I've only seen one beat-up, scratched-up original red crown valve cap in the 25+ years I've have attended swap meets, prowled salvage yards, etc. I know reproductions have been around since at least 1984 but I have never really known from what era they were originally. I'm guessing they were pre-1960? maybe even pre-1955?
We used to get them from the Standard Gas stations for our bicycles in the '55-60 range... Sure miss them !! Actually they had other colors too...I don't remember for sure, but I think Gold, and Green? too.. Cheers.
Thought Coker tire had them, but their web site is pretty crappy in terms of navigation, so I couldn't find them. Try calling.
My dad used to have a bunch of originals, 50s i think. But I always thought they were cool and put them on my bicycle, eventually they all got lost somewhere along the way.
just a little digging indicates they were from Red Crown gas stations... http://www.factoryautomanuals.com/p-87344-1950s-red-crown-gas-company-valve-stem-caps.aspx
night prowlers has them in red and gold and they give alliance members a discount i have no idea what era they are from but id say pre 70