Here are my findings on the Southern Alterative

Posted on 3 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

SouthernAlterativeFragClip

Here are my findings on the Southern Alterative

by James Viguerie

03 September 2013

[read first: Two rare and early ‘Southern’ Bottles]

Here are my findings on the Southern Alterative (pictured above) embossed New Orleans. I am attaching a number of advertisements. The most important one is from The Star State Patriot which is pictured below:

Southern Alterative - The Star State Patriot - Marshall Tex - Mar 27 1852

Southern Alterative – The Star State Patriot – Marshall, Texas – March 27, 1852

Advertisements for the Febrifuge were found in papers from Texas to New York.

This is the only advertisement I have found showing someone making a “Southern Alterative” reference. Dr. A. Kendall was also know for his Electrical Febrifuge. Advertisements for the Febrifuge were found in papers from Texas to New York.

A check of the New Orleans City directory in 1851 found the following people at 72 Magazine Street:

Bisel, Elizabeth Franses, boarding
Kendall, A. & Co., patent medicines
Orton, H. B., (not specified)
Seat, N. W. firm Kendall & Co.

Here are some depictions of New Orleans from that time period:

MagazineStAlgeoNOLA

Magazine Street in the 1850s – New Orleans, Louisiana

CanalSt1850sPhotoNeutral

1850s view Canal Street which 72 Magazine Street (A. Kendall & Co.) was at the intersection

It is interesting that both Kendall and Seat had “electric” products. 

Based on the city directory, I would say the “& Co” was N. W. Seat. I found that an N. W. Seat put out a Negative Electric Fluid in New York in 1853. Kendall & Co. had a depot in New York in 1851 run by an S. E. Kendall. It is interesting that both Kendall and Seat had “electric” products. The web page antiquemedicines.com has pictures of both bottles (pictured below).

nwseat

N W SEAT M.D. NEGATIVE ELECTRIC FLUID NEW YORK
161 Grand St 1853. This medicine’s name comes from some of the early 19th century philosophical ideas on the nature of electric currents. – antiquemedicines.com

See more pictures of N. W. Seat M.D. Negative Electric Fluid bottle at bottom of post.

Kendalls

1852 advertisement (see below) and a A. KENDALL’S ELECTRICAL FEBRIFUGE NEW ORLEANS – antiquemedicines.com

I also checked to see if Dr. Burney James Kendall, of Kendall’s Spavin Cure fame, was related. I could not find any connection there.

Dr. Burney James KENDALL was born on 30 October 1845 in Enosburg Falls, Franklin City, Vermont. He was buried in 1922 in Rochester, Minnesota. He died on 11 January 1922 at the age of 76 in Geneva, Illinois.

Related Kendall Advertising

A Kendall and Co - New York past present and future - comprising a history of the city of New York - 1851

A. Kendall & Co., 72 Magazine-Street, New Orleans – New York past present and future – comprising a history of the city of New York – 1851

A Kindall and Co - De Bow's New Orleans Monthly Review vol 12 - 1852

A. Kendall & Co., 72 Magazine-street, New Orleans – De Bow’s New Orleans Monthly Review vol 12 – 1852

A Kindall and Co - De Bow's New Orleans Monthly Review vol 13 - 1852

A. Kendall & Co., 72 Magazine-Street, New Orleans – De Bow’s New Orleans Monthly Review vol 13 – 1852

Kendall Ad - The Planters' banner - Franklin Attakapas Co LA - Feb 8 1849

Kendall Botanic Medicine advertisement – The Planters’ Banner – Franklin Attakapas Co. Louisiana – February 8, 1849

Kendall on Yellow Fever - Transactions of the National Eclectic Medical Association of the United States of America for the Years - 1877

Kendall on Yellow Fever – Transactions of the National Eclectic Medical Association of the United States of America for the Years – 1877

Kendall Ad - Weekly Journal - Galveston Tex - June 3 1851 - part 1

The Electrical Febrifuge or Speed’s Fever Tonic advertisement (part 1) – Weekly Journal – Galveston, Texas – June 3, 1851 – part 1

Kendall Ad - Weekly Journal - Galveston Tex - June 3 1851 - part 2

The Electrical Febrifuge or Speed’s Fever Tonic advertisement (part 2) – Weekly Journal – Galveston, Texas – June 3, 1851

Kendall Ad - The Star State Patriot - Marshall Tex - Feb 14 1852

Kendall Important to Planters advertisement – The Star State Patriot – Marshall, Texas – February 14, 1852

Post Follow-up

N. W. SEAT MD NEGATIVE ELECTRIC FLUID

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N.W. SEAT, MD | NEGATIVE ELECTRIC FLUID – Jimmy Bray Collection

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N.W. SEAT, MD | NEGATIVE ELECTRIC FLUID – Jimmy Bray Collection

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N.W. SEAT, MD | NEGATIVE ELECTRIC FLUID – Jimmy Bray Collection

Posted in Advertising, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cincinnati Bitters Spotting – A cross reference of directories

Posted on 1 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

WiliamsDirectoryART

Cincinnati Bitters Spotting

A cross reference of directories

02 September 2013 | Ferdinand Meyer V

Apple-Touch-IconAHere on this Labor Day, I have laboriously gone through the William’s Cincinnati Directories, and a few others prior to Williams, to cross-check the bitters listings. You can learn a lot from doing this such as advertising trends, population growth, occupations (I think every 5th person was a cigar-maker) and about bitters brand introduction, growth and demise (sometimes all in one year). Please keep in mind, this list does not include listings for say, Morning Call Bitters by the Mills Bro Co. because a listing using the word ‘Bitters’ never occurred in a directory.

There are some unlisted brands here so I have noted below for cataloging purposes and for you diggers and pickers. Please go find an example!

New Bitters Finds (see more information in body of post):

Superior Wine Bitters, by Israel Wilson, 1836-7

Holland Bitters, Henry VanDyke, 1858

Richardson’s Sherry Wine Bitters, J. N. Harris & Co., 1861-1868

Kempfer’s Stomach Bitters, 1870 (listed at Kempfer’s Bitters much earlier)

Kaufman’s Stomach Bitters (also Kaufman’s Anti-Cholera Bitters), 1869 & 1870

Alaska Bitters, S. Kaufman & Co., 1871 (this does not appear to be the C88.7 Kendallville, Indiana variant by G. H. Lohman)

Catawba Bitters, PH Zimmermann, 1877 (This does not appear to be the Catawba Bitters from St. Louis). Recent Meyer addition.

Monarch Stomach Bitters, Brodie Williams & Co., 1879 – 1882 (does not appear to be M 119.2 (Buffalo) or M 119.3 (Milwaukee).

Fletcher’s Bitters and Ginger Tonic, Wm J. Klein & Co. 1885 (Do not believe this is F 55 L in BBS2)

Home Rules Bitters Co., 1890, 1891, 1892

Paradise Bitters, Fred W. Diederichs, 1892, 1893 (Does not appear to be P 19.5 in Bitters Bottles)

SuperiorWineBitters1837Cinci

Unlisted Superior Wine Bitters on sale by Israel Wilson – 1836-7 Cincinnati Directory Advertiser

HostettersCinci1855

Dr. J. Hostetters Celebrated Stomach Bitters – 1855 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Read: Some Early Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters Shards Dug by Chris Rowell

Kempfer&SonsListing

Kempfer’s Bitters listing (see below) – 1868 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

A. Kempfer, stomach bitters, 403 W. 8th, 1857, 1858, 1861, 1865, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874 (adds Leopold Meyer in 1865), Kempfer’s A. Sons (see above) (Leopold Myer (sp) & George A. Bidenharn) Manufacturer of Kempfer’s Bitters. Referred to as Kempfer’s Stomach Bitters (unlisted) in 1870 listing. Williams Cincinnati Directory

John Lee, agnt. Hostetters bitters, 44 W. Row, 1857 Williams Cincinnati Directory

Herman Snyder, bitters seller, 602 W. Row, 1857 Williams Cincinnati Directory

Henry VanDyke, agent Holland Bitters (possibly listed in Supplement 2 from Milwaukee), 113 W. Canal, 1858 Williams Cincinnati Directory

Charles Frank & Co., (L. Meyer), bitters manufs., 141 W. Pearl, 1860 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Fred Heyker, bitters manuf., 86 Clinton, 1860 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Harris_Richardsons

J. N. Harris & Co., listing for Richardson’s Sherry Wine Bitters – 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1868 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory *It is questionable that this is either R 57 (S. O. Richardson) or R 58 (W. L. Richardson)

Theodore M. Heyker, manuf. stomach bitters, 355 Cutter, 1861 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

John Szotzski, manufac. of bitters, s.s. Liberty b. Clay & Main, 1862, 1863, 1864 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

RobackListing1863Cinci

Listing for Charles W. Roback, Manufacturer of Stomach Bitters (barrel) – 1863 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

F. & M. Heyker (Frederick H. & Mathias H.), stomach bitters, 142 Linn, 1864, 1865 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Graham & Co., J. D. G. & Peter Bohl, Manufacturers of Blood Syrup and Bitters, 137 Sycamore, 1865 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

M_H_Lewis_Bitters

M. H. Lewis, Importer and Dealer, also our own Bitters – 1865, 1867 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (unknown what ‘our own’ biters is)

HoffheimerBrosAd

Advertisement for Hoffheimer Brothers Celebrated Bavarian Bitters – 1866, 1867, 1868 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Read: Bavarian Bitters – Two Examples worth Comparing

HoffheimerBitters2_1869Cinci

This advertisement for Hoffheimer Brothers Celebrated Bavarian Bitters has more prominence than the advertisement above – 1869, (1870 sim) Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

E. B. Cuyler & Co., (E. B. C. & Geo. Koker), bitters, 1 water, 1868 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

KaufmansAntiCholeraBitters

S. Kaufman & Co. Manufacturers and Sole Proprietors of the Anti-Cholera Bitters (unlisted or is this the Kaufman’s Stomach Bitters) – 1869, 1870 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

J. A. Sangston & Co., Brady’s bitters, (J. A. S. & D. C. Brady) 16 E. 2nd, 1870, 1871 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Brady’s Bitters, 16 E. 2nd, J. A. Sangston, Agent, 1872 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Read: Brady’s Family Bitters – “Every Body Takes It!”

RobacksAd1870Building

Advertisement for U.S. Proprietary Medicine Co. and Celebrated Roback’s Stomach Bitters (barrel) – 1870 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (see initial 1863 listing above)

Read: Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the smaller ones)

Read: Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the big boys)

AlaskaBittersAd

Alaska Bitters advertisement with S. Kaufman & Co. – 1871 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (see 1869 & 1870 Kaufman ad above for Anti-Cholera Bitters)

W. B. Wood, Bitters Manufacturer, Wood’s Bitters, 1515 Montgomery, 1872 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (possibly referring to W 153 Woods Tonic Wine Bitter in Bitters Bottles)

Bitters, Geo. Stricker, 31 Vine, 1872 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory, Stricker & Nathan, 62 Main, 1879 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

IXLBittersCinci1874

Philip Wolf & Co., Principal Depot for Dr. Henley’s California IXL Bitters – 1874 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Read: Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters ‘Showdown’

Wm A. Meyer, stomach bitters, 403 W. 8th, (also manuf. of bitters). Works with Kempfer’s Bitters 1875, 1876 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Bitters, B. Ahrnghaus, 331 W. 5th, 1875 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Bitters, Strickland & Co., 311 Vine, 1876 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

WMFuller&CoAd

Wm. Fuller & Co. ‘And Manufacturers of all kinds of Stomach and Cocktail Bitters‘ – 1876 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

CatawbaBitters1877Cinci

PH Zimmermann, manufacturer of Catawba Bitters – 1877 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Bitters, Duby Green, 306 W. 5th, 1877 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Bitters, Leopold Meyer (also Otto G. Meyer), 403 W. 8th., 1877, 1878 (Manufacturer of Kempfer’s Bitters) Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MonarchStomachBittersListingCinci1879

Brodie Williams & Co., (Harry W. & Orrick J. Halstead) (Geo T. Bach, 1882) Manufacturers Monarch Stomach Bitters – 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (see advertisement below)

MonarchBittersAdvertisementCinci1882

Monarch Stomach Bitters advertisement – 1882 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Bitters, Solomon Schertz, 133 W. Court, 1880 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Strauss, Son & Co., (Seligman S., Louis C. S. and Fred D. Strauss), Distillers, Fruit Brandies, Cordials, Bitters & c, 236 Walnut and 33 W. 6th, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886,  1887 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

John Hess, bitters manuf. 86 W. Court, 1884, 1885 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Tonquin Bitters Co., (The), 169 Plum, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (probably T 48 in Bitters Bottles, if so, listing update required in BBS2)

StJacobsBitters1885Cinci

H. Grossman & Co., Sole Agents for St. Jacob’s Bitters – 1885 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Read: Saint Jacob’s Bitters – Cincinnati, Ohio

FletchersBitters1885Cinci

Wm J. Klein & Co., Sole Agents for Fletcher’s Bitters and Ginger Tonic – 1885 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Charles Smith, agent, Albert Harris, Bus. mgr, Ferd. Schulze, agent Dr. Smith’s Colombo Bitters, 289 Vine, 1889 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (looks like S 123 L in Bitters Bottles) (*could be related to S 128 in BBS)

HoffheimersSasafrasHerbBitters

The Hoffheimer Distilling Co., Sole Proprietors and Manufacturers Hoffheimer’s Sasafras Herb Bitters (and Tonic) (2 listings w/Tonic same year) – 1890, 1891 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (see Hoffheimer Bros 1870, above) (H 133 in Bitters Bottles)

Home Rules Bitters Co., whol. liquors, 10 E. 2nd., 1890, 1891, 1892 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Fred W. Diederichs, bitters manuf., Paradise Bitters,  (1892, 1893) manfr. Paradise Bitters (1894), 507 Race 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Boyer’s Sure Cure Bitters Co., Boyer’s Sure Cure Bitters (1894) (Chas. Boyer, propr.) (H.C. Gary, mgr.), 92 E. 2nd. (and 3rd listed) (4!8 E. 2nd 1895), 1893, 1894, 1895 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (Refer B 184 and B 185 in Bitters Bottles) (See Boyer’s B 184 from Meyer Collection)

Schroeder’s Cocktail Bitters Co., 213 Sycamore, 1895 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Posted in Advertising, Advice, Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Publications, Questions, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Morning Call Bitters Comparison

Posted on 1 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

MorningCallComparisonA Morning Call Bitters Comparison

Is it from Cincinnati or St. Louis?

02 September 2013

Apple-Touch-IconAMany bottle collectors are familiar with the round Lediard’s Morning Call Bitters sold by Charles Lediard in New York and St. Louis. Today we are going to look at two super rare ‘square’ Morning Call Bitters. I am not sure the M 130(top left) should be linked to Lediard in St. Louis as the M 130.5 (top right) is linked to the Mills Brothers in Cincinnati. Could they both be from the Mills Brothers in Cincinnati? The bottles are so similar.

This post was inspired by Gary Beatty and James Viguerie who both sent me pictures of the very rare M 130, Morning Call Bitters (see below) recently.

The Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement for the M 130 Morning Call Bitters is as follows:

M 130  Morning Call Bitters
// MORNING CALL // BITTERS // sp //sp //
9 1/2 x  2 13/16 (7 1/8)
Square, amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Very rare
Franklin Hastings and Charles Lediard were listed in the 1866 St. Louis Business Directory at 28 & 31 Washington Ave., St. Louis as being “Importers and Dealers in Wines and Liquors, and Manufacturers of Lediard’s Mixed Liquors and Bitters.”
MorningCallBittersM130

M 130 – Morning Call Bitters – James Viguerie – Dug in St. Louis. However, the book indicates a size of 9 1/2″ x 2 13/16″ while mine is 9 3/8″ x 2 3/4″.

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M 130 – Morning Call Bitters – Gary Beatty – I got a Morning Call Bitters off eBay ‘Buy It Now’. 35 people were watching it so I had to make a decision fast. It is medium to dark amber. Not as pretty as yours but no damage. Is it from Cincinnati or St. Louis?

Read: Unlisted Morning Call Bitters

The Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham listing in the upcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 for the M 130.5 Morning Call Bitters is as follows:

M 130.5  Morning Call Bitters
// MORNING CALL // BITTERS // MILLS BRO & CO // sp //
9 x  2 3/4
Square with column corners, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Extremely rare
Mold similar to C 20 California Herb Birrers
Listed in Cincinnati Directories for years 1866, 1867, and 1868.
Example dug in Memphis, Tenn.

[Read Article]

M130_5_MorningCallArticle

M130_5_MorningCall

M 130.5 Morning Call Bitters – Meyer Collection (same bottle in article above)

Morning Call Wahoo Bitters - Conaway Jones and Tate - Memphis TN - Memphis Daily Appeal - Feb 27 1866

Morning Call Wahoo Bitters advertisement – Conaway Jones and Tate – Memphis, Tennessee – Memphis Daily Appeal – Feb 27 1866. The M 130.5 was found in Memphis.

Mills Timeline – Cincinnati

The article above lists a span of three years. That is a little bit off as the first listing for the Mills Brothers in the liquor business is 1863 and it progresses from there. Mills Brothers was listed for only four years, 1865-1868.

Charles S. Mills (probably father) listed as Salesman at 18 & 20 Main, (1862)
Mills & Kline, 20 Main, Grocers, David M. Mills, Benneville Kline (1863, 1864)
Mills, Kline & Co., 18 Main (Liquors), David M. Mills, Joseph F. Mills, Benneville Kline (1863, 1864)
MILLS BRO. & CO., Dealers in Foreign and Domestic Liquors, Cincinnati, OH., 18 & 20 Main (1865-1868), David M. Mills, Joseph F. Mills, Charles D. Mills. Address change in 1868 to 104 W. 2nd.
J. F. MILLS & CO., Wholesale Grocers & Commission Merchants, Cincinnati, OH., 18 & 20 Main (1865-1867), Joseph F. Mills, Charles L. Mills, Henry Jacobs
D. Mills & Co., (1869), David M. Mills, William Ward, Wholesale Liquor Dealers, 66 Walnut
Mills, Johnson & Co., (1869), Joseph F. Mills, Charles L. Mills, (W.W.J.) Successors to Samuel N. Pike & Co., Distillers & Rectifiers, 18 & 20 Sycamore
CharlesSMillsSaleman

Charles S. Mills (probably father) listed as Salesman at 18 & 20 Main, 1862 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Mills&Kline1864

Mills & Kline listings Grocers at 20 Main and Liquors at 18 Main St. – 1863, 1864 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MillsBrolisting1865

Mills Bro. & Co. listing | J.F. Mills & Co listing – 1865 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MillsBroListing2

Mills Bro. & Co. listing  | J.F. Mills & Co listing – 1866 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MillsListing1867

Mills Bro. & Co. listing | J.F. Mills & Co listing– 1867 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MillsBro1868

Mills Bro. & Co. listing, address change to 104 W. 2nd – 1868 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MillsSpins

D. Mills & Co. listing | Mills, Johnson & Co. listing, 1869 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Posted in Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

August 2013 – Antique Bottle & Glass Photo Gallery

Posted on 1 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

GoodPitkinMorningMarshall

Good Pitkin Morning – Tom Marshall

Apple-Touch-IconAI thought I would take a moment to group some of the really remarkable photographs that have been posted on Early American Glass and Bottle Collectors on facebook this past month. The composition, lighting, content and care taken with each picture is evident.

Isn’t it great to see this movement to stage and group bottles in still life settings? This was evident at the Manchester National when a number of these collectors like Noordsy, George, Olson and Marshall set up extraordinary displays. Here below, you will see flasks, utility bottles, fruit jars, inks, pickle bottles, cures, whimsies and so much more. Enjoy. Great job everyone.

See: Manchester Display Photo Gallery

August 2013 – Antique Bottle & Glass 

P H O T O    G A L L E R Y

01 September 2013

BestIHaveEverSeen

The best I have ever seen! – Jeff Noordsy

4InterestingBottles_Dana

4 little bottles (Chestnuts) to make life interesting – Dana Charlton-Zarro

CloudyMorningMarshall

Cloudy Morning – Tom Marshall

GreenHatandBallDouglas

Green hat and ball. Congressville? – Woody Douglas

PitkinMistOlson

Full of little seeds – David Olson

SwampCreaturesGeorge

A few little swamp creatures from the Woodlands… – Michael George

NewYorkSOM_Greig

In a NYS state of mind – Matt Greig

HappyBirthdayInks

Happy Birthday to a couple of bottle comrades, Tom Marshall and Woody Douglas. Two collectors that really stand out in a crowd! – Michael George

HatsInTheAir

It seems that hats are in the air these days – Woody Douglas

KeeneCobb

Keene or…?? Your thoughts? – Jim Cobb

FruitJarsWoody

Here’s a pair that might surprise my fellow swampers but I’ve always admired a nice whittly fruit jar – Woody Douglas

RunnerUpMarshall

Runner up from Ricks award winning bottle at Manchester – Tom Marshall

Ciralli4

The small flared lip resembles your freeblown one ex-Strubel – Rick Ciralli

CathedralPicklesOlson

Where have all the pickles gone. Must be 1 or 2 out there – David Olson

LookingNortheast

Looking Northeast out my window, towards Connecticut! 
a pair of G1-80’s on the ends, and a G1-84 left center, G1-81 right center – Mike Brauser

MorningSunBabb

Morning Sun – Shaun Babb

SantosDemis

Have Demijohns Will Travel – Dale Santos

EarlyBirdGlass

Early bird=Glass! – Justin Alberti

Posted in Chestnut, Collectors & Collections, Demijohns, Flasks, Fruit Jars, Historical Flasks, Inks, Photography, Pickle Jars, Utility Bottles, Whimsies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mailbox Letters – September 2013

Posted on 1 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

www.studiomathewes.com

Apple-Touch-IconAPlease feel free to send any antique bottle or glass questions to ferdinand@peachridgeglass.com. The information will be posted if relevant or of interest to the readers. I will try to answer or wait for another reader to respond. Quality images are very important. Thanks! If you want to see previous questions,go to “Mailbox Letters” in “Categories” on the right column of each page.

Mailbox Letters – September 2013

Old North St. Louis excavation site

DugGreenBottle

Hi Ferdinand,

Hope your week is going well! A lady friend of mine dug the attached green bottle at an excavation site here in a Old North St. Louis excavation site. I haven’t been able to identify it. There’s no embossment, the mold seam stops below the lower neck lip and the neck is a little crooked (perhaps applied?). It’s a pretty dark teal / green color, about 6 7/8 inches tall and 2 3/4 inches wide. Do you have any idea what it is? Thanks,

Randy

PRG: What a nice looking bottle. Bet it is pontiled. Suspect it is a perfume bottle of some sort. Wish it was embossed.

Masonic Flask Question

BlueMasonicQuestion

I recently bought a flask at a auction and I don’t know anything about it. I wanted to see if I sent you a picture if you could tell me about it. It is a darkish blue with egyptian on the back and a eagle holding arrows and something else in its claws. There is a oval underneath it with letters in it it looks like “JP”.

PRG: This looks like a reproduction. If it were genuine, the sky is the limit on price.

Ship in a Bottle

ShipBottle

Hi, just wondering if you have any idea on information on this bottle, it’s my
mother-in-laws and she is wondering what year it may have been from. We can not find
any specific markings in it. Thanks

PRG: This is a later bottle with the screw top. Vert nice art though. Tough to put a price on it.

Cute Dog Bottle

dogperfume

Hi, I love your site!!!

There is a place in Weatherford Texas, that is a treasure trove for old buried bottles. Years ago, when we first discovered it, we found this bottle. I have searched everywhere trying to find out something about it, but cannot. Is it familiar to you? I would appreciate any direction you can give. There are no markings at all. The lid is hinged. I hope the photos are enough to tell something about it. I have several old apothecary bottles we dug up there as well…. Thanks!!!

Megan

PRG: I searched around and found some similar examples, some German. Each was a perfume bottle.

Picked Up Rare Collection

image

Picked up a rare collection. Wondering if you could give me a rough estimate of the value of this bottle in particular. – Me

FoundLafeyette

Posted in Advice, Digging and Finding, Mailbox Letters, Questions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Dose – September 2013

Posted on 1 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

September   2 0 1 3

Some ramblings and thoughts…

Monday, 30 September 2013

WahooAdTin
On this last day of September, I am going down the road and trying to figure out why a number of proprietors and medicine businesses in United States, in the latter part of the 1800s, chose ‘Wahoo’ to be part of their products name. You know like E. Dexter Loveridge Wahoo Bitters, C. K. Wilson’s Original Compound Wa-Hoo Bitters and Dr. Shepard’s Compound Wahoo Bitters. Wahoo seems to be some type of ‘catch-all’ name to capture the Indian influence in America at that time. When you google Indians and Wahoo you get the obvious from Wikipedia:

Cleveland_Indians_logo

Chief Wahoo is the logo of the Cleveland Indians, a Major League Baseball team. The logo is a cartoon caricature of a Native American face. It has drawn criticism from some sportswriters, religious groups, and Native Americans, but remains popular among fans of the Cleveland Indians. The team considered replacing the logo in 1993, but it was ultimately retained. Although Chief Wahoo is most properly described as a logo, he is sometimes called a mascot.

Sunday, 29 September 2013

CosignGW0913

Received the image above in an email blast from Glass Works Auctions to cosign with them for upcoming auctions. Notice the Duffy Crescent Saloon pig. Must be the Hewitt example bought on ebay using ‘But it Now’. The Baltimore, Wheeler’s Berlin Bitters looks like a nice example too. One of my favorite bottles.

BBB_HotelKeeper

I havent’t seen this example of a Burdock Blood Bitters trade card before. Interesting and a bit humerous with the illustrators attempt to depict a Jewish Hotel Keeper.

Seymour: A Variety of Burdock Blood Bitters Trade Cards

Friday, 27 September 2013

WheatBittersARTJust love old trade cards and the illustrations such as this art for Wheat Bitters. Then you read them and laugh out loud with the silly testimonials and outlandish claims made for the products.

Received a note from Bill Baab that said, “Yes, just wanted you to know that I gave the FOHBC a plug on this weekly radio show promoted by the publisher of American Digger magazine. We talked bottles for 45 minutes.”

Here is an updated grid for the latest issues of Bottles and Extras. If you look at the bottom right corner, you can see the art for the November | December 2013 cover which is in development. The issue will go to the printer in about 10 days.

B&E_LatestGrid

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

OK, I have been keeping this on the low for the past few months, though I did mention in a previous Daily Dose about the tough-to-find American Life Bitters (Omaha variant) showing up in a obscure location. I have new pictures with the bottle against a newspaper to confirm date as there have been so many scams. This is real. Through communications with the owner, I believe she is considering auctioning the bottle. When I was in Sacramento two weeks ago, I confirmed that Jeff has been contacted. According to the lady, she has been told that the last one sold for $25k or so. A bit more than my offer.

Read More: Log Cabin Series – American Life Bitters

Monday, 23 September 2013

A clear, cool morning here in Louisville, Kentucky as this monster front moves west to east. In Houston, we has 5 1/4″ inches of rain at Peach Ridge. Good after a dry summer.

MalakoffStar

Sure, a lot of us like the ‘pretty’ colored bottles but the real beauty sometimes lies in the rawness and honesty of a crudely made American piece of glass. Just look at this example of a Malakoff Bitters from Wayne Loschen who says, “Just saw your article about the Malakoff Bitters and thought you might like to see one dug by my sons and me in Shreveport, Louisiana. It was uncovered at the site of the new Millenium movie studios during the early construction stages. Unfortunately the excavator separated the top from the bottom of the bottle. We managed to find the top a few days later and glued it back on.”

Another, striking my fancy today, following the same train of thought, is this #305 CD 701.6 Unmarked Deep opaque green insulator pictured below in the Pole Top Discoveries Auction #69 that closes tonight. Known as the “Confederate Egg.” Discovered at a Richmond, Virginia construction site in 1990. The site reportedly was the location of a Confederate warehouse during the Civil War. As a result of the burning of Richmond in April, 1865, most examples located within a crumbled brick building were melted or destroyed. Luckily, a sizable number survived and were recovered by eager diggers. Historical significance makes these crude relics one of the most desirable insulators in the hobby today. Crudely made with an extremely textured and pebbly surface! (text by Ray Klingensmith)

#305 .... CD 701.6 .... Unmarked. .... Deep opaque green. .... Known as the “Confederate egg.” Discovered at a Richmond, Virginia construction site in 1990. The site reportedly was the location of a Confederate warehouse during the Civil War. As a result of the burning of Richmond in April, 1865, most examples located within a crumbled brick building were melted or destroyed. Luckily, a sizable number survived and were recovered by eager diggers. Historical significance makes these crude relics one of the most desirable insulators in the hobby today. Crudely made with an extremely textured and pebbly surface! Much nicer than most. Free of the typical internal fractures and has only a half pinkie nail dome flake. A great example!

Sunday, 22 September 2013

Off to Louisville later this morning. Hope I can catch some of the NFL games later. Was finally able to link all of the New York Russ products (Russ’ Stomach Bitters, Russ’ St. Domingo Bitters, Russ’s Aromatic Schnapps) together with two pieces of information linking John A. Russ to Russ & Hinman in NYC in 1857. Read Updated Post: Russ’ St. Domingo Bitters – New York

JohnARussNYC1859

Russ&HinmanLetterhead

Saturday, 21 September 2013

“A Nip Against the Cold” by Erskine Nicol – 1869 (Thanks to Toby Dean for picture)

NipAgainstTheCold

Friday, 20 September 2013

Sorry, been chillin’ out in Downieville. Flew back last night to Houston. Major rain event in Houston today and tomorrow after our drought. Already had about 1 1/2 inches of rain.

Scott Selenak’s Downieville pics are in. Have not looked yet. Look for a post.

RussianBalsamicBittersCrest

Just put up a post on the Celebrated Russian Balsamic Bitters from Dr. Leon Hershberg of Moscow, Russia. Haven’t thought of a Russian bitters since the classy, roped Russian Imperial Tonic Bitters. Maybe I will do a post on the Russian Malakov Russian Stomach Bitters. It has one of the most outrageous trade cards out there.

MalakofTC_F

Tuesday, 17 September 2013

TsaSingDownievilleReporting from Downieville. Sun just coming up over the mountains. Working on the November | December issue of Bottles and Extras, Virtual Museum and some office projects. Just love this picture of a Ta Tsing Bitters. I obtained this bottle from Ed Herrold at the Reno National in 2006. Jerry Forbes has it now. Took this pic on our porch the other night.

Waiting for Scott Selenak pictures for a Downieville Show post and possible B&E article. Look for a post on my first dig (or at least witnessing one 🙂

Sunday, 15 September 2013

CocoDV1

Finished a two hour run with Coco this morning in the chilly mountain air in Tahoe National Forest here at Downieville, California. Last bottle party was our pasta dinner last night on our porch next to the roaring rivers. Working on a post or two. Maybe a story in Bottles and Extras.

red_jacket

Updated Red Jack Bitters post with information provided by Reginald Shoeman.

Thursday, 12 September 2013

Well I’m at the airport in Houston. Dropped Coco off at PetSafe Cargo with United Airlines. We both fly to Sacramento this morning. Pick her up at the same on that end, travel to see Jeff Wichmann at American Bottle Auctions and then off to Downieville, Cal for the Bottle Show and events this weekend. A few of us have rented a house on the river. Going to run the mountain paths of the Sierra Mountains for a week and work on some special projects.

Wednesday, 11 September 2013

DigStory_CT_HughesDon’t you love this picture and story. “The One We Have Waited For, Privy Heaven!!!!“.  C. T. HUGHES & CO fluted/ribbed gothic peppersauce bottle, circa 1840-1860!!! Probably at least 150+ years old.

Coco and I headed to Downieville in the AM.

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Fish Bitters_Cobalt

With the post yesterday on painted bottles from the Carl Sturm collection being auctioned at Heckler ‘Opportunity’ Auction 105, I posted the blue fish image with paint on PRG facebook yesterday. A few people became alarmed, or thought I went crazy. One comment, “How long did it take to do? How long will it take to wash off?”. I responded after a number of comments, “Oh noo… I thought I grabbed the white finger paint out of the shed…grabbed 10-year highway traffic paint by mistake!”. Just havin’ a little fun.

Monday, 09 September 2013

Downieville2013sign

Hearing some rumors that some nice bitters might be showing up at Downieville this Saturday. So far names like Lacours, Wonser, Catawba & Bakers have crossed my wires…or was I dreaming?

PortraitPaintHeckler

Also hearing some rumors that Sandor is considering hiring a “really good, museum quality” bottle painter to “spruce up” some of his killer flasks. Wonder how long it will take to get a F Bomb text from him? 10, 9, 8, 7……

Saturday, 07 September 2013

OldFarmWhiskey

Man Drank $102,000 of Historic Whiskey Read More

CocaBitters_ebay

Come to Papa… Read More

Friday, 06 September 2013

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You have to admit, these pieces of a DR. LERIEMONDIE’S SOUTHERN BITTERS are a piece of art! Actually in Glass Works Auctions The ‘End of Summer’ Potpourri Auction. To see a complete bottle or two…

Read: Some Extremely Rare Mississippi Bitters

Thursday, o5 September 2013

frederick_douglass_circle_1_lg

Pretty cool pic. 110th Street Curve, Ninth Avenue IRT Elevated Line, c. 1889, New-York Historical Society. Had fun yesterday looking at the Lower East Side in Manhattan regarding the Gehrmann & Ahrens Alpine Stomach Bitters. Many times when I am in NYC, I eventually end up in SOHO and Chinatown.

LundbladSodaWhimsie

From EAG authority Michael George: Whimsical Early American Glass at its finest! Here is a UNIQUE flask produced from an extremely rare soda bottle mold! Made from the very decorative LUNDBLAD soda from Quincy, Illinois… this one was removed from the mold, then flattened and formed into a traditional historical flask shape with a sheared and refired lip. The diagonal ribs give it a “patterned glass” look! This is a recently excavated find! If found 50 years ago, this would have surely been photographed for the American Glass book, and pictured right alongside the George Eagle pitcher! An important and unique piece of glass in my opinion.

Wednesday, 04 September 2013

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Thank you to Jimmy Bray who sent in the really nice pictures of the Negative Electric Fluid bottle. Pictures added to the Southern Alterative post. Also to James Viguerie for developing the post.

AlpineBittersStatuette

What a story with this Otto Kornemann and his Alpine Bitters from New York. Can someone more definitively connect him to the Peat Moss and Steamship Disaster portions of the post?

Tuesday, 03 September 2013

mmoa-the-three-graces5

As most of us know, there is a certain beauty and historical significance with rare bottle shards. As I frequently remind people, a museum does not reject an ancient sculpture because it is missing an arm or a head. The above picture represents an ancient Roman group statue of great importance and beauty – a depiction of the Three Graces of Greek mythology which was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2010. The below shard represents the Southern Alterative which is the topic of today’s post.

SouthernAlterativeFragClip

Monday, 02 September 2013 | Labor Day

WiliamsDirectoryART

Amazing what you can do with some time, Bose earphones, Pandora and city directories. Covered about seven decades in the 1800s in Cincinnati and really had some fun. Read: Cincinnati Bitters Spotting – A cross reference of directories. I’m afraid we have quite a bit more to do with bitters research and finding. No wonder new discoveries keep happening. I am working closely with Bill Ham and he is working hard to keep the draft current with the upcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 (Two). I keep a PDF copy close at hand.

Typical GREAT U.S. postage stamp art.

laborstamp

Sunday, 01 September 2013

Finally September! Bottle and football season. Hopefully you have noticed the increase in people willing to share news and stories on Peachridge. I am totally open to this and encourage submissions. Just yesterday it was Jack Stecher and that great Avon Mineral Springs article and the day before Tom Feltman inspiring the work for the Xavier Bazin post. Every day it is a pleasure to sort through all of the incoming emails to see what is going on.

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Mark newton sent me the following, “I had a ‘bitters week’ because two days later in a trade with a friend I got a SARRACENIA LIFE BITTERS – TUCKER – MOBILE ALA and it was the rare version S 34 in mint condition.” This prompted me to go back and look at, and buff up the PRG Sarracenia Bitters post from April 2011. I even found an advertisement for the product this second time around. My point is this, look at the ‘Comment’ column on the right of each page for ‘updates’. This is the beauty of online work. We can always add, revise or correct information.

Read: Sarracenia Life Bitters and the Triskelions

Posted in Advice, Bitters, Daily Dose, News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Avon Mineral Springs – the “Saratoga” of Western N.Y.

Posted on 31 August 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

harper's weeklyART

AVON MINERAL SPRINGS

the “Saratoga” of Western N.Y.

by Jack Stecher

31 August 2013

 “Grimace was the prevailing feature on the face of the new-comer when swallowing the beverage of the fountain”

JackStecher_bwBack in 2005 I published an article on the Avon Mineral Springs in the Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine (AB&GC). Prior to that, Les Buell, East Williamson, New York published an informative article in the Old Bottle Magazine (OBX, 1975), entitled Avon Mineral Springs. It pictured several early photos including the bathhouse, “Spring house”, Lower Spring, and the (uncapped) spring well, as viewed at that time. Recently talking with Don Tucker, we decided it might be time to do an update on the springs along with some newer color photos.

Although I had visited the site of the springs years ago, before giving a short talk to the Saratoga BCS meeting in 1997 and publishing the aforementioned article in 2005, I set off for yet another visit and some new photos. Currently the site is called Avon Park and locals refer to it as Avon Springs Downs, where a present day harness track and public park exists.

I set off for yet another visit and some new photos.

map of avon springs area-1872-1

Map of Avon Springs area – 1872

Much to my surprise, several ducks were observed swimming leisurely, unaffected by the aromatic waters.

I found only one spring there today as evidenced behind the harness track barns. On the map, this site is southeast of the village of Avon, off Route 39. I also located the site of the lower spring, but the well has been capped and surrounded by a wooden gazebo. This is easily found in the center of the park; the well no longer bubbles the mineral waters. Of course, even a blind man could easily identify its odoriferous source. Capping was necessary in years past due to vandalism, but at least today its still a monument to the past. The lower spring is piped underneath the harness track to a swampy looking pond about 200 yards from its origin. One can easily locate its egress by its sulfurous odor and white residue. No aquatic life there, I thought. Much to my surprise, several ducks were observed swimming leisurely, unaffected by the aromatic waters.

Avon driving park

Avon Driving Park

Avon track stables

Avon Track Stables

Avon downs track

Avon Downs Track

Avon gazebo

Avon Gazebo

The town historian, Maureen Kingston, told me the village property actually contained several springs, bordered by Conesus Creek on the south and the Genesee River on the west. The major springs were called the “Upper” and “Lower”. The Upper spring is located just east of the Lower spring, on the south side of Spring Street. A third spring, known as “Magnesia” spring is purported to be near the harness track and was considered to be the most beneficial, due to medicinal properties. I spent much of the day combing the woods behind the stables in search of that spring, all to no avail. Historical records evidence a fourth spring called “Longs”, and was said to be located about a mile southwest of lower spring. This spring was first used in 1834 and was considered to be the “strongest” of all the springs in the vicinity. It was said it could only be reached from the road to the present community called Fowlerville. I again found no evidence of it. Records tell of a fifth spring called “Bath” or “New Spring”. This was most likely the two spring wells located on the property of the Avon Cure, a 4-story hotel located on Cure Street (more on this later).

In all my hiking around the grounds, I never found even the slightest evidence of a glass shard for an Avon mineral springs bottle.

Circling back to Spring Street, toward Route 39 or Wadsworth Avenue, it didn’t take me long to locate the site of the Upper spring, situated in another swampy area between some modern day houses. Just follow your nose! Near the Upper spring location, I could only visualize the remnants of an old stone foundation of the famous “Congress Hall” (still evidenced by stone pilings in the back yard of a ranch style house). In all my hiking around the grounds, I never found even the slightest evidence of a glass shard for an Avon mineral springs bottle. I have been told that even the town museum has no example on display of any of the Avon mineral water bottles.

Avon congress hall location-1

Avon Congress Hall location

Since researching back in the 1990s and again today, I can only speculate why the embossed Avon Mineral Spring bottles are so scarce. History points to Avon’s bottled water products being shipped mostly south, to Pennsylvania and beyond. Strong competition of other New York springs (particularly “Saratogas), up to and after the Civil War, was also a major factor. A declining interest in the curative properties of mineral waters as well as prominent local hostelry being destroyed by fires also contributed to the demise of the Avon spring waters after 1876.

BRIEF HISTORY:

Prior to the first white settlers to the area in 1797, the nearest Indian village at that time was located near Indian Pond, across the Genesee River in the present town of Caledonia. The Seneca’s named their village Canawaugus, meaning “the place of bad smelling waters” because of its proximity to the mineral springs on Avon’s east side of the river. It was said, “Grimace was the prevailing feature on the face of the new-comer when swallowing the beverage of the fountain”.

The Seneca’s named their village Canawaugus, meaning “the place of bad smelling waters” because of its proximity to the mineral springs on Avon’s east side of the river.

Originally settled and called Hartford, its name was changed to Avon in 1808. Avon was referred to as the “New Haven” of the west in 1853, as the spa became famous and several large hotels emerged. A large depot was built for the railroad. Hotels boasted billiards, bowling alleys, music and dancing, sports for the “fowler”, and bathhouses.

avon spring band

Avon Spring Cornet Band

Water at the Lower spring was first to be used medicinally. Wadsworth erected a building on his farm in 1821, near the spring, housing a crudely constructed “shower box”, for those wishing to use the spring for bathing.

Avon lower spring-2

Avon Lower Spring

This was followed two years later by an enlarged and new bathhouse. Capt. Asa Nowlen purchased the Lower spring area in 1836, later passing in on to George Nowlen who in turn sold it to Dr. O. D. Phelps in 1859. (Both Nowlen and Phelps names appear on several of the Avon bottles. The racetrack, planned by Nowlen in 1836, remains today). The Upper spring waters were first used in 1827 after Nehemiah Houghton built an Inn nearby. It was known as the American Hotel, later called Congress Hall. Its height of popularity was in 1859.

Avon's congreee hall-2

Avon’s Congress Hall, Avon, N.Y.

avon congress hall menu

Avon Congress Hall menu

Magnesia spring, near the racetrack and Conesus Creek, was not used until the glory of the spa began to fade in later years.

The gay and fashionable preferred the U.S. Hotel and Congress Hall while the invalids chose the Knickerbocker.

In 1829, Dr. Derick Knickerbocker purchased land between two dark marshes out of which the Upper and Lower springs bubbled forth and built the Knickerbocker Hall on site. The gay and fashionable preferred the United States Hotel and Congress Hall while the invalids chose the Knickerbocker. Dr. Knickerbocker was given much credit for having built up the popularity of Avon Springs as a health resort. There were several successive owners before it was destroyed by fire in 1886.

Knickerbocker hall at Avon Springs

Knickerbocker Hall at Avon Springs

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Harper’s New Monthly Magazine advertisement for Knickerbocker Hall – June 1856

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United States Hotel, Avon, NY

Dr. Phelps expanded the land around Congress Hall to be named Congress Park. Today, only stately trees mark the site on lower Spring Street; garden and landscapes of the Upper spring are no more.

THE AVON CURE:

Charles Whalley built the Avon Cure, a four-story hotel, in 1866. It was located on Cure Street (now Route 39, just before Spring Street) and could accommodate over 100 guests. Mineral water for the baths was supplied from two springs located on the property. In 1871 it was renamed The Sanitarium. In 1904 it was taken down, moved to Conesus Lake and is currently known as the Livingston Inn.

Avon Cure on Cure st

Avon Cure Hotel on Cure Street

AVON SPRINGS PARK:

Area adjacent to the Lower spring and racetrack has been known by several names, Congress Park, Avon Springs Driving Park and presently Avon Springs Downs. After its popularity began to fade, the Erie Railroad ran excursions from Rochester to Avon on holidays during summer months. Picnics near the Lower Spring and horse races on the historic old track were popular pastimes.

THE BOTTLES:

To the best of my knowledge, only the mineral waters from the Upper and Lower springs were bottled. Five different embossments were used.

1. Quart, AVON / SPRING WATER, olive, amber, black, aqua. Probably 1850s and first bottled; colors rare, aqua scarce. No known pints (Tucker N-3)

2. Pint, AVON SPRING WATER (arch) / G. H. NOWLEN / AVON, NY, green rare and aqua scarce. Probably in use until 1875. No known quarts (Tucker N-4)

3. Quart, CONGRESS HALL (arch) / MINERAL SPRINGS / O. D. PHELPS PROP. / AVON N.Y., embossed horizontally, aqua. Probably not later than 1876; short lived and very rare. (Tucker N-6A)

4. Pint, CONGRESS HALL / MINERAL SPRINGS / O. D. PHELPS PROP. / AVON N.Y., embossed vertically, aqua. Probably not later than 1876; also short lived and very rare. (Tucker N-6B)

5. Pint, UPPER, LOWER / AND / CONGRESS HALL / MINERAL SPRING / O. D. PHELPS PROP / AVON. N.Y., embossed vertically, aqua. Also prior to 1876, short lived and very rare. No known quarts (Tucker N-7)

Avon N-3 olive green

Quart AVON / SPRING WATER, in olive green. (Tucker N-3)

Avon N-3A amber

Quart AVON / SPRING WATER, in amber. (Tucker N-3A)

Avon N-3A aqua

Quart AVON / SPRING WATER, in aqua. (Tucker N-3A)

avon N-4 pair-green & aqua

Two pints, AVON SPRING WATER (arch) / G. H. NOWLEN / AVON, NY, aqua and green (Tucker N-4)

Avon N-6 qt

Aqua quart, CONGRESS HALL (arch) / MINERAL SPRINGS / O. D. PHELPS PROP. / AVON N.Y., (Tucker  N-6)

Avon N-6B-1A

CONGRESS HALL / MINERAL SPRINGS / O. D. PHELPS PROP. / AVON N.Y., embossed vertically (Tucker N-6B-1A)

Avon N-7 upper-lower vertical

CONGRESS HALL / MINERAL SPRINGS / O. D. PHELPS PROP. / AVON N.Y., embossed vertically (Tucker N-7) upper-lower vertical

Note that all the Avon Spring mineral water bottles are considered rare or scarce since they were bottled for only a relatively short time. Also, they competed in a relatively small market compared to Saratoga bottles. That most of the hotels burned or had financial problems contributed greatly to their demise. And finally, there was an increased lack of interest in the so-called curative powers of mineral waters. It should also be noted that a recent article in the April 2013 Spouter reported that Saratoga bottles were made at Mt. Pleasant Glass works from 1846-1866, including the N-3 olive green Avon quarts. However, no aqua Avon mineral bottles were made there, it so stated. Question is, where were amber and aqua Avon bottles made? I don’t know. I suspect that the emerald green N-4 could have been manufactured at Lockport, as it’s similar to the green Oak Orchard colors. Possibly other Avon bottles were made at Lockport or Lancaster, due to the proximity of the glass works.

References:

1). Avon, Heart of the Genesee County, Marie C. Preston, 1976.
2). OBX, Vol.8, #9, Sept. 1975, Congress Water and the Avon Mineral
Springs, Les Buell.
3). Collectors Guide to the Saratoga Type Mineral Water Bottles, Donald
Tucker, 2005.
4). Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, No. LXXIII.-June, 1856-Vol.XIII.
5). Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, May 2005, Avon Mineral Springs, the
Saratoga of western N.Y., Jack Stecher.

Posted in Article Publications, Bottling Works, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, History, Mineral Water, Water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Xavier Bazin, Steam Fancy Soap Works and Perfumery

Posted on 30 August 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

X Bazin flint glass1

Hello Ferdinand:

Have enclosed some pictures of an interesting bottle that I dug in St. Louis. I dug this large flint glass pictured hair bottle from a pontiled era privy. It is a large bottle 8 1/2″ tall and 4″ wide. It is embossed – X. BAZIN – and below the picture it is embossed – PHILADa. The sides of the bottle has five fancy ribs on each side. The bottle is not pontiled but it appears to be made in the 1850’s as all the other bottles were pontiled. I have never seen a bottle quite like this. I wonder if you are any of your fellow collectors have?

Tom Feltman

X Bazin flint glass2

Apple-Touch-IconAWhat an interesting bottle and name. A little researching online reveals some pretty amazing material. To me this looks like a pretty fancy perfume or hair bottle. Let’s hear what our readers think. First a little on Xavier Bazin.

Xavier Bazin, Steam Fancy Soap Works and Perfumery 

30 August 2013 | Ferdinand Meyer V & Tom Feltman
X_BazinFacade

Xavier Bazin Manufacturer & Importer of Perfumery Store, 318 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. – Philadelphia Architects and Buildings

Xavier Bazin established a soap and perfumery business in Philadelphia sometime before 1850. Bazin initially served as the lab director for perfumer Eugene Roussel from circa 1840 to circa 1849 when he assumed proprietorship of the business. Eugene Roussel came to Philadelphia in 1838. He immediatly set up a perfumery where he made fancy soaps and stuff and had a mineral water fountain there too. Bazin bought the perfumery business from Roussel because Roussel wanted to focus on his mineral water venture. Bazin continued to use Roussel’s name until circa 1853. The Bazin family owned the business until 1884.

By 1857, Bazin had moved to a new address at 17 S. 5th Street. There he continued to very successful with his Perfumeries, especially his Shaving Creams. These Bazin products were put up in ornately decorated pots, the lids of which are very valuable to collectors now.

He manufactured X. Bazin’s Celebrated Toilet Soaps, Shaving Creams, Bandoline, Philocome Pomade, Toilet Waters, Cosmetics, Bulk Extracts, Cologne, etc. He was the sole proprietor until the mid 1870s when his sons joined the business. In 1875, he formed a partnership with Robert O. Kilduffe, forming X. Bazin & Co. In 1877, Hall and Ruckel of New York became sole agents for his products.

One of Bazin’s products, Egyptian Hair Dye, also known as Egyptian Hair Coloring was for sale in the 1872 John F. Henry catalog, and later in the 1885 McKesson & Robbins catalog. Cristiani listed the formula for “Egyptian Hair Dye” as 2 ounces of fresh slaked lime, 1 ounce of litharge, 1 ounce of carbonate of lead, 1/2 ounce of hydrated oxide of bismuth, and 1 pint of distilled water. He said the ingredients were well mixed, then allowed to stand for a while, and finally the larger portion of the water was poured off.  In 1856, Bazin advertised Eau Lustrale, Egyptian Hair Dye, pomades, hair oils, etc. (View ad) In 1880, Bazin advertised the following hair products: Philocome, Pomatum, Hair Oils, Eau Lustrale, Hair Dye. [above paragraph Hair Raising Stories]

Bazin_Rousselspremiumperfumery

Roussel’s premium perfumery: Manufactured by X. Bazin, successor to E. Roussel. Philadelphia. / C. Schuessele delt. Advertisement containing advertising text surrounded by an ornate flowery border. Border includes garlands of flowers in which classical female figures, an eagle, and wingless cherubs are intertwined. The female figures are partially clad in Roman garb and one represents a messenger through the embellishments of wings and a trumpet. The cherubs hold tubes of cream and ribbons adorned with the medallions of the “seven silver and two gold medals awarded by the institutes of Philadelphia New York and Boston.” The eagle holds a medallion in his beak. Also contains four images of medals in the corners. Bazin served as the lab director for perfumer Eugene Roussel from circa 1840 to circa 1849 when he assumed proprietorship of the business. Bazin continued to use Roussel’s name until circa 1853. The Bazin family owned the business until 1884. – ca 1850 – Historical Society of Pennsylvania

X. Bazinworks

X. Bazin, Steam Fancy Soap Works and Perfumery, 917 Cherry Street, Philadelphia. Advertisement depicting the manufactory and laboratory complex. Also shows crates lining the sidewalks and street and pedestrian traffic, including a horse-drawn wagon hauling crates and departing the complex. Bazin served as the lab director for perfumer Eugene Roussel from circa 1840 to circa 1849 when he assumed proprietorship of the business. Bazin continued to use Roussel’s name until circa 1853. The Bazin family owned the business until 1884. – ca 1870 – Library Company of Philadelphia Print Dept.

X_BazinPerfumebottle

Clear, hand blown, square perfume bottle standing right about 2.5 inches tall. Embossed X. BAZIN PERFUMER PHILADA. – AntiqueBottleShop.com

XBazinEssays

The X. Bazin stamp and essays defy easy categorization – dies were prepared in three values 1¢, 2¢, and 3¢. Read More

BAZIN_1856Ad

Bazin’s Celebrated Premium Perfumery advertisement from Saturday Evening Post – 1865

Bazin, XavierAd

1850 Xavier Bazin advertisement – City Directories for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Posted in Cologne, Ephemera, Hair Tonics, History, Mineral Water, Perfume, Pot Lids, Soda Water, Tax Stamps | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I was a very close friend of Tommy Mitchiner

Posted on 30 August 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V
TommyMitchinerDigging

Picture that Mike Newman took, at least 15 years ago in Augusta, with Tommy down in a bricklined privy while being observed by the late Stanley Gwinnett.

I was a very close friend of Tommy Mitchiner

30 August 2013 | By Mike Newman

MikeNewmanI was a very close friend of Tommy Mitchiner, as our relationship went back 32 years. I was just a newlywed with no money when we met in 1981, but Tommy started selling me colored sodas on credit. I sent him $25 a week for several years, and still have all the notes and letters that we exchanged. He would often copy pictures of his current Savannah digging exploits, and include them with the letters. We have shovel dug privies and back-hoed dumpsites together in Augusta on several occasions, but his passion was for Savannah and his close bottle digging buddies there – Gene Autry, Mike Brewer, the late Stanley Gwinnett, Ken Nease, the late John Davis, and others that I regretfully cannot currently recall.

Read: Rare Hutchinson’s enthuse Georgia collector

TommyMitchiner

Tommy Mitchiner with only a small part of his fabulous collection.

Tommy had been sick for several years, with ailments including autoimmune disease, sores that would not heal, Staph infection, a number of small heart attacks, and more. He nearly lost his leg on several occasions, something that had happened to his father shortly before his own death. Hospice was eventually brought in several weeks ago, and I have been able to spend several days with him since that time. Instead of worrying about himself, he focused on cleaning bottles for others and selling some of his collection to financially assist his wife Sherry, and son Ryan. He was actually excited because he could finally smoke without having to hide the fact from others.

As a Christian believer, I had wondered about Tommy’s salvation but never been bold enough to discuss it with him (shame on me). Several months ago while Tommy was in the hospital with what the physicians had diagnosed as Sepsis, I went down for a visit determined to cross that bridge. We had a blast that day reminiscing about old time digging and I even read him some of the early letters that we had exchanged. He wasn’t expected to survive this illness, so Sherry left the room to allow us to speak on a very personal level. I asked him if he was confident in where he was going after death, and he said that he wasn’t sure. Wondering why, I asked if he believed fully in his heart and soul that Jesus Christ was his Lord and Savior. He said that he surely did, and even quoted me some scripture. I asked why then was he unsure, and he said because he had occasional periods of extreme and spoken anger towards God. I told him that God was an understanding and forgiving God that surely understood his frustration at his suffering in recent years. He said that he always was remorseful after these outbursts and asked forgiveness. I then reassured him that he was indeed saved and should have confidence and faith in that fact. My point in the above comments is not for any self glory, but to let you be assured that Tommy is now at peace in heaven. And, to also ask anyone in a similar position to spread the good word to take that bold step even if uncomfortable.

My last visit with Tommy was the day before his passing. He had been heavily sedated for several days, but the drugs had worn off due to his his liver shutting down and the tolerance that his system had built up over years of pain medication. I hated to see him in so much pain, but selfishly like the fact that I could have some sort of final dialog with him (me speaking and him responding with a head nod or shake and occasional smile). When you see someone you love hurting, all “manly” instincts are gone and you are comfortable in massaging their shoulder or leg, helping a hospice nurse with changing clothes, even a kiss to the forehead. Sherry and Ryan later told Tommy that they were going to be ok, and gave him “permission” to go to his Lord. He unselfishly chose to do that the next day after they announced that they would be leaving for awhile. What we now know is that Tommy had confided to a social worker with Hospice that he loved Sherry and Ryan too much for them to have to witness his passing. You can imagine this sacrificial decision, as it is certainly human nature to want to have your loved ones comforting you until the very end.

I believe that visitation for Tommy will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Saturday, August 31 at:

Williams-White Columns Funeral Home
179 Milledgeville Road
Gordon, Georgia 31031
478.628.2200
Fax: 478.628.3435
E-mail: wcfh2@alltel.net

The funeral service will begin at 2:00 pm on Sunday, September 1st at:

First Baptist Church
101 Elam Street
Gordon, Georgia 31031

I will not attend the visitation, but will be at the funeral service. Please verify these places and addresses as I am not 100% sure that they are accurate.

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, News, Soda Water | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Prindle’s Texas Tonic Bitters – Constantly on Draught at The Gem Saloon

Posted on 30 August 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V
Prindles Texas Tonic Bitters - The Daily Mercury Houston Tex - Feb 24 1874

Prindle’s Texas Tonic Bitters advertisement – The Daily Mercury Houston, Texas – February 24, 1874

Prindle’s Texas Tonic Bitters

Constantly on Draught at The Gem Saloon

I want to be a Texan,
And with the Texans stand,
A spur upon our boot heel –
Prindle’s Bitters in our hand!

Ferdinand Meyer V & Jame Viguerie

30 August 2013

Apple-Touch-IconAThe Prindle’s is the second Texas Tonic Bitters that James Viguerie has uncovered recently while looking for information on Price’s Patent Texas Tonic. The first was the Texas Tonic Bitters, prepared by Dr. G. A. Foote. It looks like T. J. Prindle brought some experience with him from Kentucky and had saloons in Houston and Fort Worth. He had a partner named Oscar F. Holmes. Here is James incoming e-mail:

Ferd,

Here is information about another Texas Tonic I came across. This one was called Prindle’s Texas Tonic Bitters. I have no idea if it was related to the earlier Texas Tonic. Hopefully they had this one bottled. It does say for sale wholesale and retail as well as being constantly on draught at the Gem Saloon. It looks like T. J. Prindle was in business with Oscar F. Holmes in Houston.

Some interesting background on Holmes and Prindle.

Aunt Mollie (your grandmother) when asked what her husband did for a living would smile and say he was a ‘speculator’. He was all of that because he and Tom Prindle speculated her father Hiram right out of a good deal of money to put in saloons and gambling houses here in Houston, Someone recently told me the story of Aunt Mollie sending one of her visitng nieces down to the saloon each day at noon to get a pitcher of beer for the noonday meal. She must have been quite a character”

One of the Holmes children was name “Oscar Prindle HOLMES”

Find a Grave: T. J. Prindle

Find a Grave: Oscar F. Holmes

It looks like there is more online about both Holmes and Prindle.

James

Bill Ham, author of Bitters Bottles with Carlyn Ring, has assigned the following number:

Advertisement

P  145.5  PRINDLE’S TEXAS TONIC BITTERS

The Gem Saloon, Congress Street, near the post office, Houston, Texas. Also had Saloon in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Daily Mercury, Houston Texas, November 30, 1873 and February 24, 1874 

Prindles texas Tonic Bitters - Houston Daily Mercury - Houston Tex - Nov 30 1873

Prindle’s Texas Tonic Bitters advertisement – Houston Daily Mercury – Houston, Texas – November 30, 1873

T J Prindle Restaurant - Tri-Weekly Telegraph - Houston Tex - Feb 28 1866

T. J. Prindle Exchange Restaurant advertisement – Tri-Weekly Telegraph – Houston, Texas – February 28, 1866

T J Prindle Westlake and co Restaurant - Tri-Weekly Telegraph - Houston Tex - Dec 13 1865

T. J. Prindle, Westlake & Co., Exchange Restaurant advertisement – Tri-Weekly Telegraph – Houston, Texas – December 13, 1865

Homes&Prindle2

Reference to Holmes & Prindle – Houston Daily Mercury – Houston, Texas – November 30, 1873

Thomas J. Prindle

Born: March, 1849, Kentucky

Died: March 8, 1914, Texas (Hollywood Cemetery, 3506 N. Main), There is no marker for T. J. Prindle.

Confederate Service: Prindle, Thomas J., Jr. 2nd lieutenant, Madison’s Cavalry (Third Regiment, Arizona Brigade; Phillips’ Regiment)

ThomasJPrindleCalvary

Thomas J. Prindle – Madison’s Cavalry (Third Regiment, Arizona Brigade; Phillips’ Regiment)

PrindleDischarge

Madison’s Cavalry (Third Regiment, Arizona Brigade; Phillips’ Regiment) Thomas J. Prindle Disharge Paper due to illness – 1863

Oscar F. Holmes

Born: August 24, 1832 (1831 see below), Herkimer County, New York

Died: October 4, 1881, Willis, Montgomery County, Texas

Note: A Family Bible lists Oscar’s year of birth as 1831. Also in a handmade book of the Homes Family, and believed to be the writing of Sarah Holmes Butler, Oscar’s birth date is listed as August 27, 1831. His tombstone lists 1832. Death: 4 October 1881 in Willis, Montgomery County, Texas. Burial: Willis Cemetery, Willis, Montgomery County, Texas. Marker: “Oscar F. Holmes, August 24, 1832 – October 4, 1881.”

Military 25 October 1862 San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The records show that Oscar Holmes served as a private in Company E, (Captain Hall’s Company), Madison’s (also known as Phillips’) Regiment Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army. He was enlisted October 25, 1862 at San Antonio, Texas and on the muster roll of the company dated December 31, 1862, the last roll on file. He was reported absent with leave from December 24, 1862. No later record of him has been found. His wife, Mary Emily Holmes, filed for a widow’s pension on November 18, 1914. Information from the Adjutant General’s Office of the War Department, May 28, 1914.

Census Residences: Hot Springs, Arkansas 1878. Shown as place of residence in his father’s will. 1880 Union, Garland County, Arkansas. District 72, Page 10. Surname is spelled “Holms” in this census. 1870 Schroeppel Township, Oswego County, New York. Shows to be living with his parents in this census, with occupation as
a cotton buyer. 1850 Danube, Herkimer County, New York

Father: Ezra HOLMES b: 30 July 1791 in Quaker Hill, Dutchess County, New York

Mother: Sally WILCOX b: 11 November 1792 in Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island

Marriage: Mary Emily “Mollie” LITTLE, b: 22 December 1850 in Willis, Montgomery County, Texas. Married: 7 December 1871 in Houston, Harris County, Texas

Note: At the residence of  T. J. Prindle, Esq. by Rev. Mr. Zealy. (From the Herkimer Democrat; January 10, 1872, Danube, New York). O. F. Holmes – formerly of Danube (New York) this county & Miss Mary E. Little of Houston, Texas.

Children: Oscar Prindle HOLMES b: 3 February 1873 in Willis, Montgomery County, Texas, William Fritzallen HOLMES b: 16 November 1876 in Willis, Montgomery County, Texas, Lula HOLMES b: 26 May 1878

Clippings

Fort Worth, Texas – During the 1860s Fort Worth suffered from the effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction. The population dropped as low as 175, and money, food, and supply shortages burdened the residents. Gradually, however, the town began to revive. By 1872 Jacob Samuels, William Jesse Boaz, and William Henry Davis had opened general stores. The next year Khleber M. Van Zandt established Tidball, Van Zandt, and Company, which became Fort Worth National Bank in 1884. Barrooms such as Tom Prindle’s Saloon and Steele’s Tavern welcomed many travelers. – Texas State Historical association.

NEARING MATURITY 1874-1890 89 – Houston gentlemen amused themselves that summer by playing billiards at the hall of Messrs. Prindle and Holmes, sculling on the bayou in the new paired-oar boat of the Andax Rowing Club, or drilling with the Light Guards. Women joined the Dramatic Club, read and discussed Mark Twain s new novel, The Gilded Age, and quoted couplets from the pen of Nettie Bowers Houston, Texas poet.

Posted in Bitters, Civil War, History, Medicines & Cures, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment