For most of the 20th century, an ashtray was the cheapest billboard a business could buy. Motels, diners, casinos, airlines and gas stations put their names on glass ashtrays and set them out on every table and nightstand. Guests took them home by the thousands (sometimes on purpose). Today those little souvenirs are some of the most fun and affordable pieces of mid-century advertising you can collect.
We have 4 vintage ashtrays in the shop right now, from motel glass to a cast iron longhorn, starting at $20.
See the ashtrays →
Why businesses used ashtrays as advertising
From the 1940s through the 1970s, smoking was allowed almost everywhere, so an ashtray sat in front of customers all day long. A branded ashtray cost a few cents, lasted for years and quietly reminded people where they had stayed or eaten. Many travelers collected them like matchbooks, as proof of where the road had taken them.
Types of vintage ashtrays
- Advertising glass ashtrays: clear or colored glass with a business name and logo printed on the bottom or sides. Motel, hotel, restaurant, casino and brand ashtrays all fall here.
- Souvenir ashtrays: made for tourist spots and sold in gift shops, often with a town name, landmark or map.
- Figural ashtrays: shaped like an animal or object, in cast iron, brass, ceramic or china. Japanese export ceramic ashtrays with cats, dogs and little scenes were popular gift-shop items in the 1920s and 1930s.
See it in person: vintage ashtrays in the shop
Motel glass and figural pieces, side by side. Each one is a single piece, so when it's gone, it's gone.
What collectors look for
- Bold graphics: bright colors, mid-century logos and fun lettering are the most wanted.
- Businesses that are gone: motels and restaurants that no longer exist, or old logos that have since changed, carry a bit of history with them.
- Places people love: Route 66, Las Vegas, Niagara Falls, national parks and hometowns all have devoted collectors.
- Print condition: look for crisp, complete graphics. Worn or faded printing lowers value more than a light scratch on the glass.
- Edges and rests: check the rim and cigarette rests for chips, the most common damage.
Is it really old?
Older glass ashtrays usually show light wear on the bottom from decades of sliding across tables. Logos and phone numbers help with dating too, since many companies changed their logos over the years and older pieces may show short phone numbers or exchange names. With cast iron figural pieces, watch for reproductions. New cast iron tends to have a rough, grainy surface and fresh, even paint, while old pieces usually have smoother casting and natural wear on the high spots.
How to use them today
You don't have to smoke to love a good ashtray. They make great ring dishes, key catch-alls, coin trays, desk organizers and candle bases. A small group of motel ashtrays on a shelf makes a fun road-trip display, too.
Care
Wash glass ashtrays by hand in warm, soapy water. Skip the dishwasher, which can fade or strip printed graphics over time. Dust cast iron and wipe it with a dry cloth rather than soaking it.
Shop vintage ashtrays
- Best Western Motels glass ashtray with lasso logo
- Fallsway Motor Hotel, Niagara Falls glass ashtray
- Cast iron longhorn steer ashtray
- Pair of Japan lusterware cat ashtrays
Love those cat ashtrays? Learn more in our guide to Japanese lusterware and moriage.
Keep browsing:
Trinkets & oddities →Collectable glass →Vintage home decor →
Keep reading: Collecting Vintage Advertising Tins · What Is Japanese Lusterware? · Solid Brass or Brass-Plated?
Did your family bring home an ashtray from a motel or restaurant on a road trip? Tell us where it was from.