AUGUST | 2 0 1 4
Saturday, 30 August 2014
Carl Hotkowski send me an original copy of the Connecticut Mirror newspaper from July 1820. There are a couple of bitters and medicine advertisements within. Here is one for Doctor Cooley’s Bitters. Read: Is the Cooley’s Anti Dispeptic Bitters our oldest Bitters?
Thursday, 28 August 2014
Bertinguiot ink post updated with new images from Brandon Smith and John Pastor.
Monday, 25 August 2014
Picked up that Jepson’s Dyspepsia Bitters from Denver on eBay yesterday. That is a tough one to get. Wrote about it back in 2011. Read: Jepson’s Dyspepsia Bitters – Colorado
Sunday, 24 August 2014
Hi Ferdinand – I came across your blog today, and your May 19, 2013 post talks about a William’s Royal Crown Remedy and Bitters bottle that someone was asking you about. I am working on my genealogy and Isaac Williams, the proprietor of this remedy, was my 3rd great grandfather. He was born on March 11, 1820 in Lincoln County, Ontario, Canada.
He was married to Sarah Mariah Ackert (1824-1897), whose parents came up from upstate New York. His parents were the colorful Benajah Williams (1765-1851) from Delaware, New York and Elizabeth Kennedy (1788-1842) from New Jersey.
My research shows that Isaac Williams was quite the entrepreneur with several enterprises under his belt. In 1855 he was a “pump maker and shingle maker”. In 1861 a “farmer and pump maker”. In 1865 the owner of a “chair and cabinet factory”. He was a “peddler” from 1871 to 1881. In 1897 he was in Port Huron, Michigan and was listed as a “doctor”. In 1901, ten years before he died, he was listed as a “medicine dealer”. Isaac Williams died on June 8, 1911 in Guelph, Ontario.
I think he sold the snake oil with his son, Peter Nelson Williams, who is listed as a “Medicine Man” in the 1891 Canadian census and as the owner of a “patent medicine firm” on his death registration in 1924 in London, Ontario. Apparently Peter Williams put “Dr.” in front of his name, although I’m fairly certain that he wasn’t even close to being a doctor. The Royal Crown Remedy probably disappeared after Peter’s death in 1924, although I’m not sure of that.
I hope this info is of interest to you and puts some flesh on the history of these bottles.
Regards, Alison, Kelowna, BC
Ferd: I know that you are into bitters and not western meds. I but figured I’d let you know about this one regardless. The link to the above is an exceptionally rare western, cure made by the same Pawnee Indian Medicine Company that manufactured the Long Life Bitters. As you know, they were located on Howard St. in S.F. in the 1890’s through the time of the ’06 Quake and Fire. I had a wooden sleeve corkscrew at one time that advertised Pawnee Indian Long Life Bitters, TaHa, Too-Re, and this product. This listing appears to have been a sleeper and brought next to nothing. I that you might be interested, regardless of the fact that it’s a med. – Bruce (Silva)
Saturday, 23 August 2014
Really nice advertising trade card from Joe Gourd added to the Anchors away and all over on the Dr. Dunlap’s Anchor Bitters post from earlier this year.
Joe add’s in an e-mail: Second, is a 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 your Rocky Mountain post, you posed the question of whether the two Langley’s were related. This flyer does not answer that question, but it does make it clear that they were in business at the same time and certainly knew of one another. (Also in the flyer, Langley alludes to his “Vegetable Bitters”. It apparently was his first attempt at a Bitters medicine. It is another unlisted Bitters).
Read: Dr. Langley’s Rocky Mountain Bitters
Read: Looking at some Dr. Langley’s Root & Herb Bitters from Boston
Thursday, 21 August 2014
Sorry, been traveling and very busy since Monday. Flight cancelled this AM back to Houston. Heard from Andy Volkerts recently…
Hello Ferdinand. Yes I bought the CCC Chancre cure from a seller in Arkansas who sold it to me for 1,200 dollars, which I assume is a real bargain, as there is only 3 known, mine and one other without damage. I believe the other undamaged example resides in a Texas collection. But I do not know for sure, I am just going by what the seller related to me at the time I bought the bottle. I renewed my membership in the FOHBC as I had allowed it to lapse over the years, and now think that the organization is relevant again. I am glad the national event will be held in Sacramento in 2016, it is fitting, as that is where it all started many years ago. Give my regards to Elizabeth, and hope to maybe see you at a bottle show soon………Take care…….Andy
Read: The little C.C.C. – Certain Chancre Cure from Palestine, Texas
Saturday, 16 August 2014
Good morning. Off to hop on the John Deere tractor to cut grass. Gonna’ be a hot one. Check out this fully labeled Walker’s on Etsy. Thanks to Ken Previtali for tip. Read: Walker’s Vinegar Bitters bottled in Pastel Shades to “conceal the mess”
Thursday, 14 August 2014
Turners Brothers post updated with information from Ann Huberty Duncan who is a direct descendent of the six Turner Brothers.
Tuesday, 12 August 2014
Sorry, had 20 page Lexington National feature story due to editor yesterday, plus cover design, prez message, member news, yada yada,
From historical flask authority Mark Vuono: “Hi Ferd, It appears there has been a new discovery in the Jared Spencer grouping with this shard/ half bottle discovery that surfaced at The Lexington National Show. Not only is the color itself different from any other Jared Spencer mold but there are no corrugated sides and a somewhat “stepped” base. The medallion…what’s left of it, is entirely different also. It really is quite an important and unusual discovery”. – Mark and Andrew
Saturday, 09 August 2014
Remember this bottle? Chip Cable showed me the cleaned up example at the Lexington National. Chip sent along a few pics. See updated post: Dr. John Bull and Louisville at that time. My oh my.
Friday, 08 August 2014
Just saw you on the collection TV show. I’m looking for a bitters bottle from my home town of Sandwich, Illinois. It says Mountain Root Bitters on one side and Abel Humiston Sandwich Ill on the other. There is a picture of a broken one in the Bottled in Illinois hardback book. I know of a few but they are not available here locally. I’m also interested in Sandwich soda bottles or any bottle at all from Sandwich. Milks and even meds. Just wondering if you may have any or know of anyone that might that I could contact. Thanks, Jeff H.
Thursday, 07 August 2014
Meet Federation member ELLIOTT WINTERS. I met Elliott at the Lexington National and we became fast friends. Elliott moved around on his Mobility Skooter and wore a button that said “I Have Hearing Loss”. He loves any kind of Milk Bottles from any State and Oil Bottles with spouts. Elliott, by himself, took the Greyhound bus from Osage, Minnesota to the Lexington National. He says that there are not to many big shows in his area. He also can’t wait for the Chattanooga National. WOW, My Hero.
Tuesday, 05 August 2014
Just showing up in inbox. Only the 2nd, “Left Handed” Foersters Teutonic Bitters found. Read: The handled Foerster’s Teutonic Bitters – Chicago. Holy Moses.
Monday, 04 August 2014
Working our way back to Houston. Had a great time at the National. Far exceeded my expectations. Stay tuned. Super backed up with bottle stories.
