Cocamoke Bitter Co. – Hartford, Conn.

29 May 2012 (R•042614)

Early American Glass collector and authority, Rich Ciralli (Bristol, Connecticut) contacted me Saturday about a Bitters bottle that he recently obtained. I didn’t have an example so this is always exciting news. According to Rick:

“It was found in a basement from an old timer in Thomaston. He said he had it for over 25 years. His health has deteriorated and he has Parkinson’s disease. He called me to come over and look at some of his bottles. I felt compelled to help him and we had a great time in his basement, dodging spiders, going through his bottles. He said he enjoyed them for so many years, time to pass them on. I also acquired a GIBBS BONE LINIMENT, and a couple of very good inks along with this rare Bitters from Hartford. I have never seen or heard of another before this…”

Upon review of the pictures and digging around, I can see that this is a rather late bottle. I found a patent registration for 1883 which corresponds with the Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles. I am surprised that it has an applied top. The typography is serifed and surprisingly similar to the typestyle on the extremely rare COCA BITTERS (see picture below) which I possess a stellar example. Interesting enough, a COCA BITTERS was dug in Hamden, Connecticut in July, 1973. Probably the same bottle maker.

Cocamoke Bitters advertising trade card – Gourd Collection

It is also worth pointing out that the word ‘BITTER’  is used on the bottle instead of “BITTERS”. The patent notation says ‘Cocamoke Bitters Co.”. I can not find much more information regarding this bottle and that includes a search for information relating to Patrick Donaghue.

COCAMOKE BITTER CO. – Rick Ciralli holding bottle

C 182  COCAMOKE // f // COCAMOKE BITTER CO. / HARTFORD / CONN. // f //
Patrick Donaghue   21 State Street
9 3/4 x 2 3/4 (7 1/8) 1/4
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied Mouth, Rare
No “S” in BITTER
Trade Cards available
Trademark 3008 dated February, 1883

US PATENT OFFICE, 1883 – Donaghue, Patrick, Hartford, Conn. “Cocamoke Bitters”, 3008, Feb 27

COCAMOKE BITTER CO. – Rick Ciralli

COCAMOKE BITTER CO. – Rick Ciralli

COCAMOKE BITTER CO. – Rick Ciralli

COCAMOKE BITTER CO. – Rick Ciralli

COCAMOKE BITTER CO. – Rick Ciralli

COCAMOKE BITTER CO. – Rick Ciralli

C 178 COCA BITTERS – Meyer Collection

GIBB’S BONE LINIMENT – Rick Ciralli