Bidspirit auction | An Assortment of Vintage Mo-Ko

An Assortment of Vintage Mo-Ko Coffee Substitute Advertising Thermometers - This lot contains an assortment of vintage wall-hanging advertising thermometers for Mo-Ko, a coffee substitute produced by The John F. Bauer Company. Each thermometer is constructed from a wooden base finished in gold-toned paint, featuring black printed text and a centered glass thermometer tube. A printed graphic at the top depicts a winged figure wearing a crown above the brand name MO-KO. The central portion of each piece features a five-point numbered list outlining product benefits, including comparisons to Mocha coffee and its use in institutions. The lower section identifies the manufacturer as The John F. Bauer Company, located in the Bauer Building, Elmira, N.Y. Each unit retains its original cardboard storage sleeve. The thermometers are fitted with brass-toned metal hardware, including a protective cap over the bulb and two clips securing the glass tube to the wooden backboard. A metal hanging loop is attached to the reverse of each wooden base. Based on the visible wooden ruler, each thermometer measures approximately 12 inches in length and 3.5 inches in width at the widest point. The collection is in new old stock condition but exhibits damage from long-term storage in high-heat attic conditions. The liquid in the thermometer tubes is separated or broken in multiple units, notably visible in the top horizontal unit and the lower center unit (photo 1). One thermometer base displays a prominent red-toned stain or discoloration on the lower left side (photo 1 and 3). Minor scuffs, edge wear, and small flecks of gold paint loss are present on the wooden bases (photo 2). The cardboard sleeves show significant yellowing, staining, and edge wear throughout (photo 1). The wooden reverse of one unit shows minor surface abrasions and small indentations (photo 4).