Looking at some of the many Finch Target Balls

Posted on 22 November 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Finch11

Looking at some of the many Finch Target Balls

22 November 2013

FM@Finches

Apple-Touch-IconAYesterday, John Pastor and I were able to visit with Federation members and glass celebrities Ralph and Janet Finch (pictured above) in Farmington Hills, Michigan. After a nice lunch, some wine and catching up on hobby news, I was able to look at Ralph’s legendary antique glass target ball collection. What a treat!

JanetFinch1978_8

I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that Janet had once been a collector of target balls too. The ornate glass balls, painted targets, shooting traps and relating advertising were all displayed professionally and in a museum-like setting. Quite amazing. I thought I would share a few of my pictures. Their house is organized collector chaos. Your eyes do not know where to start, there are some many cool things to look at.

Ralph also publishes a rather nice magazine on target balls called On Target! (The International Journal for Collectors of Target Balls). You can get the information on his web site.

Read More: Target Balls – Glass Made to be Broken

Finch1 Finch2 Finch3 Finch4 Finch5

Finch6

Finch7

Finch8

Finch9

Finch10

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Display, Target Balls | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Thomas Pepper’s Sons – Pepper’s Laxative Stomach Bitters

Posted on 21 November 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

PeppersDetail

Thomas Pepper’s Sons

Pepper’s Laxative Stomach Bitters

Ashland, Pennsylvania

21 November 2013

PeppersSonsGraphics

Apple-Touch-IconAPerched on ebay is this nice example of a labeled, Pepper’s Laxative Stomach Bitters. The grand description says “Mint* Pepper’s Laxative Stomach Bitters”. Still a great example and fun graphics. See ebay listing

When he left the mining occupation, it was to engage in the bottling of non-intoxicating beverages in Ashland, and in 1872 he embarked in the wholesale liquor business.

Thomas Pepper was a prosperous and influential merchant of Ashland, Pennsylvania. He was born at Mine Hill Gap, South Cass township, Pennsylvania in March 1842. His parents, Patrick and Marcella (Reilly) Pepper, were natives of County Longford, Ireland, and were married in New York city, about 1836. For a number of years the father was employed in a foundry in New York city, but about 1839 or 1840 he came to the coal regions of Schuylkill County, where he earned his livelihood about the mines for a good many years.

Thomas Pepper was reared at Mine Hill Gap and received his education in the common schools there. At an early age, he began to work in the mines as a slate-picker, subsequently becoming a driver and later a miner. In 1863 he married Elizabeth McDonald, of South Cass. When he left the mining occupation, it was to engage in the bottling of non-intoxicating beverages in Ashland, and in 1872 he embarked in the wholesale liquor business. This he continued to conduct personally until 1899, when he disposes of his interests to his sons, who be can operating under the name Thomas Pepper’s Sons. He spent a good part of his life in Ashland where he died at the age of seventy-five.

Reference: History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania: … Including a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Many Families and Persons in the County, Volume 2, Adolf W. Schalck, David C. Henning, State Historical Association, 1907

Read More: The Peppers: From the Coal Mine to a Gold Mine

PeppersTall

Pepper’s Laxative Stomach Bitters, Thomas Pepper’s Sons – ebay

$_57-2

Pepper’s Laxative Stomach Bitters, Thomas Pepper’s Sons – ebay

PeppersDetail1

Pepper’s Laxative Stomach Bitters, Thomas Pepper’s Sons – ebay

PeppersDetail2

Pepper’s Laxative Stomach Bitters, Thomas Pepper’s Sons – ebay

Select Timeline:

1842: Thomas Pepper born in Mine Hill Gap, South Cass township.

1863: Married Elizabeth (McDonald), of South Cass.

1866: Thomas Pepper came to Ashland in 1866 and started with bottling of non-intoxicating beverages.

1872: Pepper embarked in the wholesale liquor business.

1893: Mrs. Thomas PEPPER, wife of Thomas Pepper, of Schuylkill county, died suddenly at her home in Ashland on Saturday, Dec 16, 1893.

1897: Thomas Pepper’s Sons, liquors, 100 W. Centre, 1911 Pottsville Directory

1911: Thomas Pepper’s Sons, liquors, 100 W. Centre, 1911 Pottsville Directory

1922: Thomas Pepper’s Sons, liquors, 100 W. Centre, 1911 Pottsville Directory

All&RedCrossBitters

The similar ALL and RED CROSS Stomach Bitters – John Throop

Posted in Bitters, Bottling Works, eBay, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters – Tonic, Appetizer and Man Restorer

Posted on 19 November 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V
HartmansOldVirginiaBittersTradeCard

Trade card front shows picture of beautiful woman in a revealing low-cut dress reading Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters – Tonic, Appetizer, and Man Restorer, W. Hartman, Schuylkill Haven, PA., Manufacturer of Specialties”. Back is blank. Printed 1903. – Joe Gourd Collection

Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters

Tonic, Appetizer and Man Restorer

by Joe Gourd & Ferdinand Meyer V

HartmansVirginiaBittersStore

Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters – Tonic, Appetizer and Man Restorer, Family Liquor Store, Schuylkill Haven, Pa. – photograph Joe Gourd Collection

Drink it plain or in whiskey three or four times a day, and you will feel like a new man.

19 November 2013

Apple-Touch-IconALast Thursday, I received an e-mail from bitters trade card collector and authority Joe Gourd saying, “Got an idea for one of your posts. It would be for Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters, Tonic, Appetizer and Man Restorer (love the name). I have a couple of trade cards and an actual photograph of the family store in Schuylkill Haven, Pa.  The graphics are great.”

First of all, Schuylkill Haven is a small borough in the state of Pennsylvania, located about one hundred miles northwest of Philadelphia and fifty miles east of Harrisburg. It is located in the southern portion of Schuylkill County about four miles south of the county seat of Pottsville.

One of the earliest settlements within the borders of the county, it is generally accepted that the first settler was John Fincher, a Quaker from Chester County. A warrant for 225 acres of land was granted to him on March 5, 1750. The land facing on the Schuylkill River, taking in the curve of the river, is today the west ward and part of the south ward of town. [Schuylkill Haven History]

Read: Schuylkill Haven man lists borough history, memorabilia from his collection on website. Visit web site: Schuylkill Haven History

HartmansOldVirginiaBitters

Labeled Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters (H 56.5) – image Schuylkill Haven History

An old Virginia slave originally made Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters.

Bitters Listings

The Carlyn Ring and W. C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles, Bitters Bottles Supplement and the draft for Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 for the Old Virginia Bitters is as follows:

O 53  L … Old Virginia Bitters
f // HARTMAN // f // f //
Prepared only by W. Hartman, Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania
11 3/4 x 3 (6 1/2)
Round, Amber, LTC

Label (reverse): An infallible cure for all stomach troubles. One wine glassful taken immediately before or an hour after meals will be a swift and certain cure for dyspepsia, indigestion, liver complaint, catarrh of the stomach, etc.

Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters. The greatest stimulant, tonic and appetizer on earth. Drink it plain or in whiskey three or four times a day, and you will feel like a new man. It is a fine bracer in the morning, builds up a broken down system in short order, is in fact a perfect restorer.

H 56.5  HARTMAN’S OLD VIRGINIA BITTERS, Postcard (Bitters Bottles Supplement)

H 56.5  Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters, Prepared by W. Hartman, Schuylkill, Pa. (picture of a slave woman)
12
Square with fancy neck, Clear, LTCR, Tooled lip (Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 Draft)

Label: The greatest tonic, appetizer and man restorer on earth. An old Virginia slave originally made Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters. It is purely vegetable and the greatest stimulant, tonic and appetizer on earth. Drink it plain or in whiskey three or four times a day, and you will feel like a new man. It is a fine bracer in the morning, builds up a broken down system in short order, is in fact the perfect man restorer. Don’t fail to try it. One bottle $1.00 Six bottles $5.00.

Reverse label: An infallible cure for all stomach troubles. One wine glassful taken immediately before or an hour after meals will be a swift and certain cure for Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Liver Complaint, Catarrh of the Stomach, Kidney Afflictions, Fever, Ague, etc, etc.

folder front and back

Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters mechanical fold-out advertising folder (front and back panels). When you open the folder (see below), the woman kicks up her leg. – Joe Gourd Collection

Folder Inside

Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters mechanical fold-out advertising folder (inside panels). When you open the folder, the woman kicks up her leg. – Joe Gourd Collection

Drug Business to Liquor Business

[from Schuylkill Haven History by Richard “Rick” J. Nagle] The building at 104 East Main Street has been home to a pharmacy since 1891. Below is the first of varying information about the tenants of that building.

The Call of May 27, 1904

DRUG STORE CHANGES HANDS

Wellington Hartman last week sold the Gem Pharmacy to G. I. Bensinger, who has been his clerk for a number of years. Mr. Bensinger graduated with honors from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1886 and has been practicing his profession ever since. He is one of the most popular young men in the town and his success is assured.

Mr. Hartman has for some time been manufacturing specialties for the drug and liquor trades and has recently established a wholesale liquor house and he retires from the retail drug business in order to more fully devote his time to the manufacture and sale of his specialties, which have already won a statewide reputation and by merit alone are pushing their way into all the surrounding commonwealths.

HartmansLiquorStore

This is the store front for Hartman’s Liquor Store and Underwood’s as seen in about 1910. The location is
currently the parking lot for the post office and borough hall. The four adults are from left to right: David
Detweiler, Christine Raudenbush, Ike Huy and E. G. Underwood, the owner and proprietor. – Schuylkill Haven History

Select Timeline

1855: Wellington Hartman, born in Pennsylvania

1891: The building at 104 East Main Street has been home to a pharmacy since 1891.

1901: Apr. 4 – Mulligan Bros. of Phila., owners of Park Hotel, leased the hostelry to Wellington Hartman of Schuylkill Haven.

1903: Trade card, Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters

1910: Wellington Hartman, Liquor dealer, U.S. Federal Census (see photograph of liquor store above)

1904: Wellington Hartman last week sold the Gem Pharmacy to G. I. Bensinger, who has been his clerk for a number of years., The Call (see above text)

1911: BURGESS SUED FOR ASSAULT, Wellington Hartman, Chief Burgess of Schuylkill Haven, was given a hearing before Squire Moyer this afternoon, the charge being assault which was preferred by Charles Schumacher, a merchant of this town. The matter was of a trivial nature and the case was dismissed. From the testimony given it was gleaned that Schumacher had a rain pipe extending over the pavement at his store and every time it rained this pipe which had a large hole in it caused water to drop in a copious manner on pedestrians. In line with his duties as Burgess of the town, Mr. Hartman ordered the pipe removed a number of times and as his requests were not heeded he went to the place and personally superintended the removal of the pipe. Later Schumacher went to the office of the Burgess and it is alleged berated the official to such an extent that a trifling blow was struck by Mr. Hartman, said blow it is claimed having landed on the mouth of Schumacher. The suit for assault then followed., The Call of August 11, 1911,

BoBoWhiskeyCrop

W. Hartman Products

HartmansToluRockA

Advertisement for Hartman’s Tolu Rock and Rye – The Call – image Schuylkill Haven History

Hartman's Bo-Bo Whiskey

Bo-Bo Whiskey flask by W. Hartman, Schuylkill Haven, Pa. – Richard “Rick” J. Nagle Collection

Hartman's Bob White Whiskey

Bob White Whiskey bottle, W. Hartman, Schuylkill Haven, Pa. – Richard “Rick” J. Nagle Collection

BobWhiteLogo

Bob White Patent filed by Wellington Hartman, Schuylkill, Pa. filed October 23, 1908. – Official gazette of the United States Patent Office, 1908

Hartman's Lemon Juice

Peptonized Lemon Juice bottle, W. Hartman, Schuylkill Haven, Pa. – Richard “Rick” J. Nagle Collection

Hartman_Opener&Pin

W. Hartman opener and marketing pin – Richard “Rick” J. Nagle Collection

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, Flasks, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Spirits, Tonics, Trade Cards, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Davidson Feeding Bottle – 19 Milk Street Boston

Posted on 18 November 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V
DavidsonsFeedingBottle

Davidson Feeding Bottle advertisement, Made by Davidson Rubber Co., Boston, Mass., December 1866 – The Druggists Circular and Chemical Gazette

The Davidson Feeding Bottle

19 Milk Street Boston

18 November 2013

Apple-Touch-IconAA couple of my last bitters posts have taken me to Boston. It was there that I noticed this cool, 1866 Davidson Feeding Bottle advertisement (see above) by Davidson Rubber Company. I just love the art and typography.

Can you believe their address is 19 Milk Street?

The second advertisement I found was for Davidson Nipples (see below) in 1898. Now I like that. Can you believe their address is 19 Milk Street?

DavidsonNipples

1898 Davidson Nipples advertisement, Made by Davidson Rubber Co., Boston, Mass. – ebay

The earliest I can find any listing for Davidson (and I believe it to be Charles) is in 1863. This listing is for the Davidson Syringe Company (see 1865 advertisement below) located at Charlestown bridge.

DavidsonSyringeCo1865

Davidson Syringe Co. advertisement – Boston City Directory 1865

At this time they were putting out a bottle and a syringe as you can see from this excerpt:

Dr. F. E. Waxham presented for examination a FEEDING BOTTLE FOR USE IN CASES OF INTUBATION OF THE LARYNX. The feeding bottle consists of an ordinary nursing flask, with a rubber cork, with a small vent, through which a tube passes to the bottom of the bottle. To this tube is attached another leading to a bulb of a Davidson’s syringe, and this, in turn, is attached to a small-sized esophageal tube. In using this apparatus, the gag is placed between the jaws, the tube introduced into the Aesophagus, and the contents of the bottle quickly introduced by means of the bulb.

Many patients, especially young infants, do not take sufficient nourishment after intubation has been performed, on account of the coughing produced by the trickling of the liquid into the trachea. This apparatus obviates this difficulty. [The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, 1866]

I see records and listings all the way up to 1922 or so for Davidson Rubber Company. At one time they really did have an address on Milk Street, but factory and production operations were elsewhere.

DRC1875

Davidson Rubber Co. advertisement – 1875 Boston City Directory

Select Timeline Events:

1863: Davidson Syringe Co., Charlestown bridge, Boston City Directory

1865: Davidson Syringe Co. (see advertisement above), Charlestown, Mass., Boston City Directory

1866: Davidson Feeding Bottle advertisement (see top of post), Made by Davidson Rubber Co., Boston, Mass., December 1866 – The Druggists Circular and Chemical Gazette

1875: Davidson Rubber Company, 265 Washington, Boston City Directory

1876: Davidson Rubber Company, manufacturers of fine rubber goods used in medicine, surgery, &c. Boston, Mass, Boston City Directory

Passage: The Sterling Fountain Pen Co. was located at 19 Milk St. in Boston, and the Davidson Rubber Co. at Brighton St. in Charleston.

1898: Davidson Nipples advertisement (see above), Made by Davidson Rubber Co., 19 Milk Street, Boston, Mass.

1922: Davidson Rubber Co., 12 Caldwell, Chsn (Charlestown), Boston City Directory

MilkStreet_Boston

Milk Street – Boston

A little on Milk Street

Milk Street is a street in the financial district of Boston, Massachusetts. Milk Street was one of Boston’s earliest highways. The name “Milk Street” was given to the street in 1708 due to the milk market at the location. One of the first post offices in Boston was located on the street in 1711, when the first regular postal routes to Maine, Plymouth and New York were established. [Wikipedia]

MilkSt_MapBoston

Detail of 1723 map of Boston, showing Milk Street and vicinity

Grace Croft’s 1952 work, titled “History and Genealogy of Milk Family”, also proposes that Milk Street may have been named for John Milk, an early shipwright in Boston. The land was originally conveyed to his father, also John Milk, in October 1666.

1825BearOilMilkSt_Boston

Bear’s oil, extracted and purified, by Ebenezer Wight, druggist and apothecary, Milk (opposite Federal) Street, Boston. Date 1825

17MilkStreetFranklin

17 Milk Street, Birthplace of Benjamin Franklin (see sculpture and bas-relief letters) – photo Boston Public Library

Posted in Advertising, History, Infant Feeders, Questions, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Levi Tower Jr. and his Calmon’s Tonic Billious Bitters

Posted on 17 November 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V
LeviTowerJrMonogram

Levi Tower Jr. monogram. Labor Omnia Vincit is a Latin phrase meaning “Work conquers all”.

Levi Tower Jr. and his Calmon’s Tonic Billious Bitters

17 November 2013 (R•112314)

LeviTowerLetterheadArt

For a severe attack of Billiousness, one Triplex Pill taken every other night for two or three nights followed by a glass of Bitters before breakfast the next morning is a sure cure.

Apple-Touch-IconAMarianne Dow sent me some information and a link to the March 12, 1866 Halifax Morning Sun for Dr. Gardiners Compound. On this page I saw two other advertisements. One for a Dr. Warren’s Bilious Bitters and one for a Calmon’s Tonic Billious Bitters. The Calmon’s appears to be unlisted in Bitters Bottles and Bitters Bottles Supplement and is the subject of this post.

No person should go to sea without a good supply of this valuable remedy.

Levi Tower, Jr. advertised this brand and was born and educated at Cohasset, Massachusetts, but served his apprenticeship with J. T. Brown & Co., Washington and Bedford streets, Boston. This firm at the time conducted one of the leading pharmacies of Boston. Later Mr. Tower established himself under the Commonwealth Hotel (pictured below) at the corner of Washington and Worcester streets.

In 1879 he opened a pharmacy in the Back Bay district, at the corner of Boylston and Clarendon streets, and five years later established, with John G. Godding, the firm of J. G. Godding & Co. He retired from business in 1899.

For thirty years, Mr Tower was a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association, from which he resigned in 1890. He was also a life member of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. He was a far-sighted business man, kindly in disposition, modest and retiring, and of sterling character [Druggists Circular, 1913]

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

Advertisements
C 30.8  CALMON’S TONIC BILLIOUS BITTERS
Levi Tower, June., Druggist and Apothecary, 1131 Corner of Springfield and Washington Sts.,  Boston, Halifax Morning Sun, March 12, 1886; and
1501 Washington Street, Cor. Worchester, Boston, April 13, 1874
CalmonsBilliousBittersAdHalifax1866

Calmon’s Tonic Billious Bitters advertisement – Halifax Morning Sun, March 12, 1866

LeviTowerInvoice

Receipt, Levi Tower, Jr., Pharmacist – ebay

1836: Levi Tower Jr. born 8 June 1836 in Cohassett, Massachusetts.

1862: Marriage to Mary Rebecca Whipple, 18 August 1862.

1865: Tower Levi jr. apothecary, 1131 Wash. h. a Roxbry, Boston City Directory

1866: Advertisement (pictured above) Calmon’s Tonic Billious Bitters, Levi Tower, Jnr. Druggist and Apothecary, Boston, 1131 corner Springfield and Washington-Sts. – Halifax Morning Sun, March 12, 1866

1874: Receipt (pictured above), Levi Tower, Jr., Pharmacist, 1501 Washington Street, corner Worcester, under Commonwealth Hotel (see below), April 13, 1874

CommonwealthHotelBoston

Commonwealth Hotel stereoscopic card – Levi Tower, Jr., Pharmacist, 1501 Washington Street, corner Worcester, under Commonwealth Hotel – Commonwealth Hotel, Boston, Mass, from Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views

1879: Passage: John G. Godding PH. G., In the fall of 1879 he returned to Boston to enter the employ of Levi Tower, Jr., as head clerk, where he remained four years, Western Druggist, 1893

J. G. Godding

John G. Godding

1879: In 1879, Levi Tower opened a pharmacy in the Back Bay district, at the corner of Boylston and Clarendon streets, and five years later established, with John G. Godding, the firm of J. G. Godding & Co., Druggists Circular, 1913

1880: Levi Tower, jr. apothecary, Hotel Bristol, and (Tower & Co.), 1681 Washington, house Hotel Bristol

1913: Levi Tower died at Cohasset, Mass, January 31, in his seventy-seventh year., Druggists Circular, 1913

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

Greene’s Lupuline Bitters – Watertown, N.Y.

Posted on 17 November 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V
GreenesLupulineBittersDuo

Labeled Greene’s Lupuline Bitters – Gordon Myers

Greene’s Lupuline Bitters – Watertown, N.Y.

The Great Regulator of the Stomach, Liver and Kidney

17 November 2013

Apple-Touch-IconAOver on the facebook Bottle Collectors page, Gordon Myers posted a really nice example of a labeled Greene’s Lupuline Bitters from Watertown, New York. I wasn’t familiar with this bottle and feel it is unlisted in the Ring and Ham Bitters Bottles books. There is however, a listing for a Anti Bilious or Tonic Bitters by C. F. Greene in Rome, New York. The same Greene.

A 72  ANTI BILIOUS OR TONIC BITTERS

sp // ANTI BILIOUS OR / TONIC BITTERS // f // C. F. GREENE / ROME NEW YORK //
8 1/4 x 3 1/8 x 2 1/8 (6 1/2) 3/8
Rectaungular, Amber, NSC, Applied mouth, Very rare

First of all, Lupulin is the glandular powder separated from the strobiles of the Humulus lupulus (hops) plant. It has sedative effects on the body and mind and stimulates sleep. This powder is separated by beating or rubbing the strobiles of hops, and then sifting them. The sifting is necessary to remove the broken bracts and other vegetable parts. About 10 per cent of lupulin is thus obtained from the dried hops. The powder is bright brownish-yellow and become resinous. Lupulin is chemically related to THC. Lupulin has the odor and common taste of hop.

The earliest I can find a C. F. Greene listing is 1863 in Rome, New York. Greene was a wholesale and retail druggist. The Anti-Bilious or Tonic Bitters was produced in Rome. In 1891, Greene shows up in Watertown selling patent medicines. The labeled Greene’s Lupuline Bitters was produced after this date. In 1905, it is C. F. Greene & Son in Watertown.

CF_GreeneListingsTroy

C. F. Greene Wholesale and Retail Druggist, No 38 Dominick St, Rome, N. Y. – Roman Citizen, 1866

Representative Timeline Events

1863: Druggists, C. F. Greene, 38 Dominick, Rome, NY, Directory Listing

1866: Newspaper advertisement, C. F. Greene Wholesale and Retail Druggist, No 38 Dominick St, Rome, N. Y. – Roman Citizen, 1866

1885: C. F. Greene, Rome (NY) City Directory

1891: C F Greene, patent medicines, h 23 Coffeen, Watertown City Directory

1905, 1906: Proprietary Medicines – C F Greene & Son, 132 Park av, Watertown City Directory

1908: Dr. C. R. F. Greene, Physician and Surgeon, 1025 Park, h do, Peekskill, NY Directory (could be related)

GreeneBase_GordonMyers

Base of Greene’s Lupuline Bitters – Gordon Myers

GreenesBackLabel

Real label of Greene’s Lupuline Bitters – Gordon Myers

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

Unknown New England Glass factory’s contract with Clapp & Townsend July 15, 1848

Posted on 16 November 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Original glass bottle docs for S P Tsx

Unknown New England Glass factory’s contract with Clapp & Townsend July 15, 1848

16 November 2013 (R•112413)

I agree to make for Clapp & Townsend and deliver at the Boston Rail Road Depot at Greenbush (NY) between the first of October next and May following. One thousand gross (of) Townsend Sarsaparilla Bottles to be sound, to be delivered in equal monthly proportions.

Hello, my name is Don Carpentier and I love your site!!! I live just outside of Albany, New York and I have been collecting bottles since I was 14 in 1966. In 1980, I stumbled over a dumpster behind 95 Herkimer Street in Albany’s ‘Pastures’ District. The house had been built by and was the home of Ruell Clapp of Clapp & Townsend Sarsaparilla fame.

The city had taken the roof off the house to repair it, and as part of the project, they shoveled the contents of the attic into the dumpster. It was a 3-story drop so some of the material was on the ground around the dumpster. That’s what I noticed first. After collecting every shred of material I ended up with over 1,000 documents from Ruell Clapp’s business’s including a huge pile of documents from Clapp & Townsend. I have kept them safe for all these years and recently started to clean the dirt and dust off and put them in archival sleeves.

There are letters from Dr. Dyott asking for 1,000 boxes of Sarsaparilla for his store in Philadelphia, Dr. Clark in Boston, all his suppliers of material for the medicine, an actual handwritten copy of the recipe and notations about how many boxes it takes to ship a batch and how many board feet it takes to make them, and lists of anyone who was selling the product anywhere in the world. Just about everything they did to run the business is in the papers.

There is some really important information in them that I have started to go through. I found 2 documents recently that I need help with and your readers might be just the ones to help. One is a contract for making 144,000 thousand bottles over a 6 month period from October 1848 to May 1849. Everything is there except the name of the glass company in New England. The other scrap of mouse chewed paper is from Wheeler, Wood and Co. For creates of glass shipped to Townsend in 1848. As there were many factories making glass for them it isn’t an easy task to sort out. I am sending you a scan of the originals and a typed page of the text as best I can read it. If this is of any interest to you let me know,

Don

I found 2 documents recently that I need help with and your readers might be just the ones to help.

Unknown New England Glass factory’s contract with Clapp & Townsend July 15, 1848

Clapp&TownsendDoc

I agree to make for Clapp & Townsend and deliver at the Boston Rail Road Depot at Greenbush (NY) between the first of October next and May following. One thousand gross (of) Townsend Sarsaparilla Bottles to be sound, to be delivered in equal monthly proportions. Said bottles to be nine Dollars pr gross, cash. Five pr cent of the weight to be twenty six ounces. The culls to be a sample shown (?) at Factory in albany–Albany

July 15th 1848

WheelerWood&Co

Another mouse chewed scrap of paper reads:

Wheeler, Wood & Co.

(18)48

(month?) 31 Rec 31 Crates of Glass of (?) 95

13 “ 129 “ “ (?) 68

___________

150 9 59

14 67

18 125

5 32

29 165

22 110

17 (?)

Update from Brian Wolff

24 November 2013

Here’s some information regarding the Clapp & Townsend post:  f

For clarity… Clapp & Townsend were the manufacturers of Dr. Townsend’s Sarsaparilla.  representing S. P. Townsend and not Jacob Sarsaparilla (Old Dr. Townsend’s).

“The culls to be a sample shown (?) at Factory in albany–Albany  July 15th 1848”

This MAY indicate the Albany Glass Works as the maker. The date is correct for this works. I can’t substantiate this based on the information given however.

To confuse things, Wheeler, Wood & Co. were NYC purveyors of stationary and paper goods. Advertisements below.

WheelerWood1

WheelerWood2

WheelerWood3

Posted in Digging and Finding, Early American Glass, Ephemera, Glass Companies & Works, Glass Makers, History, Questions, Sarsaparilla | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

John Perry’s Dr. Warrens Bilious Bitters – Boston

Posted on 16 November 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Warrens_W45_Fside

John Perry’s Dr. Warrens Bilious Bitters – Boston

16 November 2013 (R•061914)

PRG_GBR1_Full3_12r

Apple-Touch-IconAFinding an advertisement for a Dr. Warrens Bilious Bitters in the Halifax Morning Sun, on March 12, 1866 (pictured below) prompted this post. I knew I had an example somewhere in my ‘Aqua Room’ and thought it might be a good time to look at the brand. There are two sizes, the large at 7 5/8 inch and the smaller, which I have, at 6 3/8″ tall. The Carlyn Ring and W. C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

W 44 DR WARREN’S BILIOUS BITTERS

JOHN A. PERRYS / DR WARREN’S / BILIOUS BITTERS /  BOSTON MASS // c //
7 5/8 x 3 3/8 x 1 4/4 (5 3/4)
Oval, Aqua, NSC, 1 sp, Scarce
Drug Catalogs: 1876-7, 1880 and 1885 Goodwin large and small

W 45 DR WARREN’S BILIOUS BITTERS

JOHN A PERRYS / DR WARREN’S / BILIOUS BITTERS BOSTON MASS // c //
L…Dr. Warren’s Bilious Bitters
Manufactured only by John A. Perry, Manufacturing Chemist
6 3/8 x 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 (4 1/4)
Oval, Aqua, NSC, 1 sp, Scarce

DrEWarrendBiliousBittersRTeversePaintedGlassSign

Dr. Warren’s Bilious Bitters Reverse Pained Glass Sign

John A. Perry and Milo S. Burr opened a Patent Medicine business at 1 Cornhill, in Boston in 1853. They were listed the same until 1855, when Perry left. Starting in 1856, the company was called Milo S. Burr & Co (Henry B. Foster and G. L. Seaver). Burr seemed to have a habit of taking in partners for a couple of years, and when they left their preparations stayed with him. Burr got rid of Foster in 58, in 59 he picked up G. H. Reed, then got rid of Seaver by 1860.

According to the Wilsons, Perry threw in with J. Russell Spalding after leaving Burr, and they were partners until around 1880. Perry, in 1864 was listed as an Apothecary on Well’s Block in Manchester, New Hampshire. In 1867, Perry was again listed together with Milo S. Burr. M. S. Burr & Co. was then at 26 Tremont Street. He was there at least until 1871; in 72 he was on his own again at 144 Northampton, and by 1873 he had moved to 623 Shawmut Ave. Starting in 1875, Albert Q. and Thomas De Q. Perry Joined John in the Apothecary business. They were probably his sons. The family business of John A. Perry & Co. continued until 1879. [Hair Raising Stories]

Label: For purifying the blood, curing liver complaint, jaundice, sour stomach, heartburn, loss of appetite, faintness, dizziness, headache, pain in the side, back and loins, general weakness and debility, cold and fevers, fever and ague, eruptions on the skin, humors of the blood, costivess, piles and all diseases caused by impure blood or a deranged condition of the stomach, liver or bowels.

Milo S. Burr: Silas Burr (Daniel, Ebenezer, John, Samuel, Benjamin, Mr.) was born on 19 September 1794 in Norfolk, Conn. He died on 5 September 1866 in Norfolk, Connecticut.

Boston Directory: Lists John Warren as a doctor in 1810 and in 1830 William Jr. as a druggist. The listing is continuous to 1880.

Boston Directory: John Perry & Son (John M.), merchants 2 Rhowes wf., Boston Directory 1820

Boston Directory: John A. Perry, Milo S. Burr (Burr & Perry) patent medicines, 1 Cornhill, The Boston Directory, 1855

Boston Directory: John Perry and Son are listed as merchants from 1810, as apothecaries in 1875 and as liquor merchants in 1885. From 1870, the bitters were produced by Burr & Perry.

Advertisement: Dr. Warrens Bilious Bitters advertisement (pictured below) – City of Manchester, New Hampshire Directory, 1864

Advertisement: Dr. Warrens Bilious Bitters advertisement (pictured below) – The Provincial Almanack for the year of Our Lord 1865

Advertisement: Dr. Warrens Bilious Bitters (pictured below) – Halifax Morning Sun, March 12, 1866

Book: Dr. Warren’s Bilious Bitters!: The Great Blood Purifier and Regulator, Cures Liver Complaint, Jaundice, Biliousness, Weakness, Debility, Colds and Fevers, Fever and Ague, Headache, Dizziness, Eruptions on the Skin, Humors of the Blood, Loss of Appetite, Female Complaints, Costiveness, Piles, and All Complaints Caused by Impure Blood … : John A. Perry, Chemist, Boston, Proprietor … Burr & Perry, General Agents … Boston, Mass – Burr & Perry, John A. Perry, 1868

Contents: Dr. Warren’s Bilious Bitters, 18.5 % alcohol by volume, 116 Solid Matter. Grains to the fluid ounce. Documents of the City of Boston, 1876

Attributed: Lyndeboro/Lyndeborough Glass Factory in New Hampshire ca. 1880s

Contents: Warren’s Bilious Bitters, Boston. Teaspoon to 2 table-spoonfuls, 1 to 3 times daily. 21.5 per cent (alcohol), The New England Journal of Medicine, Massachusetts Medical Society, 1887

Passage: When in Harvard College, many years ago, I heard the eminent Dr. Warren say,—”Boston sacrifices hundreds of babes every year by not clothing their arms.” – 1896 Medicine, Vassar College

Warrens_W45_Views

Aqua John Perry’s Dr. Warrens Bilious Bitters (W 45) – Boston – Meyer Collection

DrWarrensAdHalifax1866

Dr. Warrens Bilious Bitters advertisement – Halifax Morning Sun, March 12, 1866

DrWarrensAd1864

Dr. Warrens Bilious Bitters advertisement – Vineyard Gazette, July 7, 1865

DrWarrens_ebay

Large size John A. Perry, Dr. Warren’s Bilious Bitters Boston Mass. Stands 7 3/4″ tall (W 44) – ebay

DrWarrensAd2

Dr. Warrens Bilious Bitters advertisement – The Provincial almanack for the year of Our Lord 1865

AdPerryDruggistBitters

Dr. Warrens Bilious Bitters advertisement – City of Manchester, New Hampshire Directory, 1864

DrWarrens1869Ad

Dr. Warren’s Bilious Bitters (Burr & Perry) advertisement – Lewistown Evening Journal, July 2, 1869

DrWarrensAdvertisement1882

Dr. Warren’s Bilious Bitters advertisement – Donahoe’s Magazine, 1882

Posted in Apothecary, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Druggist & Drugstore, Holiday, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My father, Alfred William Henry Gianelli…

Posted on 15 November 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

AngeloGianelliPortrait

My father, Alfred William Henry Gianelli, was the son of Charles A. Gianelli who was the first born to Angelo M. F. and Fanny Compain. 

15 November 2013

Apple-Touch-IconAAs a bottle, and specifically a bitters collector, I pause instantly when I see or hear the Gianelli name, as I know we will be soon talking about the great, Royal Italian Bitters. You may remember the post earlier in the year, Royal Italian Bitters by A.M.F. Gianelli – Montreal where we explored the fascinating history surrounding this bottle. You may also have noticed the example on ebay recently posted by Abel Da Silva.

R 111 (Royal Italian)

We now have a new communication from Deborah Gay Gianelli whose great, grand-father was Angelo M. F. Gianelli (pictured top of post). Ms. Gianelli is now the proud owner of this bottle which will now accompany other treasured pieces from her family history. Deborah has been kind enough to share some more information on Angelo M. F. Gianelli.

Dear Ferdinand,

My father, Alfred William Henry Gianelli, was the son of Charles A. Gianelli who was the first born to Angelo M. F. and Fanny Compain. So, Angelo M.F. was my great-grandfather. I am attaching a photo from my Grandfather Charles’ scrapbook that shows him (Charles) with his mother (Fanny) and father (A.M.F.) and Charles’ younger brother, Alfred. Obviously Charles later named his son, my father, after his brother.

I am attaching the following from my grandfather’s scrapbook:

1) A portrait (below) from 1903 taken at a Gianelli family reunion in Niagara-on-the-Lake. In the center are AMF and Fanny. To AMF’s immediate left is my grandfather, Charles. The child in the lap of my grandfather is my father, Alfred. Yes, that child is a boy!

Gianelli Family 1903

2) A photo of AMF, Fanny, and their two children, Charles (Carlo) and Alfred (below).

Angelo, Fanny, Charles and Alfred

3) Newspaper articles (see below) about the beatification of Antonio Maria Gianelli. My father said many times he was related to a Saint. I cannot confirm this YET (the relation). But I am trying. I have learned that Antonio Maria Gianelli died on June 7, 1846 and was declared a Saint by Pope Pious XII on October 21, 1951. My grandfather never knew this, as he died in 1950. In 1829, Antonio Gianelli (then a bishop) founded the Sisters of Our Lady of the Garden. There is a related convent here in the U.S. with three locations, one in Connecticut and two in NYC. The name here in the U.S. is “Daughters of Our Lady of the Garden.” They acknowledge Saint Gianelli as their founder and even have a Gianellian Youth Group. I have spoken with one of the sisters and she mentioned they once had a visit from a Thomas Gianelli who lived in California (and was related). I tried to reach him, but he had died and his widow could not explain the connection.

Gianelli Beatification-1

Gianelli Beatification-2

4) A newspaper article (see below) about AMF’s attendance at a banquet in Philadelphia.

AMFG Banquet at Philadelphia

5) A certificate from the United States Centennial Commission awarding a special bronze medal to my great-grandfather.

Angelo Gianelli Bronze Medal

Thank you so much.

Best regards,

Deborah Gay Gianelli

Posted in Bitters, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yochim Brothers Distillery, New Orleans Family History

Posted on 15 November 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

YochimBottle1

Yochim Brothers Distillery, New Orleans Family History

15 November 2013 (R•112613)

Apple-Touch-IconAI did a post earlier this year called The New Orleans Absinthe Makers where I posted a picture of my Yochim Bros. Stomach Bitters. This prompted the following e-mail with some interesting information:

I came across your website and images of Yochim Brothers absinthe and stomach bitters. Attached is a photo (above) from my family’s only surviving Yochim Bros Celebrated Stomach Bitters bottle including a nearly intact label.

Aloysius Richard Yochim and his brother Joseph Yochim are my great grand father and great grand uncle respectively.

They immigrated to the United States from Heidelberg, Germany in late 1800s and established a distillery of fine European cordial and liquors in New Orleans. Records and letters along with promotional flyers in my collection note a warehouse on Corondalet Street as the location of the offices.

They ran the distillery up until prohibition. Aloysius Richard was the salesman travelling all over the United States selling vast quantities of liquor to hotels and restaurants. Letters written to his wife, on hotel stationary, detail many of the long trips and his loneliness from his wife..many filled with colorful descriptions of various cities. Aloysius was the business genius while Joseph Yochim was the chemist. There are dozens of recipies written and scralled on scraps of paper.

As accomplished as he was as a distiller, he was also a bit of a gambler, who invested in all manner of financial instruments including Panama Canal bonds, Orange Crush stock, race horses and real estate. He made and lost huge sums of money. One document survives from a family confrontation detailing a series of large withdrawals from the business bank account. After which we know he was committed to a sanitorium where he died from Tuberculosis.

Feel free to share or post this information to collectors. Any old relics or bottles would be of interest to me if you ever come across any from the Yochim Brothers Distillery.

Regards

Chris Yochim
Parkesburg, PA
www.easyriderstable.com

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

Y 5  YOCHIM BROS. CELEBRATED BITTERS

YOCHIM BROS. / CELEBRATED / STOMACH BITTERS // f // f // f //
8 3/4 x 2 5/8 (6) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth and Tooled lip, Rare
Example known with front and rear Hostetters Bitters labels.
Label: These bitters are guaranteedto be manufactured from the best herbs obtainable. 1901, New Orleans.

1878 – Aloysius Richard Yochim, born about 1878 in Louisiana., Reporter, Age 64 in U.S. 1940 Census, wife Wilhelmina Veronica Barnes (married 25 October 1905), son Aloysius Yochim, age 18

1900 – Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents – Yochim Bros., New Orleans, La. Spirituous liquors, Patent # 35,105, September 18, 1900

1918 – Case Number 5138: Adulteration and misbranding of “Marischino Yochim Freres Liqueur Cordiale.” U. S. v. Yochim Brothers Co., Ltd., a corporation, Plea of guilty. Fine, $25., January 29, 1918

See example on Bottle Pickers

YochimBrothersBitters

Yochim Brothers Celebrated Bitters – Meyer Collection

YochimBrosListing1905

Yochim Bros. listing – City Directory for New Orleans, Louisiana, 1905 (similar 1904)

YochimBrosEmbossing

Yochim Bros. Celebrsted Stomach Bitters – Yochim Collection

YochimBrosEnvelope

Partial Yochim Brothers Co. letterhead – Yochim Collection

StandardBitterCordial

Standard American Aromatic Bitter Cordial | Yochim Bros New Orleans – ebay

Posted in Bitters, Cordial, History, Liquor Merchant, Spirits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment