Letters to the Editor

to the Editor

RIGHT: Image of a rare Dr. Kilmer's Ocean - Weed Heart Remedy bottle sent by John Savastio. BOTTOM: Two views of Andy Agnew's rare Dr. Fahrney's German Liniment / Boonsboro bottle. BELOW: Page of a 1951 sales cataloque for Bols display bottles sent in by Johan Soetens.

More Information on the Bols Bottle

Dear John,

To further expand on Ralph Finch’s article (in the March 2021 AB&GC, p.37), on the Bols bottle that was offered as an antique by Catawiki, I contacted my good friend Ton Vermeulen, curator of the Bols Historical Collection.

During the whole of 2006 I went there weekly to photograph all the bottles, paintings, etc., because we had planned to publish a book about all the old distilleries that had, in the course of the years, been taken over by Bols. Alas, the plan was never excecuted because the new owners were not interested in it. Nevertheless, thanks to our efforts, we do have a pretty complete documentation of the Bols collection and in the coming weeks I will go through it to see how many of these display bottles I can find.

Here is a picture of a 1951 sales cataloque that advertises display bottles to decorate the shop windows. Although described as ‘antique’ they most likely would have been made sometime in the 20th century.

Time to go, as Joan calles it ‘down the rabbit hole again!’ Asap I will send you more information by We Transfer.

Kindest regards,

Johan Soetens Rotterdam, Netherlands

Rare Fahrney Bottle

Hi, John,

I’ve been following and enjoying the Fahrney story by John Panella and friends. I obtained a rare, possibly oneof-a-kind, Fahrney bottle in a collection I purchased many years ago and thought others might enjoy seeing it. It is amber,

to the Editor

about six inches tall, and embossed “Dr. FAHRNEYS GERMAN LINIMENT BOONSBORO MARYLAND.” Can’t wait for the next installment!

Andy Agnew Cockeysville, Maryland

Rare Dr. Kilmer’s Bottle Goes for Big Bucks

Hello, John,

Terry McMurray, well known for his incredible collection of labeled medicine bottles, and Warner’s and Kilmer’s in particular, recently put a very rare Dr. Kilmer’s Ocean-Weed Heart Remedy bottle for sale on eBay that I thought my fellow readers of AB&GC would appreciate, especially with the price realized for a damaged example. Following are Terry’s description of the bottle, along with a picture from the eBay posting:

“Offering for sale here is a Super Rare Dr. Kilmer’s Ocean-Weed Heart Remedy bottle. I believe this to be one of Dr. Kilmer’s earlier bottles in that it is embossed on three sides: DR. KILMER’S / OCEANWEED HEART REMEDY / BINGHAMTON, NY. USA. (Note: the smaller size Heart Remedy bottles are typically embossed only on the front panel). This is only the third example I have seen in over 40 years collecting. I have also seen similar versions for Swamp Root and Indian Cough Cure Consumption Oil that are embossed on three sides of the bottle. All of these are extremely rare and come in several sizes. Many collectors have probably never seen these different style embossed bottles nor knew they existed. This example has obviously been dug, and exhibits some ground imperfections, light interior staining and dirt and has a 1” flat chip off the top lip and side. No other chips or cracks and the bottle could be professionally cleaned if desired. Early double ring top neck and measures 6 ½” tall x 2 ¼” wide with indented panels on all four sides. Don’t let the chip stop you from purchasing this bottle. If you collect Dr. Kilmer’s, it may be a long time before you’ll have the chance at another!”

If anyone is wondering, no, it was not me that bought the bottle for $611 plus buyer’s fee and postage. It did have me thinking, though, that I wish someone would write a comprehensive book on the history of Dr. Kilmer and all the bottles and advertising his company put out over many decades!

Thank you,

John Savastio Latham, New York

Correcting the History of Bottle Collecting

Hi, John,

I am writing this to correct a minor error with the article by Michael Seeliger in the March issue of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, p.34, “The History of Bottle Collecting.”

The photo taken of the “Collectors putting together the most complete collection of Warner bottles at the Genesee Valley Bottle Club Show in Rochester, N.Y.” was in 2001, not 2008.

All of us in the photo wanted to put the display together for the new millennium in the year 2000, but, try as we may, it took over 18 months to get us all in that one place at the same time in Rochester due to prior commitments, etc.

Nevertheless, in the end, it was all worth it. There were many items shown where only a few were known to exist (less than six) and there even were several one-of-akind examples. We estimated at that time that the entire display could very well approach a quarter of a million dollars! One may never have an opportunity again to see such a gathering as that in the future. It was very likely a once-in-a-lifetime display.

By the way, it’s hard to believe that it has been 20 years since we put that event together! Where do those decades go?

Sincerely,

Andy Lange Plymouth, Massachusetts

Another Vote for Dickens

Hi, John,

Just got your current issue and was very impressed by the article on the “Traveler” bottle by Chris Bubash. I think he nailed it on Dickens, an author favorite of mine.

Hope that you and family members have been able to get the anti-Covid shots. My wife and I have had them both plus waiting time and are slowly busting out to the world around us. It feels great after more than a year in lockdown.

All the best,

Jack Sullivan Alexandria, Virginia

CORRECTION:

In the May issue of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, an article titled, “A Dump of Epic Proportions,” an error was made in the second paragraph stating that Joe Senese, aka the Train Man, provided the tip for this dump. That information was incorrect. Joe Senese did not provide the information regarding this dump. We apologize for this error.

- John Pastor, Publisher