The XR Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters from Muncie, Indiana

20 February 2012 (R•041219)

Interesting coincidence that I had business in Fort Wayne, Indiana and northwestern Ohio last week in small towns like Bryan, Archbold, Edgerton, Montpolier, Napoleon, Sherwood, Stryker and Wauseon. All locales somewhat near Muncie, Indiana where Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters was made.

[Top of post 12 April 2019] “Ferdinand, here are my buddy ‘Balsam’ Bill Granger, Peruvian Bark Bitters from Muncie, Indiana. One is a paper label only.” Martin Van Zant

Bottle and Glass collector, writer and cartoonist (see Johns cartoons) John Akers (visit Old Bottle Page on facebook) forwarded the following information and pictures on the Hartley’s.

It appears that W.D. Souders was a chemist that worked for (or in partnership with) George H. Andrews who was a bookstore owner and then a druggist. References: Muncie Public Library.

Listed in the Muncie City Directories. 1885-1886: Souders, William D. – Clerk at George H. Andrews book store. 1889: No listing. 1891-1892: Souders, Wm. D. – Chemist (no business name listed) 1892 Business directory: druggists – Andrews, George H. 109 S. Walnut & 214 E. Main. 1893: Souders, W. D. & Co. (George Andrews) mnfrs of Hartley’s Peruvian Bitters, 123 S. Walnut. 1893 Business directory: – Andrews, Geo H. 123 S. Walnut Souders, W. D. & Co. (Geo H. Andrews) mnfrs of Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters, 123 S. Walnut. Business directory: Druggist – Andrews, Goe H., 123 S. Walnut.

Man and woman standing in front of a large building in Muncie, Indiana – circa 1869. Looks like she could use some Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters to loosen things up!

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listings in Bitters Bottles are as follows:

Invoice
H55 Muncie, Indiana, Bought of W. D. Souders & Co., Proprietors and Sole Manufacturers of HARTLEY’S PERUVIAN BARK BITTERS and Dr. Littles Headache Specific, December 6, 1888

H 55  HARTLEY’S / PERUVIAN BARK / BITTERS // f // W. D. SOUDERS & CO. / CINCINNATI, O // f //
9 1/4 x 2 3/4 (6 3/4) 5 /16
Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare

H 56  HARTLEY’S / PERUVIAN BARK / BITTERS // f // W. D. SOUDERS & CO. / MUNCIE, IND. // f //
9 1/4 x 2 3/4 (6 3/4) 5 /16
Square, Yellow and Yellow orange, LTC, Tooled lip, Extremely rare
Copyright May, 1887

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement is as follows:

H 54.5  HARTLEY’S / PERUVIAN BARK / BITTERS // f // THE HARTLEY CO. / MUNCIE, IND. // f //
9 1/4 x 2 3/4 (6 1/2) 3 /16
Square, Amber and Yellow amber, LTC, Tooled lip, Very rare

The new listing for the labeled example by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

H 55.1 L… HARTLEY’S PERUVIAN BARK BITTERS
Prepared only by W. D. Souders & Co., Muncie, Indiana
9 1/4 x 2 3/4 (6 3/4) 5 /16
Square, Amber, LTC, Tooled lip, Indented panels front and back for labels

Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters pair (H 55 and H 56) – John Akers

Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters detail – John Akers

“HARTLEY’S / PERUVIAN BARK / BITTERS – W.D. SOUDERS & CO. / MUNCIE, IND.”, (H-56), Indiana, ca. 1880 – 1895, straw yellow with amber tone, 9 3/8”h, smooth base, tooled lip, about perfect (a few spots of faint inside haze). Extremely rare! We auctioned this bottle at the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors Convention in 1995 and have not seen one since! – Glass Works Auctions | Auction 96

Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters fronts (left to right) Labeled Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters, H 56 Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters and unlisted Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters, The Hartley Co., Muncie, Ind.- ‘Balsam’ Bill Granger (photograph Martin Van Zant)

Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters backs (H 55 and H 56) and unlisted labeled example – ‘Balsam’ Bill Granger (photograph Martin Van Zant)