Mrs. S. A. Allen’s Worlds Hair Restorer Display…and some more

Posted on 23 May 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

AllenDisplay

Hi. Ferdinand –

I received an e-mail from a gentleman from Spain recently wanting to sell a Mrs Allen’s Hair Restorer advertising display (see above). I have attached a photo of this rare item. If anybody is interested in purchasing this item e-mail me at bottlepickers@bottlepickers.com. I will forward the information.

Frank Wicker
www. Bottlepickers

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Row of colorful Mrs. Allen’s World’s Hair Restorer bottles – OuthousePatrol.com

MRS. S. A. ALLEN’S WORLD HAIR RESTORER

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Apple-Touch-IconAI will take this opportunity to show off a few of these colorful bottles and advertising pieces that I could grab online and from my files. Also, whenever I need antique and vintage hair product information I usually end up at Hair Raising Stories. Please visit their fine web site.

Read: Mrs. Susan A. Allen

A nice excerpt from the Odyssey:

Mrs. Allen’s World’s Hair Restorer bottle recovered from the wreck of the SS Republic

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Mrs. Allen’s World’s Hair Restorer bottle recovered from the wreck of the SS Republic – shipwreck.net

The excavation of the SS Republic yielded an impressive assortment of hair product bottles, a sampling of the hundreds of phony preparations that flooded the 19th-century market. Included in the recovery were two pristine examples of Mrs. Allen’s World’s Hair Restorer – rectangular bottles with beveled corners, in a rare deep amethyst color.

Mrs. Susan A. Allen, the wife of a New York City dentist, first introduced her product in 1840, and by 1854, was selling the formula from her husband’s Broome Street practice, which served as the “Manufactory and Depot.” An 1876 advertisement declared Mrs. S.A. Allen’s World’s Hair restorer “The only Preparation that will certainly revive, renew and restore the original or natural colour of grey or faded hair, stop its falling out and induce a luxuriant growth. ”The ad further claimed that “Forty years of trial and success is the basis for this unqualified statement,” during which time, “it has been used by thousands of persons, and it has never failed to satisfy the expectations of a rationale purchaser.”

The recipe for this “Great Unequaled Preparation” was said to contain a mixture of “sulphur, acetate of lead, glycerin, and flavored water” – hardly a concoction likely to enhance the beauty of one’s hair. Yet with establishments in New York, London and Paris, the hair restorer enjoyed a global market and was “Sold by all Chemists and perfumers throughout the World.”

Perhaps the two bottles recovered from the SS Republic, both empty of their original contents, had been aboard the vessel tucked in the luggage of a passenger or crew member. Yet, more likely they are the vestiges of a much larger consignment of Mrs. Allen’s famous hair tonic once bound for sale in a New Orleans’ shop.

MRS. S. A. ALLEN’S GALLERY

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Mrs. S. A. Allen’s World’s Hair Restorer bottle grouping – American Bottle Auctions

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Envelope illustrated with Mrs. S. A. Allen’s art. Major & Knapp Engraving, Manufacturing & Lithographic Co., printer., Library Company of Philadelphia Print Dept. Helfand Popular Medicine Ephemera Collection

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Mrs. S.A. Allen’s Hair Restorer diecut marketing piece – art by Sarony, Major & Knapp, Lithographer – New York

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Four Cents U.S. Internal Revenue Mrs. S.A. Allen’s Hair Restorer – S.R. Van Duzer Proprietors New York Private Proprietary Stamp

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Mrs. S.A. Allen’s world’s hair dressing or zylobalsamum, c May 29 1860 – Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

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1860 Vintage Hair Restorer Advertising Poster. Mrs. S.A. Allen’s World’s Hair Dressing or Zylobalsamum. This vintage poster has been beautifully enhanced and restored to its former brilliance by the artists at The Vintage Factory. We have also added a complimentary border around the image which really makes it an eye catching work of art. We have many more beautiful vintage posters too. – The Vintage Factory

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Mrs. S. A. Allen’s Worlds Hair Restorer advertisement

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MRS. S. A. ALLEN’S / WORLD HAIR RESTORER / NEW YORK – This is a beautiful golden amber and is 7 ½” tall. No problems except for a double pin head shallow bubble burst on the ALLEN beveled edge and approximately the same size open bottle on the bottom corner of the RESTORER panel. The base is embossed VD LONDON. It has a crude, globby applied lip. A sparking beauty! – Golden Pelican Antiques & Collectibles

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Mrs. S. A. Allen’s Worlds Hair Restorer advertisement

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Mrs. S. A. Allen’s Hair Restorer advertisement – The Chemists’ annual list – 1870

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Mrs. S. A. Allen’s advertisement – On a Certain Passage in Vanity Fair. Cut from Belgravia, 1869.

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Testimonial for Mrs. Allen’s – The Mother’s Magazine and Family Circle, Volume 24, Issue 7 – H.H. Lloyd, 1856

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Mrs. S. A. Allen’s Hair Restorer advertisement – The Chemists’ annual list – 1870

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Mrs. S. A. Allen’s advertisement with The Presbyterian Historical Almanac and Annual Remembrancer of the Church, Volume 6 by Joseph M. Wilson – 1864

Posted in Currency, Decanter, Digging and Finding, Display, Fruit Jars, Glass Companies & Works, Mailbox Letters, Publications, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Color Measurement – Latest from Michael Seeliger

Posted on 23 May 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Apple-Touch-IconAMichael Seeliger (Brooklyn, Wisconsin) has been periodically updating me with his progress on his work for a color spectrophotometer for use in determining the color for a particular bottle. This is really cutting edge work for our hobby. I included one of his historical e-mails below plus a hand-out he distributed at the recent Mansfield Bottle Show. He also has an article planned for the July issue of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector.

Ferd,

I just spoke to my guy who will make a spectrophotometer to measure glass color. He will have it to me by the 19th so I can play around with it either with Bill Mitchell, maybe go over to Jeff Burkhardts and then take it to St Pete with me to see what Jim Mitchell has to say and some of the auction guys there. According to Ted (guy who is making it) it will consist of a tungsten lamp placed inside the bottle and a spect. about the size of a cigarette package placed against the side of the bottle. The color will be given in terms of rbg.

I plan on trying several bottles, taking pictures, deciding which bottles look the same color and see if they show up with the same readings. Then see what changes in readings constitute a change in color perception in the eye of the beholder. Determine changes in color in the same bottle (bottom to top). Possible changes due to thickness etc. etc. just to see if it is at all measurable.

Ted feels this is just a prototype and we can see how it works and perfect it if it does. If it does work and I go to enough collectors and certify color on enough bottles maybe we have something.

Again it will work on a tungsten lamp although we can try other light sources if that doesn’t work. It would be run by a usb attachment to a lap top. You would start by measuring specific known color discs just to make sure your calibration zero is working. Then measure the bottles etc and then measure the discs again to see that the results aren’t shifting. Ted thinks the final unit would cost around $5000. Don’t know about upkeep. If it works, it looks like a business opportunity or perhaps selling some units to the larger shows or renting it out, or maybe having people send bottles in for testing. I don’t know exactly how it would work but it might be really cool. We’d have to have a kind of a book that would have color shades defined in terms of rgb equivalents vs color names just to allow us to talk about a color scale. Maybe glass samples from stained glass to determine color definitions???? it would have to have the backing of the Federation or at least a lot of the big collectors who value color.

Just a few thoughts to keep you in the loop on what is going on here.

I cc’d Bill Taylor and Bill Mitchell because I have been talking to them about this also and I value their ideas.

Michael Seeliger

GlassColors

Read More on Color:

The Color Yellow – A wide range of shades

The Color Purple or Amethyst in Antique Glass

What is Puce or ‘Pooce’ as some call it?

Not Brown – A “chocolate” Brown’s Celebrated Indian Herb Bitters

Not Brown – Old Amber “Harvey’s Prairie Bitters”

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Posted in Advice, Color, News, Questions, Technology | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Grecian Bend and Carey’s Grecian Bend Bitters

Posted on 22 May 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

GrecianBendArt

The Grecian Bend and

CAREY’S GRECIAN BEND BITTERS

22 May 2013 (R•051414) (R•040815)

illustrations often show a woman with a large bustle and a very small parasol, bending forward

Apple-Touch-IconAHave you ever wondered why the famous and extremely rare, Carey’s Grecian Bend Bitters was named so? Well today we are going to find out, at least I am!

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The Grecian Bend was a dance move introduced to polite society in America just before the American Civil War. The “Bend” was considered very daring at the time. The stoop or the silhouette created by the fashion in women’s dress for corsets, crinolettes and bustles by 1869 was also called The Grecian Bend. Contemporary illustrations often show a woman with a large bustle and a very small parasol, bending forward. [Wikipedia]

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Example #1: Carey’s Grecian Bend Bitters – Fuss Collection (ex: Feldmann), photo Ferdinand Meyer V

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Example #2: Carey’s Grecian Bend Bitters – Bitters Bottles Supplement

There were many songs published with “Grecian Bend” in their titles. The term ‘Grecian bend’ appears in the song ‘The Garden Where The Praties Grow’ by Johnny Patterson:

Have you ever been in love my boys
Or have you felt the pain?
I’d sooner be in jail myself
Than be in love again
For the girl I loved was beautiful
I’d have you all to know
And I met her in the garden
Where the praties grow

She was just the sort of creature boys
That Nature did intend
To walk right through the world my boys
Without the Grecian bend
Nor did she wear a chignon
I’d have you all to know
And I met her in the garden
Where the praties grow

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The original Grecian bend, Beato, Felice, b. ca. 1825 — Photographer, Albumen prints — Hand-colored, New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building / Photography Collection, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs

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“The Grecian Bend, She Stoops to Conquer” – Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

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The Last of the “Grecian Bend” – N-YHS General Collections.

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“The Grecian Bend”, a Currier & Ives lithograph of a woman performing a popular 19th-century postural affectation. c1868 – United States Library of Congress

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The Grecian Bend, The Grecian Bend Publishing Company, New York – 1868

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The Grecian Bend – Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

Posted in Bitters, Ephemera, History, Humor - Lighter Side, Questions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Royal Italian Bitters by A.M.F. Gianelli – Montreal

Posted on 21 May 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V
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“Royal / Italian Bitters” Bottle, America, possibly Canadian, 1860-1880. Tall, cylindrical hock wine form, grape amethyst, applied square collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 13 3/4 inches. R/H #R-111 Great condition, beautiful color, strong embossing. – Norman C. Heckler Auctions

R O Y A L   I T A L I A N  

B I T T E R S

Angelo M. F. Gianelli

21 May 2013 (R•010714) (R•052914)
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Angelo M. F. Gianelli

Apple-Touch-IconATonight, I wanted to spend a little time looking at a great Canadian brand called Royal Italian Bitters put out by Angelo M. F. Gianelli in Montreal. Mr. Gianelli, born in Genoa Italy in 1832, was the Canadian Consul to Italy and was the proprietor of The Cosmopolitan, a first class hotel restaurant at 12 Place d’Armes. His advertising boasted serving over 500 daily and he once catered a Supper at the Hall for the Prince of Wales (see Bill of Fare below).

He business operated as A. M. F. Gianelli & Co.. Commission Merchants. His warehouse was at 158 Fortification Lane. His office was at 12 Place D’Armes, which was the location of his restaurant. You can almost imagine stacks of his bitters on display in his windows of the restaurant.

These bottles are gorgeous and come in beautiful shades of puce, amethyst and rose. A must for any serious bitters collector. FYI – There is a spectacular example in the current American Glass Gallery Auction 10 that ends tomorrow night.

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

R 111  ROYAL ITALIAN BITTERS, Circa 1875 – 1890
ROYAL ( au ) / ITALIAN BITTERS ( au ) / REGISTERED (au) / motif-shield, crown,
spears & drapery / TRADEMARK ( ad ) / A.M.F. GIANELLI ( ad) / GENOVA // c //
13 1/4 – 13 3/4 x 2 3/4
Round, Amethyst and Puce, ARM, applied mouth, Scarce
Prepared and sold wholesale by the proprietor, A.M.F. Gianelli, 26 Hospital Street, also 12 Place d’Armes, Montreal.
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Royal Italian Bitters advertisement – The Ottawa Times, October 15, 1867

R 111 (Royal Italian)

Royal Italian Bitters – Meyer Collection

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Royal Italian Bitters embossing detail motif-shield, crown,
spears & drapery – Meyer Collection

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Profile: Angelo M. F. Gianelli – The Canadian album: Men of Canada; or, Success by example, in religion, patriotism, business, law, medicine, education and agriculture; containing portraits of some of Canada’s chief business men, statesmen, farmers, men of the learned professions, and others. Also, an authentic sketch of their lives. – John Castell Hopkins, W. J. Hunter – 1895

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A.M.F. Gianelli, Proprietor. From the Tourist Guide to the City of Montreal – 1869

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“Royal / Italian Bitters / Registered / (motif of crown, shield, spears and drapery) / Trade Mark / A.M.F. Gianelli / Genova”, Canada, 1880 – 1890. Beautiful, light to medium pink amethyst, tall tapered cylinder form, applied square collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 13 3/8”, near mint; (professionally cleaned to original luster, a 3/8” onionskin-thin open bubble at the mold seam). R/H #R111. Outstanding color, a very light, pretty example! An extremely attractive, beautiful example with plenty of pink tones, light and bright. There is an almost colorless swath of glass to the left, below the shield. – American Glass Gallery Auction 10

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Bill of Fare – Supper at the Ball in Honour of the Visit of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, to Montreal (…). A.M.F. Gianelli and A. Moulin – 1860 (McCord Museum)

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Royal Italian Bitters – Antique-Bottles.net (potlidboy)

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Gianelli Patent for the Cure of Rheumatism – Canadian Patent Office Record, Volume 33, Part 1 – 1905

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Partially labelled Royal Italian Bitters, A.M.F. Gainelli Geneva. Found it in an attic of a very old Northern Vermont Farmhouse.- Crane Collection

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The same as above, labeled Royal Italian Bitters in Window Overlooking Historic Barn and Silo. – Annie Crane Note: Bottle put to auction at American Glass Gallery Auction #12

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Labeled Royal Italian Bitters (see above wind shot). Bottle put to auction at American Glass Gallery Auction #12

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Labeled Royal Italian Bitters (see above). American Glass Gallery Auction #12

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Labeled Royal Italian Bitters (see above). American Glass Gallery Auction #12

Posted in Advertising, Auction News, Bitters, Ephemera, History, Liquor Merchant | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Looking at some J.T. Gayen Bottles

Posted on 20 May 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Jan Tecker Gayen

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Apple-Touch-IconAThere is an interesting J.T. Gayen bottle on ebay (see listing) with a title: Caribbean Sea Old J T Gayen Bottle Intl’ waters off Costa Rica 1800s Case Gin. It is nice see this name again. Many of us figural collectors are aware of the J. T. Gayen Altona figural cannon which is pictured below. Let’s looks at a few other Gayen bottles. Super embossings, form and history, all in your hand. Look at that pair of J. T. Gayen, Altona, Castle and Lions Schnapps above! Wish I had better pictures. Actually I could find very few pictures. Please send me your examples for inclusion in this post.

Jan Tecker Gayen is listed as the oldest distiller of Schnapps and other liquor products from Altona, Hamberg, Germany. I am almost certain that he, or more likely his father, is from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Read More: Figural Cannon Bottles – J T GAYEN / ALTONA

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Advertisement for Jan Tecker Gayen, Altona selling Schnapps – The Argus (Melbourne), Tuesday, May 3 1881

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J T GAYEN / ALTONA Figural Cannon – Meyer Collection

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Listing for J.T. Gayen brig of Altona (Hamburg, Germany) – Christie’s shipping register, maritime compendium and commercial advertiser – 1858

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J.T. Gayen Superior Palm Tree Gin, circa 1870 – gin-bottles.com

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J.T. Gayen Superior Palm Tree seal, circa 1870 – gin-bottles.com

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J. T. GAYEN Ribbon Seal bottle – Vagn Petersen’s Danish Bottles

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J. T. GAYEN Ribbon Seal bottle – Vagn Petersen’s Danish Bottles

Posted in Digging and Finding, eBay, Figural Bottles, Gin, Liquor Merchant, Schnapps | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

William’s Royal Crown Remedy and Bitters – Isaac Williams Company

Posted on 19 May 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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William’s Royal Crown Remedy and Bitters – Isaac Williams Company

19 May 2013 (R•051219)

William’s Royal Crown Remedy and Bitters: price: $1 a bottle, six for $5, manufactured by Isaac Williams Company, 268 Dundas St., London, Ont., for sale by all druggists

Apple-Touch-IconAIn pursuit of more information regarding Duncan Edwards Crown Bitters, I came across a Canadian labeled Bitters called William’s Royal Crown Remedy and Bitters. Furthermore, do not see a designated number for this brand in Bitters Bottles or Bitters Bottle Supplement. I was quickly able to find an pretty cool advertising pamphlet (see below) which touted the benefits of this vile looking concoction. Read Pamphlet

I see that someone over at Antique-bottles.net has an example (pictured to the left) and wrote:

“I have this Williams Royal Crown Remedy and Bitters bottle. Anyone heard of it?”

“Still full with original contents. Original paper labels and box. One label in English, one in German (I think). The box is in pretty rough shape. I was told this came out of a drug store basement and was never opened, so I guess this is as close to “mint” as they come.”

I think its neat that the bottle has never been opened, but I’m not a fan of full bottles. In this case, the brown liquid really obscures the embossing. Is a bottle like this more collectible/valuable with the original contents or should I dump it?”

William’s Royal Crown Remedy and Bitters – Isaac Williams Company

19 May 2013 (R•082414 information from direct relative)

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New Information 24 August 2014: I am working on my genealogy and Isaac Williams, the proprietor of this remedy, was my 3rd great grandfather. He was born on March 11, 1820 in Lincoln County, Ontario, Canada.

He was married to Sarah Mariah Ackert (1824-1897), whose parents came up from upstate New York. His parents were the colorful Benajah Williams (1765-1851) from Delaware, New York and Elizabeth Kennedy (1788-1842) from New Jersey.

My research shows that Isaac Williams was quite the entrepreneur with several enterprises under his belt. In 1855 he was a “pump maker and shingle maker”. In 1861 a “farmer and pump maker”. In 1865 the owner of a “chair and cabinet factory”. He was a “peddler” from 1871 to 1881. In 1897 he was in Port Huron, Michigan and was listed as a “doctor”. In 1901, ten years before he died, he was listed as a “medicine dealer”. Isaac Williams died on June 8, 1911 in Guelph, Ontario.

I think he sold the snake oil with his son, Peter Nelson Williams, who is listed as a “Medicine Man” in the 1891 Canadian census and as the owner of a “patent medicine firm” on his death registration in 1924 in London, Ontario. Apparently Peter Williams put “Dr.” in front of his name, although I’m fairly certain that he wasn’t even close to being a doctor. The Royal Crown Remedy probably disappeared after Peter’s death in 1924, although I’m not sure of that.

I hope this info is of interest to you and puts some flesh on the history of these bottles.

Regards, Alison – Kelowna, BC

Read Pamphlet

Updated listing information from Bill Ham for Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Brochure
W120.4 Williams Royal Crown Remedy And Bitters, Isaac Williams Company, 268 Dundas Street, London, Ontario, For Sale by all Druggists, 1894 calendar on the back cover. 20 pages of testimonials and advertising.
4 x 7 ¾
W 120.4 L . . . William’s Royal Crown Remedy and Bitters, Price $1 a Bottle, 6 for $5. Manufactured by Isaac Williams Company, 268 Dundas St., London, Ont., for sale by all druggists
A Canadian brand
Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Medicines & Cures, Remedy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Carlyn Ring – An Interview with Martha Stewart

Posted on 19 May 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Apple-Touch-IconAGreat Video. “A Complete Collection of Antique Bitters Bottles” – Martha Stewart and Carlyn Ring looks at Carlyn Rings antique bitter bottles collection. The rare and unusual styles in the collection showcase a history of American glass making and early medical remedies containing alcohol. A big shout-out and thanks to Jeff Burkhardt who says “I just stumbled across this video, Martha Steward interviewing Carlyn Ring on collecting Bitters…done after she sold out to (Jim) Hagenbuch and (Bill) Ham. Well done and she mentions the FEDERATION.

Read More: Carlyn Ring Collection: First Offering of 143 Bottles – Part 1

Read More: Carlyn Ring Collection: Second Offering of 121 Bottles – Part 2

Posted in Advice, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, News | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Alfred Speer and his Raised Sidewalk & Standard Wine Bitters

Posted on 18 May 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V
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Speer’s Standard Wine Bitters – Hudson NY Evening Register 1869

Speer’s Standard Wine Bitters

Speer’s vineyard and wine business started on a small scale, with the vineyard expanding until it was “the largest in the State, containing over five miles of driveways, and over five hundred miles of wire.” The business operated as two separate companies known as Speer’s New Jersey Wine company and Speer’s Vine Culture Company, with offices in Passaic, New Jersey and New York, New York. 

Apple-Touch-IconAThe advertisement above for Speer’s Standard Wine Bitters, yet again, caught my attention and sparked my interest as I was unfamiliar with this Bitters brand. As primarily a collector of embossed bitters bottles, it is interesting to go back and look at some of the early examples of labeled bitters. This brand alone had a 25.49% alcohol content which is quite potent. Basically there is an untold story within every bottle and behind every label, some easier to find than others. In this case I was just amazed with Alfred Speer and what he accomplished in his lifetime. Make sure you read about Alfred’s “Sidewalk in the Sky” further below.

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Alfred Speer’s advertisement from the New York Lancet: With which is Incorporated the Archives of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Pediatrics, Issue 1 – J.B. Flint, 1899

The Carlyn Ring and W. C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles (S 158) and Bitters Bottle Supplement (S 165.5) is as follows:

S 158  Sample Speer’s Standard Wine Bitters Passaic, N.J.
Alfred Speer, Principal Offices, 243 Broadway, New York
3 1/2 x 1 1/4 (2)
Round, Aqua NSC
S 156.5 L…Speer’s Standard Wine Bitters, from after the first day of January 1868, every bottle of Speer’s Standard Wine Bitters will have my signature over the cork and on this additional label. (signed) Alfred Speer, Passaic, N.J.
12 x 2 3/4
Round, Green, DLTC, Applied mouth
SpeerSignature

Alfred Speer, President signature on every bottle – New Jersey Bottle Forum

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Labeled Speer’s Wine Bitters; this in a fifth gallon size, bottled in an Ellenville Glass Works base-embossed spirits bottle. Dated January, 1868 on its secondary label, the bottle is in a medium amber with a hint of green. Unfortunately, the bitters was bottled at a time when many labels were printed on dark colored stock, this in a rich maroon, and it is difficult to read the details clearly. The bold word, Speer’s, sits atop a ribbon with the word, Standard in the top with folds draping down over a large three story buliding, the six folds each describing the contents, ‘Pure’ is the only word I think I can make out. Beneath the building is ___Street(?) Passaic N.J. Under the large Wine Bitters is ‘A Speer Passaic N.J.’ Finally, ‘Sale ____2_3 Broadway NY’. – James Becker

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Speer’s Standard Wine Bitters Alcohol Strength – Cincinnati Lancet and Observer, Volume 35 – 1874

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Speer’s Standard Wine Bitters advertisement – 1869 Gettysburg Compiler

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Speer’s Standard Wine Bitters advertisement – Boston Daily Evening Transcript – July 9, 1868

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Speer’s Wine amber quart and label detail – New Jersey Bottle Forum

Alfred Speer – Furniture Maker, Grape Grower and Inventor

Alfred Speer was born November 2, 1823 in New Jersey to a local family of Dutch ancestry. Typical of many young men of the early nineteenth century, Alfred obtained the usual grammar school education common to that period. As a teenager, he became apprenticed to a cabinetmaker in Newark, New Jersey while his inquisitive and inventive skills developed. During his apprenticeship, William NELSON stated that Alfred “made a camera, from descriptions he had read, and took some of the first daguerreotypes seen in Newark.” Completing his apprenticeship, he moved to Acquackanonk Township, now the present day Passaic, and established his own cabinet and furniture shop. He must have valued the furniture he made because a few pieces are mentioned in his will, one piece being described as “one mahogany bookcase, that I made in 1854 with ground glass doors, which I give and bequeath to my son, Colonel Morgan.”

Speer’s vineyard and wine business started on a small scale, with the vineyard expanding until it was “the largest in the State, containing over five miles of driveways, and over five hundred miles of wire.” The business operated as two separate companies known as Speer’s New Jersey Wine company and Speer’s Vine Culture Company, with offices in Passaic, New Jersey and New York, New York. One could go to the warehouse and purchase a bottle of “Speer’s Passaic Port Wine.” The companies included vineyards and vaults in Passaic, New Jersey and Los Angeles, California. (see below for source)

Read: ALFRED SPEER: PASSAIC VINTNER, PUBLISHER, AND INVENTOR

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Labeled Climax Superior Vintage Brandy – The Speer Wine Co. – New Jersey Bottle Forum

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Alfred Speer obituary – New York Times February 17, 1910

Alfred Speer’s Sidewalk in the Sky

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Pictured above is a bold solution to a growing congestion problem on Broadway circa 1873. When Alfred Speer, a wine merchant and inventor from Passaic opened a store on Broadway near City Hall, he found pedestrians, delivery carts, and omnibus traffic all chaotically jockeying for position on the crowded thoroughfare. Although streetcar companies were allowed to lay rails north of 14th Street, pressure from local property owners and the omnibus operators, who held a monopoly on mass transit downtown, kept more efficient mass transit methods out. All Ways NY

Posted in Advertising, Art & Architecture, Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Duncan Edwards Crown Bitters – English or American?

Posted on 18 May 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Duncan Edwards Crown Bitters – English or American?

18 May 2013 (032019)

Apple-Touch-IconABill Heatley, who I respect a lot, has listed his Duncan Edwards Crown Bitters on ebay (see listing) after an absence of a year or so. He actually dug this bottle in Flint, Michigan in 2007. This bottle was offered to me a few years back and though the bottle is spectacular, I just could not get past the strong English influence which held me back from purchasing the bottle. Did I make a mistake? Though I do have a few English, Canadian, Australian and German bitters, I usually draw the line simply because I prefer American bitters. You have to admit though, the story behind this bottle is quite interesting.

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Duncan Edwards Crown Bitters in found condition – Bill Heatley

Bill Ham in Bitters Bottles lists this as extremely rare, and notes that amber shards were used to reconstruct the only know listed example. Bill Heatley has done some research and claims that this was a bottle made in the United States. Very interesting. Let’s see. Bills ebay listing:

EXCEPTIONAL (Only undamaged one known) E-24 DR DUNCAN EDWARDS CROWN BITTERS

There are only two of these 9 1/4″ bottles known. I spoke with Bill Ham and he consulted Carlyn Ring’s notes– she wrote that the only example known (at that time) was dug in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1974, and repaired. I dug this bottle in Flint, Michigan in 2007. It has absolutely NO damage and is ready to display. There is no stain whatsoever, in or on the glass. Elmer Ogg gave it a very light polish (only) and you can see the obvious results. The olive coloration is spectacular. The embossing is bold and there is no “waxy” appearance of the glass. The chamfered edges redirect your gaze, from one 2 10/16″ panel to another.

There has not been any type of sanding, repairing, filling, use of any resins or epoxies of any sort on this bottle. I washed it, Elmer tumbled it.

This ia an American bitters, regardless of what the embossing reflects. Dr. Harrison T. Chamberlin of Brockport, New York filed the Trademark registration below and was granted Certificate #3518, on March 21, 1876, for his bottle.

CrownBittersListing

Listing for a Tonic Bitters with the words “Crown Bitters” and a picture of a Crown – An Illustrated Monthly Trade Journal of Materia Medica, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Volume 5 by Horatio C. Wood – 1876

The applied finish lip on this bottle is distinctly American. The vent dimple is reflective of many early Northeastern bottles of the time. You have seen many, many American bottles with these features, what about British bottles? It is conjectured that Dr. Chamberlin was attempting to cash in on the marketing strategy of a high-end British bitters, imported to the U.S., all-the-while having the bottle produced in America. A little bit of hood-winkery. British bitter collectors I have spoken to have never heard of the bottle, or brand of bitter.

Dr Chamberlin also had patent # 205,353 granted to him on June 25, 1878 PATENT (see below).

ChamberlainPatent

Chamberlain Patent. Am I missing something here? This is for a vaginal syringe?

This exquisitely designed and hand-blown bottle has two additional items on it, to catch the eye of the discerning beholder. The letter S in the word Bitters (on the crown) was carved backwards, in to the mold. This caused an error on the bottle, which was probably too cost-prohibitive to correct. The second item is a “crease” (for lack of a better word) in the glass, near the front heel. There is a definite area void of glass and it adds just a touch of crudity to the bottle and truly appeals to the glass purist.

If this auction does not meet/exceed my reserve price, the bottle will go back in a box. I have struggled (since I dug it) with the idea of selling it (it IS a wonderful bottle) but I do not collect bitters and would prefer that someone who does, put this one on display.

Do not miss your opportunity to own this one of a kind, museum quality bottle.

DuncanEdwardsCrownEmboss

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

E 24  Doctor Duncan Edwards Crown Biters
DOCTOR ( au ) DUNCAN EDWARDS ( au ) / motif crown with English seal CROWN (above) BITTERS (Below) // LONDON / England // f // f // f //
9 1/4 x 2 3/4 (7 1/2)
Square, Amber, Extremely rare
Found in pieces and restored
Trade Mark, Harrison T. Chamberlain, Brockport, N.Y., March 3, 1876

I can not find any more information on the bottle though I will send this post to my UK and Australia contacts. I suspect it was imported but in this case, I think it would make a nice addition to my collection. Besides being a great looking bottle, it has mystery, is extremely rare and was found here in the ground in America, twice.

Left to Right: Mishler’s Herb Bitters, Peruvian Bitters, Duncan Edwards Crown Bitters, figural whiskey corn and Constitution Beverage bitters – Eib Colletion

“DOCTOR / DUNCAN EDWARDS” / (motif of large Crown) / “CROWN / BITTERS” (inside crown) / “LONDON / ENGLAND”, America, probably 1877 – 1885. Yellowish honey amber with a very slight olive tone, square with beveled corners, tooled square collar – smooth base, ht. 9 ¼”, near mint; (lightly cleaned to original luster). R/H #E24. A great rarity – one of only 2 intact examples, and believed to be from Brockport, NY. See AB&GC, March, 2019; Peachridge Glass, 2013. In addition to the bitters being patented by Dr. Harrison T. Chamberlain, of Brockport, NY, all three known examples were found in the US. A fantastic pictorial bitters having the large embossed crown, beautiful, syrupy color – almost a butterscotch coloration with a hint of olive. It is without question, very rare. Prior to this example coming to light, only one other intact example, as well as one in pieces, were known.

Posted in Advice, Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Leave a comment

An advertisement for an unlisted Clayton’s Celebrated Rheumatic Bitters

Posted on 17 May 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

,Claytons&HostettersBitters

Product Infringement?

An advertisement for an unlisted Clayton’s Celebrated Rheumatic Bitters

17 May 2013 (R•021514) (R•2-122720)

Apple-Touch-IconAWhile perusing Pittsburgh Directories in the late 1850s and 1860s for Zingari Bitters, I can across an advertisement (on the same page as the Zingari’s ad) for Clayton’s Celebrated Rheumatic Bitters and Liniment (below) put out by William Clayton & Son (William Clayton & C. E. Clayton).

I didn’t recall this specific brand although I was aware of Clayton & Russell’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters and wanted to see if there was a relationship. Hmmmm…. sure sounds like a Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. Usually, when an advertisement, more than a listing, occurs in a city directory, it means that a product is trying to get a lot of attention or is popular. I wonder what this bottle looks like? It is also interesting that there are no previous listings in any of the Bitters books that mention the bitters noted in the advertisement.

Read: Jacob & David Hostetter – Dr. J. Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters

[updated 22 May 2013] New listing provided by Bill Ham for Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Advertisement
C 170.5  CLAYTON’S CELEBRATED RHEUMATIC BITTERS AND LINIMENT, Wm. Clayton and Son, Wholesale and Retail Liquor Merchants, No. 37 Diamond Alley, Pittsburgh
Leisure Hours, (Pittsburgh Quarterly), Volume 1, December 1858, Pittsburgh
ClaytonAd1

Here is the advertisement that first got me interested in this post. Clayton’s Celebrated Rheumatic Bitters and Liniment advertisement – Leisure Hours (Pittsburgh Quarterly), Volume 1, December 1858 – Pittsburgh

Obviously, the time period here is far enough apart to dictate that Clayton’s Celebrated Rheumatic Bitters be considered as unlisted in Bitters Bottles and the Bitters Bottle Supplement. This is most likely a predecessor to the listed label only, Clayton & Russell’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing for the later, Clayton and Russell’s is as follows:

C 170  L…Clayton & Russell’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters
// b // A & CO.
Registered by S.R. Adams, Sole Proprietor
8 3/4 x 2 3/4 (6 1/2) 1/2
Square, Amber
Label: This bottle is embossed by the glass manufacture on the base of the bottle. Its reads A & Co. which stands for the John Agnew and Co., Pittsburgh, PA. The bottle label reads as follows CLAYTON & RUSSELL’S / CELEBRATED / STOMACH / BITTERS. (Has a picture of a nude man fighting with a two headed animal). Revised Trademark Formula / Alcohol 37 per cent / The Bitters of Clayton & Russell will be found a highly aromatic liquid and entirely free from any injurious substances. The herbs roots and barks used are possessed of active medicinal propitious and are well known. Standard remedies in the medical practice of the day. This preparation will be of great benefit in malarial districts as a reliable invigorant and tonic. Guaranteed by Adams & Co. MFG. under the food and drugs act. June 30th 1906. Serial number 2736. [Label information from Frank Wicker at Bottle Pickers]
LabeledClayton&Russells

Labeled Clayton & Russell’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters (center) – photo source unknown

ClaytonListing1

Listing for William Clayton, Liquor Merchant, No. 37 Diamond Alley – Pittsburgh Directory By R.L. Polk & Co – 1860 – 61

I was quickly able to pinpoint a William Clayton as a Liquor Merchant in an 1860 Pittsburgh directory (see above). Other directories of this era support the finding. Pre-Pro.com actually lists him only in an 1870 directory in Pittsburgh.

My next ‘hit’ was a posting by Frank Wicker over at Bottle Pickers. Frank actually has a later, labeled, Clayton and Russell’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters bottle (pictured at the top of this post). Frank goes on to post about a product infringement legal case between Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters and Clayton & Russell’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. Imagine that! Both illustrations show a man fighting a dragon though Clayton & Russell’s illustration looks more like a giant crustacean.

HostetterInfringement

1881 – The Federal Reporter: Cases Argued and Determined in the Circuit and District Courts of the United States, Volumes 9-10

Hostetter & Smith v. S. R. Adams

On Feb 18, 1882, in the Circuit Court S.D. New York for product infringement the Hostetter’s Company felt that the “Clayton & Russell’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters” bottle was designed to imitate the looks of one of the types of Hostetter’s labels and bottle styles. That the Clayton & Russell’s was manufactured to solely imitate the looks of the bottle and to deceive the customer into believing that they were purchasing the Famous Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. Hostetter’s Company sued over the words “Celebrated Stomach Bitters”. They were the sole owners of the label and trademark of the bottle. S. R. Adam’s was the sole proprietor of his company. The top photograph in this post shows the subject bottles and labels.

Read More: Saint George the Dragon Slayer – Not only on Hostetter’s

McCullyAd1

Wm. McCully & Co. advertisement – Pittsburgh Directory By R.L. Polk & Co – 1860 – 61

It is also interesting to note that on the same page as Clayton’s Celebrated Rheumatic Bitters advertisement, was this advertisement for Wm. M’Cully & Co. Glass Works (see above). At the bottom of the advertisement, it says “Particular attention paid to Private Moulds and Orders filled with promptness and dispatch”. I would suspect that if a bottle ever showed up, it might have a M’Cully & Co. embossing on the bottom. The later, labeled bottle is based embossed A & Co. which stands for the John Agnew and Co., Pittsburgh, PA.

Clayton&RusselAdBottle

Clayton & Russells Stomach Bitters label graphic – ebay

United States Patent Office, Trade-Mark for Medicinal Bitters,  S.R. Adams, No. 9,722, Registered Oct. 17, 1882.

Unite

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Glass Makers, History, Liquor Merchant, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment