Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

$4.00

May 2021

More About the House of Fahrney w PAGE 42

IN THIS ISSUE:

New England Review: Baltimore Survivors w PAGE 7

A Dump of Epic Proportions w PAGE 11

The Queen of Snuff Jars? w PAGE 30

What's in a Name? w PAGE 33

T h e Ma g a z i n e T h at Ke eps Yo u I n fo r m e d!

Seeking quality consignments for our 2021 auction schedule!

American Glass Gallery

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As a consignor, consider these benefits to help ensure your valued items reach their highest potential: w Competitive consignor rates and low buyer premiums w Broad-based and extensive advertising w Experience, knowledge, honesty and integrity w Attention to detail and customer service

These fine items, and many more, will be included in our Auction #29.

American Glass Gallery • John R. Pastor • P.O. Box 227, New Hudson, Michigan 48165 phone: 248.486.0530 • www.americanglassgallery.com • email: jpastor@americanglassgallery.com

VOLUME 38, #1 • May 2021 FRONT COVER:

AB&GC Medicine Chest columnist John Panella, along with his team, take an in-depth look at the House of Fahrney in this second installment of a three part series uncovering information never before brought to light.

Read all about it beginning on page 42.

Publisher John R. Pastor

In This Issue:

Editors: Ralph Finch Bill Baab Jodi Hall

Letters to the Editor........................................................................... 2

Managing Editor Libby Smith The Medicine Chest John Panella Joe Widman New England Review Mike George Bitters Columnist Bob Strickhart Spouting off on Mineral Waters Donald Tucker Contributing Writers: Ralph Finch Kevin Sives Design, Layout & Production Jake Pluta

Heard it through the Grapevine......................................................... 4 New England Review: True Baltimore Survivors............................... 7 A Dump of Epic Proportions........................................................... 11 Fruit Jar Rambles: Wells, Provost & Spratt...................................... 17 Classified Advertisements................................................................. 22 Show Calendar.................................................................................. 27 The Queen of Snuff Jars?.................................................................. 30 Memories of Mansfield(s)................................................................. 32 What's in a Name?............................................................................ 33 A Few More Thoughts on Provenance ............................................. 40 Medicine Chest: House of Fahrney, Part 2....................................... 42

ANTIQUE BOTTLE & GLASS COLLECTOR (ISSN 8750-1481) is published monthly by Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, P.O. Box 227, New Hudson, MI 48165-0227. Annual Subscription $35.00 at periodical rates, $49.00 at First-class rates and $4.00 per single copy. Canadian (First-class rate available only) $54.00 (in U.S. Funds). Overseas rates please inquire. Published

by Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, PO Box 227, New Hudson, MI 48165-0227. Periodicals Postage is paid at New Hudson MI and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to ANTIQUE BOTTLE & GLASS COLLECTOR, PO Box 227, New Hudson, MI 48165-0227. PH: 248.486.0530; Fax: 248.486.0538, Email: jpastor@americanglassgallery.com, Website: www.americanglassgallery.com. © Copyright 2021 all rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any way without written permission from the publisher.

Coming in June: Fifty Years of Fabulous Fenners, by Vince Martonis Collecting New York City Slugplate Strap Flasks, by Mark R. Smith Boston Hop Bitters?, by Ralph Finch Fruit Jar Rambles: Collins, Wheaton & Luhrs, by Tom Caniff Medicine Chest: House of Fahrney: Part 3, by John Panella and Joe Widman And other very cool stuff!

May 2021

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LETTERS

to the Editor

Another Bottle Adds to Fahrney History Hi, John, What a nice job John Panella and team are doing with unraveling the history behind the Fahrney medicine family! We all have come across this family’s bottles over the years. I thought I might share one that I came across a few years ago that still had most of its label. I love old medicine bottles but truly have an affinity for the labels that have survived affixed to their humble container.

Enjoy!

Tom Grove Dover, Pennsylvania

Batsto Village 2021 Spring Antique Glass and Bottle Show Hello, John, I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that the 2021 Spring Antique Bottle Show at Batsto Village has been canceled due to continuing Covid-19 concerns. We are hoping that public gatherings will be expanded in New Jersey for the fall show to be held on September 26.

Regards, Jim Hammell Editor’s note: Readers, please mark your calendars for September 26 and plan on attending this great outdoor event. Watch upcoming issues for further updates.

A New (old), Quack Medicine for Joe Widman Hello, John, Here is some information for AB&GC Medicine Chest Columnist, Joe Widman.

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Tom Grove shared this photo of his labeled Dr. Fahrney's Health Restorer.

In the early 1950s, I was taught how to search for old bottle dumps and how to locate privy sites.

At that time, my mentor, now deceased, talked about a strange bottle he had dug years before. He described the bottle as being clear, about 5 1/2” tall and embossed: “Cures Cancer, Cold Feet

and Cold Women.” I don’t recall where it was from. I never got to see the bottle, as it was sold to a dealer from Portland, Maine, for $25.

I’ll bet Joe Widman would love to get his hands on this beauty.

Peter B. Samuelson Intervale, New Hampshire

LETTERS

to the Editor

John, on a different subject, I have an idea for the magazine that I think would be a hit with the subscribers. How about “The Oldie of the Month?” Where you would go back into the past hundreds of issues and feature a story for that same month out of the past. John, we have collectors that have never read the wealth of great stories and articles that you possess.

Think about it please!

Best Regards, Gary Beatty North Port, Florida

A Farley Jar Comes to Life A pint of jarring memory from Ralph Finch A hundred years ago I started out as a collector of fruit jars, and the emphasis wasn’t on quality, but quantity. After the first year, there were a ton of common fruit jars all over my apartment. You could barely move with jars everywhere!

Then, I started to specialize in pint-size jars. In fact, I was often referred to (by Norman Barnett) as the “pint-size collector of pint-size jars.” (It could have been a lot worse.)

The reverse of Tom Grove's bottle. Read more about Dr. Fahrney in this month's Medicine Chest.

April Magazine Hi, John, I just loved the April edition of the magazine. I really was impressed with the article “Unmasking the Traveller” by Chris Bubash. Chris did an excellent job of presenting his argument for Charles Dickens as the character on the bottle. Lots of

excellent detective work to come to his conclusion. As a bitters collector he has convinced me that the Traveller is Dickens. I never did buy into the idea it was General Lee. The picture of Dickens with his cane and bowler hat did it for me. I wonder what my friend “Mr. Bitters,” also known as Bob Strickhart, thinks about Chris’ article. Good Job, Chris!

I had some great jars, but one of them certainly was barely good. It was a “Farley” jar, as written about in Tom Caniff’s jar column in the April issue of AB&GC. My Farley wasn’t rare, but it certainly was plain. (And maybe I’m being generous.)

My wife at the time said it was “ugly.” In fact, she didn’t even want it in the house.

I got to keep the jar, but my then wife said that if I went first, I was to be cremated and my ashes put into the Farley jar. And I would deserve it, she added.

Times have changed. Now when I die, I get to be cremated and put into a ketchup jug. That’s progress?

May 2021

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Heard it through the

Grapevine

Earliest Image of an Antique Bottle Collection?

This image was submitted by AB&GC reader, glass historian and writer, Ian Simmonds. It is believed to be one of the earliest known images of an antique bottle collection.

Ian writes: Please find attached one of the earliest photos of a bottle collection that I am aware of. It is from the March 5, 1913 sale of Part 1 of the Alexander W. Drake collection at Anderson Galleries in New York. Anderson Galleries became Parke-Bernet before being bought by Sothebys. The image is from the catalog for the auction. There are a few other images that show parts of the collection.

It would be fun to see who can come up with the earliest image of a collection of American bottles, or containing American bottles. The Drake collection contained a mix.

Ian adds: Many bottles were literally hanging from threads!

Editor’s note: Thank you Ian. It is a very interesting image.

It is a fascinating mix of early bottles, flasks and blown glass.

Accidents Happen …

But let’s hope not to glass collectors

By Ralph Finch So, you are going to buy something from an auction house? Or sell something through an auction house? Cross your fingers. The big U.S. glass auction houses treat their consignments with kid gloves, but, hey, things happen.

In more than fifty years of collecting I have only sent two pieces of glass out for cleaning. One was a rare pint fruit jar with a little stain, and it came back looking like it had been sand-blasted! The other was a Bust of Columbia Liberty Cap Eagle flask with a tiny spot of haze behind Columbia’s face. (And the flask was one of the few items I ever bought as a real bargain, when a Detroit auction house sold it for $30 after marking it as a repro, when it was the real McCoy.) It came back from the cleaner in a body

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

bag. For years I kept the dozen pieces as a souvenir that bad things can happen.

And it can happen with the bigger names, too. We were going to bid on an incredible demijohn with a massive sea battle painted on it. It had a crack, we knew, but its beauty still made it very desirable.

However, by the time it came up for auction it looked like someone had kicked in the side. Those ships painted may have survived a fiery sea battle, but not a clumsy auction house staffer.

Things happen. A famous accident known as the ‘Lucian Freud’s Untitled Oil Painting’ incident happened in 2010, when a small still life created by Lucian Freud in the 1960s arrived at Sotheby’s London.

However, this work never made it to the auction block. Its crate was accidentally placed with others that were meant to be thrown away, and it was put into a crushing machine. The artwork was valued at over $100,000.

If you are a *glutten for punishment, you can go on the internet (www.widewalls or YouTube) and, since most museums have cameras, watch clumsy (or stupid) people, out-of-control children, anarchists or religious zealots destroy expensive antiques. (*That’s the same headline the Detroit News put over a story I wrote about rating really cheap hamburgers, aka greasebombs or sliders.)

FYI: Lucian Michael Freud, 1922-2011, was a British painter and draughtsman, specializing in figurative art, and is known as one of the foremost 20th-century portraitists. Some of his works have been valued into the millions. (Which is really strange, since he seemed to have a passion for painting really homely women.)

Editor’s note: Have you condemned a collectible to the trash (or, as the British say, a “dustbin”)? Please share the sad stories with our readers. Send them to me at rfinch@twmi.rr.com

Heard it through the

Grapevine

The New Bedford Museum of Glass is now located in the historic James Arnold Mansion.

New Bedford Museum of Glass is Now Open The New Bedford Museum of Glass in New Bedford, Mass., opened its doors on Sunday, April 18. This much anticipated opening is in their new location, the historic and beautiful James Arnold Mansion, 427 County Street, New Bedford, Mass.

The museum’s website states that: The NBMOG collection consists of 7,000 objects documenting more than 3,000 years of glassmaking history. It covers many regions and periods, from ancient to contemporary, with special emphasis on the city of New Bedford, Mass., celebrated in the late 19th century as the “Art Glass Headquarters of the Country.” Also included in the collection are many antique glassblowing tools, molds and even a 6-foot high glass press!

Per their website, another feature is a display titled “Our Nation’s Heritage in Glass.” It is on display at the New Bedford City Hall,​133 William St., New Bedford.

It is the largest public display of American historical glass in the country.

The collection includes more than 500 examples of glass with decorative motifs relating directly to American political and cultural history. Most of the items on view were donated to the Museum in 1999 by the late Mrs. Warren P. Tingley, a student and collector of historical glass. Special features of the exhibit include 19thcentury political campaign glass, glass from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition and the 1893 Columbian Exposition, Bicentennial glass, and glass commemorating American historical events.

For more information, please call 508.984.1666 or email knelson@nbmog. org. Interested persons can visit their website at www.nbmog.org.

Waiting to get into the museum.

D May 2021

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We welcome your conversation to discuss consignment options for your singular item, group or entire collection.

www.hecklerauction.com 860.974.1634 6

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

79 Bradford Corner Rd. Woodstock Valley CT 06282

“Pimlico Tobacco Works / Baltimore” snuff jar and associated broadside.

A COUPLE OF TRUE BALTIMORE SURVIVORS Almost a year ago, I received an email from a bottle club here in New England, asking for information on a grungy tobacco or snuff type bottle that was unearthed in Texas. The bottle immediately caught my eye, as it was one that I have never seen before. After 40 years of playing with bottles, a new discovery is thrilling, to say the least! I started doing some research, and very little was found, other than an old broadside.

I quickly contacted (through email) the owner of the bottle with the little information I had. No response, and this went on a few times, but the third time was the charm. They were a very small historical society in Texas, and were very excited to hear about how rare this dirty “PIMLICO TOBACCO WORKS / BALTIMORE” bottle was.

They explained receiving the bottle from a local land owner who found it in the side of a riverbank. Instead of discarding the old bottle, the land owner gave it to

the county historical society, and they didn’t have any clue about it. Since this Baltimore-marked bottle (some 1300 miles away) wasn’t a local historical item, they said it might be for sale, which I was quite delighted to hear. Knowing the rarity of this item, I made a generous offer, which seemed a little overwhelming to them. It needed to be discussed with the board, and since we were in the midst of a pandemic, this meeting had to wait. Sigh.

After a few months went by, I decided to revisit this, and begin the discussions May 2021

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of sunshine shimmered off the snuff jar as it was removed from the tattered box.

Dirty (as found), but the bottle made it unscathed. A true survivor!

The Pimlico Tobacco Works operated during the mid-19th century, out of the well-known 1790s Carroll Hunting Lodge. Original property owner Charles Carroll was one of the four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence, a member of the General Assembly, a United States Senator, and a very wealthy land owner. In 1857, Manuel Forsyth and Lewis Cole opened the Pimlico Snuff Mills & Tobacco Factory.

The great flood of 1868 destroyed most of the factory, and probably closed the tobacco business. Shards of this snuff jar have been excavated around Baltimore, but there are very few, if any, known perfect examples.

USPS Express package with glass enclosed.

This rare Baltimore survivor reminded me of another Baltimore survivor example, the “WALTERS & CO / BALTIMORE.” I have seen a couple of these bitters-type or whiskey-shaped bottles, and maybe only a half dozen good ones exist out there. This one was also found in the South, off the beaten path, in a junk shop, for a 99.9% discount. Yes, that would be for just a few dollars!

once again. This went on for a few more months, until I received a call from the president of the historical society, asking me if my offer was genuine, and how we might complete the transaction. A cashier’s check was sent and received, and the bottle was shipped via USPS Express, an “overnight” solution, ha!

Overnight turned into a week, and I was frantically contacting my postmaster for updates. Finally, he called me with good

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

news / bad news. “Good news, the package arrived. Bad news, you don’t want to see it. I would suggest sending it back.”

Well, I accepted the heavily damaged box and said a prayer for a Monday morning miracle. If the box was kicked all the way from Texas to New Hampshire, it would look better than it did! I was elated to see that the shipper had a box within the box, and the item was well-wrapped. In the middle of the post office parking lot, a ray

This one seems quite early, as it is open pontiled, lighter glass, and an earlier type sloping collared top. Ironically, one of the few other known examples was also discovered years ago in a junk shop in Virginia, also for a few dollars as well.

I acquired that one, and it was eventually sold, residing in the Meyers collection.

These bottles are quite important, especially regarding Baltimore history and culture.

William T. Walters, who lived in Baltimore, was educated as a civil engineer and

worked as a grain merchant, establishing himself in Baltimore as a liquor wholesaler. He eventually became interested in the coal and iron industry, and built his wealth through railroad investments.

Over the years, Walters became a major art collector and dealer. While abroad, Walters and his wife, Ellen, started acquiring works of art from artists, dealers and exhibitions throughout France, Switzerland, Italy and England.

William and Ellen began building the collection that would become the Walters Art Gallery. This gallery, now referred to as the Walters Art Museum, is still in operation today.

As a side note, I would recommend spending a little more attention to the packaging of your bottles or glass for shipment. The process has become a little unstable, and more packages are arriving late, and in some instances, damaged like this one was. If not for the “box within a box” packaging, this bottle (which might be the only whole example) would be in pieces. It has survived for 160-plus years through thick and thin. That is not going to change on my watch.

r Michael George earlyglass@gmail.com

D Recently discovered rare Baltimore survivors!

May 2021

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

A Dump of Epic Proportions Are you into the ‘mooood’ for a Holy Cow digging story?

By Eddie DeBlock

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ave you ever come up on one of those places — like a great dump — that really throws you back? Well, this is one of those places, where you never know what you’re going to find. We’ve all envisioned it, probably had dreams of what the ground grips beneath your feet. Gets your adrenaline flowing of the possibilities of finding that one-of-a-kind bottle or artifact.

This dump came to me on a tip from a good friend of mine, Joe Senese, aka the Train Man or Joey Train as fellow digger and frequent writer Ricky Weiner calls him. My first time arriving there was about four years ago. I was in awe of all the glass as far as you could see. At first, nothing spectacular, but patience and persistence would prove otherwise.

For the most part, the majority of what we dug were milk bottles from the ’teens, turn-of-the-century meds and pre-Prohibition beer bottles from a variety of brewers and pharmacies. As the weeks and months went by it got better. Soon enough, we were hitting the good stuff (to us anyways). Oddball things like porcelain bisque doll heads and blob top beers were popping out of the holes. This place was vast and old.

PHOTOS 1-3: W.W. & D. WESTON stoneware jug from Ellenville, N.Y., dug by Steve Cowles.

PHOTO 4: A NEW PARAGON fruit jar dug by James Stilson.

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Soon enough we would find out. I brought in a friend, James Stilson, aka Jimbo, and we got into some serious digging, sometimes spending the whole weekend away from our families in pursuit of treasure.

ABOVE: Sarasina Bitters dug by Eddie DeBlock.

Unmarked two-gallon stoneware dug by Eddie DeBlock.

Jimbo is a guy who may as well have a rabbit’s foot in his pocket all the time, but not that he didn’t earn that luck. We were finding good stuff together as well.

Nice early blob tops and Hutch bottles were almost commonplace at each dig.

We really couldn’t be in a better dump.

And just when you think you’ve found the oldest thing, BAMM! Something older pops out. Ahhh, the proverbial “latethrow” scenario. Ricky Weiner was the first to remind me of that. Great guy who I consider a friend, with a vast amount of knowledge. I respect his opinion, but this place would prove his theory wrong. Not right away, but over the next two years.

So I extended an invite to Ricky and his partner-in-crime, David the Badger Kern, and the stage was set.

The first time they arrived, Badger left with three huge backpacks filled with whatever you could think of. There were other diggers there and Ricky did more of a history talk than dig. Still, we persevered and I kept in contact with Ricky and Badger as well. Badger would make a few more visits over the next year or so and learn the potential of this place.

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

An ELECTRIC FRUIT JAR, dug by James Stilson.

The above piece of stoneware in the field.

ABOVE: Carmeliter Bitters dug by Eddie DeBlock.

Local blobs dug by Eddie DeBlock.

Now we were getting into the thick of things. Soon we were hitting bitters, Lash’s, Hostetters, then some scarce-to-rare Sarasina and Carmeliter bitters started coming out. Then, an array of rare fruit jars as well: Electric fruit jars, Millville Atmospherics, a Victory and a host of others. Holy Cow, it was like a dream that you never wanted to end! Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, it did.

Soon we were hitting some early stoneware. Crocks, whiskey jugs, jars and stoneware beers were starting to come out.

Not on every dig mind you, but often enough we were able to put a date on this dump. A lot of time and deep digging told the tale. As in Ricky’s article on “Pit Pirates” at Badger’s dump, we were soon faced with the same issue. Cherry pickers were invading the place. We were able to get that under control through a group effort without any issues. Respect your fellow diggers’ hard work and have some morals about you.

An amber Goshen N.Y. Coca-Cola dug by Eddie DeBlock.

A look at the back of the Goshen Coke bottle.

So we have a pretty tight-knit group now and kinda watch over each other’s pits.

Jimbo and I have taken turns in having surgeries and being laid up for months, so we’ve both missed out on some dig time the past year. Enter some new friends, some local, some a bit farther out: Steve Combes, Andy Givens, Eric Steincich (hope it is spelled right). And our new friends, Travis Wyant and Corey Wellings.

May 2021

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A group dig in October 2020. From left to right are: David Kern, Ricky Weiner, Steve Cowles, Eddie DeBlock and Andy Givens. In front is Travis Wyant, who filmed the dig for his Crick Diggers channel on YouTube.

This place holds many stately pieces, such as the early amber straight-side Coke from Goshen N.Y., a prize in itself (I have one of three that I know of, with Steve and Jimbo having the others). Every trip out is a new adventure for us in hopes of finding something new, and older than we’ve never seen before. Shards of openpontil medicines have surfaced here and there and a few iron-pontiled sodas, sandpontiled whiskies and turn molds as well.

It’s a very special place to dig, and only another digger would understand that.

Soon, though, the saga there may come to an end with land developers encroaching close to the borders of the dump. And there’s talk in the wind that it may be gone forever by mid-2021 and made into a park. But until that day comes, we strive to enjoy ourselves and our companions in the hopes of doing our part to preserve the history of this very special place.

r

James, aka “Jimbo,” Stilson at work deep in the hole.

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Dug by Jimbo at the Epic Dump, the partial label identifies it as a “Rutherford & Kay” brandy bottle.

A special thanks to John Panella, who has supported me and my finds over the past two years.

3rd Annual Northern Kentucky Bottle Show / Small Antiques

Sunday August 22nd 2021 Florence Lions Club 29 LaCresta Drive, Florence, KY 41042 Early Bird 8am $10.00 - Open to all 9:00 to 2:00 $3.00

Looking for vendors and buyers of antique bottles, advertising, small related antiques.

The show is perfect for those old bottles found in barns, basements, attics or old abandoned buildings. Come out and bring your bottles, do some buying, selling and trading!

Must be 18 or accompanied by an adult For vendor Information or other inquiries – Contact: Ed Morris: 859-414-4693 or email: ed@morristreasures.com Or Randy Deaton: email: nkyfinds@gmail.com

www.jeffnholantiquebottles.com

Always buying and selling quality bottles, flasks and early glass.

Please check back often - we are regularly updating the site with fresh material!

Jeff and Holly Noordsy jeffnhol@gmail.com May 2021

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Fruit Jar Rambles Extra

By Tom Caniff — Photos by Deena Caniff

WELLS, PROVOST & SPRATT John B. Wells established his pickling concern in 1841 in New York City. In 1841, he went into partnership with Ebenezer Miller to form Wells & Miller.

The company’s City Directory address in 1842 was listed as “Wells & Miller, pickles, 194 Water and 242 Front.”

A rolled-collared-mouth WELLS & MILLER N-Y square aqua pickle jar with beveled corners and a pontil-scarred base sold some time back at auction for $644, so they managed to produce at least one desirable piece for today’s collectors.

Three years later Stephen H. Provost entered the firm, now operating as Wells, Miller & Provost. In 1848, the July 15th NORTH-CAROLINIAN, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, described them as “Wells, Miller & Provost. 217 Front st. New York. manufacturers of every species of Pickles, Preserves, Jellies, Jams, Catsups, Sauces, Syrups, Cordials, Pastes, patent preserved fresh Meat, Fish, Vegetables, Fruits and importers of French and Spanish Olives, Capers, East and West India Condiments. &c &c.”

“Wells, Miller & Provosts (sic) Pickles, in quart half gallon and gallon jars” were reportedly a part of the stock of J. S. Dohan, of Rodney, Mississippi, who advertised in the July 14, 1852 SOUTHERN REVEILLE, of Port Gibson, Mississippi. No telling just what these pickle jars were, but Photo 1 shows one known 11” tall, aqua, round WELLS, MILLER & PROVOST pickle jar with fluted shoulders and a diamond design around the jar’s heel. The embossing lies between two encircling bands just below the shoulder.

PHOTO 1: WELLS MILLER & PROVOST pickle jar.

FIGURE A: Spratt's Fruit Can from patent drawing.

Then on Aug. 21, 1852, the NEW-YORK [New York] DAILY TRIBUNE published the following: “NOTICE. –– By the death of Mr. E. MILLER, on the 9th inst., the Copartnership under the name and firm of WELLS, MILLER & PROVOST was dissolved. The business of the late House will be continued by the subscribers from this date, under the name of WELLS & PROVOST. JOHN B. WELLS. STEPHEN H. PROVOST. New-York, Aug. 20, 1852.”

Wells & Provost decided in the early 1850s to extend Wells & Provost’s interests to the West Coast. To that end, Stephen H. Provost’s brother, Dan R. Provost, was dispatched to California.

The first West Coast ad found was in the May 25, 1853 SACRAMENTO [California] DAILY UNION; it reads, “Sole Agency For Wells & Provost’s Preserved Goods: The undersigned agent for Messrs.

Wells & Provost, New York City, offers to trade on the most liberal terms... D. R. Provost, 72 and 74 California st. below Battery, San Francisco.” The long list of goods “put up by that firm,” included “Preserved Fish, Preserved Fruit, Preserved Vegetables, Pickles, Catsups, Sauces, Jams and Jellies.”

Back east, on July 18, 1854, James Spratt, a Cincinnati, Ohio, lightning rod manufacturer, received his “Improvement In Hermetical Sealing” patent for “Preserve Canisters, which covered a screw-cap that sealed with a “gasket of gum-elastic” backed up by “cement,” or sealing wax.

James Spratt said in his 1854 patent that what he claimed as new and desired to secure by patent was: “The screw cap or cover and neck... provided with a gasket of gum-elastic or like substance at their inner junction, when this is combined with a trough for containing cement, around their outer junction, for the herMay 2021

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Fruit Jar Rambles Extra

By Tom Caniff — Photos by Deena Caniff

metical sealing or closing of preserve-canisters.” He suggested that the “cement” be a composition of beeswax, tallow and rosin. He said, “This process dispenses entirely with the soldering operation, so difficult to perform, and so liable to imperfection in the hands of an inexperienced operator.” Figure A shows Spratt’s patent drawing, with a metal screw cap fitted down over a threaded nozzle that extends upward from the can.

PHOTO 2: Spratt's cap conforming to his 1854 patent drawing.

PHOTO 3: Fruit tin with improved WELLS & PROVOST metal stopper.

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Spratt, the patentee, and Wells & Provost, the food merchants, came together somehow, and on April 24, 1855, Wells & Provost, 215 Front St., New York, advertised in the HARTFORD [Connecticut] COURANT for “A few good hands who understand soldering with the Blow Pipe.” And then on May 9, 1855, the PUBLIC LEDGER, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, reported, “Another Improvement –– We noticed recently an improvement in a self-sealing can for the preservation of fruits in a fresh condition... This is a patented improvement, and is used by Wells & Provost, of New York, in putting up their fruits and vegetables. It has a screw cap, which is easily turned with a wrench, which accompanies the can...”

One of the first, if not the first, of Spratt’s closures appears in the December 1994 “Granny Kath’s Kitchen” column, by Vivian Kath. It’s a regular skirted, heavy metal, screw-threaded cap that screws down into the wax trough, conforming with the drawing in Spratt’s Patent (Photo 2). It’s embossed WELLS & PROVOST PROPRIETORS, N.Y. around SPRATT’S PATENT JULY 18, 1854 in the center. Dick Roller, in his May 1996 FRUIT JAR NEWSLETTER, noted that “Along about 1855, the Spratt screw cap closure was replaced by a stopper closure.” (Photo 3)

Actually, the metal stopper on Wells & Provost’s can is described as “Improved,” in that instead of being a cap that screws onto a threaded nozzle, it screws into the mouth of the can which is cut and fashioned to engage threads on the outside of the bottom of the stopper. The top of the stopper is embossed WELLS & PROVOST PROPRIETORS, N. Y. around SPRATT’S PATENT JULY 18TH 54 IMPROVED; note the shortened 54 date and the designation IMPROVED (italics mine). The cap has two round, vertical lugs built into the top.

On June 11, 1855, an ad in the HARTFORD COURANT for “Spratt’s Patent Hermetical Self-Sealing Can” explained that “The ‘Genuine Self-Sealing Cans,’ have cast in letters on top of the cap, ‘Spratt’s Patent,’ ‘Wells & Provost, Proprietors, New York.’” Prices for the patented cans were $2.75 for a dozen quarts and $3.75 for a dozen Half-Gallon Cans.

The wrenches for opening the cans were 12 1/2¢ each.

Leybourne’s RED BOOK OF FRUIT JARS lists the different variations of Spratt’s fruit cans at $250 and up, depending on how badly a collector wants the particular Spratt’s variation. The cans range from, at least, scarce right up to rare in availability.

And therein lies the reason for this article.

Photo 4 shows a shiny-new, repro Wells & Provost Spratt’s can, with the improved stopper closure. This was purchased in 2012 from N.J. Sekela (www.njsekela. com) over the internet. Sold as one of their many reproduction Civil War go-withs, this shiny new can stands 5” tall, with a 4 3/16” base diameter, and its 2 1/2” diameter stopper is embossed SPRATT’S PATENT JULY 18TH 54 IMPROVED WELLS & PROVOST PROPRIETORS, N. Y., same as the orig-

Fruit Jar Rambles Extra

By Tom Caniff — Photos by Deena Caniff

inal. I can’t vouch for these measurements being exactly the same as the original can, but if they aren’t, I suspect that they’re very close. (Photo 5 shows a side view of the stopper, showing its round top posts, bottom threads, and black rubber gasket.)

Sekela assured the Civil War buffs and reenactors that the reproduction Spratt’s Improved Patent Can “is tested to be watertight, and carrying it in your knapsack should not be a point of concern.” The quart cans were priced at $30 each, very reasonable, especially if the repro stoppers will fit an original can found without a closure. (I’m honestly not sure if the repro stoppers will fit and original Spratt’s can or not.)

These repro cans were well made, although I do wonder about the weight of the repros compared to the original cans, which I suspect might be lighter.

Just be aware that they exist. If a repro can were aged properly it could be a problem to an unsuspecting collector. The company, last time I looked, was also offering some repro glass containers, including a JOSHUA WRIGHT cork-top, barrel jar.

It’s well worth a look just to know what’s out there. A little knowledge can save you a lot of money.

The Wells & Provost firm ceased to exist in 1863, as noted in the June 3rd NEW YORK [New York] TIMES of that year: “DISSOLUTION, –– THE COPARTNERSHIP heretofore existing between the subscribers under the name and firm of WELLS & PROVOST is, by mutual consent, this day dissolved. STEPHEN H. PROVOST will sign the name of the old firm in liquidation and settlement of all matters connected therewith, and will continue the Pickle, Preserve and Vinegar business in his own name at Nos. 215 and 217 Front-st. JOHN B. WELLS. STEPHEN H. PROVOST. New-York, May 30, 1863.”

Pickles continued to be marketed under the Wells & Provost name as late as April 1865, when the ATCHISON {Kansas] DAILY CHAMPION ran an ad for Lawson & Roberts, advertising, among other things, “Wells & Provost Pickles.” Last found mention of Stephen H. Provost’s food products was found in the report of the INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION 1876 REPORTS AND AWARDS, published in 1878, which listed under Reports On Awards –– “Stephen H. Provost, New York, U.S.A. Sauces. Report.–– Commended for –– 1. Good taste.

2. Cheapness.”

Thus, the Wells & Provost part of the story just kind of faded out, but the Spratt’s Improved can had one more variation. Photo 6 shows a version of the Improved can with a glass stopper, embossed SPRATT’S PATENT JULY 18. 1854 PAT’D APRIL 5 1864. Although Spratt didn’t mention a glass stopper in his 1854 patent, an April 5, 1864 patent issued to John F. Griffen of New York, did specify a glass stopper. Spratt’s July 18, 1854 patent had been assigned by Spratt to Griffin, and other than the glass stopper, which had oval top lugs, the details of Griffen’s 1864 preserve can were pretty much identical to Spratt’s 1854 can. Griffin’s glass stoppers have been reported in aqua glass as well as in clear.

D

PHOTO 4: Reproduction stopper-style WELLS & PROVOST fruit can.

PHOTO 5: Side view of WELLS & PROVOST Spratt's Improved stopper reproduction.

PHOTO 6: SPRATT'S PATENT can with glass stopper

May 2021

19

WANTED

Greer #s of the mint state #1265 United States Syrup #1685 United States Syrup #1383 Dr. Perkins’ Syrup #5 Arthurs Renovating Syrup #778 Halls / Palingenesia / Or Regenerator

Also non Greer bottles of the mint state Dr. C.W. Robacks Scandinavien Blood Purifier Cincinnati, O, IP

Write, Call or Email

John Keating P.O. Box 13255 Olympia, WA 98508 360-628-9576 johnkeating473@yahoo.com

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Subscribers -

Please don't forget to use your 60-Word FREE classified ad credit in the magazine.

Email, or "snail-mail" your ad to us!

Libby@AmericanGlassGallery.com P.O. Box 227 New Hudson, MI 48165

20

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

WANTED: Clarke’s Vegetable Sherry Wine Bitters, Sharon, Mass.

All bottle sizes & variants…pontil/smooth base. Also, ANY ephemera..newspaper ads, invoices, letterhead, etc.

THANK YOU. Charlie Martin Jr. 781-248-8620, or cemartinjr@comcast.net

**SPRING SPECIAL BOTTLE SHOW**

Friday, May 21st

Saturday & Sunday May 22nd and 23rd

Remember: Advertising doesn’t cost,

WANTED!

IT PAYS!

Coca-Cola Hutchinson bottles

A display ad this size costs only $35.00 for one month. What are you waiting for? Call us today!

Good condition preferred

Call: Luke Sresovich

904-764-7651

CORRECTIONS —

WANTED! "LITHIA NYE SPRINGS" WYTHEVILLE, VA

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector wants to correct mistakes appearing in our magazine. If you believe we have made a mistake, please call us at 248.486.0530, or e-mail us at: jpastor@americanglassgallery.com

Aqua with Standing Indian ½ gallon size I'm from Wytheville and really want this bottle. My family knew some of the Nye family! Will pay a "good price".

Larry Veneziano 27W115 Vale Rd. West Chicago, IL 60185 Email: LarryHH@Comcast.net

I would like to hear from anyone who has one, even if not for sale - thanks!

May 2021

21

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ADVERTISING

FOR SALE - SHOWS & SHOPS - WANTED - CLASSIFIED ADS

RATES

20 cents a word. 25 cents a word FOR BOLD TYPE. $3.00 minimum monthly charge. Each word, abbreviation, initial, and price count as one word.

AB&GC Magazine

All ads must be received by the 30th of the month for the next issue. Example: Ads received

by May 30th will be in the July issue. Copy should be typewritten, printed, or sent via e-mail. AB&GC will not be responsible for errors in an ad due to poor quality copy.

AB&GC reserves the right to refuse any advertising.

Phone: 248.486.0530 Fax: 248.486.0538 Email: jpastor@americanglassgallery.com

Near the deadline? FAX us your ad: 248.486.0538

Box 227 New Hudson, MI 48165-0227

Remember: Advertising doesn’t cost,

IT PAYS! A display ad this size costs only $30.00 for one month. What are you waiting for? Call us today!

For Sale d

All classified ads must be paid in advance.

DISPLAY ADS One column x 2 inches One column x 3 inches One column x 4 inches One-fourth page One-third page One-half page Two-thirds page Full page

1 time

3 times*

6 times*

$30.00 $35.00 $40.00 $65.00 $80.00 $120.00 $160.00 $250.00

$75.00 $90.00 $110.00 $180.00 $220.00 $330.00 $450.00 $675.00

$130.00 $180.00 $210.00 $340.00 $420.00 $630.00 $825.00 $1,300.00

Rates for longer periods available.Write, e-mail, or call.

Maximum copy size (full page) 7.5” X 10”. One column 2.3” wide. Two columns 5” wide.

Camera-ready copy preferred but not a requirement. One time $12.00 additional charge for photos.* *Consecutive issues with NO changes.

FELLOW COLLECTORS/DEALERS: Please, if at all possible, include a name and phone number with your advertisements.

Not everyone has a computer, and a physical address does help. Thank you for your consideration. 12/21

FOR SALE: (1) KD2 Extremely scarce Clear Poison Lewis Bear Drug Co Pensacola, FLA. Some Lip Chips, $225 (2) Hutch. Miller, Becker & Co. Cleveland Ohio, Deep Green, very nice, $95 (3) Buffalo Litha Water (Buffalo Springs VA.) Lt Green, nice, clean, nm $90 (4) Drakes Plantation Bitters 6-log, Amber, nm $195. PLUS SHIPPING. BILL HARRELSON, 843-855-0483, 4340 Hwy. 19, Conway SC 29526. 5/21

FOR SALE: John's Bottle Shop, McGraw NY 13101. Selling my collection of 55 years. Call for appointment only, please leave message. 607-745-1828. 5/21

FOR SALE: Extremely Rare 1890s Large 7" DP Coffin Shape Poison Bottle . . . KU-8.

There are less than ten known to exist at this size. Out of all that I've seen, this is the most beautiful. The way the color transitions from a sapphire blue to cobalt, it looks amazing.

Thank you! RALPH BRUNO, RalphBruno@ juno.com, Phone: 347-661-7131. 5/21

FOR SALE: 100 Year History of the J.C. Ayer Co. of Lowell, MA. Contains bottle dating guide, medical standards 1840-1906, advertising: trade cards, signs, pamphlets and more. Hardbound, 500 pages, and 750 color images. $49.95 plus $6.50 media shipping.

Purchase securely at: cliffhoyt.com OR mail check to CLIFF HOYT, 35 Showers Lane, Martinsburg, WV 25403.

6/21

FOR SALE: Old bottles for sale, All types.

Soda's, Beer's, Medicine, Fruit Jars, Bitters.

Nothing over $5. I would deliver if you are 200 miles or less from Red Wing, MN. Sorry, no lists. Call or text. 651-380-2698. 5/21

22

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

FOR SALE: Barrel shape Jar - O.P. 5" H. Rolled Lip, Clear glass, Perfect cond., embossed "Lovit Freres & Co. Bordeaux", $75 Also, Inks wanted. ED VOLUNGIS, 808-212-8639, Las Vegas, NV. 5/21

FOR SALE: Cobalt Phcy Bottle mint - 8 & 1/4 tall Purcell & Littlejohn - Physicist - Leesburg, VA. BILL SIMMS, 443-235-0114. 7/21

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Shows, Shops & Services d ANTIQUES ON FIRST - 919 FIRST ST. BENICIA, CA. When visiting the S.F. Bay Area or Napa Wine Country, be sure to stop in nearby historic downtown Benicia; a nationally designated small town “Main Street” with shops, restaurants and magnificent Bay views. Also location of the Gold Rush era brick State Capitol museum, Civil War Camel Barns military/ local museum, and legendary former waterfront Bottle Digging bonanza of the West (“Benicia Glass”, Balto torpedoes, cathedrals, sodas, bitters, pontiles).

ANTIQUES ON FIRST has a rotating selection of locally dug Bottles, Clocks, Militaria, Railroadiana, Art, Advertising and more. Open Wed thru Sun 12:00 (often earlier) to 5:30. 9/21 WE HAVE A GREAT BOTTLE SHOP 20 miles south of Santa Fe, New Mexico on the Turquoise Trail, Highway 14. We have rocks, gifts and bottles. We have the Cerrillos Turquoise Mining Museum, Trading Post and Cerrillos Petting Zoo. Come visit!

5/21 Every bottle has a story! MY WEBSITE, PRE-PROHIBITION WHISKEY MEN, has almost 800 of those stories. Look in sometime and learn the often fascinating details of the men and women behind those bottles and jugs. JACK SULLIVAN 5/21 www.BottleTreeAntiques.com specializing in SC Dispensary painted label sodas, advertising and primitive furniture. 1960 Mt. Lebanon Rd., Donalds SC 29638, 864-379-3479. 5/21 VISIT THE MUSEUM OF THE MOUNTAIN WEST, MONTROSE, CO to view one of the largest collections of embossed and labeled patent medicines in the U.S. museumofthemountains.org Phone: 970-240-3400. 6/21

THE NATIONAL BOTTLE MUSEUM is announcing our 2021 museum show taking place on the first Sunday in June.

Outdoor spots will again be available as well as indoor tables. Social distancing will be observed as well as masks, unless otherwise notified. Tables will be $40.00 and admission will be $5.00. Early admission is again at 8am and will be $15.00. Food will be available on the grounds, as well as free parking. We look forward to seeing everyone again, for a great time. If there is inclement weather shelter for outside dealers will be provided. Contact the museum at 518-885-7589.

6/21 THE CAPITAL REGION ANTIQUE BOTTLE CLUB has announced their show will take place in the summer instead of October. July 18th is the date we chose.

This will be an outdoor show with 25ft. spaces and ample parking. The show will be at the Mabee Farm along the Mohawk River, Exit 1 (rt.5s) off of 890. The cost per space will be $30.00. There will not be food but it can be procured if enough people want it. We hope to see you all there. Our contacts are: ADAM STODDARD, 518256-7663; email: acstoddard63@gmail. com, or: PHIL BERNNARD, 518-4297641; email: explomar@hotmail.com 7/21

Wanted d WANTED: Hobbleskirt embossed Coca-Cola bottles: 1915's, 1923's, D-Patent's 6oz's and 6 1/2 oz's. Collector will buy or trade. JIM GEORGES, georges77@twcny.rr.com or 315-662-7729.

7/21 WANTED: Better Albany N.Y. bottles and flasks, L.Q.C. Wisharts in rare colors / all variants. Guilderland, N.Y. Stoneware. DON KELLY, dmebottles@aol.com, Phone: 518365-3783. 12/21 WANTED: George Ohr Pottery Cabins.

Or Cabin Inks. BOB TERRY, 303-5692502, llterryualusa@yahoo.com 9/21

WANTED: EMBOSSED CURES WANTED: Including these pontils: Avery's, Benson's, Bernard's, Brown's, Bull's, Burt's, Cannon's, Flander's, Frambe's Geoghegan's, Hamilton's, Jacob's, Lay's, McAdoo's, McElroy's, Parham's, Rhodes' Prov. R.I., Rohrer's, Rudolph's, Star-in's, Stone's, Toledo, Woodman's. ALSO BIMALS: Anchor, Bavarian Bitters, Beesting, Bixler's, Bliss, Boot's Indigestion, Bowanee, Bower's, Bradford's, Bromo Mineral, Bronson's, Bull's (Baltimore), Carey's CholiCura, Clement's Certain (green), Collins' Opium (aqua), Cowan's Certain, Davis Indian, Detchon's Infallible, Edelweiss, Electrofluid, Ewer's Arcanum, Forest Pine (unpontiled), Francisco's, Frog Pond 8", Green's King's Cure, Large Handyside's (chocolate amber), Helmer's, Hilleman's, Hinderman's, Holden's (green), Hungarian, Indian Mixture, JBF, Kauffman Phthisis, Keeley's (opium, neurotine, solution), Large Kellum's, Kid-Nee-Kure, Lenape's, Lindley's, Long's Malaria, Loryea (green), Marsden, McConnon Cough, Amber McLean's (8"), Miniotti's (clear), Morning Glory, Murphy K & L. Pageapfel's, Park's (clear), Peck's, Pennock's, Peterman's (green), Rattail, large River Swamp, Scott's (bird), Streetman's, Tremaine's, Vosburgh, Wadsworth (goat), Warner's K & L Rochester (green, aqua, clear), Wildwest, Wilkinson's, Wilson Footrot, Winan's (no Indian), York Corn Cure. Looking for many others, especially embossed with label, contents, box. Also would like data on unlisted cures for future Cure Book. JOHN WOLF, ohcures@yahoo. com, 937-275-1617, 1186 Latchwood Ave., Dayton, OH 45405.

2/22 WANTED: U.S.A. Hospital Dept. and any pre-1866 embossed food bottles, mustards, early Baltimore, Wheeling, D.C., Alexandria sodas, beers (stoneware or glass) damage free.

BRUCE, cwaddic@yahoo.com, Phone: 703-307-7792. 12/21 WANTED: Stoneware from Buckhannon, Weston & Jane Lew, West Virginia. DON HENDERSON, buckantmal@aol.com Phone: 304-266-5523. 5/21 May 2021

23

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WANTED: Clevenger North American Log Cabin Commemoratives GVII-25-A GVII-25-I and GVII-25-Q Clevenger Commemoratives GVII-16-A GVII-16-C and GVII-16-E. Phone or write. STEVE GRAY, 440-279-8381, 7533 Clay St., Thompson, OH 44086.

6/21 WANTED: BUYING Pre-Pro etched & amp; embossed beer brewery glasses; whiskey shot glasses; pre-pro brewery mugs, steins including souvenir steins mugs; souvenir china; old advertising material: signs, trays, mirrors, saloon material; back bar whiskey bottles; other early American bottles, flasks, bitters, especially from Kentucky. PAUL VanVACTOR, Phone: 502-533-2693, email: pvanvactor@aol.com P.O. Box 221171, Louisville, KY 40252-1171.

WANTED: Harley bottles of West Chester, Pa. and Philadelphia, Pa. The West Chester bottles (3) display either J. Harley, James Harley or E.M. Harley. The Phila. Bottles (3) display Edwd. Harley, Schul (Schuylkill) 4th & Market St., Philada or E. Harley, 802 Market St. or E. Harley, West Market St. These bottling business operated in the late 1840s through the early 1880s. BOB HARLEY, rwh220@Yahoo.com, Phone: 215-721-1107.

12/21 WANTED: San Pedro, California bottles and tokens. ERIC KLEPL, ekmail66@gmail.com, 707-499-2459. 5/21 WANTED: BALL PERFECTION No. 2 glass lid. FATHER PATRICK WILHELM, 973-986-3974. 5/21 WANTED: OWL DRUG bottles, tins, boxes, paper, anything from the Owl Drug Company. MARC LUTSKO, Email: letsgo@montanasky.net, 406-293-6771, Box 97 Libby, MT 59923.

1/22 WANTED: Chester Co. PA colored squats/ sodas, C.F. Brown Phoenixville, Josh. Scott Downingtown, Stolen from Samuel Pugh (Avondale), J. Dowdall (Avondale) blue mugbase. MARK SPANGLER, mspanglr@ yahoo.com, 610-247-3270.

5/21

24

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

WANTED: Pineapple Bitters (P-100), pontiled only. W & Co, in all the colors of the rainbow!! Need golden amber, lemon yellow, grass green and olive amber. Also, J. C. & Co., in colors. PERFECT CONDITION ONLY. Thank you!

Hawkeye751@outlook.com, 415-518-4124, leave message. 5/21 WANTED: South Carolina Bottles Especially SC Dispensaries and Early Crown. Also Lightning Rod items. JOHN, rustycann@ mindspring.com 5/21 WANTED: GIV-35 Masonic Flask. CHUCK BUKIN, 1325 Cypress Drive Richardson, Texas 75080-4721.

6/21 WANTED: Glass Lid (insert) and Zinc Ring for Quart Ball Fruit Jar (BBGMCo.) RB #195-1. Will buy insert, ring or both. MIKE BEARDSLEY, casketeer@aol.com, 315-3455094. 6/21 WANTED: Attention Diggers! The SW Bottle and Jar Spa is looking to buy Hutchinson Stoppers to restore. Stoppers must have all their metal and we pay $1.00 bounty for each usable stopper plus your shipping costs. Contact us! cactusjoe@ swbottleandjarspa.com, 4511 N. Arbor Way, Buckeye, AZ 85396. 5/21 WANTED: New Jersey Sodas, New Jersey Picture Beers and Hutches, Hunterdon and Somerset County Bottles, Red or Milk Glass Violin Bottles. RAY BUCH, 908-735-5014.

5/21 WANTED: "Dr. Fahnestock's Vermifuge" pontiled bottles that I don't have. Especially the error bottle with the upside-down F and backwards N. Also interested in unusual Fahnestock or McLane's Vermifuge pontiled bottles with embossing errors, odd colors, flared lips or labels. ZACK BAER, zackbaer5014@gmail.com 724-549-6739.

5/21 WANTED: In search of bottles from Bennington County VT. JIM CHATTERTON, vtdigger05262@yahoo.com 6/21

WANTED: Rare Figural Bitters, Rare American & English Poisons, Scents & Colognes, Small Pontiled Medicines. BOB BARBOUR, bwbcsr@gmail.com, Phone: 913-248-1478.

6/21 WANTED: Colored Illinois and Missouri Sodas. Also Colored Fruit Jars. Top $$$ Paid. Call, text or email. STEVE KEHRER, kehrer00@gmail.com, 618-410-4142. 3/23 WANTED: Soda Henry C. Hall Manchester, N.H. RAYMOND TROTTIER, 603-9343839, Flaghole Road, Franklin, NH 03235.

6/21 WANTED: Bottles - Especially Milk Bottles - from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and surrounding towns, including Highspire (Highspire Whiskey Bottles), Middletown, and Steelton. CHARLES KIHM, 717-9390288.

5/21 WANTED: Looking to improve my collection of Painted Label Sodas. Want ACL's with nice graphics, not name only lettered bottles. Write, call or email. ROD KRUPKA, rod.krupka@yahoo.com, 248627-6351, 2641 Echo Lane, Ortonville, MI 48462.

5/21 WANTED: ISO ILLINOIS RT 66 BOTTLES showing name clearly -- Berwyn, Plainfield, Countryside, Willowbrook, Romeoville, Elwood, Godley, Odell, Cayuga, Chenoa, Ocoya, Lexington, Towanda, Normal, Shirley, Funks Grove, McLean, Atlanta, Lawndale, Broadwell, Elkhart, Williamsville, Sherman, Springfield, Glenarm, Divernon, Famersville, Waggoner, Mt Olive, Livingston, Hamel, Mitchell, Granite City, Madison, Fairmont, Venice, Chatham, Auburn, Thayer, Girard, Nilwood, Benld. smkpromo@yahoo.com Hudsonville, MI. 5/21 WANTED: Williamsport PA bottles embossed or labeled, Dr. Porter medicines, Towando PA, Minnequa Springs Canton PA, Danville PA squats, Rohr McHenry jugs Benton PA. Advanced collector looking for the best. BOB KANE, 570-220-5982. 5/21

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WANTED: Hello all! As V.P. for the National Bottle Museum, we are looking for some bottles for a display to complete our 50 state map. They are N. Carolina, N. Dakota, New Mexico and Alaska. No ABM's. Blobtops, hutches, or lightning stoppers. We can purchase if necessary. P. BERNNARD, Phone: 518-429-7641.

5/21

WANTED: FRUIT JARS. Collect rare pints, unusual closures and colored jars. Looking for cobalt blue Canton Domestic, J.C. Baker pint, Peerless pint and sale sample jars. Need closure for A.E. Bray, small mouth Trademark Advanced pint, Commodore and Flaccus brands. JERRY IKEDA, ikeda.jerry@gmail. com, 916-424-7204. 6/21

WANTED: Tennessee Blob Top Beers. Top Price Paid. TERRY WILLIAMS, Phone: 931-389-0425, PO Box 129 Wartrace, Tenn.

37183.

5/21

WANTED: Interested in bottles and memorabilia from the Dotterweich Dunkirk and Olean, New York Breweries. Top prices paid for bottles, equipment, advertising and ephemera. DREW, 678-523-5482. 6/21

WANTED: Any bottles from S.C. especially sodas, medicines or blob top beer bottles.

VIC SVENDSEN, 843-270-4624. 5/21 WANTED: Advertising Signs made by Wells & Hope, Philadelphia or Tuchfarber of Cincinnati. JOHN O'NEILL, 650-6198209, joneill@risk-strategies.com 5/21 WANTED: Common Pontiled Medicines.

Also any good condition Wisconsin Medicines. And Original Midget Fruit Jar Lids. LEE BERNARD, Bernard Antiques@ core.com Phone: 262-677-2789. 5/21 WANTED: Saratoga Type Mineral Waters, Rare molds and off colors. JEFF ULLMAN, jullman@nycap.rr.com, 518-925-9787. 5/21 WANTED: Historical Flasks - one or a collection. MATT LACY, mlacy28@yahoo. com, Phone: 440-228-1873. 6/21 WANTED: Warner Safe Bottles and gowiths. Buy-Sell-Trade. MIKE & KATHIE CRAIG, 408-591-6511. 6/21 WANTED: Looking for Mason Jars, Fruit Jars, Lids, inserts, etc. Please email me.

AtoZbottles@gmail.com 6/21 WANTED: Syracuse Syracuse Syracuse Syracuse Syracuse Syracuse - J.F. Barker / Syracuse, H. Lakes Indian Specific Soule's Pills / Syracuse, Mariah Mellen / Spafford NY. If you have one of these bottles you just might be able to retire early! Please call. ED KANTOR, 315-706-5112. 6/21

WANTED: FRUIT JARS and CLOSURES. I buy-sell-trade all scarce and rare jars, lids, metal parts. Strong prices paid. Currently looking for unusual closure jars - especially pints, colored Mason 1858s. Need Peerless pint, Lafayette Profile pint, Keystone iron ring pint, any Keystone jars in colors. DAVE EIFLER, EIFLERS@comcast.net, 269-3621302, Buchanan, Michigan. 6/21 WANTED: Onions, blobs, codd bottles, soda's and beers, Antiques, Unusual collectibles. JOANNE, Phone: 269-9301200, rollingron81@gmail.com 6/21 WANTED: Embossed bottles and colorful advertisements with the name RATHJEN. Some are: Rathjen Wine Merchants, Rathjen Mercantile Co. S.F. Cal. Also any info. on the owners between 1883-1915. Even if items are not for sale. Please call or write. No texts, no internet. LES RATHJEN, 701-301-9483, 408 N. 2nd Street, #8 Bismarck, ND 58501.

6/21 WANTED: Bennett Pieters & Co / 21 River Street / Chicago, in olive green. Also wanted, One Quart / You Bet / Jewet & Ely / Omaha.

LANSON RECKNOR, 308-940-0370. 6/21 WANTED: Anything from Hightstown or Cranbury New Jersey that I might not have. Rue Bottles, especially a M.A. RUE. Silvers bottles or tins etc. KEVIN KYLE, bottlediggerKev@aol.com, 609-209-4034.

7/21

WANTED: McHenry Bros Whiskey, Shamokin, PA crocks. M. Markle's Eagle Run Brewery Shamokin, PA. Trays, Signs, Glasses, Bottles. Fuhrmann & Schmidt Brewing Company Pre Pro items, trays, bottles, etc.

Thos Maher crocks, Shamokin, Feldhoff Zimmerman, Feldhoff & Co. crocks, bottles.

C. YODER, su76@ptd.net, 570-898-5553.

6/21 WANTED: "Artesian Bottling Works, Mont(a)zuma (sic), Ga.", crown top. Also, any bottle embossed "Oglethorpe, Ga." JIMMY BRAY, landrut60@gmail.com, Phone: 478-952-6706. 7/21 WANTED: Seeking bottles and advertising from Avon, New York. Bottles in many categories - milks, bitters, Saratogas, cures, druggists, beer, soda, etc. Especially looking for a REXALL bottle from F.H. Cooper The Rexall Store - Avon, N.Y. Also, half pint strap side flasks in colors I don't have. JIM BARTHOLOMEW, barthology@frontiernet. net, 585-705-8106.

7/21 WANTED: Galveston and Houston, Texas pharmacy, medicine, soda and beer bottles as well as any stoneware. Also, New Hampshire pharmacy bottles, soda bottles, stoneware jugs and crocks, medicine bottles, and beer bottles. Seeking any US Lighthouse Service or US Life Saving Service items as well.

BRANDON DeWOLFE, brandondewolfe@ hotmail.com, 713-247-9555. 6/21 WANTED: Blobtops, Hutches, jugs, flasks from Hazleton, Freeland, Audenried, Sheppton, Weston, Nuremberg, Hopeville, Seiwelsville, Yorktown, Weatherly, Shenandoah, Tamaqua, Summit Hill, Ashland, Eckly, Girardville, Locust Gap, Silver Brook Station. Also looking for 19381939-1940-1941 Ford Truck Parts! TED KAPES, 570-788-2158.

6/21 WANTED: Pontiled Sarsaparilla Bottles of quality condition. Email or call. dumondmd55@gmail.com, 207-607-0058.

7/21 May 2021

25

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WANTED: Pontiled medicines from Midwestern states & Louisville. SCOTT GARROW, 630-450-2524. 7/21

WANTED: Thanks for the memories. 65 years collecting. "God Bless The Hobby" SONNY HOWELL. 5/21

WANTED: Any New Bedford (MA) Bottles, Stoneware, Trade Cards, 1. Brownell & Brownell & Wheaton Cobalt Sodas, Charley Ross Bottles. RON TETRAULT, arjaytee777@gmail.com, 508-999-0275. 7/21

WANTED: Amazon Bitters, Liquor Bottles from Utica, NY. PETER McQUADE, 802695-3393.

7/21

WANTED: 26-Ogival Stiegel bottle. JAMES DUGUID, 540-937-4727. 7/21 WANTED: Harpers Ferry or Charlestown West Virginia bottles or go withs. Also Brunswick Maryland and Loudoun County Virginia bottles. I have bottles for sale or trade. fitzh20s@aol.com, 703-929-8144. 6/21 WANTED: HG 'Clyde Mason's Improved' RB-622; mason's base embossed = 'E.R. & CO. 1' RB-1879-1; 'MS (S W)' RB - 1888-1 paying book price; Paper goods and bottles of 'Fire Grenade Extinguishers' (buying/selling); Clyde Glass Works, Clyde NY items; any size aqua OP / smooth base 'Klinks Nerve And Bone Elixer.' CHARLIE BETTS, 315-5879614, cpb55@rochester.rr.com 6/21 WANTED: Old metal signs in excellent condition. Whiskey, Beer, Tobacco etc.

Beautiful graphics. Porcelain and tin just as good. ED, 530-795-0360.

7/21 WANTED: Jar Lid for Cohansey 2 1/2 Gallon R.B. #628. EDDIE DeHAVEN, 609-390-1898, 23 W. Golden Oak Lane Marmora, NJ 08223. 8/21 WANTED: For research project: Two Vermont drugstore bottles: Dr. W.S. Nay / Underhill, VT. and Jericho Drugstore / Jericho, VT. Mint condition, please. DON FRITSCHEL, donfritschel@gmail.com, 970-477-4643.

7/21 WANTED: L. Brownell Cobalt Blue pontiled New Bedford Soda. Nice, clean example, no ground staining, chips or cracks please. I am NOT a dealer and wish to add to my personal collection. scorey291@comcast.net 6/21

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

WANTED: Washington County, MD bottles ARLIE GIFFT, 301-432-6473.

7/21 WANTED: For Collection: Pre-1880 Albany NY bottles and flasks, also related ephemera, broadsides, labels, etc. BUYING FOR RESALE: a wide range of North American historical paper, advertising and ephemera, e.g. broadsides, pamphlets, trade catalogs, travel brochures, maps, manuscript items, pre-1880 newspapers, sheet music, etc.

PETER LUKE, 518-756-6492.

6/21 WANTED: Looking to buy rare and unusual pint fruit jars. Top dollar paid. DAVE, dbrown3950@comcast.net 6/21

D CORRECTIONS — Antique Bottle & Glass Collector wants to correct mistakes appearing in our magazine. If you believe we have made a mistake, please call us at 248.486.0530, or e-mail us at: jpastor@americanglassgallery.com

Remember: Advertising doesn’t cost,

IT PAYS! A display ad this size costs only $30.00 for one month. What are you waiting for? Call us today!

Show CALENDAR MAY 2

MAY 22 & 23

JUNE 20 (Rain date June 27)

EAST WINDSOR, NEW JERSEY

ADAMSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

UPTON, MASSACHUSETTS

New Date! New Location! The New Jersey Antique Bottle Club (NJABC), 25th Annual Show & Sale, (9 AM to 2 PM) at the Kyle Family Farm, 831 Windsor Perrineville Road, East Windsor, NJ 08520. Come join the fun!

For contracts please email: bottlediggerkev@ aol.com; Other questions - please call JOHN LAWREY: 973.222.7635.

New, Special Spring Shupp's Grove Bottle Festival, (Sat. & Sun. 6 AM to dusk, early buyers Friday, 3 PM), at the famous 'Shupp's Grove', 607 Willow Street, Reinholds, PA 17569.

Info: STEVE GUION, PH: 717.626.5557, or: 717.371.1259, Email: affinityinsurance1@ windstream.net

The Little Rhody Bottle Club Show & Sale, (Admission 8AM to 2PM), outdoors in the front parking lot of the Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional High School, 65 Pleasant Street, Upton, MA (Exit 21B off 495). Tables will be provided. Info: WILLIAM ROSE, 508.880.4929; Email: sierramadre@comcast. net

JUNE 6

MAY 8

BALLSTON SPA, NEW YORK

JUNE 26

MANSFIELD, OHIO

The National Bottle Museum presents the Annual Saratoga Springs Show & Sale, (9 AM to 2:30 PM; early adm. 8 AM, $15), at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds, 4H building, 162 Prospect St, Ballston Spa, NY. Adm. $5, Children 12 and under free. Info: NATIONAL BOTTLE MUSEUM, 76 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, NY 12020. PH. 518.885.7589; Email: info@nationalbottlemuseum.org.

TULSA, OKLAHOMA

The Ohio Bottle Club’s 42nd Mansfield Antique Bottle & Advertising Show & Sale, (9 AM to 2 PM, early buyers Friday 3 to 6 PM, $35), at the Richland County Fairgrounds, Mansfield, OH. Adm. $5. Info: MATT LACY, PH: 440.228.1873, Email: info@antiquebottlesales.com; or LOUIS FIFER, 330.635.1964, Email; fiferlouis@yahoo.com Website: www. ohiobottleclub.org

JUNE 12

MAY 15

CAMBRIDGE CITY, INDIANA

RICHMOND, RHODE ISLAND

Cambridge City Jar & Antique Show, (9 AM to 3 PM, dealer set-up 7:00 AM), outdoors at Crietz Park, 150 N. Foote St, Cambridge City, IN. Info: MARTY TROXELL, PH. 765.478.3800.

The Little Rhody Bottle Club tailgate swap meet, (9AM to 2PM) at the Jules Antique Center, 320 Kingstown Road, Richmond, Rhode Island (3 miles East of Route #95 on Route #138). Free set up for all! Bring your own tables. Info: WILLIAM ROSE, 508.880.4929; Email: sierramadre@comcast.net MAY 16 WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA Washington County Antique Bottle Club 47th Annual Show & Sale, (9 AM to 2 PM), at the Alpine Star Lodge, 735 Jefferson Ave., Washington, PA 15301. Adm. $3. Info: ED KUSKIE, 352 Pineview Dr., Elizabeth, PA 15037. PH: 412.405.9061, email: bottlewizard@comcast.net

JUNE 19 JOHNSTON, IOWA The Iowa Antique Bottleers 51st Annual Antique Bottle & Collectibles Show and Sale, (8 AM to 2 PM; Early buyers 6 AM), at the Johnston Lions Club, 64th Place and Merle Hay Road, Johnston, IA. Adm. $2, Children Free. Info: MARK WISEMAN, 3305 Sheridan Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50301.

PH: 515.344.8333, or JOYCE JESSEN, PH: 515.979.5216.

The Tulsa Antiques & Bottle Club 43rd Annual Antique Advertising and Bottle Show, (8AM to 4PM; Dealer set-up 10AM to 6PM Friday, and 6 to 8AM Saturday), at the Tulsa Flea Market in the River Spirit Expo Building, Tulsa Fairgrounds at 21st St. and Pittsburgh Avenue. Free Adm! Info: HENRY TANKERSLEY, PH: 918.663.3218, Email: henrytankersley@gmail.com, or: RICHARD CARR, PH: 918.687.4150 or 918.616.3273, Email: privy1964@yahoo.com JULY 17 RICHMOND, RHODE ISLAND The Little Rhody Bottle Club tailgate swap meet, (9AM to 2PM) at the Jules Antique Center, 320 Kingstown Road, Richmond, Rhode Island (3 miles East of Route #95 on Route #138). Free set up for all! Bring your own tables. Info: WILLIAM ROSE, 508.880.4929; Email: sierramadre@comcast.net JULY 17 & 18 ADAMSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA The 21st Annual Shupp's Grove Summer Bottle Festival, (Sat. & Sun. 6 AM to dusk, early buyers Friday, 3 PM), at the famous 'Shupp's Grove', 607 Willow Street, Reinholds, PA 17569. Info: STEVE GUION, PH: 717.626.5557, or: 717.371.1259, Email: affinityinsurance1@windstream.net

May 2021

27

Show CALENDAR JULY 18 ROTTERDAM JUNCTION, NEW YORK New date, New location! The Capital Region Antique Bottle Club outdoor Show & Sale, at the Historic Mabee Farm along the Mohawk River, 1100 Main Street, Rotterdam, NY (exit 1, Rt. 5S off 890). Info: ADAM STODDARD, PH: 518.256.7663; Email: acstoddard63@ gmail.com, or: PHIL BERNNARD, PH: 518.429.7641; Email: explomar@hotmail.com AUGUST 6 & 7 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK FOHBC 2021 National Antique Bottle Show, OnCenter Civic Center, Syracuse, N.Y. View and download info. packet & contract at fohbc.org. Additional info: JIM & VAL BERRY, Email: jhberry10@yahoo.com, or: JIM BENDER, Email: jbender@millservicesinc. com. FOHBC National Show – Eastern Region.

AUGUST 15 POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK Hudson Valley Bottle Club 34th Annual Mid Hudson Bottle Show & Sale, (9AM to 2:30PM, early buyers 8AM), at the Poughkeepsie Elks Lodge 275, 29 Overocker Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY. Info: MIKE STEPHANO, 27 Rogers Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538, PH. 845.233.4340; Email: mjsantique@aol.com AUGUST 16 – 22 BOUCKVILLE, NEW YORK 50th Annual Madison-Bouckville Antique Show, outdoor antiques and collectibles including two huge bottle tents! Over 2,000 dealers and vendors located on scenic Route 20, Bouckville, NY. Info: JIM BURNS, 315.527.3269 or JIM BARTHOLOMEW, 585.705.8106.

AUGUST 22 FLORENCE, KENTUCKY New Location! 3rd Annual Northern Kentucky Antique Bottle & Small Antiques Show, (9AM to 2PM; Early Bird, 8AM, $10) at the Florence Lions Club, 29 LaCresta Drive, Flor-

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

ence, KY. Adm. $3. Info: ED MORRIS, PH: 859.414.4693; email: ed@morristreasures. com, or: RANDY DEATON, email: nkyfinds@gmail.com AUGUST 28 BRIMFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS New date, New Location! 51st Annual Somers Antique Bottle Club Show & Sale, (9AM to 2PM) at the Brimfield Auction Acres, 35 Main Street, Brimfield, MA. Adm. $5 (Free parking). Info: DON DESJARDINS, 22 Anderson Rd., Ware, MA 01082. Ph: 413.687.4808, Email: dondes@comcast.net SEPTEMBER 11 & 12 ADAMSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA Special Shupp's Grove Fall Bottle Festival, (Sat. & Sun. 6 AM to dusk, early buyers Friday, 3 PM), at the famous 'Shupp's Grove', 607 Willow Street, Reinholds, PA 17569.

Info: STEVE GUION, PH: 717.626.5557, or: 717.371.1259, Email: affinityinsurance1@ windstream.net SEPTEMBER 18 RICHMOND, RHODE ISLAND The Little Rhody Bottle Club tailgate swap meet, (9AM to 2PM) at the Jules Antique Center, 320 Kingstown Road, Richmond, Rhode Island (3 miles East of Route #95 on Route #138). Free set up for all! Bring your own tables. Info: WILLIAM ROSE, 508.880.4929; Email: sierramadre@comcast.net

SEPTEMBER 26 BALTIMORE, MARYLAND Rescheduled from March! The Baltimore Antique Bottle Club's 41st Annual Show & Sale, (9 AM to 3 PM), at the Physical Education Center, CCBC-Essex, 7201 Rossvile Blvd. (I-695, Exit 34), Rosedale, MD. Info: Show Chairman RICK LEASE, 410-4589405, email: finksburg21@comcast.net. For contracts, call: ANDY AGNEW, 410-5271707 or email: medbotls@comcast.net.

Website: baltimorebottleclub.org.

OCTOBER 23 MACUNGIE, PENNSYLVANIA New Date - New Location! Forks of the Delaware Bottle Collectors Association 47th Annual Show & Sale (9AM to 2PM, early buyers 7:30 AM), at the Macungie Park Hall, Macungie, PA, Info: BILL HEGEDUS, PH: 610.264.3130; email: forksofthedelawarebottles@hotmail.com.

JULY 28 - AUGUST 1, 2022 RENO, NEVADA FOHBC 2022 National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo, Grand Sierra Resort & Casino. Information: RICHARD SIRI, email: rtsiri@sbcglobal.net, or FERDINAND MEYER V, email: fmeyer@fmgdesign.com.

FOHBC National Convention – Western Region.

SEPTEMBER 19 CHEEKTOWAGA, NEW YORK The Greater Buffalo Bottle Collectors Association 22nd Annual Show and Sale, (9:00 AM to 2:00 PM), at the Polish Falcons Hall, 445 Columbia Avenue, Depew, NY. Info: TOM KARAPANTSO, 716.487.9645, email: tomar@stny.rr.com, or: PETER JABLONSKI, 716.440.7985, email: peterjablonski@roadrunner.com; or JOE GUERRA, 716.207.9948, email: jguerra3@ roadrunner.com

ATTENTION READERS: Due to COVID-19 precautions, a number of upcoming bottle shows have been postponed or cancelled. Please check with local show chairperson to see if your favorite shows are affected.

We will have further updates in future issues as new information becomes available. Thanks.

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Subscribers -

Please don't forget to use your 60-Word FREE classified ad credit in the magazine.

Email, or "snail-mail" your ad to us!

Libby@AmericanGlassGallery.com P.O. Box 227 New Hudson, MI 48165

Join us August 16th - August 22nd at New York State’s largest antique show,

Madison-Bouckville, NY, on scenic Rt. 20 Dealers - Buyers - Friends Collectors What do we sell and collect?

Bottles and milk bottles, stoneware, advertising, kitchen collectibles, political, furniture, antiques, just about everything!

What do we expect?

For all to have a good time, for you to come and converse, buy from, sell to, with some of the most knowledgeable bottle and antique collectors in the area.

How many days do I have to set up?

Set up 1 day, set up 7 days... whatever works for you!

For table information, contact: Jim Burns: 315-527-3269, or Jim Bartholomew: 585-705-8106

May 2021

29

The Queen of Snuff Jars?

Written by Ralph Finch, Janet’s assistant

J

Our new snuff, with its … stopper? Was this originally on the jar 200 years ago? And a downer: The jar turned out to have been coated with un-described … shellac? That wouldn’t have happened at an American glass auction site.

And Janet has become an international buyer. It sure wasn’t an easy purchase, but on March 13 a nice item just arrived on our porch, so I can now finish the story.

Snuff boxes, indeed. In more shapes than most people could imagine. One of our favorites was Lot 9: “An unusual 18th/ early 19th-century carved fruitwood Mating Frogs snuff box. The pair in ‘intimate’ pose embellished with punchwork and inset with bone eyes. The base lid on brass shaped hinge engraved with initials, 3” (7.5 cm) in length.” It (they?) sold for £2,500 ($3,480).

Many months ago, at Wilkinson’s auctioneers in Doncaster, England, we found this (edited) listing for 208 items “from the collection of Graham Cutts.” It included some rare and very interesting pieces, like snuff boxes, miniature weighing scales, Welsh love spoons, etc.

Lot 15: A rare 19th-century boxwood snuff box carved as “Martha Gunn” depicted wearing a bonnet, she sat on a barrel with a goblet in one hand and flagon in the other. The figure mounted on a hinged silver hallmarked base forming the lid, 4 inches.

anet Finch picked up her first snuff jar a year ago, and it quickly became an addiction. At the moment, she has 26 of them, thanks to several U.S. dealers. She calls them her “virus collection.”

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

For us, the key item was Lot 151: “An 18th-century dark green, hand-blown glass shop jar with original lead-covered cork bung. The square body with painted label ‘Snuff’ to one side, 5¾ inches high.”

In this modern world, getting things from “across the pond” is doable. But, it’s no longer just a hop, skip and a jump.

Here is the challenge. So, last Feb. 27, on Invaluable, which lists hundreds of auction sites, we set our alarm for 3:45 a.m. so that we could get on our computer to bid on our favorite items.

Mistake No. 1: We miscalculated the time in England, and arrived at the auction an hour before it opened. More coffee, more

Three great Taddy items, found on the internet.

toast, and more chatting about what we hoped the snuff would go for.

large 17th-century mortar. The list went on and on.

Mistake No. 2: Who knew there were so many wooden snuff collectors.

I could have looked up what some of these odd things are, but I want you to feel as ignorant as I am.

With toast on our fingers, and bait on our breath, the auction began. Even though there were a few hundred lots in the auction, at about one a minute, we had to pay attention, as the auction roared along like peas in a mush! (Sorry, bad mushy peas reference.)

And a bonus. Along with unusual snuffs, we discovered other strange things that people collected, which were certainly unusable (to us), such as: A “Mangle Board gouge,” a German springerle, a Scottish oval ash kneeler, an 18th century French vine worker’s knife, a combined snuff grater/snuff box, a spinning wheel distaff, a goosewing knitting sheath (actually, there were many knitting sheaths!), and many stay busks(?), many 18th-century fancy hand-carved apple corers, several 19thcentury seam rubbers, and oak quaich, a toasting fork, an 18th-century “willow lamhog with integral handle,” a combined spice box and nutmeg grater, a

Other favorites or ours included: Lot 16: “A 19th century Scottish carved treen table snuff purported to have been carved by The Blind Man of Ayrshire.”

(If you have to ask, it’s out-of-sight for you, price-wise.)

Lot 50: A Welsh panel inscribed “1614 Am Hynnu Gwylia.” The Welch language is … challenging. My Welsh grandmother spoke it, but my mother only learned a few naughty words.

Lot 96: A wood snuff whale marked “F.J.L.” and “Nantucket, 1851,” with bone eyes and teeth, a bit over four inches long. We wanted that, but it went for a whale of a price — £3,100 ($4,316 U.S. plus commission) and the Finches got blown out of the water.

Lot 134 was a pretty rat that cut the cheese for another £3,100. (“It was a gorgeous rat,” Janet mooned. (And she says that I am strange.)

We liked a wooden snuff (Lot 53) in the shape of a book, dated “1791,” but the book slammed shut on us for £480.

And Lot 151? Estimated at £80-£120 (U.S. 110-167), with an opening bid of £50. The closing price to Janet? £850 plus 27 percent buyer’s commission, plus shipping. That’s $1,478. Sigh.

England’s John Ault responded to our new snuff. “What a lovely piece, so full of character. Got to be a rare thing, hope it didn’t drain your coffers too much! I’ve only one snuff in my collection, but it’s a late Victorian miniature salesman’s sample from *Taddy & Co.; no glass examples.”

And I replied: “I have a teddy (bear) I hugged 77-plus years ago. Still have it, although, like me, it is missing some hair.”

FYI: Wikipedia adds: “Taddy & Co was established in 1740 in London by James Taddy as a seller of tobacco, snuff and tea. By the end of the 19th century the business had grown to become one of the most important tobacco companies in Britain. During the 1890s Taddy & Co. became well known for the excellence of their cigarette cards.”

May 2021

31

Memories of Mansfield(s) Images of the past by Ralph Finch

I

have always loved trade cards, and have often thought that if I could live another 50 years (that would take me to the age of 130) I would start collecting them, too.

Here is one I came across recently, and since I also collect hair bottles, thought this would be a nice image to add to the bathroom wall. Also, it reminds me of my favorite bottle show, the one in Mansfield, Ohio. (Also, sadly, it reminds me of the worst, scariest, meanest cat in the world that I got 41 years ago. I paid a quarter for a kitten, sold by Bob Villamagna’s young son, at the Mansfield show. We named it “Mansfield.” Friends and neighbors still remember it, since everyone became afraid of it, aka the Cat From Hell. Away for a weekend, I asked my boss to stop by and feed the cat. She did. And the cat bit her.)

Here is a better Mansfield example that I came across recently, and here is what I found out (edited) about a certain Mr. T. Hill Mansfield: “The front of this card depicts a young girl with long blond curly hair wearing a blue bonnet with a feather. On the left top side it states “Everyone can know by using a bottle of Mansfield's Capillaris that it has no equal for the toilet in the wide, wide world.” Beside the girl there is a large brown dog carrying a sign in his mouth that says “Used and Recommended by Physicians and Druggists, T. Hill Mansfield's Capillaris for the Hair, Scalp and Toilet. It has proved itself a positive cure for dandruff, falling of the hair,

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

and all scalp diseases. It contains not one particle of lead, sulphur coloring matter or anything injurious (put up in pomade form only).”

The reverse of the card states: “Capillaris. The many persons recommending it, after trying and receiving no benefit from similar compounds, proves it has no equal. See 96 strong reliable testimonials, gratuitously given, on other cards and circulars. The only article now, or ever on the market, that does all that is claimed for it. Its use will give you an abundance of Luxuriant Hair.” Followed by four testimonials. “Presented by T. Hill Mansfield, Proprietor, Portland, Maine. It is sold by Dealers in Medicine and Medicinal Toilet Articles, Price 65 cents per bottle.”

This short, wax-sealed bottle also came, a few years later, with a screw-top version. The wax-top bottle shown above was on eBay for about $4.

Issued by Capillaris Manufacturing of New York, the card dates to 1870-’90.

The internet adds: T. Hill Mansfield registered a label for his product in 1882, and the cure was advertised as late as 1930.

There are variations of this trade card, and one has also been found as a poster about 30 inches high.

r FYI: For those of you who have a problem with the word “Capillaris,” the internet explains that capillaries are: “The tiny blood vessels throughout the body that connect arteries and veins, in order to distribute oxygen and nutrients to the cells and remove waste substances.”

This trade card comes in a variety of illustrations, as well as a poster (original and repro).

BITTERS bottles

By Robert Strickhart

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Some thoughts on bottle provenance Almost thirty years ago, I learned the lesson of bottle provenance in person.

I attended Norm Heckler’s April 1991 auction held in Warrenville, Conn. I have to say, especially after this virus thing, I really miss the live auction scene; what a great time it was.

In that auction was a fish bitters, a yellow amber example. It was sort of run-ofthe-mill but very nice, and the catalogue made note that it was once owned by a fellow named Leon. You might know him better by his full name, Leon Leonwood Bean (1872-1967) or L.L.Bean, the fellow who in 1912 started a small business selling snow boots to folks up in Maine. The bottle did not realize huge money. In fact, it didn’t even make the high end of the catalogue estimate, but it stuck with me that it might mean something to someone if the bottle was once the property of someone special.

One of our past presidents, Jimmy Carter, is known to have collected a bottle or two. I wonder if someday we’ll see a bottle that was once on his shelf at an auction. Will that affect its hammer price?

Will it be somehow more desirable?

I think most collectors really like to know the provenance of a bottle and place great value on those small stickers that sometimes are found on examples from famous collections. On the other hand, I know of at least one person who cleans the sticker off asap if he acquires certain bottles, claiming they just get in the way. We’ll all have to find a way to forgive him.

The easily identifiable Carlyn Ring Collection sticker.

Perhaps you may wonder why knowing who were the past owners of a bottle is important. I guess for some, it’s a bragging point, but I never thought of this hobby as a contest. I’m thinking there are some who might own a bottle that might have been in the collection of a wellknown collector of the past and thereby elevate themselves to be included in that prominent list of past owners.

But, the real bottle family I know doesn’t operate that way. Those true collectors honor the collectors of the past and this hobby by knowing the bottles provenance.

It’s not a bragging point, it’s just a point in history. If no one has ever told you, let me be the first.

We do not own these tiny bits of glass history. We are merely the caretakers of these bottles. True bottle hobbyists know they are just fortunate to be able to be a part of preserving this beautiful glass. If they are lucky to be a part of that history, my experience is that those collectors are usually very modest; they are always the guys who will invite you into their homes

to share their collections with you and just spend time talking bottles.

The first man who really introduced me to glass was Bill Sackett of Saranac, N.Y. He didn’t know me from Adam, but before I knew it, I was getting a ton of bottle knowledge and a sandwich by his bay window filled with great bottles. I’ll never forget him and will always remember him as a gentleman and an excellent ambassador for this hobby.

I remember how Dick and Elma Watson complimented my meager collection when I first started collecting bitters bottles. And to this day I remember fondly, and place great value on, the encouragement they gave me to continue on.

Tom McCandless had the same attitude when I met him. There was never the slightest sense of bragging. There was only friendship and camaraderie because we shared a common interest in bottle collecting. That’s why these people will always be held in my heart and mind with kind and thankful thoughts.

May 2021

33

To be completely accurate, if I personally obtain a “stickered bottle,” I always leave the label in place even though it usually did not figure into my reasoning for purchasing that item. I do, however, recognize that this particular piece of bottle history has importance and was once held by a fellow caretaker who saw the beauty, history and character of the glass.

Also, to be completely honest, I really do enjoy getting a bottle with a sticker from at least three individuals in particular, including Tom McCandless and Dick Watson, my longtime friends and mentors. The third provenance stickers I

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

really do enjoy adding to the shelf are found on bottles that proclaim they are from “The Carlyn Ring Bitters Collection.” I spent a great deal of time on the road and visiting with McCandless and Watson, but I only met Ms. Ring once, and it was quite the event.

Once again, I was in attendance at a Norm Heckler live auction and was bidding (successfully) on a Zoeller’s Stomach Bitters bottle with contents and full label.

When the gavel went down and I had won the bottle, I was greeted with an outof-nowhere serious whack on my back. I was sort of shocked and turned around

thinking I would see one of my friends fooling around, but I was surprised to see this unknown (to me) woman who loudly proclaimed with a smile, “Nice going, young man, that’s a good buy!” Later on, that woman was introduced to me, and sure enough, it was Carlyn Ring. We only spoke for a few minutes but having studied her book cover to cover, I thought it was an honor to meet her.

Years later, when her collection was sold, I was able to obtain a few bottles from her collection. Every time a bottle comes to market that I’m interested in, I am just a little more interested when I see that

An impressive grouping of Carlyn Ring bitters.

iconic tiny sticker that simply reads “The Carlyn Ring Bitters Collection.”

I went through the cabinets and assembled the bottles I’ve been able to obtain over the years with that provenance sticker affixed. Let’s have a look and enjoy some bottles that were once on Carlyn Ring’s shelves.

E-65 EXCELSIOR / HERB BITTERS / WASHINGTON. N. J. / J. V. MATTISON Of course, one of my favorites, as it is a Jersey Boy. I actually passed up a fully labeled example of this same bottle to keep the Ring bottle.

In no particular order, here are the bitters bottles that I have that were once on Carlyn Ring’s shelves:

P-100 PINEAPPLE BITTERS This was Carlyn’s example of the pineapple bitters with the J. C & Co. on the bottle. It has a rough pontil and I think it’s much more difficult to find than the W & C N.Y. variant.

B-81 BERKSHIRE BITTERS // AMANN & CO / CINCINNATI, O This is the short thin variant.

O-25 OLD CONTINENTAL / BITTERS A great semi-cabin; this example in very light yellow amber.

F-91 FRISCO / HOP / BITTERS / COMPANY An aqua square bottle from Australia.

C-165 CLARKE’S / SHERRY / WINE / BITTERS Aqua with full label. I assume this is the bottle in the original For Bitters Only by Carlyn Ring and later the Ring/ Ham Bitters Bottles as in the description, the transcript of the label is included in the description of the bottle.

C-187 COGNAC BITTERS / S. STEINFELD / SOLE AGENT / FOR THE U. S. This is one of the three Steinfeld’s available, cylindrical, green and rare.

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S-185 STEINFELD’S / FRENCH / COGNAC / BITTERS // motif of medallion with crown, eagle in center // S. ST in oval PATENT The second of three Steinfelds available and I think very hard to find. It took me a long time to obtain all three Steinfelds.

Old Continental and Excelsior Bitters.

G-45 GIPPS LAND / HOP BITTERS / CO 1884 Another aqua square from Down Under.

M-58 McKEEVER’S ARMY // BITTERS The iconic drum with cannonball stack.

r The last bottle listed above, the McKeevers, has a small story of interest.

I acquired the bottle at the great summertime Shupp’s Grove show many years ago.

I met my friend Charlie Dascenzo (aka Big Charlie) as I was wandering around looking for more finds at his sales table.

“What you got?” asks Big Charlie. Out of the wrapping comes the McKeever.

I hand it to him and Big Charlie says, “Oh, that’s Carlyn Rings bottle, it’s the McKeever’s with the 1/32” inclusion in the drum, great find, way to go!”

Big Charlie knows his bottles, but when he saw the Ring sticker, he knew that particular bottle immediately. Provenance.

Every so often, perhaps every couple of weeks or so, I get a chance to call, or be called, by my good bottle friend Gary Beatty. I always smile when I see his name on the caller I.D. We had a conversation about many things and we got around to a topic which we both totally agree upon.

When it comes to bottle provenance and those small stickers that indicate where the bottle has made a stop along the way, we both agreed it’s sort of like giving credit where credit is due.

It’s not about bragging at all. It’s about heritage and giving a tiny bit of credit to those before us who appreciated this glass.

Giving credit where it is due is important, it is respectful and it is as it should be.

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Frisco and Gipps Land Bitters from Down Under, as well as labeled Clarkes Sherry Wine.

J.C & Co. Pineapple Bitters and Berkshire Bitters.

Now speaking of giving credit where it is due, I am of the opinion that Gary Beatty is not just a great guy, but I also think he has one heck of a nice collection of bitters bottles. Recently, we had a chance to visit and being the great guy he is, he was so kind as to add a couple of bottles from his collection to this article. He places great value on these bottles, not only because they are fantastic bottles, but because they have great bottle provenance.

Gary has, what I believe, the finest example of an R - 125 Russ’ St. Domingo Bitters. The bottle is commonly found in amber, and is sometimes found in puce or bright yellow. Rarely, you will find one in green, and in this case, I mean green!

It was Gary’s good fortune to find this beauty and it is his kindness to share it with us here now.

Two Steinfelds flanking a McKeevers Army Bitters.

What really makes this bottle more fun is its provenance. Gary was able to obtain this beauty from Howard Crowe, but it was once on the shelves of the aforementioned Cris Batdorff. If you look at the bottom of the bottle, we learn it was once on the shelves of Elvin Moody. But ask Gary and he’ll be able to chronicle even more of the bottle’s history.

It also turns out that I’m not the only bottle collector who values bottles with provenance, especially those bottles from the Carlyn Ring collection. Gary has, on his shelf, one of the bottles that I believe Carlyn would have agreed upon as one of the best colored bitters bottles ever. It is a super example of Dr. Gilbert’s Rock and Rye Stomach Bitters in a spectacular blue green color, and I think you’ll agree that it is one beautiful bottle. I can’t help but think how Ms. Ring must have felt when she encountered this bottle and was able to add it to her collection. I know Gary was over the moon when he became the caretaker. I am sure that someday, long down the road, someone else will also get that same jolt of excitement and joy to behold such a beauty.

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I was prompted to write this article when I recently added a Tom McCandless bottle to my collection and shared it with Ralph and Janet Finch, who then encouraged me to share it with you. Ah, that bottle family. For the record, I’m not just a bitters collector. It is a topic for a future article perhaps, but for now let’s just say I have a flask or two. While it isn’t a bitters, I think you will enjoy taking a look at this superb example.

The flask is a GI - 26 Washington - Eagle quart from the Baltimore Glass Works.

Manufactured between 1825 and 1835, it has a nicely formed sheared lip, a great open pontil and is, as you can hopefully see in the picture, light amethyst in color, sort of rare for this bottle. I remember seeing this bottle on Tom’s shelf and always thought the bottle, and especially the color, was fantastic. Here again is where the provenance pays off. We know this was Tom’s bottle, and it sold in his three-part sale back in 2011 and 2012.

But if you look back a bit further, you will find that the heritage of this bottle goes further back. Tom made note that it was once in the collection of Sam Taylor.

I didn’t know or ever meet Sam Taylor, but I’m sure there are some who did know him and will smile when they see his name in print and remember him.

This is exactly the point of provenance, when we remember those previous caretakers of thes pieces of historical glass and appreciate the fact that there were others who looked at this particular bottle and saw its worth, its value, its place in history. Perhaps you might even muster a bit of praise to them for taking such good care of this individual piece of glass.

So, on behalf of all of us, thanks, guys!

r Questions? Comments? Don’t hesitate.

I would sure love to hear from you at strickhartbob@aol.com.

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

ABOVE: Reverse of the GI-26.

RIGHT: Front of the GI-26.

Berkshire Bitters, Excelsior Bitters from N.J., J. C & Co. Pineapple Bitters and Old Continental Bitters.

RIGHT: A close-up of the Dr Gilberts Rock and Rye Stomach Bitters.

BELOW: Gary's Russ' Bitters with the tale of provenance.

ABOVE: Gary Beatty's Gilberts Bitters with the iconic Ring sticker.

Gary Beatty's spectacular green R - 125 Russ’ St. Domingo Bitters.

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A Few More Thoughts on Provenance A small name, Ralph Finch, talks about bigger names In this issue of AB&GC is a well-done article by New Jersey’s Robert Strickhart.

(I find it interesting that he has “hart” in his name; it should be spelled “heart.”)

In it, Bob writes about an important aspect of the hobby that many people, perhaps too many, don’t think about.

Writing about a piece of cold glass, and putting a person, a bit of heart in it, has always been soooo important to me. Bob talked about famous, and not-so-famous, people who have already owned the bottles that we now proudly put on our shelves. Bob recognized that we don’t really own this stuff. We are only temporary caretakers of them.

And, talking about provenance, one of the (too-few) smart things I’ve done was back at the 1976 St. Louis Expo, some 45 years ago. I took the program around and asked people to sign it. Three pages of names that, I admit, I don’t recognize all of them now, but many are names that are still remembered and respected. I also did the same thing when I attended the Blaske auction.

As I thumb through that old Expo program (remember the cover with the flags?) I’d have a hard time remembering any glass I may have purchased. But when I look at the names, I remember people like Paul Welko, the great Barb and Bob Harms, Gloria Kim, John Panck, Mary Ballentine, the Barnetts, Steve Ketcham, Jon Vander Schauw, Keith Leeders, Bill Rouppas, Don Keat-

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Ralph's 1976 St. Louis Expo, program with the names of friends from all those years ago.

ing, Sheldon Baugh, Paul Van Vactor, flask man Jack Whistance, the muchloved Burton Spiller, Tom Hicks, Frank Peters, and Bob Villamagna, who did illustrations for the program. And Cecil Munsey, and Ray “Jaybird” Weimer, the cure man. And balsam queen Betty Blasi (I will always remember my first visit to Betty’s home), and Jim Spencer, who started Antique Bottle World magazine before he gave it to Chicago’s Jerry McCann (and, in turn, that magazine that took several years of my life).

Other names were printed in the program, and were part of the show: Peck Markota, Bob Mebane, Roy Brown, Hal Wagner, and show co-chairman Jerry Jones of Columbus, Ohio. Interesting. I just talked with Jerry the other week. Ditto with Phyllis Koch.

Others who were part of that great St. Louis weekend included John Feldmann, Louis Pellegrini, Chalk Netherland, fruit jar queen *Alice Creswick, target ball godfather Alex Kerr, E.C. Moody, ink man William Covill, Randy Haviland, Sam and Barbara Coggins, Terry Gillis, Hal and Vern Wagner, Carlyn Ring,

Sam Greer, David Beadle (the Lancaster Glass Works man), Ben Swanson, Jim Hall, Ken Sosnowski (the milk man), Jim and Penny Lang, Peck Markota and Bob Mebane, fruit jar man Joe Smith, and bitters man Glenn Brendel. And the St. Louis bottle club filled a whole page with its club members’ names. And John Wolf, Michigan’s cure man. Sam Greer and Bonnie Yarbrough (who died young), and Don Spangler of Ohio. (Have you ever heard that a bottle has been Spanglerized? That meant Don worked his magic and fixed a hole, and maybe even made a whole top, for a damaged bottle!)

And Jerry Hostetler … hmmm, I exchanged emails with him just the other week. *I don’t remember what bottles I bought at that show, 45 years ago, but I do remember — and remember well — driving home to Michigan and stopping in the middle of nowhere at a McDonald’s, and there was Alice Creswick and her husband, Howard.

We all had lunch together, and I felt like I was dining with royalty. Having breakfasts with Alex Kerr at the 1980s Indiana fruit jar shows was similar.

Excited to announce the Summer 2021 opening of the Royal Crown Cola Museum in Columbus, GA, home of Royal Crown's founder Claud A. Hatcher!

Ralph's program cover from the 1976 National Antique Bottle-Jar Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri.

And, talking about famous people you have dined with, or visited, or people who would welcome a stranger into their home, that is John Feldmann, the bitters man from New York. Many decades ago I was on Long Island for a bottle show, but ready to drive back to Michigan, thinking that New Yorkers were HORRIBLE, rude people. Then John Feldmann stepped up.

He knew I was on Long Island, called a few hotels and tracked me down. He called my hotel room and invited me over to his home, and to see his incredible bottles. What a kind and gentle man he is. (I think Jean Garrison was there. Remember her? Jean had also been president of the Long Island Bottle Club, and the FOHBC chairwoman in 1981. I think she was the No. 1 promoter of the Federation — and the Verbeck House? — as they were being formed.)

And I now thank all the others whose names were printed or written in that

Looking for artifacts (signs, display pieces, etc.) from the following: Chero-Cola, Royal Crown Cola, Nehi, Diet Rite Cola, Upper 10, Par T Pack Ginger ale!

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program, and to those whose signatures I can’t decipher.

And to anyone reading this: If you can remember more than a handful of these people, well you probably can also remember black-and-white TVs, asking operators for phone numbers, and spatz.

How many of those who attended the first Expo are gone? Well, lets give them a moment’s pause.

I doubt if Muhammad Ali was a bottle collector, but he knew what the bottle hobby was really about when he said: “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”

Do remember the hobby, and what it is all about. It’s not just glass, but a place where you can learn, if you are lucky, about friendship.

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By John Panella and Joe Widman

HOUSE of FAHRNEY, PART 2

in the rising popularity of patent medicines. He also had a laboratory and was able to compound the special medicines his patients required. His son, Daniel, and Peter Dennis Fahrney were much younger and just starting to learn about the family practice.

Things are starting to pick up, some very interesting developments, and the road to success Geographic Identity and Historical Significance Emerge

It would be safe to say there was an understanding between the two groups that each possessed the right to doctor with the medicine developed by their father. They shared the medicine recipes created by their progenitors. This was the status of the Fahrney practices around the time of the Civil War.

The heavily traveled Antietam region of Maryland and Pennsylvania is just north of the Shenandoah valley of Virginia and was situated perfectly for the type of medicinal practices developed by the Fahrneys. There were lots of towns and hamlets in close proximity that sprang up along the north/south and east/west travel corridors of the tristate region.

Some credit Old Peter with having the first stationary doctors office in history, since most of his patients came directly to him. Both practices in Boonsboro and Waynesboro had younger family members conducting the riding and visiting aspect of the practice as they called it, which provided care to homebound patients.

The first father and son combo was Jacob Sr., riding for his father, Peter, and the second was Daniel Sr., also riding for him in Boonsboro and Waynesboro.

By 1860, they were the most popular practice along the Antietam Creek region in Maryland and Pennsylvania, as they had the public trust because of Old Peter’s positive reputation.

Peter, with ties to Waynesboro, moved to Blair County Pennsylvania, and his older brother Jacob came back to Waynesboro from Philadelphia and worked with Burkholder. David Burkholder, a son of John Burkholder, another Fahrney emissary, also goes out west to Ogle County, Illinois. It would make sense that they both took a lot of Waynesboro-produced Blood Cleanser with them to establish new business and extend to other regions.

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

This photo is referred to as a CDV and was very popular during the Civil War era. It pictures Daniel Fahrney Sr., his wife, Amy Welty-Fahrney, and their son, Daniel, who would succeed his father after his death (in 1867); it is not clear if the first Boonesboro bottles came out before he passed.

The Waynesboro practice possessed the formulas for the Blood Medicine, since Old Peter gave them to his oldest son, Jacob, who developed it into a bottled product. It started out as a herbal infusion, and Jacob added alcohol as a “preservative.” This addition only boosted its immediate curative effect as well. The younger medicine men were beginning to doctor with bottled patent medicine, which was the norm at this time and well into the future. The Fahrney reputation emerged in Boonsboro and never really left, at least for many decades into the 20th century.

Daniel was working at the original homestead, the first Fahrney office, and the public perception was positive since Dr. Fahrney began there. Perhaps Daniel Sr. did not place a lot of credence

Saying the Civil War interrupted commerce would be an understatement.

They lived near and in the middle of many troop movements and major engagements. This turned the Antietam region into a huge hospital area after they concluded. Daniel and John Burkholder were taught and learned from Peter Sr., who conducted surgery as evidenced by the operation table in the Boonsboro museum. It would be hard to imagine that the two medical men sat on the sidelines after the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg.

Peter of Chicago wrote in the 1890s that he moved west because of lost faith after Confederate troops burnt Chambersburg in 1865. Since Mennonites are pacifists and came to the U.S. to avoid the wars in Europe, it made sense: they sent the boys of military age away so they weren’t bothered or tempted by the tides of war. The lack of documented information during this time frame explains this well.

The next practitioners were Old Peter’s grandchildren, third generation cousins from different households who never developed the closeness the brothers and sisters from the previous generation or same household did.

By John Panella and Joe Widman

PHOTOS (clockwise from top left): Daniel Fahrney 'Penny bag' advertisements.

Scarce Fahrney's Celebrated Blood Cleanser or Panacea bottle.

Fahrney's Blood Cleanser or Panacea trade card, Joe Gourd collection.

Ad for Fahrney's Blood Cleanser or Panacea Dr. Fahrney's Teething Syrup bottle, Hagerstown, Md.

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By John Panella and Joe Widman

Jacob Sr.’s youngest son, Peter, was eight when he died and lived with his mother’s family. If he ever developed any familial bonds with his father’s family it was when he came back to Waynesboro and lived with Burkholder. He went away at the outbreak of the war at age 15. He did not come of age until after the conflict.

A memoir states that Burkholder selfdiagnosed with a terminal illness. He then offered Peter from Blair County his father’s and grandfather’s notebooks that contained the recipe for the famous Blood Medicine as a enticement to lure him back to Waynesboro. The condition of his offer was that he come back to the Waynesboro practice and he did. His older brother, Jacob, also worked there.

It seems Burkholder most likely sold his interest to the boys and retired. David Burkholder was still involved in the interest but in Illinois.

Expansion and Change Before Success — A Turning Point Peter Fahrney went west to promote the Family Medicine. He settled down near David Burkholder in Illinois and finally in Chicago in 1870. The Chicago move greatly facilitated the advertising and promotion of the name and the nostrum.

No longer small-town America, Chicago had all the advantages of a big metropolis, with its population density and its explosive potential for business success at a grand scale.

A laboratory was established in Chicago to churn out the product in volume. The new laboratory was unfortunately burnt to the ground by the infamous Chicago fire, which set the operation back years.

With determination and persistence, Peter turned to his relatives for the financial help needed to rebuild. It is said the family agreed to accept liquid medicine as a

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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

exchange for the money lent. Payment would be in product rather than money.

The growing sales of Panacea may have created a rift between the Pennsylvania and Maryland families. There were no legal ties forming a family medical corporation. I picture it as a loosely bound organization connected only from association to the established good reputation.

Wooden box with colorful graphics for Dr. Fahrney's Health Restorer.

Daniel Sr. died in 1867, leaving P.D. and Daniel Jr. in Boonsboro to practice together under Daniel’s mother’s direction for a short time. The son, Daniel Jr., with his cousin P.D. established the Dr. D. Fahrney & Sons Co. in Boonsboro, where the first known embossed Maryland bottle originated. It is a large amber, square-based bottle, embossed on three sides: Dr. Daniel Fahrney’s Preparation for Cleansing the Blood, Dr. D. Fahrney & Sons, and Boonsboro Md. In the 1870s P.D. branched out to Keedysville, Md. Daniel moved the base of the Dr. P.D. Fahrney operation from Boonsboro to Hagerstown in 1876. Their partnership was dissolved in the early 1880s. Daniel was running the Dr. D. Fahrney & Sons Co. by himself.

Peter D. created the Victor Remedies Co. in Frederick, Md., in 1882 and was peddling his own line of patent medicines.

Peter of Chicago was running his own business without any Burkholders or Boonesboro Fahrneys there. This is

about the time when Peter started really branching out. His Blood Vitalizer, Victor Liver Syrup and Fahrney’s Health Restorative started to explode with sales. These medicines took on the ever popular “curative preservative” alcohol in increasingly higher percentages.

Peter, by this time, with his perfect wave of successes, was assumed to have used the funds to pay off his family debt. There are also advertisements for J. Fahrney’s Reliable Family Medicine and Panacea which were marketed during this era in Philadelphia. The Fahrney family was huge and all over the country by this time, so counterfeits and knock-off Fahrney labeled products were also prevalent.

The Saga Continues In next month’s Medicine Chest we will discuss the rest of the story. Fahrney labeled and embossed product bottles are coming from everywhere. Diversification of the product line, new nostrums and advertising became popular all over the country. Victor Remedies Co. produced patent medicines from Fahrney formulas and more. They continued, as well as Fahrney relatives who were everywhere from the east to the midwest. Many were no longer consolidated solely under the Fahrney name. The patent medicine business was taking advantage of the home medication craze. Doctors were expensive and not usually convenient to the common individual.

The story moves on, and some very interesting developments lie ahead in Part 3, and some interesting surprises await.

r

Editor’s note: We would like to extend a special recognition to Phil Edmonds and his 40-plus years of research in assisting with the writing of this article.

May 2021

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