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.

Who is I & L. M. Hellman of St. Louis, Missouri?

Posted on 9 April 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Who is I. & L. M. Hellman of St. Louis, Missouri? 09 April 2013 (R•011319) (R•110719) I received the following email and pictures from Matthew Levanti about a bottle embossed I & L. M. Hellman, St. Louis, Mo. This really … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Bourbon, Club News, Digging and Finding, History, liquor, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Spirits, Tonics, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ordinances Regulating Location, Depth, etc. of Urban Privies

Posted on 8 April 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Ferdinand, I have put together a list of privy ordinances from Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and more than 2 dozen other cities.Some of these ordinances will show why it is tough to find bottles in some cities privies, especially when they mandated … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Article Publications, Digging and Finding, History, Questions, Regulations | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Arabian Bitters – One Thousand and One Nights

Posted on 8 April 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Did you know that there is an Arabian Bitters from Savannah? I wonder what the product name was inspired from? Arabian Nights? Or maybe from a horse or some mystical place? Maybe from a dance or Aladdin’s Lamp? Let’s see … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Digging and Finding, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Argyle Bitters – Adapted for a warm climate!

Posted on 7 April 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

A R G Y L E   B I T T E R S E. B. Wheelock  – New Orleans 07 April 2013 (R•120913-Time Picayune Ad) These elegant Bitters are peculiarly adapted for a warm climate” Good grief, I love … Continue reading →

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Jacob’s Cordial – Some great typesetting and typography

Posted on 7 April 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

JACOB’S CORDIAL! Dysentery and Diarrhea are of such universal prevalence that it behooves every one to be in possession of a remedy that will cure it at once. Jacob’s Cordial will do this, and we wish every family who has … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Cordial, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Brady’s Family Bitters – “Every Body Takes It!”

Posted on 6 April 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

David C. Brady BRADY’S FAMILY BITTERS Louisville, Kentucky “EVERY BODY TAKES IT!” 06 April 2013 (R•120713-Louisville ads) (R•101918) (R•050319) It was interesting to find out that Brady’s Family Bitters was being sold in Houston in 1869. Quite a few issues … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Schnapps | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What was here, Early Houston Advertisements – Part IIA

Posted on 5 April 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

What was here, Early Houston Advertisements – Part IIA 05 April 2013 THE WEEKLY TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1860 I was able to locate another issue of The Weekly Telegraph in Houston. The day was Tuesday, 20 April 1860. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Ales & Ciders, Apothecary, Bitters, Cordial, Demijohns, Druggist & Drugstore, Gin, Mineral Water, Sarsaparilla, Schnapps, Spirits, Tonics, Uncategorized, Whiskey, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What was here, Early Houston Advertisements – Part II

Posted on 4 April 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

What was here, Early Houston Advertisements – Part II 04 April 2013 U N D E R   M Y   F E E T Yesterday I started a series about ‘looking in my own back yard’ for Texas history … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Allen’s Landing – Houston (not everything is new here) – Part I

Posted on 3 April 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Allen’s Landing – Houston (not everything is new here) – Part I 03 April 2013 H O U S T O N On Monday February 17, 1840 at the regular City Council meeting a resolution was passed authorizing Mayor Charles … Continue reading →

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The Color Yellow – A wide range of shades

Posted on 2 April 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Y E L L O W (above) Yellow figural whiskey bottle and Suffolk Bitters from the Meyer Collection The Color Yellow – A wide range of shades 02 April 2013 Yellow is an important color in bottle collecting but is … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Bitters, Color, Figural Bottles, Inks, Questions | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment