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.

Crescent Bitters from Crescent City

Posted on 16 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Crescent Bitters from Crescent City 16 February 2012 (R•051814) (R•071315) NOLA, The Big Easy, Crescent City, N’awlins…all names for the great city of New Orleans, Louisiana. NOLA: New Orleans, Louisiana, duh. Big Easy: “The Big Easy” became the official nickname for … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Telegraph & Telephone Poles carrying some Beautiful Glass

Posted on 15 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Telegraph & Telephone Poles carrying some Beautiful Glass 15 February 2012 I like juxtaposition in life and contrast. The unexpected beauty of finding and collecting glass insulators has always intrigued me. I wanted to do a post of some interesting … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Insulators, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

75 Porcelain Telephone Signs & Related Items in next Pole Top Discoveries Auction!

Posted on 14 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

If you haven’t yet heard…Ray Klingensmith and Pole Top and Glass Discoveries is having TWO Winter Auctions. These include: Pole Top Discoveries’ Auction #66 
Insulators & Signs, Online Bidding Begins: Sunday, February 19.
 Insulators & Signs, Sale Closes: Tuesday, February … Continue reading →

Posted in Auction News, Ephemera, Insulators, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Double Pontiled Greeley’s Bourbon Bitters

Posted on 14 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Double Pontiled Greeley’s Bourbon Bitters 14 February 2012 [Incoming email from noted collector and dealer Jack Stecher] Hi Ferd. Enjoyed looking at your recent post on color run of Greeley’s. Especially liked the plum colored variant. Overall, very nice run. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Bourbon, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Edward Wilder and his Building Bottles

Posted on 12 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Edward Wilder and his Building Bottles 12 February 2012 (R•012614) (R•010919) This weekend I was cataloging a bottle from Edward Wilder, who was a wholesale druggist in Louisville, Kentucky. I purchased the bottle from John Pastor (Antique Bottle & Glass … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, Figural Bottles, History, Legal, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Sarsaparilla, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Peach colored Bourbon Whiskey Bitters added to Color Run

Posted on 12 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Peach colored Bourbon Whiskey Bitters added to Color Run 12 February 2012 (R•110214 update with advertisement above) Yesterday I completed photography for two (2) new peachy coppery barrels that will join my run of  the popular figural barrel form of … Continue reading →

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

Kalamazoo Celery Pepsin Bitters – Get Some for (from) your Wife

Posted on 11 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

This is why I collect Bitters. Today I started my photography of  bottles obtained in 2011. I usually do this in the winter when the light and sun is just right. Well, I’m cataloging an unlisted labeled bitters which I … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Humor - Lighter Side | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Wonser’s U.S.A. Indian Root Bitters – Looking at Some Information and Colors

Posted on 10 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. Wonser’s U.S.A. Indian Root Bitters – Looking at Some Information and Colors 10 February 2012 (R•052914) (R•101714) One of my favorite Bitters bottles and certainly one of the very top western Bitters bottles is the Dr. Wonser’s U.S.A. Indian Root … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Ephemera, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Benicia Iridescence and Patina on Bottles – Not a Sick Bottle

Posted on 9 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Benicia Iridescence and Patina on Bottles – Not a Sick Bottle 09 February 2012 (R•041614) I wanted to start a collection of pictures of bottles with Benicia iridescence and/or patina. Please send me examples of bottles you have or pictures … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Ancient Glass, Digging and Finding, History, Questions, Sea Glass | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Glass Works and Glass Factories – Hell on Earth?

Posted on 8 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

To a little sand, a little alkali, and a little limestone, add considerable heat and a still greater amount of skill, might be taken as a brief recipe for the manufacture of a glass bottle. Popular Science Monthly/Volume 36/December 1889/Glass-Making … Continue reading →

Posted in Glass Companies & Works, Glass Makers, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment