Dr. A. W. Coleman’s Anti-Dyspeptic and Tonic Bitters

Posted on 21 October 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Colemans_C194_Meyer

Dr. A. W. Coleman’s Anti-Dyspeptic and Tonic Bitters

21 October 2014 (R•110414 – Rod Vining Examples) (R•061817) (R•033120)

Apple-Touch-IconAAs a follow-up to the J. W. Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters from Mobile, Alabama post, I thought it would be nice visit the Dr. A. W. Coleman’s Anti-Dyspeptic and Tonic Bitters, also from Mobile. Actually it is thought to be the oldest embossed bitters from this city. My example is pictured at the top of this post and is from the American Bottle Auctions – Grapentine I sale in April 2007.

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

C 194  DR. COLEMAN’S ANTI DYSPEPTIC AND TONIC BITTERS
DR. A. W. COLEMAN’S // f // ANTI DYSPEPTIC / AND / TONIC BITTERS // f //
9 1/4 x 3 1/2 x 2 1/8 (7 1/4) 1/2
Rectangular, LTC, Applied mouth, Metallic pontil mark and Rough pontil mark,
Green (medium to black) – Rare; Aqua – Extremely rare
Smooth base examples usually black.
Note: One whole one and 8-10 fragments of the base were dug at the Canal Zone. Three green and two black glass dug in Mobile. Probably oldest Mobile embossed bitters. Coleman was druggist in Mobile.
Mobile Register & Journal, January 3, 1848. Daily Picayune 1846, 1847, 1848.

I have three colors of the Coleman’s (see picture of Rods bottles below), but one of my original emerald green ones was open pontiled instead of iron pontiled. The open pontiled ones are harder to find. The Coleman’s black glass ones have had their pontils fire polished off, or whoever blew that batch used some other technique to hold or rest the bottle on while forming the lip. They are not really any “newer” than the emerald green examples, but normally do not have a true “pontil scar” of any type on them. They were all blown in a flat bottomed mold, and some of the black ones, while “smooth base” have an irregular indention in the base, or at least smooth, sand like impressions or swirls in the glass. – Rod Vining

Coleman’s Antidyspeptic and Tonic Bitters in emerald green, olive green-black glass, and aqua. Emerald ones are iron and open pontiled, aqua is iron pontiled, black is smooth, probably had the pontil fire polished off. – Rod Vining Collection

Coleman’s Antidyspeptic and Tonic Bitters in emerald green, olive green-black glass, and aqua. Emerald ones are iron and open pontiled, aqua is iron pontiled, black is smooth, probably had the pontil fire polished off. – Rod Vining Collection

Tracking down Dr. A.W. Coleman

At first I thought it might be fairly easy to track down Dr. A.W. Coleman in Mobile, Alabama. I mean, just the other day, I was just searching within many Mobile, Alabama directories looking for information on John W. Hutchinson. His bitters first was sold in 1840, though probably not in an embossed bottle. That would come later. So what do the initials “A.W.” stand for? At first I was thinking it was Abraham Womack Coleman who was born around 1800. This is not correct. A red herring. Maybe we are talking about Asa W. Coleman who was born about 1808 in Georgia. Actually I think I am looking in the wrong part of the country.

“Put up in quart bottles, with the name of the inventor in larger raised letters on each bottle. Price $1 per bottle or six bottles for $5”

The top advertisement below indicates that this bitters originated and was sold around 1834, possibly in Boston or New York. The newspaper advertisements are from the south though. I suspect Dr. A.W. Coleman was from Dublin, Ireland and came over on a ship to New York city. He invented and sold this bitters early and for some reason he either died and gave the recipe to his son, E.D. Coleman or he moved to Mobile, Alabama. Advertising typically occurs in Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans Louisiana in 1846, 1847 and 1848. Certainly by that time, A.W. Coleman had passed away and E.D. Coleman, marketed the brand from 106 Dauphin Street in Mobile, Alabama and 92 Poydras Street in New Orleans. Note that one whole Coleman’s Bitters example and 8-10 fragments of the base were dug at the Canal Zone.

ColemansNotice_The_Times_Picayune_Sun__Jun_6__1847_

Dr. A. W. Coleman’s Anti-Dyspeptic and Tonic Bitters advertisement – The Times Picayune (New Orleans), Tuesday, June 6, 1847 *the late Dr. Coleman referenced.

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Dr. A. W. Coleman’s Anti-Dyspeptic and Tonic Bitters advertisement – The Times Picayune (New Orleans), Tuesday, June 8, 1847

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Dr. A. W. Coleman’s Anti-Dyspeptic and Tonic Bitters advertisement – The Times Picayune (New Orleans), Saturday, December 18, 1847 *Indicates that E. D. Coleman is selling his late fathers tonic bitters at 106 Dauphin Street in Mobile, Alabama.

ED_ColemanR_The_Times_Picayune_Fri__Apr_7__1848_

Dr. A. W. Coleman’s Anti-Dyspeptic and Tonic Bitters advertisement – The Times Picayune (New Orleans), Friday, April 7, 1848 *Indicates that E. D. Coleman, son of patentee, is selling his late fathers tonic bitters at 92 Poydras Street in New Orleans.

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Iron pontil on Dr. Coleman’s Anti-Dyspeptic Tonic Bitters. Owned by bottleninja, from the Charlie Hall collection – AntiqueBottles.com

31 March 2020 update images: The only thing new here is the black one that I used to own, and purchased back from Dr. Aprill’s auction. This black one is whittled. Most of the black ones are smooth. – Rod Vining

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

J. W. Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters – Mobile, Alabama

Posted on 19 October 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

mobilealabama_HB

J. W. Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters – Mobile, Alabama

19 October 2014 (R•110314 – Info and examples from Rod Vining) (R•053017) (R•061917) (R•040220 – Rod Vining Color Run)

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Apple-Touch-IconAI suspect many bitters collectors have noticed that spectacular example of a Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters from Mobile, Alabama in the current American Glass Gallery Auction #13. No sense hiding it. The right people know. I used the nice full-page Civil War illustration above from March 26, 1864 in Harper’s Weekly to set the tone for this piece. The map below is Mobile in 1815. You can actually see Dauphin Street running up the middle of town. John W. Hutchinson was a druggist at Dauphin and Warren Street (see this location now) as early as 1840.

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“Mobile in 1815” From Report on the Social Statistics of Cities, Compiled by George E. Waring, Jr., United States. Census Office, Part II, 1886. – Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection – University of Texas Libraries, Austin

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

H220Sketch

H 220  HUTCHINSON’S TONIC BITTERS
J. W. HUTCHINSON’S // TONIC BITTERS // MOBILE, ALA. // sp //
9 x 2 3/4 (7) 3/8
Square, Olive green, Olive amber and Amber. LTCR and LTC, Applied Mouth
4 sp – Rare; Aqua, Metallic pontil mark – Extremely rare
Mobile Directory: 1859-1881 John W. Hutchinson was a druggist at the southwest corner of Dauphin and Warren Streets.
AGG_Lot165

“J.W. HUTCHINSONS – TONIC BITTERS – MOBILE ALA”, America, 1860 – 1870. Rich yellowish olive amber, square with beveled corners, applied sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 8 5/8″; (a little light exterior wear and a little faint “bloom” or dullness on a couple of the shoulders that is minor, otherwise excellent!) R/H #H220. A very rare southern bitters, great color, outstanding condition! – American Glass Gallery Auction #13

AGG_Lot165reverse

“J.W. HUTCHINSONS – TONIC BITTERS – MOBILE ALA”, America, 1860 – 1870. Rich yellowish olive amber, square with beveled corners, applied sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 8 5/8″; (a little light exterior wear and a little faint “bloom” or dullness on a couple of the shoulders that is minor, otherwise excellent!) R/H #H220. A very rare southern bitters, great color, outstanding condition! – American Glass Gallery Auction #13

Second Example. “J.W. HUTCHINSONS – TONIC BITTERS – MOBILE ALA”, America, 1860 – 1870. Yellowish honey amber, square with beveled corners, applied sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 8 ¾”; (professionally cleaned to original luster with a little minor wear and a light “matte-type” finish remaining on a couple of the panels). R/H #H220. A very rare southern bitters that does not come around often. Beautiful color! – American Glass Gallery – Auction #18

What fascinates me is the long shelf-life of this bitters. From the best that I can tell, John W. Hutchinson was selling J. W. Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters from 1840 to 1879. That is 39 years. Hutchinson was a druggist located at the corner of Dauphin and Warren Streets in Mobile, Alabama all of those years. I suspect that there may be earlier examples of the bottle than the one pictured in the American Glass Gallery auction. Ring & Ham note aqua and pontiled examples out there too. Look at some of the really cool advertisements below that I found in Mobile City Directories. Notice that he also sells garden seeds.

It is my belief that most of the colored Hutchinson’s have had the original iron pontils fire polished off during manufacture. This is especially evident on my olive green example. (See picture below) You can see that it was pontiled, and removed. I also have large shards that I dug of a radically different EMERALD green Hutchinson’s, with a huge iron pontil on it. “The colored ones ain’t supposed to come that way” but at least one did, and I wish it had been whole. I also believe that the Hutchinson bitters were only sold for a very short time in embossed bottles. There was always advertising hype of “tried and true”, “Indian”, or even “ancient” recipes applied to even new concoctions in order to increase sales. I have found listings from the old city directories that list J.W. Hutchinson in business in Mobile from 1855 to 1872, so I don’t know why one of his ads has “1840” at the top. I also have pontiled and smooth base, embossed drug store bottles form J. W. Hutchinson, in five different sizes. Some of these may have been sold with a label only version of his bitters, before, during, and after he put it up in embossed bottles, but no one knows. – Rod Vining

New photos of the Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters. #85 is just the colored ones with strong backlight. From left to right, yellow amber from recent AGG auction #18, amber, olive amber from AGG auction #13, pure olive green. #119 is the whole bunch. Same colored ones flanked by a smooth base aqua on the left and an iron pontiled aqua one on the right. Note different tops Here is the story to go along with the yellow amber one. I have a bottle book from 1971 titled “1250 Bitters Bottles” by Ed Bartholomew. I am 99% certain that the yellow amber Tonic Bitters is the one pictured on page 182 as part of the author’s collection. It was a dug bottle, and in a black and white photo, but the top is unmistakable, since the “colored” ones almost always have a long tapered collar with no ring underneath. The only other colored example with a non-standard top has one of the bottom corners of the bottle missing. Also, the photo in the book shows a ring of glass under the lip that has a distinct up and down pattern to it visible on the “J.W. Hutchinson” panel. This is how I know this is the same bottle from the 1971 book. I found and called Ed Bartholomew about 15 years ago. He was an elderly man, and he no longer remembered much or seemed to care what happened to his bottles. He had no idea where or when he sold the Hutchinson Tonic Bitters. That was the end of the search until I saw the auction photo. I immediately dug out the old book to verify my hunch. Just another of one of those that I “had” to have. – Rod Vining Collection

The same group of Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters lying flat – Rod Vining Collection

[040220] I had some time to take some new photos and thought I would send you some updates for your website. Here are the J. W. Hutchinson’s with the newest addition in the center. The black mark visible through the base is the Black iron pontil on this never buried specimen. Thanks, Rod Vining

Select Listings:

1811: John W. Hutchinson born in New York – 1870 United States Federal Census

1840: Year indicated that J. W. Hutchinsons Tonic Bitters was created (see 1877 advertisement below)

1854: Advertisement (see below), J. W. HUTCHINSON, DRUGGIST, Corner of Dauphin and Warren Streets. Manufacturer of J. W. Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters. – The Southern Business Directory (Alabama)

HutchinsonAd1854

Earliest advertisement and mention of bitters, J. W. Hutchinson – 1854

1856: Advertisement (see below) J. W. Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters for Yellow Fever – Cholera – The Times Picayune (New Orleans) Monday, April 7, 1856

Hutchinsons_TheTimesPicayuneMonApr71856

Advertisement J. W. Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters for Yellow Fever – Cholera – The Times Picayune (New Orleans) Monday, April 7, 1856

1861: John W. Hutchinson, druggist (see advertisement below), 263 and 265 Dauphin – Mobile, Alabama City Directory

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John W. Hutchinson, druggist & Apothecary, 263 and 265 Dauphin (se cor Dauphin and Warren Streets) – 1861 Mobile, Alabama City Directory

1866-72: John W. Hutchinson, druggist and apothecary, se corn Warren and Dauphin and Warren, res same (see 1872 directory advertisement below) – Mobile, Alabama City Directory

1870: John W. Hutchinson, Retail Druggist, Mobile, Ward 6, Alabama (lives with William H. Crippen family) – United States Federal Census

HutchinsonsAd1872

J. W. Hutchinson, manufacturer of Tonic Bitters advertisement. – 1872 Mobile, Alabama City Directory

1873-79: Listing and 1877 advertisement (see below) John W. Hutchinson, manuf’r Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters, 263 Dauphin, res same – Mobile, Alabama City Directory

Hutchinson1877Ad

J. W.Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters. Indicates that product started in 1840. Not Dr. Ferguson’s Aromatic Bitters and Celebrated Cocktail Bitters being sold – 1877 Mobile Alabama City Directory

BITTERS ALERT!

Not that a Dr. Ferguson’s Aromatic Bitters is noted above. This appears to be unlisted. The Celebrated Cocktail Bitters is in reference to the extremely rare Davidson & Company “Cocktail Bitters”. This iOS C 183 in Ring and Ham.

1879: John W. Hutchinson, stationer, se corn Warren and Dauphin and Warren, res same – Mobile, Alabama City Directory

Posted in Advertising, Apothecary, Auction News, Bitters, Color Runs, Digging and Finding, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plan Your FOHBC 2015 Chattanooga National Antique Bottle Show Vacation

Posted on 16 October 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

ChattanoogaBottleHeaderPlan Your FOHBC 2015 Chattanooga National Antique Bottle Show Vacation

16 October 2014

ChooChooART

31 July – 02 August for Chattanooga in 2015!

Start planning  your vacation now and make the most of your trip to the 2015 FOHBC National Antique Bottle Show in Chattanooga, Tennessee (pictured below).

ChatPromo

If you are flying into the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, here are some suggestions. If you’re interested in aviation, visit the newly renovated Delta Flight Museum. It houses one of Delta’s first DC-3’S, the Boeing 767 purchased by Delta employees and given to Delta, and a Boeing 737 simulator that you may want to try your hand at flying.  The museum is housed in the original hangar built in 1941 and holds lots of interesting aviation history .

For the Civil War buffs, the Atlanta Cyclorama is a must. It depicts the Battle of Atlanta in the world’s largest oil painting circa 1885. The next stop is the Atlanta History Center with an excellent display of Civil War items from the Battle of Atlanta. As you head out of town you should stop by Kennesaw Mountain Battle Field and see the historic Locomotive “the General” at the Southern Museum.

A visit to Downtown Atlanta should include the Georgia Aquarium; the World of Coca Cola (www.worldodcocacola.com) and the just opened College Football Hall of Fame, all within walking distance of each other.

I-75 North….next stop Chattanooga…again for Civil War buffs, you will want to check out  the battle fields around Chattanooga especially the Chickamauga Battlefield which has one of the best gun collections. (www.battlesforchattanooga.com). Be sure to make time to visit Lookout Mountain which includes Ruby Falls, Rock City, the Incline Railway and more (www.lookoutmountain.com). Down by the Tennessee River you will find the Tennessee Aquarium which is one of the best aquariums in the country. Lovers of early glass, ceramics, steins, toby jugs, majolica, Tiffany glass early furniture and more will enjoy the Houston Museum.  Across the street within walking distance is the Hunter Museum of American Art. The museum is perched on an 80 foot bluff overlooking the Tennessee River. These two museums are located in the “arts district” area which has some unique dining and shopping.

Downtown you can visit the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel and Restaurant. The Terminal Station has been converted into a fun and beautiful hotel with rooms in Victorian train cars, hotel suites, or standard rooms. Our show logo has been modeled after the historic roof-top sign. To accommodate your downtown sightseeing there is the “ Free Downtown Electric Shuttle” to restaurants, bars, shops and sightseeing areas, 7 days a week (www.virtualtourist.com).

Some of you will definitely enjoy the distillery tasting tours in Tennessee such the Jack Daniel’s, George Dickel, Old Forge and others. (www.tennesseewhiskeytrail.com)

We hope that while you are making plans to attend the FOHBC 2015 Chattanooga National Antique Bottle Show you will visit some of these sights to make your vacation even better.

Have fun,

Jack Hewitt and John Joiner
FOHBC Chattanooga National Show-Chairs

Click for More Show Info

Posted in Advice, Bottle Shows, Civil War, Club News, Cola, FOHBC News, History, Museums, News | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Figaro, Figaro – Griffith’s Opera Bitters

Posted on 16 October 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

GriffithOperaMeyer_10

Figaro, Figaro – Griffith’s Opera Bitters

16 October 2014

Apple-Touch-IconAWait to you see the gorgeous example of a Griffith’s Opera Bitters that John Pastor has in his American Glass Gallery Auction #13, now open for bidding. No, that is not it at the top of the post. That is my homely (to some) example of this very rare bitters that is a raw as the day it was found. I left it alone as it was the only one I had ever seen. I like it that way, but boy-o-boy is this new auction example a killer.

oil-city-traders-1870

Oil City Oil Trader by Day, Opera Goers by Night? – 1870

To my knowledge, this is the only bitters with the word “opera” in it. It is believed to be from Oil City, Pennsylvania and that was fairly easy to confirm as you will see. Opera and Oil City. Grease and water. Oil City is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania that is known in the initial exploration and development of the petroleum industry. After the first oil wells were drilled nearby in the 1850s, Oil City became central in the petroleum industry while hosting headquarters for the Pennzoil, Quaker State, and Wolf’s Head motor oil companies. [Wikipedia]

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Fleet of Oil Boats at Oil City 1864

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows. Note that amber is very rare and yellow and green are extremely rare. You mean there are yellow and green examples out there?

GriffithsOperaSketch

G 116  GRIFFITH’S OPERA BITTERS
GRIFFITH’S / OPERA BITTERS // f // A. R. GRIFFITH // f //
// b // L & W / 13
8 7/8 x 2 3/4 (6 7/8) 3/8
Square, LTC, Applied mouth, 2 sp; Amber, Very rare;
Yellow olive and Green, Extremely rare
GriffithsOperaAGG13

“GRIFFITH’S / OPERA BITTERS – A. R. GRIFFITH”, Lorenz & Wightman Glass Manufacturers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1863 – 1872. yellowish honey amber, square with beveled corners, applied sloping collar – “L & W / 13″ (on smooth base), ht. 8 7/8″; (professionally cleaned to original luster with a little light wear remaining; a shallow 3/16” bruise on shoulder). R/H #G116. Very rare. Provenance: Ex. Carlyn Ring collection. A very rare bitters, one that has not been offered for sale in quite some time, and believed to be from Oil City, Pennsylvania. – American Glass Gallery Auction #13

The Griffith Bothers, and there were at least three of them, were druggists and started a retail drug store business called Griffith and Brother in 1863. This was Albert R. Griffith and A.D. Griffith. Albert’s name is on the bottle. He was born in 1845.

They brothers had two drug stores in Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania and two stores later in New York City. Maybe one of the brothers went to New York City to get out of the oil field environment and see the opera and a few Broadway plays? Maybe adding a little culture would help this Charlie Tuna sell his bitters? In 1869, the brothers opened a second drug store opposite the Opera House on Washington Street in Oil City. As early as 1870 there were advertisements for Griffith’s Celebrated Opera Bitters. This is where the name most likely came from.

Later, younger brother Edward J. Griffith was running the show and sold the business in 1911 to Alfred W. Britton and Thomas Gaddess. Britton was previously employed as pharmacist with Griffith. That is a photography of one of their stores below. Look at all the bottles on the wall.

GriffithBrosDrugStore

1896 interior shot of Griffith Brothers Drug Store. Look closely on right wall. Probably bitters bottles and other medicines. – 1896 Derrick Souvenir Book

Select Listings: Griffith Brothers 

Albert R. Griffith, A.D. Griffith and Edward J. Griffith

1863: Griffith & Brother drug business established 1863.

1869: Griffith Brothers to open a new drug store notice opposite the Opera House (see below). – The Petroleum Centre Daily Record, December 01, 1869

GriffithBrosNewDrugStore

Griffith Brothers to open a new drug store opposite the Opera House notice (see below). – The Petroleum Centre Daily Record, December 01, 1869

1870: Griffith’s Opera Bitters sold by W. D. Terbell & Co. advertisement (see below) – Corning N.Y. Journal

GriffithsAd1870

Griffith’s Opera Bitters sold by W. D. Terbell & Co. advertisement – Corning N.Y. Journal, 1870

1876: A.R. Griffith & Brother, drugs, (A.R. Griffith & A.D. Griffith), 53 Centre – Titusville (Oil City), Pennsylvania City Directory

1883-85: Griffith Brothers (A.R. & A.D. Griffith), druggists, Centre & Sycamore, both living at  Harriott ave corner Washington with mother, Mrs. E. Griffith (also Thomas and William at other addresses) – Titusville, Pennsylvania City Directory

1885: Griffith Brothers open 3rd drug store in New York City at 2241 Third Avenue.

1887: Griffith & Bro’s Diuretic Cordial advertisement (see below) – The Oil City Derrick, Thursday, December 1, 1887

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Griffith & Bro’s Diuretic Cordial advertisement – The Oil City Derrick, Thursday, December 1, 1887

1892: Griffith Brothers advertisement “The People’s Druggist! (see below) – Oil City Derrick, Saturday, July 16, 1892

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Griffith Brothers advertisement “The People’s Druggist! – Oil City Derrick, Saturday, July 16, 1892

1896: Griffith & Brother listing (see below). They have two locations in Oil City and one location in New York city.

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Griffith Bros. established 1863 – 1896 Derrick Souvenir Book

1897: Albert R. Griffith death, April 7, 1897 (see below). Now notes two locations in New York City. – The Druggists’ Circular and Chemical Gazette

ARGriffithObit

Albert R. Griffith death, April 7, 1897 – The Druggists’ Circular and Chemical Gazette, 1897

1911: Alfred W. Britton previously employed as pharmacist buys, in partnership with Thomas Gaddess, the E.J. Griffith establishment, on of the oldest drug stores in Venango County – Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People

1916: Edward J. Griffith death (see below) – NARD Journal, 1916

EJGriffithObit

Edward J. Griffith death (see below) – NARD Journal, 1916

Posted in Advertising, Auction News, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A labeled Mett (or Alett) Stomach Bitters from Joliet

Posted on 14 October 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

MettStomachBittersA labeled Mett (or Alett) Stomach Bitters from Joliet

14 October 2014 (R•101514)

EBLogo

Apple-Touch-IconALou Holis sent me the top picture via e-mail saying, “Hello. Picked this up last week on eBay. Bottle is from Joliet, Illinois (my home state). It is a label only, tooled top, bigger than most, square form. Can’t find any information. Think it is from 1906. Nothing great, just letting you know.”

This is interesting. Sure it is not a figural, or in some killer color but it is rare and possible unlisted. Like finding a new bug rocks an entomologist, this bittersologist gets just as excited. Looking at the label, I see a cool seal which I have isolated and cleaned up above. It has a interlocking “EB” typography and reads “Ettlinger Bros., Joliet, Ill.” in a decorative circle. Kind of cool to this grapicsologist too. By the way, Magen means stomach in German so we still have Mett Stomach Bitters. What is the deal with “Mett”?

Aaron Ellinger (1840-1884) was a cattle dealer in Joliet, Illinois. He had two sons, Benjamin S. Ettlinger and Ralph Carl Ettlinger who first worked together in a liquor store. Eventually the wholesale liquor business was called Alexander and Ettlinger (Robert Alexander and Benjamin Ettlinger) from 1902-1908. Both brothers united in business from at least 1909 to 1920 as Ettlinger Brothers at 303-305 S. Chicagio Street in Joliet. They were wholesale dealers in imported and domestic wines, liquors, gins and whiskies.

Mett is probably a word-play with “M“agen and “Ett“linger. It could also be “Alett” combining “Al“exander and “Ett“linger. Jury still out on that one. What do you think?

Select Listings 

1881: Aaron Ettlinger, cattle buyer – Joliet City Directory

1881: Birth Benjamin Ettlinger on October 6, 1881 in Joliet, Ilinois

1884: Aaron Ettlinger, cattle dealer – Joliet City Directory

1884: Birth Ralph Carl Ettlinger on June 1, 1884 in Joliet, Illinois

1901: Ralph C. Ettlinger, clerk, Benjamin S. Ettlinger, bookkeeper, Mary Ettlinger (widow Aaron Ettlinger), bds 537 S. Chicago – Joliet City Directory

1902-1908: Alexander & Ettlinger, wholesale liquor, (Robert Alexander and Benjamin Ettlinger), Ralph C. Ettinger is manager of Bottling department at Alexander &Ettlinger, 301 – 303 S. Chicago, Joliet, Illinois – Joliet City Directory

1909-1920: Ettlinger Brothers, wholesale liquors, (Robert Alexander and Benjamin Ettlinger), 301 – 303 S. Chicago – Joliet City Directory

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Ettlinger Brothers listing –1914 Joliet City Directory

1944: Death of Benjamin Ettlinger, 16 August 1944, Chicago, Illinois

Posted in Bitters, eBay, History, Liquor Merchant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dr. Forest’s Tonic Bitters – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Posted on 14 October 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Dr. Forest’s Tonic Bitters – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

14 October 2014 (R•101514 – McGuire) (R•041519) (R•090619)

Apple-Touch-IconAThe Dr. Forest’s Tonic Bitters from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is one tough brand to figure out. I mean, who is Dr. Forest and why is Bacon and Miller embossed on the bottle? I picked up my example (pictured below) in the Glass Works Auction #83 and it was ex: Dr. James Carter. Dr. Carter apparently specialized in “Dr” embossed bottles. I have many top examples from his collection. What brought this extremely rare brand to life, after many years of quiet shelf sitting, was the appearance of a second example in the present North American Glass auction. Their example is pictured at the top of this post.

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Dr. Forest’s Tonic Bitters, Ex: Carlyn Ring and Dr. James Carter – Ferdinand Meyer V Collection

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Dr. Forest’s Tonic Bitters, Ex: Carlyn Ring and Dr. James Carter – Ferdinand Meyer V Collection

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

F 68 DR. FOREST’S / TONIC BITTERS // f // BACON AND MILLER /
HARRISBURG, PENNA. // f //
9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7) 1/2
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 2 sp, Extremely rare
Harrisburg Directory (Pa.) 1878 -1889: George & Harry Bacon listed as bottlers.

Here is an unlisted miniature from a past Morphy Auctions that I did not even know existed! Bill Ham has provided the following new catalog listing.

F 68.5 DR. FOREST’S / TONIC BITTERS // f // BACON AND MILLER /
 HARRISBURG, PENNA. // f //
4 1/2 x 1 1/4
Square, Amber, LTC, Tooled lip, 2 sp, Extremely rare
Harrisburg Directory (Pa.) 1878 -1889, George and Harry Bacon listed as bottlers.
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4 1/2″ tall Dr. Forest’s Tonic Bitters (sample size) sold by Morphy Auctions in 2010.

(Sample Size), “DR. FOREST’S / TONIC BITTERS – BACON AND MILLER / HARRISBURG, PENNA.”, (unlisted), Pennsylvania, ca. 1880 – 1890, amber, 4 1/2”h, smooth base, sheared and tooled lip. About perfect, (a pinhead in size flake is off a corner at the base that probably occurred when the bottle was removed from the mould). Identical to Ring/Ham F-68, but in an unlisted and probably unique sample size!

What is most odd is that we have an applied top bottle with both “Bacon and Miller” and “Harrisburg, Penna.” embossed on it. We also have the miniature pictured above. George N. Bacon and A. E. Miller hooked up in 1887 selling patent medicines in Harrisburg. That, on the surface, may be too late for this bottle. Pay close attention to the George N. Bacon listing from 1875 below. He is listed in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania selling “Chinese bitters”. I can’t figure this one out.

[New Listing]
C 145.3 CHINESE BITTERS, George N. Bacon, N. Main, Boyds’ Willkes-Barre City Directory, 1875

What we do have is the father George N. Bacon being born in 1838 in Pennsylvania. His father, Lewis W. Bacon, was an innkeeper by trade from Vermont. George’s wife was named Maria. Harry W. Bacon (George’s son), was born in 1864. I doubt the son had anything to do with this bitters. George starts out as a huckster in Scranton and in the early 1870s makes and sells segars in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In 1875 he his selling Chinese bitters in Wilkes-Barre and then files for a stove cover patent in 1877. Say what?After this, George Bacon moves to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and partners briefly with A. E. Miller from 1887-1890. This Miller guy is a tough nut to crack. They both are listed as selling patent medicines. This relationship would end and George and his son would go in the bottling business at 26 Grace avenue primarily selling beer though George started bottling earlier in 1878. I would target 1877 as the bottles date. (see new info below) Being extremely rare, probably means a short production span.

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G.N. Bacon, Harrisburg, PA bottle – Digger Odell

[From Eric McGuire]

Your listing of Dr. Forest’s Tonic Bitters got me curious. I have seen a number of California made bottles of the late 1880s with applied tops and the Bacon and Miller bottle appeared to be a similar type example. The first attached item would put the beginning of this product at about October 1889. Also, note the partners actually include Harry Bacon and not his father, who had already died in 1888.

Harrisburg Patriot, March 27, 1889. Genealogybank.com

The second attached notice gives little doubt as to the ending date of the product. This would give a terminal date of September 1890.

Harrisburg Patriot, Sep 12, 1890. GenealogyBank.com

Also attached gives a little information about A.E. Miller, who was previously engaged as a confectioner in Middletown, PA.

From Harrisburg Patriot, Oct 5, 1889. GenealogyBank.com

So, beginning in October 1889, and for about one year, this product was sold. The glassblower must have been “old school” and the run quite small, as the application of a separate piece of glass to create a top was generally no longer practiced at that time and this extra step would obviously slow down production. If payment to the blower was by the piece, this process would cost the blower money, unless he had nothing more to do after the run of Dr. Forest’s Tonic Bitters.

Select Listings:

1816: Birth, Lewis W. Bacon in Vermont.
1838: Birth George N. Bacon in Pennsylvania on May 1, 1838
1850: Lewis W. Bacon, innkeeper (son George N.) – 1850 United States Federal Census
1864: Birth Harry W. Bacon on 05 May 1864 in Scranton, Pennsylvania
1865: George N. Bacon, huckster, Scranton, PA. – Scranton, Pennsylvania City Directory
1871-73: George N. Bacon, segar manufacturer, 204 North Main, Wilkes-Barre, PA. – Boyds’ Wilkes-Barre City Directory
1875: George N. Bacon, Chinese bitters, North Main, ab Union (see below), Wilkes-Barre, PA. – Boyds’ Wilkes-Barre City Directory
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George N. Bacon, Chinese bitters listing – Boyds’ Wilkes-Barre City Directory, 1875

1877: Stove Cover Parent – Be it known that I, GEORGE N. BACON, of Wilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stove-Covers and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of’ the same…
1878: George N. Bacon, bottler, Market cor 5th – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania City Directory
1880: G.N. Bacon, beer bottler, son, Harry (16) at school – 1880 Unuted States Federal Census
1881: Schlitz and Bavarian Beer advertisement (see below) from George N. Bacon – Harrisburg Daily Independent, August 11, 1881
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Schlitz and Bavarian Beer advertisement from George N. Bacon – Harrisburg Daily Independent, August 11, 1881

1882-85: Harrisburg Bottling Works (George N. Bacon), 26 Grace Avenue (various addresses) Harrisburg, PA. (see advertisement below) – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania City Directory
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Harrisburg Bottling Works (George N. Bacon), 26 Grace Avenue (various addresses) Harrisburg, PA. (see advertisement below) – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania City Directory

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Harrisburg Bottling Works (George N. Bacon), 26 Grace Avenue, Harrisburg, PA. (see advertisement below) – 1884 African American Newspapers

1887-1890: Bacon & Miller (Harry W. Bacon and A. E. Miller), patent medicines, 1002 Market, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Harry W. Bacon (son) was a clerk. – Harrisburg City Directory
1888: Death of George N. Bacon on 16 January 1888 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania
1889: A.E. Miller marriage (see clipping further above)
1890: The firm of Bacon & Miller, proprietors of Dr. Forest’s Tonic Bitters dissolve (see clipping further above)
1915: Death of Harry W. Bacon on 16 February 1915 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania
HBWMug

1961: Harrisburg Bottling Works Anheuser-Busch Mug

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Bottling Works, Breweriana, History, Medicines & Cures, Miniatures, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ask for Winter’s Stomach Bitters

Posted on 12 October 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V
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Winter’s Stomach Bitters advertisement – The Argus, September 5, 1907

Ask for Winter’s Stomach Bitters

12 October 2014

Apple-Touch-IconAI love this advertisement above for Winter’s Stomach Bitters. I suppose if you drink the bitters you get a big stomach! This month, Greg Spurgeon has the very rare, Winter’s Stomach Bitters in his current North American Glass auction. I really have not thought very much about my example in some time so I thought we needed to find out about the brand. Very little is known except what is printed in Ring & Ham. The clue to research is embedded in the listing where Rock Island, Illinois is noted. Otherwise you get a ton of “bitter winter” listings when searching!

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

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W 141  WINTER’S STOMACH BITTERS
WINTER’S / STOMACH BITTERS // f // S-13 at bottom of panel // f // // b // A.B.CO
9 1/2 x 3 (7) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Tooled lip, Very Rare
A backbar bottle exists with white enameled lettering B. WINTER / ROCK ISLAND, ILL /
ANGOSTURA BARK. Winter was the manufacturer of the WINTER’S STOMACH BITTERS
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Winter’s Stomach Bitters – Ferdinand Meyer V Collection

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Winter’s Stomach Bitters – Ferdinand Meyer V Collection

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Winter’s Stomach Bitters – North American Glass

Winter’s Stomach Bitters

Winter’s Stomach Bitters is a very rare bottle though late with its tooled top. The brand was sold by Basilius Winter in Rock Island, Illinois. Basilius was born on the river Rhine in Gross Haibach, Bavaria (Germany) on July 28, 1849, and was the son of Joseph and Mary S. (Dauber) Winter, also natives of that country. Winter emigrated to America with his parents in 1853 and located first in Henry County, Illinois. Basilius was educated in both English and German and at the age of 14 years came to Rock Island, and began work for his uncle, Peter Fries in 1867 and later, after a period of farming, partnered with James E. Mott in 1880 where they called their business Mott & Winter. They were listed as rectifiers, wholesale dealers and importers of wines and liquors. In 1885, Henry Lemberg purchased Basilius Winter’s interest and the new business name was Winter & Lemberg. In 1890, Henry Lemberg retired and Basilius Winter ran the business with his sons (Louis Winter, R.V. Winter, Bazil Winter, Arthur Winter and George Winter). The company marketed and sold “Old McBrayer”, “Nelson Bourbon”, Nelson Rye”, “Good Luck”, “Anderson Bourbon”, “Old Taylor”, “Clark’s Rye”, “Tri City” and “Wild West.” It was from 1890 to 1908 that Winter’s Stomach Bitter’s was probably made and sold though it could have been after the turn of the century. The A.B. Co. on the base is probably the mark of a bottling company.

B. Winter

B. Winter, a wholesale liquor dealer engaged in business at 1512 Third avenue, Rock Island, is a self-made man who, without extraordinary family or pecuniary advantages at the commencement of life, has battled earnestly and energetically, and by indomitable courage and integrity has achieved both character and fortune. By sheer force of will and untiring effort he has worked himself upward.

Mr. Winter was born on the river Rhine, in Germany, July 28, 1849, and is a son of Joseph and Mary S. (Dauber) Winter, also natives of that country, who emigrated to America in 1853 and located first in Henry county, Illinois. Later they removed to a farm near Milan in Rock Island county, where the father died in 1893, at the age of seventy-five years. Our subject was only three years old when he crossed the Atlantic, and was a lad of seventeen when he took up his residence in Rock Island county. His early educational privileges being somewhat meagre, he has become a self-educated as well as a self- made man.

On starting out in life for himself, Mr. Winter secured a position in a wholesale liquor house and has since been connected with the liquor business in one capacity or another. In June, 1880, he embarked in business for himself, forming a partnership with James E. Mott, one of the old settlers and highly respected business men of the city, and at the end of five years he purchased his partner’s interest and has since been alone. Although he started out in life for himself empty-handed, he is now at the head of a large and profitable business, the result of his own industry, enterprise and good management.

In Davenport, in December, 1871, Mr. Winter was joined in wedlock to Miss Lizzie Bartermeier, who was born, reared and educated in that city. They became the parents of four children: Agnes, at home; Louis J., who is now acting as his father’s bookkeeper; Robert, who holds a responsible business position in Rock Island; and Mamie, who died at the age of three years. The wife and mother died in 1882, and two years later Mr. Winter married her sister, Miss Johanna Bartermeier, who also spent her early life in Davenport, her native city. The four children born of this union are Cora; Basilius, Jr.; Florence; and George P.

In politics, Mr. Winter has been a lifelong Democrat, but at local elections generally votes independent of party ties. He has ever taken an active and prominent part in political affairs, and is now serving his third term as a member of the city council, being first elected in 1887. He is an influential and popular member of that body and the duties of his office he has most faithfully and capably performed, winning the commendation of all concerned. He and his family are all communicants of the Catholic church.

“The Biographical Record of Rock Island County, Illinois”, by S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1897.

WinterObit

Basilius Winter Obituary – The Rock Island Argus – December 23, 1910

Select References for Basilius Winter:

1849: B. Winter was born on the river Rhine (Gross Haibach, Bavaria), in Germany, July 28, 1849, and is a son of Joseph and Mary S. (Dauber) Winter, also natives of that country. – The Biographical Record of Rock Island County, Illinois

1853: B. Winter emigrated to America in 1853 and located first in Henry county, Illinois. Later they removed to a farm near Milan in Rock Island county – The Biographical Record of Rock Island County, Illinois

1867: Basilius Winter enters into the liquor business with his uncle Peter Fries.

1880-1885: Mott & Winter (James E. Mott; B. Winter), rectifiers, wholesale dealers and importers of wines and liquors, corner Seventeenth and Third avenue, Rock Island, Illinois – Rock Island and Moline, Illinois Directories

1885-1890: Henry Lemberg purchases Basilius Winter’s interest. The new business name is Winter & Lemberg.

1890: Henry Lemberg retires and Basilius Winter runs the business with his sons (Louis Winter, R.V. Winter, Bazil Winter, Arthur Winter and George Winter)

1898: Basilius Winter, in the Third ward, has been a resident of Rock Island for 30 years. Since 1880 he as been engaged in business here. He served a term-and-a-half as alderman from the Third ward in the 80’s, and two years ago defeated Fred Schroeder, the republican candidate. Mr. Winter is one of the city’s leading men, and is a prominent member of the Turner society. He is a native of Germany and was born in 1849. – Rock Island Argus, April 02, 1898

1903: Statement by B. Winter resident of Rock Island, III. 30 years. 5 Mar 1903. – IllinoisAncester.org

1909: Winter’s Stomach Bitters advertisement (see below) – The Argus (Rock Island, Illinois), September 8, 1809

WintersBittersAd_1909

Winter’s Stomach Bitters advertisement – The Argus, September 8, 1909

1910: Basilius Winter death

Posted in Advertising, Auction News, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Try Uncle Tom’s Bitters! – Trevorton, Pennsylvania

Posted on 11 October 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

UncleTomsSide_Meyer10TRY UNCLE TOM’S BITTERS! – Trevorton, Pennsylvania

10 October 2014

Apple-Touch-IconAUncle Tom has been popping up in bitters news lately with two examples of the bitters appearing in the current North American Glass auction. I was also able to pick up an example (pictured above) from the great John Feldmann collection a few years back. The example is ex: Carlyn Ring. When I asked bitters trade card and ephemera authority Joe Gourd if he had any material on Uncle Toms Bitters, he said no, but… he had just purchased a cool advertisement on eBay and had the item being mailed to him. He sent me the ebay link and I borrowed the images for this post. Make sure you check out “The Song the Boys Sing”.

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Try Uncle Tom’s Bitters flyer front – eBay (Joe Gourd)

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Try Uncle Tom’s Bitters advertisement from flyer – eBay (Joe Gourd)

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Try Uncle Tom’s Bitters song from flyer – eBay (Joe Gourd)

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

UncleTomsDrawing

U 5 UNCLE TOM’S BITTERS
UNCLE-TOMS-BITTERS // THOMAS FOULDS & SON // TREVORTON PA // f //
10 1/16 x 2 7/8 (6 7/8) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Extremely rare
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Uncle Tom’s Bitters in an apricot amber coloration – North American Glass

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Uncle Tom’s Bitters in a pale yellow coloration – North American Glass

What is interesting about the ebay piece is that is says it is “Prepared and sold by Mrs. Thomas Foulds & Co., Trevorton, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania”. It looks like she may have taken over the brand at some point. I believe the three bottles in this post to be prior to the printed piece.

UncleTomsBitters_Meyer10

Uncle Tom’s Bitters in a orange amber coloration. Ex: Carlyn Ring – Ferdinand Meyer V Collection

Thomas Foulds

Thomas Foulds, proprietor of the Pennsylvania House, Trevorton, was the eldest son of Thomas and Dorothy Foulds. He was born at Tupton Moor, North Winfield parish, Derbyshire, England on September 16, 1830, and came to America with his parents in 1849. He followed mining in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, until 1851, when he located in Trevorton, and subsequently entered the employ of the late William H. Marshall, and in company with him went to Centralia, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged one year prospecting for coal. He returned to Trevorton, and opened all the principal gangways of the North Franklin colliery, except two on the west side of the Gap.

In 1856 he purchased his present place of business, and in 1857 assumed charge of the hotel. In the same year he went South with Mr. J. W. Beebe, of New York City, and took charge of the bituminous coal mines for a New York company near Montevallo, Alabama, and while there was successful in introducing coal on the steamboats on the Alabama river. Returning to Trevorton in 1858, in connection with his hotel he engaged in the mercantile business, which he conducted until 1867, and again embarked in the coal trade at Bear Valley, and was also connected with the Rock Ridge Coal Company of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania.

His early advantages were limited, but he educated himself by a knowledge gained from books and close observation of things around him. In 1862 he invented an improvement in ordnance known as the needle gun, for which he refused ten thousand dollars. In 1872 be invented a pump, and also invented a condenser (or what is commonly known as an exhaust in receiving pipes of pumps), for which he was awarded the only medal for condensers at the Centennial Exposition in 1876. In 1885 he received letters patent for an improvement in injector condensers, and in July, 1890, he patented an exhaust steam receiver. A metallic railroad tie is his latest invention, for which letters patent have recently been received.

He is also well known as the proprietor and manufacturer of the tonic called “Uncle Tom’s Bitters,” for which he received a trade mark in 1886.

He was the originator of the sliding scale adopted by the Bear Valley Coal Company in the regulation of its payment of wages for mining coal, previous to the adoption of the same by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.

History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania – J.J. John, 1891

Foulds1858_Trevorton

Thomas Foulds located on Market street on this 1858 map of Trevorton, Pennsylvania. Notice two locomotive roundhouses in town.

Posted in Advertising, Auction News, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Meet Chef Johnny Pol “The Foodman”

Posted on 10 October 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V
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Food Product Jars c. 1850-1900, all dug by the Chef in California.

Meet Chef Johnny Pol “The Foodman”

10 October 2014
ChefJohnnyPolFoodJars

Chef Johnny Pol at the 2014 Morro Bay Antique Bottle Show

Apple-Touch-IconAI met Chef Johnny Pol at the super 2014 Morro Bay Antique Bottle Show earlier this year and was impressed with his table of bottles and personality. Our hobby has so many neat people. Recently Chef Johnny sent me some of his food bottle pictures and his bio so I thought I would share.

Sauces

Circa 1875-1918 colored sauces and extracts that were dug in California and the United Kingdom.

My name is Johnny Pol. I am 56 years young and a 1990 graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. I am a retired Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Manager for 21 years, in the Fresno, Visalia, California area. Now I work for hotels and private country clubs averaging about 70+ hours a week, currently working as a Supervisor, who supervises supervisors for the CDCR/CMC Prison in San Luis Obispo, California.

So my passion for the “FOODS” bottles is a reflection of being a chef. Many early, hand-blown food bottles are so diverse in shape, form, color and size. It is one category in the bottle collecting field that there is no end to with what can be found. I still, after 37 years of collecting the food bottles, find that there are new ones to be found.

26 oz. Whirly Oils Cobalt

Goldfields c. 1860+ 26 oz. Whirly form salad oils in cobalt blue! These are 14″ tall.

Compared to Western collectors, who like whiskey bottles, sodas, meds, beers, bitters, cordials, etc. and some extremely rare food bottles, most Western collectors tend to want only American or Western blown bottles for their collection. So their focus is in a different direction and they typically do not know too much about the rarity of the intercontinental food bottles that I collect.

I have been collecting for 37 years now. My collection of bottles and jars have been dug and found in the United States, United Kingdon, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, etc. Many actually came from the California gold fields.

I was very fortunate to know some diggers and we did some research and found this site on the Sacramento river north of Old Sacramento, California. This was an early stagecoach stop and turn-around for flat bottom boats from 1853 to 1878 when it burned down, and was never rebuilt. There were dozens of great western whiskeys found along with sodas, medicines, pot lids, and many foods from the restaurant and hotel on the site. We dug over a 3-year period as to keep it on the low. We sold off many good bottles from that site, and I will share some of the finds that I dug myself over that time.

Green Goldfields Pickle c.1870's

Goldfields c. 1870+ green pickle jar, with applied top. Dug by the Chef at a Northern California gold rush site in 1989. “My eyes popped out when this gem came out! No damage, mint condition. Very Crude, Heavy, Whittled Glass! This could be a Western Blown Jar!”

Amber Vinegar Jar c.1870's

Goldfields c. 1870+ golden honey, round, gothic vinegar jar.

Batty's Cobalt 26 oz. Salad Oil

Goldfields c. 1870+ Batty “Crown” embossed gothic paneled salad oil in cobalt blue glass! Less then 5 examples known!

When attending the Le Cordon Bleu on the weekends, I would go dig at the downtown hi-rise projects that were in the process of being built. Myself and other diggers would pay off the security guard with one bottle of Red and one bottle of Black, Johnny Walker Whiskey and $20 dollars each, for the night, which was the digging fee. I dug a few great sodas, pot lids, beers and whiskeys, that I traded or sold those for the foods I collect.

I am now downsizing the 600+ bottles in the collection. Most are jars and sauces while there are several extracts, and condiment types.

Cheers for now, Chef Johnny Pol… “The Foodman”

3 Colored Jars

Food product jars with applied tops. Two left jars c. 1880+ table delicacies or preserves, jam, jelly jars. Blue square Goldfields pickle jar c. 1870-85. Remember “Foods” in colored glass are rare!

Pontiled Coloured Salad Oil C.1860's

Goldfields c. 1850+ Olive yellow color glass, six sided, pontil base, salad oil or sauce. Square collared applied top. Mega-rare in colored glass!

3 Coloured Jars c.1875- 1900

Three colored jars. From left: c. 1880-1900 condiment jar, applied top. Center: Goldfields c. 1870+ caviar barrel jar, applied top. Right: c. 1885-90 mustard barrel, tool top.

Light Colour Barrel Jar

Circa 1870+ caviar barrel, applied top, in a off orange amber color!

3 early Jars

Three early jars. Left: Circa 1880+ condiment jar, applied top. Center: Goldfields c.1870+ standard size caviar barrel jar, applied top. Right: Goldfields c.1870+ double capacity caviar barrel with applied top.

EXCELSIOR PICKLE JAR c. 1880

Goldfields, c.1865-75 teal color, embossed “EXCELSIOR”. Very crude applied top, six sided pickle jar.

C.1870 -1900 Jars

Late Goldfields food product jars with applied tops. Left: c. 1880+ sauce or condiment jar. Center: c. 1870+ puce color pickle or berry jar. Right: c. 1875+ olive condiment jar.

Amber Pickle jar # 5

Goldfields c. 1860 amber square pickle jar with applied top.

Barrel in green

Goldfields c. 1870+ double capacity, green caviar barrel.

Black Glass Fat Lip Preserve Jar

Goldfields c. 1870’s black glass preserve jar with applied top.

Limey Green Barrel

Goldfields circa 1870+ lime green caviar barrel

condiment Jars c.1840-80

Goldfields circa 1840-80 colored glass capers and condiment jars. All dug in San Francisco…

Preserve Jar in Green Large size

Circa 1880+ two pound size preserve jar in green glass with applied lip.

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Goldfields circa 1845+ L&R embossed honey jar in honey amber glass. Pontil base, fat lip applied top. Very rare form.

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Pontil base to the L&R honey jar

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Goldfields circa 1845+ L&R honey jar monogramed trademark detail

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Massive product barrel storage, utility jars, circa 1870+ with bung holes for spigots. Left: Green barrel storage-utility jar, with bung hole embossed VERREIE DE CANNES JB, to the base. Used for spirits, vinegar, olive oil, etc, This barrel is 18″ tall x 11″ wide! 16 sided, 17 rings to the body, heavy whittled glass, sheared ground top. Very Rare in this size. Middle jar: Cobalt blue barrel with bung hole, same embossing as the green jar on the base. Used for syrups, spirits, vinegar, olive oil, etc. Right jar: Very large size, light pale green aqua glass barrel storage jar, 17 1/2″ tall x 12′ wide, 16 sided to the mid body, 16 rings to the body, smooth base. Very rare in this larger size barrel.

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Goldfields circa1870+ pickle barrel form jar dug by the Chef in Oakland , California in 1989 in light blue aqua glass. Six dug in the same hole!

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Goldfields circa 1860+ extra fancy form mustard jar with pontil base

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Nice Large Colored Glass set of “Bocal” utility Jars from France, circa 1860-1880, pontil and smooth bases. These were used for fruits and vegetables.

Posted in Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Digging and Finding, Food, Fruit Jars, Jelly & Jam, Pickle Jars, Sauce, Syrup, Utility Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment