Letters to the Editor

to the Editor

British ad sent in by Dick Sheaff

Advertisement for Fine Flint Glass Bottles

Hi, John,

Here is an item (at left) that I saw recently on eBay. As you see, it is an interesting promotion for a large, 2 1/2 gallon flint glass British bottle.

Best to you,

Dick Sheaff Bethel, Vermont

Editor’s note: That is a very interesting ad. This English glass manufacturer, J. Dunlop Mitchell & Co., must have had a niche market for these large store display bottles. We would love to see one of their bottles!

Unusual Trademarks

Hello John,

In my bottle collection are two crown top spring water bottles with odd embossed trademarks (at left). One bottle is from Crystal Spring Bottling Co., Barnet, Vermont; the other is from Lovers Leap Co., Lynn, Massachusetts. Perhaps the readership could tell me what the odd trademark designs represent.

Thanks,

Peter B. Samuelson Intervale, New Hampshire

Thinking Back, and Thinking Forward

Chief AB&GC Editor Ralph Finch assembles readers’ memories and good wishes. On a recent winter day, Tom Caniff of Steubenville, Ohio, sent this email:

We’re still getting older day by day, but no new problems have appeared that we’ve haven’t had for some time. Trying to stay home as much as possible. Since I’m not actively collecting, just maintaining the remnants of our 46-year accumulation, I don’t miss the bottle shows as such very much, but do miss seeing our surviving friends of long standing, such as Ralph and Janet. I do remember them in my prayers, but that’s not the same as having a chance to sit and visit and complain.

Like everyone else, we’re hoping to see the end of this virus, but truth to tell, everyone dies and in the end it probably doesn’t matter whether the culprit is Crohn’s disease, COPD, or some goofy virus. It’s been a good run.

I think the jar column is going to go under sometime in mid-2021, but I have said that before. I think I’ve just about reached the end on my tether though.

Ralph and Janet, hang in there, and maybe we’ll yet see you at another show.

— Tom and Deena

To Tom and Deena, Ralph replies:

Fifty years of knowing you two … well, the memories of good bottles and much laughter could fill a book.

I remember the day, maybe 35 years ago?, when my house caught on fire and you were the fire chief of Steubenville. I remember calling you and asking if you made home delivery with your trucks. It was extra-coincidental, since we were only hours away from heading off to your Steubenville bottle show.

The coincidences continued. While you are the No. 1 jar historian, Chicago’s Jerry McCann, who had possessed perhaps the No. 1 jar collection in the world, was at my house when the fire broke out (I was at work). No, Jerry didn’t cause the fire and was the one who called the fire department, our fire department.

Yes, so many good memories of so many good people. I just picked up a 1983 copy

to the Editor

of a bottle magazine I wrote for (Antique Bottle World) and there were photos of so many great people: Roy Brown, Norman Heckler, Barry Hogan, John Panek, Jim Mitchell, etc.

And pictures of people now gone: Bill Pollard, Jayne Blaske, Hal Wagner, Jean Garrison. And perhaps one of my favorite photos was when I snapped Charles and Mark Vuono and Paul Richards, all sitting at a picnic table outside of Bob Skinner’s auction house in Bolton, Mass.

Memories …

My suggestion to all collectors: Tomorrow, pick up the phone and call some old friends, and remind them of all the good times we shared. Nothing lasts forever.

Calling the Past

To Mr. Pastor,

Sometime ago I came upon a few wellpreserved Chicago newspapers from 1884. Included here are some pictures of pitched products, including Madam Sonalea's English Milkweed and Nut Oil and The Harden Hand Grenade Fire Extinguisher.

Beginning from the top, I really admired “The Belle of Baltimore” image that graced the ad for Mme. Carroll. This beauty and age-defying product is heavenly described to tempt all wishing for flawless complexions. And who wouldn’t want the best?

I find it comical that a youthful woman was illustrated, as she probably had no need to buy the product. Hopefully she received residuals for her likeness, adding beauty to a topical mixture that couldn’t deliver beauty.

The second picture includes a bit more history to savor. Although there was another Harden Hand Grenade Fire Extinguisher ad in the same paper, and both mention a telephone in service at the sales location, this one actually gives the phone number 660 to call if placing orders. I found this to be fairly sophisticated as early as 1884, but then again, the city of Chicago had to keep up with the times due to influx of business via population.

Jersey Dan Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey

TOP: The Belle of Baltimore ad. ABOVE: The Harden Hand Grenade ad.

Late Delivery of Magazines

Unfortunately, many readers are experiencing late delivery of their magazines. This has impacted both the December as well as January issues. It seems as though timely delivery of the October issue has been impacted as well. We apologize for any delays in delivery that some readers may be experiencing.

We pride ourselves on meeting production deadlines and in delivering each month’s issue to the post office in a timely manner. December, January, as well as this current issue, have been printed and delivered to the post office on schedule. Unfortunately, we have no control once they are in the postal system.

The U.S. Postal Service has the following banner message on their website:

ALERT: USPS IS EXPERIENCING UNPRECEDENTED VOLUME INCREASES AND LIMITED EMPLOYEE AVAILABILITY DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.

Timely magazine delivery is suffering greatly due to the postal delays. We have been in communication with the post office and are working with them to try and mitigate the delivery issues. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience.

— John Pastor