1winter2006r

Winter 2006

The official publication of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors

Bottles and Extras Paralysis in a Bottle The “Jake Walk” Story Page 7

Vol. 17 No. 1

www.FOHBC.com

Check Out Our Website!

If you haven’t seen our latest website, you might want to check it out. We have the latest and greatest finds in our Recent Finds column and a Bottle Detective column where you guess the bottle from a small clue and win $100. We also have a column called Auctioneer’s Viewpoint that is getting people’s attention. The What Is It column asks readers to help us out with identifying bottles we’re not quite sure of and Message In A Bottle is a forum for clubs and individuals to express their own opinions and announce upcoming events. It’s all good fun and in addition, we have a vast database of bottles sold over the years along with a recent bottle news, consigning information, and a resource page that will show you what clubs and other resources are available.

Just go to www.americanbottle.com. We think you’ll find something of interest.

We’re Always Updating!

2523 J Street, Suite 203 Sacramento, CA 95816 1800-806-7722 www.americanbottle.com

The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors

Bottles and Extras

Vol. 17 No. 1

Winter 2006

No. 165

Table of Contents Bottle Buzz................................................2 Recent Finds............................................3 FOHBC Officer Listing 2004-2006............4 President’s Message...................................5 Extras - Pacificers Charles Harris.............................6 Paralysis In A Bottle (The Jake Walk Story) Cecil Munsey...............................7 Shield F - The Mark of Quality Marg Iwen.................................13 Western Whiskey: Saloons & Retail Merchants Bret Heinemann.........................27 The First SIMPLEX Screw Cap Barry L. Bernas.........................30 Donnie Medlin’s World is Pepsi Bill Baab...................................32

The Dating Game - The F H G W Mark Bill Lockhart..................................36

Advertising Rates and Membership Information........76

Collecting Bottles by State: The Ioway Part 5 - Hutchinson Soda Bottles Michael Burggraaf.........................44

Classified Ads.........................................77

Brewing in Medford, Oregon Dave Scafani..................................47

FOHBC Show-Biz Show Calendar Listings............81

Let’s Talk About Ink: Pottery Bottles Ed & Lucy Faulkner.......................50 Bottling Wisdom: The Motto Jug Jack Sullivan..................................52 Collecting the Miniature Advertising Jugs Ralph Van Brocklin........................56 Poisonland: The Bone-Shaped Poison Bottle Mike Dickman................................63 Whiskey (and other) Barrels Donald Yates..................................65

WHO DO I CONTACT ABOUT THE MAGAZINE? To ADVERTISE, SUBSCRIBE or RENEW a subscription, see PAGE 76 for DETAILS. To SUBMIT A STORY, send a letter to the Editor or have comments and concerns, Contact: Kathy Hopson-Sathe, Bottles and Extras Editor, 414 Molly Springs Road, Hot Springs, AR 71913 Phone: (423) 737-6710 or E-mail: kathy@thesodafizz.com BOTTLES AND EXTRAS (ISSN 1050-5598) is published quarterly (4 Issues per year) by the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc. (a nonprofit IRS C3 educational organization) at 1021 W. Oakland Avenue, #109, Johnson City, TN 37604, (423) 282-5533; Website: http://www.fohbc.com. Periodicals Postage Paid at Johnson City, TN 37601. Pub #005062.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Bottles and Extras, FOHBC, 1021 W. Oakland Ave, #109, Johnson City, TN 37604. Phone: 423-913-1378.

The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc. assumes no responsibility for products and services advertised in this publication.

The names: Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc., and Bottles and Extras, are registered ® names of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc., and no use of either, other than as references, may be used without expressed written consent from the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc. Certain material contained in this publication is copyrighted by, and remains the sole property of, the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc., while others remain property of the submitting authors. Detailed information concerning a particular article may be obtained from the Editor. Printed by Central Plains Book Mfg. Co., Winfield, Kansas 67156.

2

Winter 2006

Bottle Buzz

News, Notes, Letters, etc.

Send Buzz Notes to: Kathy Hopson, E-mail: kathy@thesodafizz.com or write: Buzz Notes, 414 Molly Springs Road, Hot Springs, AR 71913

Editor: I am the proud owner of the only other known example of the Gate City flask mentioned by Bill Baab in his fine article in the Fall 2005 issue of Bottles and Extras. My flask is also a half-pint in capacity.

I always enjoy Bill’s articles and I am certainly happy to have some of the historical information associated with the bottle. It had been my intent to get to the Georgia State Library and see what I could find out regarding it since acquiring my bottle from Ken Nease two years ago. Since Bill has done that for your readers (including myself), I will enclose a photograph of the only other embossed “Newmanstyle” flask of which I am aware. This flask is embossed: J.H. CUTTER / OLD BOURBON / A.P. HOTALING & CO. / PORTLAND, O. and the two known examples are both in the pint size.

In John Thomas’ text Whiskey Bottles of the Old West, he indicates that according to Bill and Betty Wilson (1) “Carlton Newman was a glass blower with the Pacific Coast Glass Works. In 1865, he and a fellow glass blower, Patrick Brannan, established the San Francisco Glass Works.” John attributes the Cutter bottle to the San Francisco Glass Works and not to the Baltimore Glass Works.

What appears to be the most likely scenario is that the bottle and their associated unique shot glass caps were patented by Carlton Newman, but that the bottles produced for the Gate City Guard and for AP Hotaling were produced on opposite coasts. The Gate City flask is marked on the base “C Newman’s Pat. Oct. 10th, 1876" and includes Baker Bros & Co, while the base of the AP Hotaling flask does not include Baker Bros & Co, and is marked only C. Newman’s Pat Oct. 10th, 1876.” Interestingly, all of the unembossed examples of this flask which I have seen (both in the pint and the half pint capacity) are embossed with Baker Bros & Co, indicating production in Baltimore.

Ralph Van Brocklin

Bottles and Extras Readers: Here is an interesting item which showed up on EBay in October. It was listed as a “buggy jug.”

Anyone know for certain?

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

Recent FindS

One never knows what will come walking through the door at a bottle show. At the October 22-23 show held in Canyonville, Oregon, a gentleman responding to the local advertisements for free appraisals brought in a 9" aqua rectangular cure embossed JOHN W. COPE’S / MT. SHASTA KIDNEY / AND LIVER CURE. Only the third known example of this bottle, it was near mint and a vast improvment over the prior known examples, both of which are damaged.

It went home with a very happy Western medicine collector!

In Antique Western Bitters Bottles by Jeff Wichmann, there is a nice photograph of an advertisement for “Mt. Shasta” Kidney and Liver Cure and Cope’s Tonic Bitters. This advertisement indicates that the John W. Cope Company was located in Stockton, California. The sign features black laborers designated “Cope’s Agents Gathering Herbs on Mt. Shasta”. The bitters advertised is a square fifth with indented panels and is embossed THE JOHN W. COPE CO. / STOCKTON, CAL. // // BEST IN THE WORLD // //.

Also coming out of Southern Oregon (but not purchased at the Canyonville Show) was a previously unknown half pint pumpkinseed flask embossed THOS. J. WALSH & CO. / WINES / & / LIQUORS / 733 MARKET ST. / S.F. Thanks go out to John Shuler for the lead regarding this bottle and to the fortunate digger who made it available.

Thomas J. Walsh can be traced to San Francisco at least as early 1879-80, when he was employed as a mail clerk at the Morning Call. He was employed in this capacity until 1883, when he is listed as a bookkeeper for John Hanly, a dealer in dry goods. In 1886 he is found in business with George E. Peake as co-owner of the California Soap Company and in 1887 he is part of the firm Putzman and Walsh, dealing in California wines and brandies.

Their wine and liquor business was variably listed as either the NE or SE corner of Pine and Montgomery Streets.

Walsh stayed in business with Frederick H. Putzman, Jr., through 1890. In 1891, Walsh established the firm of Thos. J. Walsh & Co and opened a business in wines and liquors at 341 Pine Street. He remained at this address through 1895, adding a location at 16 Post Street in 1895.

In 1896, Thomas J. Walsh & Company established the business at 733 Market Street, for which this flask is embossed. A second establishment, located at 630 Mission Street, lasted only the one year. Variably listed as 733 or 763 Market Street, the Market Street facility must have been destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, as Walsh is there in the 1905 directory, but is at a new locale in 1907.

In 1907, Walsh is partnered with J. G. Leibert at 15 Powell Street, and they remain together through 1908. The 1909 directory lists a residence only, following which we find Walsh in the liquor business at 346 Pine Street from 1910 through Prohibition.

3

4

Winter 2006

Bottles and Extras

Federation of Historicial Bottle Collectors

Business & News The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors is a non-profit organization for collectors of historical bottles and related collectible items. Our primary goal is educational as it relates to the history and manufacture of historical bottles and related artifacts.

FOHBC Officers 2004-2006 President : John Pastor, 7288 Thorncrest Dr. SE, Ada, MI 49301; Phone: (616) 285-7604; E-mail: jpastor2000@sbcglobal.net First Vice-President : Gene Bradberry, P.O. Box 341062, Memphis, TN 38184; Phone: (901) 372-8428; E-mail: genebsa@midsouth.rr.com Second Vice-President : Cecil Munsey, 13541 Willow Run Road, Poway, CA 92064-1733; Phone: (858) 487-7036; E-mail: cecilmunsey@cox.net Secretary : Ed Provine, 401 Fawn Lake Dr., Millington, TN 38053; Phone: (901) 876-3296; E-mail: ed.provine@thyssenkruppelevator.com Treasurer : Alan DeMaison, 1605 Clipper Cove, Painesville, OH 44077; Phone: (440) 358-1223; E-mail: a.demaison@sbcglobal.net Historian : Richard Watson, 10 S.Wendover Rd., Medford, NJ 08055; Phone: (856) 983-1364; E-mail: rewatson@bellatlantic.net Editor : Kathy Hopson-Sathe, 414 Molly Springs Rd.., Hot Springs, AR 71913; Phone: (423) 737-6710; E-mail: kathy@thesodafizz.com Merchandising Director : Kent Williams, 1835 Oak Terr., Newcastle, CA 95658; Phone: (916) 663-1265; E-mail: kent@altarfire.com Membership Director : Fred Holabird, 701 Gold Run Ct., Reno, NV 89511; Phone: (775) 851-0837; E-mail: fred@holabird.com Conventions Director : Wayne Lowry, 401 Johnston Ct., Raymore, MO 64083; Phone: (816) 318-0161; E-mail: JarDoctor@aol.com

Business Manager / Subscriptions: June Lowry, 401 Johnston Ct., Raymore, MO 64083; Phone: (816) 318-0160; E-mail: osubuckeyes71@aol.com Director-At-Large : Ralph VanBrocklin, 1021W. Oakland Ave., Suite 109, Johnson City, TN 37604; Home (423) 913-1378; Office: (423) 282-5533; E-mail: thegenuine@comcast.net Director-At-Large : Sheldon Baugh, 252 W. Valley Dr., Russelville, KY 42276; Phone: (270) 726-2712; Fax: (270) 726-7618; E-mail: shel6943@bellsouth.net Director-At-Large: Carl Sturm, 88 Sweetbriar Branch, Longwood, FL 32750-2783; Phone: (407) 332-7689; E-mail: glassmancarl@sprintmail.com Midwest Region Director : Rick Baldwin, 1931 Thorpe Cir., Brunswick, OH 44212-4261; Phone: (330) 225-3576; E-mail: rsbaldwin@worldnet.att.net Northeast Region Director : Larry Fox, 5478 Route 21, Canandaigua, NY 14424; Phone: (585) 394-8958; E-mail: brerfox@frontiernet.net Southern Region Director : Reggie Lynch, P.O. Box 13736, Durham, NC 27709; Phone: (919) 789-4545; E-mail: rlynch@antiquebottles.com Western Region Director : Bob Ferraro, 515 Northridge Dr., Boulder City, NV 89005; Phone: (702) 293-3114; E-mail: mayorferraro@aol.com Public Relations Director : Mike Polak, PO Box 303258, Long Beach, CA 90853; Phone: (562) 438-9209; E-mail: bottleking@earthlink.net

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

5

Federation of Historic Bottle Collectors

President’s Message President’s Message Winter 2005-2006 I would like to thank those members who took the time to complete and return the ballots which were enclosed in the last Federation newsletter. Your involvement is critical to our organization! The Federation continues to have a number of important matters of business that the board has been addressing, including those amendments to the bylaws presented at the general membership meeting in August at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Preliminary results of the ballots, (final results will be published in the next newsletter), have been overwhelmingly in favor for each of the proposed By-Laws changes. In addition to the ballots, some of you included comments and suggestions and I thank you for taking the time to do so. We welcome your comments, opinions and feedback to help guide the board and steer the future direction of our organization.

The Federations’ primary publication, Bottles and Extras continues to receive very positive feedback. The board, and in particular, Kathy Hopson-Sathe and Ralph Van Brocklin, have put a great deal of time and effort into maintaining the quality and continuing to improve on each issue. The Federation has been blessed with so many people who have contributed their time, knowledge and writing talents to provide interesting and varied articles for this publication. At this time, I would especially like to thank Ed and Lucy Faulkner for their many years of service. In early 2003, with the advent or perhaps I should say “rebirth” of the Federations’ new, enhanced and enlarged Quarterly publication, Ed and

Lucy began writing a very popular column, “Let’s Talk About Ink.” Over the past three years of writing this column on a regular quarterly basis, they have always managed to keep it interesting and informative while covering a wide range of ink related topics.

Unfortunately, I was recently informed that Ed and Lucy have decided that it is time for them to take a break. This will more than likely be the last issue for their regular column. We certainly appreciate their dedication to this organization and to the hobby. Their informative and interesting articles will certainly be missed.

On a related note, At the FOHBC annual board meeting in Grand Rapids, a publications committee was formed to assist Kathy Hopson-Sathe with various responsibilities including the procurement of articles for Bottles and Extras. There is an opportunity for you to help as well! We are again in search of folks who would be interested in sharing some of their passion and expertise by writing an article or perhaps a series of articles for Bottles and Extras. Whether you choose to write a single article or are interested in contributing to a regular quarterly column, we would love to hear from you.

There are a couple of additional items that I would like to encourage members to look ahead to. It is amazing how time passes so quickly. By the time this Winter Issue is being delivered, it will already be a year and a half into my two year tenure as President. Elections of officers for the next term of office which will be effective August, 2006, will need to take place in the not too distant future. I would like to invite anyone who may be considering

President : John R. Pastor 7288 Thorncrest Dr. SE Ada, MI 49301 (616) 285-7604 jpastor2000@sbcglobal.net

running for a board position to jump in and get involved! No prior board experience is necessary. Being on the board is certainly a rewarding way that you can give back to the hobby and help to ensure the future of the organization. Please consider your talents and interests and how you may contribute. If you would like information about any of the board positions or would like to be considered for a board position and to have your name included on an upcoming ballot of officers, please contact either myself or FOHBC 1st Vice President, Gene Bradberry. In order to ensure time for the ballots to be prepared and the appropriate timing of the elections, please indicate your interest in writing to either myself or FOHBC Secretary, Ed Provine, prior to April 1, 2006.

Another important event that I would like to encourage members to begin thinking about is the 2006 National Show, August 18-20, Reno / Sparks, Nevada. This promises to be a very exciting event. It has been seventeen years since a Federation National or EXPO Show has been held west of the Rockies (Las Vegas, 1988). I know that Show Chairman, Wayne Lowry and others have been working hard on the plans for this show (see additional information within this issue and much more to come in the 2006 Spring Issue). It is not too early to begin making your plans. The Reno area and Western Nevada have much to offer and Sonoma Valley, California and many other interesting vacation areas are within an easy drive. Please put these dates on your calendar and we’ll look forward to seeing you in August!

John R. Pastor

6

Winter 2006

Bottles and Extras

Extras - Pacifiers Charles Harris Ooltewah, TN 37363

This is a little offbeat for Bottles and Extras, but it was spawned yesterday by an E-mail from Newsweek Magazine to my wife, Teresa, who is the historian for the American Collectors of Infant Feeders (ACIF). The question came from Ben Whitford.

He was researching the subject for an article that he was writing for the magazine and the questions were abundant. How far back do pacifiers exist? Where were pacifiers first invented? What was used prior to the modern pacifier? Whoa there! This started me thinking.

What are pacifiers designed to do? They actually have a double purpose — They help keep a noisy or hungry baby quiet by giving him something to suck on, taking his mind off of his immediate discomforts, and they also act as a teether (see my article in the last issue of Bottles and Extras) while he/she is cutting teeth, a very painful period of life.

But when was the concept of pacifiers first conceived? Well, babies and their problems have been around forever, since Adam and Eve and even before, depending upon your view of religion and evolution. We do know that baby bottles for the feeding of infants have been around for thousands of year. Some pottery ones have been recovered from the tombs and graves of the Etruscans, dating to about 2000 B.C. By deduction and knowing that the feeding utensils have been around this long it is only natural to deduce that some form of pacifier has also been in existence for this long.

Here I am only guessing when I say that the earliest pacifiers were most likely made of pottery like the feeding vessels of the era. But that type of pacifier would be too hard on the gums of the infant. They had to be softened somehow. Most likely the chewing parts were wrapped with leather, cloth or even a pickled cow’s teat. There was no such thing as rubber, not until the 1840s. In fact, some of these earliest pacifiers may have been nothing more than a soft piece of cane for the infant to chew on.

Now we are going to have to jump a few thousand years to the semi-modern eras. In the mid-1700s the French and English began to produce glazed pottery and even pewter feeding bottles. These all had a stub on the end of them with a hole down the center for the milk to drain through. This stub was then covered with rags or the pickled cow’s teat to slow the flow down and to make it more natural like the mother’s breast feeding. My guess is that during this period that the pacifiers followed very closely in design. This effect is very natural in the field of development of many types of items.

In the 1840s, vulcanized rubber was invented by Goodyear and very soon thereafter the first rubber baby bottle nipples began to appear. At this same time the pacifiers with the rubber nipples on them also began to appear and were enthusiastically accepted. The earliest one that we have in our collection dates to the 1870s and has a silver body, ivory disc to prevent being swallowed by the infant and a rubber nipple very similar to those used on baby bottles for the infant to suckle on. Our next oldest one is dated to the 1920s by the shape of the nipple and also has the ivory or bone disc separating the nipple from the celluloid handle portion.

With the advent of plastics the plethora of designs of pacifiers, teethers and baby bottles becomes infinite and as far as my wife and I are concerned, the collecting of any of these items made after the advent of this wonderful throw-away product comes to a screeching halt.

Plastic, in our book, is not collectable — period.

Right: This pacifier dates to the 1910-20 era as evidenced by the shape of the suckling nipple and by the use of the celluloid top part that has the cord tied to it. The antiswallowing disc here is made from bone.

Left: This pacifier also dates from the 1930-40 era & is made of a hard plastic, rubber nipple, and plastic rather than the bone anti-swallowing disc. The modern idea of plastic creativity is beginning to become obvious here with the teddy bear motif.

This Binky one-piece pacifier is made of a plasticized rubber and probably dates to the 1940s. Note how the whole pacifier has began to twist and deteriorate due to heat and oxygenation.

Hallmarked silver handled pacifier from the 1870-80 era with ivory/bone disc to prevent swallowing. The tiny ring is so that the mother could also wear this one as a piece of jewelry.

The large ring was for a ribbon to be tied to the baby to prevent loss.

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

7

PARALYSIS IN A BOTTLE (The “Jake Walk” Story)

by Cecil Munsey Copyright © 2005

RECOLLECTIONS “JAMAICA GINGERS,” an article by Dewey Moss that appeared in Western Collector in 1967, was my first introduction to Jamaica Ginger and the bottles in which it came. Moss was one of several pioneering authors who devoted themselves to creating literature for bottle collectors during the first years of organized collecting. The following is his short article based on recollections from his youth in the 1930s: “Years ago the counties here in Utah regulated the sale of liquor; some were dry while an adjacent one was wet.

Travel then was slow, but on special occasions ‘the boys’ would pool their money and send one of the gang by train to a wet county for a supply of their favorite brands of hard liquor.

“I was a small boy but I can remember the merry makers meeting the train with a buckboard, their eager hands outstretched to help the returning member struggling with two heavy laded ‘please don’t rain’ suitcases (cardboard). Being a curious kid, I managed to get hold of some of the bottles and read their brands. If the gang was prosperous the brand was usually ‘Yellowstone,’ but when they were short of funds the brand would invariably be ‘Joe Folsom.’

“There were a few older gents in my town who were ‘alcoholics,’ these codgers having to have their drink daily.

Although the county was dry and the sale of whiskey, wine or beer prohibited, it was perfectly legal to buy and sell a much stronger drink. The merchant who sold everything including wagons, rakes, harnesses and all hand tools dispensed this product. I can picture so vividly the cracker barrel, the pickle barrel, the cheese cutter, the tobacco cutter, the many bolts of cloth, along with the spools of thread and the many brightly colored ribbons. And, there were always the coils of hemp rope.

“In one corner of the store were the

Fig. 1

patent medicines. Prominent among them would be a good supply of various brands of Jamaica Ginger. This product was an amber color, colored perhaps with burnt sugar or ginger itself.

Usually on the label would be the alcoholic content, which was always above 90% [75-90% would be more accurate]. This was the beverage the weathered drinkers would buy very cheaply and with no trouble.

“In the town was a mill powered by a water wheel. After the shift would leave, one of the old guzzlers would take a seat above the water wheel as a watchman.

I found it very amusing to sit on a hill, which overlooked the mill as well as the river and spy on the ‘watchman.’

After he was there just a short time he would take from a lunch box a bottle of Jamaica Ginger, extract the cork stopper and drink the entire contents in one gulp. Even today I marvel at how he could do that without gasping for breath or dropping dead from lack of oxygen.

Very soon he would be woozy, stagger around and cut ‘figures.’

“I took my perch evening after evening watching this character get fallingdown-drunk on about four bottles of

Jamaica Ginger, with the empties always landing in the river, and I went there expecting to see him fall in too. I don’t know what I would have done if he had fallen—somehow he never did.

“One day I asked my dad why the old watchman had such a peculiar limp.

‘Jake leg’ was his reply.

‘What’s Jake leg?,’ I asked.

‘Well, son, when a man drinks Jake long enough he gets a sort of paralysis in one or both legs,’ he told me. [This is not exactly true. Jake had been used for almost 100 years as a cheap source of alcohol. Only Jake of the early 1930s that contained a toxic adulterant caused paralysis. It took seven to sixteen days for onset of symptoms, and many cases resulted in permanent neurological damage].

“Still a little confused, I asked him what Jake meant. ‘That’s short for Jamaica Ginger. He drinks it every day and one of these days he’ll die in one of his drunks on Jake.’

“1 cannot recall whether dad’s prediction came true. However, looking back on those days and the people of those days, I cannot help wanting a fairsized collection of Jakes (empty or full).

Fig. 2

8

Winter 2006 3

“They were not large bottles and were almost always aqua, and the names embossed in the glass are interesting.

Many makers of sarsaparilla, whiskey and patent medicine also produced and sold Jamaica Ginger. The earlier Jakes are crude, many with short tapering collars. The old ‘F. Brown’s Ess of Jamaica Ginger’ with a pontil scar is very much desired. The tapered collar on these is so much more attractive than the newer square collared F. Brown’s.

“Perhaps Jamaica Ginger did some good when properly used. In our house it was used as a toddy greatly reduced with water and sweetened with sugar for the relief of stomach cramps and colds, administered at night before retiring and again in the morning. The more temperate 4 families used similar toddy but made from ground ginger root and other spices with no alcoholic content.

“Some seasoned drinkers often used Jake for ‘sobering up’ [‘hair of the dog’]; how one could ‘sober up’ on a 90% alcoholic drink is beyond me, but that’s the way it goes.

“My collection—well, it’s relatively small when you consider the number of Jakes available, but that means its always challenging and rewarding to find a maverick.”

Jake The Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906 had in effect guaranteed neither pure food nor pure drugs.

It required only honest labeling.

If a patent medicine contained morphine, opium, cocaine, heroin, alpha or beta eucaine, chloroform, cannabis indica (marijuana), chloral hydrate, acetanilide, or

alcohol, the label had to say so.

Jake was the alcoholic “essence” of Jamaica ginger, extracted from the pulverized root and closely resembled the standard pharmaceutical preparation “Tincture of Ginger” described in the United States Pharmacopoeia (U.S.P.). It was one of several thousand dubious but generally harmless patent (proprietary) medicines that Americans had been relying on for over a century. It was a pale orangeto-amber concoction usually packaged in a small glass bottle, and promoted as a carminative, headache cure, a remedy to treat catarrh, flatulence, “late menstruation” and other real or imagined illnesses. Because it averaged 80% alcohol (160 proof), a small bottle packed the kick of four jiggers of whiskey. Priced at 25 to 35 cents, it was readily available in local drugstores, groceries, and even dime stores; and anyone, including preachers and schoolmarms, could slip the little flat aqua or clear glass bottle into a pocket for a discreet nip at home or away. Common “drunks,” however, might take a bottle into the store’s back room, which many Jake sellers kept as low-rent speakeasies, mix the Jake with Coca-Cola or some other mixer and have their own furtive little party.

Jamaica ginger bottles, easily recognized by shape, label, and embossing were available in hundreds of different brands and are sought by today’s collectors.

Most are considered common and generally not expensive, but they do represent an interesting period in American social and health history. A random photographic selection of Jamaica ginger bottles is shown throughout this article.

The Volstead Act, also known as the National Prohibition Act, went into effect February 1, 1920 to further define exactly what was prohibited by the just ratified 18th Amendment. It turned every state dry, but banned only beverage alcohol. Essence of Jamaica Ginger and other alcoholic “medicines” originally were exempt from the ban. By 1925, however, in the face of widespread use of Jake as an intoxicating beverage, the Treasury Department had ruled that it could be sold over the counter only if the ginger root

Bottles and Extras extractives (oils and resins) were increased to twice the previous level. At this concentration the tincture became extremely unpalatable unless diluted; and illicit preparations began to appear on the market to sidestep the restriction. Although labeled as conforming to official specifications, these misbranded products were actually adulterated, substituting molasses, glycerin, castor oil, and other additives for much of the oleoresin of ginger, thus greatly reducing the strong pungent taste.

The economics of National Prohibition by 1930, eleven years after it started, homed in on the urban and small-town poor.

Affluent cityfolk could buy bonded liquor from Canada; backwoods hillbillies often had access to stills, but low-income townsfolk drank what they could get— rubbing alcohol, hair tonic, doctored antifreeze. These desparate people were referred to as “rummies,” “stewbums,” “boozegobs,” “hooch histers,” or simply “drunks.” Some would take Three-in-One shoe polish and strain it through a powder Fig. 5

Bottles and Extras muff , “. . .it would be just as clear as water,” according to one writer. It was not uncommon for foolhardy drinkers to filter Sterno (“canned heat”) through bread to separate-out most of the ingredients except alcohol. Songwriter Tommy Johnson wrote “Canned Heat Blues” in 1928 to commemorate that particular activity. What many drinkers really preferred, however, was “Jake.”

The Paralytic Epidemic In early 1930, a strange new paralytic plague with symptoms similar to anterior poliomyelitis began to be reported in the American South and Midwest. Victims of the disease developed numbness and pain in their legs, followed by muscle weakness, and finally paralysis with foot drop.

Although fatalities were unusual, recovery was slow and many cases would result in permanent neurological damage and longterm disability. It also caused impotence.

The name of the first person to come down with Jake Leg is lost to history. On February 27, 1930, a man staggered into

Winter 2006 Reconstruction Hospital in Oklahoma City.

The patient’s feet dangled like a marionette’s, so that walking involved swinging them forward and slapping them onto the floor. Within a few days - in the East, the South, and the Midwest - many other men began to exhibit the same rubberlegged gait. Worcester, Massachusetts reported fifty-five cases; five hundred cases practically overnight in Wichita; six hundred and ninety were reported in Topeka; a thousand in Mississippi. William G. Shepherd described the malady in Collier’s Weekly this way: “The victim of ‘Jake paralysis’ practically loses control of his fingers.

The feet of the paralyzed ones drop forward from the ankle so that the toes point downward. The victim has no control over the muscles that normally point the toes upward. When he tries to walk his dangling feet touch the pavement first at the toes, then his heels settle down jarringly. Toe first, heel next. That’s how he moves. ‘Tap-click, tap-click, tap-click, is how his footsteps sound. The calves of his legs, after two or three weeks, begin to soften and hang down; the muscles between thumbs and index fingers shrivel away...”

9 One of the first newspaper stories about the epidemic was headlined, “The Worst Has Happened.” A one-paragraph story in the Topeka Daily Capitol exclaimed, “Emporia, the Athens of Kansas, has ‘Jake leg.’ “ Newspapers across the country came up with other nicknames for the ailment: “Jake walk,” “jakeitus,” “jakeralysis,” “gingerfoot.” The mystery plague afflicted Johnson City, Tennessee particularly hard.

According to writer Dan Baum in The New Yorker: “It was discovered that numerous people had bought some Jake in Johnson City at a roadside store run by a man named Will Kite and his daughter. The Kites denied that their Jamaica ginger extract had caused the illness. They pointed out that the bottles were all labeled ‘United States Pharmacopoeia 70% alcohol.’ Because it was labeled so and carried a governmental certificate, it couldn’t be the cause of the illness, the Kites argued. They backed up their beliefs by openly consuming the Jake in the store. The Kites continued to operate the store for a time. This was accomplished with

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

10

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

difficulty because they both had to crawl on hands and knees from the back rooms of the store to the counter to wait on customers.”

Once Jamaica ginger was established as the culprit, there was no escaping the eventual accusation that victims had brought the affliction upon themselves.

“God is handing out a redflag as a danger sign to those who violate His law,” thundered Dr. C. K. Wingo, one of the two ministers of the Munsey Memorial Methodist Church in Johnson City during the period 1928-32.

The first person to record a connection between Jamaica ginger and the paralysis that caused the foot-flopping gait may have been Ishman Bracey, the black blues singer and songwriter who recorded “Jake Liquor Blues” in March 1930 at Grafton, Wisconsin. None of the contemporary news or medical accounts mentioned what appears to have been the disease’s most embarrassing consequence; but Bracey relates in his song, “It’s the doggonest disease ever heard of since I been born.

You get numb in front of your body, you can‘t carry any lovin’ on.” Other references

by Bracey were to “limber leg” or “limber trouble,” both of which suggest that Jake Leg often caused impotence.

Dr. John P. Morgan, a professor at the City University of New York Medical School who called himself a “pharmacoethnomusicologist,” was a lover of early American vernacular music and collected a number of songs about the Jake leg or the Jake walk. A typical example is The Jake Walk Blues, written by brothers Austin and Lee Allen, recorded May 5, 1930 in Memphis. It is estimated that the original release of the song sold over 20,000 copies.— The Jake Walk Blues I can‘t eat, I can‘t talk Been drinkin’ mean Jake, Lord, now can’t walk 9

Ain’t got nothin’ now to lose Cause I’m a Jake walkin’ papa with the Jake walk blues.

Fig. 10

Listen here papa, can’t you see You can’t drink Jake, and get along with me You‘re a Jake walkin’ papa with the Jake walk blues I’m a red hot mama that you can t afford to lose.

Listen here daddy, while I tell you once more If you‘re gonna drink Jake don‘t you knock at my door Listen here mama have to call your hand I’m a Jake walkin‘ papa from Jake walk land.

I’m not good lookin’ and I’m not low down I’m a Jake walkin papa just hangin’ around Now I’ve made this song and it may not rhyme But I’m a Jake walkin’ papa just havin’ a good time.

My daddy was a gambler and a drunkard too If he was living today he‘d have the Jake walk too When I die you can have my hand Gonna take a bottle of Jake to the promised land.

Appendix].

Now I’m feelin’ kinda drunk, brother Be a wearin’ Jake socks after awhile You know they call them iron socks* You know, l bet you don’t know one from the other, brother, which is the other?

“Who Dunit?”

The Jake leg epidemic broke out just after the infamous stock market crash of 1929 and before full effects of the Great Depression were really felt in America. In those years government was small, regulations were skimpy, enforcement was almost an afterthought, and product-

*braces [Other Jake-based songs are listed in the Appendix Date 1928 1930 1930 1930 1930 1930 1930 1930 1930 1930 1933 1934

It is estimated that during 1930-1931, some thirty to forty thousand people were affected, many ending up in poorhouses, county farms, veterans’ homes or similar places.

Jake-Based Songs of the 1930s Writer Song Lemuel Turner “Jake Bottle Blues” Allen Brothers “Jake Walk Blues” Ray Brothers “Jake Leg Wobble” - instrumental Byrd Moore “Jake Leg Blues” Ray Brothers “Got The Jake Leg Too” Narmour and Smith “Jake Leg Rag - instrumental Tommy Johnson “Alcohol and Jake Blues” Ishman Bracey “Jake Liquor Blues” Mississippi Sheiks “Jake Leg Blues” Daddy Stovepipe “Jake Leg Blues Asa Martin “Jake Walk Papa” Willie Lofton “Jake Leg Blues

Bottles and Extras liability was yet to be invented. The Agriculture Department’s small Food, Drug and Insecticide Administration policed drug standards, but the idea that the federal government should play a role in fighting Jake leg was hardly even discussed. There were no Centers for Disease Control such as we have today; and as the affliction spread across the land many theories were proposed to explain the cause. Most centered on contamination of Jamaica ginger.

The National Institute of Health (newly created out of the Public Health Service’s Hygienic Laboratory) was as poorly funded as the Agriculture Department. Its annual budget was less than a million dollars and it had only twelve PHS physicians on its staff. One of the doctors was Senior Pharmacologist Maurice I. Smith, who in early 1930 decided that he needed to get his hands on a sample of poisoned Jake so it could be analyzed.

It wasn’t an easy task.

As word of the epidemic spread, storekeepers, fearful of prosecution, removed Jake from their shelves. More than once, like today’s bottle collectors, Smith had to recover bottles from cesspits and outhouse privies. He found his first samples in Findlay, Ohio and sent them to Washington where tests were performed by Bureau of Industrial Alcohol chemists.

They soon identified the neurotoxic adulterant as tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP)—a plasticizer formulated to keep Fig. 11

Winter 2006 synthetic materials from becoming brittle, and commonly used in the manufacture of products such as lacquers, leather dopes, and airplane finishes. Only two companies made it: Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York and the Celluloid Corporation of Newark, New Jersey.

The Treasury Department had ordered the doubling of bitter extractive solids in Essence of Jamaica Ginger to prevent people from getting any pleasure from drinking it as a beverage. Ignorant of the toxicity of TOCP, vendors used it to boost the total solids in Jake in a criminal effort to foil the government’s assay.

Dr. Maurice Smith traveled to Cincinnati and to Johnson City, Tennessee to examine personally some of the victims of Jake poisoning. Jamaica Ginger extract was sold in Cincinnati under at least eight different brands and in Johnson City under at least four. Unfortunately for bottle collectors, history has not yet revealed a list of the brands of adulterated Jake. Dr. Smith wrote in Public Health Reports: “Only a chemist of some ability could have thought of [using TOCP] and had there been anything known about the pharmacological action of this substance and the possible dire consequences, it is probable that it would never have been used and the disaster would never have happened.”

Dr. John Morgan researched the problems of the Jamaica Ginger paralysis episode of the 1930s for twenty-seven years and made these comments in JAMA: “Often these companies were not traceable, and all sellers involved had numerous names, mailing addresses, and fronts. In more than one state, a grand jury indicted one ‘S. A. Hall’ of Brooklyn as a conspirator in the traffic of adulterated Jake. This was a mail-drop office used by a Brooklyn seller and was so named because it stood next door to a Salvation Army installation.”

“Tens of thousands of mostly poor drinkers were afflicted with paralysis (‘Jake leg’) after

11 12

consuming a cheap ‘medicinal’ liquor substitute that had been adulterated with an industrial plasticizing chemical for purposes of evading scrutiny by Prohibition enforcers. But when the mysterious outbreak of paralysis occurred there was no reason initially to suspect that adulterated Jake had any role.”

The poisoned Jake samples obtained from privies and cesspits ultimately led investigators to Harry Gross and Max Reisman, two Boston brothers-in-law. Both of these men had been involved in shady businesses and known to law enforcement for years. It was 1928 when Gross and Reisman rented the third and fourth floors of a building in Boston, renamed their business Hub Products and went into fulltime production of Jamaica ginger extract.

They shipped the Jake around the country in big barrels, which they filled at night and labeled “liquid medicine in bulk.” After some complaints from customers about the quality of their Jake, and reassurance from Celluloid Corporation that TOCP was harmless, Hub Products bought a hundred and thirty-five gallons of it. That was enough TOCP to adulterate 432,000 bottles of Jake and to paralyze tens of thousands of people.

Gross and Reisman were charged with conspiracy to violate both the Prohibition Act and the Pure Food and Drugs Act. The charge of “conspiracy” was important because it qualified the offense as a felony and could lead to imprisonment. The owners of Hub Products were in violation of Prohibition laws because their Jamaica ginger extract was intentionally altered so that it could be consumed as a beverage rather than a medicine, a legal distinction usually impossible to prove. Most Prohibition-period Jake labels carried the

12 warning: “This preparation must not be used for beverage purposes under penalty of law.” Hub’s product was also prosecuted under the Food and Drugs Act because the toxic Jake was adulterated and misbranded, but such violations were classed as misdemeanors and normally punishable only by fine.

The men eventually pleaded guilty, the company was fined $1000, and each man sentenced to two years in prison; but sentences were suspended with two years probation. They were convicted in April 1932. Later, Gross was charged with violation of his probation and ordered to serve his two-year prison term. Reisman never did time.

As the 1930s progressed, pressure for reform of food and drug legislation increased. By 1937 such tragedies as the one involving Jamaica Ginger created enough public outrage to cause passage of the 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This law prohibited the marketing of new drugs in interstate commerce until manufacturers provided the FDA with satisfactory evidence of their safety.

References Amy, Henry V. Principles of Pharmacy.

Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co., 1926.

Baum, Dan. “Annals of Epidemiology: Jake Leg: How the blues diagnose a medical mystery,” The New Yorker, Sept. 15, 2003: p. 50.

Jackson, Charles 0. Food and Drug Legislation in the New Deal. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1970.

Jean [anonymous]. “Experiences as a Bootlegger,” The New Yorker, September 1926.

Kidd, John G. and Langworthy, Orthello R. “Jake Paralysis: Paralysis Following the Ingestion of Jamaica Ginger Extract Adulterated with Tri-Ortho-Cresyl Phosphate,” Bulletin ofJohns Hopkins Hospital, Vol. 52 (1933): pp. 39-60.

Morgan, John P. “The Jamaica Ginger Paralysis,” Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 248 (October 15, 1982): pp. 1864-1867.

Moss, Dewey. “Jamaica Gingers,” Western Collector magazine, Vol. V, No. 5: pp. 37-39, May 1967.

Munsey, Cecil. The Illustrated Guide to COLLECTING BOTTLES. New York: Hawthorn Books, Inc., 1970.

Shepherd, William G. “Description of Jake Victim. Collier ‘s Weekly, July 26, 1930.

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006 Smith, Maurice Isadore, and Elvove, E. et al. “Pharmacological and Chemical Studies of the Cause of So-Called Ginger Paralysis: A Preliminary Report,” Public Health Reports, Vol. 45, October, 1930: pp.

1703-17 16.

Internet: bill@munsey.org: Perham, Bill.

Archivist of Munsey Memorial Methodist Church in Johnson City, Tennessee. E-mail: “Looks like you have a choice of names for the 1930-34 time frame. The ministers of Munsey Memorial Methodist Church were: Dr. C. K. Wingo who was here from 1928— 32, and Rev. W. F. Blackard from 1932 until 1937.” http://www.caribbean7.com/articles/ jamaica/jamaica-article-5151.html “The Public Health Service and Jamaica Ginger paralysis in the 1930s. http://www.herbalgram.org/iherb/ herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=957&p=Y” “The JAMAICA GINGER Paralysis Episode of the 1930s.” http://www.ibiblio.org/moonshine/ drink/jake.html “The Jake Walk Effect.”

Photos: Fig. 1: Embossed N.K. Brown’s Aromatic Essence Jamaica Ginger, Milwaukee, Wis. Fig. 2: 1937 postcard showing Jamaican women “scraping” ginger.

Fig. 3: Clipping from Johnson City (Tennessee) Staff News.

Fig. 4: Dr. Lynas’ Unexcelled Essence Jamaica Ginger with its original label.

Fig. 5: Embossed F. Brown’s Ess. Of Jamaica Ginger, Philla.

Fig. 6: Standard Extract of Jamaica Ginger, J. Hungerford Smith Co., Manuf. Chemists, Rochester, N.Y. Fig. 7: Aqua bottle with part of the label, H.H. Ricker & Co. Fig. 8: Jamaica ginger was commonly found in aqua bottles, such as this example.

This one is embossed C.M. JOHNSON’S EXTRACT OF JAMAICA GINGER. Fig. 9: Record cover. Tunes include: Jake Walk Blues (Allen Bros.); Jake Leg Wobble, Got the Jake Leg Too (Ray Bros.); Jake Legs Blues (Byrd Moore); Jake Leg Blues (Willie Lofton); Jake Leg Rag, Limber Neck Rag (Narmoure & Smith); Jake Walk Papa (Asa Martin); Jake Liquor Blues (Ishman Bracey); Jake Bottle Blues (Lemuel Turner); Jake Leg Blues (Mississippi Sheiks); and Jake Leg Blues, Jake Walk Blues (Maynard Britton).

Fig. 10: Tradecard advertising Dow’s Jamaica Ginger Cordial, “for colds, cramps, Malaria, &cc.” N.Y office at 42 Hudson St..

H. Scripture, Manager. The caption of the front reads, “Johnny, you get the ball, I’ll stay here!”

Fig. 11: “Two Jakes.” One, McMillan & Kesters Ess. of Jamaica Ginger, S.F., the other, Mertan, Moffitt & Co., S.F. Fig. 12: Early wooden dovetail box with paper label advertising Thurber’s Jamaica Ginger.

Fig. 13: Embossed R. Brown’s Ess. Of Jamaica Ginger bottle.

Cecil Munsey 13541 Willow Run Road Poway, CA 92064-1733 (858) 487-7036 cecilmunsey@cox.net

Fig. 13

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

Shield F - The Mark of Quality

by Marg Iwen A Family Affair Ask people about the Federal Glass Company and chances are they’ll scratch their heads and answer the question with a question, “It was mostly a bottle and jar factory, wasn’t it?” Certainly bottles and jars made up a large percentage of the early output, but over a 79-year life span, the Federal made a wide array of products.

By the 1960s, this company had mushroomed into the undisputed industrial behemoth of the South Side of Columbus, Ohio.

Nearly two decades later, multiple forces from both the inside and the outside felled this glassmaking giant.

The factory site, bustling since 1900, is uncharacteristically quiet today. The hiss and clang of automatic glassmaking machines are only memories for those who still remember life at the old Federal. The physical plant, with its conglomeration of once tightly packed buildings, has been largely eviscerated to clear a thoroughfare for an industrial park that still bears its name—Federal Industrial Park.

The story of this major player in the American glass industry must also include the achievements of the Beatty family, pioneer glassmakers whose lives were inexorably linked to the trade starting before the Civil War. Family members built and managed glass factories in five cities—Steubenville, Tiffin, and Columbus, Ohio; Dunkirk, Indiana; and Washington, Pennsylvania.

Just as Beatty sons followed their fathers to the Federal, so did the sons in many other families. They considered co-workers their extended family. After working hours, employees joined in sporting and social events, and in times of illness or bereavement, comforted and supported one another. This “city within a city,” this Federal Glass Company across all departments, became the home away from home for thousands of workers for almost eight decades.

business community.

The partners called their new enterprise Beatty and Stillman. After they had updated and operated it for a few years, it passed through the hands of several owners until about 1852 when Joseph’s younger brother, Alexander, became the new owner.

Alexander J. Beatty, already a successful Steubenville wholesale grocer and wool merchant, razed the early glass house buildings and erected a new factory. Before long, he had built the business to where 160 workers made 36,000 goblets and tumblers daily (Doyle, 1910). Although tableware was also made at the thriving Beatty factory, tumblers established A. J. Beatty & Sons’ reputation in the glass business.

When Alexander J. Beatty was struck by a locomotive of the Pan Handle Railroad while walking along the tracks in the rain to his home, he received a severe brain injury and died a short time later in Kenbright’s Hospital in Philadelphia. His tragic and unexpected death plunged three of his four children into full-time glassmaking.

Mary Gill Beatty (Rhodes Patterson) many years later described in detail how the untimely death of her father affected the family. “A heavy burden fell upon my brothers who were very young and boyish in appearance. Due to the business depression that had affected the glassworks, it was decided that Robert should go on a business trip at the earliest opportunity.

In that case, someone should be in the office with brother George. Since they wished no outsider to know their state of affairs, I suggested that they allow me to take that place.”

13 Mary Gill, then 19 years old and the youngest of the four Beatty children, continued, “We went to the factory very early in the morning stopping for mail on our way. After building a fire in the stove and thawing out our fingers in the cold weather, George would go out to the factory and I would open all the mail, laying the letters upon his desk ready for him and copying all the orders myself into the order book. After that I made out the invoices for what was shipped the previous day.

“I remember very clearly the puzzled and incredulous look on the faces of elderly businessmen from large cities when they were assured that this boyish, beardless young man of 21 [George] was the sole proprietor of the establishment in the absence of older brother age 23 [Robert]. No one but the three of us ever knew to what financial extremes we were reduced at the time,” Mary Gill concluded.

Following the Natural Gas By 1887, the Beatty brothers accepted the relocation offer of $50,00 in cash and land as well as free natural gas for five years from then gas-rich Tiffin, Ohio. In their new factory, constructed at a cost of $65,000, they made the first glass in 1889 from three furnaces of 15 pots each. Tumblers and tableware in crystal (clear), colored, and opalescent constituted the bulk of the output from the factory that still bore their father’s name.

In Tiffin, the Beatty brothers established their reputation as outstanding glass men, beneficent employers, and hard-headed executives. By January 1892, A. J. Beatty & Sons had joined 17 other formerly independent glass companies that merged to form the United States Glass Company (U.S Glass) combine.

When the natural gas supply in Tiffin largely ran out, in 1896 the Beatty brothers headed west to Dunkirk, Indiana, where the gas still flowed freely. They bought the abandoned Dunkirk Locomotive and Car Repair Works buildings

The Early Beatty Factories Long before the Federal Glass Company started up in Columbus, a small glassmaking operation built about 1830 near the banks of the Ohio River in Steubenville beckoned to Joseph Beatty. Together with his partner, Edward Stillman, they took over the previously unsuccessful glass factory in 1845 when only about 5,000 people lived in this thriving

Early advertisement by Joseph Beatty and Edward Stillman (typo Steelman) who bought the old Kilgore & Hanna factory, which failed due to brittle glass.

(Dohrman, 1884).

Alexander J. Beatty (born November 14, 1811; died November 29, 1875) and his wife, Abbie Ann Johnson, had four children, Sarah, Robert James, George and Mary Gill.

A.J. Beatty & Sons 1879 catalog from Steubenville, Ohio, offering wares in over 20 categories, including table tumblers, ales, bar tumblers, handled jellies and tin-top jellies.

14

Winter 2006

Bottles and Extras

and grounds, which due to lack of funding, never became operational. From two continuous tank furnaces instead of pot furnaces they began making tumblers, jellies, packers’ goods, fruit jars, and tableware at the factory they named Beatty-Brady.

In October 1899, Beatty-Brady joined with 18 other glass factories to form the National Glass Company combine. About a year later, George Beatty sold out to the combine. Now free from the controlling combine management, he marshaled his considerable assets, including plans for a new glass factory, and set out for Columbus, Ohio. At 515 E. Innis Avenue on the South Side he intended to manufacture lowcost wares from glass melted in continuous tank furnaces and formed by automatic machinery.

Opened Under Foreign Charter The Federal was originally incorporated under the laws of West Virginia by five Washington, Pennsylvania, glass men: George Beatty, Robert James Beatty, Charles Neave Brady, James Kuntz, Jr., John W. Donnan, and attorney H. M. Hussel of Wheeling. State law required that a West Virginia lawyer be appointed and present at the incorporation proceedings. Kuntz was also the president and chief stockholder in the Mississinewa Gas Company, Marion, Indiana. Donnan had served previously on the Beatty-Brady board of directors.

The new company’s first officers included George Beatty, president; James S. Bracken, vicepresident; William C. Bracken, secretary; and James Kuntz, Jr., treasurer. To cover the cost of new buildings and machinery, the initial amount of capital stock was increased from $175,000 to $275,000.

The West Virginia charter under which the company had operated for about four years was retired when the Federal was rechartered in Ohio on May 28, 1904. The Ohio corporation

No. 49 1/2

Eng. 136

Manufacturers of

Tumblers, Beer Mugs and Fine Tableware.

The largest line of Blown Tumblers, Plain, Cut, Handled, Etched and Engraved in the market.

A.J. Beatty & Sons Tiffin, Ohio, advertisement.

Engraving cost 15 cents a dozen, or $3.00 for letter monogram (China, Glass and Lamps [CGL], April 29, 1881).

By 1896, George Beatty was making tableware, such as this sugar and butter, from continuous tank furnaces.

No. 106 is now known as Spiralled Triangle (CGL, March 31, 1899).

purchased the West Virginia corporation for $245,000 and assumed all unpaid obligations.

Incorporators included George and Robert James Beatty, James S. Bracken, George T. Everett, and George W. Davis. The capital stock of $250,000 was divided into 2,500 shares of $100 each.

There is a Beginning . . .

Ground was broken for the new factory on June 1, 1900. Two Columbus contractors, William E. W. Cherry and D. W. McGrath, secured the contract for the two-story office building, mold shop, mixing room, finishing room, and a galvanized (zinc-plated sheet steel over a wood frame) structure for the engine room. Herman Laub of Pittsburgh won the contract for the factory buildings.

James Cuthbert, Sr., a life-long Federal employee originally hired at Tiffin, reported that George Beatty had rented an old stove works in Tiffin where “gathering-blowing machines, wire and gas cut-off machines, grinding machines and melting machines” were built. When the first Federal buildings neared completion, George Beatty shipped these machines to Columbus on December 17, 1900. He had successfully patented several of them.

By the end of the following year, the Federal had acquired 17 acres of “...ground as level as a floor”(China, Glass and Lamps [CGL] , November 7, 1901). The factory site was bounded by Woodrow Avenue on the north, Ann Street, Innis Avenue, and Wager Street on the west, and Marion Road on the south. “If the size of the factory and thorough equipment are any criterion, they will be one of the largest producers of tumblers in the U. S. once they get into full operation,” declared CGL. Federal Rises in the Outback At the turn of the century, the area surrounding the budding Federal, mostly located in the Township of Marion, Franklin County, lay largely unimproved. Many residents planted their gardens near the factory at Woodrow and Parsons Avenues; corn fields abounded south of Innis Avenue.

“There was a baseball park on Jenkins Avenue east of Parsons which gave the saloons the business, then there were these signs, going out of town ‘Last Chance’ and coming into town

‘First Chance,’ according to Cuthbert.

Columbus numbered about 125,000 residents in 1900.

When the Federal started up, Innis and Parsons Avenues were nothing but dirt roads.

Helen Everett Fisher (daughter of George T. Everett, a Beatty faithful who was the plant manager at Dunkirk and a Federal stockholder as well as a factory supervisor) recalled that workers going to and from work often became mired in mud. Out of necessity, an early construction project entailed building a sidewalk of planks measuring eight feet long, four inches wide, and two inches thick, running from Parsons Avenue to the factory. Soon after, workers erected an eight-foot-high board fence around the factory buildings, a common practice among factories running non-union.

Fisher recalled that “After Parsons Avenue was paved we always knew when it was 8 o’clock because Mr. W. C. Bracken would pass in his black Packard, then Mr. Jim Bracken would pass in the same kind of car. Later Mr. George Beatty passed in a great White steamer [a steam-powered automobile built by the White Company from 1900 - 1911].”

George Beatty, Federal’s founder and first president.

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

15

According to Fisher, “People in the South End could always set their clocks by the Federal whistles. Factory people started to work about six in the morning. The noon whistle blew at 11:30 a.m. At 12:15 p.m. the first whistle blew and promptly at 12:30 p.m. the second whistle blew, and that meant everyone had to be there on the job. During the early months of operation, the night shift began at 5:30 p.m. and ended at 6 a.m. with a lunch hour at midnight.”

Fisher confided that her father “...felt close to the people who worked for him and all their family woes were his. He often told about having to paddle this boy or that one, having caught him smoking cigarettes.” She continued, “Also he had a lot of trouble during the hot weather because the men drank too much of the ice-cold well water which constantly gushed from an open pipe in the factory. For this reason, he made them all eat salt.”

Her father presumed he had assembled a complete first aid kit. He kept it supplied with cheese cloth bandages—which she cut, rolled, and wrapped in newspaper. “He also always kept on hand a box of baking soda, a bottle of turpentine to use for cuts, and of course, the salt,” Fisher added.

“I recall how often Mabel [Fisher’s sister and first stenographer] took me with her to the office on Saturday and I was permitted to walk quietly up and down the little iron stairway which is still there (1951) but was allowed to speak to no one unless Mr. [George] Beatty spoke to me first.” She was amused that students from Ohio State University who toured the plant during summer vacation aggravated George Everett by taking notes and asking “darn fool” questions.

President George Beatty and Vice president James S. Bracken established their first offices in an old tollgate house located at Parsons and Innis Avenues while the two-story office building was being built (a buff brick structure which later became the central core of the new office building).

James Cuthbert and the other workers who arrived in Columbus on Thursday, December 20, 1900, were met at the car line which

terminated at Innis Avenue by George Davis (stockholder and incorporator under the West Virginia charter, and later Federal mold shop foreman). He took them to Henry “Hen” Reeb’s for dinner. “First good thing we had to say for Columbus,” remarked Cuthbert.

“Later Mr. George Beatty met us at the office door and showed us through the plant, and asked if we wanted to go to work then or start in the morning. One of the boys being superstitious said it was bad luck to start on Friday, so he went to work,” Cuthbert reported. Apparently it was a long-held belief among glassmen that starting to work on Friday, but not working that day as part of a normal shift, was unlucky.

A critical housing shortage prevailed in Columbus around 1900. The Beatty brothers had already dealt with a similar shortage when workers moved with the factory from Steubenville to Tiffin. Now, in this place, they had to find housing, preferably on the South Side, for the immigrants who arrived from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Germany, and Ireland, as well as for the regional workers who came from Pittsburgh and the lower Ohio Valley.

The first cohort of workers, while searching for room and board, discovered they would have to live two to a room, use kerosene lamps for light, bathe in a wash tub, and make do without running water or sewer. Most of them boarded at “Hen” Reeb’s on Reeb Avenue where Cuthbert reported the meals to be “extra good.”

Tumblers and Jellies First Output The No. 1 continuous tank furnace was built in 1901; No. 2 furnace was added the following year. A third tank furnace was fired in 1905.

At various times in its history, the Federal worked from one to six tank furnaces. It may have been the first U.S. factory to make hand blown wares from glass melted in a continuous tank furnace.

James Means Beatty, the son of Robert James Beatty, briefly described the structure and operation of a typical continuous tank furnace at the Federal, built of clay blocks 12 inches thick. The melting end, charged with the batch, averaged approximately 27 feet by 16 feet. The

depth of the molten glass in the melting end equalled 42 inches.

From the melting end the molten glass passed through a 24-inch-square aperture located at the base of the tank furnace into the smaller working end. The act of passing through this “hole” allowed “seeds” or small bubbles and other impurities to rise to the top. The smaller working end of the tank furnace was rounded to permit more even spacing of the delivery spouts that carried molten glass to the forming machines.

Although American glass factories were slow to accept the tank furnace, once they recognized its fuel efficiency and need for fewer workers, it became the standard for the industry.

By 1919, nearly 600 tank furnaces operated in U.S. glass factories, compared with about 200 when George Beatty installed them at the Federal (Scoville, 1948).

The No. 630 tumbler was the first blown ware made in the No. 1 plant (blow factory) in February 1901. An early advertisement, among the Federal’s first in trade papers, listed blown tumblers, plain and engraved (China, Glassware, and Pottery Reporter [CGPR], August 1901). The same issue noted “ ...a catalog of tumblers and price list will be sent on request to the Federal Glass Company.” The CGPR, December 1902, stated that the “latest catalog sent out by Federal ...has the latest shapes in tumblers and stemware, plain and engraved styles.”

The first press, driven by steam, turned out 1 /3- and 1/2-pint round bottom jelly tumblers.

The first pressed tumblers belonged to the No. 200 line, and included No. 201 with a star in the bottom, No. 202 with a horseshoe in the bottom, and No. 226 with an engraved band three-fourths of an inch from the top. During the early days, the company shipped all tumblers in excelsior-filled barrels made in the cooper shop. Packers’ goods left the factory in wooden reshipping crates assembled in the same building as the barrels.

Fisher recalled that fruit jars (both pints and quarts) constituted the main output of Factory No. 2, supervised by her dad. According to

Robert James Beatty, Federal’s co-founder and chief financier (photo courtesy of Patricia Patterson Allen).

James Means Beatty, son of Robert James Beatty, and Federal’s second president.

Edmund A. Donnan, Sr., Federal’s third and longest-serving president (photo courtesy of Russ Hughes).

16

Winter 2006

Fisher, her mother often called the factory telephone number, Ma. 2404, during the canning season and requested that a boy deliver a couple of dozen fruit jars. “In those days no one ever thought of paying for ware,” she confessed.

Residual Litigation Rankles When the Dunkirk plant sold to the National combine in 1899, George Beatty allegedly entered into a contract stating he would not manufacture pressed tableware for five years (CGL, February 15, 1902). (Other references include jellies and tumblers as well as tableware.) Based upon this condition, he received an all-cash settlement rather than part stock and part cash for his plant.

The National Glass Company, with headquarters in Pittsburgh, filed suit in U.S. District Court in Columbus in 1902 to restrain Beatty from manufacturing tableware in violation of the contract alleged to have been entered into between Beatty and the National in 1899 (CGL, October 4, 1902). However, Federal made the first tableware in 1906— beyond the time limitation allegedly specified in the contract.

The National Glass Company, poorly managed and already faltering shortly after the individual factories merged, possessed limited resources to devote to this suit, falling into receivership by 1907. The outcome of the suit remains unknown; it may have been dropped or settled out of court.

Fuel Shortage—Well, Well, Well The faltering supply of natural gas as early as 1902 prompted the Federal to build a gas producer plant to make gas from coal a year earlier than George Beatty had planned.

Throughout the Federal’s primordium, growth, and maturation, the natural gas supply would ebb and flow, a phenomenon dreaded but well understood by those who chose to make glass for a living.

In his 1906 report to the stockholders, George Beatty warned that the gas company which had supplied natural gas to the factory would probably increase the price by at least 20 percent. The supplier further notified that

the existing contract would be valid for only a year at a time. More unsettling still, the supplier gave preference to residential customers, threatening to take the Federal off line before private customers suffered a shortage.

Given the tentative natural gas situation, the board of directors decided to search for an independent fuel supply. Together with the Buckeye Steel Castings Company (a Columbus foundry specializing in castings for the railroad), the Federal leased 8,000 acres in Licking County, Ohio, to drill for natural gas. The first well turned out to be a dry hole. Well No. 2 showed some promise, but not enough to warrant pumping. Well No. 3 was a total failure.

Well No. 4 also showed promise, but the Federal directors decided to halt speculation until it produced enough natural gas and oil to justify further investment. Sadly, the entire drilling operation was a bust, and in 1907 George Beatty told the stockholders the Federal had resumed making producer gas from coal.

The neighborhood housewives as well as George Beatty would have preferred a cleanerburning fuel supply. The early gas producers were not only inefficient, but also notoriously polluting. The soot buildup, cleared by a weekly “blow out” or “burn out,” settled an oily black film over everything in the vicinity. Imagine the housewives’ dismay when the blow out and hanging wash out took place on the same day.

Federal Displays its Wares The Federal showed its wares at least as early as the January 1905 Glass and Pottery Exhibition in Pittsburgh. James Means Beatty, previously seasoned by 18 months of selling glassware for the U.S. Glass, staffed the first one-room display at the Hotel Henry.

A year later he was joined by Julius (Jule) Braun, an experienced glass salesman often dubbed “jovial” or “jolly” by the trade paper reporters who covered the show. By 1907, in two rooms at the Fort Pitt Hotel, pressed tableware occupied a prominent place in the Federal display. Included were imitation-cut tableware (No. 1910 line) and plain ware (No. 140 line) as well as blown tumblers, sodas, nappies, and packers’ wares (CGL, January 12, 1907).

An early Federal advertisement announcing its wares to the trade (CGL, October 19, 1901).

Bottles and Extras

No. 630 blown tumblers, the first made at the Federal, with various engravings (October 1914 catalog).

The 1908 display included a plain line (No. 140), a grape line (No. 507), and a vine or wreath line (No. 508) as well as the limitationcut line (No. 1910). The display also featured jugs (pitchers), molasses cans, bar goods, and berry sets (CGL, January 18, 1908).

Judging from trade paper commentary, sales of Federal glass were keeping the representatives hopping. “It took longer to see Mr. Beatty than it does to see J. P. Morgan,” said the CGL reporter in the January 25, 1908, issue. “But,” he continued, “Mr. Beatty ought to have buyers and ought to sell glass because he has stuff that is salable. The ‘lightness’ and ‘brightness’ of it are distinctive. Mr. Beatty does not know when he will get away. Certainly not while buyers are keeping him as busy as they are now.”

In subsequent years, displays included tableware patterns originally made by other companies, notably Kokomo/Jenkins, U.S. Glass, and possibly Indiana Tumbler and Goblet. After the initial run, or slow sales, many companies sold the molds to companies such as the Federal, which made the glass more cheaply from tank glass than other companies could make it from pot glass. This may help explain some of the variation in quality found between items of the same pattern.

Morris G. Woodhull, husband of Robert James Beatty’s daughter Emma, assisted Braun with the 1910 display. By the 1920s, U. L. Conway appeared for the Federal, which continued to participate in various trade shows at least into the mid-1950s.

Financial Picture Looks Rosy In spite of growing pains punctuated by cutthroat competitors and vacillating fuel supplies, the Federal made money. The Beattys remained the principal stockholders in the early years, holding slightly over 50 percent of the stock.

Bottles and Extras In 1903, the company reported $338,651 in total sales. By 1904, sales had increased to $492,193 and rose to $652,133 during 1905.

George Beatty gave no exact sales figures in 1906, but in his annual report he stated that sales had not increased much over 1905. In 1907, he said only that sales had “largely increased over the previous year.”

The company officers received a salary increase in late 1911. President George Beatty’s base salary rose from $8,000 per year to $13,625. Vice president James S. Bracken realized an increase from a base of $6,000 to $10,015. Secretary James Means Beatty saw his salary increase from $6,000 to $9,705, and Treasurer William C. Bracken’s salary went from $4,000 to $7,205. If it’s true that salaries double about every 10 years, these officials could have become wealthy men.

At the end of the first decade, the Federal property supported at least 45 structures, ranging in size from the individual factory buildings which housed the continuous tank

Advertisement in the 1907 Thomas Wholesale Grocery and Kindred Trades Register (courtesy of Bracken Library, Ball State University, Muncie, Ind.).

Winter 2006

17

furnaces and lehrs to the smaller buildings such as sand bins and hay storage sheds. Each building was numbered for easy identification.

The American Appraisal Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, valued the company at $410,959, of which $355,580 was covered by insurance.

The Hercules Is Born Based upon successful operation of the factory for a decade, officials saw the wisdom of creating a subsidiary to fabricate shipping containers. Such a move, they reasoned, could help alleviate problems previously encountered with paperboard suppliers.

When he spoke to the Federal stockholders in August 1911, President George Beatty said, “We have added a corrugating and paper box manufacturing plant, wherewith we are able to make all of our paper boxes and corrugated fillers for our wooden reshipping cases that are so largely used now by the packing trade.” He called the subsidiary the Hercules Box Company. In later years, it would mark containers with the “Shield H.” President Beatty felt that building a box plant benefitted the Federal enormously because in the past the company “ ...had to purchase paper from manufacturers and have had to be entirely at their mercy as to the time of delivery, and in many instances have lost customers or had unpleasant contentions through this delay, and we expect as well to furnish these boxes on a cheaper basis than we can now buy them from the outside manufacturers.” Moreover, wrapping glassware in tissue paper and carefully nesting it in excelsior-filled barrels had become outmoded as well as more costly.

In 1912, the Federal improved its machinery when the company purchased the rights to the Miller Semi-automatic Press from Edward Miller, owner of the Miller Machine & Mould Works, Columbus (mechanical patent No. 787, 050 granted December 6, 1904). The semiautomatic-machine replaced some, but not all, workers in a shop. One Miller machine increased pressed ware production from one article per minute to 20 articles, and later to 35 articles per minute. Earlier Miller had collaborated with Robert James Beatty on glass making machinery in Tiffin, Ohio, and Washington, Pennsylvania.

Strike Number One On July 17, 1913, the Federal suffered its first strike when Local No. 122 of the American Flint Glass Workers Union (AFGWU) sought recognition following months of agitating. As a result of the strike, the factory shut down the operating departments, but later advertised for help that would work non-union. Many from the Pittsburgh area answered the call, only to be taunted by strikers who called them “scabs.”

These workers were housed in barracks erected on the Marion Road site that later became the Hercules Box Company office, and fed at the company commissary. Some worked in production but output was minimal. Others installed new machinery, repaired existing machines, or made improvements to the facility.

The plant resumed limited production in the fall of 1914, and continued operating non-union as it had before the strike occurred.

No. 140 Ware (plain ware) four-piece set, berry bowls, tumbler and jug (1914 catalog from Klopp, 1982, with permission from David Richardson, The Glass Press, Marietta, Ohio).

No. 1910 line imitation-cut tableware comprising some 30 forms (1914 catalog from Klopp, 1982, with permission from David Richardson, The Glass Press, Marietta, Ohio).

No, 507 line, Federal’s Grape, has shapes identical to No. 508, Federal’s Vine. Glass may have a slightly cloudy, grayish cast. (1914 catalog from Klopp, 1982, with permission from David Richardson, The Glass Press, Marietta, Ohio).

No. 508 line, Federal’s Vine tableware with pattern on the inside of the form pressed with design on the plunger. (1914 catalog from Klopp, 1982, with permission from David Richardson, The Glass Press, Marietta, Ohio).

18

Tumbler and jug sets. Top row: Peacock Feather, Kansas. Bottom row: Cannonball Pinwheel (Caledonia), Boxed Star. (1914 catalog from Klopp, 1982, with permission from David Richardson, The Glass Press, Marietta, Ohio).

Federal’s packaging glass, ca. 1914. Left: Dewdrop and Raindrop sherbet (also Kokomo/ Jenkins, 1901); Center: Stippled Arrow toy mug; right: Ribbed Leaves variant mug (Patricia Klar photo).

Packers jelly tumblers (top row) and table tumblers (bottom row) in Federal’s Grape, Boxed Star, No. 102 and Austrian (1913 catalog from Klopp, 1983, with permission from David Richardson, The Glass Press, Marietta, Ohio).

Wabash toy sets. Top row: Fish set with Federal Vine border. Bottom row: Grape stein set and Tulip and Honeycomb forms (1914 catalog from Klopp, 1982, with permission from David Richardson, The Glass Press, Marietta, Ohio).

Winter 2006 Fisher reflected on the Federal’s first labor uprising: “It seemed that when the strike started, none of the men wanted to strike. Up to that time we had been a contented family. The men all felt they were making ‘big money,’ especially the blowers, who sometimes made as much as fifty dollars weekly. I vividly recall my special hatred for the union organizer by the name of Joe O’Malley, who was aided in his efforts by Ed Zimpher [Edward S. Zimmer], who went by the nickname of ‘Liver.’ These two men, to my notion, were hardly human.”

During the mid-summer strike, the mold shop operated with only a few men, one of whom was John Moeller. He suffered severe burns when a freshly-filled gasoline torch he was carrying exploded, enveloping him in flames.

Fisher detailed the events following the explosion: “We saw the No. 14 fire department rushing over to the factory and everyone ...jumped to the conclusion that the strikers had set fire to the plant. However, in a few minutes, Cook’s Ambulance came rushing down Parsons headed for the factory. Someone came running over to the mother of John Moeller. ...and told her that John had been burned. As the ambulance passed, John’s mother said, ‘My boy can’t be badly burned or he would not be sitting up.’

“John Moeller died two days later at Grant Hospital. On the day of his funeral, all the strikers, union organizers, non-strikers, in fact everyone in the South End joined the funeral procession to the Lutheran Church on Reeb Avenue,” reported Fisher. The plant remained closed that day in honor of John Moeller.

Fisher continued, “The only violent incident of the strike, which I believe lasted about two years, took place opposite our home on Parsons Avenue. Two strikers attacked a man who worked for my father and a short scuffle ensued.

I told my father about it and he reported it to Mr. Jim [James Means] Beatty. The next day Mr. Beatty came to our home to get my version of the story.

“As my father so frequently predicted the factory never seemed the same to him after the strike ended. The men he knew so well were replaced, for the most part, by machines and many of them have never worked in a glass plant since.”

George Beatty Reflects on Strike President George Beatty elaborated on the strike in his August 1915 report to the stockholders: “Gentlemen: We have just finished two years’ business which was largely interrupted by our strike and the hostilities of union labor that have pursued us ever since July 17, 1913. At that time, we were midway through a year’s business that seemed destined to be the most prosperous in the history of our company. We had a fine working force of skilled men, our books full of orders for immediate and future shipment and everything favorable for a satisfactory year’s run.

“The going out of our entire work force, of course, completely upset our manufacturing business and while we were able to get some assistance from outside manufacturers in filling our orders, it did not amount to a great deal

Bottles and Extras

Scarce Wabash toy ice cream set, 1914, with Federal Vine pattern border on large center plate (Patricia Klar photo).

Twisted Optic machine-blown packers’ ware goblet. Design patent granted to George S. Dunbar, July 2, 1929 (CGL, June 11, 1928).

Bottles and Extras

Corded Optic machine-blown table tumbler.

Design patent granted to George S. Dunbar, July 2, 1929 (CGL, February 27, 1928).

Triple-lipped cooking cup patented by Dr. Samuel R. Scholes and George S. Dunbar, June 25, 1929. Made in crystal, amber and green.

Pouring lips were shaped in the hand shop with a special tool (John Schoessow photo)

Depression-era mold-etched pattern Georgian (Lovebirds) sugar and creamer, made in green from 1931-1936

Depression-era pattern Diana demitasse cup and saucer, made 1937-1941, named by Gunter H. Kuse, marketing vicepresident, after his daughter, Diana (Patricia Klar photo).

Winter 2006 and it seemed that the majority of them seized the opportunity to dump a lot of inferior goods on us, on which we had to make allowances to our customers before we could get them to retain the goods.

“We were able, after a long struggle, to get our factory full of workmen again, but there is a great difference between having a factory full of skilled workmen accustomed to the business we have always done and filling their places with new material that are either green to the trade entirely, or in any event green to our methods and machinery. It took a great number of months to get a production again that would cover our heavy expense, which was very much greater during the strike and for some time subsequent to it, than ever before,” said Beatty.

He concluded his report with the following summary on labor relations: “The past two years have been the most unsatisfactory to the management of the company ...and we trust that there will be no further labor trouble in this line for many years to come. It is our opinion that our help have learned a lesson that they will not soon forget.” (And labor relations did remain peaceful for some 30 years. The strikes that occured in the 1940s were less detrimental and of much shorter duration.)

The weather as well as the labor force appeared to have turned against the company.

That August, George Beatty also told the stockholders “The summer of 1915 was the coldest and dampest for many years. As a result, blown tumblers which sold best in hot dry weather sold only slowly.”

Further, the Macbeth-Evans Company, Pittsburgh and Marion, Indiana, could make blown tumblers on the end of lamp chimneys, but made only those that corresponded to the No. 0, No. 1, and No. 2 chimneys. (The Marion plant had become the largest lamp chimneyproducing plant in the world by 1892-93, capable of blowing 12 million chimneys a year.)

In what would be his last August annual report before his death from heart and kidney failure in October 1916, the 62-year-old George Beatty spoke plainly regarding activities of union organizers: “We are still annoyed by union agitators, who are constantly endeavoring to get hold of our employees, and it as been necessary ...to discharge workmen ...on account of their union affiliation.” He concluded that “...the interests of the company are much better served by continuing in operation as a non-union plant rather than submitting to the dictation of an irresponsible body of workmen.”

Enter the Gob Feeder How to automatically transfer molten glass from the continuous tank furnaces to the automatic blowing and pressing machines baffled the best minds in the business for years.

Although the continuous tank furnace was invented in England, it was an American, Homer Brooke of New Jersey, who invented the first truly workable automatic feeder made practical by the automatic forming machines.

Simply described, a gob feeder consists of a trough or spout leading from the working end of a continuous tank furnace to an area above the automatic forming machines. As the molten glass flows down the spout, automatic shears

19 cut the stream into gobs of the right size and shape, which then drop into a mold on the forming machine.

As early as 1910, the Federal had used the Brooke feeder, but with limited success. In 1916, two Federal employees, Oliver M. Tucker and William A. Reeves, built an apparatus which fed uniform weights or gobs of molten glass into the automatic machines. James Means Beatty also worked on the feeder’s development, later named the Tucker, Reeves, Beatty (TRB) gob feeder. Before his death, George Beatty deemed the TRB feeder superior to the Brooke device in making pressed tumblers, jelly glasses, fruit jars, and packers’ wares.

In the early 1920s, the Hartford-Empire Company (formerly Hartford-Fairmount), Hartford, Connecticut, developed a gob feeder considered superior to the TRB feeder. In 1926, Hartford-Empire bought out four TRB patents.

The following year, the Federal struck its first lease agreement with Hartford-Empire for one of its gob feeders and an annealing lehr. After 1940, the Federal replaced all of its TRB feeders with those made by Hartford-Empire, later Emhart Manufacturing.

James Means Beatty Takes Charge Following the death of his uncle George in 1916, James Means Beatty resigned as the Federal secretary, after which the board of directors elected him president. Even as this newly elected 42-year-old came to office, he found himself at once faced with a nagging recurrent nightmare—the unreliable natural gas supply coupled with a non-enforceable gas contract.

James Means Beatty told the stockholders at the August 14, 1917, meeting that “At first, the loss of time due to the shortage of gas was limited to one or two days, at intervals, with longer periods of idleness. To sum it up in a few words, the result of the natural gas shortage amounted to practically five weeks total loss of production and at least five months of reduced output.” He further emphasized that “...it was suicidal to place any dependence on a supply of natural gas.”

The Federal hastily rehabilitated the old gas producer built in 1902 to provide fuel to the No. 1 factory. The Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad brought in coal at 70 cents a ton to make producer gas. From the rail siding, the coal was transported to the producer house by a large traveling crane. No. 2 factory was outfitted with an underground oil storage tank which held 300,000 gallons.

James Means Beatty confessed, “Being ...ignorant in the use of either of these fuels and being unable to secure competent men ...we had to operate as best we could and were greatly handicapped by the quality of coal we were able to buy and combustion problems with oil.” He calculated that the new fuels cost $75,000 more in five months than natural gas during the same period when natural gas cost 30 cents per thousand cubic feet.

To further alleviate the gas shortage, the Federal dismantled the old power plant that had run on natural gas in favor of one run by electricity. The used power plant equipment

20 sold for about the same amount the company paid for it originally.

A jubilant James Means Beatty further reported to the Federal stockholders in August 1917 that five years of discussion with competitors in the pressed tumbler, jelly tumbler, jar, and packer tumbler trade resulted in adopting standards for these lines. The capacity of individual items ranged from 2 ounces to 16 ounces with a difference of 1 ounce between each item.

Regarding this money-saving measure, he said: “We have ...for many years made hundreds of different designs and shapes to suit the whims and demands of the trade.” Standardization meant fewer molds to make, repair, and store.

An added benefit included warehousing a smaller inventory with fewer odds and ends of accumulated stock.

The Federal Under JMB During the first year of the James Means Beatty presidency, the company issued a 15 percent dividend to its stockholders. The following year, capital stock was increased from $250,000 to $2, 500,000 divided into 25,000 shares of $100 each. After the increase the Federal declared a stock dividend of three shares for one of the original stock. During the 1920s, Beatty family members continued to hold over 50 percent of the Federal stock.

That any growth at all occurred during the years of 1914-18 when World War I, the “War to end all wars,” was being waged abroad spoke favorably for the managerial skill shown by those in charge. Shortages of raw materials, compounded by undependable freight delivery, interrupted normal production schedules.

During the war, the federal government controlled railroad operations, setting priorities commensurate with aiding the war effort.

Workers of any kind, skilled or “green,” were hard to get and harder to keep, demanding wages considered to be high for the times.

“What a hurrah it caused when the first colored women took the places of boys in the factory, when the boys were called to World War I,” Fisher wrote.

Labor organizers continued their relentless pressure to unionize the plant across all departments. The company sought to offset their activities by sending letters to workers’ families enumerating company benefits and by sponsoring social events.

One of these events was a company-hosted picnic in 1923 to help promote better understanding between the employees in the various departments. Fisher described a Sunday outing to Sandusky, Ohio, on a train chartered by the company for all workers and their friends and relatives: “We met at Union Station about five in the morning and had a wonderful time up on the train and on the boat trip to Cedar Point. Returned that evening about midnight.”

Fisher described a second social event planned for employees. “Another favorite included a moving picture of activities at the factory, beginning when the workers entered the watch house and continuing through the daily operation in every department. Homer Steele had charge of running the film at the old Sherman Picture Show located at Innis Avenue

Winter 2006 and Fourth Street. Homer provided a lot of laughs by speeding up the film at certain places, making it appear that the turning-out and carrying-in boys were walking at breakneck speed.”

To improve the quality of its output, particularly the clarity, the Federal hired its first glass chemist, Mr. Adams, in 1920. After the hire, officials reported “consistently good glass.” In 1923, Mr. Adams was replaced by Dr. Samuel R. Scholes, who in turn was succeeded by Walter J. Power in 1927. Scholes left the Federal to accept a professorship in the Department of Glass Technology, New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred.

Pivotal resignations from the board of directors took place in 1928. James S. Bracken, a director since 1904, resigned as did Morris G. Woodhull from his position as assistant secretary. These resignations created an opening on the board for Robert James (Bob) Beatty, the son of James Means Beatty and grandson of Robert James Beatty. He was elected to fill the vacancy created by Bracken’s resignation, and also was named assistant secretary following Woodhull’s resignation.

President James Means Beatty heartily endorsed these actions by the board, which paved the way for a fourth generation Beatty to work in Beatty-owned factories. He genuinely wanted his son to become familiar with the workings of the company “...to give him the opportunity of broadening his scope of training to fit him for responsibilities in the future.”

Colored and Crackle Glass Added At least as early as 1925, the company had begun to pioneer a process whereby colored glass as well as crystal (clear) could be made in continuous tank furnaces. Green was the first color made. Cuthbert reported that “green glass was melted in a U-tank [horseshoe-shaped] with one spout [automatic feeder] and one gathering hole.” Thin blown tumblers were offered for sale in the 1927 catalog in a color the Federal called “Springtime Green.”

Other thin blown tumblers, made on automatic blowing machinery, came in fancy “optic” patterns named “Diamond Optic,” “Pear Optic,” “Corded Optic,” “Polka Dot Optic,” and “Twisted Optic.” Weatherman (1970) reported that “these earlier issues carried the Federal mark (the letter F in a shield).” They were shipped in corrugated cartons that held 12 dozen tumblers, made by the Federal’s subsidiary, the Hercules Box Company. The suggested retail was 5 cents for a water tumbler and 10 cents for an iced tea tumbler.

In 1927, the Federal received patent protection on its crackled or crazed glassware trade-named “JACK FROST” (mechanical patent No. 1,739,825, issued December 17, 1929), developed by employees Virgil O. Cornwell and Fred J. Blackburn. By the Cornwell-Blackburn method, the hot glass blank was chilled by streams of water hitting against it, cooling it sufficiently to produce the crackled surface, but not changing the temperature so drastically as to prevent proper shaping in the mold. Forms made included water tumblers, tankard pitchers, iced tea tumblers, ice tubs, and juice sets.

Bottles and Extras

Park Avenue line showing “The most famous tumbler ever made,” ca. 1940-1971 (1941 Federal catalog).

Heritage pattern pressed tableware 8-inch master berry bowl made in crystal, green, pink and blue from 1950 to 1955 (Patricia Klar photo).

Star tumbler (left) with gold band decoration, ca. 1948. Park Avenue tumbler, iridized (right), ca. 1940. The Park Avenue can be identified by the square bottom (John Schoessow photo).

Star pattern tableware in crystal and Sun Gold, salad plate, tumbler, bowl and whiskey (spelled with an “e” by Federal), ca. 1948 and later.

Bottles and Extras

Popular Zombie 13 oz. beverage tumblers of the ‘50s and later. Center, Cock-cro pattern (John Schoessow photo).

No. 2563 Horse Heads bookends or mantle pieces sold for 15 cents each in 1940, often as a premium, and No. 2565 Mopey Dog paperweight sold retail for 5 cents (Above: Patricia Klar photo. Below: 1940 Federal catalog).

The Great Depression Hits In addition to tumblers, glass aficionados probably remember the Federal best for the colored, machine-made glass that graced the tables during the 1930s and beyond, now known as Depression Glass. Widely collected today, prices have escalated unbelievably from that paid by homemakers of the time, who often received pieces free in boxes of soap or cereal,

Winter 2006

21

or with admission to a movie. Most of what we know about this class of Federal-made ware has been thoroughly researched and written about by authors whose works appear in the references.

Company papers make scant mention of the 13 major patterns of tableware produced in crystal, amber, green, blue, and pink between 1927 and 1942. Nevertheless, company officials must have recognized something inherently unique in these wares, as the 1931 board of directors’ minutes recorded a $100 honorarium to Harold Nicholson and the same amount to Vernon Nicholson, both mold shop employees, for designing new tableware. No further information was given regarding the line number, pattern name, or number of forms made.

Weatherman (1970) reported that Harold and Vernon Nicholson were etchers who worked on all of the Federal’s mold-etched tableware patterns. These patterns and the date of first issue include: “Georgian,” 1931; “Parrot,” 1931; “Madrid,” 1932; “Patrician,” 1933; and “Normandy,” 1933. (By April 1943, Harold Nicholson had advanced to Art Department supervisor, and Vernon Nicholson had taken over the silk screening operation.)

In the early 1930s, pay cuts affected workers in all departments. Officers salaries were cut by 5 percent. Beginning on January 28, 1933, production workers earning between $13 and $20 per week saw a 5 percent reduction in their pay. Over $20 and up to $25 meant a 7.5 percent pay cut. Those earning $25 or more weekly got a 10 percent cut, as did all those on piece work.

Hourly workers also suffered pay cuts; those who earned less than 25 cents received no reduction. Workers earning over 30 cents an hour took the largest cut, 10 percent. These salary cutbacks, the company said, came during a time when cost containment was a must brought on by slow sales exacerbated by competitor undercutting.

They abandoned it in 1950.

King Kong Looms Large In 1935, Robert James (Bob) Beatty, assisted by local designers and Federal engineers, built a machine for blowing paste-mold tumblers. He named it “King Kong.” George and Robert James Beatty had been interested in using such a device even before they founded the Federal, but their early attempts to get one functioning failed.

The paste-mold machine eliminated seams or mold lines from the blown wares. The molds, usually cast iron, were coated with a specially prepared paste, often a mixture of charcoal and linseed oil, and lubricated with water. Thus the glass object being blown could rotate in the mold, removing the mold lines and giving it a polished surface. The obvious benefits of such a blowing machine lay in vastly increased production, greater uniformity in wares, and removal of high priced help from the payroll.

With this machine, the Federal developed and marketed the first machine-made heavybottom (sham) tumblers, said to be equal in quality to handmade wares. In subsequent years, factory managers became discouraged with the slow speed of the King Kong and projected costly improvements to the machine.

Employees Enjoy Sporting Events The Federal’s Welfare Department promoted athletic and recreational activities for the workers including baseball, basketball, bowling, and football. Two employees, Fred J. Blackburn and Charlie Dunbar, were credited with organizing the championship baseball and basketball teams. While Blackburn and Dunbar were the acknowledged powers behind many of the pre-World War II teams, sporting events at the Federal actually began about 1913 with the first baseball team.

Play was largely curtailed during the strike of 1913-14, but by 1916 the baseball team was reorganized and that year won the league championship, the first of many to come. The Federal team captured the National Amateur Championship in 1931. The next season it finished runner-up for the same title. During 1938-39, the Federal basketball team won its league championship. Employees played football in the open field behind the Hercules Box Company.

Many employees played more than one sport, some receiving tryouts with major league teams; several actually made it into the majors. The World War II draft called up many of the

Changes at the Helm Federal’s second president, James Means Beatty, died on November 22, 1937, at age 61, following a short illness. His grandfather, Alexander, died at age 64; his father, Robert James, and uncle, George, both died at age 62.

The obituary in CGL, December 2, 1937, read: “To an unusual degree, Mr. Beatty was the Federal Glass Co., and the steadily growing business of the company was a reflection of his activity and leadership. His ability to select associates of skill was marked and many of his ‘young men’ rose to high places in the company.” After he graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University in 1896 he entered the glass trade.

The Federal, during his years at the helm, produced some 300 tons of wares daily. By 1937, output had increased so greatly that one man could put out 14,000 tumblers in one day.

In his grandfather’s Steubenville factory, one man made about 225 tumblers in a day.

The board of directors met in special session on December 10 th to elect a new president, Edmund A. Donnan, Sr., who received an annual salary of $15,000. Previously Donnan had been the Federal’s assistant treasurer and president of the Hercules Box Company. Other officers and their annual salaries included: Morris G. Woodhull, vice president ($12,500); U. L. Conway, vice president ($12,500); Edmund W. Hillman, treasurer ($12,500); and Walter J. Power, secretary and general manager ($12,500).

When the 1930s ended, the company operated 14 sales offices and display rooms in major cities including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, St. Louis, and Seattle. Sales offices had been opened in three foreign countries: Havana, Cuba; Montreal, Canada; and Panama City, Panama.

22 employees, vastly diminishing sporting activities during the early and mid-1940s. In the post war period and up to the time of closing, renewed interest in sporting activities, especially bowling and golf, continued to help cement the sense of “family” among the employees.

Federal Goes Closed Shop Proceedings of the AFGWU annual meeting in Toledo in 1942 devoted a large section to the successful June 1941 unionization of the Federal, a process that had been in the works for many years. The proceedings also noted that the rival Congress of Industrial Organization (CIO) leaders had tried to lure Federal workers away from the AFGWU and toward their organization.

The proceedings further reported that on June 10, 1941, the National Labor Relations Board, Ninth Region, supervised the choice-ofunion election at the Federal. Of the 1,517 eligible voters, 1,349 cast their ballots. The AFGWU received 872 votes. The Federation of Glass, Ceramic, and Silica Sand Workers of America, CIO, received 459 votes; 18 workers voted “no union” and 10 ballots were spoiled (Rowe and Cook, 1957).

While the AFGWU proceedings summarized the numbers, Russell H. (Russ) Hughes, former controller and plant manager, gave a livelier account of an early step in the unionization process. It seems that Russ, fresh out of high school in the spring of 1941, had just started his first full-time job in the Federal office. The other office workers, seeking respite from the summer heat, had already left for the day when President Edmund A. Donnan, Sr. entered searching for someone to type seven copies of the labor agreement between the Federal and the AFGWU. Hughes said he could do it, never mind that he had never typed anything of that magnitude before. A little over an hour later, the copies were ready, requiring only signatures from officials of the AFGWU and the Federal.

The group then left for a restaurant on High Street to enjoy dinner. Even though the contract needed only signatures, AFGWU officials continued to pick at details. Tired of the prolonged discussion, President Donnan’s usual composure evaporated as he exhorted the (expletive deleted) union officials to get the (expletive deleted) union contract signed.

Donnan, always the consummate gentleman, so shocked the union officials, and his colleagues as well, with his earthy language that they sprang into action and signed the contract.

By 6 p.m., with all signatures in place, the Federal became a closed shop. All production workers were required to join the union by October 1, 1941. New employees were allowed 60 days from their date of employment to become members.

Certain groups of employees were not included in the union contract: executives, department heads, office and plant clerical employees, foremen and assistant foremen, supervisors, draftsmen, laboratory workers, watchmen, gatekeepers, technical and engineering staff, art department staff, restaurant workers, medical department staff, and office janitors.

Winter 2006 To bargain effectively with the union and voice the company’s position on labor issues, the Federal board of directors approved company membership in the National Association of Pressed and Blown Glassware Manufacturers (NAPBGM) with headquarters in the Conestoga Building, Pittsburgh. On July 14-15, officials from both the national AFGWU and the NAPBGM met in Columbus to negotiate an agreement that would satisfy both the union demands and the Federal’s stipulations.

The employees of the Hercules Box Company became members of the United Pulp and Paper Workers of America, CIO. about the same time the Federal glass production workers joined the AFGWU, AFL. Pearl Harbor Forces Change After the December 7, 1941, bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, life at the Federal changed dramatically. When President Donnan delivered his annual message to the stockholders in 1942, the U.S. had been fighting World War II for about eight months. Donnan said, “ We need hardly touch upon the many difficulties encountered ...in labor problems, material shortages, sales, and administration situations which war brought to us. These difficulties are continuing and are growing more complex with each day’s passing.”

When the war broke out, the Federal employed 1,600 people. One year later, as more workers entered the military, the work force had shrunk to 1,100. Donnan remarked that the Federal could not keep some departments staffed, and unloading sand and other raw materials often fell to men working overtime and after their regular duties were finished.

“Before Pearl Harbor, we were making metal aircraft parts on a sub contract in our mould and machine shops. At present, over 50 percent of the man hours in these shops are devoted to precision work of the most confidential nature,” Donnan reported. The Federal was selling more of its output to the armed services and less to its civilian customers.

The Sales Department, headed by U. L. Conway, developed an equitable plan to ration output among the Federal’s civilian customers.

The sales staff hoped that by treating all civilian customers as fairly as possible, the company would retain their business not only during the war years, but into the recovery period as well.

Throughout most of World War II, the Federal operated under Presidential Order No. 9240. The order covered all work relating to the prosecution of war, including all work performed by prime contractors on government war contracts, and those who made the materials necessary for honoring those contracts. If any employer engaged in both war and non war work, the order would apply.

If anyone doubted that the Federal qualified as a war plant they had only to observe the War Plant posters printed by the War Department blanketing the entire factory. Moreover, all plant watchmen were sworn in as members of the U.S. Army, an action carried out only in war plants.

A war hero tumbler featuring the World War II flying ace, Eddie Rickenbacher, was a special order filled by the Decorating Department.

Bottles and Extras

Individual berry bowls sold in a set that also included a master berry, ca. 1948. Often confused with Shell and Jewel (Westmoreland, 1890s) that has a patterned rim (Patricia Klar photo).

No. 2517 handled whiskies (1 oz.) covered with tin lids and sold as salt and pepper shakers, and enamel-decorated with red and white dots.

Also in Sun Gold, pink and iridized Made 1940s to closing Marked Shield F (Patricia Klar photo).

Assorted 9 oz. table tumblers, ca. 1950s, with enamel and gold silk-screened designs, just a few examples of hundreds of designs available, selling wholesale for about 60 cents a dozen (John Schoessow photo).

“Shield F” trademark use was claimed since August 1, 1932, but it had already appeared on some Depression-era wares and on the cover of the 1927 catalog (U.S. Patent Office Gazette, December 16, 1947).

Bottles and Extras According to a report in the July 1945 Shield (employee newsletter), Captain Rickenbacher began his working life as a cracking-off boy at the Federal. That summer his life story in film was about to premier in Columbus. In honor of the event, the Federal produced 6,000 souvenir tumblers. The silk-screened messages on the restaurant- and hotel-style tumblers read: “Welcome Captain Eddie, Columbus, Ohio, August 1, 1945” and “Compliments of the Federal Glass Company, Columbus, Ohio, Captain Eddie’s First Employer.”

Federal’s subsidiary, the Hercules Box Company, became a major supplier of boxes to companies whose goods aided the war effort.

By August 1943, it began supplying containers directly to the armed services. Hercules inhouse staff designed the cartons that held ammunition, aircraft parts, food stuffs, clothing, and all sorts of miscellaneous equipment. The War Production Board controlled the Hercules’ paperboard allotment, invariably granting less than required. To combat the shortage, the Hercules bought up used boxes, overruns, and misprints.

Shield F Trademark Registered The Federal trademark, “F in a Shield” or “Shield F,” was filed at the U.S. Patent Office on December 6, 1944, and published in the Official Gazette on December 16, 1947. The company claimed use since August 1, 1932, but the trademark already had appeared on company catalogs at least as early as 1927. Additionally, certain patterns of Depression Glass carried the mark, as well as some measuring tumblers, shot glasses, and salt and pepper shakers (Weatherman, 1970).

Winter 2006 A brief note in the October 1942 Shield shed light on the Shield F trademark’s originator, if not on the exact date of origination. John C. Peters, the sales representative in the Federal’s Baltimore sales office, reported: “About 35 years ago we made fruit jars. The H. A. [HazelAtlas] and Ball Brothers had their trademark on their jars, and one of my jobbers suggested we adopt a symbol on our jar. The Shield F was suggested by me and was adopted by the Federal.”

However, to date, no pint or quart fruit jars or bottles embossed with the Shield F have been reported. This might be explained, at least in part, by the notation accompanying the trademark in the U.S. Patent Office Official Gazette—”For glass tumblers, glass tableware, and glass kitchenware not including glass bottles and jars.”

About 1906, the Federal did mark a clear jar embossed on the base with DIAMOND FRUIT JAR TRADE MARK around a diamond with IMPROVED in the center. It was reported to have been produced for Smalley, Kivlan & Onthank jar jobbers of Boston (Roller, 1983).

Another jar thought to have been made by Federal, but of uncertain manufacturing date, was a clear tumbler-shaped jar with an 8-10 ounce capacity. The embossing on the base read FEDERAL VACUUM JAR PAT. APPLIED FOR WARM CAP PUNCTURE TO OPEN (Fruit Jar News, May 1998).

In the 1907 Thomas Wholesale Grocery & Kindred Trades Register, a Federal advertisement appeared for “The Federal Jar.” The ad copy continued “The only sanitary all glass jar on the market. No rubber or metal used to seal this jar. Pronounced by all who see it to be without an equal. The seal is composed of chemically pure mineral matter.

If used properly perfect satisfaction is guaranteed. The most simple and effective seal ever made. Jars made in all sizes. We also manufacture the famous ‘Federal Vacuum Jar’ and Seal, as well as a complete line of tumblers, jellies and packers’ goods.” This jar, intended for packers, might have been a jelly jar.

23 Some jar collectors have postulated that a wire bale fruit jar embossed with SECURITY SEAL and FGCo in a triangle on the side (Red Book No. 2608) might have been made by the Federal rather than by the Fairmount Glass Company. They base their assumptions on the name change of Fairmount Glass Company to Fairmount Glass Works around 1890, and this company’s lack of glass blowing machines to make this machine-made jar.

The Federal discontinued fruit jar manufacturing sometime during the late 1920s or early 1930s. Packers’ ware, however, continued to be made at least into the 1960s.

During the 1950s, company papers suggest that the Federal stepped up packers’ ware prodution, selling to the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A & P) and Welch Foods, Inc. (juice bottles, jelly jars).

Postwar Profits and Problems Record breaking sales and net profit marked 1945 as the best year ever for the Federal. The following year, sales and profits continued to climb even though the company shut down one continuous tank furnace that had previously produced 110 tons of glassware every 24 hours.

The furnace shut down was forced by the 1946 strike occurring among silica sand workers in Ottawa, Illinois, who were asking for an hourly increase of 18 cents, a closed shop clause, and a dues check-off system.

At that time, three Ottawa pits produced nearly all the silica sand for Midwestern and Pacific Coast glassware manufacturers. The Federal preferred this pure white sand hydraulically blasted from St. Peter Sandstone because no decolorizing agent was needed to clear the glass made from it. (Otherwise, manganese dioxide or selenium added to the batch offset the pale green color in finished glassware caused by iron compounds found in some sand.)

The timing of this strike was particularly unfortunate for the Federal, as the company had just initiated a new advertising campaign for the “Park Avenue” pressed tumbler and the “Hibright” blown shell tumbler. The Park Avenue continued to be the company’s best seller at 5 cents or less. President Donnan reported that

Celestial giftware designed by George Wood, director of design assisted by Thomas Turner, chief mold designer. In crystal and iridized, ca. 1955 and later. Below: the box that contained the set.

Sheet music for the Federal Shield Song with music by Robert James (Bob) Beatty and lyrics

by Malcolm Havens.

Popular No. 299 Beer Stein made in clear, opaque white and opaque white iridized, ca.

1958 to closing (photo courtesy of Russ Hughes).

24 “One in every four tumblers made and sold in the United States is a Park Avenue” (Retailing, July 24, 1947).

The 1946 railroad strike also contributed to production problems at the Federal. Of the 24,000 freight trains normally operating, fewer than 300 ran (Atleson, 1998). At that time, the Federal depended upon the Toledo & Ohio Central and the Chesapeake & Ohio to deliver sand and other raw materials to the plant’s storage facilities.

Nevertheless, for the first time in its history the company reached a milestone of $40 million in gross sales, with a net profit of over $1 million. Reaching this milestone shortly after the war, and in spite of strikes in the soda ash (sodium carbonate) industry as well as in the sand and rail industries, makes it a truly remarkable achievement. Soda ash, which acts as a flux to speed melting, often accounted for up to 33 percent of Federal’s total batch, second only to sand, depending on the grade of glass being made.

The company took a bold step toward cost containment in 1946, prompted in part by increasing foreign competition, when it eliminated the costly hand shops. Here skilled blowers withdrew molten glass from the ring hole in the working end of the continuous tank furnace to fashion the wide variety of stemware sold by the Federal. By this time, Henry H. Blau, Ph.D., formerly employed at the Corning Glass Works, and his team of Federal engineers were hard at work on a machine that could produce stemware totally by machine.

When the war ended, the company welcomed back veterans, 206 in number, to resume their old jobs or positions of greater responsibility. Of the 592 Federal employees who served in the military, 19 lost their lives while serving their country. They were memorialized at a ceremony on Thursday, May 29, 1947, when a brass plaque bearing their names was mounted on a rock in front of the office building and a memorial Oak was planted. Four veterans, representing the four branches of the military, placed a wreath and 19 white carnations at the base of the plaque.

Fearing vandalism, the plaque was removed in 1979 to a still undisclosed location.

By now, the Hercules Box Company, which had outgrown its original quarters, overflowed into several adjacent buildings. A new addition costing $400,000 increased manufacturing space by 60,000 square feet. A mere five years after this addition, a new buiding west of the original building was added for $1 million. The work force, up to 200 by mid century, produced 10 carloads of corrugated products daily.

With increased capability, the character of the containers was transformed, punctuated with die cuts, colored boxes, foil cartons, oversized boxes for appliances, and ingenious displays for supermarkets and other outlets. As the Hercules grew, it became largely autonomous, controlling its own sales office and sales force.

Worry Over the “P” Word Even though President Donnan asseverated “Glass is Better,” by the end of the 1940s more and more plastics were entering the market,

Winter 2006 especially in kitchen wares. That the dreaded word “plastic” had become a topic of grave concern is evidenced by a poem in the July 1943 Shield entitled “Plastics are not Glasses” credited to S. R. S. Glass Industry. Four verses extracted from the 10-verse poem reflect the mood prevalent among glassmakers: The plastics are products artificial But we’ve reached a pretty pass When their makers name them “Glass” And glass men rise to call it prejudicial.

The plastics have organic composition They do not very well resist ignition They are formed when chemists wise Make some stuff polymerize.

And so it is with plastics we aver In hardness quite inferior Durability is low— Solvents make them yield and flow As lenses they produce a dismal blur.

Elastic, hard, of splendid durability And washable because of hot ductility Is this substance so unique Among useful things men seek And calling plastics “Glass” is mere futility.

Sued and Suing The Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York, sued the Federal in August 1949, alleging infringement on two patents, both relating to how the Federal heat-treated or tempered its strengthened tumblers, sold under the trade name “STURDEE®.” Almost six years after Corning brought the suit, the case was finally tried in May 1955.

After seven years of legal action, on August 1, 1956, the court dismissed the suit and awarded the Federal court costs plus the $15,000 retainer the company had paid to attorneys. Concerned that Corning might

Bottles and Extras emerge the winner, however, President Donnan prudently established a cash reserve fund of about $260,000.

In other legal action during 1949, the Federal brought a suit against another glass manufacturing company, the Federal Glass Company, Inc., of Dover, Delaware. The Federal requested that this glass company stop using the name “Federal” in its title and refrain from selling glass under that name. The Columbus-based Federal named no set amount of money it wished to recover, but contended that its “ trade reputation and goodwill are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars” (American Glass Review, October 22, 1949).

The Delaware firm rejected the request to change its name, preferring instead to have the matter heard in court. The case was tried and settled in favor of the Columbus-based Federal in 1952. No report of a financial settlement was discovered. The court, however, awarded the Columbus-based Federal the opportunity to choose a new name for the Delaware-based company.

Celebrating 50 Years of Prosperity The Federal marked its Golden Anniversary in 1950. At the annual meeting that year, President Donnan told the stockholders: “June 30th marked the end of Federal’s 50th year of existence. No particular fanfare was made of this milestone, it being our conviction that the best possible celebration of the anniversary would be to turn in favorable earnings reports, provide steady work for our employees, and improve our products and plants. We believe you will agree that those goals were attained.”

Nevertheless, the company did showcase wares in a new celebratory color introduced to the trade as “Sun Gold,” comprising 27 forms including tumblers, mixing bowls, tableware, and giftware.

One year after celebrating its 50 th anniversary, the Federal increased capital stock

Aerial view of the sprawling Federal Glass Company, ca. 1965, with batching tower on the left and large warehouse on the right (Shield, date unknown).

Bottles and Extras

The popular Homestead snack set of tray and cup, packaged in sets of four, ca. 1951 to 1975 (Patricia Klar photo).

Gather Ye Roses … silk-screened Rose pattern tumblers, ca. 1950s, in 5 oz. juice, 9 oz. table tumbler and 9 oz. old-fashioned (John Schoessow photo).

Georgetown ash tray set giftware, ca. 19601975, in gold foil box lined with black made by the Hercules Box Company (Patricia Klar photo).

Supermarket display of Moon Glow heat-proof dinnerware in ten forms, cartons by the Hercules Box Company, ca. 1967 (photo courtesy of Russ Hughes).

Winter 2006 to $3,500,000 divided into 175,000 shares of $20 each. An exciting event occurred in February 1951 when the company launched its new stemware machinery developed by Blau and his team of company engineers. With this fully-automatic machinery, stemware could be made completely by machine under a patented process. The first output consisted of cocktails and wines for both commercial and home use; 14 other forms followed soon after.

Not long after the company announced this remarkable achievement, Robert James (Bob) Beatty died on April 28, 1951, at age 47, before a promising career in both the glass and music industries could be fulfilled. He had served on the board of directors and had been an employee since 1927. He headed a group of engineers who designed and built the Federal’s first pastemold machine, the King Kong, which operated from 1938 to1950. He was granted, at minimum, five mechanical patents and two design patents. Also an accomplished musician, he wrote the music for the “Federal Shield Song,” published by the Edwards Music Company, New York. Malcolm Havens of Federal’s Chicago sales office won the contest for writing the best lyrics.

(Almost) Peaceful Times Although a decade earlier, labor relations between management and the AFGWU locals had been somewhat contentious, the 1950s started peacefully enough with both sides seemingly acclimated to terms of the contract they had negotiated. “Throughout the year, relations with our labor unions were amicable and generally satisfactory. In view of a splendid attitude and remarkably good production, we voluntarily increased certain benefits for a large number in the glass division,” said President Donnan. In the postwar period, industrial peace was sought not only at the Federal, but became an overriding principle in labor relations industry-wide.

Federal officials were becoming noticeably alarmed by the increasing freight rates by both rail and motor truck companies which often amounted to as much as 50 percent of the value of the finished wares. Generally, the rates per ton ran higher on finished and packaged glass than on bulk commodities such as sand and other raw materials necessary in the batch.

The freight hikes forced small merchants to buy in uneconomical quantities, or cut out selling glassware entirely. The Federal Traffic

25 Department tried its best to forestall the latter, while engineers continued the quest for ways to reduce the weight of wares while still maintaining durability. This weight-reduction research was originally begun by the late Robert James (Bob) Beatty.

Hoping to cut operating expenses, the Federal accomplished successful annexation to the City of Columbus in 1956. Prior to annexation, only 3.4 acres fell within the corporate limits of Columbus, while some 35 acres lay outside in the Township of Marion, Franklin County. President Donnan indicated that petitioning the city was an arduous threeyear process, but one that saved the company $14,000 in the first year in formerly purchased services including fire and police protection, water, and sewer.

By the end of the 1950s, President Donnan had spoken warningly numerous times regarding the influx of glassware from foreign countries. “We are beginning to have very severe competition from German, Japanese, and French firms...” His message would play over and over again in the minds of Federal officials before the doors closed for the last time.

A large warehouse was completed in 1955, equal in size to two football fields and costing $220,000. The company installed the sixth Hartford-Empire No. 28 paste-mold machine for which it paid $165,000. President Donnan told the stockholders to expect no let up in plant improvements. Furthermore, he intimated that additional upgrade plans had already been drawn to help keep the Federal competitive.

The Urge to Merge Late in 1957, Federal officials were approached by executives of the Federal Paper Board Company, Inc., Montvale, New Jersey, regarding a possible merger. According to Russ Hughes, the Federal Paper Board was mainly interested in acquiring the Federal’s subsidiary, the Hercules Box Company. After many getacquainted meetings, plant visits, and studies by both companies, a merger was agreed to by two-thirds of the stockholders, and was carried out on June 30, 1958.

The former Federal Glass Company became the Federal Glass Division of the Federal Paper Board, Inc., organized under the laws of New York. The Federal Paper Board made corrugated boxes, packing cartons, and machine-made glassware, parallel lines that, at the time, seemed well suited to a merger. And

Artist’s sketch of new warehouse and shipping facility with 23 loading docks (Shield, October 1968).

26 both companies already used the name Federal.

At the time of the merger, the Federal Glass Company’s balance sheet showed that it poured more than $13 million worth of assets into the merger, clearly a financially healthy company.

About half of the $13 million was in cash, government securities, accounts receivable, and inventories of finished wares and raw materials.

The other $6.5 million represented land, buildings, machinery, and mold sets.

A Towering Achievement The hallmark technological achieve-ment of the sixth decade involved constructing the 40foot-square automatic batching tower, a 130foot-high monolith that still dominates the South Side skyline. It cost $600,000 to build in 1964, accommodating freight-car-loads of glass sand, soda ash, lime, and other ingredients necessary to complete the batch.

In the tower, each element was stored separately in roof-high hoppers and released in precise amounts through large pipes. Blending the elements was done electronically by an operator seated at a console pushing a series of buttons. Once thoroughly mixed, the batch was transferred automatically through large tubes to the melting end of the continuous tank furnaces which ran at 2700° F.

By May 1966, another new warehouse costing $1 million and adding another 120,000 square feet of storage space was completed.

This warehouse sat on a former residential area and parking lot that had been purchased earlier for just such an expansion.

Shortly after, the company began constructing a vastly improved shipping facility adjacent to the newest warehouse. This facility comprised 23 truck loading docks and 7 rail car docks. Since it extended across Innis Avenue, a new plant entrance was required and subsequently opened on Woodrow Avenue.

Once the new entrance became functional, the company’s address changed to 555 E. Woodrow Avenue.

In 1965, Edmund A. Donnan, Sr. retired as the Federal Glass Division president after serving in that office for 28 years. Oliver F. Runde, formerly the vice president in charge of manufacturing, became only the fourth president to head the Federal Glass Division, by now a mature 65-year-old factory.

The Declining Years The beginning of the end for the Federal may have been accelerated by the 1973 OPEC oil embargo when the Middle Eastern oil producing countries cut the flow of oil to the U.S. About 40 percent of Federal’s business during the 1970s came from the major oil companies that gave tumblers and other premiums to customers who filled their tanks. When the gas shortage hit, long lines formed at the pumps. The lure of free glassware became a ploy of the past.

Federal’s sales plummeted. Business dropped from $39 million in 1972 to $34 million in 1973. The company lost money in both 1974 and 1975. During 1976, the company marked the first profitable year among several previous years on sales of $50 million. It clung tenaciously to a 12 percent share of the machinemade glassware market.

Winter 2006 What officials previously had touted as a “perfect fit” between the Federal Glass Company and the Federal Paper Board in the mid-1950s started to fall apart a couple of decades later. By 1977, Federal Paper Board officials decided that making glass no longer fit into the overall corporate structure.

“Federal Paper Board is primarily in the paper business,” said President John R. Kennedy, Jr. “We were overdue in getting out of the glass business. Our first choice was a sale to Lancaster Colony,” added Kennedy (Garvey, 1979).

When the Federal Paper Board gave notice that it wanted to sell the Glass Division to Columbus-based Lancaster Colony Corporation in March 1977, it put a $45 million price tag on the plant. Lancaster Colony’s President, John C. Gerlach, was eager to acquire the Federal at that price. Once the purchase became final, Gerlach would have added both a blowing and a pressing operation to his plant. What should have been a straight ahead sale benefitting both companies turned into a major muddle that fermented for nearly two years and, in the end, benefitted no one.

Who Bungled the Sale?

Most analysts agree that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) came off as the heavy; some say the cause of the whole debacle. Partnering with the largest U.S. glass makers, Anchor Hocking and the Libbey Division of OwensIllinois, the FTC effectively blocked the sale to Lancaster Colony. The FTC charged that the sale would violate anti-trust laws by reducing the number of glass companies producing tableware. By the FTC’s own estimate, the Federal owned only 11 percent of the market.

Lancaster Colony held onto 7 percent. Together they realized less in annual sales than Libbey, and far less than Anchor Hocking.

In spite of the FTC blockade, Kennedy persisted with his efforts to sell the Glass Division. What followed the FTC’s first injunction escalated into an on-again off-again tale of failure to sell to other glass makers, and heroic but unsuccessful attempts by a group of Federal employees to buy the plant.

In its defense, the FTC maintained that three months after it had filed the sale-stopping injunction, Federal officials said they planned to upgrade the now antiquated plant and operate it as in the past. By March 1978, the Federal

Moon Glow heat-proof dinnerware, 1968.

Bottles and Extras Paper Board, still hoping to attract a buyer, petitioned the FTC to re-evaluate its initial objection to the Lancaster Colony sale.

Kennedy stressed that the Glass Division had been failing for some time, the reason he had decided to shut it down. When the Federal Paper Board’s annual report covering 1977 surfaced, it showed declining earnings that officials attributed to severe weather. The next annual report presaged a gloomy financial outlook for the year, with an anticipated downturn in sales possibly attributable to news of a pending sale. Shortly after this annual report was released, Kennedy placed a liquidation value of $30 million on the plant, $15 million less than Gerlach would have paid to acquire it.

The FTC further charged that the Federal Paper Board had failed to make a good faith effort to sell the plant. It commissioned the Harvard Business School to review the Federal’s books, beginning with 1959 (after the merger) through July 1978 (six months before closing). Based on the Harvard study findings, the FTC determined that the Federal Glass Division was not a “failing company.” It argued that large corporations can tolerate a weak subsidiary at break-even or low profit margins without meeting failing company criteria.

Federal never argued failing company in its own behalf until four days before the plant closed.

Perhaps the company didn’t make the argument sooner for fear of turning away prospective buyers.

During 1978, Kennedy agreed to enlist the help of the investment banking firm, First Boston Corporation, to find another buyer, acting upon the FTC’s promise to reconsider the Lancaster Colony sale. If no buyer was found during the 60-day searching period, the FTC said it “might reconsider” the sale to Lancaster Colony. First Boston contacted 79 potential buyers. Only J. G. Durand of Arque, France, expressed interest, but never made an offer.

Sixty days later, Kennedy told the FTC he wanted a decision on the Lancaster Colony sale.

Continued to page 72.

Recollection tableware, a 1976 Centennial reissue of the Depression-era Madrid pattern made in 1932.

Indiana Glass later acquired the molds and removed the 1976 date, creating confusion among collectors of the early Madrid pattern.

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

Legal Aspects Saloons operating at a permanent location were licensed and issued revenue

stamps, a practice that would continue until Prohibition. The retail sale of wines and liquors at temporary events like fairs or traveling locations like trains or steamships required special stamps.6 This included railroads like the Central Pacific, Union Pacific, and Southern Pacific.

In a typical saloon of this era, the bar, where liquor was sold, had to be in plain view of the street and not hidden by any screens.7 By 1900, a typical saloon would contain a wide variety of advertising and promotional items from distillers and wholesalers to promote specific brands of whiskey. 8 Some of the items used to advertise whiskey included shot glasses, decanters, mirrors, pictures, calendars, and match boxes.

Most of the laws affecting saloons came from local authorities. Many of these regulations were intended to help protect saloons from peddlers and traveling salesmen. Sale of liquor was also restricted on Sundays to help safeguard the morality of the community.9 Examples of local regulation in San Francisco included the board of police commissioners’ authority to determine who received liquor licenses and who did not.

The United States Supreme upheld this authority. The court ruled in the case of P. Crowley vs. Henry Christensen in 1890.

Also, the court ruled in the case of Foster vs. the San Francisco Board of Police

N. Ahrens / Market / & Steuart Sts / Goods / As Represented

Louis Taussig & Co / Importers / S.F.

WESTERN WHISKEY: SALOONS & RETAIL MERCHANTS

by Bret Heinemann

The Bottles During the period 1876-1901, the bottles used in Western saloons came primarily from one of two sources—Eastern glass factories or the San Francisco & Pacific Glass Works. Starting in 1901, most of the bottles produced in the West came from the Pacific Coast Glass Works (base marking PCGW.) By 1880, a third of the wholesale and retail San Francisco liquor dealers were using embossed bottles.1 In the 1890’s and continuing until Prohibition, easy-to-open screw thread bottles became popular. Most liquor continued to be dispensed in the traditional cork top bottles, which maintained their popularity even after (or perhaps because of) the 1903 introduction of the Owens automated bottle machine.

Early Saloons The saloons were often decorated in a lavish and luxurious style made possible in part by the re-investment of some of their profits. By the 1870s, most saloons were in competition to sell good quality whiskey.

Hence, they had given up (or at least most had given up) the practice of diluting and altering whiskey, which had been common in the Gold Rush era.

The Excellent Saloon, owned by Theodore A. Barry and Benjamin A. Patten, is an example of one early saloon in San

The Elite / 21 Kearny St S.F.

27

Francisco. The saloon was first located at 116 and 118 Montgomery Street, later moving to 413 Montgomery Street (1864 to 1879).2 A saloon known as The Kremlin was located at 236 Montgomery Street. The saloons operated by William Schreiber included the Elite Saloon at 21 Kearny Street from 1879 through 1898. Bill Williams was his partner from 1878 to 1880.3 Nicholas Ahrens and Bill Tamm operated a saloon together from 1874 until 1878, when Ahrens left the partnership. In 1889, Ahrens opened his own saloon at 19 Market Street, and began operating two more saloons in the 1890s.4 In 1875, John J. Ferguson opened the Occidental House, his first saloon in San Francisco, and three years later, he moved to another location and opened the Sunnyside Saloon. In 1885, he opened the ABC House, which lasted until 1918.5

28

Winter 2006

Commissioners that the law denying liquor licenses to people who had employed female waitresses was not unconstitutional.10 At the national level, regulations took the form for the most part of revenue taxes collected by the Treasury Department. For example, on March 30, 1898, it was determined by the Treasury Department that all retail partnerships should be required to purchase a new special stamp when there was a move to a new location.

Another method of regulation was how much the revenue taxes would be. These taxes varied from 70 cents per gallon of 100 proof liquor in 1872 to 90 cents in 1875. By August 2, 1894, the tax was $1.10 per gallon. On July 1, 1898, to help raise revenue for the Spanish-American War, a war revenue law was passed requiring a special stamp. Samples that were given away by saloons and wholesale merchants for free were not subject to taxation, however..11

Bottles and Extras

Collins & Wheeland / Importers and Dealers / in / Wines and Liquors

S.P. Collins & Co. / 329 Montgomery St. / & 511 / California Sts. / San Francisco, Cal..

