Big Bill Best Bitters

Posted on 10 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

BIG BILL BEST BITTERS

STOMACH-MAGEN

10 January 2013 (R•102013)

Early 1900s BIG BILL BEST Beer Party photograph. Look closely and you will see the Big Bill Best counter piece sitting in the front row. I have absolutely no clue why these people are drinking beer with Big Bill. These people also look like Zombies. – ebay

Alcohol 21%

Guaranteed by Liebenthal Bros. & Co. under The Food and Drugs Act, June 30th 1906

As a companion post to the Royal Flush Bitters article (Read: The Ultimate Hand – Royal Flush Bitters), I thought it might be BEST to follow up with BIG BILL BEST BITTERS as most bitters collectors pair these very similar brands and bottles together, at least in discussions or photography. Very few people own examples of both as the Royal Flush Bitters is extremely rare. The Big Bill Best Bitters is common. Big Bill Best also comes in a really cool figural bottle (see below).

What initially started these posts this morning was my complete admiration of the fully labeled example of a Big Bill Best Bitters in the Glass Works Auction #96 – “The Cabin Fever Auction” which is occurring now. Wow, what a great example.

I wonder who Big Bill is? Could it be President William Howard Taft? Could he be Big Bill Haywood?

President William Howard Taft

President William Howard Taft

[from American Glass Gallery Auction 11] The figure is believed to be that of William Howard Taft. See Bob Strickhart’s article in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector. August, 2013. Also, see the article by Wm. Floyd Dill of Bridgeton, New Jersey, “The President Taft And Santa Claus Figural Bottles” by M. Husted, Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, July, 1990. In this article, Mr. Dill provides some very convincing points as to why these figural bottles were actually blown to commemorate our 27th President, William Howard Taft.

“Big Bill” Haywood

“They can’t stop us. No matter what they do we will go on and on until we – the roughnecks of the world – will take control of all production and work when we please and how much we please. The man who makes the wagon will ride in it himself…”

“BIG BILL” HAYWOOD

William Dudley Haywood

William Dudley Haywood (February 4, 1869 – May 18, 1928), better known as “Big Bill” Haywood, was a founding member and leader of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and a member of the Executive Committee of the Socialist Party of America. During the first two decades of the 20th century, he was involved in several important labor battles, including the Colorado Labor Wars, the Lawrence textile strike, and other textile strikes in Massachusetts and New Jersey. [Wikipedia]

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

B 95 BIG BILL BEST BITTERS, Circa 1890 – 1910

BIG / BILL / BEST / BITTERS // f // BIG / BILL / BEST / BITTERS // f //
12 1/8 x 3 1/8 x 2 1/4 (8 3/4)
Tapered rectangle, Amber, LTCR, Tooled Lip, Common

So back to trying to figure out a little more about the Big Bill Best brand. Very little information is online but if you look closely at the label you will see Liebenthal Bros. & Co.

A search online pulls two possibilties from Pre-Pro.com:

LIEBENTHAL BROS & CO., Cleveland, OH.,1899-1919, 14-16 Huron (1899-1900), 118-120 Huron (1901-1905), 208 Huron Rd SE (1906-1911), 1400-1430 W 9th NW (1912-1913), 1430-1438 W 9th NW (1914-1919)

LIEBENTHAL BROS. & CO., Kansas City, MO. 1910-1911

I have a hunch it is Cleveland because I found the following letterhead with a strong German influence. Keep in mind that the label also says “STOMACH-MAGEN”. Cleveland was also a strong labor and union city during the time period.

Liebenthal Bros. & Company letter

“BIG / BILL / BEST / BITTERS” – (reverse side identically embossed), (B-95), American, ca. 1895 – 1910, yellowish amber, 12 1/8”h, smooth base, tooled lip, 99% original front and back labels (the back label has some very minor stain), the bottle is perfect. Hard to imagine a nicer one! – Glass Works Auction #96 “The Cabin Fever Auction” – January 2013

Page 43 in Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham. Depicted is the ROYAL FLUSH BITTERS and the very similar BIG BILL BEST BITTERS.

Orange amber example of a BIG BILL BEST BITTERS – Meyer Collection

Orange amber example of a BIG BILL BEST Figural Bitters Bottle – Meyer Collection

Figural President Taft (Big Bill) Best Bitters Decanter, America, possibly Cumberland Glass Works, Bridgeton, NJ, 1908 – 1912. Golden amber, in the form of a rotund man with top hat and waistcoat, tooled square collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 11 3/4″, attic mint; (a little residue in the base that should easily wash out). Scarce. See R/H, p.97. – American Glass Gallery Auction 11

Posted in Ales & Ciders, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles | Tagged Best, Big, Big Bill Best, Bill, bitters, Figural, Glass Works Auctions, Meyer, Royal Flush Bitters, Socialist Party, William Dudley Haywood, William Howard Taft | Leave a comment

The Ultimate Hand – Royal Flush Bitters

Posted on 10 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

R O Y A L F L U S H B I T T E R S

The ultimate hand to a poker player is the Royal Flush. The odds of drawing this hand in a five card poker game are one in 649,740. Yet every year someone, somewhere draws this hand. So what are the odds of acquiring a Royal Flush Bitters when only one is offered for sale in 10-years?

GLASS WORKS AUCTIONS

You know, I have always liked the Royal Flush Bitters as every time I see a pictured example, it is fully labeled, sealed and full of contents.

Has anyone every seen an empty bottle without the label? Go figure. Anyway Jim Hagenbugh (General Jim) has an extraordinary example in his Glass Works Auction #96 “The Cabin Fever Auction” that is occurring now. A second example recently was sold by American Glass Gallery (see below) in May 2010.

According to Glass Works there are only two or three known examples making this bottle extremely rare. This same bottle was previously sold by Glass Works back in November 2002 which means that every time I see a picture it is the bottle in this auction or the example pictured in Bitters Bottles (see below).

I was certain that I would find an abundance of information when conducting a search. All I can find is a listing for a J. Quint Company in New Haven, Connecticut. Their address was noted as 835 Grand Avenue.

Here is the Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham Bitters Bottles write-up for the bottle:

R 110 ROYAL FLUSH BITTERS

ROYAL FLUSH BITTERS // f // ROYAL FLUSH BITTERS // f //
Label: J. Quint Company, New Haven, Conn.
12 x 3 (9)
Square tapering to top, Amber, LTCR, Extremely Rare
Similar in shape to Big Bill Best Bitters

Historical Pricing Information: The example sold by American Glass Gallery in May 2010 sold for $5,500. The example sold by Glass Works Auctions in November 2002 went for $3,575. Very strong.

“ROYAL / FLUSH / BITTERS” (reverse side identically embossed), (R-110), Connecticut, ca. 1895 – 1910, amber, 12 1/4”h, smooth base, tooled lip, 99% original label, ‘J. Quint. Co. / New Haven, Conn.’ embossed neck foil, and contents. The bottle is perfect. Extremely rare, one of only two or three known examples and identical in form to the more common Big Bill Best Bitters. We sold this bottle in our December 2002 auction and have not seen one since! Page 43 in ‘Bitters Bottles’ by Ring/Ham (see below) has a picture of two identical bottles sitting side-by-side. Glass Works Auction #96 “The Cabin Fever Auction” – January 2013

Page 43 in Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham. Depicted is the Royal Flush Bitters and the very similar Big Bill Best Bitters.

You can see the second labeled example of a ROYAL FLUSH BITTERS that recentle made an appearance in the American Glass Gallery Auction 6 (closed 17 May 2010)

Barrel Series – B.M. & E.A. Whitlock & Co. – New York

Posted on 9 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

B. M. & E. A. WHITLOCK & CO. – NEW YORK

09 January 2013 (R•01Oct13) (R•031318)

The figural barrel series from 2012 is for the most part, 95% or so complete meaning posts were developed for most of the great figural whiskey and bitters barrels. I was aware of the Whitlock barrel but was waiting for at least a second example to compare. While looking at the latest Glass Works Auction #96, so named the “Cabin Fever” Auction, I see a second example (see below) and yet a third example I find online, pictured to the left.

These barrels are clean, short blue aqua and have a super cool, flanged lip. I would say a must for any figural bottle collector.

Benjamin M. Whitlock and Edward A. Whitlock were successful grocers and importers located at 13 and 18 Beekman Street in the Bronx, New York. In some cases they were listed as B.M. & E. A. Whitlock & Co. Importers of Liquors, Segars & c. This extensive and well-known house was originally established in 1842 by Mr. B. M. Whitlock, “a gentleman esteemed for his many agreeable qualities, to which circumstance, united with active and energetic business qualifications, the house is mainly indebted for its highly prosperous career.”- The Union Sketch-Book, see below

Whitlock reference from The Union Sketch-Book, A reliable Guide by John Christopher Gobright, Pratt – 1860

Tradition says that five brothers came to America from Dumphries, Scotland, two of whom settled in New York, Benjamin and Edward, and three of whom went to Virginia prior to the Civil War, around 1840. Benjamin was the elder of the New Yorkers and became very successful in the wholesale grocery business, with his younger brother Edward as a partner.

Benjamin M. Whitlock’s store was at Nassau and Broadway near the old Brick Church. The church, was used as a hospital during the revolution. In 1856 it was ripped down and replaced by the first New York Times building. Whitlock traded in tobacco, wine, whiskey, and cotton.

Southern Militiamen, the Savannah Republican Blues, visited Whitlock promoting reconciliation on the eve of Civil War “…the bronze doors, with their elegant coat of arms and the inviting inscription, “Soyez le Bienvenue,” were never thrown open with greater cordiality than when an entire regiment from Georgia was being entertained, the officers lodged in the rooms and the men encamped on the lawns.” – Valentine’s Manual of Old New York About 4 oclock the visitors again embarked, and proceeded up the River through Hurl (Hells) Gate, about twelve miles, to the suburbanvilla of B.M. WHITLOCK, Esq., in Westchester County, on the banks of the river… After being photographed in line on the lawn in front of Mr. WHITLOCKs fine new brown-stone mansion, taking a look at his sixty blood horses, and extensive repository of carriages, imbibing a timely drink, and viewing the grounds, the company was invited to a collation spread for three hundred in a shady grove near one of the residences. – NY Times July 23, 1860

These event of the Civil War took a great toll on Benjamin, and he died in 1863. His Obituary reads as follows — “Benjamin M. Whitlock, Esq., formerly one of the prominent wholesale grocers of this City, died on Wednesday last at his residence in Westchester County, after a very brief illness. Mr. Whitlock, in consequence of the present troubles, lost overwhelmingly, because of the failure of his Southern customers to meet their engagements, and was compelled to relinquish his business, which had before been one of the most profitable in the City. He was a man of finest business capacity, and of noble, generous impulses. His hospitality was lavish, and he was noted especially for keeping one of the finest studs in the country, his stock and stables being the centre of admiration and interest. These and the remainder of his property he sacrificed when misfortune overtook him, in order honorably to meet his sudden embarrassments.” 1863 NY Times
After Benjamin’s death, there was “a vast and ﬁendish plot.” Some of Benj. M. Whitlock’s friends (and possibly his brothers?) were reportedly out for revenge against New York City. “These Yankees,” the “Southern Gentleman” says “will learn what General Sherman burns Atlanta it is to incur the Enmity of a proud and chivalric People.”

Read: Constitution Bitters – The oldest Figural Bitters?

February 8, 1865 A NAWARK REBEL. WILLIAM LAWRENCE MCDONALD, who figures in the papers as the rebel agent in Canada, and the leading spirit in the Chesapeake, St. Albans, and New-York hotel-burning affairs… In1860, he associated with Mr. B.M. WHITLOCK, (his brother-in-law,) in the carriage business… “GUS” MCDONALD, a brother ofthe above, who also lived in Orange, but recently a resident of New-York, is in custody on a charge of harboring the incendiaries whilethey were in that city. — Newark Advertiser. – Harpers Weekly, December 17, 1864

Slide from History of Hunt’s Point in the Bronx

“B.M. & E. A. WHITLOCK & CO / NEW YORK”, (Denzin WH-116), New York, ca. 1860 – 1875, bluish aqua barrel, 8”h, open pontil, applied mouth. A scarce barrel form whiskey, one of many good looking bottles from the Whitlock Company. – Glass Works Auction #96 – “Cabin Fever” Auction (January 2013)

B.M. & E.A. WHITLOCK & CO. / NEW YORK, figural barrel, aqua, Open Pontil, 8 1/8″ high, large applied flanged lip, bold embossing, has some spots of light insife haxe from the contents otherwise perfect, a fine example of this very rare bottle, circa 1855 – 1865 – Sold GreatAntiqueBottles.com

“B.M. & E.A. WHITLOCK & CO.”, (unlisted form), American, ca. 1855 – 1865, aqua bulbous form, 9”h, open pontil, applied double collar mouth. Some very light inside haze exists, otherwise perfect. This must be an extremely rare form as we have not seen it before. – Glass Works Auctions – Auction #119

B. E. Mann before he became a Professor Overnight

Posted on 8 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

M 28.5 B. E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS square – ebay (Image clean-up by PRG)

Extremely rare B. E. Mann’s Oriental Stomach Bitters bottle

08 January 2013 (R•103114 update with Chicago connections) (R•111915)

“I dug a very rare bottle this weekend in Vicksburg, MS in a Confederate artillery camp that was also occupied by union soldiers post siege.”

The listing header on ebay from gettinready2012 (0) read, “Extremely rare B. E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS bottle” with a follow-up description:

[Initial Description] This is an original B.E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS bottle from the mid 19th century. It was dug by me in an civil war encampment with permission from the property owner in Vicksburg, MS. This bottle is one of the rarest bitters bottles in existence. This particular bottle is worth around $ 1,500 – $ 2,000. The bottle has no flaws at all. No chips popped air bubbles or cracks of any kind. This bottle also has a very rare misprint on it also… the apostrophe is backwards !!!! This also increases the value of the bottle. This is one of the finest examples of this bottle you will ever have the chance to own. I am not a bottle collector at all so lucky you. This bottle is also documented in the 2012 CHRISTMAS issue of NORTH SOUTH TRADER on page 16 Vol. 36 No. 6. I am charging $ 15.00 for shipping due to the fact that it will need to be packed expertly and insured. This bottle is void of any contents what so ever. This bottle has only been rinsed with warm water and the buyer can have it tumbled if they wish.

M 28.5 B. E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS square – ebay (Image clean-up by PRG)

[Follow-Up] This bottle also has an even bigger flaw than the apostrophe being backwards….It is missing the PROFESSOR before the B.E. MANN’S. 99% of the B.E. MANN’S bottles ever found have the PROFESSOR but this one does not !!!!!!!!! What a rare find and exciting day it was for me. I know that there are a lot of bitters bottle collectors out there and this would be the holy grail to your collection and it makes me very happy to make this one available to you all. I really wish to see this go to a good home.

[Online Comment from Seller Elsewhere] I dug a very rare bottle this weekend in Vicksburg, MS in a Confederate artillery camp that was also occupied by union soldiers post siege. The bottle is the very rare B.E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS bottle and the bottle dates to the Civil war era. There are no cracks, dings, chips or scratches. This is in excellent condition and you could not ask for a better bottle. I will take cash and trade and all offers will be considered. If you send me a message I will give you a courtesy message in return letting you know my stance on your offer. If you have any question please feel free to ask. This bottle in this condition sells for around $1,500. and this is the real value and not a joke.

Secretary of the SOUTHERN HISTORICAL RESEARCH And RECOVERY ASSOCIATION

This find is rather extraordinary as the M 28.5 square most likely predates the M 29 semi-cabin that many Bitters collectors are familiar with. It is also really neat to note that B. E. Mann somehow became a “Professor” in between the square and semi-cabin bottle carrying his product and name. Obviously this is not a mistake as noted in the listing.

Who is B. E. Mann? Good question. There is virtually no information or good pictures of this bottle online. I also do not possess examples in my collection which bothers me. Deeper internet searches on FOLD3, Ancestry.com and other sources hint that his name was “Benjamin” but more likely “Benning” which seems to be a more common name in the 1800’s. Possibly a Benning E. Mann born in Connecticut in 1813 (married Mary Ann Meygatt on 05 May 1834). B. E. Mann and Mary next show up in Chicago, with children in 1850, 1860 and 1870 Federal Census lists where a B. E. Mann is listed as a Liquor Merchant. The common denominator is the “B. E.” as this is how he is listed in the census listings.

*See new information at bottom of post confirming a Chicago brand.

Very interesting bottle with possibly a Connecticut, Chicago, Mississippi and Wyoming connection as noted in this post. You would think that there would some advertising or more information. Hopefully this post will shake out some more material and pictures.

Oh, congratulations to the buyer of the M 28.5 on ebay. You are a mystery person to me. On ebay, you beat out a fellow named Fred Farklesberger in Texas from what I heard.

The Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham listings in Bitters Bottles Supplement for the square and semi-cabin is as follows:

M 28.5 B. E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS (represented in post)

B. E. MANN’S // f // ORIENTAL / STOMACH BITTERS // f //
9 1/2 x 2 7/8 (7 1/4)
Square, Olive amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely Rare

M 29 PROFESSOR B. E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS (picture below)

PROFESSOR . B. E. MANN’S // sp // ORIENTAL / STOMACH BITTERS // sp // // s // PATENTED (au) // sp // sp // sp // sp //
10 x 2 7/8 x 2 3/4 (7 1/4)
Semi-cabin slightly rectangular, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Rare
Dug at ruins of Fort Steele, Wyoming

M 28.5 B. E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS square – ebay (Image clean-up by PRG)

M 29 PROFESSOR B. E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS sem-cabin (HD Enterprises)

[Pictured to Left online Description] This 9 7/8″ tall PROFESSOR B. E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS bottle (193.86HJ), dating into the 1870s, was dug behind the old post hospital at the site of Fort Fred Steele, Wyoming (1868-1886) in the mid-20th century. With a beautiful, translucent, almost reddish amber, the embossed panels of this great example of the rare Mann’s bitters have bowed in about 3/8″ (occurred at the time of manufacture). For the exceedingly picky, there is a hardly visible (you need a 10X loupe) ding on the mouth edge. The fort is now a state historical site. The bottle comes with a small display card and a map of Fort Steele on which the hospital pit is located. – HD Enterprises, Inc.

Lot: 22 “Professor. B. E. Mann’s / Oriental / Stomach Bitters” Figural Bottle, America, 1860-1880. Modified cabin form, square with rounded corners and arched panels, medium golden amber, applied sloping collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 9 3/4 inches; (light exterior high point wear). R/H #M-29 Listed as rare. Fine condition. Property of The Strong, sold to benefit the museum’s collections fund. – Heckler Auction 131

Select Listings:

Information provided by Corey Stock

1865: Advertisement – Prof. Mann’s Celebrated Oriental Stomach Bitters (see below)

Advertisement for Prof. Mann’s Celebrated Oriental Stomach Bitters – East Saginaw Courier (Michigan), Wednesday, October 4, 1865

1866: Listing: Brant D. R. & Co. (Daniel R. Brant and John H. Peck), wines and liquors, whol. 147 S. Water. Chicago (Selling Prof. Mann’s Celebrated Oriental Stomach Bitters, see below)

1866: Advertisement – Prof. Man’s (spelling error) Celebrated Oriental Stomach Bitters (see below)

3 1866 AD PROF MANNS ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS

Advertisement for Prof. Man’s (spelling error) Celebrated Oriental Stomach Bitters – Marshall County Republican, Plymouth, Indiana, Thursday, August 9, 1866

1866: Listing: Mann, Bening E. (spelling error) salesman, D.R. Brant & Co. bds. Metropolitan Hotel – Chicago City Directory

1869: Listing: Mann Benning E. (Mann, Shears & Co.) r. 330 Wabash av. – Chicago City Directory

1869: Listing: Mann Edward B. (Mann, Shears & Co.) r. 330 Wabash av.,- Chicago City Directory

1869: Listing: Mann, Shears & Co., 53 S. Water, Chicago, Wines and Liquor (Wholesale) (see below) – Chicago City Directory

1869 Listing: Mann, Shears & Co., 53 S. Water, Chicago, Wines and Liquor (Wholesale)

1870: Listing: Mann, Curtis & Co. (B. E. Mann, William D. Curtis and George Shears), liquor whol. 53, S. Water – Chicago City Directory

188o: Listing: Mann Benning E. housde 2, 245 Wabash Av. – Chicago City Directory

Posted in Bitters, Civil War, Digging and Finding, eBay, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures | Tagged Benning, Benning E. Mann, bitters, Brant, chicago, Connecticut, Corey, eBay, Edward. Curtis, Fort Steele, Mann, Mississippi, Oriental, Peck, Professor, Shears, Stock, Vicksburg, Wyoming | Leave a comment

Shipping Crates

Posted on 7 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

How about those old bottle boxes. The stories they might tell?

Tami Barber

Tami Barber attached the above picture of a stacked Richardson Coca-Cola Bottling Works, Lead, South Dakota and Anheuser Busch St. Louis, Mo. beer shipping crate to the Peachridge Glass facebook page and said “How about those old bottle boxes. The stories they might tell?” This of course got me started. I have a dozen or so myself, probably many more antique shipping crates staged throughout the house. Many of them are for bitters bottles. Here are a few from my collection along with many others of various construction and brand.

Packing Box or Crate Stencil for Mishler’s Keystone Bitters, Manufactured by Griel & Bro, Sole Agents No. 28 South 16th St. Philada, Pa. – Glass Works Auctions (ex: Jeff Burkhardt)

THE GREATEST BODY BUILDER Father John’s Medicine, Lowell, Mass., U.S.A. and Montreal, Canada

Abbott's Aromatic Bitters Shipping Crate - Meyer Collection

C.W. Abbott & Co. Manufacturers of ABBOTT’S BITTERS Baltimore, Maryland shipping crate – Meyer Collection

DEWAR’S “White Label” SCOTCH WHISKY, John Dewar & Sons, Established 1846, Perth, Scotland Shipping Crate

AFRICAN STOMACH BITTERS Shipping Crate – Meyer Collection (Read More)

FROM CHAMBERLAIN MEDICINE COMPANY, Des Moines, Iowa. Probably held Dr. Von Hopf’s Curacoa or Curaco (or Curacao) Bitters

DAIRYLEA Division of Dairymen’s League Co-op Assn, Inc. Rochester, NY Milk Crate

By DR PETER FAHRNEY Shipping Crate – Chicago, Ill’s

One Dozen Large ELECTRIC BITTERS , H.E. Bucklen & Co., Chicago, Illinois Shipping Crate and Three Labeled Bottles (Read More)

Property Of EUCLID RACE DAIRY CO. Shipping Crate

HIRES ROOT BEER with Real Root Juices – The Charles E. Hires Co. – Philadelphia, PA.

HOMER’S GINGER AND BRANDY COMPOUND FOR CRAMPS & FLATULENCY Shipping Crate

DR. J. HOSTETTER’S CELEBRATED Stomach Bitters, Pittsburgh, PA. – Meyer Colection

THE JULEP CO. – Fort Worth, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, Philadelphia, PA

Marlboro BEVERAGE COMPANY – Head Office – San Francisco

MISHLER’S HERB BITTERS – THE GREAT HOUSEHOLD REMEDY – Meyer Collection (Read More)

3-C Nectar, “The Drink of the Gods”, Bottling Works, Winchester, VA.

PAINE’S CELERY COMPOUND Trade Mark Registered Shipping Crate

PERUNA MEDICINE Co. SUCCESSORS TO DR. S.B. HARTMAN & CO., COLUMBUS, OHIO

POOR MANS FAMILY BITTERS Shipping Crate with labeled bottles in sawdust. Manufactured by Poor Man’s Bitters Co. , Oswego, N.Y. (Read More)

Senate Beer Shipping Crate – CHR. HEURICH BREWING CO. – WASHINGTON, D.C.

Sloan’s The World’s Liniment Shipping Crate

DRINK Squirt NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA Shipping Crate

Later WHISKEY Shipping Crate, Louisville, Kentucky

THE TEXECO COMPANY LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE KEROSENE Shipping Crate – Manufactured at Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.A.

Posted in Ales & Ciders, Bitters, Breweriana, Cola, Medicines & Cures, Milk & Creamers, Root Beer, Soda Bottles, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged Baltimore, bitters, Box, C.W. Abbott & Co., Chamberlain & Co., Charles E. Hires Co., Coca-Cola, Dairylea, Dewar's, Dr. Peter Fahrney, Electric Bitters, Euclid Race, Father John's Medicines, Griel & Bro, Hire's Root Beer, Homer's Ginger Brandy, Hostetter's, Jeff Burkhardt, John Dewar & Sons, Kerosene, Lowell, Marlboro, Massachusetts, Mishler's Keystone, Peruna, Shipping Crate, Sloan's, Tami Barber, Texaco, Whiskey, whisky | 1 Comment

Pictures of the Week (06 January 2013)

Posted on 6 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

This is the first weekly round-up of some really nice photography from various antique bottle and glass web sites that have surfaced in the previous week. It seems that winter sunlight and new snow has influenced many of still life pictures that appear below.

Make sure you visit the Fresh Peach Gallery which represents the best of the best pictures from 2012.

P H O T O G A L L E R Y

I was fortunate to be at the right time and place. – Herbert Cable (Early American Glass FB)

I ALWAYS WANTED A PONY!!! – Larry Baumann (Insulator Collectors FB)

A wonderful photograph of a Dr. Walker’s Vinegar Bitters – Utah Antique Bottle Cliche

Was at my buddy’s today. Snapped this pic, we have a friendly competition with the Lockport stuff. – Dave Kam (Early American Glass FB)

One of my Bitters Rooms – Ferdinand Meyer V (Peachridge Glass)

5 hrs last night cleaning dolls heads (: – Mark Rose (Bottle Diggers and Collectors FB)

TODAY’S GARAGE FINDS (brrrr…. Cold out there, half way thru, here’s some keepers) – John Panella (Bottle Collectors FB

A few of my Demi’s – Mark Yates (Bottle Collectors FB)

Color run of Dr. J. Walkers California Vinegar Bitters – Dale Mlasko

Playing around with my demijohns – James Campiglia

Look closely and you’ll find a few choice objects. – Jeff Noordsy (Early American Glass FB)

I was fortunate enough to acquire (2) more Lockports and both are rare colors. The cornflower blue example is one of two known with some impressive provenance. Ex John Pastor, Ex Mark Yates. The yellow olive green one is a slayer! I now have (11) different colored examples and (9) different mold variants of the …” FROM THE LABORATORY//OF/G.W. MERCHANT/CHEMIST//LOCKPORT, N.Y. These are personal favorites. For Dave Kam and Peachridge Glass, I will post more pics in the next few days. Happy New Year Team…. – Rick Ciralli (Bottle Collectors FB)

Just fooling around with my iPad and thought I’d take a pic looking out my basement window – Chip Cable (Early American Glass FB)

Couple of “little boys” from the Hartford hood. – Michael George (Early American Glass FB)

Taken from the Good book of Woody Douglas according to Tom Marshall… I have but one question for the moody glass masters… Is my sheet wrinkled enough?? :) – Michael George (Early American Glass FB)

I just had to send you something for the site, which I got carried away viewing. It’s great to see you always have exciting stuff posted! I’m staying up way too late working on bottles. – James Campiglia

Governer Clinton – Tom Marshall (Early American Glass FB)

A recently unearthed Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup catches some daylight – James Campiglia (Outhouse Patrol)

The Pharmacy on Mercury Street Documentary – Meg McWhinney

Posted in Apothecary, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Demijohns, Display, Early American Glass, Historical Flasks, Inks, Insulators, Medicines & Cures, Peachridge Glass, Photography, Windows | Tagged Dale Mlasko, Dave Kam, Ferdinand Meyer V, Herbert Cable, James Campiglia, Jeff Noordsy, John Panella, Larry Baumann, Mark Rose, Mark Yates, Michael George, Rick Ciralli, Tom Marshall, Utah Antique Bottle Cliche | 1 Comment

Playing around with my Demijohns

Posted on 6 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Ferd,

Took a lot of thought and I was tired but wanted to get some info. out so really appreciate you posting and thanks for the perk. I will try to write more good stuff for the site as I feel probably the most viewers when it comes to bottles are looking at your site. Do you know how many hits or looks you get per month and how long they stay on average? Do you look at that? My web guys says Outhousepatrol is doing great with 400 to 500 consistently each month and until yesterday I had not updated much. Took more pics and will add more of my collection soon.

I was having fun with some big wine bottle art we need to hang high on a wall and put my leather wrapped Palm (Saloon, Elko, Nevada) and a nice early crude demi on a barrel. Made for what I think is real interesting shots. Then I did the B&W and wow looks like a vintage old winery photo! See Pictures Below

Thanks,
James (Campiglia)

www.jameschips.com
www.outhousepatrol.com/

James…yes I do sometimes follow Google Analytics for Peachridge Glass. We should hit a half million visits fairly soon now. The stats are encouraging. My last look was in November. Stats below.

Graph and stats from November 2012 showing growth of Preachridge Glass web site

D E M I J O H N S

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Demijohns, Display, Peachridge Glass, Photography, Questions | Tagged Demijohns, James Campiglia, Outhouse Patrol, Peachridge Glass | Leave a comment

Morphine Copy Cat – Dr. Hobson’s Soothing Syrup

Posted on 5 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

S O O T H I N G S Y R U P S

Thank you for the interesting write up on the Mrs. Winslows Soothing Syrup. This is one of the things that first got me interested in bottle collecting.

With my background in nursing I found it interesting in what medicine was like in the 1800s and civil war era. Gone With the Wind has always been one of my favorite movies. The scene were they amputate limbs put shivers up my spine. I can not even imagine having this done on me without my favorite “gasman”(anesthesiologist). Shock and infection was a major source of death back then. Morphine was the answer to almost anything.

When she was ready to pull her hair out she would come over and look into my cabinet and ask what can I give her to quite her monsters down.

Back to The Soothing Syrup. After Mrs. Winslow’s there were many copy cats. I have collected and sold off several of them but have kept some of my favorites. I tend to keep the ones with contents and labels when I can find them. I have sent you a few pictures of my favorite Mrs. Winslow’s with about 1/2 full of contents, crude pontil and some nice patina. I have also included a copy cat of Dr. Hobsons Soothing Syrup that is full of contents and almost pristine label without a pontil.

A funny story I have to include is many years ago we had a family accross the street from us who had two wild children. When she was ready to pull her hair out she would come over and look into my cabinet and ask what can I give her to quite her monsters down. Back in the days I’m sure that not only did the children get a dose but the moms probably had a bottle for themselves!

Pam (Selenak)

MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP

DR. HOBSON’S SOOTHING SYRUP

OUTHOUSE PATROL

Hello Ferd, Perhaps you can show these photos with the other great Mrs. Winslows of Pam’s. This one is not pontilled but almost was. I personally dug it in Virginia City, Montana and I am holding it up with the silhouette image of Reggie there. When I find cool bottles like this I keep them forever. One of these days I will dig a green, or maybe cobalt Kelly’s Old Cabin……Thanks…James (Campiglia) OuthousePatrol.com

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Medicines & Cures, Remedy | Tagged Copy Cat, Dr. Hobson's Soothing Syrup, James Campiglia, Morphine, Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup, Pam Selenak | Leave a comment

Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup – oooh so soothing

Posted on 5 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup – Courtesy of the US National Library of Medicine, an 1885 advertising image produced by Meyer, Merkell & Ottmann in New York.

“Oh, jab me with your needle a hundred times, and a hundred times I will bless you, Saint Morphine”

Jules Verne  (1828 – 1905)

Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup was one of the most successful, famous or infamous medicines from our past and was called the “Baby Killer” by some. Sometime prior to 1844, a Mrs. Charlotte N. Winslow prepared this highly successful composition for children teething. History preserves that Mrs. Winslow was a midwife and studied infant teething and other related pains. In 1844, she gave the recipe to her son-in-law, Jeremiah Curtis and his partner Benjamin A. Perkins in Bangor, Maine who continued to manufacture and sell it under the name Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup. Curtis and Perkins were druggists in Maine who became the agents for this medicine in the 1840s. They later moved their operation to New York City in the 1850s.

The formula consisted of Morphine Sulphate (an opiate analgesic related to heroin), sodium carbonate (water softener), spirits foeniculi (an alcohol that seems to be only associated with this product), and aqua ammonia (a cleaning agent). I can not even begin to imagine what this may have tasted like. Probably wouldn’t matter.

It was claimed that it was “likely to sooth any human or animal”, and it effectively quieted restless infants and small children. It was widely marketed in the United Kingdom and the United States – as well as newspapers, the company used various media to promote their product, including recipe books, calendars, and trade cards. [reference Wikipedia and A treatise on the Law of Trade-marks]

Common to bottle collectors are the cylindrical vials marked “Mrs Winslows – Soothing Syrup – Curtis & Perkins – Proprietors” which are about 5 inches tall and about 1-1/4″ in diameter. They are found with both an open pontil mark as well as with a smooth base. Earlier examples have an inwardly rolled lip which later became a better formed tooled square lip. [Historic Glasshouse]

In 1911, the American Medical Association put out a publication called “Nostrums And Quackery” (pictured above) where, in a section called “Baby Killers”, it incriminated Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup. It was not withdrawn from sale in the UK until 1930.

In 1879 the English composer Edward Elgar (pictured above) wrote an early musical work, part of his Harmony Music for a wind quintet, which he titled Mrs Winslow’s soothing syrup.

Great photograph of a MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP bottle – The Pharmacy on Mercury Street

MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP FOR CHILDREN TEETHING.; LETTER FROM A MOTHER IN LOWELL, MASS. A DOWN-TOWN MERCHANT.

Published: December 1, 1860 – New York Times

DEAR SIR: I am happy to be able to certify to the efficiency of MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP, and to the truth of what it is represented to accomplish. Having a little boy suffering greatly from teething, who could not rest, and at night by his cries would not permit any of the family to do so, I purchased a bottle of the SOOTHING SYRUP, in order to test the remedy, and, when given to the boy according to directions, its effect upon him was like magic; he soon went to sleep, and all pain and nervousness disappeared. We have had no trouble with him since, and the little fellow will pass through with comfort the excruciating process of teething, by the sole aid of MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP Every mother who regards the health and life of her children should possess it.

LOWELL, Mass. Mr. H.A. ALGER.

Having passed several sleepless nights, disturbed by the agonies and cries of a suffering child, and becoming convinced that MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP was just the article needed, procured a supply for the child. On reaching home, and acquainting his wife with what he had done, she refused to have it administered to the child, as she was strongly in favor of Homoeopathy. That night the child passed in suffering, and the parents without sleep. Returning home the day fellowing, the father found the baby still worse, and, while contemplating another sleepless night, the mother stepped from the room to attend to some domestic duties, and left the father with the child. During her absence he administered a portion of the SOOTHING SYRUP to the baby, and said nothing. That night all hands slept well, and the little fellow awoke in the morning bright and happy. The mother was delighted with the sudden and wonderful change, and, although at first offended at the deception practiced upon her, has continued to use the SYRUP, and suffering, crying babies, and restless nights, have disappeared. A single trial of the SYRUP never yet failed to relieve the baby and overcome the prejudices of the mother.

Millions of bottles of MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP are now used every year in the United States for children teething, with never-failing success. Relief is IMMEDIATE and CERTAIN.

MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP is sure to regulate the bowels.

Orders are coming in every day from druggists in all parts of the country, “Send me more of MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP.”

Millions of bottles of MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP are sold every year in the United States.

Give us an old nurse for diseases incident to the period of teething in children. Here you have that old nurse for 25 cents, in the form of MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP.

MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP never fails to give immediate relief.

MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP is sold by all druggists throughout the United States.

HIGHLY IMPORTANT TO MOTHERS. — MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP is the only thing that you can rely upon to give relief to yourself, and relief and health to your infant.

MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP has been the means of restoring the drooping spirits of many mothers.

This is the season of the year to use MRS. WINSLOWS SOOTHING SYRUP.

To every mother who has children suffering from any of the complaints incident to the period of teething, we say do not let your own prejudices, or the prejudices of others, stand in the way of the relief that will be sure — yes, absolutely sure — to follow the use of MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP.

Sold by druggists throughout the world.

Price only 25 cents per bottle.

Principal Office, No. 13 Cedar-St., New-York.

Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup was a medicine for children that was thought to cure illnesses and prevent children from crying. Made up of a mix of alcohol, morphine, and opium, this ‘medicine’ was soon outlawed by the federal government in 1906. Information provided by – US History, Pathways To the Present

Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup trade card – “For children teething. Greatly facilitates the process of Teething, by softening the gums, reducing all inflammation; will allay ALL PAIN and spasmodic action, and is SURE TO REGULATE THE BOWELS. Depend on it, Mothers, it will give rest to yourselves and RELIEF AND HEALTH TO YOUR INFANTS. Sold by all chemists, at 1s 1/2d per bottle.”

Two Cents United States Internal Revenue Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup, Jeremiah Curtis & Son Proprietors, Successors to Curtis & Perkins New York

Advertisement for Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup – 1895

The tax for all proprietary articles sold for more than 15 cents and up to 25 cents was 5/8 cent. Mrs. Winslow’s was only offered in one size bottle and so Anglo-American only ordered printed cancels on 5/8 cent stamps. Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup. 1899. Type 2 – 1898 Revenues

This is an advertisement for ‘Mrs Winslow’s Soothing Syrup‘, this medicine was given to babies to soothe them when they were teething. It softened gums and reduced inflammation and was widely used. One problem was that it actually contained Opium. During the 19th century Opium was frequently used, poets such as Byron and Shelly indulged in ‘laudanum’, an alcoholic drink containing opium and medicines such as ‘Mrs Winslow’s Soothing Syrup’ were used to treat every sort of illness from colds to heart disease. The addictive properties of Opium were eventually recognised and it was banned, except for use in medicine. – British Library

Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Teething Syrup Medicine for Children’s teeth, dental-related patent medicine, 1885- 1886 Calendar on back – Dave’s Great Cards

Posted in Advertising, Advice, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, History, Medicines & Cures, Remedy, Tax Stamps, Trade Cards | Tagged Bangor, Benjamin A. Perkins, Charlotte N. Winslow, children, Curtis & Perkins, drug, Edward Elgar, Jeremiah Curtis, Maine, Morphine, Mrs. Winslow, Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup, New York City, Nostrum, Quackery, Teething | Leave a comment

A Most Unusual Christmas Present

Posted on 4 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

ART CHURCH BIRD HOUSE

Now here’s something none of you have – For Xmas my wife to be commissioned a special, one of a kind birdhouse by HVBC (Hudson Valley Bottle Club) Club Treasurer Art Church, a friend of ours. Art builds birdhouses sort of as a hobby and to sell them, one of kind folk-art. Peg co-conspired w/Art without me knowing it to custom make this birdhouse for me. There are a lot of themes going on around it, including stuff Peg & I have done, places we like to go, etc….overall just a great effort and I just loved it. Thought you’d all like to see. Mike Stephano

“The birds will have to figure out someplace else to live ’cause I’m not putting it outside!”

BIG BILL BEST BITTERS

STOMACH-MAGEN

10 January 2013 (R•102013)

Alcohol 21%

Guaranteed by Liebenthal Bros. & Co. under The Food and Drugs Act, June 30th 1906

President William Howard Taft

“They can’t stop us. No matter what they do we will go on and on until we – the roughnecks of the world – will take control of all production and work when we please and how much we please. The man who makes the wagon will ride in it himself…”

“BIG BILL” HAYWOOD

William Dudley Haywood

R O Y A L F L U S H B I T T E R S

The ultimate hand to a poker player is the Royal Flush. The odds of drawing this hand in a five card poker game are one in 649,740. Yet every year someone, somewhere draws this hand. So what are the odds of acquiring a Royal Flush Bitters when only one is offered for sale in 10-years?

GLASS WORKS AUCTIONS

B. M. & E. A. WHITLOCK & CO. – NEW YORK

09 January 2013 (R•01Oct13) (R•031318)

Read More on Figural Barrels

Extremely rare B. E. Mann’s Oriental Stomach Bitters bottle

08 January 2013 (R•103114 update with Chicago connections) (R•111915)

“I dug a very rare bottle this weekend in Vicksburg, MS in a Confederate artillery camp that was also occupied by union soldiers post siege.”

M 28.5 B. E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS (represented in post)

B. E. MANN’S // f // ORIENTAL / STOMACH BITTERS // f // 9 1/2 x 2 7/8 (7 1/4) Square, Olive amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely Rare

M 29 PROFESSOR B. E. MANN’S ORIENTAL STOMACH BITTERS (picture below)

PROFESSOR . B. E. MANN’S // sp // ORIENTAL / STOMACH BITTERS // sp // // s // PATENTED (au) // sp // sp // sp // sp // 10 x 2 7/8 x 2 3/4 (7 1/4) Semi-cabin slightly rectangular, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Rare Dug at ruins of Fort Steele, Wyoming

Select Listings:

Information provided by Corey Stock

How about those old bottle boxes. The stories they might tell?

Tami Barber

P H O T O G A L L E R Y

I was fortunate to be at the right time and place. – Herbert Cable (Early American Glass FB)

I ALWAYS WANTED A PONY!!! – Larry Baumann (Insulator Collectors FB)

A wonderful photograph of a Dr. Walker’s Vinegar Bitters – Utah Antique Bottle Cliche

Was at my buddy’s today. Snapped this pic, we have a friendly competition with the Lockport stuff. – Dave Kam (Early American Glass FB)

One of my Bitters Rooms – Ferdinand Meyer V (Peachridge Glass)

5 hrs last night cleaning dolls heads (: – Mark Rose (Bottle Diggers and Collectors FB)

TODAY’S GARAGE FINDS (brrrr…. Cold out there, half way thru, here’s some keepers) – John Panella (Bottle Collectors FB

A few of my Demi’s – Mark Yates (Bottle Collectors FB)

Color run of Dr. J. Walkers California Vinegar Bitters – Dale Mlasko

Playing around with my demijohns – James Campiglia

Look closely and you’ll find a few choice objects. – Jeff Noordsy (Early American Glass FB)

Just fooling around with my iPad and thought I’d take a pic looking out my basement window – Chip Cable (Early American Glass FB)

Couple of “little boys” from the Hartford hood. – Michael George (Early American Glass FB)

Taken from the Good book of Woody Douglas according to Tom Marshall… I have but one question for the moody glass masters… Is my sheet wrinkled enough?? :) – Michael George (Early American Glass FB)

I just had to send you something for the site, which I got carried away viewing. It’s great to see you always have exciting stuff posted! I’m staying up way too late working on bottles. – James Campiglia

Governer Clinton – Tom Marshall (Early American Glass FB)

A recently unearthed Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup catches some daylight – James Campiglia (Outhouse Patrol)

The Pharmacy on Mercury Street Documentary – Meg McWhinney

D E M I J O H N S

S O O T H I N G S Y R U P S

When she was ready to pull her hair out she would come over and look into my cabinet and ask what can I give her to quite her monsters down.

MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP

DR. HOBSON’S SOOTHING SYRUP

OUTHOUSE PATROL

“Oh, jab me with your needle a hundred times, and a hundred times I will bless you, Saint Morphine”

Jules Verne (1828 – 1905)

MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP FOR CHILDREN TEETHING.; LETTER FROM A MOTHER IN LOWELL, MASS. A DOWN-TOWN MERCHANT.

Published: December 1, 1860 – New York Times

ART CHURCH BIRD HOUSE

“The birds will have to figure out someplace else to live ’cause I’m not putting it outside!”

Posts

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

B. E. MANN’S // f // ORIENTAL / STOMACH BITTERS // f //
9 1/2 x 2 7/8 (7 1/4)
Square, Olive amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely Rare

PROFESSOR . B. E. MANN’S // sp // ORIENTAL / STOMACH BITTERS // sp // // s // PATENTED (au) // sp // sp // sp // sp //
10 x 2 7/8 x 2 3/4 (7 1/4)
Semi-cabin slightly rectangular, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Rare
Dug at ruins of Fort Steele, Wyoming

Jules Verne  (1828 – 1905)