The Tippecanoe Bitters Figural Log and Mushroom

Posted on 19 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

‘TIPPECANOE – The Best For Malaria Tired Feeling’, framed advertising print – Dan Cowman antiques booth at the Antique Gallery of Houston.

The Tippecanoe Bitters Figural Log and Mushroom

19 November 2012

Lance and Brianna Westfall (San Diego, California) were in H-Town (Bayou City) visiting family over the weekend. Lance said he was able to get in a few probes in Old Town Spring (north of Houston) and to visit a few antique shops. One was the 85,000 sq ft Antique Gallery of Houston which includes over 250 dealers. Lance noticed immediately a booth as he walked in, full of bottles, labeled medicines and advertising. He immediately set his eyes on and purchased a gorgeous, whittled Drakes Plantation Bitters in raspberry and a Drake’s Plantation Bitters Sign for me (see picture below).

For those of you ‘in the know’ down here, Lance had discovered the antiques booth of none other than Dan Cowman. Dan is probably the most well known, along with Terry McMurray (Kirkwood, New York), labeled medicine and advertising collector and dealer in the United States. We sit near each other at the Houston Antique Bottle Show (see: 2012 Houston Antique Bottle Show – Rain or Shine!) and his table is always full to the brim with great stuff. Dan is a fantastic guy that usually has great bottles too. Lance said this could have been, quite possibly, the nicest bottle booth he has ever seen in an antique shop!

Lance, while he was at the Cowman booth, noticed this framed Tippecanoe Bitters advertising piece (see top of post) that when I saw the photo he shot me, I discounted because I thought I had it already. What Lance and I discovered when he visited Peach Ridge yesterday and saw my piece (see below) was that the support copy was different. The sign Lance saw reads, ‘TIPPECANOE – The Best For Malaria Tired Feeling’ rather than ‘TIPPECANOE – The Best For Bilious Headache. Blood Disorders’. I thought this was pretty interesting so it prompted me to look a little further and develop this post on the widely popular TIPPECANOE Bitters figural log.

‘TIPPECANOE – The Best For Bilious Headache. Blood Disorders’, framed advertising print – Meyer Collection

You do not venture anywhere with H. H. Warner from Rochester, New York without acknowledging the great work of Steve Jackson (pictured to left) on the Warner’s Safe Cure Blog. Steve is the foremost authority with the great and wide variety of Warner products in my book. From Steve’s blog “I have always heard that if you are going to create a web page or, in this case, a blog, you should pick a topic about which you are passionate. For over 30 years, I have collected Warner’s Safe Cures, Remedies, almanacs, trade cards, etc. My collection consists of well over 100 varieties of these bottles, including a couple “one of a kinds.” I have had the privilege of meeting some great and famous Warner’s collectors from around the country and some of the bottles and ephemera purchased from them grace my collection.”

T H E    B A T T L E    

O F    T I P P E C A N O E

Battle of Tippecanoe trade card – Meyer Collection

William Henry Harrison as painted by Rembrandt Peale in 1814

[Wikipedia] The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought on November 7, 1811, between United States forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and Native American warriors associated with the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa (commonly known as “The Prophet”) were leaders of a confederacy of Native Americans from various tribes that opposed U.S. expansion into Native territory.

As tensions and violence increased, Governor Harrison marched with an army of about 1,000 men to disperse the confederacy’s headquarters at Prophetstown, near the confluence of the Tippecanoe and Wabash Rivers.

Tecumseh, by Benson Lossing in 1848 based on 1808 drawing.

Tecumseh, not yet ready to oppose the United States by force, was away recruiting allies when Harrison’s army arrived. Tenskwatawa, a spiritual leader but not a military man, was in charge. Harrison camped near Prophetstown on November 6 and arranged to meet with Tenskwatawa the following day. Early the next morning, warriors from Prophetstown attacked Harrison’s army.

Although the outnumbered attackers took Harrison’s army by surprise, Harrison and his men stood their ground for more than two hours. The Natives were ultimately repulsed when their ammunition ran low. After the battle, the Natives abandoned Prophetstown. Harrison’s men burned the town and returned home.

The Shawnee Prophet, Tenskwatawa by Charles Bird King.

Harrison, having accomplished his goal of destroying Prophetstown, proclaimed that he had won a decisive victory. He acquired the nickname “Tippecanoe”, which was popularized in the song “Tippecanoe and Tyler too” during the election of 1840, when Harrison was elected president. But some of Harrison’s contemporaries, as well as some subsequent historians, raised doubts about whether the expedition had been much of a success.

Although the defeat was a setback for Tecumseh’s confederacy, the Natives soon rebuilt Prophetstown, and frontier violence actually increased after the battle. Public opinion in the United States blamed the violence on British interference. This suspicion led to further deterioration of U.S. relations with Great Britain and served as a catalyst of the War of 1812, which began six months later. By the time the U.S. declared war on Great Britain, Tecumseh’s confederacy was ready to launch its war against the United States and embrace an alliance with the British.

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

TIPPECANOE BITTERS, Circa 1880 – 1895

L…Tippecanoe XXX Trade Mark Use No Nostrums Nor Preparations
TIPPECANOE / motif birch tree bark, a canoe, birch tree bark / H. H. WARNER & CO. // ( b ) PAT NOV, 20, 83 // ROCHESTER // NY // 5
9 x 2 7/8 (7)
Round, Amber, FM meant to represent a fungus (mushroom) growing out of the log shaped bottle.
Label: The best stomach tonic. Illustration of typical Warner’s Safe with Trade Mark and Warner’s Cure. Tippecanoe Trade Mark. The best for dyspepsia assimilation of food, stomach disorders, general functional derangements, constipation, tired feelings, malaria, blood disorders, skin eruptions, loss of energy, female disability, feeble appetite, bilious headache, etc.
Drug Catalog: 1885 Goodwin, 1887 Meyer, Trade Cards available.

T I P P E C A N O E    G A L L E R Y

Labeled TIPPECANOE – Glass Works Auctions

TIPPECANOE / motif birch tree bark, a canoe, birch tree bark / H. H. WARNER & CO. in amber – Meyer Collection

TIPPECANOE / motif birch tree bark, a canoe, birch tree bark / H. H. WARNER & CO. in amber – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

TIPPECANOE / motif birch tree bark, a canoe, birch tree bark / H. H. WARNER & CO. in a green toned amber and amber. From time to time, I used to hear that you could find the infamous Tippecanoe in an olive variety. Generally speaking, I considered this to be myth until I actually saw an example that I considered olive. They do exist and some are strikingly olive. More often than not, however, they tend to be amber examples with shades of olive. This makes sense, because the olive coloring is most likely the result of impurities in the glass manufacturing process rather than an intention by either Warner or his bottle supplier to issue an olive Tippecanoe. I mean, really, who wants a green log? – Warner’s Safe Cure Blog (bottles from American Bottle Auctions)

TIPPECANOE / motif birch tree bark, a canoe, birch tree bark / H. H. WARNER & CO. in green – American Glass Gallery Auction #6, Lot 177 (fetched a cool $8,500)

Labeled TIPPECANOE – Glass Works Auctions

Tippecanoe_GW

“H.H. WARNER & CO / (motif of a canoe and tree bark) / TIPPECANOE”, (T-30.8L), New York, ca. 1875 – 1890, amber, 9”h, “PAT NOV. 20, 83 / ROCHESTER / N.Y.” on smooth base, applied mouth, 98% original label. Pristine perfect, you won’t find a nicer one. Of the few known labeled Tippecanoe bottles, this one is thought to have the most complete and free of stain label! Ex. Carlyn Ring Collection. – Glass Works Auctions January 2013

Tippecanoe Patent drawing – Warner’s Safe Cure Blog

Battle of Tippecanoe Trade Card, The Warner trade card pictured above attempts to depict the famous battle. Presumably Harrison is the guy on the horse with his sabre drawn. The message reads “After once using our Tippecanoe – You will use no nostrums nor preparations called Bitters.”  I guess that taking Warner’s Tippecanoe gave you the strength to take on a band of marauding indians. It was clearly an attempt by Warner to move away from the term bitters, although the content of the preparation was doubtless the same. – Warner’s Safe Cure Blog

Tippecanoe Bitters Indian trade card is circa 1880’s and has Indians in canoes going down the waters and on a rock it says ‘Tippecanoe’ Try It! The top of the card has advertising for Tippecanoe Bitters. – Etsy

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Ephemera, Figural Bottles, History, Medicines & Cures, News, Questions, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Latest news from Outhouse Patrol up in Montana

Posted on 19 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

“We awoke to a very cold early October rainy morning after trying to sleep through high winds whistling through the broken out windows and creaking old door.”

Always nice to hear from my friend James Campiglia and the Outhouse Patrol as he represents the very essence of our hobby in our northern region of the FOHBC. He reminds me of the Baltimore star, Chris Rowell. These guys are always thinking bottles, history, digging and furthering our hobby 24/7/365. I sit here in my warm abode and have to smile when I see the lengths that these guys go to looking for privies.

Hello Ferd,

Really was a pleasure to talk the other day as I was on way to Butte to do a little digging. My friend found three nice older plain bottles but I found nothing but that’s fine, he’s a beginner. Looks like we found an old dump and hope to get permission soon.

If you can get the name of the persons (lady with changing looks, etc) and find if they are in Auburn we can watch them. I had an idea that might really shock them. Print up a want list of about ten misc. bottles but include all of those stolen in Reno, and a few misc. Hand out wanted posters but to not be suspicious pass to other dealers but mainly target the suspects. Have a few collectors present to read their actions when they realize its the stolen bottles we are showing them on the want lists. Maybe print some extras for the front door table too. And have these dealers, the suspected ones, set up at other shows does anyone really know them? Did you reach Mike McKillop regarding Auburn?

[PRG: I have been consulting with James on the theft issue plaguing some of our western shows]

I booked a flight tonight and will be in the area a couple of days prior and after the show. Maybe do some digging or go see some collections.

Just saw the Bertrand infomation and the Kintzing bottle shards I had sent in. Thanks for posting some of my notes. Here’s a picture of our latest dig. Way up in the hills. As you can see a ghost town. We awoke to a very cold early October rainy morning after trying to sleep through high winds whistling through the broken out windows and creaking old door. The slapping of the tin on the roof was quite nerve-wracking as well but after a good breakfast at about noon the sun was out and we we digging away. When we find some good bottles will send pictures. 1880’s to 20’s era town with outhouses still standing! And we have full permission to dig away.

And a week later the snow was falling (mid October) It was time to pack up but I hope to return maybe this weekend as hear the snow has melted but a sudden snow storm could come on quick up in these beautiful hills.

See you in Auburn!

Thanks,
James
www.jameschips.com
www.outhousepatrol.com

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, FOHBC News, News | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

American Dialect Society and the origin of the word “jazz”

Posted on 18 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

J A Z Z

Virginia Minstrels circa 1843

An interesting question that Mike Bryant (San Diego Antique Bottle and Collectibles Club) forwarded… I have added the pictures for post support. If anyone can help with bottle and/or advertising images and information it would be greatly appreciated.

“Does anyone have a bottle from the Boyes Spring mineral water spring. Is it identified as “jazz water” or as having “jazz”? (perhaps spelled jaz, jass, or jas)”

Ferdinand ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton poster – circa 1915

Mike Bryant has just forwarded to me the picture of the Boyes Spring bottle. Thank you very much. I have forwarded it to members of the American Dialect Society who are interested in the origin of the word “jazz”.

Louis Armstrong, jazz trumpeter

Mr. Bryant:

Is it possible to put a research question into The Bottleneck newsletter, or
in some other way bring it to the attention of the members of the club?

The question is this: Does anyone have a bottle from the Boyes Spring mineral water spring. Is it identified as “jazz water” or as having “jazz”? (perhaps spelled jaz, jass, or jas)

The story behind this is this. In 1913 the San Francisco Seal baseball team went to the Boyes Spring resort for spring training. A sports reporter from an San Francisco paper who was covering the team picked up the word “jazz” there, meaning “energy”, “enthusiasm” (and also, sometimes, “nonsense”), and used it 8 or 10 times in the course of the season. When the Seals were winning, they were full of jazz; when they were in a slump, the jazz had run out, and the manager had better send off for a couple of cases more.

San Francisco Seals – circa 1909

Meanwhile, the entertainment director at the Springs was a young band leader named Art Hickman who also liked the word, and started to use it to identify his music: energetic, sparkling music for dancing. He went on to be a very popular band leader in San Francisco in the mid-1910s, and one of his musicians went to Chicago with the word, where it was picked up by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, which had a huge hit record at the beginning of 1917, and so the music got a name. The reference to the manager sending away for a case of fresh jazz suggests that the springs bottled the stuff. I’m curious to know for certain that they did, and whether they described the water as having jazz.

George A. Thompson
Author of A Documentary History of “The African Theatre”, Northwestern Univ.

The large “plunge pool” at Boyes Hot Springs was billed as the largest swimming pool in Northern California.

[Wikipedia] The San Francisco Seals were a minor league baseball team in San Francisco, California, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 until 1957 before transferring to Phoenix, Arizona. They were named for the abundant California Sea Lion and Harbor Seal populations in the Bay Area.

[Wikipedia] Boyes Hot Springs is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 6,656 people at the 2010 census. Resorts in Boyes Hot Springs, El Verano, Fetters Hot Springs, and Agua Caliente were popular health retreats for tourists from San Francisco and points beyond until the middle of the 20th century because of the geothermic hot springs that still well up from deep within the earth. Today the Sonoma Mission Inn in Boyes Hot Springs remains as a main destination resort, and the surrounding valley’s wineries, historic sites, and natural beauty are popular tourist attractions.

[Wikipedia] Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in black communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. Its African pedigree is evident in its use of blue notes, improvisation, polyrhythms, syncopation and the swung note. From its early development until the present day, jazz has also incorporated elements from American popular music.

As the music has developed and spread around the world it has drawn on many different national, regional and local musical cultures giving rise, since its early 20th century American beginnings, to many distinctive styles: New Orleans jazz dating from the early 1910s, big band swing, Kansas City jazz and Gypsy jazz from the 1930s and 1940s, bebop from the mid-1940s and on down through West Coast jazz, cool jazz, avant-garde jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz, modal jazz, free jazz, Latin jazz in various forms, soul jazz, jazz fusion and jazz rock, smooth jazz, jazz-funk, punk jazz, acid jazz, ethno jazz, jazz rap, cyber jazz, Indo jazz, M-Base, nu jazz, urban jazz and other ways of playing the music.

[Wikipedia] 1913-1918 – A more lasting influence emerged in 1913, in a series of articles by E.T. “Scoop” Gleeson in the San Francisco Bulletin, found by researchers Peter Tamony (who carried out the pioneering research in this area) and Dick Holbrook, that likely were instrumental in bringing jazz to a broader public. These initial articles were written in Boyes Springs, California, where the San Francisco Seals baseball team was in training. In the earliest reference, on March 3, 1913, jazz was used in a negative sense, to indicate that disparaging information about ball player George Clifford McCarl had turned out to be inaccurate: “McCarl has been heralded all along the line as a ‘busher,’ but now it develops that this dope is very much to the ‘jazz.’

Three days later, on March 6, Gleeson used jazz extensively in a longer article, in which he explained the term’s meaning, which had now turned from negative to positive connotations: Everybody has come back to the old town full of the old “jazz” and they promise to knock the fans off their feet with their playing. What is the “jazz”? Why, it’s a little of that “old life,” the “gin-i-ker,” the “pep,” otherwise known as the enthusiasalum. A grain of “jazz” and you feel like going out and eating your way through Twin Peaks. It’s that spirit which makes ordinary ball players step around like Lajoies and Cobbs.

The article uses jazz several more times and says that the San Francisco Seals’ “members have trained on ragtime and ‘jazz’ and manager Del Howard says there’s no stopping them.” The context of the article as a whole shows that a musical meaning of jazz is not intended; rather, ragtime and “jazz” were both used as markers of ebullient spirit.
Gleeson used jazz in a number of articles in March and April 1913, and other journalists began to use the term as well. The Bulletin on April 5, 1913, published an article by Ernest J. Hopkins entitled “In Praise of ‘Jazz,’ a Futurist Word Which Has Just Joined the Language.” The article, which used the spellings jaz and jazz interchangeably, discussed the term at length and included a highly positive definition: “JAZZ” (WE CHANGE the spelling each time so as not to offend either faction) can be defined, but it cannot be synonymized. If there were another word that exactly expressed the meaning of “jaz,” “jazz” would never have been born. A new word, like a new muscle, only comes into being when it has long been needed. This remarkable and satisfactory-sounding word, however, means something like life, vigor, energy, effervescence of spirit, joy, pep, magnetism, verve, virility ebulliency, courage, happiness–oh, what’s the use?–JAZZ.

Jazz, in the sense of pep and enthusiasm, continued in use in California for several years before being submerged by the jazz music meaning. Amateur etymologist Barry Popik has located a number of examples from the Berkeley Daily Californian and the Daily Palo Alto, showing that jazz in this sense was collegiate slang at the University of California, Berkeley in the period 1915 to 1917 and at Stanford University in the period 1916 to 1918. President Benjamin Ide Wheeler at Berkeley apparently used jazz with such frequency that many supposed he originated the term, although the Daily Californian stated on February 18, 1916, that he denied this.

Boyes Mineral Water possibly made in 1951 at the Duraglas plant in Oakland, CA (which started in 1937), and is a machine-made bottle. – Collectors Weekly

Boyes Spring Mineral Water – eBay (darker liquid used to show graphics I suppose)

Boyes Spring Mineral Water detail – eBay (darker liquid used to show graphics I suppose)

Posted in Advertising, Bottling Works, Club News, History, Mineral Water, Painted Label, Questions, Soda Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr Zabriskie’s Bitters – Jersey City, New Jersey

Posted on 17 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr Zabriskie’s Bitters – Jersey City, New Jersey

17 November 2012 (R•022518)

New Jersey has certainly been in the news of late with the terrible destruction from Hurricane Sandy which has been just tragic. I now see that the inane show Jersey Shore has run its course too. What a shame. New Jersey, you are on our minds.

With that said, I was pleasantly surprised to see a bitters brand and bottle that I was not familiar with in John Pastor’s American Glass Gallery Auction #9. This was the Dr. Zabriskie’s Bitters from Jersey City. Johns write-up:

“Dr Zabriskie’s – Bitters – Jersey City / N. J.”, America, 1840 – 1855. Moonstone, rectangular with indented panels, a very crude, likely applied, thin flanged mouth – solid glass tipped pontil scar, ht. 6”, virtually attic mint condition. R/H #Z1. An extremely rare bitters, and probably quite early, in a color that is seldom seen except on rare occasions in a handful of early flasks. Believed to be only a handful of examples (less than half dozen), in any condition known to exist.

“DR ZABRISKIE’S – BITTERS – JERSEY CITY / N.J.”, (Ring/Ham, Z-1), New Jersey, ca. 1850 – 1860, clear glass, 6 1/8”h, pontil scarred base, tooled mouth. An in manufacturing 3/16” by 1/8” chip off the underside of the flared out lip, otherwise perfect. Extremely rare, one of only a few known examples. T.H. Zabriskie & Sons were located at 122 Deuce Street, Brooklyn. Larry Umbreit Collection. – Glass Works Auctions – Auction 119

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

Z1  DR. ZABRISKIE’S BITTERS
DR ZABRISKIES // f // BITTERS // JERSEY CITY / N.J. //
6 3/4 x 2 1/4 (6 1/8) 3/8
Square, FM, 3 sp, Clear with moonstone tone, Extremely rare
T. H. Zabriskie & Sons, 122 Deuce Street, Brooklyn, N.Y., 176 Washington Street   Courtland, N.Y.
Also manufacturers of Zabriskie’s Polish Liniment
Only 3 or 4 known examples, all of which were dug from a privy in Northern New Jersey in the mid 1990’s.

Zabriskie is certainly a unique Polish name, at least to me. Searching online, I see that New Jersey and New York is the epicenter for the Zabriskie name. I was quite amazed to see the name in posts dating from the 1600s to present day. Obviously a strong family name with generations of history. A few snippets of potential information are posted below.

Added new communication below on 26 November 2012

Hi, My buddy Connor sent me a link showing me that one of the Zabriskie Bitters from Jersey City was at auction. One of my digging partners and myself had the pleasure of digging all three of those that exist in one outhouse pit in Jersey City. They are made of flint glass which give them that not so clear appearance. They were a lot worse before I cleaned them. According to the map we were using, there was a flint glass works at the end of the street the pit was on. I’m almost sure the bottles would have been made right there. Also, Dr. Zabriskie lived right on the same street. Thought you might like to know some of the back story from those great bottles.-Tom.

What Zabriskie are we talking about?

Polish Roots – The Polish People of Passaic

There is no authentic record of, first Polish settlement in Passaic, which was settled by wealthy Dutch farmers as early as 1679. However, one of the earliest Polish land owners in the area was the Zabriskie family, which claims descent from Olbracht Zaborowski who emigrated from Prussia to New Amsterdam in 1662. There is no record of the exact time when the family took up residence in Passaic, but deeds recorded in the land office for Passaic County at Paterson, New Jersey, reveal purchases of land in Passaic by Henry J. Zabriskie in 1816, by Christian B. Zabriskie in 1824, and by Abraham Zabriskie in 1832. At the time Passaic was still a predominantly agricultural and commercial village.

Abraham Zabriskie built a dock in Passaic and operated a fleet of boats sailing to New York. He tried to improve the navigation facilities of the Passaic River and spent fifty thousand dollars for this purpose. The project was unsuccessful and brought about his financial ruin.

Another member of the family, Dr. John B. Zabriskie, was licensed to practice medicine and surgery in New Jersey on November 4, 1826. Unable to make a success of his practice, he moved to New York and later settled in Jersey City.

Still another descendant, Christian B. Zabriskie, took part in the planning of a bridge to be erected at some point between Zabriskie’s Landing and the Dundee Dam before the Civil War, but the undertaking proved a failure.

Christian A. Zabriskie, who was born March 14, 1829, was considered one of the oldest residents of Passaic.

John C. Zabriskie, also from Passaic, took part in the Civil War.

The Zabriskie Tenant House

The Zabriskie Tenant House was an historic house on Dunkerhook Road in Paramus, New Jersey. The Zabriskie family built the home to house their slaves, who remained tenants even after they were liberated. It was one of the few structures left in New Jersey directly related to slavery in the state. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1984.

A proposal to demolish the house and subdivide the land for housing development was approved by the Paramus Planning Board in late April, 2011, and the house was scheduled to be demolished in June, 2011. Local historians and preservationists had worked out a plan to move the house to Bergen Community College for an educational adaptive reuse, a plan supported by the County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders. The county was in the process petitioning the state for funds to move and rehabilitate the structure when on 13 July 2012, the developer Sal Petruzella demolished the Zabriskie Tenant House with no warning or indication to the preservation community.

Westwood in 1894

January 5, 1894: Dr. Zabriskie has begun excavating for his new building.

February 9, 1894: Dr. Zabriskie’s new building has been raised and will be pushed to completion. Westwood will then have what it has needed for a long time: a drug store.

April 27, 1894: J.W. Wardell, a druggist from Closter, has leased Dr. Zabriskie’s new building and will open a drug store.

Cornelius Zabriskie

Cornelius Zabriskie, banker, born in that part of Bergen county, N. J., known as Cherry Hill, Feb. 24, 1839, is a son of the late David A. Zabriskie, a prominent and influential citizen and great grandson of a paymaster in the Continental army; noted both for his bravery and careful supervision of the finances. The family is an old one and its members have always borne a high reputation and shown marked public spirit in their respective generations.

Leaving home at the age of fifteen, Mr. Zabriskie moved to Jersey City, where,
after completing his studies at the public schools, he gained a thorough knowledge of
chemistry and was for nine years connected with the oldest drug house in Jersey City.

I understand that this bottle will be joining a collection of Bitters bottles in Texas. It will certainly go in the “Aqua Room’ on a special lower shelf of rare clear bitters.

A Q U A    R O O M

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking for Bottles Carried on the Steamboat Arabia

Posted on 16 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

T H E    S T E A M B O A T    A R A B I A

Looking at famed Civil War author Jim Schmidt’s interview with Andrew W. Hall and the Galveston-Houston Packet this morning made me think of the bottles stored on these and other steamboats that traveled our waterways. While looking at the Steamboat Bertrand cargo recently (see: Looking at some of the Bitters Bottles on the steamboat Bertrand – Part 1 and Looking at some of the Bitters Bottles on the steamboat Bertrand – Part 2), I was reminded of the Steamboat Arabia in Missouri. I also did a post recently where some Charles Lediard products were found on the SS Republic (see: Charles Lediard and his Liquor Products). What amazes me most is that the Arabia was found beneath 45 feet of silt and topsoil as the Missouri River had shifted 1/2 of a mile from where the Arabia was found. I suppose I always assumed great rivers shifted course over eons of time and not in 130 or so years.

Over time, the river shifted a half a mile to the east. The site of the sinking is in present-day Kansas City, Kansas.

Let’s look a little closer at the Arabia steamboat and see what bottles were recovered. I am particularly interested in seeing if Kelly’s Old Cabin Bitters, OK Plantation Bitters, Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters and any of the other famed bitters products were on board.

Steamboat Arabia Museum Postcard

[Wikipedia] The steamboat Arabia was a side wheeler steamboat which hit a snag in the Missouri River and sank near what today is Parkville, Missouri, on September 5, 1856. It was rediscovered in 1988 by a team of researchers. Today, the artifacts recovered from the site are housed in the Arabia Steamboat Museum.

The Arabia was built in 1853 on the banks of the Monongahela River in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. Its paddlewheels were 28 feet across, and its steam boilers consumed approximately thirty cords of wood per day. The boat averaged five miles an hour going upstream. The boat traveled the Ohio and Mississippi rivers before it was bought by Captain John Shaw, who operated the boat on the Missouri River. Her first trip was to carry 109 soldiers from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Pierre, which was located up river in South Dakota. The boat then traveled up the Yellowstone River, adding an additional 700 miles to the trip. In all, the trip took nearly three months to complete.

In spring of 1856, the boat was sold to Captain William Terrill and William Boyd, and it made fourteen trips up and down the Missouri during their ownership. In March, while heading up river, the boat collided with an obstacle and nearly sank. Repairs were made in nearby Portland. A few weeks later the boat blew a cylinder head and had to be repaired again. The rest of the season was uneventful for the boat until September 5.

On September 5, 1856, the Arabia set out for a routine trip. At Quindaro Bend, near the town of Parkville, Missouri, the boat hit a submerged walnut tree snag (see picture above of actual tree part found in hull). The snag ripped open the hull, which rapidly filled with water. The upper decks of the boat stayed above water, and the only casualty was a mule that was tied to sawmill equipment and forgotten. The boat sank so rapidly into the mud that by the next morning, only the smokestacks and pilot house remained visible. Within a few days, these traces of the boat were also swept away. Numerous salvage attempts failed, and eventually the boat was completely covered by water. Over time, the river shifted a half a mile to the east. The site of the sinking is in present-day Kansas City, Kansas, although, as described below, many of the remnants have been removed to a museum in Kansas City, Missouri.

In the 1860s, Elisha Sortor purchased the property where the boat lay. Over the years, legends were passed through the family that the boat was located somewhere under the land. In the surrounding town, stories were also told of the steamboat, but the exact location of the boat was lost over time.

In 1987, Bob Hawley and his sons, Greg and David, set out to find the boat. The Hawleys used old maps and a proton magnetometer to figure out the probable location, and finally discovered the Arabia half a mile from the river and under 45 feet of silt and topsoil.

The owners of the farm gave permission for excavation, with the condition that the work be completed before the spring planting. The Hawleys, along with family friends Jerry Mackey and David Luttrell, set out to excavate the boat during the winter months while the water table was at its lowest point. They performed a series of drilling tests to determine the exact location of the hull, then marked the perimeter with powdered chalk. Heavy equipment, including a 100-ton crane, was brought in by both river and road transport during the summer and fall. Twenty irrigation pumps were installed around the site to lower the water level and to keep the site from flooding. The 65-foot-deep wells removed 20,000 US gallons per minute from the ground. On November 26, 1988, the boat was exposed. Four days later, artifacts from the boat began to appear, beginning with a Goodyear rubber overshoe. On December 5, a wooden crate filled with elegant china was unearthed. The mud was such an effective preserver that the yellow packing straw was still visible. Thousands of artifacts were recovered intact, including jars of preserved food that are still edible. The artifacts that were recovered are housed in the Steamboat Arabia Museum.

I soon located what I had traveled this distance to see — bottles! Food bottles embossed ‘Well’s, Miller & Provost‘ filled several shelves, many had original lead labels and contents. Earlier ‘large size’, Dr. Hostetter’s Bitters, were in abundance, as were a number of unembossed ‘lady’s leg’  bottles, both having original contents. Peppersauce bottles with the desirable ‘Western Spice Mills‘ embossed appeared in several areas, as did a sprinkling of various pontiled cologne and scent bottles. One case exhibited several rows of medicine bottles.

Another case exhibited several rows of medicine bottles: ‘Mexican Mustang Liniment’, ‘McGuire Druggist, St. Louis’, and ‘Nerve and Bone Liniment‘, all still in their original contents. Ink bottles, still in their original packing box, and early case gins were also to be found.

To me the most rewarding display of all was a portion of one wall holding row after row of early Scroll flasks! Approximately 100 were on display, all being pint and quart size. They were displayed in alternating rows of deep aquamarine and medium yellow green and all sparkled like the day they were blown!

Treasures of The Steamboat Arabia

What a surprise. Obviously the cargo was meant for the small grocers, hardware stores, businesses and eating and drinking establishments. The Steamboat Arabia Museum is definitely a place I want to visit. What and where do you suppose all those Scroll Flasks were headed and doing on board?

A R A B I A    G A L L E R Y

Read More: Treasures of The Steamboat Arabia

Read More: Steamboat Arabia – A Historian’s Blog (great!)

Posted in Bitters, Digging and Finding, Dinnerware, Display, Flasks, History, Museums, Questions, Treasure | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A labeled Dr. Hopkin’s Union Stomach Bitters

Posted on 15 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

A labeled Dr. Hopkin’s Union Stomach Bitters

15 November 2012 (R110614)

“It is priced at 75 cents – pretty good since it ‘cures’ pretty much EVERYTHING.”

Apple-Touch-IconAI have said this many times before, and I will say it again. “It sure is fun to get an email with bottle pictures and questions.” In this case it is from ‘Jeanne’ from somewhere in bottleland asking about her special bottle.

Hello,

I was trying to look up some information on some of my bottles. One of them is an amber bitters bottle with three sides of labels and an embossed side. Most of the three labels are intact and readable. It is priced at 75 cents – pretty good since it ‘cures’ pretty much EVERYTHING. Then again, three wine glassfuls a day would make you forget you had anything wrong with you in the first place. I guess it’s like yours except for the labels.

How does one get an appraisal or who would YOU trust if you were a collector. The definition of collector as it pertains to me is, I collected any bottle I liked since I was 20 and that was decades ago. Thanks for any help or suggestions. Sincerely,

Jeanne

I mentioned to Jeanne that I might post her pictures due to the completeness of the labels and the super character of the bottle. Pretty decent for a Dr. Hopkins. Jeanne mentioned that she might want to sell the bottle too. Let me know if you are interested and I will put you in touch with her. Look at the labels closely, as it seems that each side of the bottle advertises a different Hopkins product. Dr. Hopkins sure knew how to use the label for advertising and information. Jam packed.

DR. A. S. HOPKIN’S UNION STOMACH BITTERS (embossing)

DR. HOPKIN’S CELEBRATED UNION STOMACH BITTERS (label side)

SARSAPARILLA AND OTHER ROOTS AND BARKS (ingredients)

UNION CELEBRATED ROOT & BARK BITTERS (label side)

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

H 180

H 180  DR. A.S. HOPKINS UNION STOMACH BITTERS
DR. A. S. HOPKINS / UNION STOMACH BITTERS / HARTFORD CONN. // f // sp // f //
L…Union Celebrated Root & Bark Bitters
9 3/4 x 2 3/4 (7) 3/8
Square, Yellow, Amber and Green, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Scarce
Label: Composed of sarsaparilla and other roots and barks. Compounded so as to act in concert, and assist nature in eradicating disease, stimulating, importing tone to the stomach, and strength to the system and a most efficient tonic. Warranted a pure vegetable medicine, guaranteed to keep in any climate and improve with age. Unequaled for hotel, family or medicinal Use. Cholera morbus, asiatic or spasmatic cholera, dysentery and diarrhea. It gives immediate relief in all cases of pain, bilious and painter’s colic, cramps, spasms, convulsions, etc… Cures sudden colds, coughs, fever and ague, canker in the mouth and stomach, kidney complaints, seasickness, headache, cleanses the stomach, regulates the bowels and imparts a tone of health and vigor to the body. Continued to be advertised in 1912.

Read More: Union Bitters – Haven’t Seen this One Before

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Sarsaparilla | Leave a comment

Bennett & Carroll – Figural Barrel Series

Posted on 14 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

 BENNETT & CARROL(L)  PITTSBURG(H)

Earlier this year I did a comprehensive series on most of the great figural barrels. I knew I had missed a few odd ones such as the Bennett & Carrol barrel (note spelling of Carrol missing an ‘L’, and the alternate earlier spelling of ‘Pittsburg’). At the time I could not find much information and certainly could not find a good image. John Pastor with American Glass Gallery has a wonderful example in his Auction #9 that ends tonight. The description is as follows:

Lot #131: Bennett & Carrol / 120 Wood St / Pittsburg” Figural Whiskey Bottle, America, probably a Pittsburgh district glasshouse, 1855 – 1860. Brilliant yellowish golden, or light honey amber, barrel form, applied square collared mouth – iron pontil scar, ht. 9 ¼”, very near mint; (a little minor roughness along the back edge of the square collared mouth, otherwise pristine perfect). A beautiful example of this very rare whiskey barrel, bright, crisp and nicely whittled. Note; we have added an additional photo taken on a bright, slightly overcast sunny day to show the beautiful yellowish and honey tones evident in this particular example.

Note this other example of a Bennett & Carroll flattened chestnut form that was sold in Heckler 98 Auction. Very similar pieces of glass. Unfortunately I can not find any other information on Bennett & Carroll so I welcome any new information that can be provided.

Bennett & Carroll flattened chestnut (note spelling of Carroll) – Heckler 98 Auction

Bennett & Carrol figural whiskey bottle – American Glass Gallery Auction #9 (Studio illumination)

Bennett & Carrol figural whiskey bottle – American Glass Gallery Auction #9 (window illumination)

Bennett&Carrol_GW98

“BENNETT & CARROL / 120 WOOD ST. / PITTSBURG”, (Denzin, BEN-31), Pennsylvania, ca. 1855 – 1870, medium yellowish amber barrel, 9 1/2”h, smooth base, applied square collar mouth, perfect condition. A rarely offered barrel, and it’s a good one having nice glass whittle a bold impression and almost no trace of wear! A Pittsburgh classic! Ex. Robert Pattridge Collection. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction 98

Bennett & Carrol figural whiskey bottle – American Glass Gallery Auction #9 (mouth detail)

Bennett & Carrol figural whiskey bottle – American Glass Gallery Auction #9 (pontil base detail)

Read More on Figural Barrels

Barrel Series – Crow’s Celebrated Tonic Bitters

Barrel Series – Chapin & Gore – Chicago – Sour Mash

Barrel Series – Brent, Warder & Co. – Louisville

Barrel Series – Bininger Old Kentucky Bourbon

Barrel Series – Columbus in a Barrel

Barrel Series – I. Nelson’s Old Bourbon

Barrel Series – W.C. Bitters

Barrel Series – W. Wolf found at Thrift Shop for $1.00

Barrel Series – Ben Franklin Bitters

Barrel Series – Highland Bitters and Scotch Tonic

Barrel Series – Smith’s Druid Bitters

Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the smaller ones)

Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the big boys)

Barrel Series – Dr. Chandler’s Jamaica Ginger Root Bitters

Barrel Series – Favorite Bitters & Peoples Favorite Bitters

Barrel Series – Wormser Bros San Francisco

Barrel Series – Mist of the Morning

Barrel Series – Old Sachem Bitters and Wigwam Tonic

Barrel Series – Turner Brothers New York & San Francisco

Barrel Series – The Mysterious Blue Barrel

Barrel Series – Original Pocahontas Bitters

Figural Barrel Series – Hall’s Bitters

Greeley’s Bourbon Whiskey Bitters – aka Vertical Greeley’s

Peach colored Bourbon Whiskey Bitters added to Color Run

Greeley’s Bourbon Bitters – A Great Boston Bitters Barrel

Posted in Auction News, Chestnut, Early American Glass, Figural Bottles, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Dose

Posted on 14 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

M A R C H   2 0 1 3

Section dedicated to daily thoughts and interests

Saturday, 30 March 2013

Spent most of the day mowing grass on the tractor and then crashing for an hour or so. Feels good to get something done and it looks nice even though the grass really has not grown too much without rain. Just opened a bottle of  2004, La Crau de Ma Mere Chateauneuf du Pape. Very relaxed. Girls off riding horses. Just me and the dogs.

B&ECover_MayJun13

 

Earlier competed the design on the May June issue of Bottles and Extras. Will give you guys a sneak peek. Great article on TWIABA and Nevada by Eric McGuire.

Twiaba

Friday, 29 March 2013

ChocoBunnies

Working out of Peachridge today. I see this chocolate bunny graphics every year around Easter and I still chuckle each time.

Thursday, 28 March 2013

SpurgeonFruitJars

Don’t forget the North American Glass Fruit Jar auction. The Heckler auction ender last night. Only after one item. The Glass Works Auction ended Monday night.

Robacks_GW_lot96

Lovin’ that small Roback’s in green. At $12k without the juice. Read: Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the smaller ones)

Absinthe Borgeois

New Absinthe Bourgeois poster submitted by Bruce Silva. A favorite of his. Visit Post

ShermansPricklyAsh_KC_TC#2

Posts in development for Dr. B. F. Prickly Ash Bitters and FOHBC Manchester 2013 National Antique Bottle Show Seminar Announcement.

MichaelGeorgeSeminar

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Albert_Maignan_-_La_muse_verte

Always enjoy learning something about my bottles and our great hobby. I really wasn’t sure what absinthe was until the email and post – The New Orleans Absinthe Makers. I certainly had not heard the term “Green Fairy”. Love it! So many questions and so many avenues to explore. No wonder Warren F has so much fun.

Bininger_OldMonongahila

Watching some really interesting $$ numbers in the Glass Works Auction “March Madness” that closed last night. Look at the Bininger Old Monogahela now at $14k. Great bottle.

More: Bininger Gallery

Monday, 25 March 2013

IronBittersBrownsSign_C

In the thirties this morning at Peachridge. Headed to work. Nice Brown’s Iron Bitters advertisement from Dave’s Great Cards. Read: Baltimore’s Iron Bitters – Brown Chemical Company

Sunday, 24 March 2013

KenSchwartz_Pam

So how was Morro Bay? Next year for sure. Pam Selenak sent in another picture of Ken Schwartz. See Obituary (Allen & Dahl Funeral Chapel)

1857 Liberty $20_8

Hi Ferd,

Attached is a photo of the Type 1 Reverse $20 Gold Coin as depicted on the U.S. Gold Bitters. The difference is there is no “In God We Trust” inside the circle of stars above the eagle on the reverse.

Tom Phillips FOHBC Conventions Director

Read: U.S. Gold Bitters – Augusta, Maine

Looks like we passed 1/2 million visits to PRG today. Wish I could really open this up with regular writers, bloggers and posters.

Saturday, 23 March 2013

It shouldn’t have been a shocker but it was as Ken has been hanging on. What a huge loss to the bottle collecting world. One of my greatest memories was visiting with Ken and Teenie. Bill Ham was kind enough to take Elizabeth and myself up for an afternoon visit. What a man, what a wife and what a collection.KenSchwartzSq

Kenneth Schwartz, 83, of Redding died Friday at Vibra Hospital of Northern California in Redding. Arrangements are pending at Allen & Dahl Funeral Chapel in Redding (243-1525).

Published in Redding Record Searchlight on March 22, 2013

Friday, 22 March 2013 Finally back in Houston. I wish I could go to the Morro Bay show this weekend. I’m bushed though. Been emailing back and forth about the possibility of a ‘Glass in the Grass’ event here at Peachridge. Would anybody come? Kind of like a Heckler event. Had fun with the S.O. Richardson piece yesterday. Have a few updates. Hope to leave the office early today.

KeeneMasonicEagles

Three EARLY 1815-1820 KEENE NH Eagle / Masonic flasks. Lead glass, brilliant colors, fantastic early American historicals!! The center one is a new addition to my collection… very excited about the color!! – Michael George (PRG: you may recognize the flask from the latest ABA auction)

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

[In from Pam Selenak] Ferd, Could you please post this for me asap. KenLawlerDigging Remembering Ken Lawler at Morro Bay show this weekend. There will be a gathering at “Dockside” restaurant for remembrance of Ken Lawler. I have put aside an area at the restaurant that we can gather and enjoy our stories and give Ken the tribute that he so deserves. Dar has talked to me and sends her thank you to everybody. She wishes she could attend but has family with her at this time. Drinks and food are available but everyone is responsible for their own tab. Address: 1245 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, Ca. 93442, Phone# 805 772-8100, This will take place after the bar-b-que from the Morro Bay show on Friday 3/22/13 at around 630 till? Bring your camera, any pictures you would like to share and of course those memories that we will all keep close to our hearts. Pam 22 & 23 March 2013 (Friday & Saturday) Morro Bay, California – The San Luis Obispo Bottle Society’s 45th Annual Show and Sale, Friday, March 22nd, 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm and Saturday, March 23rd, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Morro Bay Veterans Hall, 209 Surf Street, Morro Bay California, Free admission and no charge to early birds. Info: Richard Tartaglia, Show Chairman, Tele: 805.543.7484 or email Steve Mello dirtytiver53@gmail.com. FOHBC Member Club

Just Plain Weird

Raw: Storm Drops Hail on Cars, Roads in Brookshire. Elizabeth called me at my hotel room in the middle of the night scared to death as she huddled with our four dogs. Freak storm centered over Peachridge. I watched it on radar later and it was serious. Look at this video. Keep in mind that it broke a 100 year record being in the low 90’s on Monday.

BrookshireHail

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Mohawk_GW97

Traveling most of the day. In Augusta, Georgia now. Look at this GREAT Mohawk Whiskey Queen in Glass Works Auction #97. Wow. Compare the gold paint with the ABA example in the PRG post which was updated. Very interesting. Factory paint job. READ: Mohawk Whiskey Pure Rye Indian Queen

Monday, 18 March 2013

Lots of bottle news coming in from all points. Heckler has announced Auction 103 that starts todays. These auctions are never ending of late? Is this good or bad? Prices seem strong in areas I am interested in.

The Original Pocahontas bitters bottle (Y. Ferguson) is a rare bitters that always appears as aqua. The one in this auction (est. 4,000-$8,000) is covered in a Benicia film and “any way you look at it, it’s a very gorgeous bottle,” said Wichmann. “We can say without any hesitation that this is the finest Benicia bottle we’ve ever offered.” It is graded a near-mint 9.9.

Updated the Barrel series – Original Pocahontas Bitters post with clarification from Bill Ham on the misspelled variant O 86.1. FYI…there is an example of an O 86.1 in the current Glass Works Auction #97. Love that video of Michael Polak digging in Hawaii. Wouldn’t that be a dream 3 week vacation. I can not seem to find three hours to take off of late!

Jug NBM

Ferdinand,

Roy Topka with the Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa here. Local collector and artisan Jim Healy (he was tickled pink by the mention of his good work in the current Bottles and Extras) created the attached Fantasy Jug for the Museum and donated it to be raffled. The theme being the 150th anniversary of the Racetrack in Saratoga. By early April the Museum website should be featuring the jug and information on the raffle, along with other media exposure that will be undertaken to promote the raffle. What I am asking, is it possible when the website is ready could the jug be pictured on your website with the link to the NBM? I understand if this is not possible, as all the clubs and the Federation are needing to raise money for their own purposes. I figure it never hurts to ask! Thank you for your consideration, if you have any questions, or if there is ever anything I can do please let me know.

Roy Topka 2013 Saratoga show chair

Saturday, 16 March 2013

Hearing that the long lost, T 17 | THELLER’S STOMACH BITTERS has been located in a long dormant collection. Could be the lone sole example. Ring & Ham say “This bottle was dug in an old pre-Revolutionary dump on a clay bank in East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, New York.”. Theller’s name pops up on other bottles such as my Theller’s Bitters lady’s leg from NY and a Red Cloud Bitters variant from NY. Read: Labeled Theller’s Bitters Lady’s Leg – New York Read: Red Cloud Bitters – One of the Chicago ‘Indians’

Merchants_Poster

“This is an old piece you don’t see too often, and great color and condition. Guess I’m in the market for a frame now. That is four large size Gargling Oils holding down the corners. This is a big piece.” – Dave Kam Read: Merchant’s Gargling Oil – “Good for Man and Beast”

Friday, 15 March 2013

Texas Antique Shop

Texas Antique Shop

Working out of Peachridge today. Great weather that is just making the bottles look their best in the windows. Prompted me to develop the latest ‘Windows‘ post. Snapped this phone picture below of my OK Plantations as I was reading on the den sofa. The sunlight was bouncing from bottle to bottle. Quite spectacular. This is a North window so sunlight was being redirected off the horse trailer windows onto the bottles.

OKSunlight

Thursday, 14 March 2013

RedJacketBittersLewisAsbwART

At my office now. About 6:30 am. My grandson and I are going to take the light-rail to the Museum District and visit the Zoo this morning. Great weather and spring break. Hopefully you took a peek at Starr Weems work. Met her online yesterday. I like when someone connects with our hobby in artistic ways. Also posted the story of Sgt. Reckless the War Horse. Nothing to do with bottles and glass. Just a great story. Thanks to my friend Paul Kaminski for sharing. Hope to put up the last of the Chicago ‘Indian’ posts this morning with Lewis’ Red Jacket Bitters. That is there advertising motif on top. Product actually from New Haven, CT. [email from Mark Warne] “Hi Ferdinand. About a year or so ago another Red Cloud Bitters sold on ebay. Dark amber. It went for $825 and you were the underbidder”. Mark

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

R 019_RedJacketBitters

Bogged down trying to distinguish the differences with what I am calling the Chicago ‘Indians’. Basically I am talking about RED CLOUD BITTERS and RED JACKET BITTERS. Very interesting to look at the differences and evolution of the brands. Also finally understanding the differences with the New Haven, Connecticut, RED JACKET STOMACH BITTERS.

Monday, 11 March 2013

[Always nice to hear from Rick Simi from Downieville, CA]

Ferd, I was pleasantly surprised by your comments in the Dr. John’s post. Take a look at a post I wrote back in 2010. Read at Western Bitters News: The Times -They Are a Changin. I enjoyed your chronicle of the Baltimore show. rs

TomArticle

We are also very pleased to know that Tom Doligale is back from his first round of 29 days of grueling cancer treatments. Tom is the best of the best as far as representing the passion and expertise that defines our hobby. He also has the greatest Udolpho Wolfes Schnapp’s collection on Earth. Tom you are an inspiration. Tom chronicled his treatment almost daily on facebook and stayed connected which is amazing. He even had some of his favorite bottles with him. Read: Tom Doligale and his Udolpho Wolfe’s Aromatic Schnapps

Saturday, 09 March 2013

Finally home from this long 10-day bottle, business and family trip. Hope to complete the Baltimore Journal today with the most important day…Sunday. Lots of cool bottle pictures. [Update to the Coca Bitters post] I also see, (with the eyes of Warren Friedrich) that this new dug example is different than the example I possess. It looks earlier with indented panel(s) and smaller embossed typography. Is the mouth also applied. I only received one picture. I will ask for more. Stay tuned.

LacoursBroken

Love this picture of Lacour’s shards. Will do a post later.

Friday, 08 March 2013

HobsonFlask

Finally headed home later today. Been about 10 days or so of hotel rooms and restaurant meals. Miss all my dogs and country runs. Incoming groovy material last night from Sandor, new bitters find from Maine and so much more. Need to unpack my bags and my mind. Need some fresh clothes. Also, just finished squeezing in a post on label under glass bottles from the last ABA auction. Inspired by Dennis Humphrey and the Richmond P. Hobson flask.

Thursday, 07 March 2013

GreenAquaOldSachemsHoly Moses! Look at this incoming picture of an  Old Sachems Bitters and Wigwam Tonic in a light green aqua. Coming from a private collection. About perfect.

Make sure you read the Looking back at Deadwood, South Dakota post. It is fun going back and reading about history and connecting pictures of historical significance to our great hobby.

Liberty

Will also be putting up a post on Collector Rights from Jimmy Bray. Please read. Need your comments.

Wednesday, 06 March 2013

us_dca_closeradar_plus_usen-2

In the tail end of this snow event in Kentucky last night and today. This storm is headed to Maryland. Glad I got out of there on time. Bottles should arrive today in Houston. Four were broken on the way up. This really upset me.

BaltimoreBrokenBottles

Really intrigued by that Deadwood Saloon shot with all the bottles. Found the source photo. Working on a post for Deadwood, South Carolina. Any of you remember that great HBO series “Deadwood”?

DeadwoodSaloon

Tuesday, 05 March 2013

Exhausted Icon

Just starting to hear who won the American Bottle Auction lots that I forgot about Sunday night. I just emailed a bottle friend and said that I was exhausted Sunday night and fell asleep. All of Jeff Wichmann’s bulk emails go into quarantine. Usually I check each day. This time I got very backed up in Baltimore with the big 4-day weekend of bottle events. Typically a Sunday night is good to end an auction for me as I usually do not fly. In this case, many people were traveling, on ground and in air. I crashed at my moms house.

WeisKnickerbockerFound2

Just did a post on Weis Brothers Knickerbocker Stomach Bitters based on an incoming find. Check it out. Also getting lots of Baltimore pictures in. Haven’t decided on a post or article. How about Sandor’s Barto’s Great Gun Bitters?

www.studiomathewes.com

March Mailbox Letters updated.

Monday, 04 March 2013

Crazy, wild weekend at the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show. Very little sleep except last night. Off to Lexington, Kentucky today. Backed-up with posts and reports. Stay tuned. Thanks

Saturday, 02 March 2013

FOHBCFaceBookArt

Very busy. First cup of coffee. Preparing for a five hour FOHBC board meeting this am prior to the Baltimore Show set-up.

BninigerOldMonongahela_GW97

Liking that XR Bininger Old Monongahela at Glass Works Auctions #97.

Friday, 01 March 2013

COPYRIGHT / USAGE

Now in Baltimore. Hope to do some fun bottle related stuff later today like go to Fells Point, the Washington Monument, the Bromo Seltzer Tower etc. My home town.

GlassWorksJTeam

Like this Photoshop update titled “Meet Glass Works Auctions “J” Team!” Came by email blast yesterday..

 

Posted in Advice, Daily Dose, News, Peachridge Glass | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Northwestern Bottle Club’s Gazebo at the 2012 FOHBC Reno Expo

Posted on 13 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Richard Siri sitting ‘Watch’ over the Northwestern Bottle Club’s Gazebo at the 2012 FOHBC Reno Expo.

The centerpiece display at this years FOHBC 2012 Reno Expo this past July was, without a doubt, the famous Northwestern Bottle Club’s Gazebo that was loaned to the FOHBC and the Reno Bottle Club to showcase the creme de la crop of bottles. This concept worked as this gazebo was stocked full of some of the greatest bottles you will ever see.

This special display project was spear-headed by Hall-of-Famer Richard Siri who is shown pictured above ‘guarding’ the display. Enjoy the video that was put together by Alan DeMaison (FOHBC Business Manager) and the photographs by Scott Selenak (FOHBC Photographer).

See Gazebo Video

Posted in Bottle Shows, Club News, Display, FOHBC News, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Charles Lediard and his Liquor Products

Posted on 12 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Lediard's Bitters

C H A R L E S   L E D I A R D 

and his Liquor Products

12 November 2012 (R•020116) (R•061318) (R•070718) (R•082819)

With my post the other day on OK PLANTATION Bitters (see: OK Plantation Bitters – the “Big Boys”), I thought I would circle back and look for information regarding Charles Lediard from New York who ‘supposedly’ represented the OK brand. To me it is quite interesting that Mr. Lediard would use so many shapes and colors for his bottles.

I thought I would find abundant information searching online but most of what I find is a series of pieces of information plus some directory listings from St. Louis listing Franklin Hastings as his St. Louis partner. I guess we need to put the puzzle together. I am specifically looking for confirmation of the brands represented by Lediard, advertising and lable examples, who his partners or representatives were on the west coast and why some some of these bottles are found so far west of the Mississippi. It would also be nice to find out where these bottles were made? Was it Lockport, Whitney or some other glass works? I find all of this interesting because I do possess the triangular OK Plantations Bitters, the square Lediard’s OK Plantation Bitters, the Lediard’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters and the Lediard’s Morning Call Bitters bottles in my collection. These bottles all come in great, drop-dead colors.

Lediard's Bitters back

Lediard & Co., advertising trade card (top of post and here) – Joe Gourd Collection

Here is a partial listing of Lediard products:

C. LEDIARD / ST. LOUIS Smith 1960:213, 1972:169; Wilson 1981:25

C. LEDIARD / ST LOUIS Wilson 1981:25

LEDIARD’S // CELEBRATED / /STOMACH BITTERS Watson 1965:154; Ring 1980:300

LEDIARD’S // MORNING CALL // STOMACH BITTERS Ring 1980:301

C. LEDIARD NEW YORK Ring 1980:301

LEDIARD’S // OK PLANTATION // BITTERS – 1840 Ring 1980:301

LEDIARD’S // OLD DOMINION // MINT JULEP (PRG added to list)

ROYAL WINDSOR BITTERS

MorningCall_The_Times_Picayune_Thu__May_19__1859_

Lediard’s Morning Call advertisement – The Times Picayune, Thursday, May 19, 1859

Morning-Call-Bitters-Helpers-Impending-Crisis-by-Sam-Wolfe-1860r

Lediard’s Choice Liqueurs advertisement – 1860

AlterativeTonic_The_Tennessean_Sat__May_19__1860_

Alterative Tonic advertisement – The Tennessean, Saturday, May 19, 1860

OK_PlantationBitters_The_Wilmington_Herald_Tue__Jun_20__1865_

Lots of Lediard brands just received on the Louisa Moore at Kelly’s Saloon – The Wilmington Herald, Tuesday, June 20, 1865

LediardsSanAntonioAdr

A number of Lediard products listed in this advertisement in The Southern Intelligencer (Austin, Texas), Vol. 2, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 5, 1866

Hastings, Lediard & Co., St. Louis Directory – 1868

Hastings, Lediard & Co. noting a Franklin B. Hastings and Charles Lediard, St. Louis Directory – 1866

Hastings, Lediard & Co. noting a Franklin B. Hastings in St. Louis and Charles Lediard and Jacob and Charles Berlin, New York , St. Louis Directory

LediardsOKPlantation_The_Galveston_Daily_News_Wed__Sep_27__1871_

Lediard’s O.K. Plantation Bitters advertisement – The Galveston Daily News, Wed, September 27, 1871

Various Notes:

Charles Lediard was a liquor dealer in New York advertising as such In the New York Daily times in 1859-1860. (Digger Odell)

There was a LEDIARD’S // MORNING CALL // STOMACH BITTERS advertised in Mobile in 1860. (antique-bottles.net)

A labeled “Lediard’s Morning Call Bitters”, embossed C. LEDIARD NEW YORK was found in Panama. (antique-bottles.net)

Frank Hastings and Charles Lediard were listed in the 1866 St. Louis Business Directory selling Bitters. This bottle is listed as M130 in the Bitters book and looks to be the bottle I have. It is embossed MORNING CALL // BITTERS. Mine was dug in St. Louis. However, the book indicates a size of 9 1/2″ x 2 13/16″ while mine is 9 3/8″ x 2 3/4″. A six sided, double ring, applied top bottle embossed C. LEDIARD // ST. LOUIS sold at auction in 2008. (antique-bottles.net)

A fragmentary hexagonal bottle of clear greenish brown glass for bitters that bears parts of the legend, “C. LEDIARD // ST. LOUIS”. http://fishhook.cs.ndsu.nodak.edu:4445/2484/

To my knowledge the only example of the Lediard’s Stomach Bitters discovered in Sierra County I watched being broken. A Goodyears Bar digger and I were putting a test hole in the back of a cabin site when he put his shovel through a beautiful teal blue, iron pontiled example of this bottle. The cabin site, above Indian Valley and on the trail to Indian Hill, is one of several cabin sites that were discovered while walking the area. Recent extensive logging operations in the area of the trail and townsite of Indian Hill have pretty much destroyed any traces of the trail and cabin sites that were located alongside of it. Although this is not a western manufactured bottle, collectors believe it was distributed and marketed exclusively on the Pacific Coast. Western, bitters and gold rush collectors rate this bottle as rare and consider it a very desirable addition to their collection. Rick Simi – Western Bitters News

New Addition: Hello Ferdinand, enjoyed the post on the Lediard bottles. I have always been amazed at the variety of bottles produced for his products. I was lucky enough to find one of the Celebrated Stomach Bitters many years ago, it has been one of my favorite bottles. Then about six years ago I got lucky again and found a beautiful Mint Julep (pictured below), yet another Lediard product. Smooth based it looks to be the same color as the Morning Call Bitters. I also remember seeing a pair of the six sided bottles from St. Louis except they were embossed New York. One was green and the other I would say similar in color to the St. Louis one in your post. Got to wonder if there are other Lediard bottles out there. Steve Mello

Select Listings:

1811: Charles Lediard born in England. Both parents from England. 21 December 1817 baptised in England. Father John, Mother Elizabeth
1857: Charles Lediard, segars, 483 Broadway, h. 417 Broome – New York City Directory
1858: Charles Lediard Petition to become citizen of United States (see below)

LediardCitizenship

1859: Charles Lediard, 37 S. William – New York City Directory
1859: Lediard’s Morning Call advertisement (see above) – The Times Picayune, Thursday, May 19, 1859
1865-1867: Charles Lediard, liquors, 13 Dey, New York City – Trow’s New York City Directory
1866: Hastings, Lediard & Co. (1866-1871), S W Hastings & Co. (1872-1878) – St. Louis City Directory (
29-31 Washington Ave (1866), 115-117 Washington Ave (1867-1868), 514-516 N 2nd (1869-1871), this address also appears as Hastings & Berlin, 115-117 Washington Ave (1872-1874), 514-516 N 2nd (1875-1878)
1872: Lediard & Townsend (Charles Lediard and William E. Townsend), importers of wines and liquors, 52 and 54 Murray – New York City Directory
1874: Lediard & Co., warehouse and offices at No. 79 Pearl street.
Lediard & Co., Exporter of Bourbon and Rye Whiskies, Florida Water, Bay Bum, Eau de Cologne, etc., No. 79 Pearl Street.
The importance of the metropolis as the centre of the export trade in liquors and other specialties, can scarcely be over estimated, as the increasing magnitude of the annual transactions at the port of New York abundantly demonstrate. The well-known and reliable establishment of Messrs. Lediard & Co., whose spacious warehouse and offices are eligibly located at No. 79 Pearl street, was established by the present proprietor in 1874, and since its inception at that period, has obtained an extensive foreign patronage, principally in Australia and New Zealand. Lediards’ defuselized Kentucky Bourbon “Short Horn” brand has already commended itself to the trade and to physicians as the safest whiskey for use, being endorsed by Dr. W. C. Tilden, Chemist, United States Treasury Department, as altogether free from impurities, and by Dr. H. C. Bartlett, of London, as perfectly free from fusel oil. Mr. Lediard exports in large quantities, bourbon and rye whiskies, Florida water, bay rum, Eau de Cologne, Zulu water, Sarsaparilla, Bitters, Schnapps etc., and his facilities for procuring goods direct from producers and manufactures are unexcelled by those of any other house in the trade. All orders are promptly filled, and it is the endeavor of Mr. Lediard to merit, by the strictest principles of mercantile integrity, a continuance of the support he has already enjoyed. The bourbon and rye whiskies exported to Australia and New Zealand, have obtained an excellent reputation for quality and fineness at the Antipodes, and are strong competitors with the Scotch and Irish Honors. Mr. Charles Lediard, the sole proprietor of this flourishing firm, is an old resident of New York, and is greatly respected by the community.
1870: Chas Lediard, Liquor Dealer, Age in 1870: 54, Birth Year: abt 1816, Birthplace: England – United States Federal Census
1871: Lediard’s O.K. Plantation Bitters advertisement (see above) – The Galveston Daily News, Wed, September 27, 1871
1876: Charles Lediard, importer, 107 New Church – New York City Directory
1880: Chas Lediard, Exporter, Boarder, Age in 1880: 62, Birth Year: abt 1816, Birthplace: England, Father and Mothers Birthplace: England – United States Federal Census
1885: Lediard’s Morning Call Bitters advertisement (see below) – New York’s Great Industries

1889: Lediard & Company (Charles Lediard), exporters, 79 Pearl, h 744 Union, Brooklyn – New York City Directory

The Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham listings in Bitters Bottles, if appropriate, precedes each bottle:

LEDIARD’S MORNING CALL

L 61.7  LEDIARD’S MORNING CALL Bitters, Circa 1875 – 1885,
L…Lediard’s Morning Call Bitters
LEDIARD’S // MORNING CALL
8 1/4″ x 3 (6)
Round, Olive green, LTCR, Applied mouth, With and without Metallic pontil mark

The cylindrical LEDIARD’S MORNING CALL Bitters in olive green – Meyer Collection

Lediard’s Morning Call Bitters Bottle. Lediard’s Morning Call was one of the may bitters bottles shipped aboard the SS Republic bound for New Orleans. The product of New York liquor merchant Charles lediard, the tonic was advertised as an “invigorating cordial bitter.” Less than a dozen examples were excavated from the site. – Odyssey Marine Exploration

Cylinder shaped LEDIARD’S MORNING CALL in a half gallon size. According to Lou Lambert, it’s a wicked light yellow green with millions of bubbles and non pontiled. – OldWestBottles.com

LEDIARD’S CELEBRATED STOMACH BITTERS

L 60  LEDIARD’S CELEBRATED STOMACH BITTERS, Circa 1870 – 1880
LEDIARD’S // CELEBRATED // STOMACH BITTERS // f //
10 1/8 x 2 7/8 (7 1/2) 7/16
Square, Blue green and Emerald Green, LTC, Applied mouth, Without Metallic pontil mark – Very Scarce; With Metallic pontil mark – Rare
Originated by Charles Lediard, New York, N.Y.
New York City Directory: Charles Lediard originated the tri-cornered Plantation Bitters and Lediard’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. From 1860 to 1890, Charles Lediard was listed as a liquor merchant and bitters manufacturer with several different partners.
Note: Most specimens of the bottle dug in California. Possibly a bottle made primary for West Coast distribution.

The square LEDIARD’S CELEBRATED STOMACH BITTERS in blue-green – Meyer Collection

OK PLANTATION

O 13.5   OK PLANTATION, Circa 1863 – 1875
OK / PLANTATION / 1840 // motif 7 vertical ribs // motif 7 vertical ribs // // s // PATENTED ( au ) / OCT. 13TH / 1863 // motif window // motif window //
11 1/4 x 3 (6 3/8) 3/4
Triangular, Amber and Puce, LTC, Applied mouth
OK / PLANTATION / 1840 // motif 7 vertical ribs // motif 7 vertical ribs // // s // PATENTED ( au ) / 1868 // motif window // // motif window //
11 1/4 x 3 (6 3/8) 3/4
Square, Amber, Puce, Apricot, and Olive amber, Applied mouth, LTC

The triangular OK PLANTATION Bitters – Meyer Collection

As consumers in the mid-1800s developed a fondness for alcohol-spiked herbal remedies, thousands of bitters brands inundated the market. Under the guise of medicinal tonics, many of these products made from varied ingredients, were sold with vast claims as to the number of diseases and disorders they cured. The enormous profits to be had attracted many enterprising merchants such as Charles Lediard of New York whose OK Plantation Bitters was found among the SS Republic’s assorted consignment of bitters bottles. The four bottles recovered from the wreck site were all empty of their original contents. Listed as a liquor merchant and bitters manufacturer, Lediard sold a variety of bitters brands, including his OK Plantation Bitters uniquely packaged in a tri-cornered bottle. The bottles was produced in varying shades of amber ranging from lighter to golden tones to darker purple-reds. During the 19th-century, as shelf recognition became important for sales, packaging became more distinctive, more colorful and more influential. This three-sided log cabin example is rarely seen today, suggesting it was not one of Lediard’s more successful products. Yet, its scarcity makes the OK Plantation Bitters bottle a prized specimen for modern-day collectors. – Odyssey’s Virtual Museum

LEDIARD’S OK PLANTATION BITTERS

L 62  LEDIARD’S OK PLANTATION BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1875
LEDIARD’S // OK PLANTATION // BITTERS – 1840 // sp //
Charles Lediard   New York
10 x 2 3/4 x (6 1/2) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Extremely Rare

Pair of square LEDIARD’S OK PLANTATION BITTERS in amber and yellow. Both extremely rare. Yellow believed to be unique – Meyer Collection

C. LEDIARD   ST. LOUIS (or) NEW YORK

[Previously sold on eBay] For your viewing pleasure today, I am listing a RARE, ST. LOUIS BITTERS bottle. Embossed C. LEDIARD // ST. LOUIS on one panel. This is a six sided, double ring, applied top, unmarked “bitters” bottle from St. Louis. Charles Lediard was listed in Ham and Ring as a liquor merchant and bitters manufacturer. He produced several marked bitters; Morning Call, OK Plantation, and Celebrated Stomach. Because of the ornate shape and design of this bottle it is considered to be a early, unmarked bitters. All the marked examples of bitters in Ham and Ring date to around 1860, some display iron pontil marks, all are listed as rare or extremely rare. An unmarked “bitters” in the mold of the triangular OK Plantation bottle sold on a American Glass Auction a while back for around $3,000. This bottle has been pro tumbled and has no defects that I can find. It does have, many large bubbles throughout; 2 interior bubbles are open. It also has a small piece of glass that has dripped down and add to the side (near the base) when the lip was applied. Just adds to the crudity of the piece.While we are talking about crudity , the bottle was overblown in the mold and has a huge bulge on one of the lower panels (see picture). Reddish amber in color, to my eye, with a smooth six sided base. The embossing is bold and crisp and I would date it to before 1870. Many of these bottles come from South Dakota as this one did. Don’t sleep on this one, somebody is going to snap it up. These bottles are rare and extremely desirable. I would call this a TOP SHELFER at my house, act quick and it can be one at yours as well.

C. LEDIARD NEW YORK – Dick Watson collection (submitted by Steve Mello)

C. LEDIARD ST. LOUIS – past American Bottle Auction

LEDIARD’S OLD DOMINION MINT JULIP

Killer crude LEDIARD’S OLD DOMINION MINT JULEP – Steve Mello

C. LEDIARD NEW YORK & ST. LOUIS 

A new find, a never seen before example of a semi cabin form embossed C. LEDIARD NEW YORK & ST. LOUIS. Amber. Cleaned. – Jeff Burkhardt

LEDIARD & CO.  NEW YORK & LONDON 

LEDIARD & CO NEW YORK & LONDON Applied top. We mentioned the abundance of rare bitters in this auction and none are any more rare than this western fifth shaped Lediards. While there are a few different shaped Lediard bottles, this one in our experience and of the people we have talked to is unique. It’s interesting that it would have “London” embossed on the bottle. Although Charles Lediard himself was quite successful and no doubt became a familiar name around the world. A three-piece mold, there is a ¼” flake off the left collar with a scratch above that. It appears a shovel or some other object came in contact with the top. Not to worry, the bottle displays beautifully in a yellowish green coloration. Fairly heavy, this one has lots of whittle and areas of extreme crudity. This is a bottle you can certainly claim is the only one known, as it’s not even listed in any publication we’ve searched in. Grade: 8.7 because of the top distraction but is otherwise a unique and beautiful example of one of a number of Lediard variants. – American Bottle Auctions #65

ROYAL WINDSOR BITTERS 

The Royal Windsor Wine and Stomach Bitters or Royal Windsor Bitters is referenced in early Lediard advertising centered around 1859. I have never seen a bottle. Here is a billhead from Joe Gourd and an advertisement to support the claim. The brand is also mentioned in advertising above.

Billhead
R 118.5 ROYAL WINDSOR BITTERS, Bought of Berlin & Son, No. 87 South William Street, “Lediard Morning Call,” Royal Windsor Bitters,” “Old Dominion Mint Julep,” &c., &c. New York, December 18, 1862. Products noted are Charles Lediard brands. See L 61 in Bitters Bottles.
Newspaper Advertisement
R 118.5 ROYAL WINDSOR BITTERS, Royal Windsor Bitters! Lediard’s Morning Call. These Stomachic Bitters are the most agreeable, safe and healthful Tonics ever introduced to the Public. Charles Lediard, 37 South William street, N. Y., Brooklyn Evening Star (Brooklyn, New York) February 10, 1859.

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