Monkey Grip Rubber Repair Kit Value Guide

The Monkey Grip Rubber Repair Kit is a classic piece of Americana produced by the Monkey Grip Sales Co. of Dallas, Texas. These kits are highly collectible due to the dapper monkey mascot and the vibrant yellow and blue graphics that defined mid-century automotive garages.

What Is Monkey Grip Rubber Repair Kit Worth?

The typical price range for Monkey Grip Rubber Repair Kit is $15 - $25 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The physical condition of the cardboard box, specifically the lack of oil stains or crushed corners, significantly impacts price.
• Completeness of the kit, including the original tin and unused rubber patches, increases desirability for collectors.
• The vibrancy of the lithographed colors, as fading from sunlight exposure can lower the market value.
• Presence of the original price markings or store stamps which can provide additional historical provenance.

How to Identify Monkey Grip Rubber Repair Kit?

• Look for the 'Monkey Grip Sales Co.' branding and the Dallas, Texas origin printed on the cardboard packaging.
• Verify the presence of the iconic dapper monkey mascot, which was used to signify the ease of the repair process.
• Check for the original contents, which typically include a tin of rubber cement, patches, and a metal buffer tool.
• Confirm the era by the specific yellow and blue color scheme used between 1940 and 1959.

History of Monkey Grip Rubber Repair Kit

The Monkey Grip Sales Co., founded by Claude J. Betterton in Dallas, Texas in 1913, became a staple of American garages. Known for their high-quality tire patches and rubber cement, the company utilized a dapper monkey character in advertising to suggest that their patches were so easy to apply that even a monkey could do it.