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

Posted in History, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Cologne, Perfume | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Demijohns – Some great new pictures

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

There is some great dialog and pictures being posted on the bottle and glass facebook sites regarding early American demijohns. I have corralled a few for your perusal.

Read more: “Loaf of Bread” Demijohns

Read More: Rare & Choice Demijohns in American Glass Gallery Auction #7

Large demijohn – Woody Douglas (Michael George comment: Woody, I sold a real nice demijohn from 1820 that came from Keene. When I say that, it was found in basement in Keene, however, I also believe it was produced there as well. It was the large 18″ “bullet” form that John Pastor recently sold. Very crude top, slightly sloping. You have at least a 1/2 dozen or more that fit right in to that 1800-1830 period…some have been posted. I would estimate this one in the 1840’s, and I guess the determining factor would be the lipping tool that was used. What other attributes can you really go on?)

5 blue “demijohns” in the afternoon light. They are pretty in their own way – Charles Aprill

A nice New England demijohn…with a little character!! – Michael George (“circa 1840. It looks like NH glass to me, but can’t say if it is earlier or later than 1840… a pivotal date for trying to determine local origin. My guess is Stoddard”.)

Large demijohn in a modified kidney form – Woody Douglas

If you find a large demijohn with this lip treatment you will have to use other methods to date it. – Eric Correla (“early new England piece. It has a similar look to the English jars you see everywhere but is twice the size of them. I think it is early 19th century”)

Three demijohns – Tom Marshall

Shame to post this picture today. Not much sun. This piece lights up with the sun coming through it. – Eric Correla (“this was another great piece Joe Zarro picked in the early seventy’s. Joe was one of the greatest pickers to ever play the game. The glass is so thin that I think it might not have moved very far from where it was picked in Connecticut.”)

Here is the lip on what I consider to be my oldest demi. I agree with Mike (George) I think you can tell a lot by looking at the lip. – Eric Correla

Here are the two biggest beasts. The demijohn or “carboy” on the left is 23″ tall and 54″ around at its widest. Smooth base with slight kick up, blown in a two part mold with applies tapered lip. Age? Origin? But it is the biggest blue thing I’ve ever seen. Seeing all the beautiful New England demijohns recently posted has prompted this “blue” reply. Good hunting, everyone. – Charles Aprill

Big honey-amber flattened-apple demijohn, 19 inches tall, not sure how wide. And yes, pontilled. – picture Elise Hempel

Chrystal clear green demijohn – photo Rick Ciralli

Posted in Blown Glass, Demijohns, Early American Glass, Freeblown Glass | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted on 25 June 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

SINER’S CELEBRATED BITTER CORDIAL PHILADA. – Tim Henson

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

25 June 2012

Apple-Touch-IconAI received an email from Tim Henson regarding a Siner’s Celebrated Bitter Cordial which brings up an interesting point relating to how Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham cataloged Bitters bottles.

I am talking about a bottle that says BITTER and not BITTERS, with a missing ‘S’ in BITTER. This is an all important ‘S’ to some, as Carlyn and Bill must have determined, as these two forerunner greats did not assign catalog numbers to these bottles in most cases, possibly thinking they were not true Bitters bottles. Who knows? Probably has to do with the word ‘Cordial’ which is a form of liqueur.

I think different, but that may not make a difference. The absence of the ‘S’ does affect price and desirability. To me, the missing ‘S’ is an abnomily, as I belive these products did contain Bitters and the word BITTER is close enough for me. So I collect them. I even give them ‘placeholder” Ring & Ham numbers (Don’t tell Bill). See below:

S 1213.3 (?) SINER’S BITTER CORDIAL, Circa 1860’s – 1870’s
SINER’S // CELEBRATED / BITTER CORDIAL // PHILADA // f //
9 1/2 x 3
Square, Aqua, LTC, 3 sp

Here is the email and pictures that Tim submitted for review:

Hi Ferd,

I posted this one on the ABN bottle site a few months ago. Are you familiar with it? I haven’t seen another one and I’m assuming it’s uncommon. This example is a sparkler. A nice aqua square embossed on 3 sunken panels Siner’s Celebrated Bitter Cordial Philada. It has a really nice applied top with some good drip. The bottle is identical to the Scheetz’s mold. Pretty much the same bottle but doesn’t appear to be seen as often. Anyhow I thought you might enjoy a few photos of it. Keep up the great work!

All the best, ~Tim Henson

SINER’S CELEBRATED BITTER CORDIAL PHILADA. – Tim Henson

SINER’S CELEBRATED BITTER CORDIAL PHILADA. – Tim Henson

SINER’S CELEBRATED BITTER CORDIAL PHILADA. – Tim Henson

Here are a few other examples of BITTER bottles… no ‘S’.

COCAMOKE BITTER CO. – Rick Ciralli (deal in progress for PRG purchase). Read more: Cocamoke Bitter Co. – Hartford, Conn.

SNYDER”S CELEBRATED BITTER CORDIAL – Meyer Collection

SCHEETZ CELEBRATED BITTER CORDIAL – Meyer Collection

Amber BITTER WITCH – Meyer Collection (Read More: Bitter Witch – What a great name!)

Here is my example of a SINER’S CELEBRATED BITTER CORDIAL PHILADA. – Meyer Collection (I like the pinched sides, really cool!)

PEYCHAUD’S AMERICAN AROMATIC BITTER CORDIAL – Meyer Collection

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