The earliest and latest with the blue W. Wolf’s Pittsburgh barrel

Posted on 6 December 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

T H E F I N D – C H I C A G O A R E A

The gorgeous blue W. Wolf – Pittsburgh figural barrel found in a Thrift Shop for 70 cents this past summer [see Fig 1] made the celebrity rounds recently. Appearing first in Illinois, moving to Michigan next, then off to New Hampshire, back to Michigan, off to Sacramento, then to Auburn, CA where I saw it last weekend. The barrel is now back in Sacramento, residing at its new home with Jeff Wichmann (pictured to left) at American Bottle Auctions. Whew. Did I get that right?

Read: Barrel Series – W. Wolf found at Thrift Shop for $1.00 (actual 70 cents with discount coupon)

Fig: 1 – Original incoming photograph of the blue W. WOLF – PITTSBURGH figural barrel. Picture from Sue and Jim Nelson, living outside of Chicago, requesting information on a ‘Thrift Shop’ find.

T H E A R T I C L E – M I C H I G A N

Next, John Pastor (New Hudson, Michigan) made arrangements and picked up the bottle from the Nelsons sometime in mid August. He next presented a nice 2-page article [see Fig 2] on how the bottle was found, researched and ended up with his auction house American Glass Gallery. The story occurred in a recent issue of Antique Bottle and Glass Collector magazine. I was fortunate enough to be a part of this process and to assist the Nelsons in deciding what to do with their bottle.

Fig: 2 – First page of article “Thrilling Thrift Shop Find” in a recent issue of Antique Bottle and Glass Collector

T H E F E R R A R O E X A M P L E

B O U L D E R C I T Y, N E V A D A

When asked to provide an insurance estimate to the Nelsons, Bob Ferraro and I collaborated and both said $40 to $50k. This was a tough estimate as there was only one other known example [see Fig 3] .

Fig: 3 – The first found and famous W. WOLF – PITTSBURGH figural barrel from the Bob Ferraro collection in Boulder City, Nevada. This was the ONLY example prior to the Thrift Shop find.

S P E C I A L A P P E A R A N C E

Y A N K E E B O T T L E S H O W

K E E N E, N E W H A M P S H I R E

Many of us were pleasantly surprised to see the bottle on display [see Fig 4] with American Glass Gallery and John Pastor at the Yankee Antique Bottle Show in Keene, New Hampshire this past 07 October 2012. This was the first time I saw, held and admired the bottle in person. Simply stunning. I noticed the color was much closer to the Ferraro example which I had previously seen in Nevada [see Fig 3] .

Fig: 4 – The Nelson blue W. WOLF – PITTSBURGH figural barrel on display at the Yankee Antique Bottle Show in Keene, New Hampshire this past October.

A M E R I C A N B O T T L E

A U C T I O N S

S A C R A M E N T O , C A L I F O R N I A

This past Thursday, prior to the 49er Antique Bottle Show in Auburn, California I was rather surprised when I showed up for my appointment with Jeff Wichmann at American Bottle Auctions and saw the blue Wolf’s sitting proudly on one of Jefff’s many bottle shelves [see Fig 5]. Besides catching up on the latest with Jeff and his right hand man, Dennis Fox, I was there to inspect the Constitution Bitters that was found in East Texas recently. Read: Constitution Bitters – The oldest Figural Bitters?

Fig: 5 – The blue W. WOLF’S – PITTSBURGH figural barrel sitting at American Bottle Auctions.

T H E W I C H M A N N

W. W O L F – P I T T S B U R G H

A U B U R N, C A L I F O R N I A

With a bit of high drama, Jeff Wichmann at American Bottle Auctions had the best “Boardwalk and Park Place’ table presence and display at the 49er Antique Bottle Show this past Friday and Saturday in Auburn, California. You would have been hard pressed to miss the blue W. Wolf’s barrel sitting on the top shelf [see Fig 6] and greeting you as you walked in the front doors of the show. Breathtaking!

Fig: 6 – The blue W. Wolf’s barrel sitting on the top shelf and greeting you as you walked in the front doors of the 49er Antique Bottle Show.

A N E W H O M E

A M E R I C A N B O T T L E

A U C T I O N S

S A C R A M E N T O , C A L I F O R N I A

Incoming images [see Figs 7, 8 & 9] and text from Jeff Wichmann yesterday (see below). This made me want to circle back and look at the Wolf’s story and journey again. The new pictures from Jeff are spectacular. I wonder what we should call this bottle? Will it be the ‘Nelson Wolfs Barrel’, the ‘Thrift Shop Wolf’s” or the “Wichmann Wolf’s”, only time will tell.

Ferd:

Hey thanks for the article on nippers. I always appreciate the posts you do and the many mentions of us. Here are a few other pics of the Wolf, it cleaned up so well, just some soap and water soaking and it really brought out the color and texture.

Great spending time with you for the Auburn Show. I hope you had a good time.

Jeff

Fig: 7 – ‘Nelson’, ‘Thrift Shop’, ‘Wichmann’ blue W. WOLF’S – PITTSBURGH figural barrel. Lightly rinsed, photographed and cropped. – photo Jeff Wichmann

Fig: 8 – ‘Nelson’, ‘Thrift Shop’, ‘Wichmann’ blue W. WOLF’S – PITTSBURGH figural barrel detail. – photo Jeff Wichmann

Fig: 9 – Nelson’, ‘Thrift Shop’, ‘Wichmann’ blue W. WOLF’S – PITTSBURGH figural barrel in Jeff’s hand. – photo Jeff Wichmann

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Figural Bottles, News, Spirits | Tagged Auburn, Barrel, blue, Bob Ferraro, Boulder City, california, chicago, Figural, illinois, Jeff Wichmann, Jim Nelson, John Pastor, Keene, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, sacramento, shop, Sue Nelson, Thrift | 2 Comments

Log Cabin Series – Perrine’s Apple Ginger – Philadelphia

Posted on 5 December 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

P E R R I N E ‘S A P P L E G I N G E R

Here is an interesting figural log cabin and ‘Fancy Square’ called Perrine’s Apple Ginger from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The bottle always comes in nice looking shades of amber and has roped corners and a similar top roof area reminiscent of a Drake’s Plantation Bitters. There is also a ring at the base of the neck and above the pitched roof panels. The bottle is embossed, very prominently with an apple. The word ‘bitters’ does not occur.

With this said, the bottle is under-collected and typically bypassed by most figural collectors. It usually sells for around $300 so many of us, if we chose, can readily get an example for our collection. The bottle also comes with the address embossed on the reverse panel from the apple and without the address.

Jonathan S. Perrine was born on 27 August 1834 and died in Philadelphia on 15 January 1902. His parents were James Perrine and Catherine Smith. He had two sons, Edwin and William. His wife was named Anna. Federal Census reports show their residence address at 37 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, PA. Jonathan is usually listed as a merchant or liquor merchant on various documents.

J. S. Perrine & Son Liquors, 37 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, PA – circa 1895

J. S. Perrine & Son was established in 1846 in Philadelphia. I would assume his father James was in the business before him. They were importers and distillers of wines and liquors as stated in the advertisement represented further below. Note that one of the addresses is 37 N. Front Street. The Perrine family probably lived in the back of their liquor shop (see picture above).

J. S. Perrine & Son used the brand names “Chemically Pure”, “Perrine’s Palace Club Whiskey”, “Perrine’s Old Memorial Whiskey”, “Perrine’s Old Monogram Whiskey”, “Palace Gin”, “Palace Rye”, “Pelican Gin Triple Flavor”, “Perrine’s Apple Ginger“, “Perrine’s Old Blackberry Brandy” and “Perrine’s Pure Barley Malt Whiskey.”

If opium was a common ingredient in anti-malarial nostrums, so was alcohol. Perrine’s Barley Malt Whiskey, shown touted in a trade card as a “specific” for malaria and other ailments was not the product of a drug outfit, but a Philadelphia whiskey distributor. The Perrine’s had discovered that in addition to its “Palace Gin,” “Palace Rye,” and other liquor brands, a whiskey nostrum would add significant cash to the till. The picture of a winsome lass filling the orders from the ague-stricken on its trade card (see above) was added indication that it was, as advertised, “pure.”

JACK SULLIVAN

Their business names were, M & J S Perrine *see seal below (1871-1895) (puzzled but believe ‘M’ stands for Matthew), J S Perrine & Son (1894-1900), J S Perrine & Sons (1900-1901), John S Perrine & Son (1902-1918), J S Perrine & Sons Co. (1916)

Their addresses were listed as 37 N. Front Street (1871-1903), 38 N. 3rd (1890-1893), 10 N. Front Street (1904-1910), 62 N. Front Street (1911-1918), 38 N. Water Street (1894, 1897)

Advertisement for J.S. Perrine & Son, Importers and Distillers of Wines and Liquors – Semi-centennial anniversary: Jan. 16th, 1899

United States Passport for J.S. Perrine issued June 25, 1890. Jonathan was 54 years old.

P E R R I N E ‘S A P P L E G I N G E R

G A L L E R Y

Bright yellow amber PERRINE’S APPLE GINGER figural log cabin – Meyer Collection

Reverse embossing PERINE’S APPLE GINGER | DEPOT No 37, N.th FRONT St. PHILADA (see another picture of same bottle at the top of this post) – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

“Perrine’s” / (motif of apple) / “Ginger” – “Perrine’s – Apple – Ginger – Phila”, America, 1880 – 1895. Medium golden amber, square cabin form with roped corners and thatched roof panels, tooled sloping collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 9 7/8”, mint. Dr. Daniel Bennett collection. – American Glass Gallery Auction #9

An Amber “PERRINE’S (Picture Of Apple) GINGER” (Front Panel), “DEPOT No 37, N.th FRONT St. PHILADA” (Back Panel), “PERRINE”, “APPLE”, “GINGER”, “PHILA” (On Roof Panels) Bitters Bottle. 3″ x 3″ x 10 1/8″. – ebay

Reproductions made by the Wheaton Glass Co. of Millville, N.J. Wheaton started a new division in 1965 under the name Wheaton/Nuline. It was renamed Wheaton Products in 1973. In 1967 the company started to make reproductions of old American bottles. The bottles were made in different colors from the old ones and were marked “W,” “Nuline” or “Wheaton, N.J.” Production of Wheaton bottles was discontinued in 1974-’75. They can be found for sale at flea markets and antiques shops and shows for $5 to $15. – Terry Kovel

Posted in Ales & Ciders, Figural Bottles, History, Liquor Merchant, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged Apple, cabin, Figural, Front, Ginger, J.S. Perrine & Son, Log, Nuline, Perrine, Perrine's, Philadelphia, seriers, Terry Kovel, water | Leave a comment

I happen to collect unembossed applied top squares

Posted on 4 December 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Five unembossed utility cylinders – Matthew Levanti

“I happen to collect unembossed applied top squares and knife edge flasks. The squares are ‘hands down’ the toughest to find, not sure why.”

Hey Ferdinand,

I am sorry that I didn’t get the chance to invite you over to see my collection. I was swamped with getting the show in place due to the weather and I had sold a large part of my Gold Rush collection three weeks before the show, which left my house and collection in a mess.

I just saw your post on those beautiful colored, unembossed bottles (see picture at top of post or read: Rose Water – Lime Juice – Olive Oil whats-it-hold bottles!). I happen to collect unembossed applied top squares and knife edge flasks. The squares are ‘hands down’ the toughest to find, not sure why. I love collecting these squares. It’s not about the embossing as much to me, but the beauty of the glass itself. On another note, I would like to thank you for making the trip out in that crazy weather we had. I hope you had a good show.

Regards, Mike McKillop

[PRG] Wow, some great colors and pictures Mike! Thanks. I agree these colored squares and cylinders are beautiful simple forms and easy to appreciate. Wouldn’t it be fun to mix the squares and cylinders together for a photo opportunity? Note: Mike is referring to the Auburn, CA, 49er Antique Bottle Show this past weekend.

[PRG] Tom Doligale…you looking…?

Posted in Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Utility Bottles | Tagged 49er, Aubirn, Color, cylinder, Mike McKillop, square, Tom Doligale | 2 Comments

The Best Merry Christmas Bottle Tree

Posted on 4 December 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Randy and I can’t put up our big tree because of our two little kitties so we decided to have a bottle tree and kitty proof it.

Merry Christmas.

Pam (Selenak)

Usually, bottle trees are kind of tacky, at least to this traditionalist. In this case I have to admit that the tree that Pam and Randy set up is rather well done. Merry Christmas to you guys too and thanks for sharing!

More Christmas Bottle Trees

Here are some holidays trees worth looking at. Some are downright bad while others are immensely creative. Many of these trees rely on recycled bottles and special lighting. Enjoy.

Posted in Display, Folk Art, Holiday, Humor - Lighter Side | Tagged Bottle, Christmas, Holiday, Pam Selenak, Randy Selenak, tree | Leave a comment

Rose Water – Lime Juice – Olive Oil whats-it-hold bottles!

Posted on 3 December 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Scott Selenak, FOHBC photographer, shooting my new bottles at the Ken Edward light cabinet during the 2012 Auburn, CA 49er Antique Bottle Show

Rose Water – Lime Juice – Olive Oil whats-it-hold bottles!

03 December 2012

This past weekend at the El Nina – Monsoon, 49er Antique Bottle Show in Auburn, California I was able to put together a color run of some interesting early un-embossed cylinders with applied tops and really rich colors. You can see the bottles in the picture above.

In shape, the bottles remind me of the slightly smaller, Florida Water bottles (see picture below). When I got to asking around about the bottles, the usual group of advanced Western collectors all seemed to have different comments about the bottles which I thought was really interesting. Some of the comments:

My Comments so far?

Many were dug in ‘The Big Dig” in San Francisco, referring to a dig of a mid-19th Century recycling plant in downtown San Francisco.

Some were dug at Negro Hill. In 1862, Negro Hill, California was an amazing community in Gold Rush California.

They held Rose Water – They were Lime Juice bottles – They are Olive Oil bottles

They are Western blown

They are Eastern blown

They were whore house bottles

Some examples were blown at the Baltimore Glass Works

I saw a partially labeled example once

They come pontiled

There are different but similar molds

What is going on here? I get that many have been found out west though they look like eastern bottles with New York and Baltimore colors. I actually feel like I am looking at Greeley’s or Bourbon Whiskey Bitters barrel colors, with the exception of the green color. When I look online for information, I see very little information and certainly no pictures of a bottle. This also includes advertising and merchant information.

So when this happens I post. I already have some great pictures and information from Matthew Levanti (see below). Let’s see what type of information comes in from the East Coast people like Chris Rowell, Brian Wolff, Michael George etc.

Here is an image below of Florida Water cologne bottles. Very similar shape, but smaller than my new bottles.

FLORIDA WATER COLOGNE BOTTLES

Look how similar the shapes are. The Florida water bottles are proportionally smaller.

Three Florida Water Cologne bottles. The outside examples are from my collection and are 9″ and 8 3/4″ tall. I really like the labeled example that I located online.

ROSE WATER

I can find no pictures of antique rose water bottles.

Rose water is the hydrosol portion of the distillate of rose petals. Rose water, itself a by-product of the production of rose oil for use in perfume, is used to flavour food, as a component in some cosmetic and medical preparations, and for religious purposes throughout Europe and Asia. Rose syrup is made from rose water, with sugar added. Since ancient times, the rose has been highly prized for its source of perfume, medicinal use and nutritional properties. In fact so much so that ancient Greeks, Romans and Phoenecians placed as much importance on large public rose gardens as they did on wheat fields and fruit orchards. Rose perfumes are made from rose oil, also called attar of roses, which is a mixture of volatile essential oils obtained by steam-distilling the crushed petals of roses, a process first developed in Persia and Bulgaria. Rose water is a by-product of this process.

ROSE’S LIME JUICE

These are lime juice bottles. I can not imagine why a producer or merchant would want lime juice in a dark color bottle unless it was to protect the product from sunlight, like beer.

Roses Lime Juice (now cordial just to be politically correct) must have saved the lives of many a British sailor.

OLIVE OIL BOTTLE

Olive Oil seem very reasonable for the bottle in question though I can find no examples of antique bottles that are similar.

Blob seal Olive Oil bottle – ebay

First Response

Hey Ferd,

I took some pictures of my utility bottles that I thought you would enjoy. I would guess they held any number of things, I have heard they were found out east with lime juice labels, but I wouldn’t doubt the bottles were also used for rose water and other products. They do look exactly like a Florida water. The bottles were produced in New England, Baltimore and other Eastern glass houses but I’m not refuting Western origin for some too. MY favorite of the five I have is the yellow one, which is open pontil and Chris Rowell told me was likely made in Baltimore. Mike George had one that was a likely Stoddard bottle. On looking at mine I discovered all but the O.P. example have the strange four piece molds, either a half inch or inch and half from the bottom. These four were all bought in a lot from Glassworks out of the Paul hertz collection and were likely found out west.

I’d be glad to hear any more information about them, I’m betting there will be a very informative post on Peachridge glass soon!

Take care,

Matt

P.S., were any of yours olive, moss or forest green? I’ve not seen many green ones… puce seems to be the norm…

Subject cylinder utility bottles – Matthew Levanti

Base of typical cylinder bottle – Matthew Levanti

The cylinder bottles come in great colors – Matthew Levanti

Posted in Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Cologne, Color Runs, Utility Bottles, Water | Tagged Auburn, california, cylinder, Florida Water, Ken Edward, Matthew Levanti, Olive Oil, Rose, Scott Selenak, Utility, water | Leave a comment

XR New Orleans bitters bottle on ebay – G. N. Morison

Posted on 2 December 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

G. N. MORISON’S INVIGORATING BITTERS

02 December 2012 (R•031114) (R•072214)

“This just turned up at the Magazine Antiques Mall on Magazine street”

Gene Baudouin

“The other one was found about 30 years ago by a woman who decided to dig bottles and crawl under houses in New Orleans after her husband died”

Bill Ham

Many bitters collectors have been watching a bitters bottle on ebay (see listing) that closes today. A little early research shows shows that G.N. Morison was a wholesale and retail druggist and dealer in patent medicines located on No. 12 Magazine Street, New Orleans. It is ironic that this bottle was found at the Magazine Antique Mall in New Orleans. I have seen his name spelled Morison, Morrison and Morisson on historical documents.

It appears that ‘G’ stands for George and ‘N’ for Noble. George Noble Morison (I will use this spelling of Morison as it appears in most of his advertising and on the bottle. It seems that you would proof your advertising and product design) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 20, 1814 and married a Louisa Chapman Harvey on November 14, 1849. George’s father was from Scotland. They lived in New Orleans. The family later moved to Philadelphia and are listed in many Census reports up to the 1880 Federal Census. George at 65 years old was listed as a ‘Gentleman’ for occupation. Eight children are listed. He died on August 8, 1886 in Philadelphia.

The listing is as follows:

Rare New Orleans bitters…G N Morison’s bitters bottle

This is the earliest of the bitters known from New Orleans. It is one of two known. Embossed G N Morison’s Invigorating bitters on one side and G N Morison New Orleans on the other. It is crudely made 8 sided like a gilka bottle, and dates from the 1850’s. It has a refired pontil, and is damage free but for a 1/2 inch sliver on the edge on the bottom, not too deep. No cracks anywhere and a perfect drippy top. All of the embossing is very strong. The other bottle is in the hands of a serious New Orleans collector. This just turned up at the Magazine Antiques Mall on Magazine street, and was spotted by an experienced collector. Don’t miss it, you will never see another.

The ebay seller “ntqlvr” seems legit with the following handle and information:

Hi, my name is Gene Baudouin, and I have been a collector of Louisiana furniture, and other things related for over 35 years. Later my collecting spread out to guns, bottles, early electrical items, etc. And basically anything of quality and rarity. I discovered ebay in 1997, and began selling off some of my stuff to make room for more junk! It has been a lot of fun and hope to keep finding more interesting items. Keep looking for my auctions, and maybe i will have what you are looking for.

Only one question has been posted with the article:

Q: Hi, Could you send me the measurements on the bottle? height, base, width of corner bevels? Thanks. I would really appreciate the information. Great bottle!! Bill Ham
A: Sorry, I forgot the measurements, it is 9 and 1/2 tall, by 3 wide, 2 and 1/2 deep. 3 inches wide across the bevels It is also a very heavy bottle for it’s size, plenty of glass.

Communication from Bitters Bottles author Bill Ham:

Ferd

Here is an email from the Morison’s seller. I had gotten measurements from them.

“Thanks, as I said there are only two ever found of this bottle, no broken ones either. The other one was found about 30 years ago by a woman who decided to dig bottles, and crawl under houses in New Orleans after her husband died, she and her son combed the whole city of new Orleans and found many rare pieces.”

Bill

The updated listing in a future Bitters Bottles Supplement will be:

M 129 G.N. MORISON’S INVIGORATING BITTERS

*Updated Ring & Ham Listing (from Bill Ham) as of today, 03 December 2012

G. N. MORISON’S / INVIGORATING BITTERS // f // G. N. MORISON / NEW ORLEANS // f //
9 ½ x 3 x 2 ½ (7 ½) 5/8
Rectangular, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
G. N. Morison Druggist, No. 12 Magazine Street, New Orleans
Believed to be one of the oldest New Orleans Bitters.
Lousiana State Medical Society, Orleans Parish Medical Society,
American Society of Tropical Medicine, 1852
Lavaca Herald (Port Lavaca, Texas) Vol. 2, No. 22, September 13, 1856
De Bow’s New Orleans Monthly Review 1852-1854
The Texas Almanac, 1860
Southern Journal of Medical Sciences, 1866
Two examples known to have been found in the New Orleans area
Note: incorrectly entered with as RR in MORISON as M 38.5 in the M 100s in BITTERS BOTTLES SUPPLEMENT

The wholesale druggist, G.N. Morison seems to be the closest to our current-day drugstore. His full-column advertisement lists having 20 kegs of refined saltpeter, 100 pounds of chloroform and 50 gallons of Pure Bay Rum “on hand and coming in store.” He also carries paints, turpentine, paint brushes, and “Dr. Abernathy’s Detergent-the Infallible Remedy for gonorrhea,” pure brandy for medicinal purposes and Morison’s Invigorating Bitters for night sweats and diarrhea.

Businesses as Cultural Icons: Their Application towards Understanding Urban Morphology, Stephanie Lawrence, University of New Orleans

Morison Ancestry

WILLIAM T. MORISON – John Morison, the father of William T. Morison, was born in Keith, Scotland, in 1760, came as supercargo from a Scottish port to America, and settled in Petersburg, Va. In 1801 he removed to Philadelphia, and soon after purchased the property on which his son now resides. He was, in 1790, united in marriage to Ann Coke, a native of Virginia, and had children, John P., a physician, who died in 1849, Jane (Mrs. Robert Montgomery), who died in 1875, Mary Ann (wife of Rev. Nathan Harned, a native of Rockingham County, Va., and a clergyman of the Presbyterian Church), whose death occurred in New York, October, 9, 1854, Robert (deceased), a druggist in Philadelphia, William T. Agnes, deceased, George N., a merchant and wholesale druggist, formerly of New Orleans and now of Philadelphia, Robert, deceased, James, cashier of Adams Express Company, Charles S., deceased.

Morison’s Celebrated invigorating Bitters advertisement – The Texas Almanac for 1870, and Emigrant’s Guide to Texas (Note: No. 5 Magazine Street)

G.N. Morison advertisement – Lavaca Herald (Port Lavaca, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 22, Saturday, September 13, 1856

G.N. Morrison (note incorrect spelling or Morison), Wholesale Grocer and Dealer in Paints, Oils, Glass, Dye Stuffs, Perfumery & c., No. 12 Magazine St. N. Orleans – De Bow’s New Orleans Monthly Review – 1852 & 1854

Advertisement: G.N. Morison, Wholesale Druggist and dealer in Patent Medicines, Paints, Oils, Glass, Dye Stuffs, Etc. – Southern Journal of the Medical Sciences – 1866

Interesting advertisement for a product sold by G.N. Morrison – Louisiana State Medical Society, Orleans Parish Medical Society, American Society of Tropical Medicine – 1852

Advertisement: G.N. Morison, Wholesale Druggist and dealer in Patent Medicines, Paints, Oils, Glass, Dye Stuffs, Etc. – The Texas Almanac, for 1860 (note that a partner is listed – G. S. G. Harvey)

M 129 G.N. Morison’s Invigorating Bitters – Meyer Collection

M 129 G.N. Morison’s Invigorating Bitters – Meyer Collection

M 129 G.N. Morison’s Invigorating Bitters – Frioux Collection

Posted in Bitters, Digging and Finding, Druggist & Drugstore, eBay, History | Tagged Bill Ham, bitters, eBay, Frioux, Gene Baudouin, invigorationg, Magazine, Meyer, Morison, Morison's, New Orleans | Leave a comment

Brisbane Queensland Australia Swap & Sell Event

Posted on 2 December 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

News from Brisbane Queensland Australia

Dear Ferdinand,

I attended a small bottle show today in Brisbane Queensland Australia that maybe of interest to folks state side in smaller regional clubs. Essentially an end-of-year Christmas event, club members only for swap and sell, and exhibiting ONLY 3 ITEMS in each category of a normal show schedule, followed by a chicken and champagne lunch. Here are a few of the displays.

Best Regards,
Greg Dean

Essentially an end-of-year Christmas event, club members only for swap and sell, and exhibiting ONLY 3 ITEMS in each category of a normal show schedule, followed by a chicken and champagne lunch.

Posted in Bottle Shows, Club News, Collectors & Collections, Display, Holiday, News | Tagged Australia, Brisbane, Greg Dean, Queensland | 1 Comment

Log Cabin Series – American Life Bitters

Posted on 1 December 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

AMERICAN LIFE BITTERS

Tiffin, Ohio & Omaha, Nebraska Variants

01 December 2012 (R•120112) (R•052914) (R•030715) (R•090516)

While operating as a wagon peddler, he discovered the magic of bitters, which he advertised “as a cure for dyspepsia and all diseases of the stomach and bowels” at a dollar a bottle.

Carlyn Ring example of American Life Bitters. Lot 6

In this figural log cabin series we have written about and discussed the Old Homestead Wild Cherry Bitters, Drake’s Plantation Bitters and Holtzermann’s Patent Stomach Bitters so far. These bottles essentially have pitched, angular roofs either in a 2-roof or 4-roof design. All great and essential bottles for the bitters and figural collector.

Today we will look at the much tougher to obtain American Life Bitters. The American Life is still a rectangular log cabin but has curved roofs instead of angular. For the most part this bottle story is about the inventor Peter E. Iler who was born in Wooster, Ohio, in 1840. He eventually ended up in Omaha, Nebraska. His famous bitters have either the Tiffin, Ohio or Omaha, Nebraska embossing.

Iler & Co. letterhead – Bitters Bottles Supplement

Read: Peter Iler: “The Restless Mind of a Capitalist”

Peter Iler (pictured) was born in Wooster, Ohio, in 1840. At a youth he and his brother, Joseph, moved to Tiffin, Ohio. At the age of sixteen he left school to go to work. A that point accounts differ. One version has him leaving Tiffin in the employ of an Indianapolis banker and soon being given management of several farms and a princely salary of $75 a month. After becoming ill, he quit and returned to Tiffin to recuperate. The other account has him never leaving Tiffin, employed in a bank, working with a cigar manufacturer and as a warehouse operator.

The stories converge about 1860 in Tiffin when Iler became a wagon peddler selling a bitters nostrum that he advertised..

“as a cure for dyspepsia and all diseases of the stomach and bowels.” It cost a pricey one dollar a bottle. With the success of his bitters, Iler was on his way to being a capitalist and entrepreneur. As one account says: “Peter met with success and soon drove a splendid four-in-hand team and a beautiful wagon. He also took orders for all the wholesale merchants in Tiffin, doing in this way a large commission business. Mr. Iler branched out and established a general supply store, engaged in the manufacture of cigars, and ran a distillery and a general liquor store, all of these enterprises proving successful.”

Jack Sullivan – Pre-Pro.com

R/H A 48 – American Life Bitters – Omaha, Nebraska variant detail in amber

“Someday, they hope to come across an Omaha American Life Bitters bottle. Amber in color with “Omaha” embossed in the glass of the log-cabin shaped bottle, Clements said the collectible can be worth as much as $20,000.”

Neb. men dig outhouses in search of buried treasure

Product advertisement, American Life Bitters. – The Utah Advertiser – 1869

“Mr. P. E. Iler, has erected a very handsome four-story brick block, sixty-six feet front and 182 feet, on the north side of Harney street, nearly opposite the Millard Block, between Eleventh and Twelfth streets. The front is of cut stone and pressed brick, the architectural appearance of which is very handsome. The building has water connections throughout, and is supplied with hydraulic elevators. It was built especially for wholesale business, the west twenty-two feet being occupied as a wholesale liquor establishment, and the east forty-four feet being occupied by a wholesale hardware firm. Each is provided with commodious and elegant business offices. The cost of the building was $40,000. The firm of Iler & Co. is now composed of Peter E. Iler and Joseph D. Iler.”

Iler & Co. print, 233 Farnham Street, Omaha, Nebraska, circa 1873

“AMERICAN LIFE / BITTERS – P. EILER / MANUFACTURER / TIFFIN, OHIO”, (A-49), American, ca. 1865 – 1875 – Glass Works Auctions (Cabin Fever January 2013)

American Life Bitters | Omaha, Nebraska variant

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

A 48 AMERICAN LIFE BITTERS, Circa

AMERICAN LIFE ( au ) / BITTERS ( ad ) // P.E. ILER ( au ) / MANUFACTURER / OMAHA, NEB. // AMERICAN LIFE / BITTERS // f // 8 7/8 x 3 1/8 x 2 1/2 (5 3/4) Rectangular cabin, LTC, Applied mouth, Amber, Extremely rare

A 49 AMERICAN LIFE BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1875

AMERICAN LIFE ( au ) / BITTERS ( ad ) // P.E. ILER ( au ) / MANUFACTURER / TIFFIN, OHIO // AMERICAN LIFE / BITTERS // f // 8 7/8 x 3 1/8 x 2 1/2 (5 3/4) Rectangular cabin, LTC, Applied mouth, Amber and Gold Rare, Yellow olive – Extremely rare

American Life Bitters | Tiffin, Ohio variant (See next picture) – Bitters Bottles Supplement

R/H A 49 – AMERICAN LIFE BITTERS – TIFFEN, OHIO in yellow olive. Extremely rare and possibly unique in color. Ex: Carlyn Ring (see picture above) – Fuss Collection

R/H A 49 – AMERICAN LIFE BITTERS – TIFFIN, OHIO in orange amber – Meyer Collection

“AMERICAN LIFE BITTERS – P.E. ILER / MANUFACTURER / OMAHA, NEB – AMERICAN LIFE BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, A-49), Nebraska, ca. 1865 – 1875, dark reddish amber cabin, 9 1/8”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. A tiny chip is off a log above the label panel. A rare and important cabin bitters bottle. Considerably harder to find than the Tiffin, Ohio embossed bottle. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction 106

“AMERICAN LIFE BITTERS – P. EILER / MANUFACTURER / OMAHA, NEB. – AMERICAN LIFE BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, A-48), Nebraska, ca. 1865 – 1875, medium amber cabin, 9”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. A professional repair has been made to the tip of a log on the reverse side of the embossing. Forget about the minor repair it’s the rarity and desirability level that counts. Purchased in 2010 from Marty Hall, who also did the repair. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection (Session 1)

Omaha, Nebraska – Iler & Co. Advertising Note. A neat currency lookalike advertising note from Iler & Co., the manufacturer of American Life Bitters in Omaha, Nebraska. – Heritage Auctions

1903 Iler & Co. Standard Distilling Co. Omaha, Nebraska Willow Springs letterhead – eBay

“I Hate When That Happens” by Kevin Wade in the November/December issue of the FOHBC Bottles and Extras

Posted in Bitters, Figural Bottles, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures | Tagged American Life Bitters, cabin, Figural, Iler & Co., Jack Sullivan, Joseph Iler, Kevin Wade, Log, nebraska, ohio, omaha, Peter E. Iler, Series, Tiffin, Wooster | 1 Comment

Rare Pink Opaque Lutz Marble sells for $25,800

Posted on 1 December 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Rare Pink Opaque Lutz Marble

Morphy Auctions, this past 20 October 2012 (visit auction), sold some incredibly rare vintage marbles including this pink opaque Lutz Marble with green lines that is pictured in this post. The hammer price was $25,800 which is certainly noteworthy as it moves comfortably into the price range of some of the figural bitters and historical flasks prices we have been seeing. Of course this does not come close to the record $176,670 that was paid for a General Jackson – Eagle Portrait Flask (pictured to left) in a past Norman C. Heckler & Company auction.

In looking at Marbles Galore, they said the following prior to the auction:

“With so many incredible lots in this auction one cannot understate just how many delicious marbles there are. For starters there are well over 100 high-end Christensen Agate marbles, and rumor has it many have been undervalued in the auction estimates. For pure eye appeal I am liking this colorful striped opaque but without a doubt the real heavy hitters are the so-called “Lunch Box” marbles like this black opaque guinea which is a unique example a factory worker brought home in his lunch box.”

The lot descrption for the Rare Pink Opaque Lutz Marble was as follows:

Lot 538 Rare Pink Opaque Lutz Marble with Green Lines. We have never seen this color combination before. Extremely rare lutz marble. Condition (9.7). Size 7/8″ Dia. Estimate: $8,000 – $12,000

As an aside, I was visiting with American Bottle Auctions owner Jeff Wichmann at his Sacramento, CA shop this past Thursday was was fortunate enough to look at some of his prize marbles (see pictures below). I bet that not many of you know that this is one of Jeff’s passions.

Posted in Art & Architecture, Liquor Merchant, Painted Label | Tagged American Bottle Auctions, auction, Eagle, Flask, General Jackson, Jeff Wichmann, Lunch Box, Lutz, marble, Marbles Galore, Morphy, Portrait | Leave a comment

Shafer & Vater Whiskey Nips over at American Bottle Auctions

Posted on 30 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

S H A F E R & V A T E R

WHISKEY NIPS

When I was at Jeff Wichmann’s over at American Bottle Auctions yesterday I was kind of surprised that Jeff had all these ceramic figurines. At first they reminded my of tourist gifts my grandparents would buy when they went to vacation in the Smokey Mountains. They had all these ash trays, figurines and assorted kinds of cartoonish characters on shelves in their living room.

When I looked at the shelves closer at Jeff’s and struck up a conversation with Jeff’s right hand man, Dennis Fox, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that these were primarily German whiskey nippers or ‘Nips’ as some call them. What a wonderful little world Jeff has created on each shelf. It looks like he had fun grouping them by type. I can see why these flasks would be collectible.

As I was looking at each piece, Dennis pointed out that the ones with “Compliments of…” were more desirable because they had the bar or saloon name on the piece. It seems that these flasks were given out as gifts by bars, liquor stores, at dances, fairs, and by organizations to patrons with two or three swigs of the merchant’s favorite whiskey or bourbon. Many were used to celebrate the holidays. These have “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year” embossed or lettered on them. Apparently, around 1910 or so the barkeeps would pull out their trusty Sears Roebuck & Company catalog and place an order for a set of Schafer & Vater ceramic bottles.

According to the Shafer & Vater web site, these bottles were made in various shapes, styles and sizes. There are the Figurals – such as the Tango, the Baseball Player, Santa Claus. There are the Objects as the Whisk Broom, a Milk Can, the Dice. There are the Flasks – the Hunter with a Gun, the White Elk. There are the Weather Forecasters and the Drinkometers made with glass trimmers. Many of these were made in three sizes and even in three colors.

The German Giveaways were made of fine quality porcelain, a hard porcelain, highly vitrified. Many are glazed, some are left with the bisque of unglazed surface. Some of the bisque are painted, but still not glazed. Many of the bottles are multicolored, others in either blue & white or brown. Many have a wood-grained finish on the backs, and in a few cases all over.

I have added a link below to read more about Shafer & Vater.