Mexican Mustang Liniment – For Man & Beast

Posted on 2 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

MEXICAN MUSTANG LINIMENT – Photograph Ed & Kathy Gray

MEXICAN MUSTANG LINIMENT

“the Liniment appears to have been mostly crude petroleum oil”

02 February 2012

MEXICAN MUSTANG LINIMENT – Meyer Collection

Here’s another all-healing Victorian wonder medicine, this time from the early 1850s, called Mexican Mustang Liniment. The main ingredient was rather startling: the Liniment appears to have been mostly crude petroleum oil. For Man & Beast. There is even a Trade Card (pictured below) showing a fallen lass and a horse with Mexican Mustang Liniment on its way!

The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal (1852, Vol. 47, pp 466-67) describes a case where a man thought he took Mexican Mustang Liniment, and felt much better. But as it was the middle of the night, he couldn’t see what his wife was administering to him. In the morning they discovered that she had grabbed a bottle of ink by mistake – had rubbed it on him, and given him a nice spoonful to drink, too.

It was made in St. Louis (not Mexico) by Dr. A. G. Bragg, and later by the Lyon Manufacturing Company. In 1874, Richard Moore gave a receipt for Mexican Mustang Liniment in The Artizans’ Guide and Everybody’s Assistant. He recommended it highly: take equal parts petroleum, olive oil and carbonate of ammonia. Don’t forget to mix well.

“take equal parts petroleum, olive oil and carbonate of ammonia. Don’t forget to mix well”

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Three Killer Historical Portrait Flasks close at Heckler Last Night

Posted on 2 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Three (3) killer Historical Portrait Flasks closed last evening at Session III of The Thomas McCandless Collection auction. Call backs are now. Look at the prices for these three top shelf specimens.

Lot: 183  Washington – Classical Bust Portrait Flask, Bridgeton Glass Works, Bridgeton, New Jersey, 1840-1860. Yellow with a topaz tone, sheared mouth – pontil scar, quart. GI-25 Unlisted and extremely rare beautiful color, strong embossing. An exceptional example. Ex Pardoe collection. Estimate: $10,000 – $20,000  Minimum bid: $5,000 Current Bid:  $45,000

Lot: 183 Washington - Classical Bust Portrait Flask - Heckler

Lot: 183 Washington - Classical Bust Portrait Flask - Heckler

Lot: 183 Washington - Classical Bust Portrait Flask - Heckler

Lot: 195  Washington – Taylor Portrait Flask, Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1840-1860. Ginger ale with apricot striations, sheared mouth – pontil scar, quart; (some weakening of the lettering above each of the busts at the shoulders, and some minor interior stain spots). GI-39 Fine condition, unusual and exceptional color. Rare. Ex Alan Coffman. Estimate: $5,000 – $10,000 Minimum bid: $2,500 Current Bid: $21,000

Lot: 195 Washington - Taylor Portrait Flask - Heckler

Lot: 195 Washington - Taylor Portrait Flask - Heckler

Lot: 195 Washington - Taylor Portrait Flask - Heckler

Lot: 217  Washington – Taylor Portrait Flask, Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1840-1860. Medium to deep claret, applied sloping collared mouth – pontil scar, quart. GI-37 Beautiful color, strong impression. Ex George Austin collection.
Estimate: $5,000 – $10,000 Minimum bid: $2,500 Current Bid: $25,000

Lot: 217 Washington - Taylor Portrait Flask - Heckler

Lot: 217 Washington - Taylor Portrait Flask - Heckler

Lot: 217 Washington - Taylor Portrait Flask - Heckler

Posted in Auction News, Collectors & Collections, Flasks, Glass Companies & Works, Historical Flasks, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Old Continental Whiskey – One Spectacular Bottle

Posted on 2 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Old Continental Whiskey – One Spectacular Bottle

02 February 2012 (R•110115) (R•022319)

Apple-Touch-IconARecently I was provided the advertisement (below) from Eric McGuire for the CAMPBELL & SEAMAN NEW YORK post I recently did. The ad is for The Old Continental Whiskey, for sale by Campbell & Seaman, 404 Fourth Avenue, New York and is dated 15 August 1859 from the Charleston Mercury (Charleston, South Carolina).

15 aug 1859 charleston mercury

The Old Continental Whiskey is one spectacular bottle.

CAMPBELL & SEAMAN NEW YORK – jerseynotsobad on eBay

This resulted in more information linking the CAMPBELL & SEAMAN NEW YORK square to the OLD CONTINENTAL WHISKY (WHISKEY), one of my favorite bottles.

Without a doubt, the OLD CONTINENTAL WHISKEY is one of the most stunning, beautiful and spectacular bottles ever produced in a square form. With the embossed continental soldier, columned corners and arched panels, the Old Continental could be the centerpiece of any collection. I missed an opportunity to obtain this bottle back around 2005 and regret not snagging it. That example now resides in the Sandor Fuss collection in Denver, Colorado. I have posted a few pictures below that Ed and Kathy Gray took of Sandor’s bottle. You can always identify the Gray’s remarkable photography.

Read further: Look at this CAMPBELL & SEAMAN NEW YORK on eBay – WOW

Old Continental Whiskey – Fuss Collection

Old Continental Whiskey – Fuss Collection

Old Continental Whiskey – Fuss Collection

Old Continental Whiskey_Heckler

Lot: 2 “Old Continental / Whiskey / (Full Figure Of Soldier) / 1776” Whiskey Bottle, America, 1870-1880. Square with columnar corners and arched panels, brilliant yellow amber, applied sloping collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 9 1/8 inches; (minor loss to label edges). H #957 Retains both front and back original and extremely rare labels. A rare and beautiful bottle. Fine condition. Estimate: $8,000 – $16,000 – Heckler Auctions

Old Continental Whiskey_Heckler2

Lot: 2 “Old Continental / Whiskey / (Full Figure Of Soldier) / 1776” Whiskey Bottle, America, 1870-1880. Square with columnar corners and arched panels, brilliant yellow amber, applied sloping collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 9 1/8 inches; (minor loss to label edges). H #957 Retains both front and back original and extremely rare labels. A rare and beautiful bottle. Fine condition. Estimate: $8,000 – $16,000

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Use a Penny for Scale

Posted on 2 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dinosaurs can be small or large when viewing on line. Use a Penny.

Some time ago, and we still laugh about it now, we had an interesting and unexpected learning experience on eBay when my wife bid on what she thought were some large (12” tall or so) dinosaurs for my grandson Nicholas (see above). Nicholas loved dinosaurs and we wanted to buy some replacement and new dinosaurs that Adriana (his older sister) had when she was younger. After searches at toy stores and on line, Elizabeth finally triumphantly said that she had found some more of the big fellas on eBay. Well you can see where this is going. When they arrived they were little plastic dinosaurs. She assumed that they were like the others we had and did not catch the dinosaur measurement copy description. There was no penny scale. These were puny dinosaurs. USE A PENNY.

Smallest glass bottle in my collection: 'Owens' - Old Bottle Page

What made me think of the dinosaurs and my first small bottle experience was the post of the small bottle next to a penny on a block of wood (see above). This brought a smile to my face because John Akers correctly used a penny, old Abe himself, to show scale. No doubt here about the size of the bottle. I even jokingly added to the Old Bottle Page on facebook that he could have photographed the bottle next to a grain of sand and made the bottle look like a gallon or so.

The large DRAKES PLANTATION BITTERS

You see, back when I was finally captured and fully engulfed with historical bottles and  glass in 2002, my wife Elizabeth, who had been on eBay for years, surprised me with a winning bid for A NEW BOTTLE. WOW!

Who cares what it was! She won, a bottle and was going to surprise me. This was after my first purchase of a Drakes and a few other ‘mainstream’ big bitters (with a low cost) at the DELMARVA Bottle Show in Lewes, Delaware. (My dad founded this club). Ahhh, the good ole days!

“Use a penny!”

Well the package finally arrived and I opened it only to find a puny little bottle called a DALBY’S CARMINARIVE. You see, I live in Texas where everything is BIG, and I have big head anyway, so I have to admit, I was disappointed. My point is. Use a penny! As a follow-up, I do like small bottles now as I have a major collection of miniature Bitters. It did take me a least five years or so before I would even look at them. Even to this day, this collector prefers quart Historical Flasks over pints and half pints.

The small DALBY'S CARMINARIVE

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2012 Columbus, Ohio Antique Bottle & Insulator Show

Posted on 1 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Show Date: Saturday, 18 February 2012

Show Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Public Admission: $3.00 (*Fairgrounds Parking is $5.00) *plenty of parking available.

Early Bird Admission: 7:00 am – 9:00 $25.00 You get in there while the dealers are setting up!

Show Location: The show is in the RHODES CENTER building at the Ohio State Fairgrounds complex. The Ohio State Fairgrounds is located at 717 E. 17th Avenue, go west off I-71 at Exit 111. For driving directions and fairgrounds maps, click here. The showroom is huge, well lighted, and has wide aisles for shoppers, with plenty of space between the tables for the dealers. Restrooms in the heated building. Food concession provided by the fairgrounds ($$).

Weather: Link to the weather forecast for Columbus Ohio.

Shoppers Bonus: The famous Scott Antique Show is also the same day, also in the fairgrounds complex, so you can spend the day and hit both great shows, and find tons of treasures. Just walk across the street, do not move your car, or you will have to pay for parking again.

Extra-early Bird Bonus: There will be a fun Hospitality Party on Friday night from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm (or later – it’s a lot of fun!).

At the Baymont Inn Hotel: Complimentary food and drinks, and lots of good visiting with your fellow collector/dealers. Hotel website link and phone: 614-848-9696

Call for your tables NOW!

Co-Show Chairmen:
Joe Hardin: 937.728.9930 / jkcollectables@gmail.com
Jamie Houdeshell: 419-722-3184 / ‪jhbottle@hotmail.com

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Dolcini J.F. (circle) Cutters and J.F. Cutters Old Bourbon Western Cylinders

Posted on 1 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

J.F. CUTTERS (circle Cutters) run – Dolcini Collection

Dolcini J.F. (circle) Cutters and J.F. Cutters Old Bourbon Western Cylinders

01 February 2012

* Page in Development Mode. Information forthcoming

J.H. CUTTER OLD BOURBON – Dolcini Collection

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Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters – Patent Medicine

Posted on 1 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters

01 February 2012 (R•011715) (R•050819)

Apple-Touch-IconAMy friend and Civil War author, Jim Schmidt (see Civil War Medicine) sent me a link today for an eBay listing for a Baltimore Letterhead dated 1887 for a Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters – Patent Medicine. The listing on eBay reads as follows:

ebaylogoLetterhead from Louis Petzold & Co., Proprietors of Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters, dated Baltimore, January 28, 1887 to Chas. Yockel. “A Tonic with Unsurpassed Medicinal Virtues – A Great Remedy for Dyspepsia, Malaria, Weakness, & c. & c.” . Illustration of a classic woman standing on a globe. In one hand she has a shield with “The Great Elixir of Life” and in her other hand is a tassel, attached to a Cupid flying above. Contents refer to changing the patent date from 1884 to 1887. [Chas. Yockel was a manufacturer of glass bottles] Measures approx. 8 1/2″ x 11″. Filing punch holes at top, lower right corner missing, edge discoloration.

Letterhead circa 1887 – Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters – eBay

LETTERHEAD

This got me thinking about Dr. Petzold and some of the bottles and material I possess. I especially wanted to compare my letterhead with the eBay example. I have now updated and included two new letterheads from the Joe Gourd collection. They are in dated order below.

Letterhead dated 1880 – Louis Petzold & Co., Importers, Wholesale Liquor Dealers and Redistillers, Proprietors of Dr. Petzold’s Genuine Imported German Bitters, Nos. 9 & 11 Dover Street, Office and Showroom: 194 W. Lombard St., Baltimore – Gourd Collection

Letterhead dated 1886 – Office of Louis Petzold & Co., Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters – Meyer Collection

Letterhead dated 1888 – Laboratory of The Dr. Petzold Bitters Co., Dr. Petzold’s Genuine Imported German Bitters, Baltimore – Gourd Collection

LOGO & TRADEMARK

Note the different logo’s and trade-marks. These are really nice illustrations.

DR. PETZOLD

Louis Petzold was born in Brunswick, Germany around 1818. He came to America like many Germans to escape oppression and to start a new life. Settling in Baltimore, he started a family and set up shop as a boot and shoe maker around 1850. He started his company, Louis Petzold & Co. around 1862. They were the proprietors of Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters, an extremely popular brand favored by collectors. The bitters, also called the “Great Elixir of Life” was first introduced in 1862 from a formula “received from the celebrated Dr. Petzold of Berlin.” It was sold in 50 cent and $1.00 bottles. They also called their bitters a tonic and a remedy so they had all their bases covered.

BITTERS BOTTLES LISTINGS

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

P 74. DR. PETZOLD’S ( au ) / GENUINE / GERMAN / BITTERS / INCPT. 1862 /
lower panel unlettered // c // s // PATENTED 1884 // c //
The Dr. Petzold’s German Bitters Co., Proprietors, Baltimore, Maryland
10 5/8 x  4 x 2 1/8 (7 1/4) 9/16
Oval 20 ribs, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth and Tooled lip, Common
Widest bevel, flat panels
Both the P of Patented and the 4 of 1884 are on the bevel
P 75  DR. PETZOLD’S ( au ) / GENUINE / GERMAN / BITTERS / INCPT. 1862 /
lower panel unlettered // c // s // PAT’D 1884 // c //
10 1/8 x 4 x 2 (7) 1/4
Oval 21 ribs, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth and Tooled lip, Common
Small bevel, flat panels, unbroken rib over panels
P76  DR. PETZOLD’S ( au ) / GENUINE / GERMAN / BITTERS / INCPT. 1862 /
lower panel unlettered // c // // PAT’D 1884 // c //
7 7/8 x 3 1/16 x 1 13/16 (6 3/4) 5/16
Oval 17 ribs, Amber, LTCR, Tooled lip, Scarce
Small bevel, flat panels, unbroken rib over panels
P 77  DR. PETZOLD’S ( au ) / GENUINE / GERMAN / BITTERS / INCPT. 1862 /
THE ( au ) / GREAT / ELIXIR / OF LIFE // c //
7 x 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 (4 3/4) 3/8
Oval 19 ribs, Amber, Yellow olive, LTCR, Applied mouth and Tooled lip, Rare
Small bevel, flat panels, unbroken rib over panels
P 78  DR. PETZOLD’S ( au ) / GENUINE / GERMAN / BITTERS / INCPT. 1862 / lower panel unlettered // s // PATENDED 1884 // c //
10 5/8 x4x 2 1/8 (7 1/4)
Oval 21 ribs, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth and Tooled lip, Common
No bevel, sunken panels, unbroken rib over panels
P 78.5  DR. PETZOLD’S ( au ) / GENUINE / GERMAN / BITTERS / INCPT. 1862 /
lower panel unlettered / // s // PATENTED 1887 // c //
10 1/4 x 4 x 2 1/8
Oval 21 ribs, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth, Rare
No bevel, sunken panels, unbroken rib over panels
P 79  DR. PETZOLD’S ( au ) / GENUINE / GERMAN / BITTERS / INCPT. 1862 /
lower panel unlettered // c //
10 3/4 x 4 x 2 1/8 (7 1/4)
Oval 21 ribs, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth, Common
Shoulder unlettered, no bevel, sunken panels, unbroken rib over panels

PAMPHLET COVER & PAGE

This wonderful piece is from the Joe Gourd collection.

THE BOTTLES

P 76 Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters (small size) – Meyer Collection

“PAT’D 1884 (on the shoulder) / DR. PETZOLD’S / GENUINE / GERMAN / BITTERS / INCPT. 1862 / THE / GREAT / ELIXIR / OF LIFE”, (Ring/Ham, P-77), Maryland, ca. 1885 – 1895, yellow olive, 7”h, smooth base, tooled lip. Perfect condition. Extremely rare in this unlisted color. Tired of looking at those plain amber Petzold’s Bitters? This one could change that view! Sidney Genius Collection. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #130

P 78.5 Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters (large size) – Meyer Collection

P 78.5 & P 76 – Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters (large and small size) – Meyer Collection

PetzoldHeckler

“Dr. Petzold’s / Genuine / German / Bitters / Incpt. 1862” Figural Bitters Bottle, America, 1860-1880. Oval form with twenty one horizontal log type ribs, brilliant yellow amber, applied sloping collared mouth with ring – smooth base, ht. 10 1/2 inches; (front label appears to have been coated). R/H #P-79 Retains 99% front label and 60% rear label. The front label is particularly colorful and detailed. Fine condition. Property of The Strong, sold to benefit the museum’s collections fund. – Norman C. Heckler & Company

STONEWARE

Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters Stoneware Jug – Meyer Collection

PETZOLD VEGETABLE PEOPLE

We’ll start out with some absolutely fantastic trade cards affectionately called the “Petzold Vegetable People” These trade cards are from the Joe Gourd Collection. The Petzold Co. said that their bitters was not prepared with Alcohol or Impure Spirits and relied on vegetables. I wonder why they sold their bitters at saloons?

A Nice SWheat Girl

A Cotton Ball

A Good Smoking Leaf

A Flat Dutch Cabbage

A Corned Indian

A Potato Faced Man

OTHER TRADE CARDS

Petzolds_GrandpasDarling

Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters “Grandpas Darling” Trade Card – Meyer Collection

Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters “1893 World’s Columbian Exposition” Trade Card – Gourd Collection

TESTIMONIALS

Dr. Petzold’s German Bitters – The Record Union, Wednesday, June 29, 1898

Select Listings:

1850: Louis Petzold, Storekeeper, Age: 32, Birth Year: abt 1818, Birthplace: Germany, Home in 1850: Baltimore Ward 16, Baltimore, Maryland, Household Members: Louis Petzold 32, Anna Petzold 29, Henry W Petzold 6, Louis W Petzold 4, William H Petzold 2, Charles Petzold 66 – 1850 United States Federal Census
1860: Louis Petzold, Age: 40, Boot & Shoe Maker, Birth Year: abt 1820, Birth Place: Brunswick, Germany, Home in 1860: Baltimore Ward 16, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland, Post Office: Baltimore, Personal Estate Value: 500, Household Members: Louis Petzold 40, Annie Petzold 40, Henry Petzold 16, Louis Petzold 14, William Petzold 12, Annie Petzold 7, Edwin Petzold 4/12 – 1860 United States Federal Census
1864: Resolution in favor of Louis Petzold. Resolved by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That permission be and the same is hereby given to Louis Petzold to erect a small frame bath house in the rear of his premises, No. 109 Sharp street, the same to be removed, however, after three months’ notice to that effect by the Mayor. – The Ordinances of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, 1864
1880: Letterhead dated 1880 (above) – Louis Petzold & Co., Importers, Wholesale Liquor Dealers and Redistillers, Proprietors of Dr. Petzold’s Genuine Imported German Bitters, Nos. 9 & 11 Dover Street, Office and Showroom: 194 W. Lombard St., Baltimore
1885: Louis Petzold & Co. (Louis Petzold), importers and rectifiers of liquor, 140 W. Lombard and 9 Dover, Baltimore, Maryland – Baltimore, Maryland, City Directory, 1885
1887: Louis Petzold & Co. (Louis Petzold), importers and rectifiers of liquors, 10 w Lombard 140, and props Dr. Petzold’s German Bitters, laboratory 117 w Pratt 215, Baltimore, Maryland – Baltimore, Maryland, City Directory, 1887
1887: Letterhead circa 1887 (above) Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters, Office of Louis Petzold & Co., No. 40 W. Lombard St., Baltimore
1887: The Dr. Petzold Bitters Co. (Louis Petzold), 115 w. Pratt, Baltimore, Maryland – Baltimore, Maryland, City Directory, 1887
1888: Letterhead dated 1888 (above) – Laboratory of The Dr. Petzold Bitters Co., Dr. Petzold’s Genuine Imported German Bitters, No.115. W. Pratt St.,Baltimore
1897: Louis Petzold & Co. (Louis Petzold), liquors, 121 Hanover, Baltimore, Maryland – Baltimore, Maryland, City Directory, 1897
1898: Newspaper advertisement (above): Testimonials for Dr. Petzold’s German Bitters –  The Record Union, Wednesday, June 29, 1898
Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, eBay, Ephemera, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Stoneware, Tonics, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What is it about GREEN?

Posted on 31 January 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Reprinted from the Rick Simi’s fine web site WESTERN BITTERS NEWS:

[PRG] This is yet another picture from Dale Mlasko. Dale is a major collector of western glass and has some of the most drop dead gorgeous and rare bottles. Many are green.

For years, I have been attracted to Western bottles in the green color spectrum. I know of many other collectors who also covet “green” glass. There are some spectacular whiskeys, bitters, medicines, and soda in that “Western” green. Here are a few attractive, and still relatively affordable (?) Western bottles in pretty green shades. A nice bubble filled ammonia, Walkers Vinegar Bitters, a nice green sixth, Pacific Congress Springs, Hall’s Sarsaparilla, Dr. J.J. McBride King of Pain, and 5 green jamaica gingers. I have seen some stunning green glass…a Thos. Taylor in Nevada, Cutter non crown in Cal. and a Teakettle whiskey. There are some collections in the West which would knock your socks off! Cannot wait to see one of the Western early beers in green someday (not a Swan). Let’s see some green glass!

Read Further: Western Green Bitters…Let’s Add Some More!

Green Western Bottles - Mlasko Collection

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FOHBC Bottles and Extras

Posted on 31 January 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Here is a collage (below) I put together for the FOHBC web site last year. I think these covers are really cool. Bottles and Extras is a great magazine. Please become a member of the NEW FOHBC. We are growing rapidly. Many great things are on the horizon. The Winds of Change. I think we can get to 2,000 members in the next year. Also with Pam Selenak as Public Relations Director, we are now aggressively positioning the FOHBC as your organization. She is selling memberships left and right. We also are openly asking for articles and story contributions. There is so much to show and say.

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Who We Are

Posted on 31 January 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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