Bininger’s Night Cap Flask

Posted on 1 July 2011 by Ferdinand Meyer V
Bininger's Night Cap

Bininger’s Night Cap – Mitchell Collection

Bininger’s Night Cap Flask

01 July 2011

Apple-Touch-IconAI bet most of you have not seen one of these bottles before. I know I hadn’t…until this past Wednesday at Jim and Lynn Mitchell’s house outside of Tampa. I believe this Bininger’s Night Cap might be unique but I’ll wait to have that confirmed. The big Bininger collectors that come to mind are Jack Pelletier, Don Keating and Bob Ferraro.

A quick search of the internet led me to a really nice article called The History and Mystery of the Bininger Family and The Search For Their Tombstones written by Don Keating for Antique Bottle & Glass Collector Magazine.

Don Keating

Don Keating

Posted in Article Publications, Collectors & Collections, Flasks, History | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Handled Pineapples Enjoyed in Sunny Florida

Posted on 30 June 2011 by Ferdinand Meyer V

I’m sitting here in Miami’s airport stuck as a bug in a rug. Storms have diverted most incoming flights to alternate landing spots in Florida so I have no plane to fly back to Houston. I guess I will just play with my bottle images on my laptop.

Anyway…..yesterday I was in Tampa for business and I snuck away before my flight to Miami to see some legendary handled pineapples at a Major Collectors house (Jim & Lynn Mitchell) near Tampa. I still have not been home since the Memphis National as I was in Washington the day before.

I thought I would post a few initial pictures of some simply breathtaking figural pineapple bottles with, of all things, handles. I had always herd about these ladies….More information will follow.

Three Handled Pineapples

Three Beautiful Ladies - Mitchell Collection

Handled Pineapple - Left Position Bottle

Handled Pineapple - Center Position

Handled Pineapple - Right Position

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

River Swamp Chill & Fever Cure with embossed Alligator

Posted on 30 June 2011 by Ferdinand Meyer V

If you collect cures, then the 1884 River Swamp Chill & Fever Cure, with embossed alligator, is probably your heart’s desire, unless one is already in your collection. Read the rest on the FOHBC site…

River Swamp Chill & Fever Cure

River Swamp Chill & Fever Cure

Posted in Collectors & Collections, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Soda & Beer Bottles of North America Web Site

Posted on 29 June 2011 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Soda Button

Tod von Mechow talked to me during the recent FOHBC National Show and Sale and suggested I visit his in-depth web site called Soda & Beer Bottles of North America. This site really is a work horse. Tod had done a fantastic job with his research and made getting information on the site a fun adventure. Check it out.

Soda & Beer Bottles of North America

Soda & Beer Bottles of North America Web Site Home Page

Posted in Advice, Breweriana, Collectors & Collections, Mineral Water, Soda Bottles, Soda Water | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Way to Look at Bottles?

Posted on 29 June 2011 by Ferdinand Meyer V
Forbes Blindfolded

Jerry Forbes Practicing for Meyer Visit

As you may know, Elizabeth and I live in Bottle ‘Siberia’ here in Southeast Texas meaning we are off the beaten track for visitors. Wouldn’t you know it, Jerry and Helen Forbes visited us prior to the four of us all driving 10 hours to Memphis for the 2011 FOHBC National Show and Sale. As my schedule could not be changed, the Forbes came in a day early since I was attending a Public Hearing in Winchester, Virginia. Having Jerry in my house and looking at my bottles without me was driving me crazy. He sent me the posted picture from Carmel to allay my fears. It didn’t! He is assuming I would let a blind folded person hold my bottles! Ha!

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Humor - Lighter Side | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Western Green Bitters…Let’s Add Some More!

Posted on 28 June 2011 by Ferdinand Meyer V

A collector who wishes to remain anonymous, sent me this gorgeous picture of three Western Bitters. From Left to right… Cassin’s Grape Brandy Bitters, Lacour’s Sarsapariphere Bitters and a Byrne and Castree Salutaris Bitters S.F. Let’s add some more pictures of Western Green Bitters! I’ll post a few of mine when I get a chance. It’s fun to so many shades of green.

Green Bitters

A Cassin’s Grape Brandy Bitters, Lacour’s and a Byrne and Castree Salutaris Bitters S.F.

Von Humboldts & Rosenbaums

Von Humboldts & Rosenbaums Bitters

Bryant's Bitters Trio

Two Darker Green Eastern Bitters (Bryant's Stomach Bitters) Marketed on the West Coast (Strang & Murray most likely a Whiskey)

Dr Walkers Vinegar Bitters

Base Embossed Dr Walkers Vinegar Bitters & Trade Card

California Wine & Henelys IXL

California Wine Bitters & Dr. Henely's IXL Bitters

Dr Henley's Pine Green

Dr Henley's Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters (Oval Variant)

Dr Place's Cundurango Bitters

Dr Place's Cundurango Bitters - Crude & Mint!

 

Green Lacours

Two Gorgeous Shades of Green Lacour's Sarsapariphere Bitters

 

Walkers Vinegar Bitters

Extremely Crude J. Walker's Vinegar Bitters found in an 1870's Pit

Cunderango Bitters

Two Simply Stunning Cundurango's

Dr. Wonser's Indian Root Bitters in Green

Powerful embossing on a Dr. Wonser's Indian Root Bitters

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Figural Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Jerry Forbes Does it Again

Posted on 26 June 2011 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Jerry Forbes (Carmel, California) and I just finished the FOHBC Memphis National Show. As usual, Jerry has done phenomenal. He sold well and purchased well. Look at this photograph of some of his goodies just taken in his hotel room.

Forbes Booty

Jerry Forbes Memphis Booty

From Left to Right:

  1. Globe Bitters
  2. Jenny Lind Calabash
  3. Labeled Whiskey
  4. Golden Seal Bitters
  5. Imperial Levee
  6. Old Dr. Townsends
  7. Baker’s Orange Grove Bitters
  8. Fitzpatrick Whiskey Corn
  9. Roback’s Bitters
  10. OK Plantation Bitters
  11. Unembossed Blue Barrel
Posted in Bitters, Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Figural Bottles, FOHBC News, Sarsaparilla, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Bourbon Whiskey Bitters

Posted on 26 June 2011 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Yesterday at the FOHBC National Show and Sale in Memphis, I was able to add two (2) new Bourbon Whiskey Bitters to my collection. It’s fun to find new colors!

B 171 BOURBON WHISKEY BITTERS, Circa 1860’s – 1880’s,
BOURBON WHISKEY ( au ) /BITTERS. // c // Pollard & Company, Boston, 9 1/4 x 2 7/8 (4 1/4), Barrel, 10-10, FM, Applied mouth, Aqua – Extremely rare; Amber – Very rare; Puce, Strawberry, and Plum – Common, Label: Three overlapping circles.

Bourbon Whiskey Bitters

Bourbon Whiskey Bitters - Meyer Collection

Bourbon Whiskey Bitters

Bourbon Whiskey Bitters - Memphis Show Additions - Meyer Collection

Posted in Bitters, Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Figural Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mystery Pig Bottle

Posted on 26 June 2011 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Anybody recognize the Pig Bottle?

Hello,

I have had this bottle for 45 years and have tried to learn about it with no luck. It is about 6 1/2″ long and is pottery. It has a schooner embossed on the back. Could you please refer me to a person who would know it’s history.

Thank you,  Rita

Mystery Pig 2
Mystery Pig 1

Posted in Figural Bottles, Questions | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Royal Kent Hop Bitters

Posted on 26 June 2011 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Another interesting Bitters Bottle from Australia:

Hi Ferdinand,

A message from Bill Ham regarding bitters not listed in the bitters books got me to thinking!

Recently a stunning bottle turned up which has never been seen, not even a piece has been found until recently! There is an aqua cabin bitters from Australia – Royal Kent Hop Bitters embossed on the front panel, with a large crown trade mark, a superb bottle and a rare one too!  These have been listed in Ham’s book.

Recently, one turned up in a stunning green / yellow / amber colour – one of those colours that is somewhat in between the colours mentioned! This has a collar under the lip which is different to the standard aqua one, so probably was made by a different glassworks. Anyway, here is a picture, the only one known!  It is now in a good bitters collection.

Cheers,
Travis.

Royal Kent Hop Bitters

Royal Kent Hop Bitters

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment