Dr. Hauseman’s German Bitters…Wow!

Really great to see again that Bitters squares are getting top recognition. I just fell over when I saw this GREAT picture of a Dr. Hauseman’s German Bitters. Killer.

Millers Extra over at Western Bitters News writes…

Here is a western square which is a bit of a mystery to me. The Dr. Hauseman’s German Bitters was blown in a re-worked “small” Rosenbaum’s Bitters mold and the slugged out areas are easily visible. The small Rosenbaum’s are late 1860’s, and most reference material considers this a late 1870’s or 1880’s bottle. It just seems hard to imagine that the old Rosenbaum’s molds were just laying around for 10 years, and the effort to re tool the mold was necessary to create the Hauseman’s. It would seem that this bitters could be earlier than originally thought…possibly 1870-72. Has anyone found any advertising for this bottle? They are pretty rare, with maybe 3 squares known, and possibly one or two of the flask version. Overall this has to be one of the rarest of all western bitters, and a great piece of San Francisco history.

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Yankee Bottle Show in Keene, NH this Sunday, 09 October!

Really looking forward to the Heckler – Keene Weekend!

After a rather busy week traveling for business to Washington, Winchester, Indianapolis and Denver, I find myself back in Houston at Peachridge resting and thinking of bottles and glass. It rained twice this past week and the temperature was in the low 50’s this morning. Same for the next few days at least. Maybe the back of this terrible drought has been broken and summer is OVER!!! Let’s hope so. This has been brutal.

Well, thinking ahead to this coming week. Another trip to Virginia Monday thru Wednesday, meetings in Chicago Thursday and off to New York Friday to meet my wife, Elizabeth and Jerry and Helen Forbes who will be flying in from Carmel, California.

We will attend the Vuono get-together Friday afternoon in Stamford, CT, the Heckler Columbus Day Event Saturday in Woodstock, CT and travel to the Yankee Bottle Show Sunday in Keene, New Hampshire. The absolute peak of the fall foliage season.

Keene is a secret worth sharing. Although its population is small – just over 22,000 – Keene is a giant when it comes to history. Chartered in 1753, the town features an impressive collection of Georgian buildings, including the 1762 Wyman Tavern, local watering-hole of the Keene minutemen. In summer months, Revolutionary War re-enactments are held on the tavern grounds. Because so many of the town’s earliest structures have remained unchanged for more than two centuries, it’s easy to get lost in time: The 1795 doctor’s house is pristine — as are the 1791 home of Keene’s most prominent attorney and the 1805 home of its postmaster.

09 October 2011 (Sunday) Keene, New Hampshire The Yankee Bottle Club’s 44th Annual Show & Sale, 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, early buyers at 8:00 am, at the Keene High School, Arch Street, Keene, New Hampshire, Info: John E. Bemis, 28 Cross Street, Keene, New Hampshire, 603.352.5246 or Alan Rumrill, Historical Society of Cheshire County, PO Box 803, Keene, New Hampshire 03431, 603.352.1895

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Heckler Columbus Day 2011 – 08 October

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Merrimack Valley Antique Bottle Club’s 37th Annual Show

Jim Bender sent in some nice pictures from this past Sunday’s Merrimack Valley Antique Bottle Club show. Check out those Dr. Langley’s Root & Herb Bitters!

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Glass Discoveries’ Auction ends Tonight!

Ray Klingensmith will be ending his September Auction #65 for his dual Pole Top Discoveries Catalogue of Scarce, Rare and Colorful Insulators and Glass Discoveries’ Catalogue of Scarce, Rare & Colorful Bottles. The closing date is tonight, Monday, 26 September 2011, 10:00 pm, Eastern Time.  Read more on…3 Gems in the new Pole Top Discoveries’ Catalogue of Rare & Colorful Insulators.

Ray also publishes the best auction catalogue…period. They are works of art and belong in a museum book store. As noted on their web site…

Large, Printed Catalogues Available!

The all color, high quality printed Catalogue for Sale #65, with 144 pages, can still be ordered! Don’t miss this large Catalogue loaded with huge color pictures and a wealth of historical information. Price is still only $32 ppd. in the U.S, or $38 when shipped to Canada. International, please inquire. Preferred form of payment is a check payable to “Ray Klingensmith.” Those who desire to use PayPal, please add an additional fee of $1, using the email account shown below. THANKS!

Ray Klingensmith
PO Box 628
Parkman, OH 44080
440.548.5408
 poletop@clover.net

A few sample pages from the Glass Discoveries’ portion…

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Ammonia Mnfd by S.F. GasLight Co Question

Incoming question from Mike George:

Hey Ferd,

Hope all is well my friend!

I need a little assistance on this Western bottle. It is a BRIGHT lemon yellow ammonia! I have seen some of them sell for pretty good money, but I am not sure where this one should be priced or who the collectors are. As for condition… I don’t think you could ever find one better. This one would be fuss-proof!  🙂 It does have a small birdswing on the side that is not distracting at all… and provides some interesting character!

Thanks for your advice! See ya soon.

Mike

[PRG] Mike…great bottle. Love San Francisco glass. Check out a previus post

S.F. Gaslight Ammonia now Greer’s Washing Ammonia?

Note: Visit Mikes web site BottleShow.com

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3 Gems in the new Pole Top Discoveries’ Catalogue of Rare & Colorful Insulators

Ray Klingensmith has started his September Auction #65 for his dual Pole Top Discoveries Catalogue of Scarce, Rare and Colorful Insulators and Glass Discoveries’ Catalogue of Scarce, Rare & Colorful Bottles. The closing date is Monday, 26 September 2011, 10:00 pm, Eastern Time.

I found these three (3), and there are many more, extraordinary insulators within the auction.

Lot #2 CD 726 Unmarked Bright Purple

#2 CD 726 Unmarked Bright purple The CD 726 has been found in widespread areas along Canadian railways, ranging from Ontario to the Maritime Provinces. Some have surfaced on railways which were completed in 1869 and 1870, indicating this style was likely produced into the late 1860’s and possibly the early 1870’s.

They have been found in a rainbow of exotic colours, ranging from the more readily available aquas, various blues, a couple green shades, purple, and cranberry red. Blackglass purple and a couple variations of blackglass olive and olive amber have also been reported.

The Canada Glass Works, in what is now Hudson, Quebec, is known to have produced threadless insulators including some CD 726’s. The company manufactured various types of glassware including bottles and ornamental wares such as lamps, thus utilizing a wide range of glass colours.

Found in the 1990’s by the Plunkett family and previously sold in the 1998 Pole Top Discoveries’ Yearbook.

A couple internal stress fractures and a couple surface fish-eyes. This purple example is in better condition than any offered for sale in the past several years! The small number of known purple examples are currently locked solidly into collections. Dale Evoy collection.

Opening Bid: $6,000 (Estimate: $ 10,000 – $ 13,000)

Lot #4 CD 718 Unmarked Dark Smoke

#4 CD 718 Unmarked Dark smoke Circa 1860’s. A unique and highly unusual colour! Various colour tones are evident, including smoke, amethyst and ginger ale.

Insulator collector Morgan Davis reports digging this item along a railway in Nova Scotia many years ago. To date, it is the only example known. The highly unusual colouration places it as one of the most desirable Canadian threadless in existence.

Extremely crude, textured surface adds wonderful character. Flat dome chip and a flat base chip. An item for the collector seeking the ultimate coloured threadless collection! Dale Evoy collection.

Opening Bid: $5,000 (Estimate: $ 9,000 – $ 12,000)

Lot #19 CD 158.6 Skirt embossed: J. SLATER LEWIS. BIRKENHEAD ENG. PATENT

#19 CD 158.6 new CD Number Skirt embossed: J. SLATER LEWIS. BIRKENHEAD ENG. PATENT Base embossed: (GRAY) & HAM PATENT NO. 8532 1884 Rich blue aqua Two segmented interior threading, consistent with some early New England glass production.

A United States patent was issued on May 1, 1883 to J. Slater Lewis for an insulator with a spiral top and accompanying metal clip for attachment to a line wire. The base embossing is in reference to a patent issued to Lawrence Gray and Joseph Ham of Boston, Massachusetts for a method of forming threads in glass insulators using a contractible threaded plunger.

Approximately 10 of these insulators were found in 2010 at the site of the Lyndeborough Glass factory in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire. Most were specimens with heavy damage. This insulator was the best example recovered. Only a couple other units were in respectable condition. A great and historical rarity, which should be of special interest to CD collectors and those seeking unique rarities. One of the most exciting insulator discoveries in recent years! Repair to a portion of the reverse skirt area.

Opening Bid: $3,000 (Estimate: $ 5,000 – $ 10,000)

Ray also publishes the best auction catalogue…period. They are works of art and belong in a museum book store. As noted on their web site…

Large, Printed Catalogues Available!

The all color, high quality printed Catalogue for Sale #65, with 144 pages, can still be ordered! Don’t miss this large Catalogue loaded with huge color pictures and a wealth of historical information. Price is still only $32 ppd. in the U.S, or $38 when shipped to Canada. International, please inquire. Preferred form of payment is a check payable to “Ray Klingensmith.” Those who desire to use PayPal, please add an additional fee of $1, using the email account shown below. THANKS!

Ray Klingensmith
PO Box 628
Parkman, OH 44080
440.548.5408
 poletop@clover.net

A few sample pages

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A Legendary Cassin,s Grape Brandy Bitters

It looks as though Jeff Wichmann has the famous example of the Cassin’s Grape Brandy Bitters…read Two Sexy Ladies – Cassin’s Grape Brandy Bitters

View on YouTube

From American Bottle Auctions Bottle of the Month

[ABA] When one talks of antique bottles from the western part of the United States, for the advanced collector the name Cassin usually comes up. Francis and Patrick, together they worked at the corner of Pine and Montgomery Streets in San Francisco in a store Francis had established in the Fall of 1849*.

Today only a few different variants of their bottles exist as a reminder of their efforts, a whiskey bottle, a soda and this grape brandy bitters. Amazingly, all of their bottles are difficult to find and the whiskey and bitters shown here can sell for exceedingly high amounts. The bottles made for the Cassin Brothers were done with quite a bit of forethought and ingenuity. The greatest example of that has to be in their Cassin,s Grape Brandy Bitters. Even the apostrophe was made a comma by mistake. There were two variants after the first was deemed infallible and the number of variants of any kind number close to a baker’s dozen, damaged or not. Of those known in amber, which is miniscule, it is thought that this example is the only perfect example.

Some things about the Cassin,s Bitters is vague. What we do know is they are a very rare bottle made to resemble a cello. The bottle has the three-stage Lacour’s Bitters like top and measures 10″ in height and approximately 3″ across at the base. This particular example is a special one indeed. Aside from the fact that it could be the only perfect amber example, it is very heavily whittled and full of tiny bubbles. In natural sunlight it glows brilliant gold against the blue sky showing what looks like a million tiny bubbles frozen in time. Here’s a bottle unlike any other and it’s pretty obvious that is and always will be just fine with Francis and Patrick Cassin. Francis the original 49’er immigrant and his ambitious brother. Today we celebrate their triumphs by acknowledging their legacy in glass.

*For more information on the Cassin bottle and much more, try and find, Early Glassworks of California by Warren B. Friedrich. It is a richly detailed and finely researched book on western glass

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Attention Bottle Divers & Bottle Beachcombers

Looking for some individuals who dive for bottles or find bottles on beaches!

Hi Ferdinand,

I hope all is well! I’m writing because we’re looking for potential candidates for our profile section of Coastal Living Magazine, and we’d love to consider someone who collects antique bottles that have either washed ashore or been found in sunken ships. Do you know if you have any members of FOHBC who would fit the bill?

Wondering if you could also ask candidates to include the following:

(1) Where they live

(2) A few sentences about their collecting background

(3) A snapshot of themselves—preferably with their bottles or on the beach!

Thanks again! Excited to see who we find!

Coastal Living Magazine

[PRG] Please send your information to me and I will forward to magazine per their request. Thanks!

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New Western Blob Top Soda Blog

Lance Westfall announces a new blog: westernblobtopsodas.blogspot.com
. Please check it out!

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