Wholesale Merchants as Saloon Owners There were some wholesale merchants who were also involved in saloons. Francis Cassin and Patrick Cassin, for example, were involved with John H. Daly in the Our Opera Saloon in the 1860s. Also, Amandus Fenkhausen, from 1861 to 1863, operated a saloon on Kearny Street.

William C. Hildebrant, in 1877, opened a saloon at the corner of nineteenth and Howard. In 1884, he opened a second saloon, and sold it in 1885. Louis Taussig operated the Congress Hall saloon at 318 Bush Street for a short time in the 1860s.12 Salvin P. Collins and Horace Porter operated the Clayton restaurant and saloon from 1859 to 1865 at 605 Commercial Street. In 1866, Salvin Collins went out on his own and began operating his own saloon at 329 Montgomery Street. In 1874, James Wheeland was hired as a bartender for Collins’ new 511 California Street Saloon. Collins ran both enterprises until he turned the business over to Wheeland

C.J. Stubling / Wholesale Dealer / In Wines Liquors / The Dalles, Oregon

John Ferguson / ABC House / 501 Kearny St / S.F. clear pumpkinseed

in 1884.

Collins died shortly thereafter in 1884 and Wheeland became the senior partner from 1884 until his death in 1895. Silas Collins (Salvin’s son) was the junior partner during this period until 1895 when he became the senior partner and Samuel Wheeland (the son of James Wheeland) became the junior partner. The firm continued until 1914.13

John Ferguson / ABC House / 501 Kearny St / S.F. amber

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

Other Saloons The Laurel Palace was one of the more lavishly decorated saloons. The interior was decorated with polished laurel wood, mirrors, frescoes, and paintings. John Kahman opened the saloon in 1872 at 301 Kearny Street, and sold it in 1874 to Thomas H., Cunningham and Timothy Downey. By 1876, Cunningham had bought out Downey, and in 1886, sold the saloon to Rome Harris and John S. Merigan.

In 1890, Harris bought out Merigan and the saloon continued with Harris as the owner until it was destroyed by the earthquake and fire on April 18, 1906.14 Charles Richter was operating a saloon in Trinidad, Colorado by 1888. He tried wholesale liquor sales from 1895 to 1898, but he switched back to a saloon. Just prior to Prohibition, he formed a partnership with McNaughton in the drug business.15 Malter was the owner and operator of the St. Georges Vineyard near Fresno, California. The firm had an office in San Francisco, and the Lash’s Bitters Company distributed it until the earthquake of 1906.

In 1907 a bottle was produced for that firm.16 A saloon operated by C.J. Stubling was located on Second Street near Court Street in The Dalles, Oregon. He may have opened it as early as 1887.17 The Tavern Saloon was located at West Third Street in Los Angeles, California. In 1908, the McCoy Brothers operated a saloon at this address and continued it until 1915. Peter Wenigar operated a store in Vallejo from the 1890s to 1902. From 1900 to 1902, he had a partnership with Bielenberg in San Francisco, but in 1910, Peter’s widow was the sole proprietor.

William Wilson and Betty Wilson, Spirit Bottles of the Old West, (Wolfe City: Henington Publishing Company, 1968) 20-21.

2 John L. Thomas, Whiskey Bottles of the Old West, (Bend: Maverick Publications, 1977) 1.

3 Thomas, Whiskey Bottles of the Old West, 10, 20.

4 Thomas, Whiskey Bottles of the Old West, 1.

5 Thomas, Whiskey Bottles of the Old West, 63.

6 William Mida, Mida’s Compendium of Information for the Liquor Interests, (Chicago: Criterion Publishing Company, 1899) 97, 214215.

P.J. Weniger & Co / 101-103 Powell St. / S.F.

Hotel Lorenz Bar / Redding, Cal.

Jeremiah J. Hanifin arrived in Oakland in 1869 and became the owner of three saloons. He later was involved in local politics, serving as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors from 1915 to 1919, during which time his business interests included dealing in wholesale wines and liquors.18 The Hotel Lorenz in Redding was built in 1902. Hoyle was the manager, and later became a partner, having married into the family in 1920.19 Louis H. Orr owned a retail ale and liquor store at 151 J Street in Sacramento in 1856. He moved to San Francisco, and was involved in wholesale liquor sales from 1892 to 1893.21 The Advent of Prohibition Most of the saloons continued to operate until Prohibition in 1920, after which most either switched to the sale of non-alcoholic beverages, near beer or completely shut down. Legally, those were their only choices, unless they were renegades and became involved in the underworld and crime.

Endnotes:

29 7 William Mida, Mida’s Compendium of Information for the Liquor Interests, 97, 144145.

8 Gerald Carson, The Social History of Bourbon, 49.

9 William Mida, Mida’s Compendium ofInformation for the Liquor Interests, 9799, 219, 316. Jeremiah W. Jenks, “The Developemt of the Whiskey Trust,” Political ScienceQuarterly, 4(1889) 299.

10 William Mida, Mida’s Compendium of Information for the Liquor Interests, 67.

11 Jeremiah W. Jenks, “The Developemt of the Whiskey Trust,” Political Science Quarterly, 4 (1889) 299. William Mida, Mida’s Compendium of Information for the Liquor Interests, 97-98.

12 Thomas, Whiskey Bottles of the Old West, 2, 9, 45.

13 Thomas, Whiskey Bottles of the Old West, 89.

14 Thomas, Whiskey Bottles of the Old West, 30-31.

15 Wilson, Spirit Bottles of the Old West, 121.

16 Wilson, Spirit Bottles of the Old West, 137.

17 Wilson, Spirit Bottles of the Old West, 137.

18 Wilson, Spirit Bottles of the Old West, 77, 141, 147.

19 .Wilson, Spirit Bottles of the Old West, 84, 137, 141, 147.

20 Wilson, Spirit Bottles of the Old West, 112.

21 Wilson, Spirit Bottles of the Old West, 114.

1

Bret Heinemann P. O. Box 291 Atascadero, CA 93423 Ph: (805) 466-0208 E-mail: bheinemann@juno.com Illustrations provided by Ralph Van Brocklin.

Hoyle & Lorenz / Hotel Lorenz / Redding

30

Winter 2006

Bottles and Extras

The First SIMPLEX Screw Cap

by Barry L. Bernas

New Finds Continue I’m always amazed at what shows up at a bottle or jar show. That’s one of the reasons we attend so many of them each year. With “the thrill of the hunt” always present, you just never know what you will find at one!

Take the 2005 get together in Mansfield (Ohio) as an example. With its owner, the earliest model of a SIMPLEX screw cap traveled into the Fairhaven complex. At that time, the possessor was seeking any information about it. Fortunately for me, June Lowry of Raymore, Missouri saw the cover and brought it over to my table to see if I could identify it. When I saw the sealer, my heart almost skipped a beat. At long last, I had in my hands an actual specimen of a closure I hadn’t known existed minutes previously.

This cover was made to the May 3rd, 1904 patent which was issued to William B. Fenn. However, other than the phrase PAT.APLD.FOR - it had nothing embossed on it which would indicate its lineage.

Nevertheless, its outer motif and inner surface features were immediate clues as to where it came from and what jar it most likely closed. Scarce to say the least, this all-glass lid will be the topic of the article that follows.

William B. Fenn was an officer in both the Sterling Glass and Perfection Manufacturing Companies. Each one was situated in Washington, Pennsylvania. The former made glass items that were marketed and sold by the later. It was in the plant of Sterling Glass that the screw cap in Figure 2 was most likely manufactured.3

Flaccusesque in outer design, the screw cap in Figure 4 has a standard height of 13 /16th inch. At the base of its outer skirt, there is a 1/8th of an inch tall band which goes around the circumference of the cover.

From the top of this feature, the outer skirt angles gently inward to a point about twothirds of the way up. From here, the same area slants inward at about a forty-five degree angle until the outer top surface of the cover is reached.

Figure 4

Figure 2

The Earliest Cap In addition to the ‘Simplex Packing Jar,’ the all-glass sealer in Figure 2 was probably a closure meant for the machine-made, clear glass, fancifully patterned condiment container marked with FLACCUS BROS. STEERS HEAD FRUIT JAR. Made by the Sterling Glass Company Using my previously developed The first notice about this screw cap was methodology, the cover in Figure 2 would contained in a June 11th, 1903 report in be in Group I. Its full reference guide listing Crockery and Glass Journal. It read: would be: 1.2.1.5 - a.4.b.3.c.4.d.3.e.16.f.2.4 “The Simplex packing jar is the latest The inner surface of the earliest cap can by the Perfection Mfg. Co. It has a glass be seen in Figure 3. Starting at the top thread, and while there is a rubber band interior of the inner skirt, there is a flat, 1 th to exclude the air, it is so placed that it /4 of an inch wide circular ledge. At the cannot possibly come in contact ledge’s innermost part, a 1/16th of 1 with the contents of the jar…” an inch vertical rise occurs. This To make a long story short, forms an internal, raised circular William B. Fenn entered into a plane in the center of the cap’s binding agreement with John P. inner surface. The geometric Elkin over a year earlier. In that shape has a convex top surface contract, he agreed to invent and with an outer diameter of patent a new jar. On June 10th, 1 5 / 8 th inches. The phrase 1903, Mr. Fenn forwarded an PAT.APLD.FOR - is cut application to the United States backwards in a curve onto the Patent Office to fulfill his part of top part of the convex area. This the bargain. His request was for a group of words was applied so jar closure. The container and that it could be read naturally closure are pictured in Figure 1.2 through the top surface of the At this point in June 1903, Figure 1 sealer.

The top surface of the Figure 5 specimen is non-tiered as shown. It is 2 3/16th inches in diameter and concave to the feel. Of note, there is no embossing of any kind on this region. You will recall the phrase PAT.APLD.FOR - was marked on the cover’s inner surface.

Figure 5 The capital letters on the inner surface were 3/16th inch in height. The bottom edge of the closure was polished smooth and flat to the touch. This example of a William B. Fenn cap had sixteen vertical grippers positioned around the outer skirt. The model in Figure 2 sealed a sixteen ounce container. Therefore, it had an outer

Figure 3

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

diameter of 2 3/ 4 th inches and an inner measurement of 2 3/8th inches.

Follow-on Cap I’m convinced the closure depicted in Figures 2-5 was the earliest sample of a William B. Fenn inspired all-glass screw cap. I say this because I believe the one shown in Figure 6 is its successor.

circumference of the outer skirt is a 1/8th inch tall band. From the top of it, the outer skirt of the cap angles gently inward to about two-thirds of the way up. Then it curves upward and inward until the outer top surface is reached.

Figure 8

Figure 6 In a reference listing which employs my classification scheme, the Figure 6 model would also be in Group I. A complete entry would be: 1.2.1.2 - a.3.b.3.c.3.d.3.e.16.f.2.

At the nadir of the inner skirt, there is a flat, circular 1/4th of an inch ledge. Precisely at its innermost segment, a 1/16th of an inch vertical depression occurs. This inner region has a diameter of 1 9/16th inches and is concave to the feel. Within this area, the following backwards embossing is present.

Curved along the top is the phrase PAT.APLD.FOR. Along the opposite or bottom segment are the words - Trade Mark Registered. Between both is the logo SIMPLEX - enclosed by a diamond form.

See Figure 7.5

Figure 7 Also Flaccusesque in outer shape, the follow-on cover in Figure 8 has a standard height of 13 / 16 th inch. Along the

Figure 9 As with its mate in Figure 5, this version in Figure 9 has a non-tiered top surface.

On this example, the smooth top area is 2 ½ inches in diameter. Looking down through this part, the inner surface labeling that was previously described can be easily read.

The dimensions of the diamond on the screw cap’s inner surface are 3/4th inch in height and 1 ½ inches wide. Capital letter size is 3/16th inch. The cursive letters are each 1 th /8 of an inch tall. A small “v” forms the center component of the larger letter “M” in the word SIMPLEX. The bottom edge of Figure 6 is polished and flat to the feel.

Sixteen ribs adorn the outer skirt. As with the sealer in Figure 2, this successor was meant to close a sixteen ounce container. It has an inner diameter of 2 3/8th inches and an outer measurement of 2 3/4th inches. My example came with the original black packing ring still intact. The all-glass cap was on a clear, machine-made FLACCUS BROS. STEERS HEAD FRUIT JAR embossed container.

Conclusion Because I knew about the second cap, the first or earliest example was easy to identify, group and classify. I think the pictures and measurements I’ve presented speak for themselves. In my estimation, these fully substantiate my conclusion that both sealers are related. If you have any information you would like to share about either cover or just want to discuss the issue more fully, please don’t hesitate to contact

31 me.

Endnotes 1 Crockery and Glass Journal, June 11, 1903, pg. 26.

2 Fruit Jar Patents Volume III 1900-1942, compiled by Dick Roller, Phoenix Press, Chicago, Illinois, December 1996, pgs.

154-156 and District Court of the United States, for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Docket No. 2339.

3 The maker of the ‘Simplex Packing Jar’ was eventually to be the Republic Glass Manufacturing Company in Moosic, Pennsylvania. Although this facility wasn’t open at this time, the owner had 150 gross of the ‘Simplex Packing Jar’ made and shipped to the southwestern part of the Commonwealth in Washington for use in an advertising campaign for the container.

The cap in Figure 2 could have come from that location as well. Perfection Glass Company, One of Many Glass Houses in Washington, Pennsylvania, Barry L. Bernas, 239 Ridge Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 2005, pgs. 6 and XXXVIIIXXXIX. 4 Cataloging Process for the FennDesigned, 1904 Patented, Screw Cap, Barry L. Bernas, The Guide To Collecting Fruit Jars Fruit Jar Annual Volume 10 2005, Jerome J. McCann, 5003 W. Berwyn Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, pgs. 4-20 and Perfection Glass Company, One of Many Glass Houses in Washington, Pennsylvania, Barry L. Bernas, 239 Ridge Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 2005, pgs. IIIXVIII. 5 I opine the circular vertical rise/vertical depression seen in the center of the inner surface on both caps was caused by the operator of the top-down and bottom-up press used to manufacture these items.

32

Winter 2006

Donnie Medlin’s World is Pepsi

by Bill Baab Since 1988, Pepsi-Cola has been hitting the spot for Donnie Medlin, who has amassed one of the greatest private collections of memorabilia relating to that soft drink in the world.

Three rooms of his home are jam-packed with everything Pepsi, including fans, Barbie dolls, clocks, thermometers, signs, footballs, cans, tennis shoes, bottle molds and a cardboard cutout of Cindy Crawford, the super model who has been a spokeswoman for the Pepsi-Cola Company.

He also has an autographed photo of Miss Crawford.

The most unusual is a toilet seat with the Pepsi bottle on the underside of the cover and a pair of 12-ounce Everlast boxing gloves emblazoned with the Diet Pepsi logo on their business ends. Put up your dukes!

Medlin has most of the cardboard signs framed to protect them, with a long series of mobiles featuring Pete and Pepsi, the Keystone Kops from the late 1930s-early 1940s, hanging inside one rectangular frame. The cutouts are dangling on strings and are illustrated on both sides.

These are being reproduced, but the new ones have gold grommets around the string holes,” said Medlin, who acquired the rare original set from a Michigan friend. “There are no grommets on the originals. My friend went to a yard sale and the woman running it said she had some Pepsi stuff in her basement. He went down to check it out and there were the Kops. ‘Pick out the ones you want and I’ll cut the strings,’ she told him. ‘No-no-no! Don’t do that! I’ll take all of them,’ said my friend. I don’t know what he paid, but he sold them to me for a good price a bit later.”

Actually, signs are No. 4 on his list of collecting priorities, with bottles No. 1, clocks No. 2 and thermometers No. 3.

You just wouldn’t believe all those bottles!

“I started collecting Pepsi-Cola just because it started in my home state,” said the 60-year-old Roanoke Rapids, N.C., native and Raleigh Bottle Club member.

Among the bottles are examples from Caleb Bradham’s drug store in New Bern where Bradham developed the beverage during the 1890s. First called “Brad’s Drink,” he later changed it to Pepsi-Cola.

Pepsi-Cola hits the spot!

Twelve full ounces – that’s a lot!

Twice as much for a nickel, too!

Pepsi-Cola is the drink for you!

– 1940s Radio Jingle.

Here’s an item for the Pepsi collector who has everything, and Medlin almost has it all.

“Ok, you wanna fight? Put up your dukes,” says Donnie Medlin, “armed” with Diet Pepsi gloves.

“There is so much Coca-Cola stuff out there and I thought Pepsi would be more challenging to collect,” Medlin said. Based upon a visitor’s viewpoint, there is so much Pepsi-Cola stuff out there, stuff the average collector doesn’t know exists, but this Tar Heel “Pepsi Nut” has been able to track down much of it.

In addition to his estimates of 950 to 1,000 pre-1930s embossed Pepsis and 65 amber-colored examples, Medlin also has

Bottles and Extras a huge collection of the so-called “throwout” containers, the ones marked “No Deposit – No Return.”

In fact, he points to one example as a favorite. It’s a 12-ounce “stubby” throwaway embossed No Deposit – No Return and has an applied color label that duplicates the design on an early cone-top can.

“It was produced during 1951, the transition year when the design was switched from the familiar double dot, and so far is the only one known to exist,” he said. The “double dot:” is the part of the Pepsi logo between the “i” of Pepsi and the “C” of Cola. Taking the place of a hyphen, there also are single and triple dot logos.

Collectors can go “dotty” trying to acquire all of them.

His collection includes other soft drink brands bottled by Pepsi-Cola, including Mountain Dew, Slice, Jefferson Club, Pilot, Mason’s Root Beer, Virginia Dare, Tom Thumb, Mission Orange, Goody, Cloverdale, Tom’s Kist, Blue Streak, Belfast, Tarver’s Hollywood, M&K, Big Nickel Ginger Ale, Sun Fresh, Town Hall, Sunbo, Suncrest, Orange Crush, Minges, Dixie Dew and Old Colony, to name just a few. Each of those applied color label bottles sports the magic words: “Bottled by the Pepsi-Cola Company.”

Medlin said the only place he’s “dug” for his prizes is in his wallet. He’s never turned a spadeful of earth in search of bottles in any dumping ground.

“I’ve tried to establish myself with others in the hobby as someone who is a serious collector of Pepsis.” said Medlin, sipping from a cold can of Diet Pepsi. “I buy rare ones because every day they go up in value.

My whole collection is an investment. I don’t mind paying fair prices for anything I’m interested in. Many of my friends look out for me and put out the word that I pay good money for empty bottles. I’m sure I’ve paid too much for some things, but it all evens out.”

Medlin’s marketplace includes eBay, auctions, bottle shows, antique and “junque” shops, and that word of mouth.

Visitors to his home wonder if there’s enough space to house more, but the collector keeps on searching for bottles and extras he doesn’t have.

A few years ago, a friend in St. Paul, Minn., decided to sell his collection of Pepsis and Mountain Dews numbering between 500 and 600 bottles. Medlin flew to St. Paul, bought the collection, rented a

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

33

Photos: Top left: Medlin’s favorite “Pepsi Girl,” super model Cindy Crawford surrounded by stuff.

Middle left: Rare one-gallon Pepsi syrup jug.

Middle right: Original “Keystone Kops” store display mounted in rectangular frame is Medlin’s pride and joy.

Bottom left: Here’s just a part of one wall loaded with pre-1930s embossed Pepsi-Cola bottles. You’ve got to see it to believe it.

Bottom right: Early cone-top Pepsi can is super-rare and so is the cardboard carton.

34

Winter 2006

Bottles and Extras

Photos: Top left: Just a few of the collector’s paper-labeled Pepsis in amber, green and clear versions.

Top right: Rare amber Pepsis, 65 in all, grace the glass-fronted cabinet.

Middle: The Pepsi-Cola Company bottled many other soft drink brands, including these.

Bottom left: Rare signs among Medlin’s Mountain Dew collection.

Bottom right:. Donnie Medlin with just a few of his Pepsi Cola clocks. All of them used to operate, but he found it too much of a job to keep them ticking.

Bottles and Extras van and packed it full. “There wasn’t enough room left for a passenger,” said Medlin, who drove 23-1/2 hours to his North Carolina home. “I’d decided I didn’t want to risk staying overnight and having someone see that van loaded with boxes and decide to rip me off,” he explained. “During the drive, I reached the point of having to roll down my window so the cold air would keep me awake. I stopped only for fuel, to use the bathroom and buy snacks to eat.”

He was used to driving long distances.

He spent 23 years with United Parcel Service, first as a driver of those big brown trucks, and later as a supervisor, retiring in 2000 at the age of 55. He invested heavily in company stock and has never regretted it.

Medlin enjoys attending “Pepsi Fests” held in Indianapolis, Ind., and Las Vegas.

“Some 500 to 600 Pepsi collectors converge on one motel or hotel and we do some swapping and buying on room-to-room visits,” he said. “There used to be one held in Charlotte, N.C., but not lately for some reason. I rarely sell, maybe just four or five bottles since I’ve been collecting.”

When you walk through the doorway of one room, your eyes quickly find row upon row upon row of embossed Pepsis of the early 1900s from throughout the U.S. Rare North Carolina bottles featuring slug plates embossed Rose Hill and Cherryville and the only known 1905 Dixie Carbonating Co., crown top from Augusta, Georgia dug by Mike Newman of that city several years ago.

He sent it to Pepsi book author James Ayers and Medlin bought it from the Virginia

Winter 2006 collector. Medlin also owns a tall aqua Augusta Pepsi which also is one-of-a-kind.

Just as rare is a bottle embossed with 15 PC initials, but no city name. A trio of the only known Hutchinson Pepsi from the Escambia Bottling Works of Pensacola, Fla., join other rarities on the shelves.

And speaking of Ayers’ Pepsi books, that author spent hours shooting photos of Medlin’s collection to illustrate his second book.

A 1930s Pepsi cooler sits in one room.

“Pepsi changed from paper labels to applied color labels because of coolers like this one,” Medlin said. “When the ice melted, the paper labels detached from the bottles.”

What else out there that’s among Medlin’s Pepsi heart’s desires?

“Anything I ain’t got!” he chuckles.

“I’ve heard of Pepsi bottles from Oxford, N.C., and Forsyth, Ga., but don’t know if they exist.”

The Forsyth bottle does exist in a tall, straight-sided clear version, with PepsiCola in script embossed between Forsyth at the top of the oval slug plate and Forsyth, Ga., on the bottom. The bottle is pictured in “Georgia Early Embossed Crown Top Soda Bottles,” by Carl Barnett and Ken Nease.

In addition to Pepsis, Medlin also has a marvelous collection of Mountain Dew items, including rare bottles, cans and cardboard signs, others that light up, and a wonderful, lifelike figure of a hilarious hillbilly with a Mountain Dew jug. Medlin plugs in the cord and the figure sways and sways — maybe a bit too much Mountain

Medlin even used the vaulted ceilings to display signs and thermometers.

35 Dew. “Most of the time you see this store display missing toes on his feet, but this one has all his toes and is the only one I’ve seen that moves,” the collector said.

More signs, clocks and other memorabilia tout Orange Crush, Dad’s Root Beer and other soft drinks popular from the early 1900s to date. The sight truly boggles the mind of Medlin’s visitors.

Later on, fellow Raleigh Bottle Club member Jack Murdoch got Medlin started on a “new” hobby. “Why don’t you start collecting North Carolina whiskey flasks?”

Murdoch asked him.

More than 100 embossed North Carolina whiskey flasks from the 19th and early 20th centuries are now in Medlin’s collection, said to be the finest in existence.

However, a final question remains unanswered: “When you get older and grayer, or if you lose interest in all this, what’s going to happen to it?”

Medlin figures that the day he’ll lose interest “would be like finding a snowball in Hades,” and, as for the collection’s future, only time will tell.

Photos by Bill Baab

36

Winter 2006

FHGW This mark is found on export-style, 26-ounce “quart” beer bottles. Toulouse (1971:202-203) dated the mark “circa 1880 to 1900,” based on the general timeframe for bottles of that type. In fact, he only discussed the bottle type – not company information.

Wilson (1981:115-117) illustrated 37

bottles with the F H G W mark from Fort Union (1863-1891), three blue (these are a light blue – not cobalt blue), the rest amber in color. In every case, the mark was across the center of the base, although punctuation could be either present or absent. Many of the marks were accompanied by a small, embossed dot above the mark, and one had a Maltese cross over the mark. All included numbers below the mark ranging from 1 to 36. Herskovitz (1978:8) found 129 beer bottles with the mark at Fort Bowie, Arizona (1862-1894). Although he did not include possible variations in his analysis, he noted numbers accompanying the marks ranging from 1 to 89. Lockhart and Olszewski (1994), however, only found two examples at San Elizario, Texas, with accompanying numbers of 4 and 14 [Figure 1]. Ayres et al. (1980:unnumbered page) showed the mark across the center with a number below with or without punctuation and with or without the accompanying dot above. They showed numbers 13 [Figure 2] and 31. Usually a good source for additional information, Ayres et al. (1980:17) only noted that the mark was “unidentified.” Jones (1966:8) also only showed the logo across the center of the base and added that numbers ranged from 1 through 38. She noted that bottles were both amber and aqua [actually a light blue] in color. Jones (1968:17) also noted that an F H G W bottle from Fort Union had a St. Louis Lager Beer label.

Wilson (1981:5), however, contradicted Jones by saying that “not a single label of this type [St. Louis Lager Beer] was found at Fort Union, where Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Lager Beer labels occur in profusion.” He suggested that, since Fort Laramie (the second fort he excavated) was occupied by civilians after 1891, the brand

Figure 2: F H G W Beer Bottle Base (no punctuation) [Ayres et al. 1980]

Figure 3: F H G W Fruit Jar Base [Creswick 1995:60]

The Dating Game © Bill Lockhart and David Whitten The F H G W Mark [Most of the first section of this article was originally published in the Summer 2005 issue of the Society for Historical Archaeology Newsletter (Lockhart & Whitten 2005)] Tracking down marks and manufacturers is a process that takes weeks, months, sometimes even years. In many cases, the research takes twists, turns, and many blind alleys before the correct answer is realized. Toulouse (1971:202-203) had attributed the FHGW mark to the Frederick Hampson Glass Works in England. When we began discussing the mark, Whitten insisted that the bottles did not look English, so we set out to test the Toulouse assertion. First, we had to figure a date range, and we looked at reported collections from three archaeological sites to determine that the bottles had to have been made during the ca. 1880-1886 period. They could have been made both before and after that time, but they must have been made between those dates. Lockhart e-mailed the Salford Local History Library and discovered that the company was not called Frederick Hampson Glass Works until 1892. We needed a better answer.

May Jones (1968:17) claimed the factory was more likely that of “F. Hitchins.”

Francis Hitchins was manager of the Lockport Glass Co., but he was too early for the manufacture of these bottles, and there was no evidence that he ever used the

Figure 1: F. H. G. W. Beer Bottle Base (with punctuation) [Lockhart]

Bottles and Extras

name Francis Hitchins Glass Works. We turned our attention to the Federal Hill Glass Works in Baltimore, Maryland. Both Whitten and Lockhart e-mailed and wrote to collectors, libraries, and historical societies in the area. Finally, William A. “Doc” Anderson of the Baltimore Antique Bottle Club checked the city directories for us. Like Hitchins, this factory closed too early to have produced the bottles.

Meanwhile, in a project unrelated to this research, Lockhart was looking into the possibility that some individual mold makers left their “signatures” on bottle bases. One such signature was the Maltese cross found on bases of beer bottles from several different companies, including F H G W. All of the other companies using bottles bearing this “signature” were located in the St. Louis, Missouri, area.

Even before this evidence was presented, Whitten had insisted that the bottles were probably from St. Louis or nearby. He was finally able to visit St. Louis in the spring of 2005. There, he found the answer.

Bottles and Marks

Bottles and Extras was an “imitative product” of the Anheuser St. Louis Lager. If this is correct, and Jones identification of the label and mark were correct (although not the location where the bottle was found), this indicates that the bottles may have been made fairly late – in the 1890s. However, Jones may also have been looking at an Anheuser St. Louis beer label and not have been as observant as usual.

Creswick (1995:59-60) showed a grooved-ring, wax sealer fruit jar with the F H G W mark across the center of the base and a single-digit number below it. The marks came in small- and large-letter variations [Figure 3].

There appears to be only one variation of this mark – embossed across the center of the base. Some bottles have an embossed dot above the mark, and a very few have an embossed Maltese cross above the mark in place of the dot. Punctuation in the marks can be either present or absent. Every mark we have found has a number between 1 and 89 below the mark. Bottles were made from amber and light blue (possibly aqua) glass.

F. H. Creswick (1994:59) listed three slight variations of the F. H. mark (with 1, 6, or no number below the initials) on bases of grooved-ring, wax sealer fruit jars [Figure 4]. She attributed the mark to the Federal Hill Glass Works, 1790 to ca. 1905, although the latter date is after the factory closed (see below). Whitten noted that his wax sealer fruit jars marked with F H G W and F. H. [Figure 5] are identical in all observable ways except for the marks.

Four soda bottles are also marked with F. H. One, noted by both Paul and Parmalee (1973:89) and Miller (1980:11), was a Hutchinson bottle used by E. Auer. Miller

Figure 4: F. H. Fruit Jar Base [Creswick 1995:59]

Winter 2006 dated the company “1880s to early 1890s.”

Another Hutchinson bottle with the mark, used by Geo. Schroeder, was dated “1890s – early 1900s” (Miller 1980:14). A third from “Spannagel S. & M W Co” was used during the 1890s (Miller 1980:15). The final bottle we have found, also a Hutchinson, was a different variation of the Spannagel S. & M. W. Co. bottle (Figure 6 – Miller 1982:5). All of the soda bottlers using Hutchinson bottles marked with F. H. were located in East St. Louis, Illinois.

Baltimore Glass Works We include this mark because the Federal Hill Glass Works was also known as the Baltimore Glass Works. The plant was more likely to have used this mark than F H G W. Van Rensselaer (1921:6, 17) noted flasks marked on the fronts with Baltimore/Glass Works.

Freeman (1964:68, 94, 104) described a flask embossed with an anchor and a rope marked Baltimore Glass Works, as well as a George Washington flask and one with an anchor. He did not provide a date range.

In another instance, Freeman (1964:84) described a “Monumental City” flask embossed “Baltimore Glass Works Est’d 1780. Baker Bros. & Co.” Creswick (1995:10, 14) also showed a fruit jar embossed BALTIMORE (slight downward arch)/GLASS WORKS (horizontal) on the front. She dated the jar ca. 1860. The plant was owned by Baker Bros. who also made jars marked with their names (BAKER BROS. & CO. BALTIMORE, MD.) on the bases.

FH Toulouse (1971:202) noted an underlined FH as the “modern mark” used

by Frederick Hampson Glass Works, Salford, England. This was likely used after ca. 1892.

Figure 5: F. H. Fruit Jar Base [Whitten]

37 The Companies Frederick Hampson Glass Works According to Toulouse (1971:202-203), the Frederick Hampson Glass Works, Salford, Lancashire, England (which he dated “1851-?”) used the F H G W mark.

Unfortunately, he provided virtually no other information. His discussion centered around the bottles, themselves, rather than the company. It is likely that he could find no other factory with the necessary initials.

Founded in 1851, the company was originally called Phillips and Hampson.

About 1892, the name was changed to Frederick Hampson Glass Works (18921893 directory). The company remained in business until about 1980. According to an 1892 article, Hampson did a brisk trade with “Australia and the colonies” (personal communication with Tricia Nuttall, library assistant at the Salford Local History Library, 2004) “The colonies” may have loosely referred to the United States (no longer a colony by that time), but it may have meant other British colonies.

Francis Hitchins May Jones (1968:17) claimed the factory was more likely that of F. Hitchins. She cited the McKearins in their discussion of the beginning of the Lockport Glass Co., Lockport, New York. The factory began in 1840, but one of the original four owners, one “Hitchins,” bought out the rest sometime between 1850 and 1860. Another collector provided her with the information that Hitchins first initial was “F.” The Hitchins identification as the user of the F H G W mark on beer bottles will not stand close scrutiny. Two main facts

Figure 6: F. H. Soda Bottle Heel [Miller 1982:5]

38 eliminated Hitchins from the list of contenders for the use of the mark. First, there is no indication that the Lockport Glass Works, which he owned, was ever operated under any other name. Nor is there any indication that he owned any other factory. Second, Hitchins operated the Lockport Glass Works from 1850 to 1866 (see McKearin & Wilson 1978:137142 for a more thorough history of both Hitchins and Lockport). McKearin & McKearin (1941:194), however, placed the date of Hitchins’ sale at 1872. The national use of amber beer bottles, such as those found at the sources listed above, however, did not begin until 1872 or 1873.

Therefore, Hitchins was in business too early to have made these bottles.

Other Possibilities We looked through all our 19th century sources for anyone with a last name beginning with “H” and a first name beginning with “F” to produce the following list: Herdman, F. H. – part of the Kearns glasshouses, 1870s (McKearin & Wilson 1978:166-167) Hirsch, Francis – involved with Boston Window Glass ca. 1825 (Wilson 1972:8687) Hitchins, Francis – owned Lockport Glass Co. – 1850-1866 (McKearin & Wilson 1978:137-142) Houghton, Francis – involved with Union Glass Co. Ca. 1854 (Wilson 1972:309-310) All four of these men were in the glass business too early to have been the “F H” we seek, and none owned a glass house that was labeled with their names.

Federal Hill Glass Works Interestingly, there was a Federal Hill Works (also known as Federal Hill Glass Works) in Baltimore, Maryland. It was also known as the Patapsco River Glass-House and the Hughes Street Works and was initially operated by Frederick M. Amelung & Co. The plant was apparently in production from about 1799 to 1853 (Knittle 1927:297, 299, 302).

McKearin and McKearin (1941:587) traced Frederick Amelung & Co., located at the “foot of Federal Hill” from the company’s inception on November 16, 1799, to at least 1905 at which date they noted: “Company was still in operation.”

Winter 2006

Bottles and Extras

The firm made “bottles and flasks of all kinds” in 1853.

McKearin and Wilson (1978:71-74, 130-131; 665), however, called the factory the Baltimore Glass Works, and a number of flasks were embossed BALTIMORE/ GLASS/WORKS (see above). Production of glass actually began at Federal Hill on January 1, 1800. After a series of owners had come and gone, the Baker Brothers, headed by William Baker, obtained the factory by 1845. The Bakers allowed a group of blowers from the Federal Hill factory to start a cooperative known as the Spring Garden Glass Works. The cooperative failed by 1859, and the Bakers bought the factory. By 1863, they had moved all bottle production to the Spring Garden plant to concentrate on making window glass at Federal Hill. About 1870, all production ceased at the Federal Hill plant. Thus, it is very unlikely that beer bottles made after 1872 were made or marked with the F H G W logo at Federal Hill.

Creswick (1995:262) noted that the Baltimore Glass Works was also known as Federal Hill Glass Works and the Baltimore Glass Manufactory. She dated all the names at 1799 to 1905. The 1864 Baltimore city directory (online at http://www.bcpl.net/ ~pely/1864/) listed both the Baltimore Glass Works and the Federal Hill Glass Works. The factory was known by both names at least that late. Doc Anderson, however, checked Baltimore city directories from 1870 to 1900 and could find no listing for the Federal Hill Glass Works. This confirms the McKearins’ claim that the factory ceased production in 1870.

Mold-Makers’ Signatures During the 19th century, very few glass houses made their own molds. In reading glass company histories, it is unusual to find a glass plant with its own mold-making capacity. Thus, it is likely that many glass houses used the same mold maker to produce the molds they needed.

It is possible that some of the individual mold engravers included their own “signatures” on baseplates they created.

Toulouse (1971:537) discussed the possibility of the use of the mold-cutter’s “signature” in connection with Nuttall & Co. from 1872 to 1913. Although Nuttall & Co. was an English company, the time period is similar to the possibilities we cite below. Numerous beer bottle bases are embossed with small lines, tic marks, or similar extraneous markings. We suggest that two other likely “signatures” are Maltese crosses and Xs found on baseplates of amber and aqua beer bottles from the ca.

1875-1890 period.

Heitz Glass Works When David Whitten checked the St. Louis city directories, he found Frederick W. Heitz (usually as Heitz, Frederick) listed under the Glass Manufacturers category. Heitz was located at the northwest corner of Main (Dorcas & Main) from 1883 to 1896. Although little remains known about this company, it fits the time period when bottles marked F H G W are known to have been made. Heitz was listed as a grocer prior to his involvement with the glass business. In the 1898 directory, he was listed as “foreman,” presumably at one of the other glass factories in St. Louis. A Christian Heitz was one of the officers at the Lindell Glass Co. in 1880.

Figure 7: Maltese Cross on I G Co Beer Bottle Base [Lockhart]

Frederick Heitz was born in 1839 in Prussia and was 41 years old when he was interviewed during the 1880 census. Heitz was married and listed himself as a “Retail Grocer.” His wife, Mena, was 40 at the time and was also born in Prussia.

Christian Heitz was born two years earlier (also in Prussia) and was probably a brother to Frederick. Christian listed his occupation as “Owner Glass House” (probably referring to Lindell) and lived with his 39-year-old wife, Minna, their son, and their two daughters (1880 Census).

According to St. Louis death records, Frederick died in 1907 at age 67. He was again listed as a grocer.

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

Maltese Crosses Essentially identical Maltese crosses appear above the manufacturer’s marks on amber, aqua, and light blue beer bottle bases [Figure 7] with logos of F H G W, M G Co, L G Co, S B & G Co, I G Co and I G Co L. Initially, we thought that these Maltese crosses might have been engraved by an itinerant mold maker who moved from company to company, adding his individual “signature” to each baseplate. However, because few glass houses produced their own molds, it is more likely that this individual worked for a single moldproducing company and engraved baseplates for each of the glass houses during the same time period.

in Illinois. This supposition fits perfectly with Frederick Heitz. His location in St. Louis makes him an ideal candidate for the user of the F H G W mark.

Dating of the marks becomes interesting.

Six of the San Elizario bottles had Maltese crosses embossed on their bases. Two were I G Co; four were M G Co. Although L G Co, S B & B G Co, and F H G W bases were in the assemblage, none had Maltese crosses as part of the basal markings. This may just indicate that this sample was too small to include any of the cross-marked bottles. However, it may mean that the Maltese cross was just phasing in during the ca. 1880-1887 period when the bottles were discarded.

Manufacturer’s Marks and Maltese Crosses These manufacturer’s marks (F H G W, M G Co, L G Co, S B & G Co, I G Co and I G Co L) all have two things in common: 1) they are occasionally accompanied by a Maltese cross, always positioned above the logo on export-style beer bottles; and 2) the identification of the manufacturer has been in dispute in most cases. The I G Co mark may have been used by either the Ihmsen Glass Co. (Pittsburgh), the Illinois Glass Co. (Alton), or both – although the I G Co L mark was certainly used by Ihmsen (see Lockhart et al. 2005b). Although there were many contenders for the M G Co mark, we have narrowed it down to the Mississippi Glass Co. (St. Louis) on beer bottles. As with M G Co, there were many possibilities for the user of the L G Co mark, but we have reduced that to a very strong case for the Lindell Glass Co. (St. Louis) as the user on beer bottle bases (articles on these marks will be forthcoming). The S B & G Co mark from Streator, however, is not in contention, and the glass house using F H G W is discussed above.

If the Maltese cross is, indeed, a conjoining factor (as in the case of a single mold maker using it as a “signature”), then we can look for commonalities. We already know that all six made export-style beer bottles with no embossing on the body of the containers. Both Mississippi Glass and Lindell were in St. Louis; Alton, Illinois (home of the Illinois Glass Co.), is just across the river. Streator and Ihmsen, however, were farther north and east.

Because three of the five identified companies were in the St. Louis area, then the unknown member of the group might also be located in St. Louis or fairly nearby

Discussion and Conclusion Bottles marked with F H G W were common at both Fort Bowie and Fort Union. The presence of the bottles at the forts indicates that the manufacturer must have made them during the 1863-1891 period. We can shorten the timeframe to 1872-1891 because bottled beer was not transported over long distances until after the development of Pasteurization for beer

by Anheuser Busch in 1873. Since Lockhart reappraised the time period for the use of the San Elizario bottle pit to 1880-1886 based on more recent data about marks, and only two bottles with the F H G W mark were found at San Elizario, we can hypothesize that the bottles were probably deposited at the forts in either the early or later segments of the San Elizario dates.

Whitten’s discovery of the Frederick Heitz glass factory operating in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1883 to 1896, fits perfectly with all currently-known information about the F H G W mark as well as the time periods for both forts and the San Elizario deposits. The F H G W mystery is solved at last.

Bottles with the F. H. mark, however, remain in question. Containers with the F. H. mark seem out of character with the rest of Heitz’s known products. All his export beer bottles and fruit jars (at least the ones marked F H G W) were otherwise unembossed (i.e., no logos or names of local companies). He seemed to rely on the generic market. The soda bottles marked F. H., on the other hand, are all embossed with bottlers’ names. If those were his earliest products, however, he might have tried that approach and decided that generic bottles were easier, faster, and more

39 profitable.

We have seen or been informed about only four bottles with the F. H. mark, but these have all been made for bottlers in East St. Louis – across the river in Illinois.

Whitten suggested that St. Louis bottlers could have ignored Heitz because of his small glass house, and he may only have made name-embossed containers for East St. Louis businesses. The larger St. Louis companies (Lindell Glass Co. and Mississippi Glass Co.) and the nearby giant, Illinois Glass Co. (Alton), may have badly undercut his prices.

It is also possible that the mysterious F. H. mark belongs to another company altogether, although this is unlikely. We have not run across any other company or individual (see above) that fits the initials and would have been in business during the correct time period. All bottles (of which we are aware) with the F. H. mark were used during the time period when Heitz was in business. In addition, as noted above, Whitten’s examination of fruit jars marked with F. H. and with F H G W are identical in all respects except the initials. Frederick Heitz is the most parsimonious identification for the initials.

Acknowledgments We would like to thank Douglas M. Leybourne, Jr. for permission to reprint drawings from the Fruit Jar Works. Our gratitude also to our fellow researchers, Bill Lindsey and Carol Serr for proofreading, comments, and reading/listening to endless discussions. Finally, a great debt is owed to Kathy Hopson-Sathe for editing such a great publication!

Updates on Illinois Glass In our column on the Illinois Glass Co. marks (Lockhart et al. 2005a), we noted that catalog numbers were embossed to the right of the I G Co mark on bottle heels from about 1895 to about 1911. We have found further confirmation for those dates.

Date ranges on bottles used by local companies in Colorado were shown in Clint (1976). Information was drawn from local sources and empirical study of the bottles.

All I G Co logos were embossed on heels.

Heel logos with no accompanying numbers fell within a range between 1882 to 1887, and all four examples were made with applied finishes. Heel logos accompanied by numbers embossed on bases dated 1894 to 1900. Heel logos with numbers immediately to their right dated from 1894

40 to 1915. All numbered bottles were topped by tooled finishes. Clint showed some unusual numbers such as 10 ½ and 72 ½.

I. C. Co. Griffenhagen and Bogard (1999:124) claim that a mark of I. C. Co. was found on bottles used from 1873 to 1881 by the Home Bitters Co. of St. Louis. They almost certainly took their information from Ring (1980:248). Ring listed the Home Stomach Bitters and noted either I.C. CO or I P G C on the base of the bottle. We have been unable to find confirmation for this mark from any other source. It is possible that either an engraver mis-struck a “C” for a “G” or that the serif on the “G” was so faint that it was misread. According to Fike (1987:35) the Home Bitters Co. advertised during the 1870-1873 period and was last listed in directories in 1881 – all within the period when Illinois Glass used the I G Co mark.

Winter 2006 (2005:10) cited 11.02 on anther one from Colorado. The trail seemed to lead to a Colorado glass house. With the exception of the Western Glass Mfg. Co., no Colorado company was in business during the right time period (1902-1903). Western used other codes, so it did not seem likely that the company would have used still another marking. Later, reports of similar codes came from all over the U.S. A look at the 1903 Illinois Glass Co. catalog revealed the answer. Illinois Glass made Hutchinson bottles with catalog numbers of 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, and 66

Bottles and Extras [Figure 8]. All were available with round plate molds except 55, which only came with a horseshoe plate. Except for #44, all were available with “Hutchinson Stopper, or Baltimore Seal, or Cork and Wire.”

Number 44 could be supplied with “Cork and Wire, Lightning Stopper or Baltimore Seal.” A later page showed more Hutchinson bottles with catalog numbers of 111, 122, 133, 144, and 155. All but #155 could be “furnished for Hutchinson Stopper, Baltimore Seal or Cork and Wire.”

The catalog further noted that “No. 155 is designed especially for Twitchell’s Floating

I G Co in a Diamond Teal (2005:20-21) noted that “from 1897-99 Illinois Glass Company supplied the [South Carolina] Dispensary with twenty-two carloads of clear, quart, round, palmetto-tree Dispensary bottles. These bottles carry the company’s trademark on their base, a diamond with the initials, ‘I. G. Co.’ inside of it.” Teal visited the former Illinois Glass Co. factory in Alton and obtained his information from their records. This indicates that the I G Co-ina-diamond mark was used at least as early as 1897 – about three years earlier than indicated by any other source we have found. It is even possible that the diamond form of the mark was developed specifically for the Dispensary bottles.

‘01, ’02, or ‘03 In the process of helping Ron Fowler develop the New Mexico segment of his International Hutchinson bottle database, Lynn Loomis discovered a previously unknown New Mexico Hutchinson bottle from Gamble & Rascoe, Roswell. The bottle was embossed 122 ‘02 on the back heel. Lynn asked if the ‘02 were a date code for 1902. That began the search.

Similar marks (11. ‘03 and 11 ‘03) were embossed on heels of other New Mexico Hutchinsons (Wood 1998), and Ron recalled an 11 ‘02 on a Hutch from North Yakima, Washington. Clint (1976:101, 171, 188) illustrated two numbers (33’02 and 55.02) on Colorado Hutches, and Kyte

Figure 8: Hutchinson Soda Bottles [1908 Illinois Glass Co. Catalog]

Bottles and Extras Ball.” Ron Fowler confirmed that Hutchinson bottle photos he has (of bottles marked with the ‘02, etc.) consistently match the pictures in the Illinois Glass catalog.

Similar codes are found on crownfinished bottles. Two crown-topped soda bottles from El Paso, Texas, are marked on the back heel with 322.02. Other crownfinished bottles (422 and 722) are from Illinois Glass but do not have the secondary code. The last page of the 1903 Illinois Glass Co. catalog shows the same style

Winter 2006 bottle with a catalog number of 322 [Figure 9]. Also on the same page is a Hutchinson bottle (#311) and crownfinished sodas numbered 322, 333, 344, 355, 366, 377, and 388. Numbers in the 1903 catalog extended to 477. Bottles with all of these catalog numbers may have included date codes of 01, 02, or 03. Thus, it is possible that virtually any number for soda bottles from the 1903 catalog will probably include date codes for these three years.

The 1906 catalog extended the numbers

Figure 9: Crown-Finished Soda Bottles [1908 Illinois Glass Co. Catalog]

41 to 666. The same bottles numbering 11766 (a total of 72 different styles according to the Illinois Glass Co. count) are found in the 1908 catalog (essentially an extension of the 1906 list). All use the double-number system (e.g., 355, 477, etc.).

Some of these are in the Hutchinson pattern, and some have crown finishes. As in 1903, most Hutchinson-style bottles are “finished for Hutchinson Stopper, Baltimore Seal or Cork and Wire.” Crowns are primarily in the 300 series and up (322, 333, etc.). A note at the top of the pages states that “all sodas are made in green glass, unless otherwise ordered.” Quart sizes of both Hutchinson and Crown sodas followed a “9” series pattern (e.g., 9, 19, 29, etc.) from 9 to 139. The numbering system remained the same in the 1911 catalog (Putnam 1965), although all references to cork and wire finishes had ceased. The catalog numbers had completely changed by 1920, along with the elimination of Hutchinsonstyle bottles.

These data suggest two possible solutions to debates within the bottle research community. First, ‘01, ‘02, and ‘03, all marks reported by researchers in conjunction with either double-numeral marks or a “1” plus double digits, were undoubted used by the Illinois Glass Co., and, based on the 1903 catalog, are probably the earliest currently known date codes. Similar bottles have also been reported in -02 and .02 variations.

The El Paso bottle marked 322.02, however, questions the validity of the suffix numbers as date codes. Woodlawn Bottling Co., the bottler using both containers with the .02 suffix, began business as the Martin R. Sweeney Bottling Works from 1905 to 1908. It did not become Woodlawn (the name embossed on both bottles) until 1909.

Thus the company was not in business in 1902. It is important to note that this exception questions the hypothesis but does not disprove it. There are numerous instances where glass makers reused old molds, often at much later dates. In fact, the embossing of the codes is identical on both bottles (including a slight dip in the second “2” – indicating that both bottles were made in the same mold with different circular plate molds inserted. Unless other exceptions are found, it remains likely that the ‘ 01, ‘02, ‘03 series actually indicates the year the bottle was made.

The second debate has centered around vertically-elongated finishes on Hutchinson-style bottles. These longer

42

Winter 2006

finishes appear more like the older “blob tops” made for wired-down corks than the more “squat” finishes for the Hutchinson stoppers. According to Ron Fowler, three possible solutions have been offered by Hutchinson collectors: 1) The longer finishes are just Hutchinson variations; 2) the finishes are for corks and should not be classified as Hutchinsons; and 3) that these are “transition” bottles. Since both types of finishes are offered in the 1903 Illinois Glass catalog, these cannot be “transition” bottles – the Hutchinson finish was invented in 1879, 24 years previously, too long to have been in transition. The catalog also eliminates the longer finishes as variations of the Hutchinson top – it clearly identifies them as “Cork and Wire” finishes. Thus, these bottles are actually intended for corks and should not be classified as Hutchinson finishes. It should be noted that the elongated finishes for the cork and wire arrangement are not the same as the elongated version of the “funnel top” Hutchinson variation described by Elliott and Gould (1988:36). The finishes described by Elliott and Gould were certainly intended for Hutchinson stoppers.

Numbers in an Elongated Diamond In our first column on the Illinois Glass Co. marks, we dated the marks that used 2-, 3-, or four-digit numbers embossed inside diamonds on bottle bases as having begun about 1911. This dating is questioned, however, by a bottle illustrated in Clint (1976:132). The bottle is a whiskey

Figure 10: Number-in-Diamond Mark [Clint 1976:132]

Bottles and Extras

quart from Colorado with an applied finish (therefore pre-machine). The base is embossed with 105 in a diamond, and Clint dated the bottle ca. 1900 [Figure 10]. A look in the 1903 Illinois Glass Co. catalog showed no liquor bottle with number 105.

Liquor bottles of various sizes that are as identical with the Clint illustration as two drawings are likely to be are numbered 106, 107, 108, and 109. Other styles of bottle are numbered 100, 101, and 103. Since number 106 is the quart-sized bottle and 108 is the fifth, we submit that Clint likely misread the number on his bottle. However, the listing in the 1903 catalog combined with Clint’s date estimate makes it possible that the numbers-within-a-diamond marks were in use as early as the turn of the century.

Miller (1999:51) also illustrated a bottle that questions our beginning date for the mark. He showed a bottle from Julius Goldbaum, a Tucson liquor dealer marked on the base with 115 in a diamond. He dated the bottle 1899-1904. In a personal correspondence, Miller stated that actual last listing for Goldbaum in the liquor business was 1903. The number and drawing match the tall seal brandy bottle (Mould No. 115) in the 1903 Illinois Glass Co. catalog. Although the bottle was usually available in colorless form (as is the Miller bottle), it could “be furnished in GREEN or AMBER Glass on order, at special net prices. No. 115 is plate mold.

We can furnish lettered bottles at a small additional cost for a plate on first order.”

Prior to this, we had only found examples of the mark on machine-made bottles. This moves the beginning date for the mark to ca. 1900.

A. H. Heisey & Co. Although not a bottle manufacturer, A. H. Heisey & Co. used a mark that is occasionally confused with the Diamond I logo used by the Illinois Glass Co. Located in Newark, Ohio, Heisey began construction of its plant in 1895 and initiated production in April 1896. The company developed and began using the Diamond H trademark in late 1900 and copyrighted the mark in 1901. Although Heisey claimed it used the mark on all of its glass products from that point until the plant ceased production in 1957, there are some pieces known to have been made by Heisey that do not bear the Diamond H. Paper labels bearing the logo were probably affixed to the individual glass objects when they were new. Heisey sold its entire stock, mold, and business to the Imperial Glass Corp. in 1958 (Bredehoft & Bredehoft 2001:10-11).

The confusion in the marks arises from the tremendous variation in the letter “I” in the Illinois Glass Co. marks. Embossed marks include a dot instead of an “I,” sans serif “I,” serif “I,” and an “I” with extended serifs. The Heisey “H” is within a vertically-extended diamond, whereas the “I” from Illinois Glass is in a horizontallyextended diamond. In at least two cases, the Illinois Glass engraver extended the serifs on the “I” to such an extent that if the trademark is turned 90 degrees, it is an almost exact duplicate of the Heisey Diamond H. However, since Heisey never made bottles (except for cocktail shakers and fancy bar bottles), if the mark is found on pharmaceutical bottles (as it is in both examples we have seen), it can only be the Diamond I mark of the Illinois Glass Co.

Figure 11: (L) Imperial Glass Co. Marks [Toulouse 1971:258] Figure 12: (R) Iroquois Glass Co. Marks [Toulouse 1971:260]

Similar Marks and Similar Company Initials Imperial Glass Co. (1901-1984), Belaire, Ohio, used an IG logo that was very different from the IGCo monograms used

by Illinois Glass [Figure 11]. Imperial made tableware along with headlight lenses, gas and electric shades, and jelly glasses (Welker & Welker 1985:63) but never produced bottles. Iroquois Glass Industries, Ltd. (later Iroquois Glass Ltd.), Candaic, Quebec, Canada, used a similar monogram (without the curved ends of the I – Figure 12) from 1959 to 1967 (Peterson 1968:49; Toulouse 1971:260).

The Independent Glass Co., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, made jars from 1881 to 1889 but never bottles. No specific mark is

Bottles and Extras known for the company (Creswick 1995:90, 268; Roller 1983:162). Another Independent Glass Co. operated from LaVale, Maryland. The company probably made tableware, but the mark it used (if any) is unknown (Cumberland Glass 2004).

Three apparently unrelated companies were named the Indiana Glass Co. One was in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and apparently made tableware from 1892 to 1893. Located in Dunkirk, Indiana, the second made pressed and blown tableware from at least 1907 until 2002. The third company was in Middletown, Indiana, and made containers including bottles, flasks, and fruit jars during the 1890s (Roller 1994:17; Welker & Welker 1985:64; Whitten 2005). I have found no marks for any of the three but have included them because the initials are IGCo. Finally, the Industrial Glass Co., Bradenton, Florida, began business sometime prior to 1982 and remained in business until sometime after 1996. The company marked its products with a large “I” – but we have found no other information about it (Emhart 1982:74; 1996:48; 2005; Powell 1990).

Conclusion Research on bottle marks will never be complete. In fact, publishing information is one of the best ways to generate new information. Harvey Teal, for example, wrote us (both personally and through Bottles and Extras) to provide new information about the IGCo-in-a-diamond mark. We also almost constantly, it seems, discover a new source, new bottles, or other new data that reveal an earlier date, a new mark, or a new interpretation of a date code.

In addition, discussing marks among our group and with others constantly generates new ideas. Thus, we expect to be updating our findings for the rest of our lives.

Acknowledgments For additional information on the Illinois Glass Co. marks and bottles, I would like to thank Harvey Teal, Lynn Loomis, and Ron Fowler for freely sharing their research with us.

References Ayres, James E., William Liesenbien, Lee Fratt, and Linda Eure 1980 “Beer Bottles from the Tucson Urban Renewal Project, Tucson, AZ.” Unpublished manuscript, Arizona State Museum Archives, RG5, Sg3, Series 2, Subseries 1, Folder 220.

Winter 2006 Bredehoft, Neila M. and Thomas H. Bredehoft 2001 Heisey Glass, 1896-1957: Identification & Value Guide. Collector Books, Paducah, Kentucky.

Clint, David K 1976 Colorado Historical Bottles & Etc., 1859-1915. Antique Bottle Collectors of Colorado, Inc., Boulder.

Creswick, Alice 1995 The Fruit Jar Works, Vol. I, Listing Jars Made Circa 1820 to 1920’s. Douglas M. Leybourne, N. Muskegon, Michigan.

43 16(1):54-60.

Lockhart, Bill and David Whitten 2005 “The F H G W Mark.”

Newsletter Summer:40-43.

SHA

Lockhart, Bill, David Whitten, Bill Lindsey, Jay Hawkins, and Carol Serr 2005b “The Dating Game: The Ihmsen Glass Company.” Bottles and Extras 16(2):26-31.

Elliott, Rex. R. and Stephen C. Gould 1988 Hawaiian Bottles of Long Ago. Hawaiian Service, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii.

Lockhart, Bill and Wanda Olszewski 1994 “Excavation and Analysis of a Nineteenth Century Bottle Pit in San Elizario, Texas.” The Artifact 32(1):29-49.

[Note that data cited comes from the actual record sheets]

Emhart Glass 1982 Emhart Punt Marks. Emhart, Zurich, Switzerland.

McKearin, Helen and George McKearin 1941 American Glass. Crown Publishers, New York.

1996 The Emhart Book of Punt Marks.

Emhart, Zurich, Switzerland.

McKearin, Helen and Kenneth M. Wilson 1978 American Bottles & Flasks and Their Ancestry. Crown Publishers, New York.

2005 “Punt Marks Guide” Emhart Glass Online. http://www.emhartglass.com Fike, Richard E. 1987 The Bottle Book: A Comprehensive Guide to Historic, Embossed Medicine Bottles. Peregrine Smith Books, Salt Lake City.

Freeman, Larry 1964 Grand Old American Bottles. Century House, Watkins Glen, NY. Griffinhagen, George and Mary Bogard 1999 History of Drug Containers and Their Labels. American Institute of the History of Pharmacy, Madison, Wisconsin.

Herskovitz, Robert M. 1978 Fort Bowie Material Culture.

University of Arizona Press, Tucson.

Jones, May 1966 The Bottle Trail, Volume 6. Nara Vista, New Mexico.

1968 The Bottle Trail, Volume 9. Nara Vista, New Mexico.

Knittle, Rhea Mansfield 1927 Early American Glass. AppletonCentury, New York.

Kyte, David L. 2005 Early Utah Soda Bottles. Privately printed, Midvale, Utah.

Lockhart, Bill, Bill Lindsey, David Whitten, and Carol Serr 2005a “The Dating Game: The Illinois Glass Company.” Bottles and Extras

Miller, Michael R. 1999 A Collector’s Guide to Arizona Bottles & Stoneware: A History of Merchant Containers in Arizona. Privately Printed, Peoria, Arizona.

Miller, Thomas 1980 “A Survey of Early Soda/Mineral Water Manufacturing in St. Clair, Co. A Glimpse of Illinois History through Glass (1840-1910).” Unpublished manuscript for the Metro-East Antique Bottle and Jar Club.

1982 “A Supplemental Guide to A Survey of Early Soda/Mineral Water Manufacturing in St. Clair, Co. A Glimpse of Illinois History through Glass (1840-1910).”

Unpublished manuscript for the Metro-East Antique Bottle and Jar Club.

Paul, John R. and Paul W. Parmalee 1973 Soft Drink Bottling: A History with Special Reference to Illinois. Illinois State Museum Society, Springfield, Ill. Peterson, Arthur G. 1968 400 Trademarks on Glass.

Washington College Press, Takoma, Md. Powell, Jerry 1990 “Who Made the Bottle?” http:// www.p2pays.org/ref/04/03222.pdf Ring, Carlyn 1980 For Bitters Only. Nimrod Press, Boston.

Concluded on Page 64.

44

Winter 2006

Bottles and Extras

Collecting Bottles by State, The Ioway Part 5 - Hutchinson Soda Bottles

by Michael Burggraaf

Hutchinson stopper.

This is the fifth article in the “Collecting Bottles by State, The Hutchinson soda bottles that are embossed with some type of Ioway” series. The previous issue of the Bottles and Extras pictorial device: animal, building, trade mark or any fancy magazine detailed many of the various blob- top soda bottles known embossing in addition to the normal block lettering found on most from Iowa. The soda bottles featured in this article will be those Hutchinson sodas.

Another national pursuit of Hutchinson bottles is to amass that employed the closure device patented by Charles G. Hutchinson examples that are colored, such as those made in various shades of in 1879. green, amber and of course cobalt blue.

The 1870s and the 1880s saw extreme variations in ways that There are other specific categories in which to collect Hutchinson soda and mineral water bottles could be sealed. While many of bottles but perhaps the most common version is to collect them these closure devices failed to become popular with the majority of geographically.

In this case, any and all examples from one state the bottlers, the ingenious, but yet simple, stopper developed by C. or perhaps even one town.

One of my first pursuits of Iowa bottles G. Hutchinson would soon dominate the soda bottling industry from were the Hutchinsons as they were readily available with a wide the 1880s to the turn of the twentieth century. variety of examples.

Eventually the list of known Iowa Hutchinson A brief review of the Hutchinson firm reveals William H. bottles reached 230, which includes all embossing, size and color Hutchinson as a prominent bottler in the Chicago area. It was variations.

At this point in time, few new examples have surfaced William’s son Charles that saw the need for a superior stopper and to be added to the list. he eventually patented an unusual closure device that evolved into Some of the Iowa bottling works that used the Hutchinson bottle the most prominent bottle stopper on the market. were in business over a twenty year span while others were only A closeup view is shown of the hairpin shaped device which operational for a few years or less. One of Iowa's rarest Hutchinsons usually has a rubber gasket attached to one open end. Due to the comes from the small northwest Iowa town of Ida Grove. This simplicity of the design, the stopper was easily mass produced and bottling works was in business for only a few months during 1893 the bottles required little in the way of special bottle mold alterations before moving to Wall Lake, Iowa. Other small town or special lip finishes. The bottle was designed to have a fairly bottlers in Iowa that are popular are those from coal mining uniform lip with a rather short neck. In fact, the stopper was towns such as Beacon, Harvey and What Cheer. so universal that many bottlers in the early 1880s converted Collecting the so-called quart-size Hutchinson sodas their older blob top style bottles over to the Hutchinson stopper. from Iowa presents a fairly tough challenge. While many They found that by ordering the longer version of the stopper Iowa bottlers may have used this size bottle, only two that they could still make use of their now out-of-date towns in Iowa have surviving examples to pursue. blob top bottles, but were still be able to use this new Clinton had two different bottling firms that used and improved stopper. this size bottle.

THE IOWA BOTTLING CO. and With the Hutchinson firm being located in the firm of ARLEN & INGWERSEN. The Arlen Chicago, the Midwest soon took advantage of this & Ingwersen soda company has two distinct newly patented stopper and bottlers across the nation embossing variants so there are actually three eventually switched over to the Hutchinson style varieties from that town.

The only other quart bottle. Iowa’s bottlers, being in close proximity to Hutchinson from Iowa is embossed ENTERPRISE Chicago, used the Hutchinson bottle almost BOTTLING WORKS, DES MOINES, IA. and is exclusively from 1880 to 1905. The result has currently the only known example. There is rumor produced a large number of examples to collect from of another quart Hutchinson from McGregor but our state with many interesting variations and just a until this is verified, Iowa collectors can only few in color to keep things challenging. dream.

All of the known quarts are various shades Collecting Hutchinson-style bottles sparks the of aqua and appear to date to the early and mid interest of many collectors and there are a number of 1890s.

A Clinton example is pictured next to a ways that this style bottle is pursued. There are many regular size Hutchinson soda for comparison. national collectors, especially those desiring to If you try to collect picture Hutchinsons from acquire an example from each of the 50 states.

Iowa, the examples to collect are very limited.

Assembling a 50 state Hutchinson collection is quite Picture Hutchinsons from Iowa include the a feat and fortunately gaining an Iowa example poses following bottles: a relatively easy challenge.

EAGLE BOTTLING WKS, DAVEN-PORT, Other national collectors collect only the “quart” IOWA, J & L, embossed spread eagle, 2 varieties size Hutchinson bottles as the quarts are usually much HUB BOTTLING WORKS, MASON CITY, more difficult to locate.

Cobalt Hutch from C. R. Wigert, IOWA, embossed hands shaking One of the more interesting aspects of the national Burlington, Iowa.

SIMON FURSTENBURG, WHAT CHEER, market is to collect “picture” Hutchinsons, that is

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

45

of the Magnus bottles from Cedar Rapids that are base embossed with the same logo as the frontal embossed bottles. The Magnus beer bottles also have the same elaborate embossing as the Hutchinson sodas.

Another interesting category are the Iowa Hutchinsons embossed with more than one town. The soda bottle from New Hampton not only boasts two different cities but also two different states. The T. F. C. initials on the New Hampton bottle stood for Thomas F. Cummings. Examples of the multi-town embossing include: - L. ROSENFELD, COUNCIL BLUFFS & RED OAK, IOWA - F. W. LANE, SIOUX CITY, IA., COLFAX, IA. - T. F. C. on base, AUSTIN, MINN. AND NEW HAMPTON, IOWA on front

Three off color Hutches. Apple green from Council Bluffs, light pink from Sioux City, deep bluish aqua from Oskaloosa.

IOWA, embossed 6-pointed star - STAR SODA WATER CO., DUBUQUE, IOWA, embossed 5pointed star - C. MAGNUS, CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, embossed barrel w/ eagle & man tapping barrel There are a few examples of Iowa picture Hutchinson sodas that have the pictorial embossing on the base. The Star Bottling Company and the M & M Star Bottling Company of Oskaloosa have an embossed five-pointed star on the base. There are variants

Perhaps the most popular category on the national level is to collect Hutchinson sodas in color such as amber, cobalt blue and darker greens other than just aqua. There are a handful of colored Hutchinsons from Iowa but they are few and far between.

The cobalt blue examples from the Wigert family in Burlington are most likely the most desirable as they come in a range of blues from deep cobalt to a light peacock blue. Carl R. Wigert was a prominent druggist in Burlington from 1874 to 1884 but is best known for his early 1880s cobalt soda bottles embossed C. R. WIGERT, BURLINGTON, IOWA. Most of C. R. Wigert's bottles are medium to dark cobalt blue. When Carl retired at the end of 1884, his son Henry L. Wigert assumed management of the bottling works. Hutch sodas embossed H. L. WIGERT, BURLINGTON, IOWA exist in medium cobalt blue to a light peacock blue and also in aqua.

Other colored Hutchinson sodas from Iowa are most likely off color batches of aqua glass as there are light-green and apple-green examples from Muscatine and Council Bluffs. There are also some very deep aqua examples that make for a nice variance from

46

Winter 2006

the normal pale aqua color found so often in Hutch soda bottles. No amber or true green examples are known that I am aware of. The light green Hutch from Muscatine is about as close to a true green as Iowa collectors could hope for but I still am confident that it was an off color glass batch and not intentionally made to be that color.

Other additions to a Hutchinson bottle collection may include examples with original labels and/or contents. The example from Buffalo, Iowa still has about 75% of the original contents. Another example shown here is embossed WATERLOO BOTTLING WORKS, WATERLOO, IOWA but has a label on the opposite side marked from the Marshalltown Syrup & Sugar Co. It seems that using competitors bottles was quite a problem prior to 1910. The bottling works operated on a small profit margin and ordering bottles was a substantial part of the investment. The bottles would have to be returned and reused numerous times to clear a profit. To understand the dilemma of the "bottle bandits" of the turn of the century, read the following excerpts from the Waterloo, Iowa Courier dated August 1, 1902: Wm. Ewald of Waterloo Bottling Works Suffers LossFor some time Wm Ewald, proprietor of the Waterloo Bottling Works, has suspected that his bottles were being used for another's soft drink product in this city. Mr. Ewald had a warrant sworn out for the search of the Cornell building used by the Waterloo Cider Co. A number of his bottles were found there to contain the product of the Waterloo Cider Co., and as this is a clear violation of the law, an offense punishable with a fine of $100 or thirty days in jail. The proprietors of the Waterloo Cider Co. appeared and pleaded guilty. It being the first offense, they were let off with the payments of costs.

Twelve Hundred Pop Bottles Uncovered at WaverlyMr. Ewald was at Waverly, Iowa yesterday where he had Sheriff Parrott served a search warrant on Chris. Fosselman, proprietor of the Waverly Bottling Works. The search revealed 1,200 pop bottles, a number of syphon bottles, quart bottles and

cases belonging to the Waterloo Bottling Works. The hearing will be held later in the week.

Mr. Ewald says that he has lost about a car load of bottles during the past year. As their value is from $1,200 to $1,500 he thought it high time to make a search for the missing property.

Other bottling establishments can use these bottles and not one retail dealer in ten might pay attention to what label the bottles bear. In this way the bottles can be used indiscriminately. It has always been Mr. Ewald's custom when he received bottles not his own, to send them to the rightful owners at once.

I hope this article has shed some light on the various Hutchinson sodas available from Iowa along with a little bit of history.

Next time we'll discuss the beer bottles used

by Iowa breweries and brewer's agents.

Remember to keep the fun in the hobby and continue to develop the personal contacts and friends along the way. Good luck collecting!

Bottles and Extras References: The Antique Bottles of Iowa, 1846-1915,

by Burggraaf & Southard, 1998.

An Introduction To Collecting Soda Pop Bottles, by Ron Fowler, 1984.

Waterloo Courier, August 1, 1902.

Original article found by Mike Magee.

Photos: Previous page, bottom (L to R): 1. Buffalo, Iowa Hutch with original soda. 2. Waterloo Hutch with Marshalltown, Iowa label.

3. Picture Hutch - Star Water Co. from Dubuque. 4. New Hampton, Iowa & Austin, Minn Hutch.

This page, (L to R): 1. Quart Hutch from Iowa Bottling Co., Clinton next to a regular size Hutch for comparison.

2. Picture Hutch - Magnus Brewing Co. from Cedar Rapids.

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

47

Brewing in Medford, Oregon

by Dave Scafani Beer was first brewed in Medford in 1893 at the Southern Oregon Brewery & Ice Works, located at the Northwest corner of Fourth and F Street (later renamed Fir).

The owner was G. W. Blasford and production was about 500 barrels.

In 1897 Elias Merc acquired the plant and changed the name to Medford Brewing Company.

In 1902 the brewery was sold to Henry Weinhard, the Portland beer baron. He closed the brewing operation and used the

facilities to produce ice and for storage and distribution of his Portland brewed beer. It was known as The Medford Agency, Henry Weinhard Company of Portland.

The operation closed down in 1916 when Prohibition was enacted in Oregon.

After Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the brewery was one of the few Oregon breweries to reopen. In was purchased by an investor group, remodeled and modernized with a capacity of 1500 barrels.

Its new name was Southern Oregon Brewing Company Inc. The brands were Gold Seal, Gold Seal Bock and Old Rogue Lager.

Portland Automobile Club Tour Book, AAA, 1911

From Polk’s Jackson County Directory, 1911

From Jackson County Fair Brochure, 1913

Southern Oregon Brewing Co., 1933-1938

48 In 1938 the name changed to A-One Brewing Company with the brands A-1 Beer and Old King Cole. A-1 soda was also bottled at the plant. Bill Chrysler was named general manager.

Winter 2006 In 1945, with Bill Chrysler still in charge, the name was changed again to Chrystal Beer. Mission Orange and Clicquot Club sodas were bottled as well as beer. The business ended in 1947.

Bottles and Extras Today only the front steps and part of the foundation remain as the property is now a plumbing supply store and storage lot.

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

49

Southern Oregon Brewing Co., 1933-1938

A-1 Brewing Co., 1938-1945

Southern Oregon Brewing Co.

Chrystal Brewing & Distributing Co.

A-One Brewing Co.

50

Winter 2006

Let’s Talk About Ink

Bottles and Extras

Cone ink from Boss Bros.

Pottery and small round

with Ed & Lucy Faulkner

Pottery Bottles Pottery bottles are often classified as stoneware or ceramic. The glazes vary from an off-white and gray glaze, to light and dark brown. Some have a reddish glaze and are referred to as redware.

Glazes vary from shiny to a dull flat.

Most of the large ink manufacturers seem to have used the pottery bottles at some point. A lot of the marked bottles have English or French marks, such as Bourne & Denby and N. Antoine & Fils.

Some American companies, including Boss Brothers and Robinson Clay Products of Ohio as well as some Pennsylvania potteries, also made bottles.

Probably any pottery that made utilitarian bottles made ink bottles. Few of these are marked.

It is hard to date these bottles, except for Davids’ patented bottle, because the design was the same for all of them. Most were just cylindrical bottles ranging in size from about an ounce to a quart.

The small sizes were made in cone shapes, also, and less frequently seen in teakettle and jug shapes. Gallon crocks and jugs were also used by most ink makers for both ink and glue or paste.

The ones we see most often are from the early 19th to early 20th century. It is thought these bottles were used until about 1935. The early small ones were sold as “penny inks” as that was the original cost.

Because of the weight of pottery bottles, according to some sources, they were often used as ballasts in ships coming to America.

It is known from ads that the Stephens Company of London, and probably Arnolds, were shipping ink to the United States in the 1840s. Felt, Stationers Hall, of New York had newspaper ads as early as 1835.

Most ink collectors want these bottles with a full label unless they are from an old company with the name debossed. Bottles from large companies such as Carter and Sanford are fairly common and can still be found with labels.

The crocks which were used for paste and glues are collectible if complete with the top and handle, and even more so if the original label still exists. These usually had the company name painted on as well as a label. Pictured here are examples of all types.

Ed & Lucy Faulkner 4718 Kyloe Lane Moseley, VA 23120

Left: Two sample size bottles from Underwood’s, N.Y., and Fields’, London (2 and 3 inches tall) Right: Large 27” tall Carter’s display jug with same style in a quart size.

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006 Below: Teakettle and small jug for ink

Right: Felt, Stationers Hall, N.Y., and C. D. Shipman, Mohawk, N.Y. Most Shipman bottles have Utica, N.Y. They were only in Mohawk a short time.

Above: Thaddeus Davids, N.Y., and Stephens, London Below: Sanford gallon size library paste, Thaddeus Davids, and Keller’s jugs. Note the Davids is half-gallon size. Most of these are found in gallon sizes.

51

52

Winter 2006

BOTTLING WISDOM: THE MOTTO JUG

by Jack Sullivan (Special to Bottles and Extras) The idea seems to have started with the British. Beginning in the 19th Century and the reign of good Queen Victoria, the Brits made it a common practice to adorn bottles and jugs, usually of ceramic and holding some kind of whiskey, with wise sayings. The Doulton Company of England (see my article on Doulton in Bottles and Extras, Summer 2004) was a leader in putting slogans and sage mottoes on its stoneware.

Bottles and Extras Doulton Provides the Mottoes Some of these Doulton items had a ginger jar shape with a brown body and cobalt top. One such [Figure 1] advises, “Heaven helps those who help themselves.”

A similar container [Figure 2] suggests, “If you can’t be aisy [easy] be as aisy as you can.” In other words, stop and smell the roses from time to time. A Doulton water jug for bar use [Figure 3] carries the following admonition: “Vessels large may venture more, but little boats should keep near shore.”

Figure 1: Doulton whiskey jug — “Heaven helps, etc.”

Figure 2: Doulton whiskey jug — “If you can’t be aisy...”

Figure 3: Doulton water jug — “Vessels large....”

Figure 4: “Africa 1886”

Figure 5: John Mortlock whiskey jug

Figure 6: “The Barley Bree”

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

Other motto containers had a more political purpose. A Doulton whiskey jug, inscribed “Africa 1886,” shows Queen Victoria riding a camel as the Empress of Africa [Figure 4]. It sports on its backside a rousing patriotic slogan: “Sons be welded, each and all, into one imperial whole, one with Britain, heart and soul, one life, one flag, one fleet.... Britons hold your own and God guard all.” The Scotch distiller John Mortlock & Co. commissioned Doulton to produce him a jug [Figure 5] with a prominent “V.R.” — Victoria Regina — and a motto that seems to caution other British royalty to emulate the Queen’s rectitude if they were to merit the throne. It reads: “A pattern to all princes living with her and all that shall succeed.”

Not all the mottoes are so serious. Many relate to the joys of drinking. The Barley Bree whiskey jug [Figure 6] shows three men around a table having a rollicking time and drinking. It bears the rhyme: “Here are we met, three merry boys, “Three merry boys trow are we, “And many a night we’ve merry been, “And many more we hope to be.”

The idea of mottoes on whiskey containers had expression in the New World on American historical and pictorial glass whiskey flasks of the 19 th Century.

“Success to the Railroad,” was a frequent slogan, along with “A Little More Grape [grapeshot], Captain Bragg,” lettered across a Gen. Zachary Taylor flask. One showing Benjamin Franklin quoted, in Latin, a statement about the Founding Father by the French economist Turgot. Freely translated

it says of Franklin: “He ripped lightning from the sky and power from tyrants.”

Detrick and the American Motto Jug American motto jugs are epitomized by the Detrick Distilling Co. of Dayton, Ohio.

Frank Detrick, the founder, clearly was interested in providing advice both about life and about drinking. Shown here is a Detrick marketing postcard [Figure 7] showing a camel carrying a bottle of whiskey and carrying this message: “A camel can go seven days without a drink...But who wants to be a camel?”

Detrick’s pre-Pro distillery issued a dozen different motto jugs. They are almost uniformly 4 ½ inches high and 2 ½ inches in diameter. The containers are heavy stoneware with Albany slip tops and Bristol white glaze bottoms. No mark identifies the pottery. As shown here, they come in two styles. Both say “motto jug” but the older has larger type, often in uneven lines. The new style keeps things within a rectangular label. They are part of a set of 11, which can be divided into three categories: downright philosophical, pep talks, and slogans keyed to the whiskey contents. In his own promotional literature, Detrick gave each different jug a number.

By his own ordering system, they are: 1. “As I go up the hill of prosperity, may I never meet a friend.”

2. “Eat, drink and be merry” [Figure 8] 3. “While we live, let us live” [Figure 9] 4. “May fortune forever smile on you.”

5. “To err is human, to forgive divine” [Figure 10] 6. “There is always more where I come

Figure 7: Dietrick postcard

53 from” [Figure 11] 7. “I am always welcome wherever I go” 8. “A friend in need is a friend indeed” 9. “When you see me you will always smile” [Figure 12] 10. “If you try me once, you will try me again” 11. “Drink, weary pilgrim, for tomorrow you die” 12. “Rye on toast (Try it - Its on the inside of our toast jug)” “Toast jug” was another name Frank Dietrick gave to his small ceramics. In an era before “collectibles” was invented, he was promoting these jugs as souvenirs. In a company brochure he described them this way: “They make very acceptable ornaments for your library, den or dining room. Besides each jug is filled with the celebrated Detrick’s Special Selected Whiskey — enough for five or six good drinks.”

(Author’s note — not really.)

Detrick provided these stoneware containers to mail order customers for buying full-sized bottles of his whiskey, rock and rye, brandy and other alcoholic products. If a customer ordered one gallon of liquor he received one motto jug as a bonus; three gallons and he could choose four.

Detrick Markets the Motto Frank Detrick began his business about 1885 life grinding wheat and corn under the name Detrick Milling Company in Tippacanoe City (now Tipp City), a town of about 6,000 a few miles north of Dayton.

With excess grain able to be fermented, it was almost a natural move to distilling and by 1897, the company was renamed the Detrick Milling and Distilling Co. Frank the founder showed a real genius for marketing – with mottoes always in the fore.

A 1909 Detrick ad states: “Quality not quantity our motto.” Another slogan was “Fine old whiskey for medicinal use.”

Detrick’s love of snappy sayings was also evident in a booklet he issued to advertise his products. Under the heading, “toasts worth knowing,” he served up, among others, the following: “Here’s to our wives and sweethearts!

May they never meet!”

“Here’s to the happiest hours of my life.

Spent in the arms of another man’s wife.

My mother!”

“He who loves not wine, women and

54

Winter 2006

Bottles and Extras

Figure 8: Dietrick jugs: “Eat, drink....”

Figure 11: Dietrick jug: “There is always...”

Figure 9: Dietrick jug: “While we live....”

Figure 12: Dietrick jug: “When you see me...”

Century as its products sold widely in the central United States.

He eventually established a separate distribution depot in Chattanooga TN. City directories there list the firm in 1912 and 1913. Like most other such outfits, distilling ceased in 1919 with the coming of Prohibition. Subsequently the firm concentrated on the milling trade in Dayton under the name Detrick Grain and Mercantile.

Figure10: Dietrick jug: “To err is....” song, remains a fool his whole life long.”

“Let’s have wine and women, mirth and laughter; sermons and soda water the day after.”

Detrick’s distillery prospered during the first part of the 20th

A Kindred Soul in Washington, D.C. Frank Detrick was not the only American whiskey man with a soft spot for snappy sayings. At the beginning of the 20th century, in a saloon in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C., dwelled a publican who also loved also mottoes. His name was Luke J. Kearney.

We know Kearney’s fondness for mottoes from the legacy he left of ceramic jugs that frequently are seen at regional bottle shows and at auction on Ebay. These were his Christmas “give always” to favored customers. Judging from the numbers around, the Irish saloonkeeper was generous in handing them out.

While other drinking establishments sometimes gave away whiskey at Yuletide, Kearney’s jugs are distinctive. Virtually all are two-toned stoneware with an Albany slip top and Bristol glaze body about 5 and ½ inches high. Most important, each has an individual slogan — something for the drinking public to ponder

Bottles and Extras while draining the contents of the jug.

The earliest seems to have been issued in 1900. Its underglaze label read: “You are not left..’Not by a Jug Full’...Compliments of...Luke J. Kearney ... Christmas 1900.” [Figure 13] Later ones would add his address at 1811 L Street in the District of Columbia. In 1901 Kearney gave away a jug labeled with “Another Jug Full...Compliments Of...”

[Figure 14].

In 1902 Kearney borrowed a page from Detrick, using the slogan: “While we live let’s live.”

The next year the Washingtonian employed a personal motto: “Well I’ll be Jugged...Here’s Another Jug with Compliments of Luke J. Kearney” [Figure 15]. In 1904 and again in 1906, however, he reverted to Detrick-type slogans. The 1904 version was “If you try me once, you will try me again,” and in 1906, the enigmatic, “As I go up the hill of prosperity, may I never meet a friend.”

Although no one yet has identified a give-away for 1905, it appears that Luke issued a second version in both 1904 and 1906. The other 1904 jug contains a verse that says: “To Be Healthy?

“That’s the Question; “Drink Arlington Club “It Aids Digestion.”

Winter 2006

55

Figure 13: Kearney jug: “You are not left...”

Figure 14: Kearney jug: “Another jug full...”

Figure 15: Kearney jug: “Well I’ll be jugged...”

Figure 16: Kearney jug: “Is everybody happy...”

to an alley. There was an empty lot on the east side, possibly for hitching horses.

Today the address itself has vanished between two large buildings, one a a large office at 1801 L St. and the other a restaurant and bakery at 1819. Although the address is gone, Luke Kearney’s love of mottoes lives on in the series of whiskey ceramics that bear his name.

Adding up the British, Detrick and Kearney mottoes, we have accrued enough popular wisdom to live a life by. Their cumulative message seems to be” “Take it

easy, have fun and party as often as you can.” I – for one — will drink to that!

The second 1906 stoneware is unlike the others, appearing in a squared jug with the simple question: “Is Everybody Happy...Christmas 1906...Luke J. Kearney.” [Figure 16]. After 1907 the jugs apparently ceased, although Kearney’s saloon continued to be listed in local business directories.

Who Was Luke Kearney?

Details about Kearney life and tavern are sketchy. He at least brushed with celebrity in 1903 when he accepted a check drawn on a D.C. bank from Harry K. Thaw, the young socialite who murdered the famous architect Stanford White over love of the showgirl, Evelyn Nesbit, better known as “The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing.” A sensation in its time, the scandal has since spawned dozens of books and articles, and at least two popular motion pictures. Harry Thaw may well have been a customer in Luke’s saloon.

Sanborn fire maps of the time show Kearney’s 1811 L Street address as a twostory brick building 25-feet wide and extending rearward almost one-half block

This article is drawn from a wide number of sources, including the Internet.

The British motto jugs appear in Whiskey Ceramics by Eric Eulenstein, published in Australia in 1990. The photos of the Detrick jugs are through the courtesy of Bill Wrenn of Watkinsville, Ga. Some of the text previously appeared in the Potomac Pontil, official newsletter of the Potomac Bottle Collectors Assn.

56

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

COLLECTING THE MINIATURE ADVERTISING JUGS Well, let’s try something a little different this issue… The Editor says that we already have a Western flask article this issue, and that is enough (okay, I know that you are thinking just exactly what I am - how could that ever be so!) so I’m going to try to blend a little information about collecting mini jugs in with some EBay sales of miniature jugs in the past quarter. Watch for occasional articles about this field of collecting in future issues.

Background The standard miniature jug stands between about 2.25 and 3.5 inches in height. They typically advertise a product, proprietor and/or establishment, the advertising either being scratched into or stenciled onto the jug (see Figure 1).

Larger jugs, standing approximately 4.5 inches in height are often grouped in with the minis, but many of the serious collectors of the miniatures do not favor these larger cousins and the prices they command are correspondingly lower.

Figure 1

As in so many fields of collecting, this aspect of our hobby has gone through an evolution as collectors began to see the promise of putting together a nice collection or the possibilities of collecting these as a specialty.

My Collecting My first inclination that these sample or give-away jugs existed was in a 1968 book by Bill and Betty Wilson entitled Spirits Bottles of The Old West. This book was an early compilation of the bottles being found in the West and scattered through its pages was the occasional mini jug. Of particular interest to me at that point of my collecting career was that they

were affordable - typically listed as having a value of $2-5. The Deadwood, South Dakota, example listed was only $2 - I’d love to have bought it at that price!

Despite the affordable prices, these rarely showed up at the Western shows and with no real possibility to build a collection, my intrigue waned and I pursued other lines of collecting.

Residency brought me from California to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1982. That move re-introduced me to miniature jug collecting. The availability of these jugs was as different as night-and-day between my new home in the South and my collecting days in the West. In Kentucky and Tennessee alone, there may be as many firms which utilized mini jugs as in all of the Western states combined. The possibilities to build a collection suddenly seemed to exist.

When I started buying the miniatures in the early 1980s, they were still routinely Figure 2

available in the $10-50 range. At that point in my life I was still supplementing my income in any way in which I could, so the jugs would sit on my shelf for a few weeks to a few months and then end up going to one or another of my friends in the hobby.

Nothing stuck for very long, but the base of knowledge that is so important for the collector was building. And the interest was definitely intensfying!!

Meeting my friend and bottle digging partner, Charlie Barnette, at a local auction in East Tennessee introduced me to the idea of collecting miniatures from a given locale (See Figure 2). He had several of the minis from Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia, and as I acquired examples of these, they stayed on my shelves. The acquisition of my first really nice Western miniature, with stenciled Compliments of / Fred and Bill / Fairbanks, Alaska [Figure 3], galvanized my interest in collecting miniatures from the Western tier of states.

Bottles and Extras

Figure 3

Getting Started As in any field of collecting, the initial period of collecting miniatures can be confusing and the risk of making mistakes in what one buys and what one pays are always present. To lessen what can seem to be a daunting amount to learn, there is no substitute for asking experienced collectors for advice.

Viewing the collections of advanced collectors, many of whom are quite accommodating, is extremely helpful.

Direct handling of the jugs and close examination of the application of handles and lip detail helps the collector appreciate when jugs have been altered. Although there are very few “fake” jugs on the market, repair of stoneware has been going on for many years. Many of these repairs are excellent and I’d love to tell you that I never miss a repair - but, I do! Watch, in particular, for lip repair, new handles and coloring in of lip flakes. Don’t hesitate to ask a dealer if an item has been repaired.

The collector should consider the extent of damage and the amount/quality of repair when purchasing an item, and adjust its value accordingly. Stoneware collectors appreciate mint items equally as much as those who collect bottles, but little nicks here or there or “pops” in the glaze/clay do not as drastically effect the price as similar problems would on a bottle. This tends to hold truer with the scratched jugs than with the stenciled ones.

Occasionally, an item is so rare that the

Winter 2006 rarity overrides the problems, but this is definitely the exception to the rule. Generally, significant damage should result in a significant reduction in price paid. Until attaining a reasonable level of experience in this field, the collector should try to avoid pieces with significant damage. As ones knowledge base improves and one starts down a certain avenue of collecting, certain damaged pieces will inevitably end up on the shelf. I have a number of damaged and repaired pieces in my collection that are integral to the collection as a whole.

I also have a number of damaged pieces I purchased early in my quest for the jugs that reminds me that buying damaged items, whose lack of rarity I did not appreciate at the time, leads to monetary loss later.

There are no comprehensive books on the subject, but specialty books exist for the fields of Redwing and Fort Dodge collecting.

How To Collect The total number of miniature advertising jugs almost certainly exceeds 3000. There may be someone out there who has the resources and interest to try to obtain an example of every one that surfaces, but most choose to collect in a more practical fashion, limiting their collection to one or more categories.

Sources for these jugs are similar to those one plies for bottles. Bottle shows, particularly in the South and Midwest, are always good possibilities. Antique shows, auctions, street fairs, yard sales… all possibilities. EBay is a tremendous source and, for me, has added many jugs to my shelves and a wealth of knowledge as to what is available and how ardently sought certain categories of jugs are.

Just as advanced collectors of the miniatures can be an important source of information to the new collector, they can often be one of the most important sources in building a collection.

Categories There are any number of categories on which the collector can focus. The more narrow the focus, the more limited the collection will ultimately be, but narrowing the focus has the definite advantage of limiting the amount one spends.

Among the categories of collecting are Redwing jugs, Fort Dodge Stoneware, Uhl

57 Pottery, Christmas give-aways, hotel jugs, jugs with unusual slogans, pictorial jugs, jugs advertising a brand of whiskey sold by a specific proprietor, vinegar jugs, jugs with advertising on both sides, jugs advertising a bar or saloon, grocery / mercantile/trading company jugs and jugs from a given locale. For those who enjoy researching items, the mavericks present a challenge. For those who like product jugs, an extensive collection of miniatures may be compiled. The following will illustrate some of these possibilities: Redwing One of the most ardent groups of collectors of the miniature advertising jugs are those who collect only pieces from Redwing Stoneware. These jugs may be based-marked as Redwing or have the wing insignia, but they often are unmarked and the buyer must recognize the style. The “Compliments of / The Atlantic / Butte Mont. jug below [Figure 4] is a classic example of a Redwing jug.

Figure 4

Because of the significant number of collectors and the limited number of different jugs from this pottery, the rarer specimens command very high prices.

Even the more common of the Redwing miniatures (Michigan-Minnesota / Who Will Win,” “Souvenir of / Excelsior Springs MO” and “Aleda / Vinegar / For Pickling and Table / Milwaukee Vinegar Co” will command in the $200plus range.

Ebay offerings over the past three months have included: “M // 1922 Minn 7 Mich 16 / 1923 Minn 0 Mich 10 / 1924 Minn Mich”

58 ($677.55) [Figure 5] “Souvenir / Of / Redwing” ($247.50) [Figure 6] “Michigan-Minnesota // Who Will Win”? ($240.39, $154.49) [Figures 7, 8] “Write / Merrill, Chapman / Greer Co. / Crockery / St. Paul” ($425.00) [Figure 9] Fort Dodge Stoneware The Fort Dodge Stoneware Company offerings present the individual specializing in their items with only a very limited number of mini jugs to collect. A 2003 book by G. W. Steffens, From Iowa Clay: The Stoneware of Fort Dodge, illustrates less than twenty jugs in the miniature size.

Most are base-marked “Fort Dodge Stoneware Co, Iowa” [Figure 10].

The mini jug pictured in Figure 11, “August F. Truwe & Co / Young America / Minn” realized $716 in an October EBay auction.

Uhl Pottery Uhl is another pottery that marked their jugs with their name, contributing to it being a maker who has a distinct following.

Located in Huntingburg, Indiana, many of their miniature jugs fall into another category of collecting - those which celebrate Christmas. These are often basemarked [Figure 12.]

Recent EBay offerings included “Merry / Xmas / 1939”, “Merry / Christmas / 1941”, and “Merry / Christmas / 1942” [Figures 13-15]. Price realized for the 1939 example was $192.50, despite a significant lip chip. High bids were $232.50 and $204.50 for the 1941 and 1942 examples, respectively.

Christmas Miniatures In bottle collecting, post card collecting and other fields, items are available which were produced as sales items at Christmas or as give-aways. This category is quite specific, but there are certainly a significant number of jugs - Uhl and others - to collect.

Conservatively, someone collecting in this category should have 75-100 items available to them [Figure 16].

Only one Christmas mini jug caught my eye on EBay this quarter— a very nice stenciled jug “J R Bruce / Gallatin, Tenn / A Merry Christmas / & / A Happy New Year” [Figure 17]. This jug realized $414.99, making a Christmas collector or Tennessee collector very happy.

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006 Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 9

Figure 12

Figure 8

Figure 10

Figure 13

Figure 11

Fig. 14

Bottles and Extras Fig. 15

Winter 2006 Fig. 16

Fig. 17

59 exception to this is the jug stenciled “Old (Jug) Rye”.

Whiskey Brand/ Proprietor Jugs Figure 22

Hotel Miniatures Only a very few mini jugs exist in this category. They may have been made as souvenirs or as items placed upon the pillow or at the bedside containing spirits for a nightcap. Small glass decanters are known from a number of prominent hotels.

a generally affordable category for most collectors.

Figure 19

Figure 18

A personal favorite, I really enjoy the opportunity to add miniatures to my collection on which a local proprietor in a given town advertises a specific whiskey.

And, it is even more interesting when you can find jugs from the same proprietor where he tempts the “sampler” with more than one brand [Figure 23].

I would estimate that 100 or more different jugs fit into this category. They tend to be a little more expensive than the standard “ Compliments of - Proprietor City - State” miniature, but remain affordable for most collectors. Patience is required, as most are fairly rare.

Figure 23

Figure 20

Figure 24

Unusual Slogans One of the things that really catches the eye of the non-collecting friends who visit and otherwise thinks of your cherished collection as ‘just a bunch of little jugs’ is miniatures with unusual slogans. “Jug Trade A Specialty,” “Live and Let Live,” “The Big Store” and “Taste Tells – Try It” are examples of these slogans stenciled or scratched onto mini jugs [Figures 19 and 20].

The prices of most of the jugs falling into this category are determined by the city and state from which they originate. Slight premiums may have to be paid, but this is

Pictorial Miniature Jugs The number of these which are available can probably be counted on your fingers and your toes - and, maybe just on your fingers.

But, what a lovely collection they make and they certainly Fig. 21 do stand out amongst all of the others which advertise in text, only.

Expect to pay a premium for jugs in this category - $300 and up (and mostly up!) One

Vinegar Mini Jugs A significant portion of the miniature jugs produced carried vinegar, rather than whiskey. I would Fig. 25 estimate that at least a couple of hundred of the jugs specifically a d v e r t i s e vinegar. Brands advertised include O L Gregory, Wallace and Gregory, Aleda, Hirsch

60

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

Bros, Jones and Carr, Jones Bros, Hughes and Lyons [Fgures 26 – 27].

Figure 28

Figure 26

miniature “Triple Strength White Wine Vinegar / Guaranteed / To Keep Pickles / For Sale By / Mrs Hulda Ritton / Parkersburg, WVa” ($250.00) [Figure 28] and a scratched Virginia mini [Figure 29] “Blue Grass Belle Vinegar / From Hunter & Co / Roanoke, VA” (a jug which made it to my home at $280.00!)

Double-Sided Advertising Figure 30

Figure 31

Figure 27

This category allows one to build a very nice collection, affordably. Examples are available in both the scratched and stenciled style and the ones which just advertise the product and don’t include a local merchant tend to cost less than $75. Adding in a merchants name without the name of the city and state of the merchant (also known as a ‘maverick’ jug) bumps them into the $100-125 range, while the addition of the city and state puts the jug in the price typically commanded for a given city and state (a wide range from inexpensive to very expensive).

Figure 29

A representative grouping of the vinegar mini jugs on EBay this quarter included: a scratched “Pure Country Vinegar / for Pickling / From / Geo J Butler / 21st & Portland Ave (a maverick which realized $81.64), a scratched “Compliments of / Hirsch Bros Co / Manfrs of / Cider & Vinegars / Louisville, KY” (sporting a very pretty metallic glaze, this miniature went higher than typically, commanding $96.01), a stenciled “Compliments / The O L Gregory / Vinegar Co / Of St. Louis” (with rim roughness, it received no bid at $59.99), a scratched West Virginia

As illustrated by Figures 30 and 31, the vinegar jugs also come in variants which advertise on both sides. Typically, these are a little more pricey, as the product is advertised on one side and the opposite side has the merchant and location listed. A Minnesota example with OL Gregory advertising on one side and “Compliments of / R A Anderson / Atwater, Minn” was a steal to a lucky EBay bidder at $82.69.

The double-sided jugs advertising whiskey brands are usually of the same design as the vinegars, with the product on one side and the proprietor or merchant listed on the reverse. In general, the whiskey samples tend to bring higher prices than the vinegar jugs from the same location/region. A fairly common Missouri miniature advertising “Progress Rye / Jno. Bardenheimer / Wine & Liquor Co / St Louis MO” is the only double-sided Fig. 32

Fig. 33

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

whiskey mini jug that I noted on EBay. It realized $123.50, illustrating how EBay has educated the collectors regarding relative scarcity of certain jugs. Prior to EBay, this jug was selling in the $250 range.

Miniature Jugs Advertising Saloons/Bars Since my primary collection focuses on clear pumpkinseed and coffin flasks from Western states, it will come as no surprise to you that I love those few miniature jugs which advertise a bar or saloon [Figures 34-37]. And, this feeling is shared by many of those who collect stoneware. All told, I would suspect that there are only about 100 different mini jugs which include the name of a bar or saloon. They tend to be offered infrequently and they tend to command a Figure 34

premium price. This is particularly the case if the word ‘Saloon’ is stenciled on or scratched into the jug.

Grocers, Mercantile and Trading Companies Figure 38

61 Collecting By Locale Probably the most frequent distinction of what the stoneware collector will collect is dictated by where the jug is from. Some will focus on a specific region [Figure 41], while others narrow their search to a specific state [Figure 42] or even a particular town [Figure 2]. The size of the collection narrows markedly as the focus is on a smaller and smaller area.

Figure 41

Another avenue available to collectors is to put together groupings with specific businesses advertised on them - grocers, mercantile companies, and trading companies all fit this category. Collecting in this manner brings items from a wide geographical region to ones shelves. The prices tend to be dictated by the popularity of the city, state or region from which the jugs come.

Fig. 39

Figure 42

Figure 35

Fig. 40

Fig. 36

Representative EBay offerings included a scratched Indian territory mini jug “T Y Morgan / Fancy Grocer / Ardmore I T” which realized $304.89 despite a replaced handle and top, a stenciled miniature from Nebraska “Compliments of / Citizens / Meat Market / Lexington, NEB” ($335.00) and Fig. 37 a jug stenciled “The Park Grocery Charles City Iowa” ($331.66).

One of my personal favorite phrases in this category is seen on a Raton, New Mexico scratched miniature – “Irish Grocer”. One cannot help but wonder what made this distinction useful.

Regional collecting is particularly prominent in regions where few merchants had jugs produced. Thus, the collectors from the West will often try to build collections from anywhere west of the Rockies. Where a considerable quantity of jugs exist, collecting by state becomes more typical. Tennessee and Kentucky, for example, each have comparably large numbers of jugs and there are a number of collectors who focus on those particular states.

Collecting from a specific city tends to be limited to those who collect from very large cites (such as St. Louis) or to those who add the mini jugs to collections of other items (e.g. bottles) from that city.

Some of the top mini jugs offered on EBay this past quarter fall in the “Compliments of - Proprietor - City - State” category, including:

62

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006 Figure 43

- Compliments of / Bean Bros / Mullen Idaho (Base chip; $1525.00) [Figure 43] - Compliments / J E Chambliss / Macon GA (scratched; $430.00) [Figure 44] - Compliments of / H Brown & Son / Prairie City IA ($300.50) [Figure 45] - Compliments / John C Brady / Fine Wines & Liquors / Wytheville VA ($367.98) [Figure 46] - Compliments of / Straus / & Miller / Pine Bluff, ARK ($566.00) [Figure 47] - Compliments of / Nixon Bros / Pine Bluff, ARK ($383.00) [Figure 48] - Compliments of / N Straub & Son / Helena ARK ($320.00) [Figure 49] Conclusion Whether a field of collecting unto itself or a collecting endeavor taken in conjunction with bottle collecting, the collecting of advertising stoneware can be a fascinating endeavor. Some love the larger jugs, but for my money I’d recommend the miniatures without hesitation!

Look for an article on collecting the product mini jugs in a future column.

RVB

Figure 44

Figure 46

Figure 45

Figure 47

Figure 48

Figure 49

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

by Mike Dickman

Photographs by Tim Adams British researcher and author Roy Morgan famously characterized poison bottles as “weird and wonderful.” Certainly one of the weirdest and most wonderful, and also most mysterious, is the bone bottle.

Records from the United States Patent Office establish that in 1893, Edward M. Cone of Newark, New Jersey got a design patent for a realistic-looking bone-shaped poison bottle decorated with a skull and crossbones. As required, Mr. Cone’s patent application included a detailed drawing of his proposed patent. Thus, today’s collectors are able to see exactly what Mr. Cone had in mind.

Beyond the fact that the Patent Office issued a design patent, though, matters become a bit murky. Specifically, collectors long have wondered whether Mr. Cone’s bottle was ever actually made.

In his privately-published 1969 book, Wallis W. Stier asserted that the boneshaped poison bottle had been manufactured in cobalt, amber and clear glass, but his only evidence was Cone’s drawing. In 1970, author and FOHBC Hall-of-Famer Cecil Munsey wrote that Cone’s 1893 bone-shaped patent had been “produced in cobalt-blue glass,” but again, he cited no proof except a reference to Mr. Stier’s book and the same patent drawing. In 1975, Roger Durflinger wrote, “I have heard of a few unusual figurals such as the bone bottle,” clearly implying that

he himself had not actually seen one.

Authors Griffenhagen and Bogard discuss the 1893 design patent but say nothing about a corresponding bottle, either in glass or pottery. And the late Rudy Kuhn in the unpublished third volume of his classic “Poison Bottle Workbook” listed and drew two bone-shaped poison bottles made of pottery: KU-37 and KU-40, both listed as 3 ½ inches tall. He listed them as “scarce” and “very scarce” respectively, and seems to have assumed that KU-40 was based on Cone’s 1893 design. Mr. Kuhn wrote nothing about any bone-shaped bottles made from glass.

In 1992, collector Philip Soehnlen wrote an article for the Poison Bottle Newsletter in which he noted that another collector, Ben Glassman, had told him that a third

63 collector, Jerry Jaffe, had seen a boneshaped bottle made of cobalt glass at a show but had been unable to buy it. Mr. Soehnlen opined that the glass bone bottle might have been a “prototype.” Mr. Soehnlen also related that some one he knew had dug a pottery bone-shaped poison bottle in California, “dark mottled walnut” in color, about 3 ½ inches tall, and unable to stand upright. Mr. Soehnlen’s article included a drawing he had made of the dug pottery bottle. He wrote that it had been dug in a hole which also contained two Carr-Lowery poison bottles (KI-1s). We know the CarrLowery Glass Co. started manufacturing bottles in 1889, which is generally consistent with Mr. Cone’s 1893 patent date.

From speculation and conjecture, then, we move to our first fact: a bone bottle made of pottery, dug in California.

And there are additional cold, hard facts about the mysterious bone-shaped poison bottles. In the early 1970s, FOHBC member Jerry L. Jones, Sr. of North Carolina started collecting poison bottles, buying some from fellow FOHBC member Howard Crowe and digging others in local dumps with two of his friends.

At the time, Jerry had to work every fourth Saturday. On one of those working Saturdays, he was unable to go digging, so the other two had gone without him. In the late afternoon, while Jerry was still at this office, one of the digging buddies showed up with a grin on his face and a

Bottom view of Jerry’s boneshaped bottle.

This is the drawing for U.S. Patent No. 22,835, issued to Edward M. Cone on October 17, 1893.

Jerry L. Jones, Sr.’s pottery bone-shaped bottle dug in North Carolina about 1972.

Drawing of a bone-shaped bottle dug in California in the late 1980s.

64

Winter 2006

dirty towel in his hands.

“I dug something you might be interested in,” the friend told Jerry.

“What?”

“Well, let me show you,” replied the friend, and then unwrapped a dirtencrusted, bone-shaped bottle made of pottery, with the word “poison” and skull and crossbones.

“How much do you want for it?”

“Would $15 be too much?”

“No, that would be fine,” said Jerry, who related that he almost broke his arm getting his wallet out of his pocket.

Jerry’s bone-shaped bottle is about 4 1/8 inch tall, has a top opening about ¼ inch in diameter, and stands levelly on four little molded feet approximately 1 1/8 inch wide, which show wear on the bottom. The dump from which it was dug was in Lexington, North Carolina, which is the county seat of Davidson County, and was incorporated in 1827. Judging from the other bottles found there, the dump appeared to date to the 1895-1900 period.

Jerry’s friend said he’d dug two more pieces of other bone-shaped poison bottles at the same time, but threw them away. At Jerry’s insistence, the friend returned to the dump a week later, but was unable to locate the pieces.

Jerry’s bone-shaped pottery bottle was displayed at the 2004 FOHBC EXPO in Memphis, Tennessee.

The mystery deepens! In 1985, FOHBC member Joan Cabaniss personally saw a bone-shaped pottery bottle at the show in York, Pennsylvania. The person who had it thought it was a whiskey nipper rather than a poison bottle and refused to sell it, but he did allow Joan to take a photograph.

From the photograph, which this author has seen, the bottle appears very similar to Jerry’s bottle.

So, what do we know? There are at least three bone-shaped bottles in existence, all similar in appearance and all composed of fired clay. We can assume that at least one or two others were made, based on the evidence found at the Lexington, North

Pottery boneshaped bottle seen at the Baltimore show in 1985. The owner believed it to be a nipper.

Carolina dump. All three of the known pottery bottles strongly resemble the design patented in 1893, although not identical.

There also is a credible rumor suggesting that one bone-shaped bottle may exist in cobalt glass, and the possibility (more speculative) that there may be other boneshaped bottles in clear and/or amber glass.

And what are they? Prototypes? Saleman’s samples given or sent to potential customers? Models submitted to the United States Patent Office, or to glass manufacturers who decided not to license the design? Whiskey nippers? No one knows for sure. As I said at the beginning of this article, the bone poison bottles certainly are a mystery.

References: Druflinger, Roger L., “Collector’s Guide to Poison Bottles” (Bend, Ore.; 1975), p. 2.

Griffenhagen, G. and Bogard, M., “History of Drug Containers and Their Labels” (American Institute of the History of Pharmacy, Madison, Wis.; 1999), p. 94-95.

Kuhn, Rudy, “Poison Bottle Workbook” Volumes I, II, III (privately published).

Morgan, Roy, “The Benign Blue Coffin” (Kollectarama, England; 1978), p. 6.

Munsey, Cecil, “The Illustrated Guide to Collecting Bottles” (N.Y.; 1970), p. 161.

Soehnlen, Phillip, “Poison Pen: Dem Bones” (article in The Poison Bottle Newsletter; October, 1992), p. 2.

Stier, Wallis, “Poison Bottles: A Collector’s Guide” (privately published; 1969).

The late Rudy Kuhn’s numbering system of poison bottles was explained in an earlier Poisonland column (Bottles and Extras, Vol. 14, No. 3). Volumes I and II of “Poison Bottle Workbook” are available from Rudy’s widow, Terry Kuhn, 3954 Perie Lane, San Jose, Ca. 95132; (408) 259-7564; cost is $20 per volume plus $5 shipping.

The 60 or so pages from unpublished Volume III are available for the cost of copying, plus postage from the Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association, which publishes the informative quarterly Poison Bottle Newsletter. Contact Joan Cabaniss, Secretary/Editor, 312 Summer Lane, Huddleston, Va. 24104.

Bottles and Extras “The Dating Game” - The F H G W Mark Continued from Page 43.

Roller, Dick 1983 Standard Fruit Jar Reference.

Privately published.

Teal, Harvey S. 2005 “Follow-Up to Vol. 16, No. 1: ‘The Dating Game’ – Illinois Glass Company.”

Bottles and Extras 16(3):20-21.

Toulouse, Julian Harrison 1971 Bottle Makers and Their Marks.

Thomas Nelson, New York.

Van Rensselaer 1921 Check List of Early American Bottles and Flasks. Cracker Barrel Press, Southhampton, New York.

Wilson, Kenneth M. 1972 New England Glass and Glassmaking.

Thomas Y. Crowell, New York.

Wilson, Rex 1981 Bottles on the Western Frontier.

University of Arizona Press, Tucson.

Welker, John and Elizabeth Welker 1985 Pressed Glass in America: Encyclopedia of the First Hundred Years, 1825-1925. Antique Acres Press, Ivyland, Pennsylvania.

Whitten, David 2005 “Glass Factory Marks on Bottles.” http://www.myinsulators.com/glassfactories/bottlemarks.html Wood, Zang 1998 New Mexico Blobs - Hutchs Mineral Waters. Privately printed, Flora Vista, New Mexico.

Useful Bottle Websites Ron Fowler’s Hutchinson Bottle Webpage: http://www.seattlehistorycompany.com/ index.html Bill Lindsey’s Bottle Identification Webpage: http://www.blm.gov/historic_bottles/index.htm Bill Lockhart’s Online Bottle Books: http://alamo.nmsu.edu/library/lochistory.html David Whitten’s Manufacturer ’s Marks Website: http://www.myinsulators.com/glass-factories/ bottlemarks.html

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

65

Whiskey (and other) Barrels

by Donald Yates

As you know, the term Cooper referred to the art of making wooden barrels.

The craft of barrel making seems to go back five thousand years. The surname Cooper is very common, as indicated by any contemporary telephone directory, and indicates that there was a barrel maker by that family name at one time.

In the city directories of the 1800s, the profession of Cooper was often listed with the person’s name as it was a very common and reliable profession.

Early coopers only needed a few simple tools to manufacture wooden barrels. Many European cooper factories were located in outdoor city markets, or under the arches of public buildings. This method allowed natural light to illuminate their work.

American coopers usually worked indoors in barns with an open door for lighting.

The Roman Naturalist, Pliny, gives credit for inventing oak wine casks to the Piedmont people. These casks replaced their pottery jars and deer hide wine containers. Early Egyptian traders shipped wheat in oak barrels, held together with hoops. Since that time, nearly every commodity has been transported in wooden barrels.

Southern plantation owners shipped their cotton and produce to Northern cities in casks. Other regions shipped pears, apples, nails, beef, pork, fish, flour, sugar,

cranberries and laundry soap almost anything - in wooden barrels.

Beef and pork were shipped in brine in wooden barrels. The saltcured meat would last several months before cooking and eating.

Barrel crozing machine patented in 1883.

There were two kinds of barrel makers: Wet Coopers, who made wooden barrels for storing liquids using Later in the 1800s, meat was cooked and oak, chestnut or beech, while Dry Coopers canned in metal containers. These were made barrels for shipping dry merchandise. sterile and food could be safely stored for Pine or fir was usually used for these several years. cheaper barrels.

During the era of iceboxes, ice was cut During the 1600s, sailing ships were from the frozen lakes and delivered by used to transport people and goods across wagons to homes and other businesses that the world’s oceans. Every crossing from needed to cool their products or food. The Europe to the United States took from six temperature of an icebox was about to eight weeks. The chance of getting 45 degrees if you were lucky. Any bacteria spoiled meat and fish shipped in oak barrels on fresh food were reduced to slower that had been served and cooked on board activity. In comparison, today’s the ship was great. refrigerators are usually about 35 degrees These dirty empty barrels were returned and can be controlled. to the packers, where they were cleaned out Freezing of food and other products and washed with water and lye – and good greatly reduced the activity of bacteria, luck sterilizing anything. Then the barrels keeping fresh food safe to eat for longer were again packed with salted meat and periods of time. Some bacteria would even fish. If one didn’t get sick the first time, die at these colder temperatures, but the chances greatly improved the second freezing was not available to the American time around. consumer until 1950.

American brewers and distillers Pre-cooking meat and fish products would have greatly increased their shelf life employed thousands of coopers, often right in the barrels as well as smoking the hams on their own premises. In 1865, breweries alone constructed five million beer barrels. and fish.

Whiskey production at the same time was seventy million gallons. This was right at the end of the Civil War and the country was slowly shifting to a normal economy.

The West Indies rum and sugar trade also kept both American and British cooperages operating full-time for several decades. Ships left weekly for the Caribbean Islands and often brought back special treats as well as the sugar and molasses for making rum. Citrus fruit, including the world’s best limes from Montserrat, were highly priced. Also the cargo holds were checked for extra sea turtles, one of the most prized foods. Citrus fruits were used in cooking as well as in many beverages. Punch recipes called for several varieties of citrus fruits. Ratafias were very popular and were often made with oranges, limes or lemons.

This continuous demand for wooden European outdoor cooperage, circa. 1750. [Courtesy Dover Publicatoins]

66

Winter 2006

Bottles and Extras

Advertisement for Monserrat Lime Juice from a New York druggist circular, 1902.

barrels eventually led to the automation of the whole industry. Over four hundred different barrel making machine inventions were patented in the United States between 1844 and 1883. Productivity advanced so much that by 1880, the cost of a barrel was 32 cents.

The top shelf barrel staves were those cleft with a curved froe. Each stave board was split naturally along its grain, making it less likely to warp at some time later after assembly. A side axe was used to taper the ends of rough staves. The next step was to go to the shaving horse, where they were further refined with a curved draw knife.

A joiner plane was then used to achieve the correct side angle on each stave. This process produced the required watertight fit. Stave gauges were used as templates for the radius curve and end pitch on large storage vats and other containers, where an exact liquid capacity was specified.

Most work on stave joints was done by hand. After the joining process, the staves were set up in an assembly jig, and various sized truss hoops were used to pull everything together. Next, the inside surfaces were steamed with a cresset, or small stove fueled by wood shavings and sprinkled with water to generate the steam.

The truss hoops were further tightened and the open ends were sawed off flush with the top.

The next procedure was to cut a chime or bevel around the top inner lip with a cooper’s adze. Then a sideways curved plane, called a leveling plane, was used to run around the top edge and level it off for another procedure.

A wide shallow groove was cute inside just below the chime, beveled edge, using a howel plane. In the middle of this groove, a V-shaped groove was cut with a crooze to receive the barrel head. The same process

Various cooper tools. [Courtesy J.P. Bittner Antique Tool Auctions]

Factory-made cooper’s tools, circa. 1880-1910.

Bottles and Extras

Cooper shaving the bottom of a dry barrel.

was repeated on the bottom and the seams smoothed down with various knives. Then the iron hoops were pounded on producing a watertight barrel.

Around 1630, when the Pilgrims were just getting settled in New England, they were greatly disappointed when they opened the casks of beef, pork and fish and found them to be spoiled. Their salting methods were not effective enough to last for two months. Their butter and cheese was also shipped in oak casks and were spoiled and unfit to eat.

Their food shortage lasted for three years. They learned how to dig clams from the beach. Ocean fish was plentiful and an Indian, Squanto, taught the Colonists several methods of catching them. Oysters and lobsters were also plentiful. Any young boy could catch as many lobsters as he wished. These giant lobsters often weighed as much as twenty-five pounds. This is another case, where if man wasn’t so greedy, there would still be twenty-five pound lobsters today.

Historian Johan Josselyn stated in his “New England Rarities” that they counted two hundred and three varieties of ocean fish and quickly developed a whole series of instruments and devices for catching them.

After the fish, the next major food source was corn, or maize. In the early days, it was eaten out of wooden hand carved trays, called trenches, with clam shells.

The corn was plentiful and the Colonists

Winter 2006 adapted it into their diets. They learned from the Indians how to plant it, weed the rows, water it, harvest it, grind and cook it in many Indian methods. It was palatable and may have saved them from starvation.

Jonny cake, or journey cake, was also made from corn. For years, the colonists pounded the corn in stone mortars. Later, rude hand mills were developed, these were called Quernes, with vertical shafts fixed at the upper end, and were fastened at the lower end to a flat circular stone, which would rotate in a mortar. These were the first gristmills.

In 1810, gristmills were established all along the rivers of New England and the Western Reserve. The 1832 Pennsylvania Gazetter identified thousands of grist mills, which used barrels of dried corn for their raw materials. After grinding, the corn meal and flour were transported to market, shipped by canal boat, packet steamer, and horse and wagon. Way’s Packet Directory lists over one thousand Mississippi River packet river boats starting in 1848.

The 1832 Pennsylvania Gazetter also identified thousands of cooperages. Almost every small town needed a cooper, as well as barrels and kegs.

Apple Cider Barrels Apple cider was made in 1870 from the apple trees planted by Thomas Endicott, Charles Blackstone and other settlers.

Historian Josselyn stated that apple cider was quite cheap. All of the Boston taverns served local apple cider in several

67 formulations, usually in a quart tankard.

Josselyn’s recipe for apple cider is as follows: “Take a pile of raisins, stomp them and add cow’s milk. Mix together and place in a Hippocras bag and hang it to drain.

Put some of this liquid, as well as extract of cloves, into your stoneware bottle of cider and you will have a liquor that is superior to Passada, the Nectar of the Country.”

Apple cider was originally made by pounding the apples by hand in wooden mortars. Often the pomace was pressed in baskets. Early mills were later formed with a hollowed out log, and a heavy weight or maul on a springboard. Cider soon became the favorite drink of the people and it was produced in huge quantities. In 1671, five hundred barrels were made of one orchard’s apples One small village of forty families made three thousand barrels in 1721. Most of the cider was allowed to ferment; they could have added yeast to prevent the formation of vinegar.

Even as far back as 1740, William Bennett stated that cider was very cheap and the people preferred it to malt liquor and beer. They paid about three shillings for a barrel of cider – which yielded thirtytwo gallons. It was readily consumed, even by the children.

Apple cider was served at every meal and in the taverns. There was always a pile of full and empty cider barrels. Plus, the Colonists had learned to store barrels of apples in their larders for use until spring.

The demand for apple cider in the South

Kelley’s Island North Quarry Cooper Shop Gang photograph, 1899. The cooper shop made wooden barrels to transport limestone from the quarry. [Ohio Memory Project]

68 was so great that apple orchards became the most valuable property. The ripe apples were transported by horse and wagon to the apple cider mills. The finished cider was put up in oak casks or barrels and then transported back to the markets and taverns. Every family stored their cider in barrels. Many ministers often stored forty barrels of cider for winter use.

Excerpt from the book, Stage Coach and Tavern Days by research historian Alice Morse Earle (Norwood Press, Norwood, Mass., 1900): Apple cider could be found in every home in Maryland and Virginia. It was supplied to the local courts during their time of session. Many households used apple cider in large quantities instead of beer or metheglin (spiced mead), storing many barrels for daily consumption.

Apple orchards were planted in New York State in 1720, and were cultivated with proper care.

Labadist, Dankers traveled throughout New York and saw these fine apple trees.

Another great tasting variety of cider was pear cider, called Perry. It was made from pears and was often blended with apple cider. Other surplus fruit could also be added if available at the right time.

When cider was combined with rum, it created many of the most popular and intoxicating Colonial drinks. Stone Wall was near the top of the list of being the most potent.. Boiling four barrels of apple cider into one barrel made Cider Royal. This was accomplished in a still, which preserved the alcohol content. P. T. Barnum loved to drink a cider called Gumption.

Ohio Barrels In 1830, The Schooner DETROIT cleared Cleveland with 91 barrels of flour; 101 barrels of whiskey; 63 barrels of pork; 51 barrels of dried fruit; 24 barrels of apple cider; and 16 barrels of beef. These were probably typical for many shipments of food transported in barrels.

Captain Julius M. Carrington was born in Lexington, Michigan on October 17, 1841. He was an honored veteran solder of the Civil War and a member of one of the pioneer families of Cleveland, where he was involved in commercial activities for a long period of time. His father was a prominent Michigan lumberman and cooper. `Julius’ grandfather, Joel Carrington,

Winter 2006 moved from Connecticut to Ohio in 1831, where he became one of the pioneer settlers of Brecksville. Later, he moved to Sanilac County, Michigan and later to Sand Beach, Michigan, where he died.

Mark Carrington, the son of Joel and father of Julius, was born in Connecticut on July 11, 1815. Mark was sixteen years old when his family moved to Ohio. There he learned to make wooden barrels, and in 1838, moved to Sanilac County.

That entire region of Michigan was covered with trees, and for many years, lumbering was the only industry other than hunting and trapping. Mark had an important pioneer role in the development of the lumber trader of Michigan. In the early years, he was also in the cooperage business about a mile south of Lexington.

There, Mark built a sawmill and cut lumber and manufactured barrels. Utilizing the lumber resources of Michigan as a member of the Carrington Pack Company, it was one of the prominent firms of that time.

Mark Carrington married Rhoda Ann Butler in February 1822 and had eleven children. He died in 1894 at the age of seventy-nine.

Nelson O. Newcomb, president of Lake Erie Provisions Company, was a prominent businessman for forty years.

Born on August 26, 1861 in Brecksville, Ohio, Nelson also represented some of the pioneer families of the county and the Western Reserve. His ancestry in the U.S.A. goes back to the Mayflower.

His father, Orlen W. Newcomb, was born in 1826 in Parkman, Ohio. Moving to Cleveland in 1867, he became a contracting teamster, driving wagons and horses for the firm of C. Beck and Company, Meat Packers.

Nelson completed high school and later worked for his father in the packing business. Later, he was one of the original founders of the Cleveland Cooperage Company, where he served as president through 1921.

Nelson Newcomb married Amelia Ziemer and they had three children.

Note how well the packing companies and barrel making companies worked together!

William Greif was one of the major industrialists of Cleveland and counted among its most outstanding citizens. He worked to establish it as great modern city.

His parents were Vincent and Mary Greif.

The original Greif family, William’s

Bottles and Extras grandparents, came to the U.S.A. with their families long before the Civil War. Here they hoped to raise their children with American opportunities, giving their children a good education in private schools.

Vincent learned how to make barrels in his early manhood. Being thrifty and industrious from his German background, he worked hard at the cooper trade and was easily able to support his family.

William was his oldest son, born in Cleveland on August 16, 1855. Growing up under the normal surroundings of American children, he received a good education by attending parochial schools.

He graduated from the Union Business College in Cleveland.

At age twenty-one, in July of 1876, William started his own coal business. But after only one year in this business, he decided it was time to change his occupation and followed his father’s business as a cooper. The endeavor was with minimum capital and facilities, yet he was very successful and his new business expanded continuously. It grew so fast that he need additional managers and hired his second oldest brother, Charles, as the first one.

After incorporation, he added two more brothers, Louis and Thomas, as partners.

The business continued to grow and was quite profitable. For forty years, William watched the business he made spread out until it became the largest barrel factory in the world. At the end of the forty years, it had twenty-six branches and provided

William Greif

Bottles and Extras employment for three thousand men with an annual production of 7,500,000 barrels and kegs. By 1906, William Grief was the sixth largest corporation director in the city of Cleveland. Today, Greif Brothers Company still operates paper mills in several southern Ohio cities.

In 1881, William married Mary Hitch and they had one daughter.

Street view in Lima, Ohio.

[J.W. Mock photo, 1887]

Coopers in Lima , Ohio (1887) : - Woolsey & Co. Barrels & Kegs, 78 employees - Dr. S. A. Baxter Barrels & Kegs & Boxes, 8 employees Coopers in Delphos, Ohio (1887): - Delphos Union Stove Co. Barrels & Kegs, 23 employees - Weyer & Davis Barrels & Kegs, 17 employees - R.B. Harbison Barrels & Kegs, 31 employees Coopers in Minster, Ohio (1887): - F. Herkoff Brothers Barrels & Kegs, 40 employees Coopers in Bellaire, Ohio (1887): - Bellaire Barrel Works Barrels & Kegs, 16 employees

Winter 2006 with M.B. Clark in the produce commission business. With good commercial sense, he went into the oil business at the right time.

The Standard Oil Refinery had a capacity of 29,000 barrels of oil per day.

Their cooperage was the largest in the world and they produced nine thousand oak barrels a day.

Coopers in Union City, Ohio (1887): - Ansonia Stave Co., Barrels & Kegs, 18 employees - Union City Cooperage, Barrels & Kegs, 45 employees Coopers in Defiance, Ohio (1887): - George Dicus Barrels & Kegs, 15 employees - Oconto Barrel Co., Barrels & Kegs, 40 employees - Marshall & Greenlen Barrels & Kegs, 36 employees - D.F. Holston & Son Barrels & Kegs, 65 employees - Crowe & Hooker Barrels & Kegs, 53 employees - John Rowe & Son Barrels & Kegs, 42 employees - Trowbridge & Eddy Barrels & Kegs, 65 employees Coopers in Erie County (1887): - D.J. Brown & Co. Barrels & Kegs, 35 employees - Kilbourne & Co. Barrels & Kegs, 20 employees - J.M. Soncrant Barrels & Kegs, 21 employees - G.B. Hodgeman Barrels & Kegs, 112 employees Herman C. Baehr was the mayor of

Coopers in Butler County, Ohio (1887): - Anderson & Shaffer Flour Barrels, 11 employees - Bentel & Margedant & Co., Barrels & Kegs, 78 employees - J.F. Bender Brothers & Co., Barrels & Kegs, 33 employees - John Donges & Co., Barrels & Kegs, 17 employees - L. Deinzer & Son, Barrels & Kegs, 17 employees Coopers in Cleveland, Ohio (1887): John D. Rockefeller was born on July 8, 1839. He became president of the Standard Oil Company in Cleveland. In March of 1858, he formed a partnership

69

The Butler County Courthouse

Cleveland from January 1910 to January 1912 and the first citizen of Cuyahoga County ever elected as County Recorder for three consecutive terms. Herman also had numerous and substantial achievements in business and public life to his credit.

Herman made oak barrels as a young man, before entering into other businesses.

Herman’s parents, Jacob and Magdalena Baehr, were born in Heidelberg, Germany.

He and his brother Henry were their only family members to sail with them to America.

Henry settled in Cleveland and operated a bakery for many years.

Jacob, born March 13, 1824, was trained to be a cooper in Germany, as well as a master brewer and malter. His first employment was as a cooper making oak barrels for the growing pork industry.

Later, he moved to Iowa and became a brewer for a few years before returned to Cleveland in 1866 to establish his own brewery and restaurant on West 25th Street, which he operated until he died in February, 1873 at the age of forty-nine.

Jacob and his wife had nine children.

Herman was born in Keokuk, Iowa on March 16, 1866. He traveled to Germany to learn the brewer’s profession, graduating with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

When he returned, he was one of the first in Cleveland to employ completely scientific principles to the brewing of beer.

Herman married Rose Schulte on April 21, 1898. At the age of twenty-one, he took

70 command of the Baehr Brewing Company, which later consolidated with the Cleveland and Sandusky Brewing Company.

Henry Gilbert Renker president of the Ideal Products Company, was also one of the important business men of Cleveland.

Henry Renker, Sr., grandfather of Henry G., was born in Germany on September 19, 1808. He came to the U.S.A. as a youth and went to Mexico to operate a coffee plantation. While there, he married Bertha Schlecterway, who had also been born in Germany on January 21, 1811. From there, they headed north to Ohio, first to Lorain County then later to Cleveland.

Henry, Sr. established one of the early cooper shops in Cleveland, where he remained in the keg business for the rest of his life. Henry died on December 6, 1879; Bertha died ten years before him on October 3, 1869.

Winter 2006

Bottles and Extras Julius Renker, son of Henry and father of Henry G., was born in Brighton, Ohio on September 2, 1848 and remained there for most of his life. He learned the cooper’s trade from his father, was actively associated with him and continued after his father died until 1886, when he became a contractor and a builder.

References: The primary historical information in this article came from this book: The Antique Tool Collector’s Guide to Value by Ronald S. Barlow, Windmill Publishing Co., El Cajon, Calif., 1985.

The Ohio history came from the books: Historical Collections of Ohio by Henry Howe, published by the State of Ohio, 1902 and A History of Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland by William R. Coates, published by The American Historical Society, 1924.

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

71

72 “Shield F - The Mark of Quality” Continued from page 26.

Hoping for the best, and since no other buyers were waiting in the wings, Kennedy and Gerlach agreed on a reduced sale price of $40 million.

By October 25, 1978, the FTC had completed its Federal liquidation estimates, valuing the Glass Division at $20 to $24 million, considerably less than Kennedy’s assessment of the plant’s value. At the end of the month, the FTC halted the sale to Lancaster Colony for the second time. It further warned Federal officials they must give notice before taking any drastic action such as closing down the plant.

At this point, angry Federal officials wondered if the FTC had overreached its authority in making such a heavy-handed demand.

During the month following, Federal officials hired a California firm to explore the likelihood of selling the plant to a select group of employees. At this juncture, Kennedy agreed to lease the machinery and buildings to the employee group, and to finance $12 million of the $17 million asking price for the inventory.

Throughout the uncertain months of 1977 and 1978, yeoman efforts to save the Federal continued. Company officials received assistance from Columbus Mayor Tom Moody and Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes, both of whom worked diligently to find a buyer or work out a deal whereby employees could buy the plant. The Columbus Economic Development Council explored securing a loan to assist the group of 15 interested Federal executives led

by General Manager Jack E. Spengeler.

Concurrently, the California firm continued its efforts to effect an employee buyout. It conceded, however, that it would take at least $3 million up front to stabilize the antiquated plant, invested over a period of four to five years. Following this announcement, Kennedy agreed to sell the plant and contents to the employee group at the knock-down price of $17 million.

The still staggering figure required for plant purchase and reclamation proved very discouraging to the employee group. So much so, that they never applied for a loan, neither federal nor local, even though they qualified for both.

During the pre-closing period Kennedy spoke repeatedly of undue harassment by the FTC, which persisted in gathering more and more information, particularly as it related to the plant’s finances and the $3 million loss reported for 1978. He said he had been “litigated to death” all the while he was spending more than $100,000 weekly just to keep the plant operating. Because making glass requires an enormous amount of energy, production costs had skyrocketed. Additionally, the plant’s distance from New Jersey added to management costs.

The FTC interpreted Kennedy’s actions to mean that by now he just wanted to be rid of the Glass Division, one way or another. It also suggested that he only tried to sell to Lancaster Colony because Gerlach would pay the highest price. Furthermore, by unloading the Glass Division in January, a tax loss could claimed

Winter 2006 for the preceding year.

Aside from the several-year financial losses reported by the company, the Federal had a suit pending against it prepared by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) citing water pollution emanating from the plant.

Due to the plant’s uncertain ownership, the OEPA never filed the suit (Garvey, 1979).

At the same time, the Federal Paper Board owed $12 million, due in February 1979, in several damage suits brought against it and 24 other paper carton manufacturers. The FTC had found the 25 companies guilty of price fixing.

Kennedy denied that he needed the sale price of the Glass Division to pay off the damage suits, saying that the money had already been put aside to satisfy the suits (Garvey, 1979).

While purely conjectural, perhaps the FTC already had its sights trained on the Federal Paper Board, sensitized by the price fixing suit, and mulishly refused to cut the company any slack.

By February 1979, two other glass makers, Eastcliff Corporation, Reading, Pennsylvania, and Wheaton Industries, Millville, New Jersey, who had expressed some interest in the plant, baled out of negotiations. Frank Wheaton, Jr., president of Wheaton Industries, once considered buying the plant if money could be borrowed at 2 to 3 percent. Wheaton lost interest in the deal when he couldn’t secure cheap money and when J. G. Durand of France, the world’s largest tableware manufacturer, opted out of a partnership agreement.

Even if Wheaton had gone ahead with the purchase, he wanted only the factory buildings, not the inventory. He would have sold off most of the equipment, retaining only 400 employees to start. In his opinion, “Federal overproduced.

We don’t see any future in that business,” he said (Columbus Dispatch, [CD], February 19, 1979).

Lancaster Colony Nixes Terms On February 23, 1979, after more than a year of vacillating and two blockades, the FTC finally voted to allow the sale to Lancaster Colony to go forward. The Commission members took this action despite disagreeing with the FTC’s administrative judge, Paul Teetor, who still recommended against the sale.

Teetor explained that the law makes no provision for considering the impact, negative or otherwise, on the local economy.

Lancaster Colony’s President Gerlach said that his buying the Federal would depend largely on negotiating a new union contract comparable to the one that covered some 1,800 workers at the Indiana Glass plant in Dunkirk, Indiana. Moreover, the Lancaster Colony management felt it could not put the plant back on its feet if it had to endure continual grievance filings by the unions.

In the end, Lancaster Colony and Federal’s unions seemingly could find no common ground on wages, benefits, and managements rights clauses. Ivan Uncapher, the AFGWU national secretary-treasurer, said, “We were willing to negotiate a clause. They said they had to have it exactly as they wrote it...they wanted the right to do about anything they wanted to do. We would have no rights whatsoever” (CD, March

Bottles and Extras 19, 1979).

Theodore Lazar, legal counsel for Lancaster Colony, said his company needed concessions from the union because it would need to borrow a great deal of money and operate at a loss for a while. Further, management rights clauses were already in place with the company’s other unions.

Most importantly, Lancaster Colony intended to hold fast to its right to determine hours and work schedules. Lazar emphasized that the Federal lost money in four of five of its last operating years due to the contracts negotiated with the unions. Federal’s President Kennedy admitted that labor costs amounted to about 50 cents on every sales dollar.

The final contract proposal Lancaster Colony made to the Federal AFGWU would have: reduced wages from 50 cents to $1.40 an hour; eliminated pension plans for five years; cut life insurance from $10,000 to $5,000; cut benefits for sickness and accidents in half; eliminated work incentive bonuses for three years; reduced shift premiums; and eliminated one of eight paid holidays.

A 14-member union bargaining committee rejected Lancaster Colony’s final offer. They felt this company’s position was untenable, not amenable to union rights, and nearly bordered on union busting. However, they proposed that the offer be put to a rank and file vote.

That vote took place on April 1, 1979. When the secret ballots had been counted and recounted, the majority of union members voted to retain their existing contract. At that time, most preferred to be without a contract rather than work under the one proposed by Lancaster Colony. Perhaps the Federal workers believed that Lancaster Colony would acquiesce, and their jobs would be saved after all.

They were wrong. When Gerlach heard the results of the vote, he backed out of negotiations for the last time. Many saddened rank and file union members felt betrayed by their leadership, and in retrospect, admitted that a thinner contract with Lancaster Colony might have been better than no work at all.

Some said they were confused about what they were voting for. A Yes vote meant the employee supported the union bargaining team and rejected the Lancaster Colony contract. A No vote meant accepting the Lancaster Colony contract and staying employed. The 393 Yes votes won over the 286 No votes.

The Federal’s seven union locals waited until the June 1979 AFGWU annual convention in New Orleans to formally disband. Some had already divided their treasuries ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 among the members before the convention. Union members received no severance pay, as that had been ruled out during the last contract negotiations. ...And There Is an Ending The death knell sounded for the Federal at 1 p.m., Wednesday, January 31, 1979. General Manager Jack E. Spengeler announced that no more glass would be made after that time.

(After the Federal closed, he became a special assistant to Federal Paper Board President Jack R. Kennedy, Jr.) As the furnace fires died, so did the hopes

Bottles and Extras of some 1,500 glass workers. The first 1,000 were laid off immediately; the remaining 500 stayed on temporarily to fill orders from existing inventory, work in maintenance, and tie up loose ends. During its 79-year life span, the Federal had flourished under 15 U.S. presidents, but only five presidents had led the Federal.

When the Glass Division closed, so did the Hercules Box Company (Columbus Container Corporation), adding 200-plus employees to the unemployment line where they stood side by side with the glass production workers.

What Really Shattered the Federal?

The controversial shut down will probably spark discussion as long as the cohort involved has breath to argue it. Each may see it from a different perspective, though all agree it was a frustrating, demoralizing time. If Jack R. Kennedy, Jr. effectively killed the Federal, other forces both internal and external, contributed to the plant’s demise. One thing seems certain—there is blame to be shared, but who or what should shoulder the lion’s share?

Rather than a single individual or factor being responsible it appears that the potpourri of plastics, foreign competition, overproduction, fat union contracts, management overkill, absentee landlordism, and the irresolute FTC synergistically brought the Federal to its knees.

Some think just the financial losses over several years, except for 1976, weakened the company to the point where it literally fell in on itself. And a major weakness, company insiders report, continued to be its shaky fuel supply. Though officials tried to remedy this situation over the years, they failed to secure a dedicated source. A major competitor, Anchor Hocking, benefited from a more stable supply of fuel, owning its own gas fields near Marietta, Ohio, which supplied the factory through selfowned transmission lines (McCallum, 2005).

Cardboard of directors Since the Federal Paper Board’s president readily admitted the corporation’s major production consisted of pasteboard containers, how heavily had he devoted resources to the Glass Division over the years? Why had the Federal Paper Board pressed for a merger in the first place with a company that primarily made glass?

Some insiders answer that it was to take advantage of the fiscally healthy Federal Glass Company and its subsidiary, the Hercules Box Company. They say “It wasn’t about the glass.”

The more candid among them say Federal was lured into the merger, a “cash cow” ready and waiting. Russ Hughes, former controller and plant manager, sums it up this way: “With regard to the Federal Paper Board, there were paper people versus glass people. The paper people never took over in Columbus.” In the years following the merger, major corporate decisions were made at the Montvale, New Jersey, office, effectively making the Federal Paper Board an “absentee landlord” in Columbus.

Foreign affairs Were marketing officials fully aware of their company’s niche in the global market? As

Winter 2006 foreign imports flowed into the U.S., company profits declined. As early as the mid-1940s, President Edmund A. Donnan, Sr. underscored the threat not only to the Federal’s well-being, but to other American glassmakers as well. In November 2001, the Indiana Glass Division of Lancaster Colony Corporation closed its doors in Dunkirk, a victim of foreign imports. Indiana Glass, originally Beatty-Brady, had been producing glassware at the same site since 1896.

Plastic culture And what about that persistent polymer, plastic? Plastics, along with imports, became an overriding issue as Federal entered the 1970s. Officials first expressed concern over the influx of plastics in the late 1940s and early 1950s when plastic first appeared in the form of kitchenware. Although many maintained liquids taste better in glass, plastic possesses some desirable attributes, among them lighter freight weight and less breakage.

Growing pains Or had the Federal “just gotten too darn big?” Was market research into the buying whims of the American consumer and foreign export market adequate to support the costly expansion program? Many still question the wisdom of the expansion undertaken in the 1960s as the Federal at closing occupied some 57 acres. The South Side neighborhood watched while more and more Federal structures filled with newer more costly equipment sprang up, to the point where the manufacturing and warehousing ability exceeded the market place.

Labor pains Over time, was management’s resolve gradually worn away during negotiations with the AFGWU? Or were concessions granted to avoid strikes and maintain a peaceful labormanagement relationship? During negotiating sessions the Federal unions rarely yielded to management’s requests. Characteristically, management granted ever greater concessions in wages and benefits. At midpoint in the company’s lifespan, President Donnan regularly reported that wages cost the company plenty.

Admittedly strikes were costly to the company. Shutting down the continuous tank furnaces, then cleaning and readying them for the next fire was no mean task. Further, recruiting and training nonunion workers to operate the specialized glassmaking machinery would have been inefficient and costly.

President Kennedy agreed that the company’s softness in union negotiations “happened over a period of years. You give a little away each contract time. In addition to that, you tend to give away more when you’re doing well. And there was a time when the plant was doing quite well. To some degree it was a reflection of our own management.

You’ve got to take a strong hand and you’ve got to be willing and able to take strikes in order to maintain your management rights over a plant.” (Garvey, 1979).

Kennedy had apprised the unions in July 1978 regarding the eroding financial situation at the plant. At that time, he asked them to help out by foregoing the last contractual wage

73 increase, but they turned him down. Federal glass workers traditionally numbered among the best paid in the business. In the last contract, the lowest paid unskilled workers made about $5.50 an hour and the highest paid skilled workers made at least $8.50 an hour, above industry norms at that time (CD, March 19, 1979). The company paid fringes, including life insurance, health and accident insurance, holidays, vacations, and incentive bonuses.

Retirees, or next of kin if deceased, received a pension.

Migratory managers The plant closing, unions said, stemmed from bad management. Certainly management was top-heavy, with one set of officials in New Jersey and another set in Columbus, both sets commanding generous salaries. And even though Kennedy assembled managers from time to time asking them “What’s wrong with the company?” he paid little heed to their suggestions and major corporate decisions continued to come out of New Jersey (McCallum, 2005).

FTCrats Did the FTC show itself to be the biggest villain of all? Since the injunctions to block the sale occurred during a balance of trade deficit as reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the FTC played directly into the hands of foreign glassmakers and stifled competition at home by driving another U.S. supplier out of business, effectively creating the monopoly it sought to prevent.

A former Federal employee placed the blame for closure directly on the FTC. He said, “They are bureaucrats, and the last three letters tell you they are rats.” The FTC wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to block the sale in concert with the two largest Ohio glass makers who together already owned 60 percent of the glassware market. (Lancaster Colony was the fourth largest, and Federal Glass was the third largest maker of machine-made soda-lime glass). Clearly the FTC members bought onto the depositions put forth by the two largest companies, supporting their claim that the merger would indeed create a monopoly.

Federal officials insisted that the FTC never gathered facts about the U.S. glass industry and whether the Federal-Lancaster Colony merger would actually limit competition. Instead, they insisted, the FTC’s constant probing for information was to support a decision that had already been made.

Repeatedly Federal officials told the FTC they would close the plant if no buyers could be found. Whereupon the FTC questioned Federal’s right to close its own plant. It went so far as to ask the company to reopen in February 1979, to see if any bargain-hunting buyers might happen along. As it turned out, none did. Further, the FTC prohibited the Federal from selling the specialized glass making machinery to Lancaster Colony, but sales to other companies, including the two giants, appeared to be acceptable.

Loyal Customers Let Down A disappointed Federal customer, William

74 O. Cutler, Cutler Brands, Ltd., Toronto, said regarding the FTC blockage, “I was shocked.”

His opinion of the FTC contention that the Federal-Lancaster Colony merger would create restraint of trade “Is absolutely incomprehensible” (CD, February 9, 1979).

In the past, Cutler’s firm annually bought in excess of $1 million dollars worth of tumblers and miscellaneous wares. Some were sold as blanks, but the firm decorated others before shipment. Cutler said he envisioned buying more from J. G. Durand of France, Ravenhead of England, and other glass makers in Czechoslovakia, Germany, and Poland.

Cutler and other long-time customers praised the Federal’s products for quality, especially the clarity of the glass and the unique sheer rims (SHEER RIM ®) found on tumblers, rather than the thick bumper rims usually found on machine-made glass. “We had it all,” said Robert B. McCallum, Sales Manager of Retail Promotion, who agreed that Federal made the best glassware. In his words, “Our tumblers were so uniformly made they would roll forever.” Federal-made glass contained more soda than average for the industry, making it good for cutting.

Hersh Harvey, owner of Harvey Industries, Clarksburg, West Virginia, cited Federal’s closing as “A terrible loss to us.” He bought about $500,000 worth of blown glass lighting fixtures from the Federal each year, one-third of his total volume. He anticipated having to lay off 40 of his 140 employees (CD, February 9, 1979).

Perhaps the best summary statement regarding the FTC’s actions came from Senator John H. Glenn, Jr. (D-Ohio). He told the FTC Chairman Michael Pertschuk that “...when we carry our anti-trust laws to the extent that we are preventing mergers in a still competitive field and tossing people out on the street unemployed, that is a ridiculous use of antitrust powers (CD, February 1, 1979).

Another strong sentiment was voiced by U.S. Representative Chalmers Wylie (R-Columbus) who with Senator Howard Metzenbaum (DOhio) also tried to keep the Federal afloat.

Wylie said “If I introduced a bill to abolish the Federal Trade Commission, I’d be a hero in Columbus.” (Garvey, 1979).

A Tragedy of Errors Although there had been plenty of signs and early warnings, no one really believed that the Federal, a Columbus institution solidly imbedded in the South Side, would actually close its doors. Russ Hughes, plant manger at that time, still shakes his head and says, “I was shocked. We all were.” When a manufacturing plant employing more people than live in many U.S. cities and has an annual payroll of $25 million shuts down, nobody wins.

Add to the lost payroll the $1.2 million the Federal spent annually for goods and services in central Ohio. In 1978, the plant paid over $500,000 in property tax; over $375,000 went to support the Columbus school district.

Another $84,000 was paid in real estate tax as well as over $424,000 for personal property tax (CD, January 31, 1979).

The aftermath of the closing cost the federal

Winter 2006 government $4.5 million in special benefits paid to workers who lost their jobs. The benefits became available beginning August 19, 1979, under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Program, and reflected payouts made from the benefit start date through March 31, 1980. Benefits to eligible workers were extended up to 52 weeks past the August 19 start date. Employees 60 years or older at closing realized 78 weeks of benefits (CD, December 10, 1980).

Industrial Park Arises Unlike some companies that close a glass plant and either board it up or leave it as fodder for vandals, the Federal Paper Board transformed the old Federal Glass Company grounds into the Federal Industrial Park.

The specialized glassmaking machinery and molds were eventually auctioned off. Quite a number of molds went to Indiana Glass, notably those for the “Madrid” Depression-era tableware reissue the Federal named “Recollection” in 1976.

Russ Hughes became the manager of the newly-formed Federal Industrial Park. In this position he worked with real estate brokers on leases for a variety of tenants. He reported that some of the old glass company buildings had to be razed to make way for a new park thoroughfare as well as to meet the needs of the new enterprises.

According to Hughes, when the Industrial Park had operated successfully for about two years, the Federal Paper Board decided to sell the property. Two individuals, one from New Jersey and the other from Florida, bought the Industrial Park. They operate it as a limited partnership, FIP Realty Company, Ltd. Russ Hughes retired in 2003. He turned the operation over to son David, the present facilities manager, who signs leases and tends to the overall operation of the Federal Industrial Park. Now enjoying his eighty-first year, Russ looks back with fondness at how it used to be at the old Federal Glass Company when over 1,000 workers sweated under the heat of the 2700 ° F furnaces. “There was a regular heartbeat to each machine. The overall plant had a rhythm to it. It’s really depressing not to see anything like that going on here.” In the next breath, and with a smile and a distant look in his eyes, he said, “But it’s been a good life for me.”

Epilogue The Federal Paper Board Company, Inc. was integrated into the International Papers (IP) family in March 1996, in a $3.4 billion transaction that also included mills in: Augusta, Georgia; Riegelwood, North Carolina; and Versailles, Connecticut, as well as other packaging and wood products operations. John R. Kennedy Jr., the former president, secured a seat on the IP board of directors. This huge corporation makes many products, including a multitude of different papers, pulp products, folding cartons, corrugated containers, and plywood.

Acknowledgements Many individuals and organizations have

Bottles and Extras contributed to the Federal story, and I am grateful to all of them for sharing their special knowledge: Patricia Patterson Allen, great granddaughter of Alexander J. Beatty, Winter Park, Fla.; Gail Bardhan, Reference Librarian, the Rakow Library, Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, N.Y.: Barry Bernas, Gettysburg, Pa.; Roger Boeker, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, Madison; Max Brown, Publisher, Columbus Monthly, Columbus, Ohio; Tom Caniff, Steubenville, Ohio; Annie Childers, Bracken Library, Ball State University, Muncie, Ind.: Faith Corrigan, Willoughby, Ohio; Tim Deane, Dunkirk, Ind.; Louis E. Ebert, Marion, Ind.; David Hughes, Springfield, Ohio; Russell H. Hughes, Columbus, Ohio; Lauretta F. Huston, Milwaukee, Wis.; Interloan Staff, Madison (Wis.) Public Library; Diana L. Johnson, Madison, Wis.; Patricia Klar, Cross Plains, Wis.; Robert B. McCallum, Columbus, Ohio; Maureen McGavin, Columbus Monthly, Columbus, Ohio; Gini Peloquin, Information, Documents, Etc., Columbus, Ohio; Mark Plank, Syracuse, Ind.; Elizabeth L. Plummer, Assistant Head Research Services, Archives/Library Division, Ohio Historical Society, Columbus; Gail Gibson Ranallo, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison; Phil Randall, Nortonville, Ky.: Garrett Rea, Mount Juliet, Tenn.; David Richardson, The Glass Press, Marietta, Ohio; John Schoessow, Madison, Wis.; Nancy Spitzer, Wendt Library, Madison, Wis.; and Jim Wildeman Photo Graphics, Madison, Wis. Notes l. Quoted material, unless otherwise referenced was drawn from MSS 665, the Federal Glass Company papers, and is used with permission from Elizabeth L. Plummer, Assistant Head, Library/Archives Division, Ohio Historical Society, Columbus.

2. Dates may vary slightly according to the source examined.

References Atleson, James, 1998. Labor and the Wartime State. University of Illnois Press, Urbana, Ill. Beatty, James Means. 1935. “The Federal Glass Company.” Courtesy of Russell H. Hughes, Columbus, Ohio.

Beatty (Rhodes Patterson), Mary Gill. Circa 1915. Correspondence courtesy of Patricia Patterson Allen, Winter Park, Fla. Bredehoft, Tom and Neila. 1997. Fifty Years of Collectible Glass, 1920-1970, Volume 1. Antique Trader Books, Dubuque, Iowa.

Collection of Federal Papers, MSS 665.

1900-1958. Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus Dispatch. Various issues 197879. Columbus, Ohio.

Dohrman, Sinclair. 1884. Pioneer Collection of Jefferson Co., Ohio. Commercial Press, Stephens City, Va. Doyle, Joseph B. 1910. 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill. Ehrbar, A. F. July 2, 1979. “The Needless Death of Federal Glass,” Fortune. Time, Inc.,

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

Rockerfeller Center, N.Y. Florence, Gene. 2004. Collectible Glassware from the 40s, 50s, and 60s, seventh edition. Collector Books, Paducah, Ky. Florence, Gene. 2004. The Collector’s Encyclopedia of the Depression Years, sixth edition. Collector Books, Paducah, Ky. Garvey, Peggy. June 1979. “The Costly, Confusing Death of Federal Glass,” Columbus Monthly, Columbus, Ohio.

Hughes, Russell H. November 2004.

Personal interview. Columbus, Ohio.

Hughes, David. November 2004. Personal interview. Springfield, Ohio.

Iwen, Marg. 2002. “Glass in Their Veins,” The Glass Club Bulletin, No. 192. The National American Glass Club, Inc., Silver Spring, Md. Iwen, Marg. 2005. The Federal Glass Company, 1900-1979. In press.

Klopp, Tom. Fall 1982. “Federal Glass Exclusive,” The Glass Collector. Antique Publications, Marietta, Ohio.

Klopp, Tom. Winter 1983. “Federal’s Packaging Glass,” The Glass Collector.

Antique Publications, Marietta, Ohio.

McCallum, Robert B. February 2005.

Personal interview, Columbus, Ohio.

Paquette, Jack K. 2002. Blowpipes, Northwest Ohio Glassmaking in the Gas Boom of the 1880s. Xlibris Corporation.

Roller, Dick. 1983. The Standard Fruit Jar Reference. Acorn Press, Paris, Ill. Rowe, Thomas W. and Harry H. Cook. 1958.

History 1878-1957 American Flint Glass Workers Union. Toledo, Ohio.

Scoville, Warren. 1948. Revolution in Glassmaking. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.

Warman’s Depression Glass, third edition, Ellen T. Schroy, editor. 2003. Krause Publications, Iola, Wis. Weatherman, Hazel M. 1970. Colored Glassware of the Depression Era. Author published. Springfield, Mo. Weatherman, Hazel M. 1974. Colored Glassware of the Depression Era 2.

Weatherman Glassbooks, Springfield, Ohio.

Welker, John and Elizabeth. 1985. Pressed Glass in America. Antique Acres Press, Ivyl and, Pa.

JAR DOCTOR

TM

YOUR COMPLETE SOURCE FOR JAR, BOTTLE AND INSULATOR

CLEANING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

CLEANING CANISTERS Designed to safely and professionally clean inside, outside and base - all at one time.

Available in White & Clear PVC (3” through 6” ID) Prices ranging from $85.00 to $160.00

CLEANING MACHINES Units available, starting at $175.00

OXIDES Aluminum, Cerium, Tin, Silicon Carbide TUMBLING COPPER New 12-gauge chisel point in 3 sizes Copper Wire: $4.00/lb.

C

Payment by Major Credit Card or PayPal

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

R. Wayne Lowry 401 Johnston Ct., Raymore, MO 64083 E-mail: JarDoctor@aol.com Website: www.jardoctor.com (816) 318-0161 FAX: (816) 318-0162

75 About the Author: Marg Iwen began collecting Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG) after bidding successfully on an unknown glass plate at a country auction in 1969. Today she collects a Mc-Kee tableware pattern, but has bought and sold EAPG, novelties, and historical glass through her home-based Bear Tooth Antiques for the past 14 years. Her research interest is glass factories of the 19th and early 20th centuries. She has written over a dozen articles on various factories and their wares. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband, Frank, and Schnauzer, Data Base.

For Sale: Quart Sealfast, Sold by Wm. Cushard Dry Goods Co., Decatur, Ill. (Redbook #2599) $300.00, June Lowry, 401 Johnston Ct., Raymore, MO 64083; PH: (816) 318-0160 or E-mail: OSUBuckeyes71@aol.com.

Jar Doctor (for all your cleaning supplies) 2006 shows: Muncie, Indiana Columbus, Ohio Baltimore, Maryland St. Joseph, Missouri Bloomington, Minnesota Mansfield, Ohio Shupp’s Grove (Adamstown) Pa. Reno, Nevada Tulsa, Oklahoma Richmond, Virginia Keene, New Hampshire Springfield, Ohio Auburn, Ohio Keep wathing JarDoctor.com for updates (should be updated soon).

For more information, contact: R. Wayne Lowry, the Jar Doctor, PH: (816) 318-0161, Fax: (816) 318-0162; or E-mail: JarDoctor@aol.com

76

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

Bottle and Extras Membership and Display Advertising Rates

Bottles & Extras

Membership in the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors includes:

Bottles and Extras

FREE ADS

Individual Subscription / Membership Rates for One Year

Send to : Kathy Hopson-Sathe

Re-up time? Check the back of your issue for a renewal label

B&E Editor 414 Molly Springs Rd Hot Springs, AR 71913 or Email : kathy@thesodafizz.com Category - “WANTED” Maximum - 60 words Limit - One free ad per current membership per year.

Category - “FOR SALE” Maximum - 100 words Limit - 100 per issue.

(Use extra paper if necessary.)

2nd Class $30.00 Inside U.S. $35.00 to Canada $45.00 to Overseas

Name ___________________________________________________ Associate Member Name(s) $5 additional each:_______ __________________ Street____________________________________Apt.#_____________ City _____________________________________________________ State _____________ Zip __________ Phone (_____)______________ Collecting Interests: _________________________________________ E-mail Address: ____________________________________________ Single Issues and Back Issues of the magazine alone: $5.00

______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________

First Class $45.00 Inside U.S. $49.00 to Canada $60.00 to Overseas

Membership information, forms and an online payment method are also available from the website @ www.fohbc.com

Enclose the Appropriate Amount and Mail to: FOHBC, 1021 W. Oakland Ave, Suite 109, Johnson City, TN 37604 Make checks payable to: The Federation of Historicial Bottle Collectors (FOHBC) Please Note: Allow 6-8 weeks from the time you send in your payment until you receive your first issue of Bottles and Extras.

______________________________ ______________________________

The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors

______________________________

Bottles and Extras Advertising Rates

______________________________ ______________________________

Ads: Ralph Van Brocklin 1021 W. Oakland Ave., #109, Johnson City, TN 37604 Phone: (423) 913-1378 E-mail: thegenuine@comcast.net

______________________________

Makes checks payable to: The Federation of Historic Bottle Collectors

______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________

PLEASE PRINT ALL AD COPY

ALL ADS MUST BE PAID IN ADVANCE 50% Discount for FOHBC Club Show Ads

CLASSIFIED ADS 10-cents a word 15-cents a bold word. $2.00 MINIMUM AMT

PAGE

1 TIME

DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES 1/2 PAGE

1/4 PAGE

COL. 4”

COL. 3”

COL. 2”

COVER

$150.00

$80.00

$50.00

$20.00

$15.00

$10.00

$200.00

2 TIMES

$260.00

$150.00

$90.00

$35.00

$25.00

$15.00

$380.00

4 TIMES

$500.00

$280.00

$170.00

$65.00

$45.00

$25.00

$700.00

Next Stop Deadlines: February 15th for Spring Edition (Apr.-June 2006) May 15th for Summer Edition (July-Sept. 2006)

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

77

Classified Ads FOR SALE For Sale: I am completing the liquidation of my fruit jar collection of 35 years. I have some extremely rare, perhaps unique, examples for sale. Contact: TOM SCHUMM at 1278 Beulah, Pinckney, MI 48169, by Ph: (888) 282-2733 or E-mail me at: tomschumm@yahoo.com. I saved the best till last!

For Sale: Bargain prices. Old bottles, fruit jars, product jars and bottles. Marbles, pottery, glassware, tins, advertising signs, 5,000 misc. collectibles and much more!

One item or my whole collection - enough items to stock a large house or shop. Your call! Visits or inquiries welcome. Contact: LEONARD TUGGLE, P.O. Box 157, Spencer, VA 24165-0157; Ph: (276) 6945279.

For Sale: The last box of the 2nd printing of THE WHISKEY JUG BOOK (Bourbon Belt Advetising Jugs & Their Collectors)

by Chuck Neese. 62 big 8x11” pages of mainly Ky. & Tenn. jug photos and prices.

Send $20 check or money order to: The New Company, P.O. Box 50667, Nashville, TN 37205.

For Sale: Membership in Southwest Bottle Club is only $15 and includes our great newsletter mailed to your door. Or FREE by E-mail. See www.antiquebottles.com/southeast or Contact: REGGIE LYNCH, P.O. Box 13736, Durham, N.C. 27709; Ph: (919) 789-4545, E-mail: rlynch@antiquebottles.com.

For Sale: Late 1850s pontiled soda, tensided, rare-style embossing, C. Able (no Co.), St. Louis, Mo. Soda Water. Good shape. $250.00 Scarce Missouri Hutch Neosho Bot. Wk., Neosho, Mo. $125.00 F.C. Banker Fulton Chain, N.Y. Hutch $25.00 Suspension Bridge, N.Y. Hutch, S.B.B. Co., LTD $60.00 Contact: PAUL LAWRENCE, 256 Sappington Bridge Rd., Sullivan, MO 63080; Ph: (573) 4684924; E-mail: pljbot@fidnet.com.

Free For Sale Ads and Wanted Ads are a benefit of membershiop

SEND YOURS TODAY!

Federation Goodies from the Past ~ Please Note: Prices include shipping ~ Commemorative Flasks - Fabulous Fakes! $8.50 ea.

1969 ABCA 10th “Success to the RR” Green; 1976 EXPO, St. Louis (Scroll) Blue, Amber, Olive, Aqua; 1988 EXPO, Las Vegas “Celebration of Am. Glass” Blue; 1994 FOHBC Nat’l, Cherry Hills, New Jersey; FOHBC 25th (free-blown date seal) Olive

EXPO & National Show Programs $5.30 ea.

1984 EXPO Souvenir Program, Montgomery, Alabama; 1988 EXPO Souvenir Program, Las Vegas, Nevada; 1994 National Souvenir Program, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 2001 National Auction Catalogs $4.30 ea.

1984 Update & Price Guide, C Ring & S Ray $3.30 ea.

116-pg. update to For Bitters Only by Carlyn Ring

FOHBC Decals $1.00 ea.

Please specify INSIDE or OUTSIDE… FOHBC Pins & Buttons $3.00 ea.

The Original Emblem, from the 1976 EXPO, St. Louis, Mo.; 1984 EXPO Button, Montgomery, Alabama (Very limited quantities); 1988 EXPO Pins, Las Vegas, Nevada T-Shirts, 1988 EXPO, Las Vegas 2 XL only! $10.50 ea.

Back Issues: “Federation Journal” $13.30 ea.

Spring 1974 (V2-1), Fall 1974 (V2-2) Spring 1975 (V3-1), Fall 1975 (V3-2) Back Issues: “Bottles & Extras” $5.30 ea.

Only a few issues not available…

Coffee Mugs (1992 EXPO) $7.50 ea.

Submit orders to: Federation Merchandise, c/o Kent Williams 1835 Oak Terrace, Newcastle, CA 95658

Special Offer - National Show 2005 Souvenir Items Souvenir T-Shirt - Sizes: L, XL and XXL (Limited quantities available) EXPO Souvenir Program - This 72-page guide includes several outstanding research articles on Michigan bottles and glassworks not found elsewhere!

EXPO Auction Catalog - in fullcolor. Includes a listing of prices realized. Add this catalog to your reference library.

All three for $20.00 Postage Paid!

Also available, a small quantity of XL Polo shirts in ‘stone’ color for $30.00 Postpaid.

And finally - personal-size hot/cold stainless beverage containers for travel (with logo) for $12.00 Postpaid.

To order, please contact: John Pastor 7288 Thorncrest Dr. SE, Ada, MI 49301 Ph: (616) 285-7604 E-mail: jpastor2000@sbcglobal.net

78

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

Classified Ads BOOKS / PERIODICALS KETCHUP, PICKLES, SAUCES 19th Century Food in Glass 498 pages of pictures & research of glass containers the early food industry utilized.

Smyth Bound - $25.00 to: MARK WEST PUBLISHERS PO BOX 1914 SANDPOINT, ID 83864

FOR SALE: CD-rom for computer users. Contents: almost 200 pages of inventory / research for Dr. Hatchett’s Drug Store Museum of Lumpkin, Georgia.

Patent medicines & other drug store products 1870s to 1950s. Research on products, history, composition of medicines, company histories, medical uses, costs of products, etc. Products can be searched by their names or manufacturers. Price: $12.00 for mailing to U.S. addresses. Order from Stewart County Historical Commission, P.O. Box 818,

Lumpkin, GA 31515 or contact: ALLEN VEGOTSKY, 2215 Greencrest Dr., Atlanta, GA 30346-2629; PH: (770) 2701034; E-mail: Vegotsky@earthlink.net.

FOR SALE: A limited number of 2002, 2003 and 2004 Federation Auction catalogues with prices-realized lists are available at $5.00 each plus $2.00 postage. Full color and beautifully photographed they make a handy reference! Contact JOHN PASTOR, 7288 Thorncrest Drive SE, Ada, MI 49301; Phone: (616) 285-7604 or RALPH VAN BROCKLIN, 1021 W Oakland Avenue, #109, Johnson City, TN 37604; Phone: (423) 913-1378.

FOR SALE: A COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO ARIZONA BOTTLE & STONEWARE - A HISTORY OF MERCHANT CONTAINERS IN ARIZONA 124 pages of very detailed sketches of bottles and stoneware from the state of Arizona (1999) Spiral bound, $25.00. Contact: MICHAEL MILLER, Miller Antiques, 9214 W. Gary Road, Peoria, AZ 85345,

INSURANCE for Bottles

Your homeowners insurance is rarely enough to cover your collectibles. We’ve provided economical, dependable collectibles insurance since 1966.

• Sample collector rates: $3,000 for $14; $10,000 for $38; $25,000 for $95; $50,000 for $190; $100,000 for $278; $200,000 for $418. Above $200,000, rate is $1.40 per $1000.

• Our insurance carrier is AM Best’s rated A+ (Superior).

• We insure antique to modern bottles (breakage included), and scores of other collectibles. “One-stop” service for practically everything you collect..

• Replacement value. We use expert/professional help valuing collectible losses. Consumer friendly service: Our office handles your loss - you won’t deal with a big insurer who does not know collectibles.

• Detailed inventory and/or professional appraisal not required.

Collectors list items over $5,000, dealers - no listing required.

• See our website (or call, fax, E-mail us) for full information, including standard exclusions.

Collectibles Insurance Company P.O. Box 1200-FHBC - Westminster, MD 21158 E-mail: info@insurecollectibles.com

Call Toll-Free: 1-888-837-9537 - FAX (410) 489-5318 Need Info? Need a Rate Quote? Apply online.

Visit : www.collectinsure.com

PH: (623) 486-3123 or by E-mail: gramike@earthlink.net.

FOR SALE: THE PILL ROLLERS, Third Edition, C.G. & L.C. Richardson.

This is the only comprehensive book on apothecary antiques available to collectors with a serious interest in pharmaceutical antiques and collectibles.

The book has 185 pages with 800 items illustrated. A separate price guide is included with the book price. The glossary includes information to help identify pharmaceutical artifacts including an extensive listing of names to help identify drug jar and apothecary bottle inscriptions. The price is $37.50, including shipping, and can be ordered from: CHARLES RICHARDSON, 1176 South Dogwood Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22801.

FOR SALE: Two books on whiskey jugs by Bottles and Extras writer Jack Sullivan. THE AMERICAN WHISKEY JUG features 200 richly

2001 EDITION ...

“The Fruit Jar Collector’s Bible”

RedBook

9

Reflects Recent Price Influences of Auctions and the Internet, as well as Current Price Trends Soft Cover, 432 Pages Over 10,000 Entries $35 US - $40 Non-US - Post Paid Order from Author : DOUGLAS M. LEYBOURNE, JR. P.0. BOX 5417 - NORTH MUSKEGAN, MI 49445

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

79

Classified Ads FOR SALE: Can you tell the “Real” from the “Repro”? Now you can with Tippecanoe & E. G. Booz Too! A book about cabin bottles, by Thomas C. Haunton. Detailed info on 57 different bottles, with new “McKearin” numbers, over 140 photos, and new information on E. G. Booz - the man! A price guide and free CD with 200 color photos are also included. Send $32.95 postpaid to: TOM HAUNTON, 48 Hancock Ave. #1, Medford, MA 02155-5621. E-mail: tchaunton@comcast.net FOR SALE: GEORGIA CROWN TOP BOTTLE BOOK. 260 pages with over 1400 bottles. Includes Georgia Bottling Works, 263 different Script straight-sided Coca-Cola bottles from Georgia, 236 different Georgia Chero-Cola bottles.

Many others also listed. All Color! $39.95 + $3.95 Shipping. Send to: Georgia Soda Bottle Book, 1211 St. Andrews Drive, Douglas, GA 31533.

FOR SALE: Two books on whiskey jugs by Bottles and Extras writer Jack Sullivan. THE AMERICAN WHISKEY JUG features 200 richly illustrated pages with index. $20 plus $5 postage. THE WHISKEY CERAMICS OF SCOTLAND, IRELAND and ENGLAND features 100 pages with index. $10 plus $3 postage. Or buy both for $25 plus $5 postage.

Contact: JACK SULLIVAN, 4300 Ivanhoe Pl., Alexandria, VA 22304; PH: (703) 370-3039; E-mail: jack.sullivan9@verizon.net.

FOR SALE: COLLECTING APPLIED COLOR LABEL BOTTLES, Third Edition (2002). 1200 full-color photographs with over 1600 ACL soda bottles listed and over 1650 prices realized in an easy to read format. $45 includes postage Contact: KATHY HOPSON-SATHE, 414 Molly Springs Road, Hot Springs, AR 71913; E-mail: kathy@thesodafizz.com.

FOR SALE: 1) 4 TH EDITION BOTTLES: IDENTIFICATION & PRICE GUIDE - Comprehensive Updated Pricing Guide / three new chapters: Cobalt Blue Bottles, Violin Bottles and Museum & Research Resources. Expanded & updated chapters: Determining Bottle Values, Trademark Identification, Dealer/Club Guide / Glossary / Auction Houses, Bibliography.

300 b/w photos – 16 page color section 57 Pricing Chapters $21.00 (includes shipping/handling). 2) Warman’s

Bottlefield Guide, 1st Edition, by Michael Polak - Values & Identification 511 pages - all color photographs - $15.00 (includes shipping/handling). Check or money order to: MIKE POLAK, P.O. Box 30328, Long Beach, CA 90853; PH: (562) 4389209; E-mail: bottleking@earthlink.net.

FOR SALE: Now, finally available! BIG BOB BEST BITTERS is a comprehensive price guide for collectors of bitters bottles reporting auction prices realized for the last 17 years. This printing contains nearly 4000 accurately described bitters in a convenient, easy to read format.

Listing bottle description and condition, Ring/Ham number, sale date and realized auction prices, this reference is a musthave for the collector or dealer of bitters bottles. To encourage your attendence at bottle shows, the price is an affordable $10.

Price postage paid is $15. Send check or money order with your mailing instructions to: BOB STRICKHART, 3 Harvest Drive, Pennington, New Jersey 08534.

FOR SALE: The American Poison Bottle Book, presented by the Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association, full-color poison bottle work book. Updated

information on sizes, colors and new listings. Contains the Kuhn ID system and is dedicated to him. $50 + $4.95 s/ h. Printing limited so get yours now!

Check to: JOAN CABANISS, 312 Summer Lane, Huddleston, VA 24104.

FOR SALE: Out of print books / prices reduced. 1) Bitters Bottles by Watson HB $35.00. 2) Supplement to Bitters $25.00. 3) Fruit Jars by Toulouse HB $55.00. 4) Grand Old American Bottles

by Freeman. $35.00. 5) American Bottles and Flasks by Mck and Wilson, HB $80.00. 6) Bottle Flasks and Dr Dyott $25.00. 7) Treasury American Bottles, Ketcham $20.00. 8) Tempo, Glass Folks of South Jersey, by Horner $15.00. 9) Coca Cola Four Vols., by Goldstein $40.00. 10) Downeast Glassman, 16 issues published by Noel Thomas, lot $25.00. Also: whiskey labels, pack of 16 - all different, $2.00 ea., include one first class stamp. Red Book Fruit Jars, No. 2, 3, 7 & 9 - call for prices on Red Books.

Postage extra on books.

SAM FUSS, 232 Harmony Rd., Mickleton, NJ 08056; Ph: (856) 423-5038; E-mail: quarrylane@sectorsystems.com.

WANTED Wanted: Large aqua rectangular bottle, “DR. IRA BAKER’S / HONDURAS / SARSAPARILLA” in mint or near mint condition. Also looking for MONTANA bottles, OWL DRUG bottles, and LARGE size GILLETTS EXTRACT bottles with embossed picture of Owl. Contact: MARC LUTSKO, P.O. BOX 590, LIBBY, MONTANA 59923, Ph: (406) 293-4048 or E-mail: letsgo@montanasky.net.

Wanted: Embossed (not etched) advertising medicine dose (shot) glasses that advertise drug stores or pharmacies.

My goal is to collect one from each U.S. state, but I’m not even halfway there.

Please contact: TRACY GERKEN, 1131 Kings Cross, Brunswick, GA 31525; Ph: (912) 269-2074 or E-mail: 1gerken@bellsouth.net.

Wanted: Moulton items! I collect bottles and related items with my name on them and am interested in purchasing anything which I do not have. Contact: TOM G. MOULTON, 1911 Preservation Dr., Plant City, FL 33566-0945;

Ph: (813) 754-1396; or corkscru1@aol.com.

E-mail:

Wanted: Missouri Hutches from - Cuba, Washington, DeSoto, Festus, Crane, Iron Dale, Mountain Grove, Perryville, Pleasant Hill, Rich Hill, Seneca, Macon, McBerly, Malden, Brookfield, California, Carthage, Galena, West Port, Pierce City, St. Genevieve, St. Louis (slug plate) Eclipse, St. Louis American Carr., Thayer. Contact: PAUL LAWRENCE, 256 Sappington Bridge Rd., Sullivan, MO 63080; Ph: (573) 4684924; E-mail: pljbot@fidnet.com.

Wanted: Embossed Philadelphia strapsided and seamed whiskey flasks, and Thomas H. Dillon (T.H.D.) Mineral Water bottles. Contact: ART MIRON, Ph: (215) 248-4612; 132 W. Durham St., Philadelphia, PA 19119-2432; E-mail: jester484@verizon.net.

Wanted: Kuner Pickle Co. - Denver, Co. items, food tins, bottles, crocks and related items. Contact: ROBERT G. SEIFERT, P.O. Box 3641, Estes Park,

80

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

Classified Ads CO 80517; Ph: (970) 586-6655; or E-mail: bobnmaryseif@msn.com.

Wanted: Copenhagen snuff jars, large or small, with original labels, Ka-TonKa Indian medicine, Minnesota Hutchinson sodas, Jos. Lowenthal, milk glass bitters, embossed black glass case bottles or cylinders, reasonably priced Tippecanoe and Red Jacket bitters, can be chipped, dug, marked, clay pipes or pieces for study, dug Chinese pottery, labeled baking powder cans, essence of peppermint bottle. Contact: ELDON PLATCEK, 327 3rd Ave, Two Harbors, MN 55616; Ph: (218) 834-6093 or Email: furtrade@hotmail.com.

Wanted: AMERICAN POISONS - 25 years collecting and I still need lots of sizes to complete sets! Contact: JOAN CABANISS, 312 Summer Lane, Huddleston, VA 24104; Ph: (540) 2974498 or E-mail: jjcab@b2xonline.com.

Wanted: Hemingray Glass Co. items, including fruit jars, beer & soda bottles, medicines, battery jars, oil lamps, tobacco jars, tableware, apothecary, refrigerator & water bottles, insulators, letterheads & advertising. Contact: BOB STAHR, Ph: (630) 231-4171 or Email: bob@hemingray.com.

Wanted: Nashville pottery items.

Contact: CHUCK NEESE, 1022 West Sears, Pegram, TN 37143 or E-mail: chuckneese@hotmail.com.

Wanted: - Hartley’s Peruvian Bark Bitters, W.D. Souders & Co., Muncie, Ind. - Any mint W.V. Hutch, especially: Crawford Bottling Works, Leewood, W.V. - Cabin Brand Pure Deepwell Beverages, Decota, V.Va. Contact: JOHN AKERS, 700 Jane St., Charleston, WV 25302, Ph: (304) 343-8716 or E-mail: MuleCreekJohn@aol.com.

JAR DOCTOR (for all your cleaning supplies) 2006 shows: Muncie, Indiana - Columbus, Ohio Baltimore, Maryland - St. Joseph, Missouri - Bloomington, Minnesota Mansfield, Ohio - Shupp’s Grove (Adamstown) Pa. - Reno, Nevada - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Richmond, Virginia - Keene, New Hampshire - Springfield, Ohio Auburn, Ohio Keep wathing JarDoctor.com for updates (should be updated soon).

For more information, contact: R. Wayne Lowry, the Jar Doctor: (816) 318-0161, Fax: (816) 318-0162 E-mail: JarDoctor@aol.com

SPRING STEEL PROBES

Montana Sodas

Wanted: Label-under-glass Palmer’s Perfume bottles; label-under-glass Lightner’s Perfume bottles; full, unopened tobacco cloth bags with tax stamp; full, unopened tobacco foil papers with tax stamp; label-under-glass syrup bottles; syrup dispensers. Contact: WILLIAM B. LONG, 308 N. Taylor St., Goldsboro, NC 27530; Ph: (919) 735-6017 or E-mail: londwbdds@bellsouth.net.

est. 1979

SHOPS AND SERVICES

- Embossed - ACL - Paper Label -

Especially Cleo Cola Billings, Mont.

R.J. Reid 1102 East Babcock St. Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 587-9602 rjkreid@mcn.net

Full Colour BBR

The world’s first full color bottle magazine simply got BETTER and BIGGER PACKED FULL of all the information you need on the UK & worldwide scene Well-researched articles & All the latest finds Upcoming sales & Full show calendar “the classified ads alone make a subscription worthwhile, but the color pictures make it absolutely ESSENTIAL. Heck, what

1 year Air Mail subscription still just $20 - 2 years $40 Personal Check, MasterCard/Visa, even $ bills!

BBR, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Barnsley, 2, Yorkshire, S74 8HJ, England Tel: 011-44-1226-745156; Fax: 011-44-1226-361561

Length 36” to 48” Diameter 1/4” to 5/16” “T” Handle 1” Dia. x 12” and Ring 4” above tip, both welded. $37.50 includes S/H $3 Extra for Rush Shipping Cashier Check or M.O. R. L. Wilcox 7422 Park Drive Mechanicsville, VA 23111 Phone: (804) 746-9854 or E-mail: Wilcox7422@aol.com

Churchill’s Antique Bottle Cleaning Service Introductory Offer: Will clean one bottle at no charge ! (minus postage) Try me fee free!

Less than 10 bottles: $15 each.

10-14: $12.50 each.

More than 15: $10.00 each.

MARK CHURCHILL

PO Box 7023 Grand Rapids, MI 49510

(616) 248-3808 E-mail: mdiscoidalis@netzero.net

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

81

FOHBC SHO-BIZ FOHBC Sho-Biz is published in the interest of the hobby. Federation affiliated clubs are noted. Information on up-coming collecting events is welcome, but space is limited.

Please send at least four months in advance, including telephone number, to: FOHBC Sho-Biz, c/o Ron Rasnake, 6301 Lilyan Parkway, Fort Pierce, FL 34951, or E-mail: RonOldGins@bellsouth.net. Show schedules are subject to change. Please call ahead before traveling long distances.

All listings published here will also be published on our web site at http://www.fohbc.com.

JANUARY 8 MUNCIE, INDIANA Midwest Antique Fruit Jar & Bottle Club’s Winter Show & Sale (Sun. 9 AM – 3 PM) at the Horizon Convention Center, Muncie, IN. INFO: NORMAN BARNETT, P. O. Box 38, Flat Rock, IN 47234, PH: (812) 587-5560 or DICK COLE, 1200 Minnetrista Pkwy., Muncie, IN 47303, PH: (765) 213-3549 ext. 117.

JANUARY 15 SOUTH ATTLEBORO, MASS Little Rhody Bottle Club’s Annual Show & Sale (Sun. 10 AM – 2 PM, early admission 9 AM) at the K of C Hall, 304 Highland Ave. (I-95 exit 2B), So. Attleboro, MA. INFO: JULIE CAMARA, P. O. Box 15142, Riverside, RI 02915, Email: narcovich@aol.com.

JANUARY 21 JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI Mississippi Antique Bottle Show (Sat. 9 AM – 4 PM) at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, Jackson, MS. INFO: JOHN SHARP, P. O. Box 601, Carthage, MS 39051, PH: (601) 267-7128, Cell: (601) 507-0105, Email: johnsharp49@aol.com.

JANUARY 21 ANDERSON, CALIFORNIA Superior California Antique Bottle Club’s 30th Annual Show & Sale (Sat. 9 AM – 4 PM) at the Shasta County Fairgrounds, Anderson, CA. INFO: MEL HAMMER, PH: (530) 241-4878 or PHIL McDONALD, PH: (530) 243-6903.

FEBRUARY 4 ROME, GEORGIA Rome Antique Bottle & Collectibles Club’s Show & Sale (Sat. 8 AM – 3 PM) at the Rome Civic Center, Turner McCall Blvd., Rome, GA. INFO: JERRY MITCHELL, Bremen, GA, PH: (770) 537-3725, Email: mitjt@aol.com or BOB JENKINS, Carrollton, GA, PH: (770) 834-0736.

FEBRUARY 5 SOUTH RIVER, NEW JERSEY New Jersey Antique Bottle Club’S 10th Annual Show & Sale (Sun. 9 AM - 2 PM) at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 88 Jackson St., South River, NJ. INFO: NJABC, 24 Charles St., South River, NJ 08882-1603 or JOE

BUTEWICZ, PH: (732) 238-3238, Email: botlman@msn.com.

FEBRUARY 12 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN The 34 th Annual Milwaukee Antique Bottle & Advertising Show (Sun. 9 AM – 3 PM) at the Four Points Sheraton, 4747 S. Howell Ave. (I-94 exit 318), Milwaukee, WI. INFO: DAVID KAPSOS, P. O. Box 61 McFarland, WI 53558, PH: (608) 838-8041, Email: bottleshow@charter.net.

FEBRUARY 17-18 CHEHALIS, WASHINGTON The Oregon Bottle Collectors Association Winter Show & Sale (Sat. 9 AM - 3 PM; Early Adm. Fri. 1 - 7 PM & Sat. 8 - 9 AM) at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, Chehalis, Washington.

INFO: MARK JUNKER, PH: (503) 2311235 or BILL BOGYNSKA, PH: (503) 657-1726, E-mail: billb@easystreat.com.

FEBRUARY 17 - 18 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Las Vegas Antique Bottle & Collectibles Club’s 41st Annual Show & Sale (Sat. 9 AM – 4 PM, early admission Fri. noon – 5 PM) at the Plaza Hotel & Casino, Fremont St., Las Vegas, NV. INFO: TONY PALLADINO, 7004 Debutante Court, Las Vegas, NV 89130, PH: (702) 655-8752, Email: lvabc@hotmail.com.

FEBRUARY 17 – 18 COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA The 33rd Annual South Carolina Antique Bottle Show & Sale (Fri. noon – 6 PM, Sat. 9 AM – 1 PM) at the Meadowlake Park Center, 600 Beckman Rd., Columbia, SC. INFO: MARTY VOLLMER, 1091 Daralynn Dr., Lexington, SC 29073, PH: (803) 7559401, Email: martyvollmer@aol.com, or ERIC WARREN, Email: scbottles@aol.com.

FEBRUARY 25 GRANDVILLE, MICHIGAN West Michigan Antique Bottle & Glass Club’s 16th Annual Show & Sale (Sat. 10 AM – 3 PM) at the Fonger American Legion Post, 2327 Wilson S. W., Grandville, MI. INFO: ELMER OGG, 1591 Hendrick, Muskegon, MI 49441, PH: (231) 798-7335, Email:

eogg@nortonshores.org or STEVE DeBOODE, 1166 Corvette, Jennison, MI 49428, PH: (616) 667-0214, Email: thebottleguy@comcast.net.

FEBRUARY 26 ENFIELD, CONNECTICUT Somers Antique Bottle Club’s 36th Annual Show & Sale (Sun. 9 AM – 2 PM, early admission 8 AM) at the Bernard School West Campus, Pearl St. (I-91 exit 47 west), Enfield, CT.INFO: ROSE SOKOL, 164 Elm St., Enfield, CT 06082, PH: (860) 745-7688.

MARCH 5 BALTIMORE, MARYLAND Baltimore Antique Bottle Club’s 26 th Annual Show & Sale (Sun. 8 AM – 3 PM) at the Essex Campus Community College Physical Education Center, 7201 Rossville Blvd., Baltimore, MD. INFO: BOB FORD, PH: (410) 531-8458, Email: bottles@comcast.net.

MARCH 10-11 CHICO, CALIFORNIA The 40th Annual Antique Bottle, Jar, Insulator & Collectible Show & Sale (Fri. 9 AM - 7 PM, Adm. $3; Sat. 9 AM - 4 PM, Adm. Free0 at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, Chico, California. INFO: RANDY TAYLOR, PH: (530) 345-0519 (eve) or DON AYERS, P.O. Box 546, Chico, CA 95927, PH: (530) 891-4931 or E-mail: rtjarguy@aol.com.

MARCH 18 DELAND, FLORIDA M-T Bottle Collectors Association’s 36th Annual Show & Sale (Sat. 9 AM – 3 PM) at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, State Route 44 (east of I-4 exit 118), DeLand, FL. INFO: M. PALLASCH, 7 Monroe Ave., DeBary, FL 32713, PH: (386) 6684538 or BILL MARKS, PH: (386) 7895255, Fax: (386) 789-4667, Email: bmarks2@cfl.rr.com.

MARCH 19 FLINT, MICHIGAN Flint Antique Bottle & Collectible Club’s 36th Annual Show & Sale, (Sun. 9 AM - 3 PM), at the Dom Polski Hall, 3415 N. Linden Rd., Flint, MI. INFO: TIM BUDA, 11353 W. Cook Rd., Gaines, MI 48436, PH: (989) 271-9193, Email: tbuda@shianet.org.

82

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006 SODAS I N S U L A T O R

FRUIT JARS

MEDICINES A D V E R T I S I N G

THE OHIO BOTTLE CLUB’S 28TH

MANSFIELD

ANTIQUE BOTTLE & ADVERTISING SHOW & SALE

M A R B L E S

S M A L L

TRIMBLE ROAD EXIT U.S. RT. 30

C O C A

A N T I Q U E S

SATURDAY, MAY 13th, 2006

C O L A

RICHLAND COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS MANSFIELD, OHIO HOURS 8 A.M. to 2 P.M. DONATION $3.00 Dealer set-up Friday, May 12th, 2-6 P.M.

M I L K B O T T L E S

EARLY ADMISSION $25.00

I N K S

CONTACT: Ron Hands (330) 634-1977 INFO: rshands225@yahoo.com FLASKS

DECORATED STONEWARE

BITTERS

Bottles and Extras

Winter 2006

LAS VEGAS ANTIQUE BOTTLES & COLLECTIBLES CLUB PROUDLY PRESENTS OUR 41 ANNUAL ST

COLLECTIBLES SHOW & SALE FEBRUARY 17-18, 2006

PLAZA HOTEL NUMBER ONE MAIN STREET - LAS VEGAS 1-800-634-6575 MENTION SHOW FOR DISCOUNT ROOM RESERVATIONS PLEASE MAKE SHOW & ROOM RESERVATIONS EARLY EXPIRES JANUARY 16, 2006 BOTTLES - CANNING JARS - POSTCARDS - TRADE TOKENS PAPER GOODS - INSULATORS - GLASSWARE - MARBLES NEVADA MEMORABILIA - DOLLS - ADVERTISING MATERIAL CASINO COLLECTIBLES - VINTAGE JEWELRY - OLD TOYS SMALL ANTIQUES - MATCH COVERS - AND MUCH MORE!

SHOW HOURS EARLY BIRD FRIDAY - FEB. 17 Noon - 5 PM $15.00

For More Information Contact Show Chairman: Tony Palladino 7004 Debutante Court Las Vegas, NV 89130 Home: (702) 655-8752 Message Number Only E-mail: lvabcc@hotmail.com

GENERAL ADMISSION SATURDAY - FEB. 18 9AM - 4 PM $5.00 Dealer Setup: Friday, Feb. 17 8 am - Noon

37th Annual

83 THE STATE OF FRANKLIN ANTIQUE BOTTLE & COLLECTIBLES ASSOCIATION PRESENTS ITS 8TH ANNUAL SHOW

MAY 6th, 2006 APPALACHIAN FAIRGROUNDS GRAY, TENNESSEE (Northeast Tennessee Area)

Friday, May 5th 12 PM - 6 PM Setup for Dealers Early Buyers: Adm. $10

Saturday, May 6th 8 AM - 2 PM Free Admission

Fellow Collectors and Dealers: Our show will be in the Farm & Home Buliding at the Appalachian Fairgrounds in Gray, TN. We have over 200 tables available, plus unlimited room at the fairgrounds to grow. We are centrally located, close to I-81 and I-26, with reasonably priced accomodations within a few minutes. When you purchase your first table at $25, you get a meal and all the fun you can stand! This is the perfect place for northern & southern dealers to get together to sell, trade or buy; but we need YOU - the dealers & collectors, to make this show great. On eBay, you can buy and sell, but you can’t see old friends, meet new people and get a wealth of information. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this show.

For more information, contact: Melissa Milner Phone: (423) 928-4445 or E-mail: mmilner12@chartertn.net

Midwest Antique Fruit Jar & Bottle Club Show Sunday, January 8, 2006 9 AM - 3 PM At The Horizon Convention Center

Muncie, Indiana Sunday, April 23, 2006 9 am - 3 pm

Pre-Show Events at the Hotel Roberts 420 S. High Street Room Hopping Thurs. & Fri.

Saturday, Jan 7, 2006: Jelly Jammers Meeting 10 AM Jar Get Together Show & Tell 1:30 PM Auction Immediately after Get Together

Show Chair Larry Fox Dealer Chairs Aaron/Pam Weber Exhibit Chair Chris Davis

(585) 394-8958 (585) 225-6345 (315) 331-4078

brerfox@frontiernet.net dealerchair@gvbca.com exhibits@gvbca.com

Norman Barnett P.O. Box 38 Flat Rock, IN 47234 (812) 587-5560

Info: or

Dick Cole 1200 Minnestrista Pkwy Muncie, IN 47103 (765) 213-3549 #117

84

Winter 2006

36th Annual St. Louis Antique Bottle Collector Association

Bottles and Extras

MARCH 24-25 - MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA San Luis Obispo Bottle Society’s 38th Annual Show & Sale (Fri. 3 PM – 7 PM, Sat. 9 AM – 3 PM) at the Moro Bay Veterans Hall, 209 Surf Street, Morro Bay, CA. INFO: RICHARD TARTAGLIA, PH: (805) 543-7484.

MARCH 26 - CICERO, NEW YORK The ESBCA Spring Bottle & Collectibles Showh (Sun. 9 AM 3 PM) at the American Legion Post 787, 5575 Legionnaire Drive (Syracuse Rt. 81 North, Exit 30 to Rt. 31 West to Legionnaire Dr.), Cicero, New York. INFO: JOHN or CAROL SPELLMAN, P.O. Box 61, Savannah, NY 13146, E-mail: Spealmanjc@tds.net.

St. Louis

Antique Bottle and Jar Show

Antique bottles, Fruit jars, Pottery, Breweriana, Insulators and Related Advertising 105 Sales tables + Sunday, March 19, 2006 9 AM - 2 PM Displays Two Hearts Banquet Center NO early adm.

Adm. $3.00 4532 S. Lindbergh at Gravois Food & Drink Available Kids FREE St. Louis, Missouri Showchairs: (636) 296-3012 2080 Sterzik Dr., Arnold, MO 63028 George Casnar (636) 337-2326 4455 Hilterbrand Rd., Festus, MO 63028 Ron Sterzik

A few words from Larry Fox, FOHBC Northeast Regional Editor, about some of the upcoming shows: January already! I do not know about the rest of you, but enough already. I want to see sunny skies and hear the birds sing. I am ready for spring. This is the time of year when I look forward to the spring bottle shows.

It is my self defense mechanism that keeps me from going bonkers living amongst the snowdrifts and icicles.

First on the list will be Muncie Indiana, January 8th. This is always a cold but pleasant trip from western N.Y. Muncie is the home of Ball. They have a great museum which is always on the must see list. Everything is conveniently located to the hotel. Show site is directly across the street from the hotel. We always leave our car in the hotel parking lot and wheel our bottles across the street to the show site.

Great show!

Last year was my first time at the South Attleborro, Massachusetts show. This year it is on January 15th.

It normally would be a 6- hour drive, but heavy snow made it a 12 hour drive.

APRIL 23 - ROCHESTER, NEW YORK The Genessee Valley Bottle Collectors Association’s 37th Show & Sale (Sun. 9 AM - 3 PM) at the ESL Sports Center, 2700 Brighton Henrietta Townline Road, Monroe Community College Campus, Rochester, New York. INFO: Dealer Chariman: AARON & PAM WEBER, PH: (585) 226-6345, E-mail: dealerchair@gvbca.org or Exhibits: CHRIS DAVIS, PH: (315) 331-4078, E-mail: exhibits@gvbca.org or Show Chair: LARRY FOX, PH: (585) 394-8958, E-mail: brerfox@frontiernet.net.

MAY 12-13 - MANSFIELD, OHIO Ohio Bottle Club’s 28th Annual Show & Sale (Sat. 8 AM – 2 PM, early admission Fri. 2 – 6 PM) at the Richland County Fairgrounds, U. S. Rt. 30 Trimble Rd. exit, Mansfield, OH. INFO: RON HANDS, PH: (330) 634-1977, Email: rshands225@yahoo.com.

I really do not care if it takes me 2 days.

This is a great show and I plan on being there.

I hope to make the South River, New Jersey show on February 5th this year. I have heard a lot of good things about this from friends in New Jersey.

The show in Enfield, Connecticut on February 26th is a class act. A lot of my friends set up at this show. It is always a good show with plenty of quality.

The American Legion Post 787 in Cicero, New York is a new location for the Syracuse show (on March 26 th ).

ESBCA kind of outgrew the American Legion they were in and this American Legion is bigger and much easier to find.

Punch it up on Mapquest and you will see it is just off the NYS Thruway. They bought professionally made sandwich signs to mark the way into the show from the thruway. They were excellently done, easy to see and will certainly make it easier for everyone to find the show site This is the third year at the Genessee Valley show has been at the ESL Sports Center in Rochester, N.Y. (April 23rd).

The first show had a few problems, which were expected, being that everything was different. The second year seemed to have

little left to be done to make the show any better. Everyone seemed well pleased with the efforts of the show team. Hold on, I am told changes are being made to make it even better. The motel being offered as show central this year is much nicer than last year. Doug Nicot will once again host Hospitality at the motel.

Two things are needed to make any show a success. Dealers with reasonably priced quality merchandise and buyers willing to pay a fair price for a quality item. In the year 2006 try to meet one of these criteria. If you

To get your show listed in the publication as well as on the website, send at least four months in advance - or as soon as you know the date so it can appear as soon as possible to: Kathy Hopson-Sathe 414 Molly Springs Rd. Hot Springs, AR 71913 E-mail: kathy@thesodafizz.com (423) 737-6710

Shield F - The Mark of Quality Page 13

Collecting...”The Ioway” Hutchinson Soda Bottles Page 44

Bottling Wisdom The Motto Jug Page 52 Brewing in Medford, Oregon Page 47

Collecting the Miniature Advertising Jugs Page 56

FOHBC c/o Ralph Van Brocklin 1021 W. Oakland Avenue, Suite #109 Johnson City, TN 37604

Bottles andExtras

Donnie Medlinʼs World is Pepsi Page 32

Pottery Inks Page 50

Western Whiskey: Saloons & Retail Merchants Page 27

PERIIODICALS

POSTAGE PAID Johnson City, TN 37601