bottle is clearly period correct, as the markings and design show a late 60's or very early 70's period. Indeed if you look at most of ALE bottles that you might come by, you will immediately see that the lid is not at all similar to the one in the auction, there is also not the same "lip" to hold the fastening collar on the neck of the later bottles, the grip area is also different, then if you turn it over, you will see that the markings are also not the same (this has a round divot whereas newer ones have a ramped divot). To consider all of these items, and to then also add the ALE cozy as a bonus and you are well on your way to understanding the desire to have this particular bottle in your collection.
I must say that I applaud those who have the dedication to collect and understand these items of memorabilia. And NO!, you could not replicate this water bottle for the $20 mentioned, nor even for the auction price unless you first found a blank period correct water bottle and I can assure you that it will not be easy.
Some people would be better off to hold their tongues before spouting off nonsense. The buyers of these items are true collectors, and it wouldn't surprise me that their whole collections might cost less than one or two bikes owned by many CR list-members, so who gets the last laugh?
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ
USA