Sarsaparilla Grouping – photo Michael George
Looks like we have some really nice dialog and pictures of older Dr. Townsend’s Sarsaparilla’s over at Early American Glass on facebook from the usual suspects like Rick Ciralli, Mark Yates, Jeff Noordsy, Woody Douglas, Matt Greig, Michael George, Taylor McBurney, Matthew Tigue Levanti and others. Rick Ciralli says he will post one variant from his collection a day for 10 days so stay tuned as this post will grow!
This is the 1st of (10) different Townsends variants that I have in my collection. I will start with a ZINGER. This one is a brilliant blue green with the high relief embossing and a rare 3 BAR or 3 SLASH on the normally plain panel. – Rick Ciralli (see larger pictures below)
Ah, my best dug bottle, and the one I couldn’t keep! One day I’ll find another whole Townsends…- Taylor McBurney
“In keeping with the Townsends theme started by others… Here is what I think I know. Please correct me if I’m wrong or missing any. Based on site excavations, Townsends were known to be made at Mt Vernon, Mt Pleasant, Stoddard, Coventry and Willington. They were likely made at Albany Glassworks and Lockport/Lancaster but as far as I know, no direct proof. Any others????”
“There were two competing (Jacob and SP Townsend) proprietors over MANY years and it was a very popular medicine. Literally millions of bottles wee needed, so therefore multiple glasshouses and molds.”
Read More: Embossed DR TOWNSEND’S SARSAPARILLA ALBANY N.Y. Sand Pontil 17 Rivets Dark Amber
Read More: Dr. S.P. Townsend’s Sarsaparilla, Albany, New York
Dug Townsends – Here you go Rick, you’d know better than I about anything special. I personally like the bent neck and full iron pontil…Taylor McBurney
As I recall I owe Mark Yates some photos of Dr. Townsends. I have some others I’ll photograph and post late. – Woody Douglas
Some more Dr. T’s for Mark Yates. The second from the left is a pure green I don’t associate with NE. Possibly NY state? The embossing is markedly different from the others. – Woody Douglas
DR. TOWNSEND’S embossing – Woody Douglas
My sad lonely bottle, the one Townsend I have. – Matt Greig
OK, This is the 1st of (10) Different Townsends variants that I have in my collection. I will start with a ZINGER. This one is a brilliant blue green with the high relief embossing and a rare 3 BAR or 3 SLASH on the normally plain panel. Lot of theories as to what these bars represent. At one time I had a 1 bar, 2 bar, 3 bar and 4 bar. They all went different ways at different times but I’m back. I would love to hear from other collectors who have Townsend variants to share. Brian Wolff , can you get this into our file? Michael George and Woody Douglas, the collector in Maine was Mike Obrien, otherwise known as the Townsendman (his former eBay handle). Mike had THE collection of these and sold them off in many past Heckler sales. Mike Stephano has a rare variant that I hope he will share. I will post one a day for 10 days… – Rick Ciralli
Bottom side view of picture above – Rick Ciralli
I have posted this one before… it is a rare variant attributed to NY, but Mt. Pleasant not Vernon. – Michael George
DR. TOWNSEND’S SARSAPARILLA ALBANY N.Y., of great whittle. Truly an attic find. Came out of a barn with original Sarsaparilla remnants. Hand carved cork. Sand chip pontil. – Meyer collection
Ciralli Post #2 – I can’t wait until tommorrow…sorry. Another ZINGER, a rare variant with a period under the R in DR, diagonal mold seam, funky sunky base, glass tip pontil. NE or NYS??!! – Rick Ciralli
A rare variant with a period under the R in DR, diagonal mold seam, funky sunky base, glass tip pontil. NE or NYS??!! – Rick Ciralli
This Rivet mold was a favorite too! – Matthew Tigue Levanti
