Beriaults Hair Bitters – Hair Bitters Manufacturing Company

Posted on 21 March 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Beriaults Hair Bitters – Hair Bitters Manufacturing Company

21 March 2015

Bill Ham recently purchased a collection of primarily labeled bitters that he put on a table for the first time yesterday at the Morro Bay Bottle Show. The Beriaults Hair Bitters caught my attention for a number of reasons such as the use of the bitters for a hair tonic, the label with a man holding a hair piece, the bottle contents and the accompanying packaging hand-stamp for the product. Pretty cool. Obviously a late bitters. Joseph B. Beriaut from Seattle, Washington obtained patent 128,625 for his hair-tonic on January 13th 1920. The product claimed to be for “Removal of all scalp troubles” and asked “Why Wear Anothers Hair?” The business was apparently later called Beriault Laboratories.

“Why wear another’s hair?”

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

H 6 sp // HAIR BITTERS // BERIAULT in script / LABORATORIES // HAIR BITTERS //
L… Beriaults Hair Bitters\
Hair Bitters Mfg. Co., Seattle, Washington
7 7/8 3 1/4 x 2 1/4 (5 1/2)
Rectangular, clear, Stopper with crown finial, ABM
Label: Why where another man’s hair? A remedy for dandruff, falling hair, slap diseases, A delightful dressing.
Registered U.S. Patent Office 1919.

Beriaults_The_Winnipeg_Tribune_Wed__Aug_15__1923_

Beriault’s Hair Bitters advertisement – The Winnipeg Tribune, Wednesday, August 15, 1923

A fully labeled with contents Beriault’s Hair Bitters

Reverse – A fully labeled with contents Beriault’s Hair Bitters

Embossing stamp for Hair Bitters Manufacturing Company

Insert label identifying Hair Bitters Manufacturing Company

Beriaults_The_Oregon_Daily_Journal_Sun__Jul_18__1920_

Clinic announced for Beriault’s Hair Bitters – The Oregon Daily Journal, Sunday, July 18, 1920

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Hair Tonics, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged Beriault, bitters, Hair, Ham, hand, Seattle, stamp, Tonic | Leave a comment

Set of Three Skull Poisons and Trade Cards

Posted on 20 March 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Set of Three Skull Poisons and Trade Cards

20 March 2015

Sometimes I just feel like Charlie Brown because I have to say “Good Grief”. This time, Jim Hagenbuch has a set of three Skull Poisons….plus…are you ready…. three corresponding trade cards. Wow-oh-wow. Lot 244 is currently online at Glass Works Auctions “Winter Classic” Auction 106. The write-up and pictures from Glass Works are included in this post.

244. Set of Three Skull Poisons and Trade Cards, “POISON – PAT APP’L FOR”, (Kuhn, KU-10), Massachusetts, ca. 1890 – 1910, cobalt blue, 2 7/8”, 3 1/2” and 4 1/4”, the middle and larger size bottles have “PAT – JUNE – 26TH – 1894” on smooth bases, tooled lips. Three identical trade cards accompany the skulls. Each shows a Skull with ‘Patented June 26, 1894’ on the front and ‘C.H. Lee & Co. / Manufacturers of / Skull & Cross Bones / (Lee Poison Bottle) / 117 Pearl St. Boston. / Room 313, 132 Nassau St., New York’. They are 4 1/2” by 2 1/2”h.

Visit Glass Works Auctions

The middle size skull has a less than pinhead in size spot of roughness on the outer edge of the lip that probably occurred in making. Arguably the finest set of Skull Poisons in existence and never filled. Rarer than the Skull’s are the three trade cards, one for each skull. In the mid-1980’s an English collector ran an ad in the British Bottle Review magazine wanting to buy Skull poisons. A person responded to the ad offering this set, he had found them several years earlier in an old Apothecary Shop in central Wales, which is part of Great Britain. When found the Skull’s and cards were inside a cardboard box filled with straw, both of which are long gone. The set is believed to be a salesmen’s sample, shown to potential British buyers and left behind. For years rumor had it that a second set was also found, but this has never been substantiated, nor found.

Posted in Advertising, Auction News, Poison Bottles, Trade Cards | Tagged auction, brown, cards, Charlie, good, grief, hagenbuch, Poison, Skull, trade | Leave a comment

1876 United States Internal Revenue Stamps

Posted on 19 March 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Looking closer at 1876 United States Internal Revenue Special Tax Stamps

19 March 2015

While working on the Dr. James H. McLean & Ferd Meyer, the Tax Agent post, I had the opportunity to look more closely at the 1876 United States Internal Revenue Special Tax Stamps or Certificates for Wholesale Liquor Dealers, Tobacco Peddlers and Beer Brewers. The art is quite spectacular and was executed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C. which was formed in 1861 by legislation enacted to help fund the Civil War. In July 1861, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to issue paper currency in lieu of coins due to the lack of funds needed to support the conflict.

In August 1862, while the American Civil War was being waged, the United States (Union) government began taxing a variety of goods, services and legal dealings. Many were luxury or “sin” items. To confirm that taxes were paid, a ‘revenue stamp’ was purchased and appropriately affixed to the taxable item, which would in turn pay the tax duty involved.

Examples of the first U.S. Revenue stamps issued in 1862

The new revenue stamps were used to pay tax on proprietary items such as playing cards, patent medicines and luxuries, and for various legal documents, stocks, transactions and various legal services. The cancellation of these stamps were usually done in pen and ink, while hand stamped cancellations were seldomly used and subsequently are more rare. When the Civil War ended it did not mean an end to revenue taxes as the federal government still had not paid the $2.7 billion debt it had acquired until 1883, at which time it finally repealed the excise tax. Three distinct revenue stamp series were produced to pay the taxes during that twenty-one year period.

A 2 cent Internal Revenue “Playing Cards”, Scott # R11, paid the tax on this carte de visite

Among the more notable instances of tax stamp usage occurred in the photography trade. As the Civil War progressed, the demand for photographs of family members, soldiers going off to war and returning war heroes increased dramatically, but not without the notice from the Federal government who saw the advent as an opportunity to raise much-needed revenue for the war. On August 1, 1864 the Internal Revenue department passed a ‘photograph tax’ requiring photographers to pay a tax on the sale of their photographs. By 1864 there were no ‘photography tax’ stamps issued, so other stamps were substituted, typically, the proprietary or playing card revenue stamps was used, usually affixed to the back of the photograph. Already burdened with high overhead costs and scarcity of materials because of the war, large photograph companies organized and petitioned Congress, complaining that they were shouldering too much of the tax burden placed on the public. After exactly two years their constant efforts resulted in the tax being repealed on August 1, 1866. Several other widely used products, such as cotton, tobacco and alcohol, were also charged a proprietary tax which appreciably contributed to the revenues generated. [Wikipedia]

I was able to isolate some of the engraved art on the certificates.

United States Capitol on Brewer Stamp

Tobacco Peddler 2nd Class art

Wholesale Liquor Dealer art. Notice the demijohn.

Posted in Art & Architecture, Civil War, History, Postage, Tax Stamps | Tagged 1876, certificate, Civil, goods, Internal, liquor, peddler, Revenue, special, stamp, States, tax, tobacco, United, war | Leave a comment

Dr. James H. McLean & Ferd Meyer, the Tax Agent

Posted on 19 March 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. James H. McLean & Ferd Meyer, the Tax Agent

19 March 2015

Tom Phillips sent me a packet of FOHBC convention information and with it was this Commission Bill below for Dr. J. H. McLean’s Family Medicines at 314 Chestnut Street in St. Louis, Missouri. That is Dr. McLean pictured above. OK, so far, that is pretty cool. Neat graphics including an illustration of Dr. McLean’s Grand Tower Block in the upper left corner and Dr. McLean’s Laboratory in the upper right corner. Obviously a pretty big operation with lots of product and distribution. So why did he send it to me? I carefully look at the Dr. McLean products listed neatly on the front of the bill. I see Cordial, Liniment, Quinine and Vermifuge listings, but no Bitters listings?

Dr. J. H. McLean’s Family Medicines commission bill, 1877 (front)

So I turn it over and see copy on the back. I usually don’t see printing here. Something from the Supervisor’s Office of the United States Internal Revenue from the District of Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Indian Territory and Texas dated January 19th, 1876.

The communication is signed by FERD. MEYER. Now that is cool. Many Germans settled in Baltimore, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Fort Wayne and San Antonio among other locations. While searching my own ancestry, I have come across other Ferdinand Meyer listings besides my family line in Baltimore. I am Ferdinand Meyer V and have no middle name.

Dr. J. H. McLeans’s Family Medicines commission bill (reverse) Note: FERD MEYER, Supervisor

What is interesting here, is that Dr. McLean sent Agent Ferd Meyer a letter saying that certain revenue officers in his district have annoyed his customers by insisting that they pay a special Tax as retail liquor dealers selling his “Strengthening Cordial and Blood Purifier”. Dr. McLean claimed that his “Cordial” was put up and sold as a medicine and protested against classifying it with intoxicating drinks or bitters even though The Strengthening Cordial was reputedly 85 to 100 proof alcohol. Ferd Meyer replys and lets him off the hook.

US Internal Revenue Wholesale Dealer in Malt Liquors License – eBay

A quick search of a St. Louis city directory in 1876, the date of the Ferd Meyer signature, reveals five Ferd Meyer listings in the 1876 St. Louis City Directory. One is our Ferd Meyer, U. S. Revenue Agent, with an office on the Third Floor of the Post Office Building. I bet Dr. McLean and Ferd Meyer knew each other. St. Louis at that time was the epicenter of illicit and fraudulent alcohol production as far as the stunts to avoid paying taxes.

Five Ferd Meyer listings in the 1876 St. Louis City Directory. One is our Ferd Meyer, U. S. Revenue Agent, with an office on the Third Floor of the Post Office Building.

DR. JAMES HENRY McLEAN

James McLean was born in Scotland in 1829, and emigrated with his father to Nova Scotia shortly thereafter. When McLean was 13 years old he left home and followed the frontier west as far as St. Louis, where he attended a medical college. He decided, at this time, to concoct a preparation known as a “strengthening cordial” which, according to advertisements, would cure just about anything from pink eye to paralysis. The returns from his patent-medicine sales, which were practically all profit, soon made McLean immensely wealthy. In pursuing his professional career unaided and alone, he amassed a large fortune. The people of St. Louis know well of Dr. J. H. McLean’s Grand Tower Block and his vast Laboratory. The Dr. J. H. McLean’s Strengthening Cordial and Blood Purifier, with his other prepared medicines could be found in drug stores in nearly every village, hamlet and home in the United States including in many places in Europe as well.

Fulfilling this mission, the Doctor’s great heart burned on to do more for his fellow men. Hearing of the killing and slaughter of the brave soldiers in Europe and Asia at the will of their rulers, he resolved to develop such terribly destructive weapons of war, arms, torpedoes, and fortresses, and such perfect defenses, as would compel all nations to keep peace towards each other. This is totally another chapter in Dr. McLeans life.

Read: Dr. James Henry McLean

FERD. MEYER

[Passage from the Congressional Series of United States Public Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1876]

“TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE,

“Washington, June 15, 1875.
“Sir: You have this day been instructed by telegraph to proceed to Saint Louis, and assist Supervisor Meyer in all revenue matters in his district.

“Revenue Agent Crane, who has been at Saint Louis since the inauguration of the exposure of the recent frauds, will be able to give you such information as to the progress of the work already begun as will enable you to work intelligently hereafter. Supervisor Meyer, who has been recently appointed, is not sufficiently familiar with internal revenue matters but that he will need the assistance of experienced revenue agents for some time.

“Before leaving Saint Louis, you will visit Saint Joseph and examine the rectifying-house of Westheimer, who is believed to have been a dealer in much of the illicit goods manufactured in Saint Louis. It would also be well while at Saint Joseph to examine the different distilleries located there.

“Information has also reached this office that S. F. Hutchinson, distiller, Missouri City, has been offering whisky at 81.05 per gallon, within the past ten days or two weeks. As it would be impossible for spirits, on which had honestly been paid the tax, to be sold at any such price without loss, it would be well for you to give his distillery a thorough overhauling.

“You are requested to report frequently and fully to this office the progress of your work, and to act in harmony with all the revenue officers in Saint Louis. “Respectfully,

D. D. PRATT, Commissioner.

“W. A.GAVETT, Esq.,

“Revenue Agent, (Care of Supervisor Meyer) Saint Louis, Mo.”

Q. What day did you get to Saint Louis ? – A. My recollection is that it was the 17th day of June.

Q. How long were you there ? – A. About a month.

Q. What were your duties? – A. I was engaged in helping the officers to make the various investigations, and posting them up generally on their duties, and transferring the office of the old collector to his successor.

Q. Who was the new collector? – A. Mr. Sturgeon.

Q. When did he enter upon his duties? – A. On the 1st of July, 1975.

Q. Whose place did he take? – A. He took the place of Mr. Maguire.

Q. Was Maguire in office when you went there! – A. Yes, sir.

Q. Did you make any report with respect to him? – A. Yes, sir.

Q. What was the purport of it? – A. On the 21st of June, Supervisor Meyer, Revenue Agent Crane, and myself made a joint report to the Commissioner by telegraph, asking the immediate suspension from office of Collector Maguire, of which I have a copy.
By Mr. Cochrane:

Q. Where is the original? – A. The original, I suppose, is among my papers at Detroit.

[Telegram.]

“SAINT LOUIS, MO , June 21, 1875.

“Hon. D. D. PRATT,
“Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Washington, D. C.:

“Collector Maguire misstated facts, in his letter to you of eighth instant, concerning collection of taxes on April special list. District attorney did not advise suit instead of distraint, and there is property available to secure a large part of these taxes; but to do this, and for the interest of the Government, Collector Maguire will have to be immediately suspended, Shall I suspend him?

FERD. MEYER, Supervisor.

“We concur.”

Posted in Bitters, Cordial, Ephemera, History, Legal, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Tax Stamps, Whiskey | Tagged agent, Bill, bitters, commision, Cordial, family, Ferd, Ferdinand, German, Internal, liquor, mclean, Medicine, Medicines, Meyer, Missouri, Phillips, receipt, Revenue, St. Louis, Stated, supervisor, tax, United | Leave a comment

Adolph Christian Ferdinand Moll and his Mexican Pulque Bitters

Posted on 18 March 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Adolph Christian Ferdinand Moll and his Mexican Pulque Bitters

18 March 2015

I picked up a small medicine style aqua bitters recently that was embossed “Mexican Bitters”. That’s all, just Mexican Bitters. Apparently one was dug in Buffalo, New York many years ago. Of course this is not the rather well-known Mexican Bitters put out by Henry C. Weaver in Lancaster, Ohio.

As I was studying the bottle, I saw a listing in Bitters Bottles for a Mexican Pulque Bitters and it noted that the only reference was a trade card. That prompted a communication to bitters ephemera king Joe Gourd, who gladly provided the advertising trade card images for this post.

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

M 79 MEXICAN PULQUE BITTERS
WAT Supp Lost
Trade Card for A. Moll, Sole agent for the U.S., Grocer and Liquor Dealer
612 & 614 Franklin Ave., St. Louis
Try a Bottle of the Celebrated Mexican Pulque Bitters, relieves all distress of the stomach. Used for a diseases of the liver, kidneys, stomach and bowels.
Dog and pheasant motif.

A. MOLL

Adolph Christian Ferdinand Moll illustration from on old photograph

Adolph Christian Ferdinand Moll liked to go by the name “A. Moll”. I think I can understand why. A. Moll was considered the “Grocery King” of Franklin Avenue in St. Louis and he was also a liquor dealer and the sole agent in the United States for Mexican Pulque Bitters.

Pulque Gathering

Pulque is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey (agave) plant. It is traditional to central Mexico, where it has been produced for millennia. It has the color of milk, somewhat viscous consistency and a sour yeast-like taste. The drink’s history extends far back into the Mesoamerican period, when it was considered sacred, and its use was limited to certain classes of people. After the Spanish Conquest of Mexico, the drink became secular and its consumption rose. The consumption of pulque reached its peak in the late 19th century. In the 20th century, the drink fell into decline, mostly because of competition from beer, which became more prevalent with the arrival of European immigrants. There are some efforts to revive the drink’s popularity through tourism. [Wikipedia]

Adolph Moll was the son of Johann Friedrich Ludwig Moll and Maria Carolina Friderica Burmeister. He was born on 9 April 1834 in Perleberg, Kreis Westpregnitz, Brandenburg, Prussia (aka Frankenstein, Prussia). He emigrated with his family from Germany to New York City in May 1852. He is listed in Brooklyn in the 1855 New York State Census, but moved to St. Louis about 1856 and was naturalized in the St. Louis Law Commissioner’s Court in 1858 at the age of 24. In that same year, he formed the Heidsick & Moll grocery partnership, the store being located on N. Third between Market & Chestnut. Prior to this he was in the safe business for a few years. Mr. Moll was described as a hard working man who started with nothing and built one of the most solid and advanced grocery businesses in United States, possibly a model for today’s grocery stores.

Emma Friederike Hedwig Ballaseus

Adolph Moll married Emma Friederike Hedwig Ballaseus, daughter of Johann Wilhelm Ballaseus and Julianna Justina (aka Ida Augusta) Wagner in February 1861. She had joined her mother and older sister in St. Louis in May 1860. They were married by Reverend Dr. Hugo Krebs in the Evangelist Church of the Holy Ghost. They had eight children. The oldest of the boys was Paul Moll who would later join his father in the grocery business. The same applies to Adolph Moll who was 10 years younger than Paul. Matriarch Hedwig Ballaseus was also a strong presence in the business concern.

Interestingly enough, the next month, two other German couples were married in the same church, in a double wedding, this being Ulrich Busch and Anna Anheuser and the second was Adolphus Busch, a wholesaler who had immigrated to St. Louis from Germany in 1857 who married Eberhard Anheuser’s daughter.

A. Moll Grocer Company on Franklin Avenue in St. Louis

The A. Moll Grocer Company began in 1863, and it dominated Adolph’s life for 35 years until his death on 22 June 1898 in St. Louis. He would work at everything in the grocery store from heaving boxes, marketing and keeping the books. People who know him said he earned every cent of his money as he built up a comfortable fortune. He was very keen in business and kept up with all modern advances in the industry. He once lured customers into his grocery store in 1885 with a 2,300-pound wheel of cheese. He was progressive in all is notions from the management of his business to his ardent advocacy of the single tax theory.

Adolph Moll Dead, 1898

After his death, Adolph Arthur Moll was president of A. Moll Grocer Company. He was born in St. Louis on 25 September 1873 and was educated in public schools in St. Louis. He began an active career with the Wagner Electric Co., continuing for two years and then entered the grocery business as a clerk with the A. Moll Grocer Co., By June, 1895 he was acting general manager, and after death of brother Paul in 1903, became vice president and general manager and was named president of the concern in 1907.

Paul Moll, Sr, was born in St Louis on April 27, 1865, and in April 1894 he married Mollie Augusta Gamer. They had 2 boys and 2 girls, the oldest boy being Paul Moll Jr. who was born in January 1896. He married Marjorie Mosier and on June 2, 1922, their son Paul Moll III was born.

Probably many from the Moll family at the A. Moll Grocer Company

Adolph Moll is noteworthy for having supported so many of his relatives, many through jobs at the grocery. He appears to have brought several to St. Louis, including his widowed father (after June 1865), brother Frederick Moll (1864), brother-in-law/widower William Paust (1868), brother-in-law Adolph Ballaseus (1870), brother-in-law Arthur Ballaseus (1871), sister-in-law/widow Antonia Bormann (1875), and brother Robert Moll (1878). The latter deserves special mention, as he was a highly decorated Civil War veteran with various New York infantry units, with major engagements at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Both Adolph and Robert Moll are buried with their respective families at Bellefontaine Cemetery. Adolph’s mother-in-law, however, was buried in Holy Ghost Cemetery, which was cleared in 1916 for Theodore Roosevelt High School (with any remains re-interred elsewhere). She appears in City death records as “A.W. Bullouseus.”

Advertising trade card for A. Moll and his Pulque Bitters – Joe Gourd Collection

Advertising trade card for A. Moll and his Pulque Bitters – Joe Gourd Collection

MexicanPulque_The_St_Louis_Republic_Sun__Jul_23__1905_

Mexican Pulque Bitters on sale for 60 cents a bottle at A. Moll Grocer Company – The St. Louis Republic, Sunday, July 23, 1905

1888 Adolph Moll Passport

Select Listings:

1834: Adolph Christian Ferdinand Moll, son of Johann Friedrich Ludwig Moll and Maria Carolina Friderica Burmeister, was born 9 April 1834 in Perleberg, Kreis Westpregnitz, Brandenburg, Prussia

1852: Adolph Moll emigrated in 1852 to America settling in New York

1861: Marriage to Hedwig Ballaseus on 02 February 1861 in St. Louis.

1871: Adolph Moll, Grocer, 618 Franklin Avenue – St. Louis, Missouri City Directory

1875-1885: Adolph Moll, Grocer, 612 and 614 Franklin Avenue – St. Louis, Missouri City Directory

1880: Adolph Moll, Fine Liquors, 612 and 614 Franklin Avenue – St. Louis, Missouri City Directory

1880: Adolph Moll, age 45, Retail Grocer, wife Hedwig, St. Louis, Missouri – United States Federal Census

1885: Adolph Moll, who lured customers into his grocery in 1885 with a 2,300-pound wheel of cheese.

1889: Adolph Moll, Grocer, 612 and 614 Franklin Avenue and 822 N. 7th. – St. Louis, Missouri City Directory

1898: Adolph Moll died 22 June 1898 in St. Louis, Missouri.

1905: Mexican Pulque Bitters on sale for 60 cents a bottle at A. Moll Grocer Company (see advertisement above) – The St. Louis Republic

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Ephemera, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Trade Cards | Tagged Adolph, agave, Ballaseus, bitters, Christian, Ferdinand, Frankenstein, Franklin, Germany, Gourd, grocer, Hedwig, liquor, Mexican, Missouri, Moll, Paul, Prussia, Pulque, St. Louis | Leave a comment

W. A. Carlton’s Anti-Dyspeptic Tonic Bitters – Athens, Georgia

Posted on 17 March 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

W. A. Carlton’s Anti-Dyspeptic Tonic Bitters – Athens, Georgia

17 March 2015

Jim Hagenbuch with Glass Works Auctions has this really neat and extremely rare Carlton’s Anti-Dyspeptic Tonic Bitters square from Athens, Georgia in his “Winter Classic” Auction #106 that closes on March 23rd. I’ve heard about this bottle but have never seen an example before. Apparently W. A. Carlton was a plantation owner on what is now part of the University of Georgia at Athens, Georgia.

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

C 50.5 CARLTON’S ANTI DYSPEPTIC & TONIC BITTERS

W. A. CARLTON’S // ANTI DYSPEPTIC / & TONIC BITTERS // ATHENS. GA // f //
9 11/16 x 2 5/8 (7 5/16) 7/16
Square, Yellow, LTCR, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
W. A. Carlton was a plantation owner on what is now part of the University of Georgia at Athens Ga.
Dug in Savannah, Ga.

WILLIAM ALEXANDER CARLTON

W. A. Carlton, whose name is embossed on the subject bottle, came from a prominent family of physicians in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. William Alexander Carlton was born on 12 December 1847 in Athens and was the second in order of birth of six children from the union of Dr. Joseph Barnett Carlton and Emma (Moore) Carlton. His brothers and sisters were Julia E. Carlton, Allura H. Carlton, who died in infancy; Joseph H. Carlton, Emma Leila Carlton, who was the wife of Honorable Charles L. Bartlett, member of Congress from the Sixth Congressional District of Georgia; and Dr. James M. Carlton.

His father, Dr. Joseph B. Carlton was born in Greene County, Georgia, on 11 December 1822. He was a son of James R. and Elizabeth (Espey) Carlton, the former of whom was born in King and Queen County, Virginia, in 1795; his death occurring in Athens, Georgia on 10 August, 1888, at the patriarchal age of ninety-three years. Elizabeth (Espey) Carlton was born in Oglethorpe County, Georgia., and was a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Pennsylvania.

James R. Carlton was a son of Elijah Carlton, a Scotch Presbyterian, who immigrated to America from the northern part of Ireland and established his home in Virginia. He served as corporal in the Second regiment of Virginia militia in the war of 1812. His son, James R., Jr., settled in Clarke county, Georgia, when twenty-one years of age; was for some time engaged in the general merchandise business and later became a successful contractor. He erected the first brick building in what is now the city of Athens.

Dr. William Alexander Carlton received his elementary education in the private schools of Athens including Rock College (renamed the Normal School), and the University of Georgia where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1868. He then went to Atlanta and passed several months in a local laboratory of chemistry and pharmacy with Professor W. J. Land, and in the winters of 1869 and 1870 he took a course in the College of Pharmacy in Philadelphia. Later he took two courses of lectures at Jefferson Medical College, in the same city, graduating as a member of the Class of 1873 and duly receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then returned to Athens, where he continued in the practice of his profession for the ensuing three years with his father, Dr. Joseph Barnett Carlton, after which he returned to Philadelphia and completed a post-graduate medical course and attended lectures on anatomy, and on the eye and throat at the Wills’ Eye Hospital. While there he was honored with the appointment as resident physician of St. Mary’s Hospital, where he remained some time. He resumed the practice of his profession in Athens in 1876.

Dr. Carlton was a member of the Medical Association of Georgia, a Democrat in politics, and had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South, for nearly forty years. For many interested in the planting industry and in the raising of Jersey cattle and other high-grade live stock.

In 1878, Dr. Carlton was united in marriage to Miss Annie M. Price, daughter of Elihu and Julia Price, of Macon, Georgia. They had five children, namely: Elihu, who died in infancy; Juliet, wife of Dr. Henry M. Fullilove, of Athens; Hilda, who died in infancy; and Annie Frances and William A. Jr. Mrs. Annie M. Carlton died in 1902 and was laid to rest in Oconee cemetery. On June 13, 1906 Dr. Carlton was married to Miss Susie A. Lucas, the youngest daughter of Judge F. W. and Mrs. Martha (Singleton) Lucas, honored and representative citizens of Athens, and who were held in the highest esteem by all who knew them.

Dr. Carlton then returned to Athens and did a general practice until 1890. He then returned to Philadelphia and studied bacteriology at Jefferson Medical College Laboratory under Dr. Handle C. Rosenburger. He then returned to Athens and after fifty
years of continued service in the medical profession he retired. Dr. Carlton died on 9 May 1930 in Athens, Georgia.

DR. WILLIAM A. CARLTON

For fifty years Dr. W. A. Carlton practiced medicine in Athens, Ga. For more than fifty years I have known Dr. Carlton, known him as a physician and known him as a friend.

He was the family physician of my parents and later my family physician. No man have I ever held in higher esteem, therefore, it is extremely difficult for me to do justice to Dr. Carlton in this sketch of his life.

Dr. Carlton was born in Athens, educated in Athens, practiced medicine in Athens and has lived in Athens all of his life, and he is therefore a real Athenian. But, he is more than that, he is a real man, a real friend and a real doctor.

As a boy he was meek, modest, courteous, polite and unostentatious. He was strong, honest, faithful and persevering. These virtues were so deeply ground in his mind and heart, and soul that when he became a man they remained steadfast with him, rounding out one of the most beautiful characters, which distinguishes one as a man among men.

As a boy he attended school at the old Rock College (University High School), which was converted into a military institute during the war. The students were instructed in military tactics by Captain Charbonnier, and by order of the Secretary of War these boys were detained for local defense, subject to being ordered to any point in the state. William A. Carlton, with six other cadets, was appointed to guard 430 Federal prisoners brought to Athens by General Breckenridge’s command. On the morning of May 4, 1865, this lad, having been on picket duty all night was given leave of absence to go to his home and report for the afternoon. Before he reached home he was captured by Federal troops and his musket taken from him. In a few days he was paroled. So, early in life patriotism and duty became an unselfish part of his being.

As a physician he has always been ambitious, not ambitious for the praise and plaudits of a people, but ambitious to give to the sick and suffering the best that was in him, and his faithfulness is recorded by an undying appreciation on the part of thousands of his former patients. Everyone who consulted him received not only the most courteous attention but the most painstaking consideration.

Dr. Carlton stood at the top of his profession. He came from a family of doctors. His father and his brother were among Athens’ best physicians, and when he attended Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, without making application for the position, he was appointed interne at St. Mary’s Hospital, located in that city.

When the news was heralded that Dr. Carlton had retired from active practice of the profession he loved and honored, there was sadness and regret, which touched many hearts and many homes, not only in Athens, but in every county adjacent to Clarke, and even reached beyond the borders of the state.

As a friend, he is sincere and his sincerity accentuates his friendship and makes of it a friendship as valuable as it is beautiful. A a man, he possesses those God-given virtues which through the ages have inspired men “to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly.” His motto in life is “Speak ill of no one.”

And now, that he has laid down his “working tools,” and sought a well-earned rest after a half century of faithful trust, may God grant him many more years of health and strength to enjoy the peace and quietude and the love of home and give to his friends the pleasure and happiness of meeting him and greeting him.

M. G. MICHAEL

DR. JOSEPH BARNETT CARLTON

Dr. Joseph B. Carlton was the father of William Alexander Carlton and was a resident of Athens all of his life. He was born in 1822. After completing his education at private schools and the University of Georgia at Athens, he attended the Medical College of Augusta, where he graduated in 1844. He practiced medicine thirty-seven years. His death occurred in 1881. He was a member of the Georgia Legislature in 1852 to 1856 and member of the Senate 1856 to 1858.

During our Civil War when the battles around Richmond were being fought the number of wounded men was so great that the army surgeons were unable to give them proper attention. Dr. Carlton went to Richmond and offered his services. No one knows how many lives he saved or how much suffering he relieved but for years afterwards many of those he attended as long as they lived could not express their gratitude for the services he rendered them under such trying circumstances. During the war he was appointed surgeon of General Robert Toombsí regiment of State Troops. He had remarkable success in the treatment of pneumonia and measle diseases which had been so fatal in camp. He returned to Athens and resumed general practice. He always felt that skill, attention, and fidelity, were due his patients; they found in him tenderness and sympathy. His affable manner, cheerful disposition, and kind heart won for him many friends.

DR. HENRY HULL CARLTON

Dr. Henry Hull Carlton obtained his literary education in the private schools of Athens and the University of Georgia. He graduated in medicine about four years before the Civil “War at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He entered into the practice of medicine with his brother, Dr. Joseph B. Carlton. The firm did a large and successful practice.

In 1860, Dr. H. H. Carlton entered the Confederate service as first lieutenant, Troupe Artillery. In a few months the company was reorganized and Dr. Carlton was elected captain. The company served throughout the war and made a wonderful record. After the war, Dr. Carlton resumed the practice of medicine, but times had changed and after two years practice he felt called upon to serve his fellow citizens in another capacity.

He was chosen to serve in the Legislature, Senate and U. S. Congress. He never
lost his deep interest in the medical profession. He died October 26, 1905.

DR. JAMES M. CARLTON

Dr. James M. Carlton was the son of Dr. William Alexander Carlton and was born in Athens, Georgia on January 10, 1858. He received his diploma from the University of Georgia at the age of eighteen and in 1881 the degree of Doctor of Medicine from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He was a born physician and well qualified to do the work. His practice increased rapidly and his strong constitution was overtaxed. After a little over two years in the practice he was taken suddenly ill and died in a few days, on August 18, 1883. His death was a great shock to his many friends and an irreparable loss to the community; the poor of Athens had lost their best friend. “This successful imitator and follower of the Great Physician, living a short life full of happiness in alleviating pain, and sacrificing self to bring joy to Athens,
obeyed the summons too.”

Select Listings:

1850: W. A. Carlton, age 3, born in Georgia, living in Athens, Clarke, Georgia, father Joseph B. Carlton (age 28), Physician – United States Federal Census

1860: William A. Carlton, age 12, born about 1848 in Georgia, living in Athens, Clarke, Georgia, father Joseph B. Carlton (age 28), Medical Doctor, Wife Emma H. (34), sister, Julia E. (15), Emma D. (7), James M. (2) also James M (25) recorded – United States Federal Census

1879-1880: William A. Carlton, Physician – Shole’s Georgia State Gazetteer

1900: W. A. Carlton, Medical Doctor, born in Georgia in 1847, living Athens, Clarke, Georgia, married to A. M. Carlton in 1878, children, Julia Carlton (18), Annie F. Carlton (13), W A Carlton (9) – United States Federal Census

1909: W. A. Carlton (Susie), Physician, Hodgnon-Shackleford Building – Directory, City of Athens, Georgia

References: History Of Athens And Clarke County, History of the Medical Profession, By DR. WILLIAM A. CARLTON

Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, Allen Daniel Candler, Clement Anselm Evans State Historical Association, 1906

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Civil War, History, Medicines & Cures, Tonics | Tagged Alexander, anti, Athens, Augusta, Barnett, Carlton, Civil War, Clarke, college, Doctor, Dyspeptic, Georgia, hagenbuch, Henry, Hull, James, Joseph, Philadelphia, physician, Tonic, university, William | Leave a comment

Looking at some Universal Bitters

Posted on 15 March 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Looking at some Universal Bitters

15 March 2015

If you play word association with me and you say Universal, I think of Universal Pictures first, especially their older logos which were fantastic. One is pictured at the top of the post. Of course I know what the word means. When I was working on the Dr. Marcus’ Universal Bitters post yesterday, I came across some additional Universal Bitters. I thought we would take a moment to look at a few of the brands dating from 1860 all the way to 1931. First the Dr. Marcus’ Universal Bitters advertisement below from the The Philadelphia Inquirer, in 1861. The classic Universe Bitters lady’s leg has not been included in the post.

DR. MARCUS’ UNIVERSAL BITTERS

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

John H. Holmes was the proprietor in 1861, addressing at 539 S.W. Corner of Front and Thompson Streets in Philadelphia. The advertisement below states that the “preparation has been in use for eight years, having first been prescribed by the eminent Physician of Philadelphia for the present Proprietor”. Unfortunately I can not find a Dr. Marcus in Philadelphia directories in the 1850s or 1860s. Holmes was selling the bitters out of his Tavern at the same address. Read: Dr. Marcus’ Universal Bitters – Philadelphia. The Ring & Ham number is M 35.

Dr. Marcus’s Improved Universal Bitters advertisement – The Philadelphia Inquirer, Saturday, May 11, 1861

H. G. GARR’S UNIVERSAL BITTERS

GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

H.G. Garr must have operated a general store in Gettysburg according to the advertisement below in the Gettysburg Compiler in 1860. Along with H. G. Garr’s Universal Bitters, he was selling Gum Shoes for 25 cents for wet feet and all kinds of cures for people suffering with corns, chilblains and frozen feet. This cure was probably his Universal Bitters. He also sold hosiery, fresh cheese and all kinds of choice fruits like figs, prunes, dates, raisins, currants and lemons. This brand appears unlisted in Ring & Ham. Gettysburg would play an important role in United States history in just a few short years.

GarrsUniversal_Gettysburg_Compiler_Mon__Feb_20__1860_

Reference to a H. G. Garr’s Universal Bitters – Gettysburg Compiler, Monday, February 20, 1860

UNIVERSAL BITTERS

WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

George Myers at 11 and 13 South Front Street in Wilmington, South Carolina was the agent for Universal Bitters in the The Daily Journal in 1875. This was probably a reference to the Universal Bitters put out by Nicholas Kieffer in New Orleans (see further below). The bitters was a positive cure for nervous debility.

MyersUniversal_The_Daily_Journal_Thu__Dec_2__1875_

Universal Bitters mentioned in advertisement – The Daily Journal, Thursday, December 2, 1875

BRUNETT’S UNIVERSAL BITTERS

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

Dr. Brunett was born in France around 1805 and came to New York with his new wife in 1827. He lived in New York ten years until his wife died. He came to Philadelphia with his two daughters and opened a small drug store at 534 South Fourth Street. He manufactured Brunett’s Universal Pills and Brunett’s Universal Bitters. Brunett’s Universal Bitters is unlisted but there is a listing in Ring & Ham for a B 238, DR. BRUNET’S TONIC BITTERS from Philadelphia. The bottle is 7 5/8 tall, round, aqua and has a rough and metallic pontil mark. Probably the same guy though the last name is missing a “T’.

BrunettsUniversal_The_Times_Mon__May_16__1887_

A Dr. Brunett making a Universal Bitters –The Times, Monday, May 16, 1887

UNIVERSAL BITTERS

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA & SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

When you say Universal Bitters, this is the one, the creme of the crop. We have talked previously about Nicholas Kieffer who made his Universal Bitters in New Orleans. Later H. Grenet, F. Krisch & Brother and Jacob Weber & Company made and sold it in San Antonio, Texas as you can see in these newspaper advertisement below from The San Antonio Light in 1882 and 1884. Read: The missing link Universal Bitters by Nicholas Kieffer. This would be Ring & Ham number U 11.2. Notice that Krisch is also selling Kieffer’s Malakoff Bitters.

Universal_The_San_Antonio_Light_Thu__Jun_22__1882_

F. Krisch & Bro., Under the direct management of N. Kieffer selling Universal Bitters – The San Antonio Light, Thursday, June 22, 1882

Jacob Weber & Co., Manufacturers of The Universal Bitters, San Antonio – The San Antonio Light, March 18, 1884

DR. WARREN’S UNIVERSAL TONIC BITTERS

FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN

The story here revolves around Silas Burrell Stiles and Frank M. Givens who were born in New York and ended up in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and opened a drug store in 1873. I suspect they were life-long friends as their wives, Caroline and Isabel, appear together on social listings during the same time period. Silas was the main driving force in the initial drug business. They put out the Dr. Warren’s Universal Tonic Bitters around 1885. Read: Dr. Warren’s Universal Tonic Bitters – Fond du Lac. This bitters is extremely rare and cataloged as W 50 in Ring & Ham.

GOLDMANN’S UNIVERSAL BITTERS

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Goldmann’s famous Universal Bitters was selling and looking for Agents for his medicinal preparation that “was not subject to license, therefore salable in prohibition as well as other States”, I like his phrase “Big money in it for live people”. He was addressed at 403 Blue Island Avenue in 1886 and 122 Wells Street the next year. See the next listing for Albert Goldman in New York below. This brand appears unlisted in Ring & Ham.

“Big money in it for live people”

Goldmann_Chicago_Daily_Tribune_Sun__Feb_14__1886_

Goldmann’s Universal Bitters advertisement – Chicago Daily Tribune, Sunday, February 14, 1886

Goldmann_Chicago_Daily_Tribune_Sat__Jan_22__1887_

Goldmann’s Universal Bitters advertisement – Chicago Daily Tribune, Saturday, January 22, 1887

RAUER’S UNIVERSAL BITTERS

DECATUR, ILLINOIS

Union Bottling Works were manufacturers of soda water, ginger ale, champagne, cider and orange wine. They were also the agents for Rauer’s Universal Bitters according to this 1890 advertisement below in the The Daily Review in Decatur, Illinois. This brand appears unlisted in Ring & Ham.

Rauers_The_Daily_Review_Wed__Dec_24__1890_

Union Bottling Works agents for Rauer’s Universal Bitters – The Daily Review, Wednesday, December 24, 1890

UNIVERSAL BITTERS CHEMICAL WORKS

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

Henry Scheriff of St. Louis was the sole proprietor of the Universal Bitters Chemical Works as noted in this 1890 advertisement below from the Alton Evening Telegraph in Alton, Illinois. This bitters reference appears unlisted in Ring & Ham.

Scheriff_Alton_Evening_Telegraph_Fri__Dec_19__1890_

Henry Scheriff of St. Louis was the sole proprietor of the Universal Bitters Chemical Works – Alton Evening Telegraph, Friday, December 19, 1890

UNIVERSAL BITTERS COMPANY

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

The Universal Bitters Company, a New York Corporation, posted notices and gave investors an opportunity to “Share in the Large Profits of one of the Most Promising Manufacturing Enterprises of the Twentieth Century” in the New York Tribune in 1908. Albert Goldman was the originator of Universal Bitters. He was addressed at 90 West Broadway in New York City. This bitters company reference appears unlisted in Ring & Ham.

Universal Bitters Company stock offering notice – New York Tribune, Sunday, January 26, 1908

UNIVERSAL BITTERS

GREENVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA

Universal Bitters, in this 10 Day Special Sale is still being sold at a Cut-Rate Drug store in 1931. Amazing. It was originally listed at $1.25 a bottle and was marked down to 79c. I’m sure some screw-cap concoction.

Davis_The_Record_Argus_Wed__Mar_4__1931_-2

Universal Bitters marked down in price at two Cut-Rate Drug Stores in Greenville, Pennsylvania – The Record Argus, Wednesday, March 4, 1931

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Questions | Tagged bitters, Brunet, Brunett, chicago, Decatur, Fond du Lac, Garr, Gettysburg, Goldman, Goldmann, Greenville, Holmes, illinois, Kieffer, Krisch, Louisiana, Marcus, Myer, New Orleans, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Rauer, San Antonio, Scheriff, St. Louis, texas, Universal, Warren, Weber, Wilmington, Wisconsin | Leave a comment

Dr. Marcus’ Universal Bitters – Philadelphia

Posted on 13 March 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. Marcus’ Universal Bitters – Philadelphia

13 March 2015

Jim Hagenbuch with Glass Works Auctions has a nice example of an extremely rare Dr. Marcus’ Universal Bitters from Philadelphia in their “Winter Classic” Auction #106 that closes on March 23rd. Initially, I was kind of excited because I thought I did not have an example, but it looks like I have a super example that I have also pictured in this post.

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

M 35 DR. MARCUS’ UNIVERSAL BITTERS

sp // DR. MARCUS’ // UNIVERSAL / BITTERS // PHILADA //
7 7/8 x 3 1/8 x 1 3/4 (6)
Rectangular, Aqua, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Rough pontil mark,
Extremely rare

What is really interesting in this post is that there are two examples of the bottle and three styles of photography. You have the Glass Works Auctions photography, the Ed Gray photography and one of my styles for photographing aqua bottles. Each has it merits and each gets the job done in sporting fashion. Believe me, its tough to photograph aqua bottles.

Dr. Marcus’s Improved Universal Bitters advertisement – The Philadelphia Inquirer, Saturday, May 11, 1861

It looks like John H. Holmes was the proprietor in 1861, addressing at 539 S.W. Corner of Front and Thompson Streets in Philadelphia. The advertisement above states that the “preparation has been in use for eight years, having first been prescribed by the eminent Physician of Philadelphia for the present Proprietor”. Unfortunately I can not find a Dr. Marcus in Philadelphia directories in the 1850s or 1860s. Holmes was selling the bitters out of his Tavern.

John Holmes operating a Tavern at S W Front and Thompson Streets – 1862 Philadelphia City Directory

“DR. MARCUS’ – UNIVERSAL / BITTERS – PHILADA.”, (Ring/Ham, M-35), (Odell, pg. 237), Pennsylvania, ca. 1840 – 1860, bluish aqua, 8 1/4”h, open pontil, applied tapered collar mouth. Near perfect condition. Bright, clean glass, quite a rarity in pontiled bitters! – Glass Work Auctions | Auction 106

“DR. MARCUS’ – UNIVERSAL / BITTERS – PHILADA.” – Sold by Ed and Kathy Gray at GreatAntiqueBottles.com – Meyer Collection

“DR. MARCUS’ – UNIVERSAL / BITTERS – PHILADA.” – Meyer Collection

“DR. MARCUS’ – UNIVERSAL / BITTERS – PHILADA.” – Meyer Collection

“DR. MARCUS’ – UNIVERSAL / BITTERS – PHILADA.” – Meyer Collection

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Medicines & Cures, Photography | Tagged auction, bitters, Doctor, Gray, hagenbuch, Marcus, Meyer, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, photography, pontil, Universal | Leave a comment

2015 Baltimore Bottle Experience

Posted on 11 March 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

2015 Baltimore Bottle Experience

Snow, Cold Weather and a Warm Time

11 March 2015

Towards the middle of last week, Elizabeth and I started getting alerts from the airlines that our scheduled flight from Houston to Baltimore might be delayed. Well, I guess so, as there was a projected 100% chance of snow in Baltimore this past Thursday. Trying to outsmart the weatherman, we changed our flight to Friday morning, which was after the front. My bottle bud, Jerry Forbes elected to keep his Thursday flight from California and actually was on time during the storm. Go figure. He did say the pilot said, “OK, we are going to give it a try” when they were making an approach into Baltimore. Gee, that must have been comforting.

Usually we stay up in Towson, Maryland which isn’t but 15 minutes or so from the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show which is held at the Community College of Baltimore County – Essex. I like Towson, as this is where I spent my school years as a youth. As many of you know, I am a true Baltimorian in that I love crab cakes, the eastern shore, the Birds and the ~~Colts~~ Ravens. This year we elected to stay at the Marriott Waterfront in downtown Baltimore, within walking distance of the pier areas and Little Italy. It seemed like a good idea….almost.

With $45 dollar valet parking a night, 15 degree temperatures, and a brisk wind off the harbor, it made for some interesting combinations of clothes to keep warm as we shuffled, like penguins, around. I did hear that San Francisco has $65 a night parking so I feel minutely better. Parking downtown is an issue and one that confronted us when we were looking at Baltimore for a future FOHBC National Convention. Anyway, Friday night was dining at Aldo’s in little Italy with Jim Bender, Linda Shepherd, Jim and Val Berry, my wife Elizabeth and Jerry Forbes. Great dinner including crab cakes and Pinot Noir with an Italian flair.

Because we arrived on Friday, we missed our typical tours of the B&O Train Museum, Geppi’s Toy Museum, Bromo Seltzer Tower (see image below) and the Washington Monument. You can read about these places from a previous post.

Balto 2013 – Crab Cakes, Bottles and my Mother – Part 1

Balto 2013 – Crab Cakes, Bottles and my Mother – Part 2

Saturday morning was the semi-annual FOHBC Board Meeting at La Quinta Hotel in Rosedale. It was tough for all present without Dick Watson there. I thought I would share with the readers a communication from this past Monday to the Board members which pretty much sums up my initial thoughts of our meeting.

Dear Board Members:

Thank you for a very productive meeting. We should be very pleased that we covered the entire agenda and even finished early! That’s a first, at least for me.

I am especially pleased that we voted to approve the Tiered Membership including Life Membership and Digital Membership. With a membership vote in Chattanooga, we can finally put this to bed and move forward. A special shout-out to Jim Bender and Jim Berry for heading up this effort.

We also are very close to filling BOTH vacant board member positions. We may have this wrapped up next conference call where we can vote for approval.

The HALL OF FAME vote will be a silent vote and occur this week as approved by the Board. Elizabeth Meyer will be conducting the silent bid process. Look for an e-mail on each of the three candidates by Thursday or so with and option to vote YES, NO, Abstain and COMMENT. The results will be confidential.

We walked into the meeting with questions about the Northeast National Antique Bottle Convention in 2017. We left the room with a plan. Jim Bender and Bob Strickhart are acting Co-Chairs. We will vote to confirm this next board conference call. There was quite a buzz and excitement at Baltimore with this news.

Val Berry and Elizabeth, who staffed our great looking Federation Table, signed up 9 new members, 7 renewals and sold 23 magazines, two t-shirts and received one donation to the Virtual Museum. Thank you!!!!

This is just off the top of my head. Still in Baltimore at the hotel. Off to Greenville SC tomorrow morn. Complete meeting notes will be issued by Jim Berry.

Ferdinand
FOHBC President

The Board meeting lasted about 3 1/2 hours, so afterwards, Elizabeth and I headed up the hill to Dellis for crab cakes and good times with bottle friends. Saw tons of people like Jim Bender, Jim and Val Berry, Rick Ciralli, Louis Fifer, Michael George, Jim and Jodi Hall, Eddie and Diane Kuskie, Matt Lacy, Larry Marshall, Jeff and Holly Noordsy, David Olson, Linda Shepherd, Jack Sullivan, Mark and Andrew Vuono and John Wolff. I’m sure there were others but we really bombed this place with a hungry and thirsty bottle crowd.

Set-up at the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show typically starts on Saturday afternoon around 3:00 pm and from 5:00 to 8:00 pm you can put out your bottles on the table. This is also when we set up the Federation table. This used to be the wildest three hours in the bottle world but unfortunately, too many folks from afar are not coming as they can not get in. You see, there is no early admission. This has lead to a number of tables being vacant on Saturday and it has become just a typical set-up period. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun to see friends and walk around but the excitement has been gone for the past three or so years. No fear though, because all that excitement does arrive in full force the next morning. All table were full to capacity by then!

My take-away bottle memory from Saturday was seeing the last of Jim Hagenbuch’s great bitters that he laid out for sale (see case above). There were Drakes Plantation Bitters in moss green, blue-green, olive green and yellow-green and believe me, they were jaw droppers, and so were the prices. Makes sense to me as these were the best of the best. Jim even had the bulbous, expanded Drakes for sale which is pictured above. This bottle is nicer than I thought and could be viewed as a work of art rather than a freak. I believe the price was $85k. Quite something. This made my evening. There was also a Plantation Bitters, Carey’s Grecian Bend and a National Tonic Bitters. Wow o’ wow.

Later Saturday evening, Jerry, Elizabeth and I headed back downtown for steaks at Flemings. This was good as it was next to our hotel. I didn’t mention this before, but Elizabeth and I had been carrying around this nagging cough and head cold all week and we had been taking care of each other. It felt like we were pulling an anchor half the time. Oh well. At least we kept moving albeit a bit slower and we were off to bed a bit earlier.

With the sleep we needed, we awoke early on Sunday morning and were promptly at the show by 6:30 am or so. We again set up the Federation table and headed out on the floor. This is when all the tables are decked out and you can see some really great bottles before the public comes in at 8:00 am.

I am sometimes asked what bottle was the star of the show? The Scroll Flask above was recently obtained by John Pastor for his next American Glass Gallery auction. Embossed “J R & Son” for John Robinson & Son, Pittsburgh, 1830 – 1834. This flask, hands down, was the best of the show, best of the year and maybe more. Look at the coloration. Usually darker at the bottlem, this flask is darker at the top with striations. It came from an estate in Nebraska if you can believe that! The color is off-the-chart great!

So what were the great bitters besides the Hagenbuch grouping mentioned above? Look at this cool Wheeler’s Berlin Bitters stoneware bar jug above and this Uncle Sams Wild Cherry Bitters from Bob Watson that walked in the door. Heh! I thought I owned the ONLY example!

G A L L E R Y

Here are some pictures I took at the show. I have tried to caption them the best I can. Another great year in Baltimore, my home town. The cold air didn’t bother me at all!

Read: 2015 Baltimore Antique Bottle Show Report by Jim Bender

E. W. Moffat bottles in the Baltimore Pre-Prohibition Liquor Dealers display.

Three gorgeous cathedral pickles.

Neat bottles and advertising ephemera make for a great looking table.

Line-up of late beer trays.

Two super embalming bottles from the Embalming Bottles display. They are sitting on an antique embalming table.

The famous blue-green shard of an unlisted mould for a Jared Spencer flask presented at Mark and Andrew Vuono’s table. Read article in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector.

Two nice Langley’s Root & Herb Bitters bottles. Note the rather odd example on the right with the double collar mouth. Ex Ciralli, now Meyer.

Beautiful Victorian fan in display case.

Detail of J. H. Friedenwald Family Wine & Liquor Emporium (Baltimore) bottle on Larry Marshall’s table.

Always quality bottles at Ed and Kathy Gray’s table.

Early American glass at Ian Simmonds table.

Receipt for Dr. D. Jayne & Son.

Jerry Forbe’s partial booty.

Look at this stoneware pig that Jim Hagenbuch had made to advertise his desire to buy antique stoneware pigs.

Filly labeled, all sides, Laird’s bottle in a sapphire blue. Truly spectacular.

Best of Show ribbon went to the Embalming Bottle display.

Rows of blob top soda bottles.

Dynomite display of cone inks in a rainbow of colors.

Neat bottle travel case.

Super bottom-lit bottles on display. Tagged for purchase.

Here is the DeGurley’s Bitters that someone contacted me about at Peachridge. Sent it to American Glass Gallery.

Cobalt blue poison.

Atwood’s Vegetable Jaundice Bitters advertisement.

Posted in Advice, Bitters, Bottle Shows, Club News, News | Tagged 2015, Baltimore, Bottle, cold, crab, Dellis, Drakes, Elizabeth, essex, expanded, fohbc, Forbes, hagenbuch, maryland, Meyer, show, snow, weather | Leave a comment

2015 Baltimore Antique Bottle Show Report

Posted on 9 March 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

2015 Baltimore Antique Bottle Show Report

by Jim Bender

09 March 2015 (R•031015)

The 2015 Baltimore Bottle Show by the Baltimore Antique Bottle Club has come and gone over the weekend of March 8-9. As always the show was a huge success.

My weekend started off on Friday night with Linda and I having dinner with friends Ferdinand and Elizabeth Meyer, Jim and Val Berry and my newest friend Jerry Forbes from Carmel, California. Ferdinand led the way, taking us to Aldo’s in Little Italy.

Ferdinand was raised in Baltimore and knows the city. This is a good thing because other than Val Berry who also was raised in Baltimore, none of us had a clue where to go. The meal was a great place to visit and talk a bit about the FOHBC.

Saturday night the show was already packed with dealers and helpers setting up and carrying in their bottles. I have just as much fun on Saturday night as I do Sunday. I stop and talked to everyone I know. I have never stopped and really thought about all the great people this hobby has brought me to know. Linda tells me all the time, “You know everybody.” I really don’t, of course, but I am trying.

It was a bit bittersweet for me this year as our sales table moved over to Dick Watson’s spot. We had asked for that spot after Dick’s passing. Dick was a dear friend and I just wanted that spot. Many people spoke to me about Dick and I had a feeling he was glad I was sitting there. Dick loved the Baltimore show and never missed one, as far as I know.

If you have never gone to a Baltimore show, you are missing out on a yearly event second to none as far as a one-day show goes. There are people from all over the country as well as people from other countries. One would ask why people from another country would travel to Baltimore for a bottle show? The answer is because it is that good a show!

Sometime around noon, they made the announcement that the 1,000th admission ticket had been sold. Now that in itself is something. As I walked the floor, even at 2 p.m. they were still selling admission tickets. The club pulls this off every year with volunteers.

Shows are and always will be the backbone of our hobby. Clubs put on shows, members make clubs. Join your local club today. Or better yet join the FOHBC and make our hobby stronger.

Enclosed are photos of the show. Pictures can speak louder than
words.

Jim Bender, FOHBC Historian