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.

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Figural Bottles, History, Spirits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

OK Plantation Bitters – the “Big Boys”

Posted on 11 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

O K    P L A N T A T I O N    B I T T E R S

the   “B I G    B O Y S”

If you remember, some time back, towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year, I did an extensive series on triangular bitters bottles. It was a fun series. I purposely withheld my favorite, the OK Plantation Bitters as I consider it in almost a separate category all by itself. Sure it is triangular, but in my book it is the king of bitters, my absolutely favorite brand and form. This says a lot to those that know me because I have major runs of queens, fish, cabins, pigs and corns.

O K    P L A N T A T I O N S

“These guys are monsters of engineering representing the pinnacle of power.”

I am also a train nut and absolutely love the early trains of yesteryear, model railroading, rail-fanning and to this day still subscribe to Model Railroader magazine. If I won the lottery, my dream would be to build a 10,000 sq ft HO model railroad based on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the 1940’s. With train lovers, we all have a favorite locomotive and mine is the “Big Boy”. The Big Boy was the name of the Union Pacific Railroad’s 4000-class 4-8-8-4 articulated steam locomotives, built between 1941 and 1944 by American Locomotive Company (ALCO). The 25 Big Boys were the only locomotives to have the 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, which combined two sets of eight driving wheels with a four-wheel leading truck for stability entering curves and a four-wheel trailing truck to support the large firebox. These guys are monsters of engineering representing the pinnacle of power.

Why am I telling you this? Well I consider the OK Plantations my “Big Boys”. They are bigger than most of my other bitters bottles, they are a Lediards (New York) product in a cabin form, triangular, have windows, ribbed, articulated to no end and as either Bob Currens or Mark Warne once said, “They are a Drakes Plantation Bitters on steroids”. These bottles haul the freight and are my 4-8-8-4’s of my bitters bottles. The OK’s actually come in two mold variants, the second being a little wider and having a shorter neck. You get my point I hope. I do want to mention that the word ‘BITTERS’ is not embossed on the bottle. This doesn’t bother me or hinder me for a moment.

Read: Charles Lediard and his Liquor Products

The Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

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
Note 1: a product of Charles Lediard – New York
Note 2: there is also an unembossed variant

I had a crazy week this past Monday thru Friday as I had eleven different client meetings in seven different cities in Kentucky (Paducah, Madisonville, Lexington, Corbin, Louisville, Richmond and La Grange). While chilling at a Starbucks in Louisville between meetings this past Friday morning, I saw a surprise picture with a tease question and picture (see below) posted by Tami Barber on my Peachridge Glass facebook page.

“This is what I would guess is Strawberry Puce? Guess the bottle?” – Tami Barber

Tami asked…

“This is what I would guess is Strawberry Puce? Guess the bottle?”

Wow…what a way to catch my heart girl (sorry Ed). I immediately perked up, took a much deserved bottle break and responded…

“For those that know me and my collection best, my favorite bottle…OK?”

It’s great how we can get so fired up with a simple post about the bottles and glass we love. Like proudly pulling out a picture of our children, grandchildren or pets. That is what makes our hobby so great. With facebook and instant communication, we can be with our bottles and collector friends anywhere and anytime we want. I was immediately and spiritually back with my collection in Houston and excited. I was the proud popper as my grandson Nicolas calls me. I quickly followed up with a post of my OK run in a linear layout (see below) that prompted further dialog, primarily with Jeff Noordsy. This kept the train of thought moving forward with comments like:

“Two variants. One is wider and shorter. Just soooo cool…AND TRIANGULAR!!!!” Ferdinand Meyer V

“Really? I very much like these as well. I always figured that the Drakes were your faves.” – Jeff Noordsy

“Holy $hit. That is a fantastic run. Different necks from one to the other.” – Greg Sweet

“I can’t tell you how impressive these are. MAGNIFICENT!” -Rick Ciralli

“Outstanding color group run Ferd !!!!!!” – Dale Santos

“You’re killing me! Best colors in town!” – John Panella

“Very Nice! Great run!” – Brian Shultis

“Hard to find a single one of those bottles let alone a run like that. Congratulations Ferd. I think we all know the difficulty in assembling this “run” – Mark Vuono

“Third from the left – is that the one that came out of the Ken Aldrich auctions in VT?” and “Did it originally come from Currens? I think it’s the one…” – Jeff Noordsy

“Those two guys were secreting away at Hecklers hayfield, right when I was getting in to this heavily, I was in the right place. They had one or two killer OK’s. My first time seeing one. Was hooked immediately on OK’s. Prob the same.” – Ferdinand Meyer V

“I believe it originally came from a Heckler Auction, one of his first. I underbid the piece when it was sold in White River Junction, VT. Currens was the winner. Pretty distinctive in both color and short neck. Bought a pink Johnson’s Calisaya the same day (which is actually the one you own – the piece that I referenced in an earlier post went to E.S) as well as a light pink Tebbetts. It was a good day :)” – Jeff Noordsy

“The Aldrich sales were amazing. I think it took three years to sell all of his stuff. House was full, place of business was full and TWO DOZEN tractor trailers were filled to the brim with everything from soup to nuts.” – Jeff Noordsy

“I actually had two new ones recently. Both of John Feldmanns. One was a dead ringer match in color. Sold to Bill Taylor. Kept a new color which is not represented in line-up. I missed an opportunity for an olive toned one at Balto this year (see picture below) that Jack Stecher wisely purchased.” – Ferdinand Meyer V

OK PLANTATION Bitters – Barber Collection

Tami followed up with another picture (see above) of the Barber OK Plantation Bitters and said:

“Ferd, I asked my husband about our OK Plantation we have and how we aqquired it. Was about 15 years ago from a local bottle collector here in Washington. He was digging in Port Townsend, Washington and saw this bottle and quite a few Whiskey’s in an old victorian house there. The owner, who was an Antique dealer in Virginia City, Nevada had moved to Port Townsend. Well our friend was able to buy the bitters and someone else bought all the Whiskeys. He offered it to us and we bought it. It is our best bitters that we have. Can’t see it in the photo but there are numerous seed bubbles and the bottle is attic mint Not sure if there is a real story here to share but we are quite fond of it. You have an amazing run of OK bitters. Love your blog and all the info you share . Thanks for asking. Best Regards, Ed & Tami Barber… PS: We will try to get a better photo of it and send it to you for you to see.

A big thank-you to Tami Barber for inspiring this post and making my day this past Friday! Also to Jeff Noordsy who somehow seems to know the history and story behind every great bottle.

 O K    M E Y E R    G A L L E R Y

OK PLANTATION Bitters – Meyer Collection

OK PLANTATION Bitters – Meyer Collection

OK PLANTATION Bitters – Meyer Collection

OK PLANTATION Bitters – Meyer Collection

OK PLANTATION Bitters – Meyer Collection

OK PLANTATION Bitters – Meyer Collection

OK PLANTATION Bitters – Meyer Collection

O K    G A L L E R Y

OK PLANTATION Bitters displayed at the Meyer table during the 2011 Houston Antique Bottle Show

Sexy window shot of some of my OK’s prior to them joining my collection in Houston – Mark Warne

Absolutely stunning example of an OK PLANTATION Bitters that Jack Stecher picked up at the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show this past March 2012. Bottle displayed at the famous Gazebo at the 2012 FOHBC Reno Expo this past July.

OK PLANTATION Bitters displayed at the Meyer table during the 2011 Houston Antique Bottle Show

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

OK PLANTATION Bitters – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

Rare unembossed “O.K. / PLANTATION / BITTERS” Beautiful Copper Color! – eBay

Read Further: The beautiful and triangular S (star) C Brown’s Herb Bitters

Read Further: Sanitarium Bitters & Hi Hi Bitters – No doubt what you are getting here!

Read Further: The triangular Hagan’s Dyspepsia Bitters – Atlantic City, New Jersey

Read Further: The Triangular O.H.P. Rose’s Peruvian King Bitters

Read Further: The extremely rare, triangular Wahoo Chamomile Bitters

Posted in Bitters, Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Digging and Finding, Facebook, Figural Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Looking at a few of my favorites in ABCR Auction 10

Posted on 10 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

A B C R    A U C T I O N    10

Closing Saturday November 17th, 2012 at 8:00 PM AEST

Visit Auction

Australian Bottle & Collectibles Review Jan/Feb/Mar 2012 issue Visit

Travis Dunn with ABCR Auctions announces their Auction 10: The catalogue is now available for viewing – Auction 10 Catalogue. 680 Lots covering all categories with everything from cheapies and group lots to some of the very best items available in Australia! Highlights include the stunning A. H. Pain, Sedgwick Rose Brand Pickles in a deep amethyst glass this is one of the rarest pickle bottles in the country.

These are a few of my favorite lots.

2 / Castlemaine / Brewery / (Eagle clasping a barrel) / Tired Nature’s Sweet Resort / Trade Mark / Brisbane // To close the tap / Turn hole in the handle to front / DO NOT raise the Tap on turning. // This Jar is the property of / The / Castlemaine Brewery / Brisbane. Small impressed stamp on shoulder: Pearson & Co / Whittington / Moor / Chesterfield. 1900s. Simply WOW! Regularly rated as the best Demijohn in Australia – and note this is the larger of two sizes! This Demijohn has spent almost all its life as a container in a farm shed and had a cork from a port bottle stuck firmly in the tap hole so that it would hold liquid, this has now been removed! Has the original metal carry handle. – ABCR Auction 10

J. T. Shepheard & Co / Star / Works / (Star) / Geraldton // 4. Aerated Water Torpedo, Applied top. Bright cobalt blue. 13 oz. – 1880s – ABCR Auction 10

British Registration Diamond / (Large Rearing Horse) / Registered. No base mark. (Black Horse Ale). Beer Cork Stoppered, Tall. Applied mushroom type top. Black (Dark Olive). 26 oz. 1850s-1860s – ABCR Auction 10

Sharpe / Bros. / 15,806 / Hands Across / The Sea. / (Arms making a toast with Aust. and N.Z.) / Trade Mark. / (New Zealand International Exhibition / Christchurch medallions) (Demijohn with Health / Beverages / by / Hygienic / Process) (More medallions with Awarded to Sharpe Bros, etc. Kia-Ora) / Unapproachable. / (Boat sinking – Imitation) / To close the tap / turn hole in handle to front / Do not raise the tap on turning. / Caution. This jar is the property of / Sharpe Bros. & Must not be used by / customers for any purpose whatever / or proceedings will be taken. Potters stamp: Pearson & Co / Whittington Moor / Potteries / Chesterfield. 1920s – ABCR Auction 10

“Lactogen” / Ounces / Table Spoons / Measurement lines to either side. Box printed: Nestle’s Lactogen Feeder 10 oz. Made in Australia. Bottle Only without Teat or Valve. Direction on the back. Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. (Australasia) Ltd., 17 Foveaux Street, Sydney, N.S.W. Household Baby Feeder, Wide banana shape. Clear. Tool finished ends. 10 oz. Box is Blue/Yellow. 1910s+ – ABCR Auction 10

(Leaf pattern around bulbous shoulder) / Blogg Bros / Lemon Squash. Base: M. – Household Cordial, Wide base, waist to middle, Bulbous shoulder, rings to neck. Tool finished long collar top. Clear. 26 oz., Era: 1900s – ABCR Auction 10

King of Tonics / “Quinol”. To rear near base: Cawsey / Menck & Co Pty. Ltd. / Melbourne / Made in France / Sole / Australian / Proprietors. Base Mark: Sarreguemines / France / 3181 / 1 / 530 / V2., Household Face Jug Multicoloured advertising jug with red print. Styled on David Bruce (after a late night out). 1920s – ABCR Auction 10

AMAZING PINK ink bottle, labelled: Simpson’s / Celebrated / Scarlet / Writing Ink / This ink is a beautiful scarlet red colour. / It is not affected by steel pens, nor are the / pens in the least corroded by it. / A perfect ink for contrast writing. / Sole manufacturers / Simpsons Ink Ltd / Sydney. Original wax seal stamped: Simpson’s / Ink / Sydney. Household Ink. 1900s – ABCR Auction 10

A. H. Pain / Manufacturer of / The / Famous / Rose (Rose) Brand / Pickles / Sedgwick / This bottle is the property of / A. H. Pain Sedgwick. Base Mark: AGM intertwined logo monogram. Household Pickle, Applied top, tooled finish. Amethyst Pint, 1910s-1920s. Very rare pickle bottle from country Victoria, this is one of the finest pickles in the country! – ABCR Auction 10

Warner’s / “Safe” Cure / (Safe) / Trade / Mark / London. Base O. Medicine Cure, Oval section. Apple green. Applied blob top. Half Pint. 1890s – ABCR Auction 10

Thorley’s Food for Cattle / Sydney 1879 / Melbourne 1880 / (Pictures of Medals) / Important to every man who keeps (Picture of Livestock) / Thornhill Bridge, Caledonian Road, Kings Cross London // Directions for use on each side include recipes for: Horses; Cows & Bullocks; Pigs; Calves; Sheep and Poultry, Pheasants, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits & c. 1880s. What a great piece of ceramic advertising. – ABCR Auction 10

The Alexandra / For beautifying and preserving the Teeth & Gums / (Princess Alexandra) / Prepared by Alfred Felton Melbourne / (British Registration Diamond) / Cherry Tooth Paste. Pot Lid Tooth Paste, Domed “Queens Head” shape., Multicoloured (strong pink centre circle). 1860s-1870s – ABCR Auction 10

E. J. Rose’s / Magador Bitters / For Stomach, Kidney & Liver // Superior Tonic, Cathartic / and Blood Purifier. Smooth base. Tool finished lip. Square section. Bright Amber. 24 oz. 1900s, Original auction sticker to the side shows this was part of the Charles B. Gardner (Gardner Collection No. 2087). Really a superb bottle that it is hard to find fault with. Stunning colour and nice embossing. – ABCR Auction 10

Cosmopoliet / (Man holding bottle) / J. J. Melchers WZ / Schiedam. Star on base. Dutch Case Gin. Applied top. Green. Small size, 18 oz. approximately. 1870s – ABCR Auction 10

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Breweriana, Cordial, Gin, Infant Feeders, Inks, Medicines & Cures, News, Pickle Jars, Pot Lids, Water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Could we have a 2016 Mega Expo and a 2020 International Antique Glass Festival?

Posted on 9 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Hi Ferdinand,

I went to the Springfield Insulator show last weekend and was approached by three different high end insulator people about exploring the possibility of the Federation and NIA getting together in the future to collaborate on a national show. Ray Klingensmith was one of them. Just thought I would pass this on to you for discussion.

Jamie (Houdeshell) [FOHBC Second Vice President]

Jamie:

Your question is something I think often about. This year our Federation National Show is the same weekend as the National Insulator Association (NIA) show. Go figure. I am in total agreement that better planning and larger FOHBC Expo’s (every 4 years) are needed. To do this we need to expand our thinking and unify. I have also been in communication lately with the point persons in Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada about the possibility of an International Glass Festival unifying all of our organizations and collecting interests. Can you imagine? I think this would really be great. A once in a lifetime or at least a decade experience!

Maybe some of you are aware of a ‘cousin’ of ours having a National Mega Glass Convention in 2011. The overview for this event is as follows:

The 2011 Mega Glass Convention – Overland Park, Kansas

The Mega Glass Convention was an event in 2011 where seven national glass organizations joined together to have one large National Mega Glass Convention. The organizations participating were: Early American Pattern Glass Society, National Toothpick Holder Collectors Club, Antique Glass Salt and Sugar Shaker Club, Mt. Washington Pairpoint Glass Society, National American Glass Club, Vaseline Glass Collectors, Inc, Wave Crest Collectors Club.

Would it be worthwhile or even possible to conduct an EXPO in 2016 with the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (FOHBC), National Insulator Association (NIA), Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association (APBCA), Violin Bottle Collectors Association (VBCA), National Association of Milk Bottle Collectors (NAMBC), Painted Soda Bottle Collectors Association, Midwest Antique Fruit Jar Show (MAFJ&BC), Jelly Jammers, National Brewery Collectibles Club of America (BCCA), The International Perfume Bottle Association (IBPA) etc etc.? Not to mention all of the vintage advertising clubs too!

I think the immediate benefit would be that it would allow for us, financially speaking, to look at larger cites, longer events and bigger venues such as convention centers in Kansas City, Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, San Diego, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC  (Walter E. Washington Convention Center pictured above). etc. I guess this reminds me of my stamp collecting days when I attended the big national events. The week before last, The International Quilt Festival in Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center had 60,000 plus visitors! We struggle to break a thousand visitors and it is usually much less! How are they successful? They bring together many sub groups and have tons of activities and events. My mother used to fly in from Baltimore each year and take classes before the events and floor activity. She loved it. There is a global audience as this event takes over our monster convention center.

The ASDA National Postage Stamp Show last year was in New York City, The National Money Show is in Dallas this year, Comic-Con 2012 (comic books) was at the San Diego Convention Center and the Antique Toy Shows are routinely in Miami, Boston, New York and Washington. These are all large events for a minimum of four days with thousands and thousands of visitors. Maybe this is all a little to ‘big time’ for us but I do not think so. We need to think bigger for Expos and consider an international event. Obviously this will take tons of planning.

The complaint I hear most about the Expo is that it is slow on Sunday. If we expand, get more visitors, get more areas of interest for visitors, we solve that problem. My problem is, I never have enough time to truly see the displays, visit every table, shop and meet people. I need some breathing room!

Please, let me hear your thoughts on this topic.

* disclaimer: the topmost advertisement for the 2010 Mega Glass event is just an idea. Do not book your hotel rooms and flights yet!

Posted in Advice, Bottle Shows, Breweriana, Club News, Early American Glass, FOHBC News, Fruit Jars, Insulators, News, Perfume, Poison Bottles, Questions, Soda Water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

What is Puce or ‘Pooce’ as some call it?

Posted on 8 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

T H E    C O L O R    P U C E

“Puce is the French word for flea”

What is Puce or ‘Pooce’ as some call it?

08 November 2012

Puce (often misspelled as “puse”, “peuse” or “peuce”) is a color that is defined as ranging from light grayish red-violet (the version shown at left) to medium to dark purplish-brown, with the latter being the more widely accepted definition found in reputable sources. The Oxford English Dictionary dates the use of “puce” (in couleur puce) from 1787. The first recorded use of puce as a color name was in the 14th century, in the French language. (Wikipedia)

Puce is the French word for flea. The color is said to be the color of the bloodstains remaining on linen or bedsheets, even after being laundered, from a flea’s droppings or after a flea has been killed. (Wikipedia)

Bottle collecting: In the vintage-bottle-collecting hobby, “puce” is arguably the most desirable color. (Wikipedia) *I wonder how Wiki got this notion?

Puce is probably the most misunderstood color in bottle collecting. I admit, I am just as guilty as most as I like saying puce and it adds mystery, intrigue and value to a reddish or pinkish amber bottle. The problem is, most of us do not feel like we understand the singularity of the color puce so we add a color description in front of it, a color we are familiar with to create the color description. I call it “Puce Juices” because it is not uncommon to hear strawberry puce, raspberry puce, plum puce, orange puce, peach puce, apricot puce, cherry puce etc. to describe a bottle color. Crazy isn’t it? Then you have the nutty pronunciation. Many pronounce it “pooce” while another large group draws out the “u” and says “Puce” like Juice. I believe this is correct. Oh our crazy English language!

Read More: Is it finally time to tackle bottle colors?

P U C E    J U I C E S

Peach Puce – Raspberry Puce – Strawberry Puce – Plum Puce – Cranberry Puce – Orange Puce – Apricot Puce – Cherry Puce

The wide range of puce color interpretations. I call it Puce Juices.

P U C E    G L A S S    G A L L E R Y

My Dyottville Puce Eagle flask at the Original Dyottville Glass works factory in Philadelphia Pa. We visited the site on 2/17/12 – Rick Weiner – 19th Century Bottle Diggers

Orange and Cranberry colored Inks – John April

Beautifully photographed trio showing a utility jar, hat whimsey and ink what might be called a coper puce. – photo Michael George

Puce Fells Point/Sloop half-pint flask

l to r- op purple/wine type tone , pink 12 sided op, op puce ink (posted a few days back) and a smooth based lilac purple that looks like watered down welch’s grape juice.

The same Washington Taylor portrait flask in a puce coloration, looks to be different colors with studio photography vs window photography – Glass Works Auctions

Very dark puce H F & B NEW YORK – Meyer collection

xxx

Double Eagle in pink puce

Posted in Advice, Color | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is it finally time to tackle bottle colors?

Posted on 7 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

B O T T L E    C O L O R S

“There is no reference guide a collector can use to denote color to a fellow collector in advertisements or in conversation.”

Hello Ferdinand,

First of all let me introduce myself. My name is Shawn McAlister. I started in bottles in the early 80’s. My first show was the Las Vegas expo in the mid 80’s. I was blown away and hooked. I joined the Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club. Eventually becoming treasure, program organizer, vice president and president. I, like you have found bottles to be one of my passions. I fell out of collecting because of a divorce. About 3 years ago I reengaged in the hobby and rekindled my friendships in the hobby. Like you I share that the friendships in this hobby make it great. I am by no means a major player, but I collect what I can have built a collection that I enjoy and hope to continue add to my collection.

One of the things I noticed back in the 80’s and it is still a problem today in my assessment. There is no reference guide a collector can use to denote color to a fellow collector in advertisements or in conversation. I think it would be great if the Federation would take up the charter to publish an official color guide that could be referenced by auction houses, collectors, and magazines. It does not matter what the color is named in the listing if we could just use it as a reference for the bottles color in natural light. In the 80’s I was trying to think of a method using thin transparent acetate colored strips that could be used to blend to provide the color of an item to another collector. Now with the internet the color schematic can be on-line and brought up to view. I don’t know how many conversations I have had over Emerald Green! It would be great to have this chart on the computer because it would allow for several layers of color gradients. We might even get away with naming the color and use number or letter gradients of the base colors used in descriptions. We have all been dismayed by a description that did not match our interpretation of the color.

It’s just a thought I wanted to share. I do not know if this is something feasible, but most collectors I have talked to have totally agreed with the concept and agree it is a needed tool. Appreciate your time.

Respectfully,
Shawn McAlister

Shawn:

Nice to hear from you you. Creating a color guide is certainly a goal of mine and I hope to make it a goal of the FOHBC. In a recent interview, posted earlier in the week by American Bottle Auctions, I even snuck it in to a paragraph of goals for the hobby and Federation. Read: An Interview with Ferdinand Meyer-The New Face of the Hobby

“The key is the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors. We are stronger as a whole. We can do more as a group such as promote our Code of Ethics, have great National shows, promote regional and local shows thus increasing attendance, document our history, have a virtual museum, a bricks and mortar museum, develop collector and auction house standards for grading and colors, have interactive forums and web sites, a great magazine, newsletter, influence legislature and understanding of our hobby and digging, culture the next generation, and have special events like our banquet, seminars, shootouts etc. that rarely happen elsewhere. The sum of the parts is much greater than any one of us so increasing membership is critical. We are up dramatically in FOHBC membership this past year and I attribute this to the machinery being oiled and moving at a faster and regular pace than it has been in years past. I frequently hear that Bottles and Extras, our bi-monthly, 72-page color magazine is what you get when you join the FOHBC. Well true, you do. The magazine is just the icing on the cake to me. I tell people that you get to be meet and belong to a group of the greatest and most passionate group of people on earth, who love antique bottles and glass.”

Would you mind if I used your email, which was wonderfully worded to jump start a post on this topic? I may even include it in the “Letters to the Editor’ portion of Bottles and Extras. Thanks. Let’s stay in touch.

Ferdinand

Read More: Glass Passion and Color Part II : Exploration and Color

Roscolux Theatrical Gel Fan Book

Well…Wouldn’t it be nice to have a pocket fan book of transparent gels that were grouped, labeled and grommeted so that you could view or overlay swatches and identify bottle and glass colors in a uniform way? Entirely possible. We are almost halfway there with theatrical gel books now such as the Roscolux fan pictured above. Of course, most of us are also aware of paint swatch guides, printer ink guides and cloth swatches to help us understand and specify color.

Why don’t we discuss this long nagging prospect further. Before I hear from you, and I would like to hear your ideas, I thought I would list a few random comments and challenges from myself and others to clear the deck, so to speak. I would also like you to check out what Greg Spurgeon has to say about this with fruit jars over at North American Glass. He seems to be the most organized along with Reggie Lynch over at AntiqueBottles.com.

My vote for my all-time favorite bottle color description from an auction house – Heckler (2011)

The Nature of Glass

Glass, in most cases, is a transparent material. To see colors in glass, we need a source of visible light passing thru the object and meeting our eyes. In the absence of light, there’d be no visible color. The type of light (whether natural, incandescent, fluorescent, or other), its orientation (front, back, top, bottom, side, combination), and the brightness of the light source will further determine the appearance of colors at the moment of viewing. Positioning of the glassware item makes a difference, since a jar or bottle placed on a display shelf against a solid white wall, will appear darker and more richly colored than the same jar displayed with back lighting, or placed in a sunny window. For a glassware item sitting on a wall shelf, the brightness behind the item is reduced by the item’s proximity to the wall…..that is, we’re looking thru the object and into its shadow. The same bottle or jar, when moved away from the wall, placed in a window, or held to a light, seems lighter-colored in appearance.  [North American Glass]

Color Guide from North American Glass (Greg Spurgeon)

Color Naming

Color naming is an important subject for collectors of antique glassware, but can be a source of confusion…especially for those newly entering the hobby. Many reference books identify bottles & jars, their values, makers, etc….but few, if any, have attempted to fully describe color terminology. [North American Glass]

Color Blindness

There is a significant portion of our population that have some degree of color blindness. This includes approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women. Color blindness or color vision deficiency is the inability or decreased ability to see color, or perceive color differences, under normal lighting conditions. Read: New Outlook on Colorblindness

Perception of Colors as we Age

As we age, there is an increased chance that we will have difficulties in perceiving color. With cataracts, colors fade or seem more yellowish. Some of the elderly have trouble identifying the color yellow.

Natural Light vs Illuminated

Bottles and glass look different in sunlight vs illuminated from a man-made light source.

Sunlight

Bottles and glass  looks different in direct sunlight, vs indirect sunlight vs back illuminated sunlight such as a bottle in a window.

Illumination

Front illuminating a bottle will look different than back-illumination such as in a light cabinet. Incandescent lights will look different than fluorescent or LED.

Regional

One might get romantic and say ‘sea mist’ for a bottle color in New England and ‘sage’ in the desert southwest.

Position

A bottle color may look different or change depending on the influence of an adjacent bottle.

Shadows & Reflections

A bottle shadow or reflection can influence a bottle color.

Equipment

Calibration of computer screens, printing presses and image projectors so that we are all looking at the same image.

Chameleon

There are bottles that seem to change colors like a smokey puce Bourbon Whiskey Bitters.

Prejustice

A movement is underfoot to discredit ‘brown’ bottles. I have written on this lately. Read: Not Brown – A “chocolate” Brown’s Celebrated Indian Herb Bitters and Not Brown – Old Amber “Harvey’s Prairie Bitters”.

Unification

Bottle collectors vs. insulator collectors vs. glassware vs. jars, vs marbles etc may each have their own color names and classes.

E X I S T I N G    C O L O R    G U I D E S

Sea Glass color reference chart

SHADES OF AMBER
The color name “Amber” derives from the gemstone, which is basically a fossilized tree sap. Amber is an orangish-brown color used to describe glass color with many adjectives added. Lighter amber colored jars and bottles are sometimes improperly called “yellow”. The simple visual test we use for discerning true yellow, is that it has none of the orange tint of amber. Look for noticeable amber (orange) tones in the thicker parts of the glass such as the base and lip areas. Here we depict a few true yellow jars (Globes) alongside some of the many shades of amber. – North American Glass (Greg Spurgeon)

Came across this rather well done chart of insulator colors. Make sure you follow the link to All Colors Insulator Gallery and click on each insulator. – Glassian.org

Antique Bottle Colors – AntiqueBottles.com

T H E    C O L O R    A M B E R

The color Amber art from previous Peachridge Glass posts.

Posted in Advice, Bitters, Color Runs, Fruit Jars, Insulators, News, Peachridge Glass, Questions, Sea Glass | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The low down on Submarine Poisons

Posted on 6 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Civil War: Submarine fine art print – Granger

S U B M A R I N E    P O I S O N    

B  O  T  T  L  E  S

“So that it may goe under water unto the bottome, and so to come up againe at your pleasure”

William Bourne – 16th Century submarine designer

Civil War Submarine: A, Propeller.—B, Rudder.-C, Force-pump for ballast.—D, Dead light.—E, Torpedo.—F, Man-hole plate.—G, Cock to let water in the ballast-room.—H, Ballast-room.—I, India-rubber suction-plate.—J, India-rubber air-tube.-K, Foul-air pump. – Harper’s Weekly, November 2, 1861

Some of you may not know this but my granddaughter Adriana is a member of the Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association and my father; Ferdinand Meyer IV was a major poison bottle collector in the prime of his collecting days. Our home now has a few special areas of poison bottles that always seem to get attention when guests look at our bottle collection. Bright colors, interesting shapes, great embossings and good stories. This is what bottle collecting is all about.

In recent posts I have written about skull and coffin poison figural bottles. Another drop-dead gorgeous poison bottle is the figural submarine or sub as they are sometimes called. You have to wonder, with the use of coffins and skulls for poison bottles, how this shape was developed? It is certainly distinct. I suspect the nickname ‘sub’ is appropriate because the submarine and torpedo were certainly making major news with the advancement of naval weaponry. Also, many of these early subs were stubby, fat and short and very unlike the later, sleeker designs. Read more: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

Read More: Looking at Coffin Poison Bottles

Read More: Skull Shaped Poison Bottles – A frightening favorite

It seems like most of the poison bottles that we are familiar with date from the 1870s to 1930s. A good portion of the population at that time was illiterate, so accidental poisonings were a fact of life. Dim lighting in rooms was also a major consideration and it was not wise to take a drink of anything when you might stumble from bed looking for cough syrup and come across some poison instead in the medicine cabinet. A New York Times article dated May 11, 1913, reported a superintendent of a Missouri hospital ordered sleigh bells chained to the necks of bottles containing poisons after an attendant gave carbolic acid to a patient by mistake. The patient died, and the attendant was indicted.

Using sleigh bells, though attention getting was not the answer for a growing chemical industry in the late 1800s. England was experiencing an economic boom from the Industrial Revolution. Local chemists and druggists found they could produce cleaning compounds, insect killers, vermin poison, etc. cheaply enough to sell far and wide. Glass bottles, too, were inexpensive and perfect for transporting their contents to market, so the poison trade really began to take off. Reference: Collecting Poison Bottles

And so did the death rate. Both the governments of the United States and England enacted laws to prevent accidental poisonings. However, it was the poison manufacturers themselves who took direct action to save customers who, for instance, were fumbling for medicine by candlelight and grabbing bedbug poison by mistake. What they did, not only reduced the number of accidental deaths, but it also created an almost irresistible collectible.

To distinguish them from non-lethal products, poison bottles were made unique and dramatic in color, texture and shape. Colors like cobalt blue, honey amber, black, and emerald and several other shades of green were used to ensure they stood out from the other bottles on the shelf.

Poison bottles were also designed with unique textures: latticework, raised ridges, dots, diamonds, horizontal or vertical ribbing, or hobnails. Also, embossed lettering warned, “DEATH,” “POISON,” “POISONOUS,” or “NOT TO BE TAKEN INTERNALLY.”

The bottle was described as “a bottle for the use of poisonous substances”

In England, cobalt blue “subs” bottles were invented by H. J. W. Martin and G. W. J. Walker in the fat cigar shape of a submarine. The bottle featured a long, vertical neck protruding from the center of the top and is embossed “POISON.” The bottle comes in three, four and five-inch sizes. Registered in 1899, the bottle did not for some reason, receive its letters patent till 1906 on April 12th. The bottle was described as “a bottle for the use of poisonous substances, made with there necks situated between.”

Reference: Rob’s Famous Poisons

Submarine (“Submarine Vessel, Submarine Bombs and Mode of Attack”) for the United States government. Submarine vessel, longitudinal section. Scan from original engineering design in pencil, ink, and watercolor. 1806. – Library of Congress

“these ones rarely surface.”

collector and digger Taylor McBurney

SMALL SUBMARINE POISON. – Got this little beauty some years ago in Alans BBR Auction and i really love it,as it has a nice crude whippy thin lip and a nice long neck. And its not repaired!! Cheers Wayne. – Bottle Digging UK

Two early 20th-Century Bristol blue ‘Submarine’ poison bottles, with ribs, embossed POISON on one side and REGISERED NO 336907 on the underside — 10cm. (4in.) and 7.8cm. (3in.) wide (2) – Cristie’s

Three submarine POISON bottles and a Skull Poison Bottle – photograph by Daniel Palmer – Elsecar Heritage Center

Web site home page image for the Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association (APBCA) – Joan Cabanis

Posted in Civil War, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, History, Poison Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking at Coffin Poison Bottles

Posted on 5 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

C O F F I N    P O I S O N    B O T T L E S

Recently I did a post on Skull Poison Bottles. There is no doubt, at least in my mind, that if I see a skull bottle, I might think twice about taking a drink. Now days, with all of the energy drinks and Generation X and Y’ers, I doubt that this may be the case with many. Some of the packaging for these products is quite frightful as in the Monster Energy drink. The skulls, bones and scary graphics actually promote these products!

Prior to using printed logos and labels as a primary identification tool, and when embossed bottles were in their heyday, there was a need for Poison Bottles to be clearly identified and tactile to the touch. Beginning in the 1870s, here in the United States, uniquely designed containers in bright cobalt blue began appearing. In order to warn the user of the dangerous nature of the contents, the outside of the bottle was covered with a series of raised bumps, dots, ridges, or lattice work. Without abundant bathroom and kitchen lights, like we have today, it was felt that there needed to be a way to emboss a bottle so the drowsy medicine gulper, in a dimly lit room, might think twice about taking a swig from a bottle with patterned shapes and lines.

Back-lit Poison bottle display in coffin – ex Ferdinand Meyer IV – courtesy Joan Cabanis

Today we look at Coffin shaped bottles. I always liked these little fellows and felt them to be kind of cute. They are beautiful in their form and color. The light always reflects nicely from the abundant embossing. The picture above, if I am not mistaken, was once my fathers, Ferdinand Meyer IV, famous poison display. He was a collector in Baltimore and used to cart this back-lit coffin, with his poison bottles to bottle shows. I understand that he won quite a few display awards. This coffin display now resides comfortably in an eastern Poison bottle collection. I would like to thank Dr. Charles Aprill for fueling this post with his outstanding picture below.

Read More: Skull Shaped Poison Bottles – A frightening favorite

C O F F I N    G A L L E R Y

This Blue Glass Coffin Poison Bottle was patented in 1871 by a man named Langford. What’s odd is that only 2 or 3 are known to exist, and the one shown here is believed to be c. 1895-1900 because of the shape of its neck & lip. Notice that the surface detail around the edge looks like coffin-nails! – JTRForums.com

POISON / NORWICH / 16A
Large size coffin-shaped cobalt blue poison with original label. Label says 500 TABLETS/ COFFIN SHAPE/ CORROSIVE/ MERCURIC CHLORIDE – AntiqueBottles.com

POISON / F.A. THOMPSON / & CO. / DETROIT / POISON. This golden yellow amber coffin shaped poison. –  AntiqueBottles.com

“Poison”, America, 1890 – 1905. Clear light to medium sapphire blue, figural coffin form with an overall diamond pattern on three sides, BIM with tooled ring type lip – smooth base, ht. 3 ½”, attic mint! KU-18. A somewhat scarce, very attractive lighter color for this mold with nice clarity.

Coffin poisons, three sizes. Small coffin and “Triloids” poisons with full labels. – Charles Aprill

Assorted Poison bottles in a coffin form – Joan Cabanis (Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association)

United Drug Co. Amber coffin poison, this is a nice and pretty scarce bottle. Much rarer in larger sizes than this 3 1/2 inch size. The merger of Riker-Hegeman from New York and United Drug in Boston in about 1912 – RicksBottleRoom.com

Wheaton Amber Glass Coffin Bottle – Etsy

Set of mint 1971 Wheaton skull and crossbone poison bottles.

Coffin-shaped poison bottle, 19th century – Courtesy of Mark L. Ryan

“Poison” (with complete original label), America, 1890 – 1905. Medium amber, figural coffin form with an overall diamond pattern on three sides, BIM with tooled ring type lip – smooth base, ht. 3 ½”, very near mint; (a tiny bit of roughness on one panel edge, otherwise perfect). KU-18. Label reads in part, “25 Tablets / Coffin Shape / Poison / Pat Applied For / The Norwich / Pharmacal Co”. A desirable form and a great example with the original label. – American Glass Gallery

Reverse of Above: “Poison” (with complete original label), America, 1890 – 1905. Medium amber, figural coffin form with an overall diamond pattern on three sides, BIM with tooled ring type lip – smooth base, ht. 3 ½”, very near mint; (a tiny bit of roughness on one panel edge, otherwise perfect). KU-18. Label reads in part, “25 Tablets / Coffin Shape / Poison / Pat Applied For / The Norwich / Pharmacal Co”. A desirable form and a great example with the original label. – American Glass Gallery

Web site home page image for the Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association (APBCA) – Joan Cabanis

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“In keeping with the Dr. Townsend’s theme started by others”

Posted on 4 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Sarsaparilla Grouping – photo Michael George

Looks like we have some really nice dialog and pictures of older Dr. Townsend’s Sarsaparilla’s over at Early American Glass on facebook from the usual suspects like Rick Ciralli, Mark Yates, Jeff Noordsy, Woody Douglas, Matt Greig, Michael George, Taylor McBurney, Matthew Tigue Levanti and others. Rick Ciralli says he will post one variant from his collection a day for 10 days so stay tuned as this post will grow!

This is the 1st of (10) different Townsends variants that I have in my collection. I will start with a ZINGER. This one is a brilliant blue green with the high relief embossing and a rare 3 BAR or 3 SLASH on the normally plain panel. – Rick Ciralli (see larger pictures below)

Ah, my best dug bottle, and the one I couldn’t keep! One day I’ll find another whole Townsends…- Taylor McBurney

“In keeping with the Townsends theme started by others… Here is what I think I know. Please correct me if I’m wrong or missing any. Based on site excavations, Townsends were known to be made at Mt Vernon, Mt Pleasant, Stoddard, Coventry and Willington. They were likely made at Albany Glassworks and Lockport/Lancaster but as far as I know, no direct proof. Any others????”

“There were two competing (Jacob and SP Townsend) proprietors over MANY years and it was a very popular medicine. Literally millions of bottles wee needed, so therefore multiple glasshouses and molds.”

Read More: Embossed DR TOWNSEND’S SARSAPARILLA ALBANY N.Y. Sand Pontil 17 Rivets Dark Amber

Read More: Dr. S.P. Townsend’s Sarsaparilla, Albany, New York

Dug Townsends – Here you go Rick, you’d know better than I about anything special. I personally like the bent neck and full iron pontil…Taylor McBurney

As I recall I owe Mark Yates some photos of Dr. Townsends. I have some others I’ll photograph and post late. – Woody Douglas

Some more Dr. T’s for Mark Yates. The second from the left is a pure green I don’t associate with NE. Possibly NY state? The embossing is markedly different from the others. – Woody Douglas

DR. TOWNSEND’S embossing – Woody Douglas

My sad lonely bottle, the one Townsend I have. – Matt Greig

OK, This is the 1st of (10) Different Townsends variants that I have in my collection. I will start with a ZINGER. This one is a brilliant blue green with the high relief embossing and a rare 3 BAR or 3 SLASH on the normally plain panel. Lot of theories as to what these bars represent. At one time I had a 1 bar, 2 bar, 3 bar and 4 bar. They all went different ways at different times but I’m back. I would love to hear from other collectors who have Townsend variants to share. Brian Wolff , can you get this into our file? Michael George and Woody Douglas, the collector in Maine was Mike Obrien, otherwise known as the Townsendman (his former eBay handle). Mike had THE collection of these and sold them off in many past Heckler sales. Mike Stephano has a rare variant that I hope he will share. I will post one a day for 10 days… – Rick Ciralli

Bottom side view of picture above – Rick Ciralli

I have posted this one before… it is a rare variant attributed to NY, but Mt. Pleasant not Vernon. – Michael George

DR. TOWNSEND’S SARSAPARILLA ALBANY N.Y., of great whittle. Truly an attic find. Came out of a barn with original Sarsaparilla remnants. Hand carved cork. Sand chip pontil. – Meyer collection

Ciralli Post #2 – I can’t wait until tommorrow…sorry. Another ZINGER, a rare variant with a period under the R in DR, diagonal mold seam, funky sunky base, glass tip pontil. NE or NYS??!! – Rick Ciralli

A rare variant with a period under the R in DR, diagonal mold seam, funky sunky base, glass tip pontil. NE or NYS??!! – Rick Ciralli

This Rivet mold was a favorite too! – Matthew Tigue Levanti

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