Author Archives: Ferdinand Meyer V

About Ferdinand Meyer V

Ferdinand Meyer V is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and has a BFA in Fine Art and Graphic Design from the Kansas City Art Institute and School of Design. Ferdinand is the founding Principal of FMG Design, Inc., a nationally recognized design consultation firm. Ferdinand is a passionate collector of American historical glass, specializing in bitters bottles, color runs, and related classic figural bottles. Ferdinand is married to Elizabeth Jane Meyer and lives in Houston, Texas, with their daughter and three wonderful grandchildren. The Meyers are also very involved in gardening (Peachridge Gardens), antiques (Peachridge Collections), and early United States postage stamps. Ferdinand is the past three-term president of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, a long-time board member, FOHBC 2021 Hall of Fame, and one of the founding members of the FOHBC Virtual Museum.

Witch Balls – Warding Off Evil Spirits

Posted on 19 March 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

“A witch ball is a hollow sphere of plain or stained glass hung in cottage windows in 18th century England to ward off evil spirits, witch’s spells or ill fortune” Yesterday I did a post on Sulphide Marbles (Read: Sulphide Marbles … Continue reading →

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Sulphide Marbles or Figural Marbles

Posted on 18 March 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

[from Marbles Galore] Sulphides, or figure marbles, are large translucent marbles manufactured in Germany from the mid-19th century up until the 1930s. Usually 1 1/2″ or more in size, they always feature a figure encased in the center, which early … Continue reading →

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Castilian Bitters – Brown & Embree Proprietors – New York

Posted on 18 March 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Castilian Bitters – Brown & Embree Proprietors – New York 18 March 2012 This is a follow-up post dedicated to the Castilian Bitters that was referenced in the previous Brown’s Castilian post (read: Brown’s Castilian Bitters – Transitional Cannon Barrel Figural) ‘Patent Elixir … Continue reading →

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Ladies & Gents…The Kansas City Queen

Posted on 16 March 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

With shocking disbelief I share pictures of the legendary INDIAN HERB BITTERS – Prepared by Drs Dickerson & Stark Medical & Surgical Institute Kansas City, Missouri that walked in the door of the St. Joseph, Missouri Bottle & Insulator Show … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Bottle Shows, Digging and Finding, Figural Bottles, News | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Doyles Hop Bitters and some Exciting Variants

Posted on 15 March 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

“For general debility, biliousness, nervousness, neuralgia, indigestion, fever and ague, liver complaint, mental depression and all kidney and urinary diseases. Compounded from hops, buchu, mandrake, dandelion, etc. Under the best medical ability existing”. Doyles Hop Bitters and some Exciting Variants 15 March 2012 (R•010514) There … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Figural Bottles, History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brown’s Castilian Bitters – Transitional Cannon Barrel Figural

Posted on 14 March 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Brown’s Castilian Bitters – Transitional Cannon Barrel Figural 14 March 2012 The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows: B 221.6  BROWN’S CASTILIAN BITTERS BROWN’S CASTILIAN // c // Wm. H. & Jerome B. Brown, Baltimore, … Continue reading →

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General Scotts Artillery Bitters – The Ultimate Cannon Barrel Figural

Posted on 13 March 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

General Scotts Artillery Bitters – The Ultimate Cannon Barrel Figural 13 March 2012 (R•052814) (R•062517) (R•052719-Genius) The next figural cannon, and in my opinion, the greatest example in rarity is the General Scotts Artillery Bitters. As recorded in Carlyn Ring … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Civil War, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A. M. Bininger & Co. Figural Cannon

Posted on 13 March 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

A. M. Bininger & Co. Figural Cannon 13 March 2012 (R•070512) Here is the 2nd post in the Figural Cannon Barrel series I started yesterday with a post on the G.T. GAYEN / ALTONA cannon (read: Figural Cannon Bottles – J … Continue reading →

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, Gin, Glass Makers, History, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Figural Cannon Bottles – J T GAYEN / ALTONA

Posted on 12 March 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Figural Cannon Bottles – J T GAYEN / ALTONA 12 March 2012 I wanted to start a new series on Figural Cannon Bottles. These wonderful and powerful shapes bring back all of the imagery and weaponry of the early American … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil War, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, History, Revolutionary War, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

What is John Feldmann Telling Bob Ferraro?

Posted on 12 March 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Archiving a little gallows humor inspired by funnyman Jeff Burkhardt.

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, Humor - Lighter Side | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment