Manville New Jersey Bottle Show

Manville14_6Manville New Jersey Bottle Show

by Jim Bender | FOHBC Membership Director

05 February 2014

NJABC_LogoThe New Jersey Antique Bottle Collectors Club held its 18th annual bottle show on February 2, 2014 in Manville, New Jersey. For years, this show was known as The South River Show. Due to the sale of the Knights of Columbus Hall, the show was moved this year.

Enter Bob Strickhart, who stepped up and took over the show. Bob is a life member of the FOHBC and supports our hobby to the fullest. Bob understands that bottle shows are the back-bone of the hobby and wanted to save the show.

Bob found a great location at the VFW located at 600 Washington Avenue Manville, New Jersey. The VFW hall was large enough to support the sell-out of 75 dealer tables. This still left room for seating to eat and rest your legs. The food was the best I have ever had at a show. All you can eat for $10, what a deal! Parking at the old show was always a problem and that problem was solved for sure at the VFW. Plenty of parking and the dealers had no issues at all loading and unloading. There was a line waiting at the door at 9:00 am which was a great sign. The sales floor seemed busy all day and all the dealers I spoke to said they had a good time and had sold some things. I sold several cups and go withes myself along with a few bottles. They held a 50/50 raffle as well as giving away a Flask and early New Jersey soda bottle as a raffle.

All three of the big east coast auction houses were there looking for commissions and visiting with all the folks. I was able to purchase a great early repro flask from John Pastor for my collection. It will be making the trip to the FOHBC Lexington National Antique Bottle Show in August as part of the display on reproductions I will be doing for the club members and show attendees.

I was also able to get three new members to join the FOHBC. If you are not a member you are really missing out. Join the FOHBC.

Overall, I think Bob did a great job with the show. He covered location, parking, show room and food which is all a good show needs. Thanks Bob for a fun day and saving the show!

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He had a new variety of bitters known as Red Jacket Bitters

WHEATCOLORartHe had a new variety of bitters known as Red Jacket Bitters

04 January 2014 (R•051518)

Apple-Touch-IconAAs a continuance to: Red Jacket Bitters – Another Chicago ‘Indian’, I add today, an interesting reference to Red Jacket Bitters being used out west, submitted by James Viguerie. James adds, “I am just glad they knocked off the top to the champaigne and not the bitters!”

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He told me all about his recent trip to “La Belle France”; and he had a new variety of bitters known as Red Jacket Bitters, of which he was partaking freely.

Eugene Ware in his 1911 Indian War of 1864 described Bordeaux’s residence on the North Platte and its owner:

It was a large, rambling log building with sod end to it, and additions and outbuildings attached to it, so that it was a sort of wandering, straggling caravansary and store combined. He got to showing me what he had, and then he went into the front of the store-building, where he had some cigars. The doors were all bolted and barred. He got to telling me about his visit to France. The floor in this part of the building was made out of pine logs brought down to a grade with an adz. It happened that I could read his French language, and I expressed myself very much interested, and he told me all about his recent trip to “La Belle France”; and he had a new variety of bitters known as Red Jacket Bitters, of which he was partaking freely. We talked about Indians and Indian matters and Indian habits and Indian customs, and he said that the Indians that had been back of his house had gone off. But I was very much interested in his description of Indian manners and his adventures among them, until it got to be along about one o’clock in the morning.

Thereupon he got two tin cups, and with a hatchet knocked off the head. There in the stillness of night in that country we drank to the health of “La Belle France.”

And Mr. Bordeaux again got off onto the subject of his visit to “La Belle France,” and he seemed to be very much pleased with the bitters he had and the attention with which I listened to his story. He was a much older man than I, and I was, indeed, very much delighted to hear him talk. All at once he disappeared through the floor, by turning up a plank or puncheon, and the first thing I knew he came back from down below somewhere with two large, musty quart bottles of champagne, and sticking one down in front of me said, “We will drink to La Belle France.” I was as much surprised as if the man had dug up a statue of Daniel Webster. The idea of a quart bottle of champagne in that dry, arid, heathen country almost paralyzed me, but I finally said to him that a quart bottle was more than my size, and that I would drink half of one of the bottles with him. I suggested that we split, and each drink half of the same bottle. Thereupon he got two tin cups, and with a hatchet knocked off the head. There in the stillness of night in that country we drank to the health of “La Belle France.” I have never seen Mr. Bordeaux since then, but have retained a delicious memory of him and the occasion.

From: Wheatland Photos, From Wyoming Tales and Trails – Wheatland, the coming of irrigation and the railroad, G. B. Dobson

[Writer Dobson’s notes: Red Jacket Bitters was a form of patent medicine advertised as “prepared in pure Bourbon Whiskey, from a combination of over twenty different kinds of roots, barks and herbs, from the originia formula given by the great CHIEF RED JACKET, to Dr. CHAPIN.” Red Jacket (1756-1830) was a loyalist Seneca Indian taking his name from a red jacket presented to him by the British.]

“RED JACKET / BITTERS – MONHEIMER & Co” (with original colorful, graphic labels), America, 1890 – 1900. Golden amber, square with beveled corners, tooled sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 9 ¾”; (bottle is perfect; 90% complete front and back labels). R/H #R20. A very scarce Chicago bitters, and certainly rare with original colorful and graphic labels depicting a full-length Indian chief holding a rifle. – American Glass Gallery Auction #20

“RED JACKET / BITTERS – MONHEIMER & Co” (with original colorful, graphic labels), America, 1890 – 1900. Golden amber, square with beveled corners, tooled sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 9 ¾”; (bottle is perfect; 90% complete front and back labels). R/H #R20. A very scarce Chicago bitters, and certainly rare with original colorful and graphic labels depicting a full-length Indian chief holding a rifle. – American Glass Gallery Auction #20

Posted in Article Publications, Bitters, History, Humor - Lighter Side, Medicines & Cures, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking at some Landsberg bottles…

PRG_MBR_W4Looking at some Landsberg bottles

04 February 2014

Apple-Touch-IconATo accompany the ‘Another Patended Landsberg Bottle‘ post, I thought I would show you a few examples of Landsberg bottles in my collection. The bottles are incredibly ornate and look gorgeous paired with my Professor Byrnes bottles which are very similar, yet different.

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The first image below is a L 15 – M. G. Landsberg | Chicago, the second example is a L 13 – Landsberg Century Bitters | The Adler Company St. Louis and the third example is a Landsberg Pure Blackberry Brandy | A. Heller & Co. New York.

Read More: Professor Byrne and Landsberg – Some Highly Decorative Bottles

Read More: Another Patended Landsberg Bottle

Read More: Ladies and Gentlemen… the Landsberg Sphinx Bottles

L15_Landsberg_MeyerL13_LandsbergCentury_Meyer

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Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Display, Photography, Spirits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Another Patended Landsberg Bottle

Landsbergtrio_Meyer

Another Patended Landsberg Bottle 

by James Viguerie

04 February 2014 (R•021214) (R•121318 -New Example)
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Fig: 1 – Moses G. Landsberg Patent 12861, Design for a Bottle, dated April 11, 1882

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Fig: 2 – Moses G. Landsberg Patent 12861, Design, dated April 11, 1882

While going through my copies of bitters patents today I thought I had accidentally made two copies of the Landsberg’s patent (see Figs: 1 & 2 above) for the Century Bitters bottle (patent 12,861 – L13, L14 L15 in Bitters Bottles). They are incredible bottles so I could see where I might have wanted two copies, in case I lost one. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that one patent was submitted a year later. At first I thought it was for a subtitle design variation. I know there are Landsberg bottles from Chicago, New York and St. Louis. However, this patent was for a very different bottle design (see Figs: 3 & 4 below).

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Fig: 3 – Moses G. Landsberg Patent 13699, Design for a Bottle, dated March 6, 1883

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Fig: 4 – Moses G. Landsberg Patent 13699, Design, dated March 6, 1883

The design on this bottle is incredible. I would very much like to get my hands on one. OK, I would love to own any Landsberg bottle! But this one having a mortar and pestle would make it a good fit for my druggist bottle collection. I do not know what this bottle held. However, it being very similar to the other Landsberg bottles, I would guess bitters.

I like how he refers to the bottle as the “Sphinx”. Being he referred to the earlier patented bottle as the “Century”, and it held “Landsberg’s Century Bitters”, I am unofficially calling this bottle the “Landsberg’s Sphinx Bitters”.

The earlier bottle, patent 12,861, has a spread eagle, rayed sun, shield, “1876”, beautiful corrugated corners and hexagons at the base (see Figs: 5 & 6 below). The neck of this bottle was meant to represent a handle and the shoulder a bell with stars on it. Truly an exceptional bottle design.

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Fig: 5 – Detail L 15 – M. G. Landsberg. Representing patent 12,861, has a spread eagle, rayed sun, shield, “1876”, beautiful corrugated corners and hexagons at the base

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Fig: 6 – Detail L 15 – M. G. Landsberg. Representing patent 12,861, has a spread eagle, rayed sun, shield, “1876”, beautiful corrugated corners and hexagons at the base

This newer bottle (patent 13,699) equally, was quite ornate, perhaps even more so. The bottle not only has a Sphinx and a mortar and pestle, it has the figure of a griffin, a human headed lion, corrugated columns at the corners, birds, animals, hieroglyphics and the “M.G.L.” monogram. The neck of the bottle is shaped into a base and obelisk. Perhaps he told the craftsman who designed the first bottle to just let his imagination run wild on the second bottle.

Quite a few of the bitters patents I have were for label only bottles. While those can be exciting bottles to have, and very rare, nothing beats a well embossed bottle. It is exciting to think that this bottle was actually made. Nothing in the design looks too hard to have made, considering the other Landsberg bottles. I hope some lucky collector has one sitting on a shelf right now. They can call be when they get bored with it.

*** UPDATE *** Ladies and Gentlemen… the Landsberg Sphinx Bottles


(Mortar and Pestle) / “M.G.L.” (monogram) – (Griffin) / (Front view of the Sphinx) / (Human Headed Lion). The neck in the form of an Egyptian Obelisk is covered with hieroglyphics as is other areas of the bottle. (unlisted), Illinois, ca. 1883 – 1885, yellow amber, 12 1/4”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #126

Read: Looking at some Landsberg bottles…

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Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters

Good Housekeeping1935

Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters

Keeping House & Selling Bitters

03 February 2014 (R•031815) (R•030519)

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James Viguerie mentioned in a recent e-mail, “For example for B 25 (Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters), I have the full patent record (132,233) and see that S. M. Barnes was actually Sarah M. Barnes. I thought it was interesting that a woman had put a bitters out in 1872 (maybe Ferd will do a story on her at Peachridge Glass). 

SarahBarnesPatent

Now this real is interesting as James suggests. What is the story here? Was Sarah Barnes keeping house or selling bitters? Here is the subject patent again:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SARAH M. BARNES, OF LAFAYETTE, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MEDICAL COMPOUNDS OR ANTI-DYSPEPTIC BITTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 132,233, dated October 15, 1872; antedated October 12, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SARAH M. BARNES, of LaFayette, in the county of Montgomery and State of Virginia, have invented or produced a new Medical Compound, which I denominate “Anti-Dyspeptic and Family Bitters;” and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the ingredients composing and the manner of compounding the same.

To make, for instance, five gallons of the bitters I use the following-named ingredients in the proportionate quantities designated: Socotrinia aloes, pulverized, one and one-fourth pound; rhubarb, pulverized, one and one-fourth pound anise-seed, ten ounces; cardamom-seed, ten ounces; ground gentian, ten ounces; jalap, pulverized, four ounces; white mustard-seed, four ounces; alcohol, two and one-half gallons water, two and one-half gallons.

In compounding the bitters I place the alcohol in a keg or barrel, and add the aloes, rhubarb, anise-seed, cardamom-seed, ground gentian, jalap, and mustard-seed. Then the compound is allowed to stand for twenty-four hours, when the water is added, after which it is thoroughly shaken every day for the next ten days, and again allowed to stand five days to settle, when it is fit for use.

The compound hereby produced is a valuable tonic, as it agrees with the most delicate stomach, removing nausea, pain, and debility from that organ, and through it giving tone and vigor to the entire system. As an anti-dyspeptic it not only neutralizes and prevents the formation of acids, but checks fermentation, and prevents the accumulation of gases from food in the stomach, while the ingredients, having a purgative property, cause the bowels to be freely and naturally evacuated without pain, local or general debility.

Having described my invention, I claim – The bitters, compounded from the ingredients in or in about the proportions named, as herein described.

SARAH M. BARNES.

Witnesses:

J. A. RAYBURN,

E. H. TAYLOR.

First of all, Sarah M. Barnes was Thomas H. Barnes‘ (b. 1816) wife. They lived in LaFayette, Virginia which is between the cities of Roanoke and Christiansburg in eastern Montgomery County, southwest Virginia. In an 1860 United States Federal Census, Thomas, age 44, was listed as a physician while his wife Sarah, age 36, had no occupation noted. Usually you see something like keeping house as the occupation which was fairly common. Their children were listed as Madora A. (14), Ella C. (12), William M. (8), and Franklin E. Barnes (2). There is a similar listing, as far as their occupations, in the 1850 Federal Census. In the 1880 Census, at 55 years old, Sarah is listed as keeping house.

On 20 June 1862, Thomas Barnes died in LaFayette County, Virginia. I think this might explain why his wife obtained the patent and continued in the bitters business. I used a picture of Good Housekeeping magazine above to illustrate the power and broad appeal of the word ‘housekeeping’ during this period, and even now. The magazine was founded on May 2, 1885 by Clark W. Bryan in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Been around a long time.

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

B 25  Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic Family Bitters
DR. THOS. H. BARNES / ANTI-DYSPEPTIC / & FAMILY BITTERS // sp // f // sp //
7 1/2 x 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 (5 1/2) 1/4
Rectangular, Aqua, LTC, 3 sp. Extremely rare
Patented 1872 by Dr. S. M. Barnes, LaFayette, Virginia

Above: This is as-found, other than highlighting letters for photographing. Note that the embossing seems somewhat crude and sloppy and not carefully aligned. A bit on the weak side, too. Found about four feet down in sand, a real accidental find. The spirit moved me to poke into the sand of the drainage trench. No dump, no sign of debris, just one really neat bottle waiting to be pulled from the sand. One of my favorite finds. – Tony Pagano

B 25 Thos. A Barnes front

Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters advertising trade card – Joe Gourd Collection

B 25 Thos. A Barnes back

Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters advertising trade card – Joe Gourd Collection

Posted in Bitters, Digging and Finding, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Publications, Questions, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking forward to Bitters Bottles Supplement 2

BBS2

Looking forward to Bitters Bottles Supplement 2

02 February 2014 (Updated 09 February 2014 with Bill Ham Response)

Apple-Touch-IconAThe following e-mail came in from James Viguerie that poses some questions that some of you may be wondering yourselves. Bill will be responding and I will add to this post. The book cover art above is for illustrative purposes only.

Read More: Cataloging of Bitters Bottles – Bill Ham

Bill & Ferd

Hello to you both! I wanted to find out the best way to contribute information to the next version of the Bitters Bottles Supplement book. Currently I have been sending my research, individual bitters by bitters, to Ferd to go with articles on Peachridge Glass. I enjoy doing research and this has been fun to do as my time permitted.

However, I know that another bitters book is in the works and most likely has a deadline before it needs to go to press. I have quite a bit of research on bottles including bitters. Twenty years ago I did quite a bit of research in archives, libraries and anywhere else I could find information. This included searching through records at the local patent office when I lived in Springfield, Illinois. I was trying to find out more of the square HORSE SHOE BITTERS / PATENTED bottle that I had (and since had auctioned off at the FOHBC 2007 Collinsville, Illinois show – and Ferd now has). Read: The wonderful Horse Shoe Bitters from Collinsville, Illinois

I was fascinated at all the patent records on bottles and ended up making a copy of  every single one. Unfortunately, these are hard copies. Technology has changed quite a bit since then. At the time I did the research, Carlyn Ring’s was the most recent bitters book. I saw I had hundreds of bitters that she did not include. I figured they would be good for a future book. Little did I know that two new bitters books were the works. It was too late to contribute to them by the time I bought copies (great books by the way!). Since then I had moved and much of my research has been boxed up.

Druggist bottles are now my main interest, and the main focus of my research today. I have a future website and book in mind to share what I have found with collectors. As part of that effort I have started to dig through my old research and came across some of what I had on bitters. I never had checked these against the Bitters Bottles and Bitters Bottles Supplement books. Last night I went though some and found 30 bitters that either were not listed, or provided more information than what was in the books. For example for B 25 (Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters) I have the full patent record (132,233) and see that S. M. Barnes was actually Sarah M. Barnes. I thought it was interesting that a woman had put a bitters out in 1872 (maybe Ferd will do a story on her at Peachridge Glass).

PRG: Working on Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters post.

Anyway, all this made me wonder what the best way to get information into any new books. I have a number of questions:

1) Will paper label only bitters continue to be listed? I am sure 80% of the bitters I have come across must be paper label only of none have been found so far. Do you want pictures of label only bitters? I use to have a few unlisted ones. I sold some off but I know I still have at least 3 that are not pictured in any bitters books.

2) How should I communicate research? Should I just continue to send then one at a time to Ferd? Should I also forward information to Bill too? My time becomes limited at times and would hate to miss the boat of getting this information into a third book.

4) Have one of you searched the patent records already? I know there is now a way to search online. I will hold off scanning and typing all mine up if you already have this information.

Here are a few I did not see listed at all:

“Beck’s Medicinal Bitters” – Theodore Beck – Omaha Nebraska – patent 110,423 December 27, 1870

“The Oregon Chittum Bitters” – George W. Brown – Portland Oregon – patent 130,409 August 13, 1872.

PRG from upcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

O 76.2 OREGON CHITTUM / BITTERS // f // DR. G. W. BROWN’S // f //
App 9 ½
Square. Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
G. W. Brown was a druggist in Portland Oregon.
Example dug in Portland Oregon area

“The Unk-weed Remedy” – Abram M. Loryea – Portland Oregon – patent 116,846 July 11, 1871 for a “Improvement in Medical Compounds or Bitters”.

Some of the patents I have are for the actual recipes for bitters. They do not always mention the brand. They many only indicate it is for a new “Tonic Bitters”. I tried to match up the patentees name to bitters in the books but this is very manual – hard copy patents to a hard copy bitters books. I only looked at the names being at the start of a brand. I am sure I may have missed some. For example I had a patent, 116,310, by Moritz Holst for a “Improvement in Medical Compounds or Bitters. I only looked for a bitters in the book under “H” for Holst. If there were a listing for some MEMPHIS TURNIP BITTERS // MORITZ HOLST I would have missed it. Hopefully, you can do a search electronically against anything I send. (and yes I made up that brand name).

I also have some trade cards and other bitters go-withs that are not in any books. Unfortunately, a physical book does have a size limitation so was not sure how much content you were looking for.

PRG: We need to involve Bitters Trade Card authority Joe Gourd here.

Sorry for the long email. I look forward to reading the new Bitters book when it comes out. I will also continue to look forward to reading about new Bitters when people write about them on Peachridge Glass.

Take care,

James Viguerie

James:

I’ll let Bill chime in first but will add here that Bill and I work pretty closely together on all new bitters and update existing information brought forth by new research and information. I have a digital copy of  Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 (or whatever Bill wants to call it) and reference and update it constantly with Bill.

Ferdinand

What is happening with a Second Bitters Bottles Supplement?

09 February 2014

BillHamTallbwCataloging of bitters by the various authors has been an ongoing and evolving process. Each new publication has added and increased the information. Each new publication is also somewhat reflective of the changes in collector interest, and the interests of the author. The first bitters bottles books listed only bottles with the word “BITTERS” embossed in the glass. In FOR BITTERS ONLY, Carlyn Ring listed many brands found in advertisements and directories. With time, many bitters bottles that at first were only known from advertisements were found.

With Carolyn Rings permission, I updated the cataloging and published BITTERS BOTTLES, in 1998. In that publication, the color description were updated, and mouth finish was added, along with new additions, and updated and revisions of some listings. Additional information was included where available to indicate where a bitters was from, and in cases of some of the more rare brands where examples were found. Many previously uncataloged brands were added. The cover design for this book was influenced by the “look” of the early Stephen Van Rensselear book and using a strip of the bottle silhouettes from FOR BITTERS ONLY.

The information that was available at the time was used. Since that time, vast amounts of additional information has become available through contemporary research techniques, the Internet, and auction price guide summaries. Bottles with the word BITTERS, as well as paper labeled bitters, and bitters advertisements in magazines, and trade cards and listings in business directories are listed.

When publishing the BITTERS BOTTLES SUPPLEMENT in 2004, more than 450 more previously unlisted bottles were added, as well as correcting data and adding additional information on many previously recorded brands.

The overall goal of the listings is include the many brands of bitters, which were put up and sold in embossed and/or labeled containers, and to accurately describe those containers that have the word BITTERS embossed. The bottle listings are illustrated with schematic drawings in approximately one-fourth scale, with the exact embossing shown as close as possible, and the listings indicate bottle dimensions. This is so that different sizes and variants of a brand can be identified, and also one could possibly identify a bottle from a broken piece with only partial embossing. Brief information on manufacturer, proprietor and where a product was made and or distributed are included.

Although there are color plates showing many bottles, showing photographs of all bottles would make an extremely large and cumbersome publication. There are so many attractive and interesting bottles, that it is always difficult to choose those for the limited space that is available for color plates.

The cataloging of bitters bottles, and brands and collecting information on bitters has continued since the 2004 publication. The current draft has way more than 450 new, revised or updated listings. Information has been gathered for new listings and updating existing listings from Auction Catalogs, Ebay, Ferdinand and his Peachridge Glass site, bottles observed at bottle shows, and from information found or given to me.

I am positive that there are still examples of uncataloged bitters bottles brands out there that are unknown to collectors and more and more of them keep showing up.

I have been working closely with Ferdinand and expect that we will eventually publish a Second SUPPLEMENT. No target date for publication has been set at this time, and there is a lot of work still needed before an additional SUPPLEMENT will be ready to publish.

A document like this cannot be produced without you the collectors helping and contributing. You can send information on uncataloged bitters and supporting information of listed brands to me at billham9@gmail.com or to Ferdinand at fmeyer@fmgdesign.com. We appreciate your help and patience as the next SUPPLEMENT is assembled and gotten ready for publication.

Bill Ham

Posted in Advice, Bitters, History, News, Peachridge Glass, Publications, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The only (as of now) Harz Mountain Herb Bitters

HartzMountainHerbBitters_GWA

The only (as of now) Harz Mountain Herb Bitters

02 February 2014

Apple-Touch-IconAMaking an appearance at the Glass Works “Cabin Fever” Potpourri Auction is the ‘one and only’ (at least as far as bitters collectors are aware) Harz Mountain Herb Bitters. This bottle is from the great John Feldmann collection and though it has a replaced epoxy mouth, is highly desirable.

HartzReplacedTopI remember the last time this dug, Cleveland, Ohio bottle came up for auction and questioned John when he purchased this years ago, as I was hesitant bidding on it with the replaced mouth (picture above). I remember John being ‘tickled pink’ with his extremely rare addition. Something to learn here. All of these rarities do not need to be perfect. It must be assumed that this bitters was produced for a extremely short period of time. I also want to point out the rather odd base marking (see below) on the bottle.

HartzMountainbase

 The Glass Works Auctions write-up is as follows:

19. “W. TROMMLITZ – HARZ / MOUNTAIN / HERB / BITTERS – CLEVELAND, O.”, (Ring/Ham H-67.5), Ohio, ca. 1860 – 1875, yellow olive semi-cabin, 9 7/8”h, smooth base, replaced epoxy mouth. Dug in Cleveland, Ohio and found without the mouth. William Trommlitz was a wholesale liquor dealer in Cleveland, Ohio from 1861 to 1867. An attractive bottle, and currently the only known example!

The Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement is as follows:

H 67.5  HARZ MOUNTAIN HERB BITTERS

// W/ TROMMLITZ. // HARZ (au) / MOUNTAIN / HERB / BITTERS. (ad) // CLEVELAND. O. // sp //
Approximately 10 1/4* x 4 x 2 1/4
Rectangular semi-cabin, Yellow-amber, Top missing, 4 sp, Extremely rare
*The only known specimen was dug in Cleveland, Ohio and measures 9 1/4 inches to top of the broken neck.
William Trommlitz was a wholesale liquor dealer in Cleveland from 1861 until at least 1867.

HarzMountainRH

Harz Mountain Herb Bitters illustration – Bitters Bottles Supplement

Wilhelm Godfrey Trommlitz, was born in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany in 1821. He was a wholesale liquor dealer in Cleveland, Ohio from about 1861 to 1882. Wilhelm was married to Louisa Astzschner and had three children:

Paul Trommlitz (B: 1848): – Paul was born in Germany and moved to Cleveland, Ohio and worked at a saloon in 1869. Paul served in the Civil War with the Ohio Volunteers. The Trommlitz family, as noted above, had a liquor distribution business in Cleveland. Paul Trommlitz was for so many years connected with Koliler & Frohling and afterwards with the California Wine Association and then Italian Swiss Colony Wines after the war. He was also the proprietor of Potrero Soap Works in San Francisco in 1879. He married Henretta Lang in 1881 in Alameda, California. The marriage resulted in 3 children: Will, Florence and Louise. Paul died in 1901 in Alameda. He was cremated and the remains scattered in the San Francisco Bay.)

“Paul Trommlitz, of the Italian-Swiss Colony, has gone East again after a short stay in San Francisco. He came from Chicago with an excursion of Christian Endeavorers, in spite of the fact that he scarcely belongs to that clan himself. He will be away about five months in the interest of the Colony’s business.” – Pacific Spirit & Wine Review 1896

Helena Bertha Louisa Trommlitz (B: 1849) – Helene Bertha Lousie (Lena) Trommlitz was born in Desau Germany on November 29th 1849. She had two brothers Paul and George. Her Father remarried when their Mother passed away 9 days after getting birth of her brother George. Wilhelm had two sons from this union Oscar and Oliver. Lena married Karl Kritch in Cleveland Ohio on December 16, 1869.

George William Trommlitz (B: 1858) was born in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. George lived and worked in Denver, Colorado. He is listed as having a number of patents with Gripping connection for inflation-valves. He died on 18 May 1927 in San Antonio, Texas.

Neuruppin1852

Harz 1852

The Harz Mountain Herb Bitters brand was named after The Harz (also spelled Hartz) which is the highest mountain range in Northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhaltand Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart (mountain forest), Latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz with a height of 1,141.1 metres (3,744 ft) above sea level. The Wurmberg (971 metres (3,186 ft)) is the highest peak located entirely within Lower Saxony. – Wikipedia

You may also be aware of Hartz Mountain Industries. Max and Gustav Stern emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1926 with five thousand singing canaries (Harz Roller), and began manufacturing bird food under the Hartz Mountain brand in 1932. They later sold pets such as canaries, parakeets, hamsters, tropical fish, and associated supplies throughout the U.S. and Canada, and eventually introduced pet supply departments into more than 30,000 supermarkets in North America and the United Kingdom. – Wikipedia

Wilhelm Godfrey Trommlitz

1821: Wilhelm Godfrey Trommlitz, birth 27 September 1821 in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

1861: William Trommlitz, wholesale liquor dealer, 36 Pittsburg, r 214 Ontario – Cleveland City Directory

1863: William Trommlitz, liquors, Pittsburgs near Market – Cleveland City Directory

1866: William Trommlitz, liquor dealer, Pittsburgs near Market – Cleveland City Directory

1868: Wm Trommlitz, importer liquors, 197 Ontario, h. 125 Broadway – Cleveland City Directory (Paul Trommlitz listed as bookkeeper at 125 Broadway. Probably help brother with business.

1869: William Trommlitz, dealer in wines & liquors, Champlain n cor S. Water – Cleveland City Directory

1869: Paul Trommlitz, saloon, 115 Detroit – Cleveland City Directory

1870: William Trommlitzwines & liquor dealer, 1870 United States Federal Census

1874: William Trommlitz, dealer in wines & liquors, 9 and 11 Champlain – Cleveland City Directory

1876: Mrs. W. Trommlitz, wines and liquors, 9 and 11 Champlain – Robison & Savage & Co., Cleveland Directory, 1876

1880: William Trommlitz, wines and liquors, 9 Champlain, Cleveland City Directory

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Moutoux’s German Stomach Bitters

brickbuildingJasper

Moutoux’s German Stomach Bitters

02 February 2014

by James Viguerie

While doing research on an unlisted bitters I came across yet another unlisted bitters in an Indiana newspaper. As the first bitters will take a little more time to research, I will pass along what I have on the second one. On page 8 of the April 13, 1900 issue of the Jasper Indiana Weekly Courier was an advertisement for Moutoux’s German Stomach Bitters.

The Jasper weekly courier April 13 1900 page 8

Moutoux’s German Stomach Bitters advertisement on page 8, The Jasper Weekly Courier, April 13, 1900

The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Advertisement
M 153.5  MOUTOUX’S GERMAN STOMACH BITTERS, Moutoux’s Pharmacy, Jasper, Indiana, Charles Moutoux
The Jasper Weekly Courier, April 13, 1900

A check of the 1899 issue of The Pharmaceutical Era, Volume 22, found a brief description of Moutoux on page 316.

“Chas. Moutoux, a graduate of Purdue University School of Pharmacy, and lately employed at the Lorenz drug store, Evansville, has gone to Jasper, Ind., to engage in the drug business.”

I then found someone trying to find more information on Moutoux for genealogy in Ancestry.com.

“He ran a drug store in Cannelton, Indiana and apparently worked as a doctor in Oakland, California and Jasper, Indiana before moving to Evansville toward the end of his life.”

PainesCelery

Paine’s Celery Compound – Meyer Collection

I also found in the 1900 The National Druggist, Volume 30 (see below) where Moutoux’s Pharmacy won a prize in the “Paine’s Celery Compound window display competition”. Moutoux won $2 for his display, but I was quite surprised that the first place winner won $300. That is quite a bit of cash for 1900.

Screen Shot 2014-02-02 at 5.54.13 AM

1900 The National Druggist, where Moutoux’s Pharmacy won a prize in the “Paine’s Celery Compound window display competition”. Moutoux won $2 for his display (Fifth place winner not listed)

The last thing I found was a very interesting article in the March 1909 issues of the Indiana State Board of Health Monthly Bulletin that mentions “Dr.” Moutoux. Apparently he did not believe in germs (as I am sure many at that time did not). He was lobbying against vaccinating children during a Small Pox outbreak.

“He is a nonbeliever in germs and declares that it is impossible for such things as germs to cause disease and that disease is propagated by humor of the blood. He is a very radical individual and is just the kind who raises disturbances on such occasions as this. There were two more men there. They are classified as physicians in the newspapers, but none of them belong to the medical fraternity of Evansville They make their living by selling herbs or patent medicines.”

I wonder what medicines the other two sold?

Moutoux - Small pox

Smallpox at Evansville – Indiana State Board of Health Monthly Bulletin, March 1909

I am sure there is quite a bit more on Charles J. Moutoux if anyone would like to dig further. The real question is, “What did Moutoux German Stomach Bitters look like? Was this a label only bitters? Was it embossed?”

I look forward to someone answering that question.

Topmost image: First brick building in Jasper, Indiana – JasperIndiana.org
Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Dose | February 2014

February   2 0 1 4

Friday, 28 February 2014

MBS2Hello Ferd, Our show is coming up, a little earlier this year. Hoping you can list us when you get a chance. Snowing right now. Reggie researching daily. Old topo maps overlaid on google so we can see what is there and go right to the area where buildings were but they didnt draw in the old shitter- we have to do more work to find that and dumps but 2014 is looking great and we should have good stories to share in a couple of months.

MBS1

Perhaps you need to come see Montana and come to the show. I can loan you shovels or let you run the little track hoe! The last good hole was this one in Boulder MOntana. Not much real rare but some we all needed and oh so fun digging a 17 wide by 5 and about 7 feet deep with bottles lined up starting about 5 feet. A huge hole for the hotel! Drugstore nearby and the sick must of stayed in the hotel as we found about 150 plain drug and pill bottles. Even got a drugstore from Wichita, KS. And a blob soda from Rock Island, Ill.

Take care & see you at the shows.

Thanks,
James (Campiglia)
www.jameschips.com
www.outhousepatrol.com

30 & 31 May 2014 (Saturday) Butte, Montana – Montana Bottle Collectors Association 2014 Old Bottles, Antiques and Collectibles Show & Sale, Butte Civic Center Annex 1340 Harrison Avenue , Set up: Friday 30 May at 3:00 pm, but may not be unpacked and displayed prior to 4:00 pm. Early Birds: Friday, 30 May 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm;  $5 and covers both days. General Admission: Saturday, 31 May, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. $3. Info: James Campiglia, Show Chairman, 406.219.3293 or 805.689.0125, E-mail:jameschips@bresnan.net or Erich Weber, Secretary/Treasurer, 406.227.8154 or 406.439.0563 FOHBC Member Club

Thursday, 27 February 2014

Midday bird to Baltimore. Connect with Jerry Forbes (Carmel) and Pam Selenak (Orange County) coming in from the west coast. Off to eat crab cakes tonight! Baltimore Antique Bottle Show this weekend.

LangleysRMB_trademark

Look at this odd trademark for Langley’s Rocky Mountain Bitters in Boston. Having trouble linking it to Dr. Langley’s Root and Herb Bitters from Boston. What am I missing?

BrokenColumbiaBitters

What do you do when a bottle comes poorly boxed and breaks? Well you make wall art as Marlena VanHelsing did! She says “A beautiful fully labelled Columbia Stomach Bitters finds a new life mounted as a piece of wall art after being mailed to me in a soft shoe box and 2 sheets of newspaper. Umm ok!”

Wednesday, 26 February 2014

1863AdWhile woking on a post for Dr. Langley’s Root & Herb Bitters, I came across this cool typeset advertisement for T. M. Howards in an 1863 newspaper. This would be before computer typesetting.

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

WilsonFairbankPair

Thanks to Michael George for adding two extraordinary pictures to the Monk’s Old Bourbon Whiskey post. Steve Mello adds, “I remembered this bottle being listed in Bill and Betty Wilson’s spirits bottles of the old west. It was copyrighted in 1968. The description of the bottle is as follows. Embossed MONK’s OLD BOURBON WHISKEY, ca. 1853 to 1858 open pontil scar,square with beveled corners, amber, rare. The book does not have a photograph of this bottle. I wonder if this is a different mold or they did not get all the correct info. Not unheard of for the books of the day?? Regardless it is a great bottle.”

Monday, 24 February 2014

Rodeo over for Katy, Texas. Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo starts on 04 March and runs through the 23rd. Now that event is BIG. Baltimore Antique Bottle Show now on the radar. Flying out Thursday afternoon. Check out this picture of a complete case of log cabin extracts posted by Ryan McMurray over at Bottle Collectors. Might be at Balto. Look for a post on an unlisted Columbia Cascara Bitters.

WarnersLogCabinGroup

Ferdinand, I recently picked up this bitters bottle and I have never seen it before. I’ve seen hundreds of the Dr. Harters sample bitters but they were always embossed on the front. This one is embossed on one side Dr. Harters and the other side W.C. Bitters. Have you seen this one before? Do you have any idea on its value if one has sold before at auction? Thanks, Brandon (Smith)

HartersSample_Freak2 HartersSampleFreak1

Read More: Dr. Harter’s Wild Cherry Bitters and the Bottle Gods

Read More: A Train Load of Health – Dr. Harter’s Family Medicines

Friday, 21 February 2014

Yeh, it’s Friday. Came in to studio at 4:30 am. Too much on my mind. Leaving for the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show next Thursday. Lots to do between now and then. Katy Rodeo opens tonight. Both granddaughters are members of Katy Cowgirls who open the Rodeo each night. They also lead in the parade tomorrow. They both compete tonight in cutting and barrels too. And poor Elizabeth, still with her father in San Angelo.

RegansOrangeBittersArtFound a neat ‘retro’ logo for a current brand of Regan’s Orange Bitters. Also, is Pierre Lacour related to Louis Lacour? Read: What?…more Orange Bitters…..!

Doing an update with new material on the Crow’s Celebrated Bitters, Only 1 barrel known.

UnionRoot&HopBittersClearAnd what’s the deal with that Union Root and Bark Bitters on ebay? Is it unlisted? From James Viguerie “saw some more rare bitters on eBay. The Union Celebrated Root & Bark Bitters looks unlisted. It looks like a newer variation on Dr. A. S. Hopkins Root & Bark Bitters (H177-H183)”.

Wednesday, 19 February 2014

BottleSlag

My grandson said his Mamma was making him sweet roles this morning before school. I think this picture reminds me of a breakfast serving ala bottle collector. Photo by Jason LaPort.

OrangeBittersSeriesArt

Finished the ORANGE bitters series this morning with the Rees Orange Tonica. I want to thank bitters trade card authority Joe Gourd (Chicago) for inspiring and contributing his material for this series. Joe sent a nice e-mail and said, “Must confess that I am having the most fun I’ve had in years contributing to your posts. I’m a firm believer that there is a great joy in sharing collections of every type. Hope you continue to have the time, inspiration and energy to advance interest in our hobby.”

Monday, 17 February 2014

YoungbloodsMontanBittersTradeMark

You Montana diggers like James Campiglia, get diggin’… Read: The rest of the story of Lorenzo D. Youngblood and his Tonic Bitters This puppy is unlisted.

Stay tuned for “Mama’s Recipes for Keeping Papa Home”. This will include three unlisted Chicago bitters.

Sunday, 16 February 2014

CowShoes

Brilliant!! Cow shoes used by Moonshiners in the Prohibition days to disguise their footprints, 1922. Leisa Huntsman Lambert says “Moooooon Shine Shoes!”

Updated the Angostura Bitters post with a nice letterhead from J. W. Wuppermann that is on ebay. Read: The Wizard of Oz and Angostura Bitters

Saturday, 15 February 2014

BigWagon

Could this be a wagon full of Drakes Plantation Bitters or Hostetter’s Bitters headed out west? Speaking of Hostetters, you see that beauty that Dale M has up on ebay? Nothing that guy touches are anything less that drop-dead killer.

Hostetters_Dale8

Cool 1881 Dr. Harters Wild Cherry Bitters Playing Cards on ebay. Added to: Dr. Harter’s Wild Cherry Bitters and the Bottle Gods

HartersCards3

Friday, 14 February 2014 – Happy Valentines Day!

Valentine14

Ah Friday. Not a restaurant reservation to be had. Doesn’t matter, Elizabeth still in San Angelo with her dad in ICU. Looking better. Thanks for all your well wishes.

Look for a post later on my “Purdy new Bitters“. You hard core bitters collectors will know that one.

Did you hear about the professional basketball arena that is going to be built on an old mid 1900s trash dump! One of our bottle ‘stars’ may have access to the site.

Tragic: My new Baker’s Orange Grove Bitters came from an old Maine collection, owned by a retiree who had moved to Florida. He consigned his entire collection to North American Glass, and he was looking forward to watching the auction results. Unfortunately, last Tuesday, two days before his first auction closed, he passed away.

Thursday, 13 February 2014

MACK AD 1887

P. Mack, Orange Wine Manufacturer advertisement (submitted by Corey Stock) – 1887 Orlando Florida city directory

Thank you Corey Stock for submitting the following advertisement for Mack’s Orange Tonic Bitters. I had a hunch I was looking at P. Mack. What is interesting is that I consulted on a project in the 1980s called Church Street Market in Orlando on the exact spot of the bowling alley where P. Mack was selling his delicious orange wine!

Wine for Sale at my Bowling Alley on Church St., near the Depot

CSM_MainImage

Wednesday, 12 February 2014

egyptianLandsbergThose two Landsberg Sphinx’s rock!! Way to go Ketcham.

CodysFlasks_10

Incoming pic from Cody Zeleny. Now that is nice….

Tuesday, 11 February 2014

LogoGroves

Tired… up all night. Dropped Elizabeth off at the airport at 4:30 this morning for a family emergency with her father. He just came out of surgery in San Angelo, Texas. Hope everything is OK. Freezing rain here. Kind of miserable. Good back drop to think about sunny California and Orlando today with two more Orange bitters posts. Kind of obsessed with all this. Frustrated I can not find much info on the Mack’s Orange Tonic Bitters.

Dale Mlasko thinks he might have a picture of the California Orange Bitters. He adds, “I have handled a California Aromatic Orange Bitters. It was a label only cylinder fifth with beautiful graphics depicting oranges.”

Monday, 10 February 2014

AromaticOrange_ShultisGroup

Pictured above: Small and large examples of the Aromatic Orange Stomach Bitters and the Berry, Demoville & Co. jug – Shultis Collection * Note the McClung & Betterton bitters laying in front.

Sunday, 10 February 2014

OrangeBittersSeriesArt

Started the Orange bitters series off today with the Fine Aromatic Orange Stomach Bitters from Nashville. Bill Ham sent us an update on the second Bitters Bottles Supplement and Gary Katzen’s cat (I suppose, named milkie) photobombed some his milk glass rarity studio session.

CatPhotobombsMilkGlass

Saturday, 08 February 2014

DevineBuhrerART

Was really surprised that Stephen Buhrer was Mayor of Cleveland for three terms. He truly must have had help from above to accomplish what he did in his lifetime. Read: The Honorable Stephen Buhrer and his Gentian Bitters

Look for a new series on the color orange.

Thursday, 06 February 2014

Come to papa…..

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Bakers_Run

Wednesday, 05 February 2014

IMG952059

Hey everybody out there in TV land! It’s time to play ‘Guess That Bottle!’. Only clue, this is a bitters! Go figure….

Tuesday, 04 February 2014

LandsbergSphinxPatent

Anybody win anything in the Glass Works Auction last night? Let me know if you are happy. Focusing on the great Landsberg bottles. Anybody have “Landsberg’s Sphinx Bitters”?

Read: Looking at some Landsberg bottles…

Read: Another Patended Landsberg Bottle

Getting some pics in from Chris Brumitt of the elusive Our Own Southern Bitters by C. H. Ebbert from Memphis. Will wait to update post.

EbbertSide

Read: Our Own Southern Bitters – Memphis

Read: Hot on the trail of the elusive O.O.S.B.

Read: More on C.H. Ebbert & Co’s OUR OWN SOUTHERN BITTERS

Monday, 03 February 2014

bodecker1869richmond

Did some housekeeping, on Bodecker Bitters today with the addition of this early 1869 advertisement found in the Richmond City Directory. Read: The Bodeker Brothers brand – killer bitters from Richmond!!

Look for an upcoming post on the Landsberg bottles.

Super Bowl Sunday, 02 February 2014

LabeledTippecanoe

Really liking this partially labeled Tippecanoe Bitters on ebay. Thanks to Abel Da Silva for tip. Read More: The Tippecanoe Bitters Figural Log and Mushroom

Cobalt Blue Drape Style Pontil Ink Bottle 1850-60's

Hello Ferdinand, I was shocked by the auction price today of $2.500.00 plus premium for this Cobalt Blue Drape Style Pontil Ink Bottle 1850-60’s at Merrill’s Auction gallery. The last one sold at American Glass Gallery on November 14.2012 for $1,100.00 plus premium. Abel

PRG: Charles and Jane Aprill examples below

We collect blue things, including INKS. They are so tiny and jewel like. - Charles April

We collect blue things, including INKS. They are so tiny and jewel like. – Charles April

Saturday, 01 February 2014

Back on the saddle again after being on the road all week. Always nice to come home and see my bottles! Off to Miami Monday. Any Miami collectors out there? Reprinted from Western Bitters News

And We Wonder Why Bottle Shows are Declining

I had an interesting phone call this morning. It was from the California State Board of Equalization. For those of you that are not familiar with the state BOE its the California Franchise Tax Board, you know, the folks that collect your sales tax if you have a legitimate business here in California.

The nice lady from the BOE asked me if I was selling at the Anderson Bottle Show this weekend. I replied yes, I am going to try and sell something at the show, but the possibility of making a sale is always in question. This reply sort of set her back for a moment but she recovered while I was wondering how in the heck did she know I had purchased a sales table at the Anderson Bottle Show.

It seems that since my business location is here in Downieville, and I am now going to sell in Anderson for the weekend, I will have to register the Fairgrounds in Anderson as a second location for my business. And to add icing to the cake every other bottle show in California that I sell at will have to be listed as another location for my business. Hell, my little chicken shit business is now becoming a multi location major red flag for the State Board of Equalization to zero in on.

The increasing pressure the State BOE is putting on small organized collectible shows is not a California only issue. If you sell at the Reno Bottle Show you will need a City of Reno sellers permit to the tune of $15.00 and as a seller you are supplied with a tax form that you fill out, and based on the sales you have claimed to have made, pay the tax right there and then at the show.

Do you think that the State BOE, the City of Reno or any other entity that is collecting taxes is going to get the sales tax on a mint green Drakes Plantation Bitters that sells at a bottle show? If you believe that the tax on that transaction is claimed I have a bridge you might be interested in.

I will be selling at Anderson this weekend right after I re-price my bottles to include the 7.5% sales tax the city of Anderson is asking for.

Rick Simi

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January 2014 – Antique Bottle & Glass Photo Gallery

SpectacularWhiskies

Apple-Touch-IconAHere we go with the January 2014 group of pictures culled from a few of the web and Facebook sites that we all like. I really enjoy the sunlight, shadows and reflections in some of these pictures. Truly some spectacular settings. My favorite (besides anything Michael George shoots) is the top picture from Western Bitters News titled How about these colors!” Thanks to Cal49er for these spectacular whiskies.

January 2014 – Antique Bottle & Glass 

P H O T O    G A L L E R Y

01 February 2014

CatchinARay_GeorgeCatchin’ a ray on this chilly first day! – Michael George


ChestnutShades_MarshallChestnut Shades – Tom Marshall


DrBirminghams_HartzHere are 2 variants of Dr Birmingham’s Blood Purifier; one is deep blue green and the other 7-Up lime green….both are dead mint. – Chris Hartz


DrakesRun_ShultisSome runs from the past ! Here’s to ( cheers ) new runs in 2014 ! Happy New Year all my Bottle Collecting friends !!! – Brian Shultis


BrightWinterSunshine_HolzwarthCatching the bright winter sunshine – Mike Holzwarth


LongShadows_MarshallUntitled – Tom Marshall


RingingInNewYearRinging in the new year with a little color… – Michael George


BottomsUp_Yantis

Let me see if I remember what I used…from the top…Schenck’s Pulmonic Syrup, oval slick, Cornucopia flask, rectangle slick, aqua chestnut, round slick and square slick. Nothing too exciting but if they were I probably would not have buried them in rice.… Melinda Yantis


BottleShowSundayBottle Show Sunday get there, stretch your legs, pick up a bottle or two – David Olson


GlassVials_Marshall

Glass Vials – Tom Marshall


Small blue scrolls.CharlesAprill

Small Blue Scrolls Charles Aprill


SquaresMello

I thought I would post some of my “squares”. Ya probably seen them before but what the heck – Steve Mello


50SHADESOFAMBER_JOSEPHSomeone should write a book called 50 shades of amber – Marty Joseph


OldDrT_Levanti

The 49’er Historical Bottle Club – That’s my club, we had out first meeting of the year last night. One of things our club does to keep up attendance is a raffle at every meeting with 5-8 prizes. The first pick winner gets to pick 1 out of a selection of three bottles. Then there are 3-5 other bottles that are all raffled off one by one with the 2nd winner picking first among that group and so on until they are gone. Then there are maybe 1-2 more winners who get to pick from some magazines and other small items. This meeting the three bottles the first prize winner got to pick from were a very rare pictorial SF CAL beer, a large black glass Hosetters, and this… – Matthew Tigue Levanti


InkingUpThePageInking up the page. Waiting for the Little Rhody show – David Olson


IcyCoffins_EricJust cold and icy enough for some coffins. There was a real message in one. So I told all about them. – Eric Richter


DiplomatWhiskey_PaulA row of Diplomat whiskeys from Glasner & Barzen in Kansas City. – Paul Gronquist


stairway displayHaving Fun With “Off the Wall” Bottles – Gene Ainsworth


fifteen inch demijohnsDifferent colored demijohns placed together (see below) and backlit is another good example of rather ordinary bottles being made to look extraordinary – Gene Ainesworth


ColdBluesThese cold winter days give me the blues! – Marty Joseph


George_OctogonWelcome to the Octogon!! Here are a few 8-sided utilities… – Michael George


ServingBottles_GeorgeHere are a few serving bottles, perfectly round and tapered, 1780s-1820s. – Michael George


See: August 2013 – Antique Bottle & Glass Photo Gallery

See: September 2013 – Antique Bottle & Glass Photo Gallery

See: October 2013 – Antique Bottle & Glass Photo Gallery

See: November 2013 – Antique Bottle & Glass Photo Gallery

See: December 2013 – Antique Bottle & Glass Photo Gallery

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Display, News, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment