Figural Barrel Series – Hall’s Bitters

Posted on 4 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

 

HALL’S BITTERS  | E.E. HALL NEW HAVEN | ESTABLISHED 1842

04 July 2012 (R•011715) (R•091516)

Apple-Touch-IconAToday I will start a new series on Figural Barrels akin to the previous Fancy Squares, Figural Pig or Figural Cannon Series. With an email from Tim Henson that included his nice Hall’s Bitters pictures, this seems as good as any other place to start.

What is interesting about the Hall’s, is that there are two (2) mold variants. The older, and more sought after, ‘straight line’ Hall’s Bitters with 10 rings above and 10 rings below the embossing and the later, more common, 14 rings in four segments, Hall’s Bitters (pictured to the left).

This post will explore both examples of Halls.

HALL’S BITTERS (H 10) barrel with crudely applied top – Henson Collection

Hi Ferd,

I’m actually still working on my bottle room at this time. Once I have it completed, i’ll send you some photos of it. Pontiled sodas and mineral waters are the emphasis of my collection, but I also have some bitters that I really enjoy as I actually started out collecting them.

I don’t think I ever showed this one to you, check it out and let me know what you think? I have a few Hall’s Bitters in different colors, but this one I aquired at the Belleville, Illinois show last year. It just jumped out at me! It has the most “drip” I’ve ever seen on a Hall’s or any other barrel actually. The top sits crooked and I love it. Must have been the glassblowers first week! It’s also the darkest Hall’s I’ve ever come across. Have you ever seen a darker example? A really deep dark chocolate brown. The seller was kind of reluctant to part with it but i’m glad he did.

Tim Henson

[source Bottle Pickers] There is not a lot of information about Edward E. Hall and his Bitters bottles. We do know that he was a grocer and that he produced a very popular Bitters which he put in a glass bottle shaped as a barrel, in New Haven, Connecticut. Here is what is listed in the New Haven City Directories.

1865: Hall Edward E. grocer, 227 chapel C. State, H 5 Academy.

1876: Hall Edward E. grocer, 212 State, H 12 Academy.

1883: Hall E. E. & Son (E. E. and E. Jr.) grocers 250 Chapel. Hall E. E. Jr. (E. E. Hall & Son) bds 12 Academy.

1897: Hall Edward R. (E. E. Hall & Son) 770 Chapel H 307 Lawrence. Hall Edward E. & Son (E. E. Hall) grocers 770 Chapel.

The first barrel that Hall would use was embossed HALLS BITTERS (straight line Hall’s) with 10 rings above and 10 rings below the embossing. This barrel is the most sought after being the rarest of the two barrels that Hall used. His second style of barrel was embossed HALL’S / BITTERS // E. E. HALL’S NEW HAVEN / ESTABLISHED 1842. This barrel has 14 rings in four segments. This Bitters barrel was the most popular being listed as common in amber.

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

H 9  HALL’S BITTERS, Circa 1855 – 1865
HALL’S / BITTERS // c //
9 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ (8 3/4)
Barrel, 10-10, Amber and Puce, FM, Applied mouth, Very rare

The earlier HALL’S BITTERS barrel (H 9) referred to as the ‘straight line’ Hall’s. Medium coppery amber – Meyer Collection

hallsbitters_ferraro

“HALL’S / BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, H-9), American, ca. 1865 – 1875, medium copper puce barrel, 9 1/2”h, smooth base, applied mouth. Several non-offensive tiny surface bubbles have openings. A fairly rare bottle in a very rare color! – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection – Session 1

H 10  HALL’S BITTERS, Circa 1860 – 1880
HALL’S ( au ) / BITTERS ( ad ) // E.E. HALL NEW HAVEN / ESTABLISHED 1842 //
E. E. Hall   212 State Street   New Haven, Conn.
9 1/8 x 2 3/8 (7 3/8)
Barrel, 10-10, Amber and Yellow, NSC, Applied Mouth, Common
Seal: Foil mouth seal impressed Halls Bitters in circle and 6 petal flower in center.
The Evening Register October 21, 1873: It has now been 29 years since we commenced the preparation of this article. Boston Directory 1810-1885.

Lot: 81 “Hall’s / Bitters” Figural Bitters Bottle, America, 1860-1880. Barrel form, golden yellow with a topaz tone, applied square collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 9 inches. R/H #H-10 Attic condition with 99% original label and neck foil, beautiful color, strong embossing, a fine example. – Norman C. Heckler

HALLS BITTERS barrel (H 10) in golden amber – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

HALL’S BITTERS (H 10) barrel in golden amber – Meyer Collection

HALL’S BITTERS (H 10) barrel in a vibrant yellow – Meyer Collection

HALL’S BITTERS (H 10) barrel in a deep dark root beer color – Meyer Collection (notice the crooked neck)

HALL’S BITTERS (H 10)barrel in a deep chocolate amber color – Meyer Collection (notice the crooked neck)

HALL’S BITTERS (H 10) color group – Meyer Collection

Fully labeled HALLS BITTERS with foil on neck and mouth – FOHBC Reno Expo – Jack Stecher

Read more on Figural Barrels

Barrel series – Original Pocahontas 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 Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Figural Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Eagle embossed flasks for Independence Day

Posted on 3 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The boys and girls are really letting the eagles fly over on Early American Glass on facebook. Look at these GREAT pictures. I will continue to add pictures throughout the day as I suspect more will leave their perches. Have a nice 4th of July everyone. Be cool.

“it is a flock of eagles that I assembled for the holiday” 

Michael George

Flock of eagles that I assembled for the holiday – Michael George

Silly Willy…My favorite depiction of our beloved eagle! Exotic Willington…This is the forest green seedy exotic GII-62! – Rick Ciralli

Eagle Collage – Rick Ciralli

Five aqua eagles – Cody Zeleny

In the spirit of the 4th and ’cause every one else is doing it I thought that I would send you two of my favorite eagle flasks from the collection. This is the The GI-14 in blue. Enjoy! – Sandor Fuss

Eagle/Cornucopia Half Pint, for Independence Day – Dana Charlton – Zarro

GII-70 Eagle Majestically Flying For The Upcoming 4th Of July! – Cody Zeleny

GIV-1 eagle – Dale Santos

Happy Fourth of July ! – John April

Another eagle – John April

GV-8 & GV-10 eagles – Rick Ciralli

Red White & Blue – John April

GII-79 eagle – Dale Santos

Eclectic Eagle Trio – Dale Santos

Here’s my eagle flask to contribute. I bought this flask at Norms first sale. I had other double eagles but when I saw this one I knew it was time to upgrade. This flask looks as if it were blown yesterday. It has no wear and sparkles like new. – Eric Correla

In the spirit of the 4th and ’cause every one else is doing it I thought that I would send you two of my favorite eagle flasks from the collection. This ia a GI-26 in emerald green. Enjoy! – Sandor Fuss

Two of my double eagles. These two bottles should never have left the factory. I had to wait twenty years to get this one. Every time I would go over my friend Wally’s house, he would take it out and show me it because he new I collected double eagles. He would always point out that it was the best one he ever seen. – Eric Correla

Sharing my Eagle for the 4TH. Although not super rare, I did dig it, came out of the ground just like you see it from an 1840’s privy in Niles Michigan. A true, clear green, fairly good impression, and virtually no wear, I think they threw it away right after using it. I’m pretty sure it is a GII-73, Eagle Cornucopia – Bill DePeel

I will let one more eagle fly… my favorite NH eagle, the PANTALOON! – Michael George (Jeff Noordsy: it’s the proportions that makes this one. Most folks are unaware that the Pantaloon is twice as thick as most figured flasks. Gives the piece great presence. Mike’s is ex Mebane and ex Gardner – it’s the finest I know of.)

Happy 4th of July. Our fireworks were cancelled due to the fish and game people threatening lawsuits if the
local young eagles were disturbed! – Mike Brauser

Here is a historical smile. Happy 4th of July everyone – Greg Sweet

Posted in Early American Glass, Facebook, Flasks, Historical Flasks, Holiday, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Peychaud’s Cocktail Bitters – L.E. Jung and his Gators

Posted on 2 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

This is an advertising card, announcing the visit of a salesman, R.L. Purnell, who is going to stop by sometime in 1904. L.E. Jung, the sole proprietor of Peychaud Bitters, was also a big New Orleans absinthe distiller. Photo, presumably of Mr. Jung, posed with pair of taxidermy alligators.

Peychaud’s Cocktail Bitters – L.E. Jung and his Gators

02 July 2012 (R•111213) (R•052419)

“Created in the 1830s in New Orleans, Peychaud Bitters is a gentian-based bitters still used today for mixed drinks, in particular the Sazerac cocktail. People were sipping Sazeracs in New Orleans before the Civil War.”

Apple-Touch-IconAPeychaud’s Bitters was born in 1803, into a wealthy family of coffee planters. Originally from Bordeaux, the Peychaud’s owned large and lucrative plantations on what was then the French colony of Saint-Domingue, now Haiti. Their estate was destroyed during the Haitian Revolution of 1804, but they and the infant Antoine fled to New Orleans, and made a new life for themselves in the French Quarter of the city. After training as an apothecary, Peychaud opened a Creole pharmacy at 123 Royal Street, where he began to make and sell his own proprietary brand of bitters, flavored with gentian, comparable to Angostura bitters, but with a lighter body, sweeter taste and more floral aroma. By the 1840s, Peychaud was marketing his bitters both as a digestive and as a general tonic, and by the time of his death in 1883, they had supplemented Stoughton’s as the American bitters of choice. The Peychaud family continues to be well established in New Orleans.

“On Every Jobber’s Price-List in America”

The Carlyn Ring and W.C Ham listings are as follows:

P 80  PEYCHAUD’S AMERICAN BITTERS
// s // seal PEYCHAUD’S (au ) / AMERICAN ( au ) / BITTERS ( au ) / N.O. //
11 x 3  (5 3/4)
Round, Amber, ARM, Applied Mouth, Very Rare
Seal 1 5/8
P 81  PEYCHAUD’S COCKTAIL BITTERS, Circa 1888 – 1905
PEYCHAUD’S / AMERICAN / AROMATIC / BITTER / CORDIAL / L.E. JUNG / SOLE PROPRIETOR / NEW ORLEANS / c //
11 x 3  (5 3/4)
Round, Amber, LTC
Original formula by L.E. Jung & Wulff & Company

Further Reading: In collecting Bitters, do you need the ‘S’?

Word Mark PEYCHAUD’S AMERICAN AROMATIC BITTER CORDIAL (EXPIRED) COCKTAIL BITTERS. FIRST USE: 1886 . FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 1886 Filing Date May 11, 1905 Registration Date November 7, 1905 Owner (LAST LISTED OWNER) LOUIS E. JUNG NEW YORK. NEW ORLEANS, LA. REPUBLISHED BY L.E. JUNG & WULFF CO., INC.,/NEW YORK, N.Y.

“Black glass”, whiskey cylinder with applied seal – PEYCHAUD”S / AMERICAN / BITTERS / N.O. (P 80) – Charles Aprill

PEYCHAUD’S AMERICAN AROMATIC BITTER CORDIAL ( P 81) embossing detail – Meyer Collection

PEYCHAUD’S AMERICAN AROMATIC BITTER CORDIAL (P 81) – Meyer Collection

Peychaud’s Bitters 5 oz Since 1793. For any bar to be complete there must be a bottle of Peychaud’s Bitters. Necessary in all of the most sophisticated cocktails, Peychaud’s enhances the taste of whatever you’re sipping. Try them in Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, Whisky Sours or in our signature Sazerac Cocktail. The Original Sazerac Cocktail. Take two heavy-bottomed 3 1/2-oz. Bar glasses; fill one with cracked ice and allow it to chill while placing a lump of sugar with just enough water to moisten it. Crush the saturated lump of sugar with a bar spoon. Add a few drops of Peychaud’s Bitters, a jigger of rye whisky and several lumps of ice and stir briskly. Empty the first glass of ice, dash in several drops of Herbsaint, twirl the glass rapidly and shake out the absinthe. Enough of it will cling to the glass to impart the desired flavor. Strain into this glass the rye whisky mixture prepared in the other glass. Twist a lemon peel over the glass, but do not put it in the drink. – DrinkX-Culture

“Late Night Study” 2 parts Cinzano Extra Dry Vermouth (chilled), 2 parts Fentimans Tonic Water (chilled), Dash of Chateau St Jean Blood Orange Vinegar, 3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters, Build into Old Fashioned glass with large ice cube and give a gentle stir. A great way to help finish a long day of studies. – justcocktails.org

Peychaud’s Bitters bottles, and a “coquetier”, a double-ended egg cup that Antoine Peychaud supposedly served his bitters-brandy-and-sugar concoction in. “Coquetier”, according to some, is the origin of the word “cocktail.” At the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum.

Peychaud’s Bitters at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum.

New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

“Black glass”, whiskey cylinder with applied seal – PEYCHAUD”S / AMERICAN / BITTERS / N.O. (P 80) – Charles Aprill

Fully labeled and sealed Columbo Peptic Bitters, L. E. Jung, New Orleans, La.

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Cordial, Museums | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gallery of Unembossed Utility and Salve Bottles & Jars

Posted on 1 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The group over at facebook on Bottle Collectors and Early American Glass Collectors have been posting some great pictures of unembossed bottles and jars. I have created this gallery to celebrate these beautiful glass pieces primarily from New England. As usual, I will continue to add more pictures.

Read More: Snuff Bottles

Utility Bottles and Jars

W.C. WOODWORTH, WINDHAM, CONNECTICUT – Here is the jar. The story goes that all the Connecticut boys, including Charlie, were after this jar since the fifty’s but the lady would never sell  My good friend Joe Zarro bought it off her son after she passed. Joe loved this jar so much he would only sell it to me if I bought his entire utility collection. – Eric Correla

Here is my 12-sided salve jar and the medicine bottle…both made from the same mold.- Michael George

Three outside – Tom Marshall

Couple of fresh green utilities – John April (Michael George: The little one is New Hampshire. I can’t say for sure about the other two, but the color, style and pontil look identical. The 12-sided salve is a well-known Keene – Stoddard bottle)

Some Utility bottles catching some sun – Tom Marshall

12-sided Utility with applied mouth, 3 1/8″ – John April

Too hot on the roof. I guess I’ll have to play bottles. – Eric Correla (Mark Yates: First the form and color. I believe they are E. Waters, Troy, New York) (Jeff Noordsy: E. Waters used these bottles for blacking. The label is uber-cool.)

This “mustard jar” came out of the pit dug by Roy Topka that produced numerous Brinckerhoff’s, Phoenix Bitters and the Icelandic Balm for Pulmonary Consumption. I have always assumed it to be Mount Vernon Glass Works or Mount Pleasant Glass Works. Has a tubular pontil the size of a quarter and lots of interesting mold marks…- Jeff Noordsy

Multi-sided medicines, one with a expanded mouth – John April

Mainly a grouping of New Hampshire snuffs – Michael George

Documented Keene Preserve Jar (Lee and Pappas plate #3 3rd row #2 envelope and note still intact) – Tom Marshall

Couple o’ jars… nice range of New England color. – Michael George

Posted in Medicines & Cures, Salve, Snuff, Utility Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Labeled Theller’s Bitters Lady’s Leg – New York

Posted on 1 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Labeled Theller’s Bitters Lady’s Leg – New York

01 July 2012

Apple-Touch-IconAJust snagged this bottle on eBay. I think I would have paid the same amount for the photographs, they were so well done. Here is how you photograph a bottle for eBay.

Theller’s Bitters New York ladies leg bottle with applied top. It is a nice orange amber color and it is 12 5/8″ tall. Two labels. Great character to the glass, lots of tiny stretched bubbles. Has a cup mold base. No damage chips or cracks. I can only find one, tiny short light scratch, 1/4 inch long. Mint condition. Label is stained. Other bottles shown for color comparison only and not included in auction. Photos taken in natural light, colors are very accurate. Check out my other fine bottles coming up for sale, and my feedback. turnitup38

In looking at the Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham Bitters Bottles and Bitters Bottles Supplement books, I do not see this bottle listed which is a surprise. I do see an embossed, extremely rare, applied mouth THELLER’S STOMACH BITTERS square from New York. The note with the T 17 listing says:

“This bottle was dug in an old pre-Revolutionary dump on a clay bank in East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, New York”.

I also found legal information regarding a circuit court case Trade Mark Imitation between Myers (Hostetters) and Theller. Download PDF

“That said imitation bitters are compounded by the defendants Arnold Theller and Cornell TheIler in New York city. That they place the same in bottles resembling …”

MYERS V. THELLER ET AL.

Circuit Court, S. D. New York. May 7, 1889.

1. TRADE—MARKS—IMITATIONS.

Defendants use a bottle for bitters which has the peculiar form, color, round shoulders, and short neck of complainants’ bottle, with a label containing the words “Theller’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters,” a monogram of the letters “A. T.” in place of the picture of St. George and the drag-on, used by complainants, a black Shield below the monogram greatly resembling complainants’ Shield, and below the shield an imitation of the lettering upon the genuine label. Held, an imitation well and designedly calculated to deceive.

2. SAME—EVIDENCE—FORMER SUIT.

The fact that one of the defendants was in 1870 engaged in manufacturing imitations of the goods, labels, and trade-marks now manufactured and owned by complainants, and was then successfully sued therefor, is immaterial, and the record of that suit, which was offered only for the purpose of showing that fact, is excluded.

In Equity. Bill to enjoin infringement of trade-mark, etc. A. H. Clarke and James Watson, for complainants. Meyer Auerbach, for defendants. SHIPMAN, J. The bill alleges that the complainants, Hostetter and Myers, are partners doing business at Pittsburgh, Pa., under the firm name of Hostetter & Co., and are engaged in the manufacture and sale of a medical Compound known as “Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters,” and very extensively dealt in throughout the United States and other countries. That prior to the formation of their partnership said Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters’ were made and sold by said David Hostetter and George W. Smith, partners as Hostetter & Smith, at said Pittsburgh, for about 30 years continuously. That said David Hostetter, about 1852, originated a peculiar form of bottle, with round shoulders and short neck, and well adapted to the particular manner of putting up, packing, and shipping said bitters. That said Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters “were by said Hostetter & Smith manufactured with great care and skill, and are still so manufactured by the complainants; and that, owing to their excellence, they have ac- quired a wide reputation as a valuable medicinal compound. That they have expended large sums of money in acquiring the right to the exclusive Use of the trade-marks, stock, and good-will which formerly belonged to said Hostetter & Smith. That the manner in which said “Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters” have been by their predecessors, and still are by them, put up and sold is as follows. The bitters, when manufactured, are put into said bottles, which are square, of uniform size and color. Labels are pasted upon the reverse sides of said bottles. One label consists of the pictorial representation of St. George and the dragon, and the symbol of a black shield, which appear in the center below the words “Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters,” and above a tiny note of hand for one cent, signed “Hostetter & Co.” It contains other words and letters, all being surrounded by a double embossed border. The label for the reverse side is printed in gold or gilt let- ters, containing directions for the use of the bitters, etc. That the said defendants Arnold Theller and Cornell Theller, partners as A. Theller & Son; Henry H. Thomas, and Paul J. Felix and Patrick H. Cody, partners as Felix & Cody,—combined and confederated to- gether to defraud the complainants. That they are engaged in a scheme to put upon the market and palm off upon the public a preparation of their own, which is actually sold as and for the complainants’, not only in bulk, but in bottles. That the bitters made and sold by defendants resemble the complainants’ bitters in color, taste, and smell, to mislead and deceive purchasers and consumers. That said imitation bitters are compounded by the defendants Arnold Theller and Cornell Theller in New York city. That they place the same in bottles resembling complainants’ bottles to an extent well calculated and in- tended to mislead and deceive the unwary, and which do so mislead and deceive. That they also purchase the empty bottles once used by complainants, and refill the same with said imitation bitters, and cause them to be palmed off as and for the genuine bitters of the complainants, and having the original labels and trade-marks thereon. That they also sell and cause to be sold or delivered by the defendant Thomas said imitation bitters in bulk, by the gallon, in jugs, and demijohns, marking the same “Hostetter’s Bitters.” That said defendant Thomas furnishes said imitation bitters to defendants Felix & Cody, who place the same in said bottles which once contained the genuine bitters of your orators; and that said Felix & Cody sell the same as and for the genuine, asserting that the said imitation are not an imitation, but are the genuine bitters of the complainants, when they well know that the same are made by said Theller & Son; and that said Theller & Son and said Thomas supply many others with said imitation bitters in bulk and in bottles, both the genuine bottles of the complainants

Read More: Myers v. Theller

LadysLegFiguralSeriesART

Read More: Lady’s Leg Series – Weis Bros Knickerbocker Stomach Bitters

Read More: Russ’ Stomach Bitters – A New York Lady’s Leg

Read More: The old but sexy, Brown & Drake Catawba Bitters lady’s leg

Read More: Lady’s Leg Series – Zingari Bitters

Read More: Holloway’s Bitters from Syracuse

Read More: The best Lady’s Leg in the Galaxy – Universe Bitters

Posted in Bitters, Digging and Finding, eBay, Figural Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Baltimore’s Iron Bitters – Brown Chemical Company

Posted on 30 June 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

IRON BITTERS (left) and a BROWN’S IRON BITTERS (right) – Meyer Collection

Baltimore’s Iron Bitters – Brown Chemical Company

30 June 2012 (R•052914) (R•112817)

Apple-Touch-IconAI like the embossing “BROWN CHEMICAL COMPANY” and the word ‘IRON” on the BROWN’S IRON BITTERS and IRON BITTERS from Baltimore, Maryland. These, smaller squares look good together in this mighty-strong pair I have elected to photograph as 99 out of a 100 times, you will find the Brown’s in a rather drab shade of brown amber. Just recently, I was able to obtain a nice example of the IRON BITTERS that prompted the pair photography and this post.

Both the BROWN’S and IRON BITTERS come with an entire field of other exciting and well designed collateral material such as trade cards, games, advertising etc., some of which I have pictured below.

The thing that gets me again, is the BROWN CHEMICAL COMPANY name. What a yummy message to emblazen on bottles where the advertising shows mothers giving heaping spoonfuls of this “iron-like” concoction to their children. Much of the advertising is also addressed to women. A few of my favorite quotes are represented below:

“If you are Weak, Languid, Nervous or Suffer From Dyspepsia or Indigestion, take IRON BITTERS – They will Cure You”

“If you want your Children to be Healthy & Strong, give them BROWN’S IRON BITTERS”

“Cures Malaria, Dyspepsia & Female Infirmities”

“A Prominent Washingtonian Cured of Dizziness, Etc.”

“The Workingman’s Friend – Strengthens and Heals”

“A Lady Cured of Rheumatism”

B231wrapper_BBS

Brown’s Iron Bitters wrapper – Bitters Bottles Supplement

In 1879, the Brown Chemical Co. began marketing Brown’s Iron Bitters. The company was located in Baltimore, Maryland. The product was 39% proof alcohol and by the 1890s it was one of the top selling bitters. The formula was targeted for female infirmities. The main ingredients were Iron Phosphate, Calisaya Bark, Phosphorus, Vibernum Prowifolium and Coca.

Queen Dollalingo of Perpetual Bloom Island came ill with Dysentery. Jeff Gordon who was a top salesman for Brown’s Iron Bitters just happened to be at Bloom Island and gave the Queen some Brown’s Iron Bitters. Queen Dollalingo recovered from her illness and would marry Jeff Gordon and made him the King of the Island. (Source Bottle Pickers)

IronBittersBrownsSign_C

1800s Drugstore Advertising Sign Browns Iron Bitters Malaria Cure: Lean on Glass – Dave’s Great Cards – eBay

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

B 231 BROWN’S IRON BITTERS, Circa 1878,
BROWN’S IRON BITTERS // sp // BROWN CHEMICAL CO. // f //
Brown Chemical Co.   Baltimore, Maryland
8 5/8 x 2 1/4 (6) 1/2
Square, LTCR, Applied mouth and Tooled lip, 3 sp, Greenish yellow and Yellow, Rare; Amber, Common.
I 27  IRON BITTERS, Circa
IRON BITTERS // sp // BROWN CHEMICAL CO. // f //
Brown Chemical Co.   Baltimore, Maryland
8 3/4 x 2 3/8 (6 3/8) 3/16
Square, Amber and Yellow, LTCR, Tooled lip and Applied mouth, Common
See: Brown’s Iron Bitters. Pamphlet available.

Read Further: Brown Chemical Co. v. Meyer – 139 U.S. 540 (1891) – U.S. Supreme Court – Argued March 18, 1891 – Decided April 8, 1891 This was a suit in equity instituted by the Brown Chemical Company, a corporation organized under the laws of Maryland, against the firm of Meyer Brothers and Co., of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, to restrain an unfair competition in trade.

BROWN’S IRON BITTERS & IRON BITTERS

Framed  chromolithograph print for BROWN’S IRON BITTERS – Publication Information: 
Baltimore: A. Hoen & Co., Lith., 188 – 
This product contained cocaine. Caption states that it “cures malaria, dyspepsia & female infirmities.” Visual motif: Shows a woman behind broken glass. – History of Medicine

IRON BITTERS (left) and a BROWN’S IRON BITTERS (right) – Meyer Collection

Brown’s Iron Bitters advertising poster – Ben Swanson collection

BROWN’S IRON BITTERS, mint bottle both labels, original contents, huge bubbles – eBay (flyingfrog99)

1881 Brown Chemical Co., Baltimore Billhead – eBay (carolinapaperseller)

IRON BITTERS Trade Card – Baltimore City Sesquicentennial Celebration – October 1880 – AntiqueBottles.com

If you want your Children to be Healthy & Strong, Give Them BROWN’S IRON Bitters Trade Card – Meyer Collection

BROWN’S IRON BITTERS, The Best Tonic Trade Card – Meyer Collection

BROWN’S IRON BITTERS The Best Tonic Trade Card “MRS LANGTRY, THE JERSEY LILY” – Meyer Collection

BROWN’S IRON BITTERS, Brown Chemical Co., Balto., MD. Cures Malaria Trade Card – eBay

Advertising Trade Card featuring BROWN’S IRON BITTERS, CURES WEAKNESS, from the Brown Chemical Co., Baltimore, MD. – eBay (botlmole)

Advertising Trade Card featuring BROWN’S IRON BITTERS, Cures Dyspepsia, from the Brown Chemical Co., Baltimore, MD. – eBay (botlmole)

IRON BITTERS Medical Cure All Trade Card – eBay (screenheads)

IRON BITTERS A True Tonic Trade Card – Meyer Collection

Brown’s Iron Bitters advertising blotter R. H. Foster Lanesville, MA, This blotter has a great Victorian family scene with the mother writing, and the children playing. The Brown’s Bitters was made in Baltimore, MD. This blotter includes a ruler printed on the bottom edge. It is unusual for an advertising blotter to have printing on the reverse, the blotter side. This one has extensive advertising on the back. The local seller listed with extensive details to what he sold is R. H. Foster, a druggist in Lanesville, MA. – eBay (kitbarryephemera9)

Reverse: Brown’s Iron Bitters advertising blotter R. H. Foster Lanesville, MA, – eBay (kitbarryephemera9)

BROWN’S IRON BITTERS – Large mechanical card with picture of Jester sitting on box of product with bottle nearby. Wheel in back rotates to show a different picture each month. – AntiqueBottles.com

Advertisement for IRON BITTERS and the Brown Chemical Co., Baltimore, Md. – Documenting the American South

IRON BITTERS (left) and a BROWN’S IRON BITTERS (right) – Meyer Collection

IRON BITTERS (left) and a BROWN’S IRON BITTERS (right) – Meyer Collection

Brown Chemical Co. advertisement – The Deseret News – Salt Lake City – Wednesday, March 28, 1883

BrownsIronTCBaby_Gourd

Extremely rare Brown’s Iron Bitters trade card – Gourd Collection

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, Glass Companies & Works, Medicines & Cures, Tonics, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Couple of figurine Bear bottles dug in Toronto

Posted on 30 June 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

I received the following email and pictures of two (2) gorgeous green figural Bear bottles that were dug in Toronto. I like the color and while I am familiar with the mold, I am unfamiliar with the embossing. My similar olive example is posted further below.

Hi Ferdinand, I am not really in to bottle collecting yet, but I did some serious digging for bottles in Toronto with my son years ago, lots of fun!!

I got my hands on a couple of figurine BEAR bottles, that I can not find anywhere. That is when I found your “awesome” site, and found a bear bottle very close looking, but still different! I took some pictures, and sent them out to you, to see what you know about the pair!?

The bottles are 10-1/2 inches tall, not really cleaned yet, and green. In the middle (back) it say’s; “FEDERAL LAW FORBIDS SALE OR RE USE OF THIS BOTTLE”. The bottom (back) say’s; “CONTAINER MADE BY CIA VIDIRIERA DE TOLUCA, S.A.

Thank you kindly……..Ralph K

Read Further: Grrrrrwllll…….Figural Bear Bottles

Figural Applied Face Bear Bottle, DISTRE MERCATOR S.A. / ANVERS BELGIQUE / DEPOSE, Medium Olive Green, 9 3/4”, Smooth base, tooled mouth. Not often seen with this embossing. Circa 1890-1915 – Meyer Collection

Posted in Digging and Finding, Figural Bottles, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

United States in the 1800’s and early 1900’s

Posted on 28 June 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

United States in the 1800s and early 1900s

28 June 2012

I really enjoy looking at old photographs whether they are historical or not. The poses are usually staged and so perfect that they capture your imagination and take you right into the picture to further investigate. I even find myself looking for evidence of old signs, bottles, glass, advertising etc. in each picture. These photochrom images from the Detroit Photographic Company have been culled from a PowerPoint piece that Gary Beatty (North Port, Florida) sent me. Most negatives and prints are now housed at the United States Library of Congress.

See more old pictures: Boys in Glass Houses – Taking on the Mannerisms of Men

See more old pictures: Telegraph & Telephone Poles carrying some Beautiful Glass

See more old pictures: Photographs of People Drinking

See more old pictures: Early pictures of some of the characters and legends or both

U.S. Mail Providence on river.

Dressed up with dogs, driver and car.

May 27, 1913. “Auto polo, Coney Island.” – George Grantham Bain Collection.

New York circa 1901. “The Great Coal Mine, Coney Island.” From the book Coney Island and Astroland: ” The Great Coal Mine was a 1,500-foot-long dark ride that enabled visitors to travel on coal cars through several levels of a dimly lit simulated mine. It opened in 1901 on the north side of Surf Avenue at West Tenth Street.

Florida circa 1904. “Beach Street, Daytona.” There is an early Coca-Cola sign on Burdine’s Pharmacy. 8 x 10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company.

New York circa 1905. “Main tower, Luna Park, Coney Island.”

East meets West – Connecting the Railroad across the U.S. – Promontory, Utah 1869

Syracuse, N.Y., circa 1905 – Empire State Express (New York Central Railroad) coming thru Washington Street” – Detroit Publishing Company

Washington, D.C. 1922. “J.C.L. Ritter – Polli Food Products truck.” – National Photo Company Collection glass negative

April 1864. “Brandy Station, Virginia. General Rufus Ingalls on horseback. Photograph from the main Eastern theater of war – winter quarters at Brandy Station. “Wet plate glass negative by Thomas H. O’Sullivan.

Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, circa 1910. “Hotel (New) Mathewson.” For many years the pre-eminent lodging in the “City of Hotels.”

Photochrom Postcard of Mulberry Street in New York City, circa 1900, by the Detroit Photographic Co.

Unloading Bananas – New York, circa 1905

Morning rounds – Dairy delivery truck

Laurel, Maryland, July 31, 1922 “Two B&O freights wrecked in head-on crash at Laurel switch. – National Photo Company glass negative

Washington, D.C. circa 1919 – “Oppenheimer’s Dress Shop” Look at the Singer sewing machines.

April 1906. San Francisco after the earthquake and fire. “Sutter Street up from Grant Avenue.” 8 x 10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing

New York circa 1903. “Remember the poor: a Salvation Army Christmas box.”

Detroit Publishing Company Photo Train – Minnesota 1905

Vicksburg, Mississippi, circa 1910. – “Unloading cotton at the levee.” Sternwheel packet boat

Chicago circa 1900. “A walk in Lincoln Park”

March 1909. Bridgeport, Connecticut. – Boys selling papers at the depot. Smallest one has been selling for eight years. – Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine,

Washington, D.C. “The officer and his Henderson #1. National Photo Company Collection glass negative.

Jacksonville, Florida, circa 1910. “Forsyth Street west from City Hall.”

December 1910. ‘Shorpy Higginbotham, an oiler on the tipple at Bessie Mine” – near Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama. Photograph Lewis Wickes Hine.

Pictures Library of U.S. Congress. Assembled initially by Jack Cross

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Advertising pieces provided by Michael Dolcini

Posted on 27 June 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Grinning bottle digger, 1994. We pulled three of these from a pit in a “dug out” backyard. Other diggers claimed that they had “cleaned that yard out”. Shut their mouths. – Michael Dolcini

Michael Dolcini is an interesting character. To me, he seems to know just about everything, and has ‘been there and done-it’ with western bottles and glass. He passes off his knowledge in a very unassuming and casual way that always makes me smile and think ‘now how did he know that’?

Mike has been around awhile, participated in many important digs and has collected just about everything western at one time or another. I thought I would post a few of the advertising pieces Mike has written about in the past few years over at Western Glob Top Whiskies and more recently on facebook.

J.H. CUTTER OLD BOURBON – Dolcini Collection

A great rarity and one of the better Western advertising tin signs. A.P Hotaling‘s J.H. Cutter Old Bourbon showing various vignettes of his business at 429 Jackson Street in San Francisco. Building stands to this day. – Michael Dolcini

Sent unprotected to a saloon in Mt. Vernon, W.T. The address is painted on the back in white. Most likely mid to late 1870’s. Hand done tin with black background and silver, copper and brass sprinkles over some of the gold lettering. Manufactured by Townsend & Hostetter Co, Chicago. How’s that for a tin sign making outfit? – Michael Dolcini

Original 1918 Coca Cola festoon that originally hung in a Ione, California soda fountain. I bought it from the owner some 38 years ago. – Michael Dolcini

At one time it was sort of shiny, but being outside for 10 years has dulled it some. It came from a privy, believe it or not. Originally it was curved with a wooden frame behind. – Michael Dolcini

Another 1 example known, tin sign hangin’ around here. Hotaling stuff winds my clock.
The hand and bottle are 3 dimensional. Made by Pacific Sheet Metal Works, Litho, San Francisco 1880’s. – Michael Dolcini

OK, here is a Old Kirk brass sign that is inside the house. It was a strange story how I came to have it. My Line crews were stringing new conductors on a transmission circuit in San Jose, CA, and I was walking down the right of way that paralleled the SPRR tracks. As I walked along I just happened to notice this sign bent around a RR tie next to a gravel area. It was painted NO PARKING but I could clearly see the letters from 10 ft away. I went back, got my PU and used a pry bar to “reclaim” it. I straightened it out at home, stripped the green paint, polished it up, and filled in the letters with modeling paint. It’s been like that for over 20 yrs and ain’t goin‘ anywhere. – Michael Dolcini

Navy’s peacetime color scheme, decorated with gilded scrollwork with a red, white, and blue banner on their bows. These ships would later come to be known as the Great White Fleet. They visited San Francisco from May to July, 1908. – Dolcini Collection

The A.P.Hotaling Co sold the rights to the J.H.Cutter Whiskies to Sherwood and Sherwood in 1903. After that their principal seller was the Old Kirk Whiskey, a proprietary brand solely owned by them. Old Kirk was the company’s mainstay until 1918, when prohibition caused the retail sales of liquor to cease. Old Kirk was heavily advertised, with numerous tin, paper and brass signs made to aid in promoting the product. This beveled edge tin is an example of that form. No woman here, it’s a man showing the bottle. – Michael Dolcini

Life is too short for ugly women on advertising. Ebner Bros bottles are common, but the ads are definitely not. To the best of my knowledge this is the sole surviving 1906 Ebner Bros calendar. – Michael Dolcini

“Death To Imitators” used by A.P.Hotaling on his advertising and bottles. This is the neck label used on all of his whiskey bottles. – Michael Dolcini

Cutter Whiskey Advertising Pieces – This advertising piece was purchased at the Auburn Bottle Show 12/08 advertising J.H. Cutter Whiskies Superior to them all. The A. P. Hotaling Company Sole Agent and I found the twin piece on e-bay in a group of paper items in March of this year. I think they both originated from the Oregon/Washington area. 7inches x 3.10 inches each. – Michael Dolcini

Hotaling Advertising – Though not directly advertising Cutter Whiskey, this is a related sign because it was given out by the A.P. Hotaling Co., of Seattle, Washington. This embossed cardboard piece, dates from around 1890, a few months after Washington became a state. At that time, the lovely girls associated with later advertising had not reached their epitome, so this young lady is rather “owlish” in appearance. Women were just beginning to be the subjects of commercial advertising and the models hadn’t developed to the point reached a decade later. Nevertheless, this is another sole surviving piece of Hotaling‘s ventures into the Pacific Northwest. – Michael Dolcini

By 1883 Hotaling’s successful ventures in Australia led him to trademark a brand of whiskey especially for the Colonies. This time, he chose Sydney, New South Wales, and the Barron, Moxham Co as his agents. The new brand was to be known as Kangaroo Whiskey, and featured a boldly embossed “Roo” on the bottle’s face. The bottles were blown in San Francisco, filled at Hotaling’s Jackson Street warehouse and shipped to NSW. Pictured is an advertisement for the Kangaroo Whiskey. – Michael Dolcini

Read more: How many other “Buggers” are out there these days?

Posted in Advertising, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Soda Bottles, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The “Dancing Indian” Cologne

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Vintage engraving showing a native American Indian dance ceremony.

A month or so ago Charles Aprill (New Orleans) posted a really nice picture of two “Dancing Indian” colognes (below) in aqua and cobalt blue. I have always admired this bottle because of the strong embossing and name. I placed this image within The Charles & Jane Aprill Blue Gallery on this site and on another page called Cool Bottle Embossings hoping to circle back later and develop a specific post on the Dancing Indian.

Dancing Indian cologne. The blue one is mint, perfect. Jane got this at a Las Vegas show in the late 70’s. The dealer was a western dude covered with Turquoise jewelry (watchband, bracelet, neck piece, belt buckle and more. Provenance unknown. – Aprill Collection

Last weekend I made contact with Gary Katzen and he was able to provide a picture (see below) and information regarding his “Dancing Indian” cologne in milk glass. Gary describes it as the whitest of white opaque glass, attributed to Stanger glass works; circa 1848-1853.

This is Gary’s Katzen’s favorite milk glass piece. He may have the most complete and comprehensive mouth blown collection of Milk Glass out there. “Dancing Indian” Cologne in Milk Glass, whitest of white opaque glass, attributed to Stanger glass works; circa 1848-1853. – Katzen Collection

Searching online, I was able to find these other examples:

RARE OPAQUE GLASS DANCING INDIAN COLOGNE BOTTLE, American ca 1830-50 rhombus-shaped, mold blown with snap pontil, opaline color with crown-type pewter stopper, 5″ high, less stopper, (McKearin, 1978: plate 394, No. 10: Chiarenza & Slater, 1998: fig. 31).  – Cowan’s Auctions

Crown-type pewter stopper detail: RARE OPAQUE GLASS DANCING INDIAN COLOGNE BOTTLE, American ca 1830-50 rhombus-shaped, mold blown with snap pontil, opaline color, 5″ high, less stopper, (McKearin, 1978: plate 394, No. 10: Chiarenza & Slater, 1998: fig. 31). – Cowan’s Auctions

DANCING INDIAN COLOGNE BOTTLE, aquamarine, fancy four-sided cologne, pontil scar, 4 15/16″H, inwardly rolled mouth, about mint (minor exterior wear and a patch of light exterior haze). American, C. 1840, scarce.

It is this bottle’s extremely well-detailed mold impression that makes it a standout example of its type.

sold Jeff and Holly Noordsy

COLORED FIGURAL DANCING INDIAN COLOGNE BOTTLE 4 1/8”h., Dark cobalt, unusual four paneled bottle depicting an Indian wearing three feathered head dress, flared lip, open pontil; American, c.1840-50, a corner of the base was professionally restored using an epoxy and is barely noticeable, otherwise perfect. This beautiful bottle, highly regarded by collectors for its artistic merit and historical significance, may be the only known example in blue glass. It could be quite awhile before you find another example, regardless of the condition. – HistoricalGlass.com

Pontil detail: COLORED FIGURAL DANCING INDIAN COLOGNE BOTTLE 4 1/8”h., Dark cobalt, unusual four paneled bottle depicting an Indian wearing three feathered head dress, flared lip, open pontil; American, c.1840-50, a corner of the base was professionally restored using an epoxy and is barely noticeable, otherwise perfect. This beautiful bottle, highly regarded by collectors for its artistic merit and historical significance, may be the only known example in blue glass. It could be quite awhile before you find another example, regardless of the condition. – HistoricalGlass.com

SUPERB DANCING INDIAN COLOGNE – MINT, FANCY COLOGNE BOTTLE, aquamarine, pontil scar, 5″H, inwardly rolled mouth, mint. American, 1820-1840. This superb Dancing Indian cologne bottle is distinguished by a tubular pontil scar that is darn near the size of a quarter! – sold Jeff and Holly Noordsy

Fantastic Cologne bottle grouping – AntiqueBottleHunter.com – Early Colognes

A diamond shaped aquamarine ‘Pocahontas’ also known as the ‘Dancing Indian’ (4 – 7/8 in.) – 
A colorless ‘Buddha’ with ‘V A’ on back heel and ‘290’ on the heel under the Buddha (6 in.) -
A rectangular aquamarine ‘Lion’ (4 – 1/2 in.) All of their bases have a pontil scar. – AntiqueBottleHunter.com – Early Colognes

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