Mike Dolcini sent me this interesting email that got me thinking too about bug bottles. Lets get some good pictures. I agree with Mike, the Lyon’s Powders are deceivingly named, sexy bottles.
Lyon's Powders - Dolcini Collection
Hi Ferd,
How many other “Buggers” are out there these days? Once there were only a handful but today these little gems are becoming increasingly popular and difficult to come by.
Another weakness of mine are insect poison bottles, especially Lyon’s Powders in unusual colors. This little run of OP examples displays only a fraction of the myriad colors that these little beauties were blown in. It is obvious that no attempt was made at the time to exact any uniform color to the product container and they were blown from whatever glass happened to be in the batch at the time they were needed. That’s a good thing as far as I am concerned because it allows collectors to search for a large array of colors and hues, some subtle and others more pronounced. The “hunt” continues.
The quality of the photo isn’t the best, but these bottles, and others, sit in one of the only windows in the house that retain shelves. Stained glass tends to wash out the color but these are pretty close. No two are alike despite what the photo might indicate.
Mike
Ferdinand – Really great story and link about the Lyon’s powders…they are mentioned as “insect powders”…do you know if there were bottled or packaged “rat powders” (or other rodent powders) or whether the insect powders were also used for this purpose? Thanks! Jim Schmidt
Jim,
There are at least two embossed Rat killer bottles from Baltimore. One is embossed Dr. Stonebrakers Rat killer Baltimore the other is embossed Millers Rat Killer. Both are small wide mouth jars about 3 inches tall.
Chris