Barrel Series – Wormser Bros San Francisco

Posted on 13 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

WORMSER BROS | SAN FRANCISCO

Spectacular photograph of WORMSER BROS SAN FRANCISCO figural barrels – American Bottle Auctions (Jeff Wichmann)

OK, let’s knock out this great Wormser Brothers figural barrel that I have posted about before on Peachridge Glass. This “belly button”, “bulls-eye” or “bunghole” barrel, with the much desired San Francisco embossing, is a hot one for any bitters, figural or western collector. The world according to Wormser was relatively calm of late until the spectacular green example showed up and was sold by American Bottle Auctions for the princely sum of $18,480 to a prominent western collector in 2011.

Here is what we have on this exciting and well-proportioned barrel starting off with the Ring and Ham Bitters Bottles listing:

W 162.5 WORMSER BROTHERS, Circa 1869 (?)

WORMSER BROS ( au ) / motif bullseye / SAN FRANCISCO // c //
9 3/4 x 3 (7 3/4)
Barrel, 4-3-3-4, Amber
Example with partial whiskey label found in Nevada.

“Although I could not find any advertisements to confirm what these bottles contained, Western collectors believe this container held a whiskey bitters product”

[Western Bitters News – Rick Simi] The firm of Wormser Bros. was located on the corner of California and Front Streets in San Francisco and listed as importers and jobbers of wines and liquors. Started sometime in 1856, Isaac Wormser, who was living in Germany, was the president of the company and his brother Lewis was the manager. In 1864 Lewis left San Francisco and his brother Simon took over management of the company. In October of 1867, during Simon’s management of the firm, they trademarked the “Golden Sheaf” brand of whiskey. By 1872 the Wormser Brothers business was sold to the firm of Braeg Frank and Dallemand.

It is believed the barrel shaped bottle with an applied tapered top and a smooth base embossed WORMSER BROS. SAN FRANCISCO was produced for a very short period of time, possibly in 1869 only. Although I could not find any advertisements to confirm what these bottles contained, Western collectors believe this container held a whiskey bitters product.

This barrel shaped bottle comes in various shades of amber from light yellow to darker brown amber. Most examples show very little crudity but a couple examples that I have observed have some pretty good whittle to the glass.

It is thought that there are between 25 and 30 of the Wormser Brothers barrel in collections at the present time. Most collectors that I have talked to, don’t consider these bottles rare, but in my humble opinion are a very rare and collectible piece of Western glass.

American Bottle Auctions Press Release:

06 October 2011

SACRAMENTO, California – A Wormser Brothers barrel bitters bottle, made between 1867 and 1871 and quite possibly the only green example in existence (most are amber in color), soared to $18,480 in an internet and catalog auction that began in late August and ended on September 8th by American Bottle Auctions. It was the top lot of the 146 bottles sold.

Wormser Brothers barrel bitters were an early western bitters made in San Francisco, mainly in the 1860s. They were considered extremely rare until a group was found in Virginia City, Nevada, some years ago. Then the bottle just sold plus seven others (all amber) were found near the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon more recently. The owner consigned the green one for this sale.

“That very same bottle in amber would probably only fetch around $1,800,” said Jeff Wichmann of American Bottle Auctions. “Color is everything, and this is the only green example I’m aware of. It is also heavily whittled, something you don’t often see in Wormser bottles. The top was crude and perfect and we graded it 9.6, only because of a light cleaning.”

The auction, which grossed just over $182,000, was a success by any measure, Wichmann said. “The page received over 60,000 views, and we had 192 bidders and 98 winners. Some, but not many, phone bids were also recorded. The average bottle sold for around $1,200, and usually it’s more like $1,000. That was a big plus, and bidder participation was very strong.”

The sale featured mainly historical flasks, bitters and food jars (such as pepper sauces). “Once again, quality excelled,” Wichmann said. “A good number of bottles sold in the $3,000-$15,000 range, and that to me is a strong sign that the overall market for rare and vintage bottles is very healthy, even in a down economy. And we continue to get in killer consignments.”

Read More on Wormser Bros: Watching these Wormser Bros SF Belly-Buttons

Read More on Wormser Bros: Bottle Still Life Shots from our Porch in Downieville

The famous and extraordinary green WORMSER BROS SAN FRANCISCO figural barrel sold by American Bottle Auctions to a western bitters collector for $18,480.

WORMSER BROS SAN FRANCISCO figural barrel in golden amber – Meyer Collection

Pair of WORMSER BROS SAN FRANCISCO figural barrels sold by American Bottle Auctions (Jeff Wichmann)

Two WORMSER BROS figural barrels sitting on our porch table one evening during the Downieville, California show last September 2011

Golden Amber WORMSER BROS figural barrel sitting off to the left during my visit to see the Western Bitters collection of Don Dwyer.

Barrel Series – Keystone Bitters

Posted on 12 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

KEYSTONE BITTERS

12 July 2012 (R•091516)

Here is another figural Bitters barrel that most Bitters collectors possess or are familiar with. Not terribly hard to find, as they are rated Very Scarce, but they do show up, usually in a darker amber color. I am surprised that there is not much information on the brand that was made by the Keystone Bitters and Cordial Co. in Cleveland, Ohio. I am hoping that this post will generate some more examples and support material such as advertising.

Please look at the comparison image below comparing the KEYSTONE BITTERS form with the WORMSER BROS and MIST OF THE MORNING figural barrels. You can also follow this link to see the similar HALL’S BITTERS.

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

K 36 KEYSTONE BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1875,

KEYSTONE ( au ) / BITTERS // c //
Keystone Cordial and Bitters Co. Cleveland, Ohio
9 3/4 x 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 (7 3/4)
Barrel, 4-3-3-4, Amber and Puce, LTC, Applied mouth, Very scarce
Cleveland City Directory 1908-09.

KEYSTONE BITTERS, American, ca. 1865-1875, deep reddish amber barrel, 10 1/4″h, smooth base, applied sloping collar mouth. A tough one to find, especially in this pristine condition – Meyer Collection

“KEYSTONE / BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, K-36), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1875, deep reddish amber barrel, 10 1/4”h, smooth base, applied mouth. Some minor scratches, but no form of damage. Purchased from John Stampe in 1971. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection – Session 1

Up for auction very rare, applied top, amber barrel, KEYSTONE BITTERS bottle. It is in good condition, but has small scratches and small dings in the rips and bottom. The bottom of the bottle is distorted. Inside a little bit dirty. Measuring 9 3/4 tall on 3 1/2 wide. – eBay (vlupul1970) *available now

(L) WORMSER BROS SAN FRANCISCO (C) KEYSTONE BITTERS (R) MIST OF THE MORNING. All figural barrel Bitters with similar shapes. All about 10″ tall. The Keystone is a little more trim. Obviously different embossings and applied tops. – Wormser Bros and Keystone barrels are Meyer examples.

Advertising Notes and Facsimile Currency

Posted on 12 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Over the years, since I started collecting bottles, I have picked up some nice examples of facsimile currency and advertising notes relating to the bottles that I collect. As a collector of US Postage and Revenue Stamps, there is a nice ‘cross-over” with currency design as the illustrations and product references sometimes mention medicines, bitters and glass works just to name a few. Look at these great examples, mostly from Heritage Auctions. I am keeping a close look at this company as their web site is great and they are currently announcing a new Currency Auction in Philadelphia on 03 August 2012.

New Brooklin, NJ- New Brooklin Glass Works (Ezra Lake) 3¢ Wait 1609. The first of a likely complete denomination set from this issuer, which includes several denominations not listed in the Wait New Jersey reference. – Heritage Auctions

Front and back of a John Roots Bitters advertising note – Meyer Collection

Waterford, NJ- Waterford Glass Works 3¢ Oct. 1, 1875. A lovely example of this rare 3¢ note. – Heritage Auctions

Rochester, NY- Jew Davids Bank 50¢ Ad Note. An ad note promoting E. Taylor’s Hebrew Plaster, guaranteed to cure everything from spinal disease to hand tumers [sic]. This note, from a time when ethnic sensibilities had not yet reached the refined state we now enjoy, is truly a piece of living history. Fine, engraved by W.L. Ormsby of New York City, a well known bank note engraver. – Heritage Auctions

Salisbury, VT- Vermont Glass Factory $1 Jan. 1, 1814, The factory opened in 1813 employing 40 people. However, it closed in 1815. The scrip for this company was redeemable at the Farmers Bank of Troy, New York. – Heritage Auctions

New York City, NY- Plantation Bank – Drakes Plantation Bitters Ad Note circa 1860’s. This is a great ad note on this merchant that issued encased postage stamps in many different denominations for his product. – Heritage Auctions

Salem, NJ- Salem Glass Works 5¢ Aug. 22, 1870 – Heritage Auctions

(New York, NY) – Vorodyne Universal Pain & Ache Cure Ad Note circa 1870s – Heritage Auctions

Bath, NY- Geo. W. Hallock, Banker 10¢ 1862, Redford, NY- Redford Glass Company 25¢, Mr. Hallock’s banking company began on Jan. 1, 1849. The business was destroyed by fire in 1862 and was rebuilt. The 10¢ note features a very attractive and patriotic eagle vignette at center. The lovely Redford note features a vignette of a glassblower. – Heritage Auctions

Buffalo, NY- Loveridge Wahoo Bitters $100 Advertising Note 1863. This is a rare advertising note. Mr. Loveridge proclaims that his Wahoo Bitters may be drank as a beverage or taken as a medicine. – Heritage Auctions

Cleveland, NY- Cleveland Glass Works 10¢ 187__ Harris 2. This is an issuer we seldom see. This remainder has its handling restricted to the corners. There is an unusually detailed vignette of glass blowing activities at left. – Heritage Auctions

New Haven, CT- O.B. Leavenworth 25¢ Ad Note. An ad note for Dr. Barker’s Tar Syrup, which product promised “To cure your Cough Cold, Catarrh, Hoarseness, Loss of Voice, Difficulty of Breathing, or Preventive of Consumption.” Dr. Barker’s address is listed in Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, making this a two state ad note. – Heritage Auctions

Tom Hardy Kentucky Straight Whiskey Advertising Note 10,000 circa 1960s, Old Tom Hardy is the portrait on this advertising note that almost has its lower right-hand corner detached. – Heritage Auctions

Lancaster, PA- Mishler’s Herb Bitters $10 Ad Note, A very scarce ad note for this early patent medicine. This form, which very closely approximates a banknote. – Heritage Auctions

Bridgeton, NJ- (Bridgeton Glass Works) $1 Nov. 1869. A rare note, this $1 remainder is from the Bridgeton Glass Works. The company was established in 1836 and was well known for their historical flasks that are collector’s items today. – Heritage Auctions

Washington, DC- Columbia Bank $3 Oct. 20, 1852, Two Coupon Certificate Issued by Barker, Moore & Mein Medicine Co. An evenly circulated Fine $3 issued by one of the many fraudulent banks during this time period using District of Columbia addresses in an attempt to fool the populace. Part of the United Profit Sharing Coupon plan out of New York and had a cash value of 2/5 cent. – Heritage Auctions

Facsimile T67 $20 1864 for Dr. Morse’s Indian Root Pills circa 1890. On the back of this facsimile note are testimonials for Dr. Morse’s Indian Root Pills. This Very Fine example has edge tears with the longest being approximately three-fourths of an inch. – Heritage Auctions

The Turner Brothers are each depicted on this Civil War era scrip note payable in Buffalo or New York City. The portraits are extraordinarily realistic and were engraved by W.L. Ormsby. The note also bears the New York Bank Note Co. imprint who did the actual printing. – PCS Currency

Pittsburgh, PA- Hostetter Company 2 1/2¢ Revenue Stamp circa 1880. Hostetter Company produced a “stomach bitters” (gin masqueraded as a medicinal cure-all.) This brand was the most successful of the many due to its high alcohol content. This revenue stamp was soaked off a bottle. The portrait is of Dr. Jacob Hostetter who devised the formula. – Heritage Auctions

Pittsburgh, PA- Hostetter & Smith 1¢ circa 1860 – 1874 Hoober 312-135. Hostetter & Smith produced a “stomach bitter” (gin masqueraded as a medicinal cure-all.) This brand was the most successful of the many due to its high alcohol content. These “notes” were cut from the attached label of the bottle. This was a product that was heavily purchased by the Union Army. Portrait is of Dr. Jacob Hostetter who devised the formula, while one George W. Smith put up the capital. – Heritage Auctions

Basto, NJ- Batsto Glass Works 10¢ Waite UNL A crisp, evenly margined remainder from an issuer we have never before had the opportunity to offer. Waite did not list the 10¢ denomination in his book on New Jersey money. – Heritage Auctions

$1 Berkshire Crystal Glass Works, Berkshire, MA, Extremely Fine. A bare-breasted America tramples on the snake of tyranny as seen on this scarce lithographic – Heritage Auctions

Posted in Advice, Auction News, Cordial, Demijohns, Figural Bottles, Flasks, Fly Traps, Freeblown Glass, Gin, Glass Makers, Lightning Rod Balls, Medicines & Cures, Museums, Witch Ball | Tagged auction, Batsto Glass Works, Berkshire Glass Works, Cleveland Glass Works, currency, Dr. Barker's Tar Syrup, Drake's Plantation Bitters, E. Taylor's Hebrew Plaster, Ezra Lake, Farmers Bank, Glass Works, Heritage Auctions, Hostetter & Smith, Jew Davids Bank, John Root's Bitters, Loveridge, Mishler's Herb Bitters, New Brooklyn Glass Works, Philadelphia, Plantation Bank, postage, Redford Glass Company, Revenue, Salem Glass Works, Tom Hardy, Turner Brothers, Vermont Glass Factory, Vorodyne Universal Pain & Ache Cure, W.L. Ormsby, Wahoo Bitters, Waterford Glass works | 1 Comment

Dr. A.H. Smiths Old Style Bitters – O.S. 2781

Posted on 11 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. A.H. Smiths Old Style Bitters – O.S. 2781

11 July 2012 (R•053017)

Nice email from Tim Henson that allowed me to compare his new Dr. Smiths (S 127) find to my Dr. Smiths (S 127.5). What do you all think about the 2781 number boldly embossed on both bottles? Could it be “February 7th, 1881” as Tom Doligale suggests or the reversed “1872” as Warren Friedrich suggests? What about the “O.S.”? The best answer here would be “Old Style” right?

O.S. 2781

Hi Ferd,

I made the Tulsa show this past weekend and got this really nice bitters. We was on our way out when my buddy asked me if I had seen the bitters that another friend of ours got the day of the setup. He said it’s got one of the best applied tops he’s ever seen on a square so I had to check it out, and he wasn’t kidding! It was actually one I’ve wanted. There are 3 variations of this bottle known I believe. A really killer and crude example loaded with seed bubbles and well the top speaks for itself! It’s a St. Louis bottle and the Union Medicine Co. was the sole proprietor. The OS 2781 on the reverse is interesting, perhaps 2/7/81? Hope you enjoy the photos.

~Tim Henson

DR. A.H. SMITHS OLD STYLE BITTERS (S 127) – Tim Henson

Dr. A.H. Smith’s Celebrated Old Style Bitters – This bitters was heavily advertised in newspapers from Colorado to Georgia in 1873. I have seen no clue as to what the numbers mean. – Eric McGuire

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

S 127 DR. SMITHS OLD STYLE BITTERS, Circa 1870’s

DR. A. H. SMITHS / OLD STYLE BITTERS // f // O.S. 2781 // f //
Union Medicine Company Sole Proprietor St. Louis, Missouri
8 3/4 x 2 3/4 ( 6 5/8) 1/4
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 2 sp, Scarce
Red River Gazette (Minnesota) February 6, 1873
Drug Catalogs: 1874 VS&R, 1878 CB&Co.

S 127.5 DR. SMITHS OLD STYLE BITTERS, Circa 1870’s,

DR. A. H. SMITHS / OLD STYLE BITTERS // f // O.S 2781 / THE STANDARD TONIC / AND BLOOD PURIFIER //
8 3/4 x 2 3/4 (6 5/8) 1/4
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Rare

DR. A.H. SMITHS OLD STYLE BITTERS (S 127.5), St. Louis bottle. Passes light in the upper half of the bottle. Lots of bubbles. Perfect condition with just a tiny lip roughness. This is from manufacturing. – Meyer Collection

DR. A.H. SMITHS OLD STYLE BITTERS (S 127) – Tim Henson

I enjoy collecting squares and notice the article on the Dr. A H. Smith Old Style Bitters. I attached some pics of a S 127 in a light golden amber color. – Frank Wicker www.bottlepickers.com

“DR A. H. SMITH’S / CELEBRATED / OLD STYLE BITTERS – O S / 2781 – THE STANDARD TONIC / AND / BLOOD PURIFIER”, America, 1870 – 1880. Medium to deep amber, square with beveled corners, applied sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 8 7/8″, virtually attic mint; (a couple of very minor, 1/8″ or less, onionskin-thin open surface bubbles, otherwise pristine!) R/H #S127.5. A great looking, very scarce bitters, heavily embossed, crude, outstanding condition. – American Glass Gallery Auction #18

Posted in Bitters, Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding | Tagged bitters, Dr. A.H. Smith, Frank Wicker, Missouri, St. Louis, Tim Henson, Tulsa, Union Medicine Company | 4 Comments

Lightning Rod Ball Collection Available

Posted on 10 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

[PRG] I am hoping that someone in the New England area, with a knowledge of Lightning Rod Balls, would be interested in visiting and conducting an inventory of this collection. Please contact me if this is a possibility. I may be interested in making an offer for the collection and would certainly partner with someone. If I do not make an offer, I will certainly be directing Melinda to others who may have an interest so please let me know. I will also ask for more pictures.

If you look at the boxes, you will see examples of Chestnut, Hawkeye, Moon and Stars, Ribbed Horizontal “Pee-Wee”, Diddle Blitzen, Plain Rounds, Pleated Rounds, Ribbed Grape, Raised and Flat Quilts, JFG, D & S and W.C Shinn balls etc.

Please read the email below.

Hello Ferdinand:

Here are some pictures of my dad’s collection. The next emails will have pictures of the balls. The boxes of balls have about 6 in each. I just unwrapped a few from most of the boxes to give you an idea of what he has. Hopefully I won’t overwhelm you. Thank you for offering your expertise in the matter. Any help is greatly appreciated. By the way, the photos of your home are amazing!

Melinda

P.S. I can take them from my Dad’s house and take better pictures and send them. These originals were taken quickly and in the attic.

Posted in Advice, Collectors & Collections, Lightning Rod Balls | Tagged Chestnut, collection, Diddle Blitzen, grapes, Hawkeye, JFG, Lightning Rod Ball, Moon and Stars, Pee Wee, Plain, pleated, Quilt, ribbed, Ribbed Horizontal, round, W.C. Shinn | Leave a comment

Barrel Series – Mist of the Morning

Posted on 10 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

MIST OF THE MORNING

10 July 2012 (R•091516)

Post amended 11 July 2012 with three advertisement submitted by Eric McGuire showing the Mist of the Morning product being sold as Bitters (see below). Also see comment from Eric below. Bob Ferraro examples (2) added on 15 September 2016.

“Looks like you need to break down and buy one of these barrels Ferd. MIST OF THE MORNING was advertised as a bitters only”

Here is a barrel very similar to the Wormser Barrel (Read more on Peachridge Glass from September 2011: Watching these Wormser Bros SF Belly-Buttons). Same form, size and belly button which of course was the barrel opening or bunghole. I do not possess an example of this Whiskey (see above) barrel, as I am a Bitters collector but trust I will someday as I see from some of the pictures that I have gathered, that they come in some nice amber colors.

What I find especially interesting is the secondary embossing which is noted as the following taken from the pictures I posted. Notice the “S. M.” initials flanking the bunghole on most examples. The “S.M.” has been replaced by “SOLE AGENTS” on the yellow example below. The name “BARNETT & LUMLEY” is also different. I wish I could find some more information on this barrel. Hopefully this will be forthcoming so I can update the post.

S. M. BARNETT & COMPANY

S. M. BARNETT & COMP’NY

SOLE AGENTS / BARNETT & LUMLEY

Three advertisements submitted by Eric McGuire showing MIST OF THE MORNING being sold as a Bitters product. (top) New York Herald, 14 October 1868, (middle) New York Herald, 28 September 1869, (bottom) Cincinnati Daily Gazette, 31 December 1867.

PS: The two pictures of the barrel superimposed on mist photographs is just me playing around.

Figural Barrel, MIST OF THE MORNING / S. M. BARNETT & COMPANY, deep amber, 10″ high, applied top, bold embossing, America, circa 1860 – 1880 – sold GreatAntiqueBottles.com

“MIST OF THE MORNING / S. M. BARNETT & COMP’NY” Figural Whiskey Bottle, America, 1860-1880. Barrel form, golden amber, applied sloping collared mouth with ring – smooth base, ht. 9 7/8 inches. H #585 Strong embossing, good color, fine condition. Ex Charles B. Gardner collection #585. – Norman C. Heckler & Company

A MIST OF THE MORNING / S. M. BARNETT & COMPANY figural glass whiskey bottle, America, 1860 to 1880. Barrel form, yellow amber with an olive tone, applied sloping collared mouth and smooth base.

Golden Olive Green Barrel Form Bottle marked in raised letters “MIST OF THE MORNING/ SOLE AGENTS / BARNETT & LUMLEY”, tapered lip and concave base. 10″

“MIST OF THE MORNING / S. M. / BARNETT & COMPANY”, (Denzin, BAR-61), New York, ca. 1865 – 1875, yellow amber barrel, 9 3/4”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. Fine condition. When the original mold was made for this bottle, like lot 26 had the words Sole Agent on each side of the indented circle. This embossing was later peened out of the mold and replaced with the letters S. M. Purchased from Dick Judge in 1970. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection – Session 1

“MIST OF THE MORNING / SOLE AGENTS / BARNETT & LUMLEY”, (Denzin, BAR-62), New York, ca. 1865 – 1875, deep reddish barrel, 9 3/4”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. Near perfect condition and in a difficult to find color! For whatever reason some mold alteration can be seen on several of the logs. Considerably harder to find than lot 25 the Barnett & Company embossed barrel! Purchased from Pacific Glass Auctions in 2001. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection – Session 1

Nevada Bottle Pics to help prime the Reno Expo!

Posted on 9 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Hi Ferdinand,

Here’s a few pictures of 6 Nevada sodas (and a couple extra of a crude & bubbly green WS Wright). Maybe some other collectors can send in some of their favorite Nevada bottle pics to help prime the Reno Expo coming up in a few weeks!

Thanks,
Denny

OK Nevada and Western Collectors…let’s see some Nevada glass!

Three (3) W.S. WRIGHT’s (Virginia City). Early Pacific Glass Works blown bottle. 1. Bluish Aqua 2. Green, crude & a thousand seed bubbles 3. Turquoise – Dennis Bray

This is the green Wright out in the sunlight. I was trying to get a few shots with the light showing off the bubbles, crudity & color (you don’t see very many green examples). – Dennis Bray

Three (3) various Nevada sodas. 1. BREMENKAMPF & REGLI, Eureka, lime green 2. STEPHENS & JOSE, Virginia City, bluish aqua 3. PIONEER / BROWN & CO, Hamilton, light blue – Dennis Bray

Posted in Bottle Shows, Bottles and Extras, Club News, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, FOHBC News, News, Soda Water | Tagged Bremenkampf & Regli, Dennis Bray, Eureka, Nevada, Pacific Glass Works, Pioneer Brown & Company, Soda Water, Stephens & Jose, Virginia City, W.S. Wright | Leave a comment

Barrel Series – April Fools Joke in July? Now That’s the Stuff

Posted on 9 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

THAT’S THE STUFF

THAT’S THE STUFF figural barrel whiskey bottle, America, 1840 to 1880. Bright yellowish golden amber, crudely applied flared mouth and tubular pontil scar. Probably one of only three known examples.

“I haven’t seen one since, I liked the slogan so I went for it”

John April

No, this is not a “John” April Fools joke but a pontiled barrel that most of us have never seen or heard of before. And look at the embossing slogan! I think Rick Ciralli summed it up best when he said “Shut the Door…” It is really unusual to emboss a slogan on a bottle as usually the product name and/or maker name is embossed prominantly. Reminds me of the tiny “TRY IT” flask (also pictured below).

That’s the Stuff is the Right Stuff! A few facebook comments…

[PRG] “What in the world is this? Never seen before! Thin applied lip too cool”

[Mathew Tigue Levanti] “wow, is it a fantasy bottle?”

[Tom Doligale] “Nice bottle guitar man!”

[Tom Leveille] “That is one awesome barrel”

[Rick Ciralli] “SHUT THE FRONT DOOR….”

THAT’S THE STUFF figural barrel – I haven’t seen one since, i liked the slogan so I went for it. Ex: Spiller collection, the other sticker says A.G.E. Laconia 71. – John April

THAT’S THE STUFF figural barrel – Open pontil. Ex: Spiller collection, the other sticker says A.G.E. Laconia 71. – John April

The tiny “TRY IT” flask – John April

Cullet and Slag Glass Information

Posted on 8 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Put this in the “Learn something new every day” file…

Incoming email this morning. I put the question up on Early American Glass on facebook and quickly received the following comments from Charles Flint and Steven James Anderson.

Howdy Ferd & Jeff (Wichmann),

Can you guys please help me find an old picture of a pile of cullet or slag glass? It was commonly used in the early glass houses for the manufacturing of insulators. I need some sort of picture that depicts the fact lesser quality glass could be used to press an insulator versus blowing a bottle. I’ve searched on-line for something and cannot come up with anything to save my life! A scanned picture from a book would work too, but I keep striking out there also…

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks guys, DB

From Charles Flint:

I don’t think most 19th century Glass Factories could afford cullet. I believe they only purchased cullet for rare colors that they didn’t have formulas for and most of that cullet came from Europe. I doubt any of the bottle and utilitarian glass factories would use cullet. Colors came from different minerals added to the quartzite (silica). I think only the glass factories that made stained glass wanted the rarest colors added to the marbleized batch so they would only purchase in small amounts of odd color cullet.

From Steven James Anderson

Good morning Ferd, Cullet was used to save on raw materials and energy, as it would help the batch of melting silica/soda lime mixture “flux” together more efficiently. Early glass houses would pay people for their broken glass by the pound, to aid in their efforts of “batchmaking”. Slag is the impurities that don’t really mix in, and the junk that gets separated during and after the batch is used. The fact that there is so much unmelted silica (referred to as “snow” by insulator collectors) and swirled color in many insulators, is due to the fact that they were often first out of the batch, since high quality was not a priority. Cullet is not really found per se, as it was constantly used. Chunks of slag are found, because it was the tail end junk of the mix, usually to impure to use. “Slag glass” as it became an art form in itself, was purposely mixed different colors of glass, like pouring several colors of paint together in a pan, and using it randomly.
Really, Cullet is what we find when we go digging, and everything is broken :o( I don’t know if this was helpful, but I know Charlie Flint and some others do have collected pieces of slag they have posted before. Good luck on your mission, Steve PS: Sorry Ferd, I had an early Brookfield somewhere, chock full of unmelted silica, but can’t seem to put my hands on it amidst all the collected “stuff”.

From Charles Flint:

Old Picture of Cullet or Slag Glass Slag pictures (see below)

The two pieces of green slag is from the Lenox Glass Works. circa 1870-1890s. The blue/green slag came from the Cummington, MA Glass Works which I know nothing about.

From Charles Flint:

“There were ads for old glass by glass works.” But I think that was rare and by isolated glass factories. The sand for making glass was reasonable but transporting was very expensive. When the Sandlake / Rensselaer Glass Works in NY blew up in 1852 they salvaged as much as they could and rebuilt it in Berkshire Village, MA because it was closer to the quartzite sand source. That factory was up and running in 1854 to about 1908. They ran out of charcoal for fuel and had to bring coal in by RR and that was very expensive and couldn’t compete with glass works closed to the coal fuel source. This is a fabulous book to read if your a glass historian … http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Berkshire_Glass_Works.html?id=fXEUE2-hFJ0C

From Charles Flint:

“Trace Element Constraints on the Source of Silica Sand Used by the Boston and Sandwich Glass Co. www.historycooperative.org

NJ3: White sand from a meter-scale lens that occurs in beige, pebbly sand at Menantico Ponds wildlife management area, Millville; these white sand lenses are very white on the surface but below a few mm in the ground are dark grey due to organic-rich, muddy material (N39º22’02.6″ W74º59’51.8″).

*see Warren Friedrich comment below

Posted in Glass Companies & Works, Glass Makers, Insulators, Questions, Technology | Tagged Charles Flint, Color, cullet, Cummington, Glass, Insulators, Lenox Glass Works, silica, slag, snow, Steven James Anderson | 1 Comment

Barrel Series – Old Sachem Bitters and Wigwam Tonic

Posted on 8 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

From an old Indian recipe in possession of the family of the proprietor for upwards of a century is now offered to the public as one of the most healthy and wholesale beverages extant and as a tonic is unsurpassed.

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC

08 July 2012 (R•131515) (R•091516) (R•080718) (R•082618)

Old Sachems – No better time than now to review my favorite figural barrel. This brand has the great indian chief name, the New York locale, the balanced form, production history and comes in some great colors as you can see from my line-up above. It may also have been the first figural bitters right up there with the Constitution Bitters out of New York. Still working to determine this.

When I find a distinct color that I do not have, I get so excited that I can not even put it into words. I move the bottles around like chess pieces, trying to find the right partners. I also find myself constantly looking at the run for spiritual enlightment. I even nap in a room and fall asleep watching the colors change as the sun and clouds move throughout the day. Nirvana. Honestly, I also make many errors, like when I travel back from a show or receive a special delivery of a new Old Sachems, only to find out that the greatly anticipated color does not fit in with my run, usually because it is so similar to another.

Now look at the olive color Old Sachems, 2nd from the right in the three pictures above. This is new. Unveiled here today. Ex: John Feldmann. This is the first bottle I am posting from the large Bitters bottle purchase in mid June from John.

From the best we can tell, this barrel first appeared around 1857 or so.

Old Sachem Bitters sitting on center top shelf of a Thompson & Co. Grocer ad in 1860 – Image provided by Ted Krist

Old Sachem Bitters arriving in Honolulu, Hawaii – Polynesian, Saturday, November 12, 1859

Here is a collection of images and favorites from my collection, my photo archives and some of my bottle collecting friends.

Old Sachem Bitters and Wigwam Tonic – Wm. Goodrich, New York Geo. Hunnewell, agent, New York lithograph of Sarony, Major & Knapp, 449 Broadway, N. York. circa 1859. Print showing a Native American man, possibly a chief, full-length portrait, standing, facing right, holding a spear in left hand; in the background are the tee-pees of a Native village during an assault on the village – Library of Congress

OldSachem_Nashville_Union_and_American_Thu__May_9__1861_

Old Sachem Bitters and Wigwam Tonic advertisement – Nashville Union and American, Thursday, May 9, 1861

Old Sachem Bitters and Wigwam Tonic advertisement – The Indiana State Sentinel, Wednesday, July 31, 1861

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

O 46 OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC

OLD SACHEM (au) / BITTERS / AND / WIGWAM TONIC ( ad ) // c //
L…Old Sachem Bitters and Wigwam Tonic, Wm. Goodrich,
Proprietor, George Hunnewell, Agent, 145 Water Street, New York
9 1/2″ x 2 1/4 (8 1/8)
Round Barrel, 10-10, NSC, Applied mouth, Amber, Puce, Apricot, and Plum, Common
Yellow and Amethyst, Rare; Green, Very Rare, Aqua with and without Rough pontil mark, Very rare; Aqua with Metallic pontil mark, Extremely rare; Amber and Gold with Rough pontil mark, Very rare

There are a number of variants of this bottle which have slightly differing embossing pattern, and slight differences in the diameter of the bottle.

Label: From an old Indian recipe in possession of the family of the proprietor for upwards of a century is now offered to the public as one of the most healthy and wholesale beverages extant and as a tonic is unsurpassed. Sold by principal grocers, druggists and hotels throughout the union. Endorsed by a professor at Yale College. Drug
Catalog: 1871, Schieffelin New Haven Daily News, April 7, 1859, Harpers Weekly, October 8, 1859.

Color example for Old Sachems Bitters and Wigwam Tonic – photograph Bitters Bottles

George Goodwin began manufacturing patent medicines in the 1840’s at 76 Union in Boston. Around 1850, he and Dr. John O. Langley of Langley’s Bitters became partners and in 1854, moved to 99 Union.

By 1857, the firm was named Geo. C. Goodwin & Co., and had taken in William B. Hibbard as a junior partner. Goodwin retired in 1859 and his son Charles C. Langley, and Hibbard ran the business. In 1863, they moved to 38 Hanover. Eventually the company became on of Boston’s largest wholesale drug firms.

Old Sachem Bitters Headquarters almanac illustration from Merrick & Moore. Image from Ted Krist. The “T S, X C, M R, 1858” copy exists here too. Still need to figure that out.

1899 Business stationery of Geo. C. Goodwin & Co., patent medicine warehouse, Boston Ma. – Library of Philadelphia

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC BITTERS from the famous Carlyn Ring sale

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC color run – Meyer Collection

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC in a light copper peachy color, Spectacular bottle. Hard to
describe color. Light tone, crystal clear, light weight. Strong embossing. Ex: Mike Henness.
– Meyer Collection

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC, Killer bottle in sage green. Whittled. Literally attic mint having come out of an attic of a 1700’s house in South Glastonbury, Connecticut many years ago along with many other bottles. Pick of the litter. Picked up at Baltimore show from Noel Thomas – Meyer Collection

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC – Light topaz w/apricot overtones, crudely applied square collar mouth. Rare color. Great window bottle. Purchased from Jeff Noordsy – Meyer Collection

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC – Striking rasberry puce color. Really jumps out with other Old Sachems. Lots of character. – Meyer Collection

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC – Pure yellow, purchased at the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show from Jeff and Holly Noordsy in 2003 – Meyer Collection

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC in a moss green – Bitters Bottles Supplement

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC barrels – Dick Watson Collection

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC barrels in an array of colors. – HistoricBottles.com

Legendary run of OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC figural barrels from the John Feldmann collection (These are John’s darker colors, the picture below shows the lighter barrels)

Legendary run of OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC figural barrels from the John Feldmann collection (These are John’s lighter colors, the picture above shows the darker barrels)

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC figural barrel from the great Sandor Fuss collection. I have seen this bottle three times now in person and I have to admit, this is a killer. You have to see it in person. Tones of character and the citron – ginger ale color is incredible. This bottle was publicly announced in a sale from John Pastor to Sandor. Ex: Mike Henness.

“OLD SACHEM / BITTERS / AND / WIGWAM TONIC”, (Ring/Ham, O-46), New York, ca. 1855 – 1865, bluish aqua barrel, 9 1/2”h, open pontil, applied mouth. Perfect condition, full of seed bubbles. This is the extremely rare smaller size aqua pontiled bottle. As difficult that it is to acquire the larger size aqua bottle, it is much harder to find the smaller one! Purchased from Mike Henness at the 2007 Auburn, California Bottle Show. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection – Session 1

WORMSER BROS | SAN FRANCISCO

“Although I could not find any advertisements to confirm what these bottles contained, Western collectors believe this container held a whiskey bitters product”

American Bottle Auctions Press Release:

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KEYSTONE BITTERS

12 July 2012 (R•091516)

K 36 KEYSTONE BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1875,

KEYSTONE ( au ) / BITTERS // c // Keystone Cordial and Bitters Co. Cleveland, Ohio 9 3/4 x 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 (7 3/4) Barrel, 4-3-3-4, Amber and Puce, LTC, Applied mouth, Very scarce Cleveland City Directory 1908-09.

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Dr. A.H. Smiths Old Style Bitters – O.S. 2781

11 July 2012 (R•053017)

O.S. 2781

S 127 DR. SMITHS OLD STYLE BITTERS, Circa 1870’s

DR. A. H. SMITHS / OLD STYLE BITTERS // f // O.S. 2781 // f // Union Medicine Company Sole Proprietor St. Louis, Missouri 8 3/4 x 2 3/4 ( 6 5/8) 1/4 Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 2 sp, Scarce Red River Gazette (Minnesota) February 6, 1873 Drug Catalogs: 1874 VS&R, 1878 CB&Co.

S 127.5 DR. SMITHS OLD STYLE BITTERS, Circa 1870’s,

DR. A. H. SMITHS / OLD STYLE BITTERS // f // O.S 2781 / THE STANDARD TONIC / AND BLOOD PURIFIER // 8 3/4 x 2 3/4 (6 5/8) 1/4 Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Rare

Hello Ferdinand:

Melinda

P.S. I can take them from my Dad’s house and take better pictures and send them. These originals were taken quickly and in the attic.

MIST OF THE MORNING

10 July 2012 (R•091516)

“Looks like you need to break down and buy one of these barrels Ferd. MIST OF THE MORNING was advertised as a bitters only”

S. M. BARNETT & COMPANY

S. M. BARNETT & COMP’NY

SOLE AGENTS / BARNETT & LUMLEY

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Hi Ferdinand,

Here’s a few pictures of 6 Nevada sodas (and a couple extra of a crude & bubbly green WS Wright). Maybe some other collectors can send in some of their favorite Nevada bottle pics to help prime the Reno Expo coming up in a few weeks!

Thanks, Denny

OK Nevada and Western Collectors…let’s see some Nevada glass!

THAT’S THE STUFF

“I haven’t seen one since, I liked the slogan so I went for it”

John April

[PRG] “What in the world is this? Never seen before! Thin applied lip too cool”

[Mathew Tigue Levanti] “wow, is it a fantasy bottle?”

[Tom Doligale] “Nice bottle guitar man!”

[Tom Leveille] “That is one awesome barrel”

[Rick Ciralli] “SHUT THE FRONT DOOR….”

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Put this in the “Learn something new every day” file…

Incoming email this morning. I put the question up on Early American Glass on facebook and quickly received the following comments from Charles Flint and Steven James Anderson.

From Charles Flint:

From Steven James Anderson

From Charles Flint:

From Charles Flint:

From Charles Flint:

From an old Indian recipe in possession of the family of the proprietor for upwards of a century is now offered to the public as one of the most healthy and wholesale beverages extant and as a tonic is unsurpassed.

OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC

08 July 2012 (R•131515) (R•091516) (R•080718) (R•082618)

O 46 OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC

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KEYSTONE ( au ) / BITTERS // c //
Keystone Cordial and Bitters Co. Cleveland, Ohio
9 3/4 x 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 (7 3/4)
Barrel, 4-3-3-4, Amber and Puce, LTC, Applied mouth, Very scarce
Cleveland City Directory 1908-09.

DR. A. H. SMITHS / OLD STYLE BITTERS // f // O.S. 2781 // f //
Union Medicine Company Sole Proprietor St. Louis, Missouri
8 3/4 x 2 3/4 ( 6 5/8) 1/4
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 2 sp, Scarce
Red River Gazette (Minnesota) February 6, 1873
Drug Catalogs: 1874 VS&R, 1878 CB&Co.

DR. A. H. SMITHS / OLD STYLE BITTERS // f // O.S 2781 / THE STANDARD TONIC / AND BLOOD PURIFIER //
8 3/4 x 2 3/4 (6 5/8) 1/4
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Rare

Thanks,
Denny