Dr. Langley’s Rocky Mountain Bitters

27 February 2014 (R•082314) (R•051818) (R•070419)

Here is a odd handbill (below) from my collection representing Dr. Langley’s Rocky Mountain Bitters. The piece pictures the trade mark for the brand. My question is, is the Dr. Langley’s Rocky Mountain Bitters related to Dr. Langley’s Root and Herb Bitters? Looks like both Langley bitters may have been competing in some of the same markets. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find the family connection. Very mysterious.

The updated Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles Supplemrnt 2 is as follows:

Letterhead
L 19 LANGLEY’S ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITTERS, Gentlemen, Your attention is called to our new trade mark and title. (Illustration hawk perched on rock in mountain setting), Respectfully, J. H. Langley & Co., Office, No. 30 Kilby Street, Boston, Mass. Feb 1. 1867.

Circular
L 19 LANGLEY’S ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITTERS, Descriptive Circular, No. 1. Notice stating that “Rocky Mountain Bitters,” is not and should not be confused with “Root and Herb Bitters of J. O. Langley.” Respectfully, J. H. Langley, Proprietor. All orders and Communications should be addressed to Langley, Hurd & Co., Nos. 96 and 98 Broad Street, Boston. April 1st, 1867.

Newspaper Advertisement
L 19 DR. LANGLEY’S STANDARD PREPARATIONS – ROCKY MOUNTAIN BITTERS, A very superior regulating Tonic. Manufactured only at the Proprietary Medicine Warehouse or Dr. J. H. Langley & Co., 207 Fulton St. N.Y.
Marshall County Republican (Plymouth, Indiana), August 12, 1869

L 19.3 L … Langley’s Rocky Mountain Beverage
LANGLEY’S // ROCKY MOUNTIAN / BEVERAGE ( embossed vertically) // c //
Round, Clear, NSC, Tooled top w/ground stopper
Dr. Langley’s Rocky Mountain Beverage. The Standard Tonic Bitters of America. The W. & L. Medicine Co., Buffalo, N.Y.
Buffalo Courier (Buffalo, New York) August 03, 1878

Handbill with beautiful graphics for ‘Langley’s Rocky Mountain Bitters’ with
‘Price Current. A. D., 1867.’ – Meyer Collection

Flyer put out by J.H. Langley for his new Rocky Mountain Bitters. In it, Langley cautions the reader not to confuse his Rocky Mountain Bitters with the well known J.O. Langley’s Root and Herb Bitters. In the flyer, Langley alludes to his “Vegetable Bitters”. It apparently was his first attempt at a bitters medicine. It is another unlisted Bitters. – Gourd Collection

Here is an advertisement below for Dr. Langley’s Rocky Mountain Bitters from the Marshall County Republican (Plymouth, Indiana) in August 12, 1869. At the bottom of the ad it says, “Manufactured Only At The Proprietary Medicine Warehouse of Dr. J. H. Langley & Co., 207 Fulton Street, New York. Sold by all Druggists and Grocers throughout the Country.” Note the appearance now of “Dr.”.

Dr. Langley’s Rocky Mountain Bitters advertisement – Marshall County Republican (Plymouth, Indiana), August 12, 1869

Look at this tall, single column advertisement below for Rocky Mountain Bitters, Rocky Mountain Bitters Company, 207 Fulton Street, New York from The Sumter Watchman, May 04, 1870. Notice the absence of Langley’s name. Interesting.

Tall, single column advertisement for Rocky Mountain Bitters, 207 Fulton Street, New York. Notice the absence of Langley’s name and inclusion of Rocky Mountain Bitters Company – The Sumter Watchman (Sumterville, S.C.), May 04, 1870

Dr. Langley’s Rocky Mountain Beverage – The Standard Tonic Bitters of America advertisement (see below)

Ferdinand, I picked this up recently. It is an exact match for the bottle described in the last advertisement in your 2014 write-up of the Dr. Langley’s Rocky Mountain Bitters. It was bought in Rochester, New York, so this matched the location of the address listed in the advertisement as well. I have never seen one of these before. It is a striking and big bottle and could not have been cheap to manufacture with the big ground stopper. Brandon DeWolfe, P.E.