Could this be a Texaco Gasoline Bottle?

Incoming question about a bottle.

Thank you for the kind reply. Here are some pics of the Water Jug. Thick green, lots of bubbles, mold marks and striations and a nice deep Olive Green. It’s approx 18 and a half inches by 11 inches. Has wear, and looks like it has age, not a newer piece in my option. I tried to take a pic of what I think says “Texaco” on the bottem but it is very faint. The person I bought it from said it might have been a Gasoline Jug. I really appreciate this. Thank you again, Nick.

From my friend and Texas bottle authority Brad Seigler:

I have looked at that texaco jug til my eyes crossed. If it is embossed Texaco, it is a great item. Even trying to resesrch for a Texaco item comes up empty. Either way I think it is great.

Comments from facebook:

Marianne Dow: “I would bet it says Mexico.”

Rick DeMarsh: “I am with Marianne as the top is not allowable for even very old kerosene bottles IE for stoves…drip style and with something that size full would be hefty and in any kind of enviorment garage or home the base wear would be pretty heavy i’m thinking. Just my opinion”

Michael Dolcini: “I can remember getting gas in one gallon jugs with handle.”

[Wikipedia] Texaco (“The Texas Company”) is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel “Texaco with Techron”. It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand.
Texaco was an independent company until it merged into Chevron Corporation in 2001. It began as the Texas Fuel Company, founded in 1901 in Beaumont, Texas, by Joseph S. Cullinan, Thomas J. Donoghue, Walter Benona Sharp, and Arnold Schlaet upon the discovery of oil at Spindletop. For many years, Texaco was the only company selling gasoline under the same brand name in all 50 US states, as well as Canada, making it the most truly national brand among its competitors. Its current logo features a white star in a red circle (a reference to the lone star of Texas), leading to the long-running advertising jingles “You can trust your car to the man who wears the star” and “Star of the American Road.” The company was headquartered in Harrison, New York, near White Plains, prior to the merger with Chevron.

Texaco Founding through 1930s

1901 – Founded in Beaumont, Texas. Known as the Texas Fuel Company.

1905 – Texaco establishes an operation in Antwerp, Belgium, under the name Continental Petroleum Company.

1913 – Texaco acquires control of the Central Petroleum Company.

1914 – Occupied new offices in Houston on the corner of San Jacinto and Rusk.

1928 – Texaco becomes the first U.S. oil company to sell its gasoline nationwide under one single brand name in all 48 states (50 states after Alaska and Hawaii joined the Union in 1959).

1931 – The Texas Company (Texaco’s corporate name) purchases Indian Oil Company, based in Illinois, a move that expands Texaco’s refining and marketing base in the Midwest and also gives Texaco the rights to Indian’s manufacturing processes of Havoline “Wax Free” motor oil, which becomes a Texaco product and provides the company with a higher-quality motor oil product.

1932 – Texaco introduces Fire Chief gasoline nationwide, a motor fuel that meets the octane requirements for fire engines, and promotes it through a radio program over NBC hosted by Ed Wynn, the “Texaco Fire Chief.”

1936 – Texaco begins supplying the Nationalist rebels in Spain with oil, and continues to do so for the duration of the war, delivering some 3,500,000 barrels.

1936 – Marketing operations east of Suez (including Asia, East Africa, and Australasia) are placed into a joint venture with Standard Oil Company of California – Socal (Chevron) under the brand name Caltex, in exchange for Socal placing its Bahrain refinery and Arabian oilfields into the venture.

1937 – Texaco commissions industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague to develop a modern service station design. The resulting “Teague” Texaco station design is a functional white building with green trimmings featuring one or more service bays for “Washing”, “Marfak Lubrication”, etc., an office area with large plate glass window for display of tires, batteries, and accessories, along with “Men” and “Ladies” restrooms featuring Texaco-green tile walls and floors. The Teague station design is typically built of white porcelain tile but local and regional variations could include painted brick, concrete brick, and stucco materials. Other features include red Texaco stars on the upper facade on outer sidewalls and above the service bays, and red lettering spelling out “TEXACO” above the office area. Stations are identified by the street from Texaco’s “banjo” sign.

1938 – Texaco introduces Sky Chief gasoline, a premium grade fuel developed from the ground up as a high-octane gasoline rather than just an ethylized regular product. Sky Chief is dispensed from a silver gas pump in contrast with the red pump used for Fire Chief gasoline – a move that lasts many years until the early 1960s. 1939 Texaco tanker truck by Dodge on display at the Henry Ford Museum.

1939 – Texaco becomes one of the first oil companies to introduce a “Registered Rest Room” program to ensure that restroom facilities at all Texaco stations nationwide maintained a standard level of cleanliness to the motoring public. The “Registered Rest Room” program is later copied by other oil companies and continued at Texaco until the energy crises of the 1970s, which was caused by oil embargoes.

The old-style Texaco gas stations, the ones that were painted white with forest-green streamline stripes and a free-standing post bearing the red Texaco star logo on a white disk, were designed by Walter Dorwin Teague (also known for designing the Kodak Brownie camera and a host of other streamlined artifacts). In his book “Design This Day” (1940) Teague shows his original work for Texaco, the exhibition hall he designed for them at the Texas Centennial fair in 1935, plus photos of the small gas stations which were built cookie-cutter-like all over America.

Texaco Gas Filling Station – rusty 1930’s Dodge tow truck, vintage Texaco sign and an old gas pump. Near Wheatland in NW Oregon – flickr

Beautifully engraved certificate from the Texaco Oil Company issued from 1974 – 1978. This historic document was printed by the American Banknote Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of oil derricks, factories, and a seaport with a ship next to the dock. This item has the printed signatures of the Companyís President and Secretary.

Vintage Texaco Oil Bottles

Texaco oil salesman sample bottles with carrying/display case, good condition, very small chip on bottom of one bottle (barely noticable). Each bottle has a different oil sample and label: heavy, extra-heavy, medium, light, and “winner”. Three bottles posses original corks, two without. Each contains original oil samples

Posted in History, Questions, Technology, Utility Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hentz’s Curative Bitters – Unlisted Variant Found

HENTZ’S CURATIVE BITTERS without the expected embossed “PHILADELPHIA”

Hentz’s Curative Bitters – Unlisted Variant Found

23 August 2012 (R•040919)

Apple-Touch-IconAIncoming email and pictures from Bill Ham, author of Bitters Bottles and Bitters Bottles Supplement.

Ferdinand: Here is an unlisted variant of the HENTZ’S CURATIVE BITTERS. It looks like H 88 but doesn’t have PHILADELPHIA embossed.

Bill received the following communication in a previous email:

“Does NOT have any town; only HENTZ’S /CURATIVE BITTERS [on 2 indented panels]. Watson says the color is lime [I call it pale green] and I bought it for a scarce bottle & paid dearly for it, because of it’s clarity & shelf/display appeal. The deceased owner paid in his log $75 for it way back in 1968 and that was pretty big money. I want $300 for it & will send pics to any interested collector as I’m not a bittersman but like minty glass stuff.”

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

H 88  Hentz’s  Curative Bitters Philadelphia
HENTZ’S // CURATIVE / BITTERS // PHILADELPHIA // f //
9 5/8 x 2 3/4 (7 3/8) 3/8
Square, Aqua and Clear, LTCR, Tooled lip, 3 sp, Scarce

The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

H 88.5  Hentz’s  Curative Bitters
HENTZ’S // CURATIVE / BITTERS // f // f // b // x
9 x 2 1/2
Square, Aqua, LTC, Applied mouth, 2 sp, Extremely rare
Two sides have embossing peened out

Which Hentz are we talking about?

Looking online, I found the following information for two different Hentz’s which is puzzling. Maybe one of you have some more definitive information so we can confirm which Hentz marketed and sold the HENTZ’S CURATIVE BITTERS.

Henry J. Hentz and Percy Hentz listed with White, Hentz & Co. in Philadelphia. William A. Hentz & Co. also listed in Philadelphia Directory.

WILLIAM A. HENTZ
Philadelphia, PA.
1871-1893

Succeeded by Wm. Wilkinson (Boyd’s). A letterhead from 1885 shows the company to be Wm. A. Hentz and Wm. C. Wilkinson, Importers and wholesale dealers in wines and liquors. Manufacturers of and wholesale depot for Scheetz’s Celebrated Bitter Cordial. Agents for Jules Mumm & Co. Champagnes.

Percy Hentz, son and partner of the firm’s founder must have had a falling out with Wilkinson. He set up next door and claimed to be “The only HENTZ on 3rd St”.
Mida shows the “Stylus Club Pure Rye Whiskey” trademark used since 1/1/1891.

Stylus Club Pure Rye Whiskey paper weight

The company used the brand names: “Stylus Club”, and “W. H. & Co. Rye Est. 1793.”

Business name timeline: William A Hentz (1871-1877), William A Hentz & Co (1878-1893) then became Wm Wilkinson..

Address timeline: 258 N 3 rd (1871-1877), 139 N 3 rd (1878-1893)

Stylus Club Pure Rye Whiskey advertisement

I also found the following listing for another Hentz in Philadelphia:

WHITE, HENTZ & CO.
Philadelphia, PA.
1793-1918

Est. 1793., 1907 letterhead shows J. Henry Hentz Jr. and Wm. R. W. Hentz as proprietors (J = Jacob). 1884 letterheads cite J. Henry Hentz & J. P. Robinett. Represented in NY by D. Lieber, 17 S William Street. Importers and wholesale dealers in wines & liquors.

The business was established in 1793 by Philip Wager. In 1810 it became Van Syckel & Garrison and following the retirement of Mr. Garrison, Van Sykel & Sons. In 1849, Wm. R White and J. Henry Hentz formed the partnership. The name stayed but by 1895, J. Henry Hentz and J. Henry Hentz Jr. were the partners. Hentz senior was born in Philadelphia and traveled extensively in Europe. His son joined the business after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and became a partner in 1885. Trimble Whiskey was introduced around 1830. The business grew to have branches in New York (at the above address) and also in Washington DC, first at 1200 Pennsylvania Ave (ca. 1892), later in the Glover Building, 1419 F Street, N.W. (1895). The Philadelphia base “extended back to Bread Street, a distance of 200 feet, the receiving and shipping being done in the rear”. 224 2nd St was erected in 1793 and then 222 in 1860. (includes a photo). Mida has the “WHCo – Estbd -1793” in use since 1884. The first electric sign in NY Times square advertised Trimble Whiskey.

The company used the brand names: “Monogram Pennsylvania Rye”, “Pennsylvania Monogram Rye”, “Trimble”, “W. H. & Co.”, and “White Hentz & Co..”

Business name timeline: White, Hentz & Co.

Address timeline: 222-224 N 2nd (1870-1918)

Philadelphia and Popular Philadelphians

HENTZ’S CURATIVE BITTERS without the expected embossed “PHILADELPHIA”

HENTZ’S CURATIVE BITTERS without the expected embossed “PHILADELPHIA”

HENTZ’S CURATIVE BITTERS without the expected embossed “PHILADELPHIA”

HENTZ’S CURATIVE BITTERS (H 88) with embossed ‘PHILADELPHIA’ – Meyer Collection

H 89  HENTZ’S CURATIVE BITTERS (Sample)
FREE SAMPLE / HENTZ’S CURATIVE / BITTERS // f // f // f //
4 1/4 x 1 1/2 (2 7/8) 1/4
Square, Aqua, LTCR, Scarce

Sample size HENTZ’S CURATIVE BITTERS (H 89) – Meyer Collection

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, History, Questions, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part III

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part III

PART III of a Series – Ketcham Drinking Gallery

23 August 2012

Apple-Touch-IconAWith record speed I am opening the third gallery of vintage drinking pictures from up North as new material has come in from Steve Ketcham. This is a continuation of Photographs of People Drinking – Part I and Photographs and Images of People DrinkingPart II. If you have any candidates for inclusion in future galleries, please forward. Thanks.

Steve Ketcham accepting an award at the FOHBC Reno Expo Banquet

Hi Ferdinand, I have been busy scanning my bottle-related photos, and will send along more in the near future. For now, I felt it imperative to send along these images of groups of young gents drinking because methinks it only proper that the young ladies in the Phi-Drinka-Dogma image you posted be accompanied as they drink. It appears that one fellow, standing in front of John Woratschka’s Saloon (New Ulm, Minnesota), was doing a bit of cross-dressing. Oh, the folly to which drinking may lead! Thanks for all the Peachridge Glass fun! Steve Ketcham

Visit Steve’s great web site Antique Bottle Depot

Ketcham Drinking Gallery

The bottles all carry Grain Belt (Minneapolis Brewing Company) labels.

Look at the size of the pot-bellied stove and the whiskey bottles. No getting cold here!

Equally spaced spittoons at the long bar.

Not a frown among them. Three in the group appear to be holding enameled cups bearing the image of the Kaiser.

Diggin’ those boots the guy on the right is wearing.

Wife helping out. Like that risque nude picture behind her. No Playboy yet.

That fellow up front appears to be a bit underage!

They are drinking Hamm’s Beer, a St. Paul, Minnesota product.

Enjoying a Grain Belt (Minneapolis Brewing Company).

I like all the hanging towels on these bar pictures. Wipe that spittle and froth away.

Washburn, Wisconsin pose. What are they drinking?

The stenciled jug at right is from Wm. Steinmeyer, a Milwaukee liquor dealer.

Judging from the labels and signs, this one was in St. Paul.

Lots of spittoons here.

Local NRA meeting? (not meant to offend NRA members – I took my rifle safety training from this organization at a very young age!)

Posing in front of a Milwaukee bar

Lots of missed shots at the spittoons.

Notice the Lash’s Bitters sign at upper left.

The dog on the bar is in charge of filling growlers.

Two views of a Minneapolis bar.

A group seeking to stay warm in the snows around New Ulm, Minnesota.

Schmidt’s Beer get prominent space above this pose.

A Milwaukee saloon gathering.

Not as early as the other photos, but a fun photo of what appears to be a post WWII St. Paul or Minneapolis bar.

Strange as it may seem, I have the three decanters just to the right of the lady behind the bar in my collection: Minnesota Club, Old Blue Ribbon, and Pickwick Rye. Those last two brands were sold by George Benz of Appetine bitters fame. Labeled bottles of several other local brands can be identified here as well. – Steve Ketcham

Note the glass label decanters on the bar.

St. Paul, Minnesota bar pose. Got to be winter time.

Looks like the Fourth of July.

A serious game of Old Maid? Young gents from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Both proud and toasting their new haircuts.

Four young gents with a Pike’s Peak Flask – photo provided by Mark Vuono

Photographs of People Drinking – Part I

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part II

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part III

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part IV (Brewing)

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part V

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part VI

Possibly the Earliest Photograph of People Drinking Beer – Part VII

Posted in Advertising, Ales & Ciders, Breweriana, History, Humor - Lighter Side, Photography, Spirits, Tobacco, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Aqua Dr. Jacobs Bitters New Haven, CT – Pontil & Full Label

DR. JACOB’S BITTERS – eBay

Aqua Dr. Jacobs Bitters New Haven, CT – Pontil & Full Label

22 August 2012 (R•110614)

Apple-Touch-IconAI like this listing on eBay for the smaller, DR. JACOB’S BITTERS (J 11) for a number of reasons. It seems to be a fresh, found bottle, it has a really nice label and the embossing is pushing into the label making some profound statements with the eye appeal of the bottle. I have captured a few of the pictures, added the eBay listing, noted the Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listings in Bitters Bottles and added two examples from my collection. This is a great, aqua bitters bottle with some good history from New Haven, Connecticut.

“found in 2007 in a house, clean out here in central CT and recently remembered by the crew & acquired by us this weekend”

eBay description (CTMH1):

Aqua Dr Jacobs Bitters New Haven, CT, Pontil & Full Label, approximately 3″ x 1 3/4″ x 8 3/8″, medium aqua in color, applied slopping top, heavily whittled, impressive tubular pontil, embossed on 3 sides “DR JACOB’S BITTERS / S. A. SPENCER / NEW HAVEN, CT”, complete with ORIGINAL full label, reads in part “DR. JACOBS / COMPOUND / WILD CHERRY / SARSAPARILLA / GOLDEN SEAL / & MANDRAKE BITTERS….. S A SPENCER Sole prop….of the ORIGINAL Recipe and prepared only at SPENCER & CLARK ……….opposite / RAILWAY STATION NEW HAVEN CONN …..”, see photo, retains what probably is the original cork, some dried contents in the corners of the bottom, bottle is attic mint, retains 90% of the original label, some staining & aging, see photo but is darker than the photos, found in 2007 in a house clean out here in central CT and recently remembered by the crew & acquired by us this weekend.

DR. JACOB’S BITTERS – eBay ( I like this ‘grid’ assemblage arranged by the seller)

Embossing pushing into the label creating really cool visual effects on the DR. JACOB’S BITTERS – eBay

This creative Heineken billboard reminds me of the Dr. Jacobs embossing pushing thru the labels above.

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

J 10  DR. JACOB’S BITTERS, Circa 1862 – 1875
DR JACOB’S / BITTERS // NEW HAVEN, CT. // f // S. A. SPENCER. //
L…Dr. Jacob’s Compound Wild Cherry Sarsaparilla Golden Seal & Mandrake Bitters
10 1/4 x 4 x 2 1/2 (7 3/8) 1/2
Rectangular, Aqua, LTC, Applied mouth, With and without rough pontil mark,
Scarce
Label: S. A. Spencer, Sole Proprietor of the original recipe and prepared only by Spencer & Clark at their Medicine Depot opposite the Railway Station, New Haven, Conn. Prepared from the roots and barks of our fields and woods. For liver complaints and all forms of bilious diseases. For scrofula, erysypelas, and every variety of scrofulous affections, impaired digestion, loss of appetite, general nervous debility, constipation of the bowels, headache, acid stomach, and all those complaints arising from and depending upon impure blood or a foul stomach.

The taller, DR. JACOB’S BITTERS (J 10) – Meyer Collection

DR. JACOB’S BITTERS (J 10) – Meyer Collection

Jacobs011_GWA115

“DR. JACOB’S / BITTERS, – S.A. SPENCER. – NEW HAVEN, CT.”, (Ring/Ham, J-10), Connecticut, ca. 1855 – 1865, bluish aqua, 10 1/4”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Paul Hadley Collection. Perfect condition, highly whittled glass, an exceptional example! Ex. Dan Murphy Collection #106. – Glass Works Auctions

J 11  DR. JACOB’S BITTERS, Circa 1840 – 1860
DR. JACOB’S / BITTERS // NEW HAVEN, CT // f // S. A. SPENCER //
8 1/2 x 3 x 1 3/4 (5 1/2) 5/16
Rectangular, Aqua, LTC, Applied mouth, With and without rough pontil mark,
Common

The smaller, DR. JACOB’S BITTERS (J 11) – Meyer Collection

DR. JACOB’S BITTERS advertisement in the Corning (NY) Journal – Thursday, April 3, 1862

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, eBay, Medicines & Cures, Sarsaparilla | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking at Labeled Carter’s Cone Inks

It seems like a good time to switch gears and look at some conical inkwells. There has been a lull in the action since the flurry of posts earlier this year on small inks. Starting off today, I was inspired by an incoming email from Gene Ainsworth II:

Hope this won’t underwhelm anyone too much but this could be a contender for “finest example” of a Carter’s cone ink (if there is such a thing). All kidding aside, this is a hard to find color for a cone and the great label (see above) makes it a top notch example. Look for it on eBay soon. Gene

Let’s look at what we have on cone inks:

Some of the earliest ‘cone’ inkwells. It is generally accepted that the brown glazed bottles contained black or blue ink and the white, red ink. The first bottle (two-tone) is the smallest of three known sizes. [AntiqueBottles.co.za]

Ink was first used about 2500 BC in Ancient Egypt and China. The modern day digger and collector soon came to realise that our Victorian forebearers spent most of their time either drinking, cleaning house or writing letters…this observation is based on what one might find on a typical “dig”. [AntiqueBottles.co.za]

Color group of ringed cone inkwells – [sha.org]

Ink bottles tend to be named after items which they closely resemble i.e cone, umbrella, turtle, teakettle, igloo, boat, tent, barrel, cottage, pyramid…etc. Where the shape is not characteristic then the names of the manufacturers are used for identification i.e Carter, Temple, Pridge, Field, Hyde, Blackwood, Derby, Hollidge…etc. [reference: AntiqueBottles.co.za]

As a general statement, ink bottles (and inkwells) were designed for stability while being used to fill a pen or dip a quill. To quote Munsey (1970), “…because (pens and quills) must be dipped into the ink container frequently during writing, ink bottles were designed to minimize tipping.” Although there is no universally accepted size cut-off point, generally speaking the majority of ink bottles hold 3 or 4 ounces of ink or less, typically about 2 ounces. Anything above 3 or 4 ounces should probably be considered a bulk or master ink – [sha.org]

Amber ringed cone ink – [sha.org]

The conical ink style appears to have first originated in the Unites States during the 1830’s and are typically called simply “cones” or “cone inks” by collectors (Covill 1971). Glass makers called this plain style (i.e., with no horizontal ring/rings at the shoulder) the “plain cone” style (Whitney Glass Works 1904). These particular cone ink bottles are typically blow-pipe or “open” pontil scarred, have a rolled finish, typically about 2.3″ to 2.5″ tall and 2.5″ in diameter, were blown in a true two-piece “hinge” mold with no air venting, and are attributed to Portland druggist Nathan Wood (druggists often bottled ink in the 19th century and before) who was in business from at least as early as 1851 until at least the late 1880’s; Nathan died in 1887 though his son continued the drug business after that time (McKearin & Wilson 1978; Faulkner 2009). These particular cone shaped ink bottles were also made in shades of amber and olive green glass and date from the earlier years of the business, i.e., 1850’s to early 1860’s. [sha.org]

The subject of today’s post, William Carter began his ink business in 1858 on Water St. in Boston. Two years later he was joined by his brother Brother Edward in Carter & Bro. In 1861, John H. Carter entered the firm which changed to William Carter & Bros. The earliest bottles known are pontiled and smooth base umbrellas ink bottles bearing their label. [BottleBooks.com] [Read more on the Carter’s Ink Company at PRG]

A few examples of labeled Carter’s cone inks are pictured below along with a few other brands with labels. The last three pictures in the post are earlier plain cone and shouldered cone inks.

Read More on Carter’s Inks: Hinks Inks – Post 3 “Carter’s Ink Company”

Read More on Carter’s Inks: Spectacular Labeled Carter Cathedral Ink Grouping

Partially labeled Carter’s cone ink in a deep green aqua

Labeled CARTER’S GREEN HOUSEHOLD INK in a ringed cone form

Circa 1910-1920 Mr. & Mrs. Carter’s Inx Ink advertising card blotter. The card shows the classic Carter’s Inx figural china bottles. This card has the imprint of the “Cumberland Valley State Normal School, Shippensburg, Pa.” The card measures 6″ long by 3 1/2″ tall.

Early Carter’s Ink advertisement – BottleBooks.com

Fully labeled CONTINENTAL JETBLACK INK in a ringed cone form – Hinkel Collection

Fully labeled BRILLIANT RED INK made by Thaddeus Davids & Co, New York in a ringed cone form – Hinkel Collection

Two fully labeled DOVELL’S Writing Fluid Inks in a ringed cone form – Hinkel Collection

Labeled THADDEUS DAVIDS & CO’s Writing Fluid in a ringed cone form – Hinkel Collection

Spectacular, bubbly, open-pontil, plain cone ink – John April

Earlier plain cone ink in a gorgeous blue

Two shouldered cone inks

Posted in Collectors & Collections, eBay, History, Inks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

21 August 2012

PARIS HORTON KEACHBALTIMORE

Apple-Touch-IconAIt is very gratifying and exciting when I start down a path and doors start opening. Yesterday I saw a gorgeous picture of Keach soda water bottles from Baltimore in a color run on facebook (Fig:1) that I quickly surmised as being torpedoes in form. You will also sometimes hear the term Ten-pin to describe the shape.

Fig: 1 Paris Horton Keach 1845-47 torpedoes. My color run is coming along nicely. Would really like an olive colored example or an aqua one – Chris Rowell

Torpedoes make me think of the phrase “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” This leads me on a quick search to brush-up on my history of Admiral Farragut who I believe the phrase is attributed to. I also seem to remember a United States postage stamp (Fig:2)  from my stamp collecting days. Looking good so far; bottles, color run, history, postage stamps, Baltimore (my home town) etc. All the right ingredients!

Fig: 2 U.S. Postage stamp, David Farragut, Issue of 1903, 1-dollar. black, U.S. Government, Department of the Post Office

I then circle back to Chris Rowell, the Baltimore digger and collector that posted the Keach torpedo picture. It seems like whenever I see a great torpedo soda, I think of Chris who specializes in this area (Fig:3). Visit Chris Rowell’s web site: Antique Bottles of Baltimore.  Read more on Chris at PRG:

Some Early Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters Shards Dug by Chris Rowell,

E & S FREY, BALTIMORE Druggist’s Label Restoration by Chris Rowell

The Washington Monument Bottle – Baltimore

Fig: 3 Good beer after a hard day of digging. Chris Rowell with beer in hand.

Well, let’s put a lasso around all this torpedo talk and get started. I really do not know that much about any of the various soda brand names that are embossed on torpedoes other than just recognizing a few of the popular Baltimore names (Fig:4) such as Keach, Boyd, Cole, Coughlan. Gardner & Brown and Russell. You can see examples on Chris’s web site.

Fig: 4 Other brand names in Baltimore Torpedo Sodas – Rowell Collection

First, a quick search confirms my memory and leads me to a wonderful illustration of Rear Admiral David G. Farragut found in Harpers Weekly (Fig:5). A definition from Wikipedia confirms the phrase is from the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1854 and attributed to the Admiral.

Fig: 5 Rear-Admiral David G. Farragut, U.S.N. illustrated in Harper’s Weekly, Saturday, August 29, 1863

[Wikipedia] David Glasgow Farragut (July 5, 1801 – August 14, 1870) was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. He is remembered in popular culture for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” by U.S. Navy tradition.

Fig: 6 Battle of Mobile Bay – Bataille de la baie de Mobile par Louis Prang (1824-1909)

The Battle of Mobile Bay (fig:6) of August 5, 1864, was an engagement of the American Civil War in which a Federal fleet commanded by Rear Adm. David G. Farragut, assisted by a contingent of soldiers, attacked a smaller Confederate fleet led by Adm. Franklin Buchanan and three forts that guarded the entrance to Mobile Bay. The battle was marked by Farragut’s seemingly rash but successful run through a minefield that had just claimed one of his ironclad monitors, enabling his fleet to get beyond the range of the shore-based guns. This was followed by a reduction of the Confederate fleet to a single vessel, ironclad CSS Tennessee. Tennessee did not then retire, but engaged the entire Northern fleet. The armor on Tennessee gave her an advantage that enabled her to inflict more injury than she received, but she could not overcome the imbalance in numbers.

Fig: 7 60-lb. charge and 100-lb. charge Mushroom Anchor Torpedoes used by rebel Confederates in the seige of Mobile, Alabama

So now that I have torpedoes wrapped up in my mind, I start thinking of why these bottles are called torpedoes (Fig:7). Actually, I have always wondered why someone would even make a bottle in this shape which would be so hard to ship and sit upright on a table or bar. The torpedo pictured above is not the sleek, thin torpedo we think of from World War II movies but instead a bulbous, fat cigar shape very similar to the soda bottles. It is almost like the bottle designer was inspired by torpedoes! They were made early I understand. Here is some basic information that I could find on Keach in Baltimore.

[from Chris Rowell – Antique Bottles of Baltimore] I don’t have exact dates for when Keach was in business but I would say early 1840’s-1848. This is one of the more available Baltimore torpedoes and in my opinion this is not because Keach was in business for a long time but because Keach went out of business very suddenly leaving many empty bottles in the hands of consumers so many of those bottles ended up in attics, basements, and privies because there was no one to return them to. I know of only one Keach mold it is very distinct in that Keach is embossed high up on the torpedo and very close to one of the seams of the bottle rather than being centered like the other Baltimore torpedoes. This bottle also comes in a wide variety of colors including apple green, yellow green, deep emerald green, olive green, yellow topaz, and apricot puce. They are only found with a smooth base with a sharp tapered lip.

[Wil Martindale – the Bottle Den] Another early one, Paul (or Paris?) Keach went to a yellow green torpedo probably around 1845 through 1847 when he suddenly dropped out and his mold was used to create the RUSSELL torpedo (around 1847). The vast majority of whole KEACH’s are yellow green in color, and all known examples are in torpedo form.

These exotic yellows, deep clarets, topaz and apricot puces, I believe, pre-date 1845 and were blown right alongside SUTTON’S open pontiled deep puce soda, some looking from the same batch of glass, maybe a little later than the open pontiled deep claret lager it is next to in a couple pics (RANDALL era, late 30′s). I believe they finished these torpedos in a clamp between 1840 and 1845 at Federal Hill, whereas the open pontiled RANDALL (and a few other super rare open pontiled ones) pre-date 1841.

[from North American Soda and Beer Bottles] Something different happened in Baltimore. Whereas the Roussel style bottle was the norm in the rest of the country, in Baltimore some of the early producers used the Roussel style at first, and then shifted to the English style of torpedo or ten pin shaped bottles. In fact during the period 1845 to 1850, all of the soda bottles used by Baltimore merchants (with the exception of the extremely rare Cole & Co and Cole & Chickering sided sodas) were of the English style. There are at least two possible reasons for this: first, Baltimore was a port city where imported English style bottles were probably in most establishments. These could have been reused by some bottlers who may have had their own bottles made in the same style for constant filling and packaging. Second, this style of bottle was used by Randall & Company and John Lee Chapman, who were fashionable producers. Randall & Company were in the famous Barnum’s Hotel and Chapman operated a well known soda water shop and drug store. Perhaps this style of bottle represented a higher class of product. Whatever the reason, collectors can be thankful for these beautifully shaped and variously colored bottles.

It seems that more Baltimore bottles of these forms were dug in California than in Baltimore!

About 1851 Peter Babb moved his mineral water establishment from Philadelphia to Baltimore, and successfully reintroduced the soda shaped bottle to the Baltimore market. Soon all of the Baltimore firms were phasing out the torpedo and ten pin shaped bottles and using the soda shaped bottles. William Russell and William Coughlan are examples of this shifting of styles. But what to do with all of the old style torpedo and ten pin shaped bottles? Many were filled with soda and mineral waters, packed on ships and sent to the gold fields of California. It seems that more Baltimore bottles of these forms were dug in California than in Baltimore!

[from North American Soda and Beer BottlesRandall & Company was a partnership that was made up of Dudley A. Randall and Paris Horton Keach. Both men were born in Rhode Island, but their lives were to follow different paths. Randall was born about 1806 and in 1826 we find that he was living in Providence, Rhode Island as a member of a fire company. Eliza Fenner and Dudley A. Randall were wed in Providence by Rev. Pickering on Oct. 28, 1829. By 1828, Randall is listed as a grocer. Grocers in New England often engaged in the brewing of small beers like mead and root beer. It appears that Randall learned this trade and became proficient enough in brewing, that he relocated to Baltimore between 1832 and 1835 and set up a mead manufactory at 126 Howard Street. He claimed that he had been in this occupation for 11 years in 1844, which may place him in Baltimore in 1833 or perhaps he was brewing in Providence starting in that year.

Keach was born about 1816. Keach married Eliza Niebling on November 21, 1843 at the First English Lutheran Church in Baltimore. It is possible that Keach was related in some way to Randall, but in any case the two were partners in Randall & Company starting as early as 1839.

KEACH BALT

Three KEACH BALT bottles in drop-dead gorgeous colors – Rowell collection

Apricot puce KEACH BALT Torpedo Soda Water – American Bottle Auctions (Sold for $8,000 without auction house premium) *a similar example in a holder sold for $17,920 (see top of this post for image)

Green KEACH BALT Torpedo Soda Water – American Bottle Auctions (Sold for $1,300 without auction house premium)

Apricot KEACH with BALT on reverse – American Bottle Auctions | Auction 53

KEACH BALT in brilliant yellowish green, highly whittled, thousands of bubbles – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

Detail of above, KEACH BALT in brilliant yellowish green, highly whittled, thousands of bubbles – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

Posted in Auction News, Civil War, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Digging and Finding, Figural Bottles, History, Postage, Questions, Soda Water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Barrel Series – Liquore del Diavolo Figural Barrel

Barrel Series – Liquore del Diavolo Figural Barrel

20 August 2012 (R•052615) (R•052815)

LIQUORE DEL DIAVOLO


Apple-Touch-IconAI can not think of too many antique bottles embossed with the devil or satan so when I saw a picture of this figural barrel I was intrigued with the embossing and name. This barrel comes at the tail end of my series on figural barrels simply because it is not American. Most of us figural collectors do not go after these foreign barrels as indicated by the low price of $220 and 3 bids that this barrel commanded in the latest Glass Works Auctions #95. It was estimated to bring between $275 and $375.

DiavoloLabel

The English translation is ‘Liquor of the Naples Devil’

I can not find any information while searching online for this brand so it must be rare. As usual, please send me any other support information so I can update this post.

Two other ‘devil’ or ‘satan’ like embossings on a bottle is the P.W.B.L. – PITT’S WONDERFUL BLACK LINIMENT and PLUTO water bottle (see below). See more great bottle embossings: Cool Bottle Embossings

Patent medicine with embossing of a huge bird/man/dragon embossed on the front which is known to people in the area as the Piasa Bird. The Piasa Bird was painted by Indians on the bluffs above the Mississippi River near Jerseyville. JERSEYVILLE, ILLS embossed on one side and P.W.B.L. Co. This stood for Pitts Wonderful Black Liniment.

Vintage PLUTO WATER Bottle, America’s Physic, Devil symbol embossed on bottom – eBay

Offer to Devil – Italian Woodcut

“LIQUORE DEL DIAVOLO / (motif of a devil) / E. CIABURRI E. FIGLI / NAPOLI”, Italian, ca. 1890 – 1900, red amber barrel, 9 3/4”h, smooth base, tooled mouth, about perfect (a tiny flake is off a lower ring). Looking for something different that you haven’t seen before? Well, you just found it. The English translation is ‘Liquor of the Naples Devil’

“LIQUORE DEL DIAVOLO / (motif of a devil) / E. CIABURRI E. FIGLI / NAPOLI” – Glass Works Auctions | Auction 95

Heck122_Diavolo

Lot: 49 “Liquore Del Diavolo / (Devil Motif) / E. Ciaburri / Napoli” Figural Liquor Bottle, probably Italy, 1870-1890. Barrel form, bright pink puce, tooled double collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 9 3/8 inches; (light interior stain). Beautiful and unusual color. Fine condition. – Heckler Auction 122

Heck122_DiavoloWindow

Lot: 49 “Liquore Del Diavolo / (Devil Motif) / E. Ciaburri / Napoli” Figural Liquor Bottle, probably Italy, 1870-1890. Barrel form, bright pink puce, tooled double collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 9 3/8 inches; (light interior stain). Beautiful and unusual color. Fine condition. – Heckler Auction 122

The Devil’s Fiddle and the Saint’s Tongue – In his Voyage d’un François en Italie (Paris 1769), the astronomer Lalande recounts that one night the devil appeared to the violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770). In this dream, the devil offered the violinist a Faustian deal and then played a wonderful violin piece, which Tartini imitated in one of his sonatas.


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, Figural Bottles, Spirits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Tale of Two Cabins

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS


Still one of our favorite pictures, for color and overall appeal, this grouping of KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Blue/green Kelly’s #1 pictured) is hard to beat. With the downturn in home prices these days, it might be a good time to invest in a new one. This could be just the thing – American Bottle Auctions

I vividly remember one evening back in 2003 where I kept sneaking out on my porch steps of my loft (hiding from my wife, Elizabeth) in downtown Houston. I was actually in a virtual online and telephone bidding war with some unknown person (who I now know was Bryan Grapentine) for a teal green and minty looking KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS. Let’s call this Kelly’s #1. I think my last bid was rather healthy but I got spooked because Jeff Wichmann, the auction house chief, suspected the bottle may sell at a price in the stratospheric level. So I bowed out. Well the bottle sold for $27 large to Bryan and in my, and others opinion, Bryan got a great deal on an extraordinary bottle. As you will see, the next time the bottle sold, it sold for quite a bit more. The picture (below) and description in the American Bottle Auctions catalog at that time read:

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #1) – American Bottle Auctions

“found in Nebraska in a dried up water well”

Lot #45: KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #1). Ring/Ham K 21. Another of the great bottles in this collection and the highlight of our trip was this beautiful teal green/blue Kelly’s! I had heard about this bottle but had never seen it and was somewhat skeptical of its existence. However, after seeing it, I was hardly disappointed. In fact, I was flabbergasted at how beautiful the bottle actually was! A true greenish teal with some blue, I gasped as I saw the sun gleam through it sitting in his window. It’s so odd to see a bottle you’ve seen so many times in amber, suddenly appear in an unknown (at least to us) color. In addition, it’s a superb example with loads of bubbles and good overall crudity. Aside from an open bubble between two logs, (it couldn’t have been in a better spot as it’s real tough to see) it is Almost Mint or better. On the way home from Nebraska, I wondered at the number of these colored examples known? Were there two, five, ten or was this it? So far, we only know of this example and the one from the Cris Batdorff collection, which had some repair done to it, and which we now understand was quite a bit different hue. There are most likely others, but who knows? We’ve tried to capture the exact color of the glass and we would say it’s within a degree or two, so what you are seeing is what you’re buying. A bottle we are proud to offer, this was found in Nebraska in a dried up water well. A couple of other amber Kelly’s were found within earshot of this example. Needless to say, this is one you need to see in person, altough the pictures are right on the money. Please call us for additional photos and any other questions you may have. Almost Mint–or better. Bottle selling price: $27,000 (wither the auction house premium)

Bryan Grapentine eventually sold his great bitters collection and the bottle again made an appearance with American Bottle Auctions in late 2007 in the three segment Grapentine Auction series. This time the same bottle (Kelly’s #1) sold for a whopping $46,000, not including the auction house premium. The ABA catalog write-up is as follows:

“he took it to a bottle show in the 1970’s and collectors there told him to go home, that it was a fake. He knew however that it couldn’t possibly be a fake because he dug it himself”

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #1) PATENTED 1863. Applied top in a cabin shape. PLEASE NOTE: We’ve had a couple people that have suggested this bottle and possibly others in this sale are not what we’ve presented them to be. I suggest you man-up and either speak with us personally or keep your mouths shut. We have an 100% gurantee on all of the bottles we sell. Okay, having said that, here is the Kelly’s Bitters. We actually sold this Kelly’s years ago and now it has found its way back for another auction. We originally purchased this bottle from a collector by the name of Pete Peters in Nebraska. So really it’s had only two owners, Pete and Bryan. Pete told the story that he took it to a bottle show in the 1970’s and collectors there told him to go home, that it was a fake. He knew however that it couldn’t possibly be a fake because he dug it himself, 30 feet into a well. He also found others in the same hole. What an absolutely wonderful bottle in a dramatic color. We have photographed it with three other colors, just to show the different hues one can obtain in these popular bitters. When people mention a green Kelly’s, they usually think of olive, but as you can see, this is more of a teal. There is a partial open bubble on one corner of a side log. It’s actually very hard to tell that it’s an open bubble. Otherwise, the bottle is perfect. It has a wonderful top, a little stubbier than some we’ve seen. Everything else about it is top notch. If the bubble bothers you we recommend staying away. Otherwise, for cabin collectors, this is the one. We’ve photographed it with another green example that is not in the Grapentine collection. Forget the rumors, look at the bottle, some in this hobby (and you know who you are) need to grow up. Est. $15,000-25,000. MB $15,000. Note: The bottle sold for $46,000 not including the auction house premium.

A post auction write-up in Antique Trader said the following:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The second batch of approximately 300 bottles from a single Arizona collector totaled more than $500,000 in the online sale conducted by American Bottle Auctions. “Numerous records were broken and this has put the Bryan Grapentine collection so far over $1 million with another auction to go,” said Jeff Wichman, owner of the auction company. A rare colored Kelley’s Old Cabin Bitters bottle, sold for $51,520 (including 12 percent buyers premium), while a Cassins Grape Brandy Bitters bottle made $40,320. A Keach Baltimore “torpedo” bottle with stand sold for $17,920, and an R.L. Higgins Virginia City master inkbottle, one of only two known, realized $14,400.

The bottles come from collector Bryan Grapentine, 70, of Phoenix, who has been building his collection for 25 years. Grapentine now wants to “make some room in his house” and concentrate his efforts on specialized areas of glass, like scent bottles and ink containers.

 

Well, now the mate of this great Kelly’s #1 has shown up in a current American Bottle Auction event. The ABA write-up is as follows:

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #2) – American Bottle Auctions

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #2) PATENTED 1863 with applied top. Over forty years ago, a gentleman named Pete dug a well in Ogallala, Nebraska. According to Pete, as they neared the bottom, they found a number of these bitters. Amber was represented as well as olive green. Most startling were two light greenish examples they had never seen before. They eventually brought them to a bottle show and were told they were fakes. They explained that they had themselves found them along with other more prevalent colored examples to no avail. At that point they each decided to keep one. The other, which we sold out of the Bryan Grapentine sale in 1997, and again in 2007 brought over $50,000. That was Pete’s original acquisition and since then he has worked a deal out with his partner for the other one, the one we now offer. Now while we don’t believe these are the only two that exist in this color, we do believe that this example may be one of the prettiest. There is a small area on one roof with some interior haze, which when viewed from the other side is nearly unnoticeable. The bottle is overall quite uneven and the color leans toward green rather than blue, as the glass is much thicker than the other variant. We never thought we’d have another opportunity to represent a bottle of this nature, however, here it is. We will grade this a 9.7 with just a bit of typical usage wear.

More Kelly’s #2 Pictures

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #2) on display on the American Bottle Auctions table at the recent FOHBC Reno Expo.

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #2) – American Bottle Auctions

KELLY’s OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #2) – American Bottle Auctions

Interesting enough, I had the opportunity to review a third KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS in Houston a few years back that is in the possession of Dan Cowman. This specimen has a repaired top and is similar in color. Read more: A Picture of a Picture of Two of Brad Francis’s Kelly’s Old Cabin Bitters. See below.

I do not know where the Kelly’s #2 in the American Bottles Auctions will end up. As of this morning the bid was at $36k. Stay tuned.

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #3) – Dan Cowman

Posted in Advice, Auction News, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Digging and Finding, Figural Bottles, History, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bodmann Baltimore Cathedral Pickles perish in great San Francisco Fire

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS sits next to the WM BODMANN BALTIMORE cathedral pickle at the recent FOHBC Reno Expo – American Bottle Auctions table

Jeff Wichmann over at American Bottle Auctions in Sacramento, California, has an exciting auction online as I write. This is Auction #56 that closes on 26 August 2012. Besides the spectacular Kelly’s Old Cabin Bitters (see above), and the Cropper’s Stomach Bitters (Read: Unlisted Dr. Cropper’s Bitters spotted at ABA table at Reno Expo) there is a killer cathedral pickle that caught me completely by surprise. Sitting near the later auction lots is the WM BODMANN BALTIMORE cathedral pickle. I saw this beauty in Reno recently but was dazzled by the Kelly’s. The cathedral pickle is noted as being found in an attic in San Francisco. The ABA pictures and write-up is as follows:

WM BODMANN BALTIMORE Cathedral Pickle – American Bottle Auctions

WM BODMANN/BALTIMORE CATHDERAL PICKLE. 11 ½”. Outwardly folded mouth. Open pontil, four-sided, quart+. 1840’s.

Originally an exhaustive search for information on this pickle yielded little as to Bodmann or his pickling business itself. Since then, we’ve obtained some information on Bodmann and his business. We know that from 1842-45 the Baltimore directory lists Wm. Bodmann Pickling Depot at 48 S. Howard St. in Baltimore. Bodmann later apparently went into business with his son as the company is listed as Bodmann & Son.

There are believed two other jars with their two names on them. We also believe that there are only three Cathedral style jars ever made in Baltimore. This beautiful jar appears to have been inspired by the well-known Westminster Abbey of London with its multitude of Gothic archways, stained glass windows and pointed towers, each side of the jar having a unique and different design. The glass is almost colorless which speaks possibly to its early heritage and we believe it could be one of the first Cathedral Pickles ever blown in America. In fact, it could have possibly been a prototype for others to follow. To our knowledge and according to the people we spoke with in the hobby, there are only two other of these unique jars known to exist and they both have damage

This example was found in an attic in San Francisco and therefore appears as perfect as the day it was made. No flaws of any kind, just loads of diamond-like faucets combined with a multitude of whittle and tiny bubbles creating quite a shown when viewed under light. This jar is certainly a centerpiece for any collector of Baltimore glass or food containers for that matter. Possibly the only quart plus sized cathedral pickles with a name and city embossed. We want to thank our fellow collectors who helped in preparation of this description. Grades a 9.9.

What I find fascinating is how this early Baltimore pickle jar was found in San Francisco in an attic? I started looking online and quickly found a number of supporting documents including city directories with Bodmann’s address in Baltimore as Wichmann notes. I also found a tidbit from a cookbook referencing a William Bodemann (note spelling difference) who must be the same (see below).

Reference to William Bodemann in A Quaker’s Woman’s Cookbook

Further research online led me to a publication from The Society of Historical Archaeology titled The Hoff Store Site and Gold Rush Merchandise in San Francisco, California (see cover below). Did this store have any of the Bodmann pickles for sale? Checking the Table of Contents, I  see an entire section by Dennis P. McDougall called The Bottles of the Hoff Store Site.

Reading further, I found out that the Hoff Store collapsed into San Francisco Bay during the conflagration of May 3rd and 4th, 1851. Hundreds of glass bottles containing preserved food, alcoholic beverages, medicines, toiletries, and various other contents for retail purchase were deposited onto the muddy floor of the Bay. The waters and sediments of the Bay, combined with the landfill from expansion of San Francisco’s shoreline in the years following the fire, “sealed” these glass containers. As a result, many still retained their original contents.

The Society of Historical Archaeology book on The Huff Store Site and Gold Rush Merchandise from San Francisco, California. 

San Francisco Fire (Image from www.sfmuseum.org)

The article references the many types of bottles and shard specimens that were found including WELLS, MILLER & PROVOST, NEW YORK (read more: Blue Wells Miller & Provost & blue cathedral pepper sauce question?) and UNDERWOOD & CO., BOSTON. I feel like I am getting closer. Finally, nearing the end of the chapter, I find the information I am looking for in the Culinary section. Yes. the Wm Bodmann’s from Baltimore were sitting on the shelves when the store collapsed into the bay (see below). So it looks like the Bodmann pickle jars followed the Gold Rush miners and families to California and sat within the Hoff General Store until the terrible fire. One can only think that this Baltimore cathedral pickle for sale in the current auction may have been purchased in the days before the fire or maybe they were safely stowed on the ships waiting to be unloaded, if they escaped the fire. Read: The Bottles of the Hoff Store Site

The cover image is Long Wharf where the Oregon docked. The American Flag (left) flies above Hoff’s Store. (Courtesy National Maritime Museum, San Francisco)

“Recessed shoulder panels suggest these bottles were Cathedral-styled. A bulbous ring separated the shoulder from the cylindrical neck”

The Society of Historical Archaeology book on The Huff Store Site and Gold Rush Merchandise from San Francisco, California, documenting the discovery of WM BODMANN BALTIMORE cathedral pickle bottle shard specimens on the bottom of San Francisco Bay.

WM BODMANN BALTIMORE Cathedral Pickle – American Bottle Auctions

WM BODMANN BALTIMORE Cathedral Pickle – American Bottle Auctions

WM BODMANN BALTIMORE Cathedral Pickle – American Bottle Auctions

Posted in Article Publications, Auction News, Digging and Finding, Early American Glass, Figural Bottles, History, Museums, News, Pickle Jars, Publications | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part II

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part II

PART II of a Series

19 August 2012

Apple-Touch-IconAIt is time to open the second gallery of vintage drinking pictures as the first galley filled to volume. This is a continuation of Photographs of People Drinking – Part I). If you have any candidates for inclusion, please forward. Thanks.

Drinking Gallery

Old School Party (ca. 1900) – A cigar smoking man poses with a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of beer. –Image by © DaZo Vintage Stock Photos/Images.com/Corbis

Civil War drinking – ca 1864

Drinking Buddies – Jeff Wichmann says that this is a young Dennis Fox in the middle

Woman drinking from a whiskey bottle.

Union Soldiers pictured playing cards and drinking “Old Red Eye”

Three Men Seated with a Wine Bottle, Paper, & Glass – Tintype Photo – An interesting tintype with three men seated at a table. The man on the left is holding a piece of paper. The man at the center has his hand on what appears to be a wine bottle with a circular label. The man at the right has his hand on a drinking glass. This tintype was found in Elmira, N. Y. – eBay (imajgin)

Bottling and labeling wine bottles – submitted by Dennis Humphrey

Circa. 1905– A beer drinking group pauses the party for a photo. –Image by © DaZo Vintage Stock

Sunday Morning – after a long night of drinking and whoring in a gold rush town

For you fruit jar fans, a photo of cases of Ball jars confiscated as “bootleg paraphernalia” during Prohibition.
Photo from the Library of Congress

Sutler’s Tent – Petersburg – A sutler is a civilian merchant who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters. The sutler sold wares from the back of a wagon or a temporary tent, allowing them to travel along with an army or to remote military outposts. Sutler’s wagons were associated with the military while chuck wagons served a similar purpose for civilian wagon trains and outposts.

Photo of cases of Ball jars confiscated as “bootleg paraphernalia” during Prohibition.
Photo from the Library of Congress

Mining operation showing miners working, eating within view of cabins and flumes, Hunker Creek, 1899. A little coffee after a hard night of whisky. – University of Washington

Public Drinking

Confederate soldiers at their campsite play poker, while drinking and smoking between battles.

Drinking Beer – France, circa 1910 – image Corbis

The Civil War – Between the Battles, with two slaves serving them. – PBS

“Throughout the Civil War, coffee was as prevalent on the battlefields as it is in offices today. In fact, the Union army was fueled by the stuff to the point that, if there was no time to boil water, the Boys in Blue would chew on whole beans as they marched. And at night, Union campsites were dotted with tiny fires, each boiling a pot of coffee like a million miniature Starbucks. Beyond caffeine cravings, Union troops loved their coffee because it was, literally, the best thing on the menu.” – Library of Congress

Great photograph of women drinking

Four miners in a cabin eating dinner by candlelight, probably Yukon Territory, ca. 1898. – University of Washington

1874 Whisky War Ohio – Ladies Siege Drinking Saloon

Circa. 1900– A group of young adults drinking alcohol from a jug. –Image by © DaZo Vintage Stock

Three Women Swilling Whiskey – “We Don’t Care if We Never Come Back!”. Studio tintype photo with painted backdrop showing a cannon. Original tintype photo measures 2-3/8 by 3-3/8 inches. – eBay

Photographs of People Drinking – Part I

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part II

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part III

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part IV (Brewing)

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part V

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part VI

Possibly the Earliest Photograph of People Drinking Beer – Part VII

Posted in Breweriana, Civil War, Fruit Jars, Photography, Spirits, Tobacco, Whiskey, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment