Antique Bottle & Glass Collector by Ferdinand Meyer V

$4.00

May 2020

This Guy Knows His Nebraska Sodas! w PAGE 8 IN THIS ISSUE:

The Story of One Salve Jar w PAGE 12

Crossword Puzzle: Fruit Jars and More w PAGE 19

Mark Vuono Remembered w PAGE 32

Coughs, Colds, and Panaceas w PAGE 40

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

Seeking quality consignments for our 2020 auction schedule!

American Glass Gallery

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

These items and many more, will be included in our upcoming 2020 Auction schedule.

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

VOLUME 37, #1 • May 2020 FRONT COVER:

Accomplished bottle collector, privy digger, and now author, Tom Askjem, stands next to one of his early wagons. In the foreground is an exceptional Heimrod & Co. soda from Omaha. Tom recently completed a beautiful hardbound book on Nebraska Soda Bottles, 1865 - 1930. It is a history book, a reference, and an identification guide. Read all about it beginning on page 8.

Publisher John R. Pastor

In This Issue:

Editors: Ralph Finch Bill Baab Jodi Hall

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

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

ANTIQUE BOTTLE & GLASS COLLECTOR (ISSN 8750-1481) is published monthly by Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, P.O. Box 227, New Hudson, MI 48165-0227. Annual Subscription $35.00 at periodical rates, $49.00 at First-class rates and $4.00 per single copy. Canadian (First-class rate available only) $54.00 (in U.S. Funds). Overseas rates please inquire. Published by Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, PO Box 227, New Hudson, MI 48165-0227. Periodicals Postage is paid at New Hudson MI and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to ANTIQUE BOTTLE & GLASS COLLECTOR, PO Box 227, New Hudson, MI 48165-0227. PH: 248.486.0530; Fax: 248.486.0538, Email: jpastor@americanglassgallery.com, Website: www.americanglassgallery.com. © Copyright 2020 all rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any way without written permission from the publisher.

Heard it through the Grapevine......................................................... 4 Nebraska Sodas, Digging, and a Great New Book............................. 8 The Story of One Salve Jar................................................................ 12 Fruit Jar Rambles: The St. Denis Jars............................................... 17 Crossword Puzzle: Fruit Jars and More............................................ 19 Classified Advertisements................................................................. 22 Show Calendar.................................................................................. 26 An Interview with Mark Vuono........................................................ 29 Mark Vuono Remembered................................................................ 32 Collectors Were Rolling in Antiques................................................ 37 Medicine Chest: Coughs, Colds, and Panaceas............................... 40

Coming in June: Sherry and Pineapple, by Bob Strickhart Saluting Bulkley, Fiske for Liquor Ceramics, by Jack Sullivan Lechauweki Springs to the Coalmine Digs, by Rick Weiner Fruit Jar Rambles: Poison in a Jar, by Tom Caniff Medicine Chest: Age Exceptions, by John Panella and Joe Widman And other very cool stuff! May 2020

LETTERS

to the Editor

Mark Vuono — His Spirit Will Continue Dear Collectors, It’s Sunday, the 29th of March. I just received a call from my good friend, Jimmy Bender, from upstate New York. His call was not the usual back and forth that we have when we talk. In a quiet and somber voice, Jimmy told me that our mutual friend and bottle family member Mark Vuono was shot and killed yesterday in a robbery gone bad in his Stamford, Connecticut, jewelry store. Andrew, Mark’s son wanted us to hear this terrible news from friends rather than the internet or Facebook. I feel sick. In the middle of this corona pandemic, when I didn’t think things could get much worse, I have been proven wrong once again. I made a few calls to some people I thought should know, but I really didn’t want to talk to anyone. Those I spoke with echoed that sentiment. The wind has been taken from our sails. We all hurt badly today and my mind goes to Annie, Andrew and David, who are undoubtedly feeling the impact of this unspeakable, tragic and senseless loss. I can, and will, probably at a later date, tell you many, many funny and happy Mark Vuono stories. Right this moment, there is nothing but grief and an emptiness knowing that our bottle family has suffered this great loss. Perhaps, though, we should all look at each other and remember how much we all mean to one another. This thing I call the bottle family is not just words, it’s real and so is this pain. Dear Mark, rest in peace good friend. Bob Strickhart Pennington, New Jersey

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Tom’s Advice and his Warning A letter from Tom Askjems of North Dakota, who is NOT in denial: “Dear Ralph, “One thing I forgot to mention. I’m not sure how in-depth you plan to get with the story, though thought this may be of interest. “I was digging in Blanchard, North Dakota, after a huge rain in fall of 2016. Mosquitos were very thick. “A few days later I got very sick. I got some bloodwork done and it turned out that I had caught West Nile. I literally thought I was going to die. I was sick for a week and lost about 30 pounds, bringing me down to about 125. “I was digging shortly after the initial illness, though I would get fatigued a bit easier. It took a couple years until I felt back to normal, although I’m digging as hard or harder than I was before. “For what it’s worth, they say I’m now immune to West Nile, so that’s a positive.” Editor’s note: For more information about Tom, the King of Nebraska sodas and a very impressive privy digger, check out his story in this issue, beginning on page 8. And Ralph adds: “I’ve written or edited maybe a thousand articles over the last fifty-plus years, and interviewing Tom about his book and his impressive privy digging history is among my favorites.

Great Article! Dear John, Just a note to express my appreciation of the article, “How Bottles Talk to Us, and the History They Tell Us” in your April issue. Alex Prizgintas teaches a great deal

about milk bottles worth knowing, even if one is not a collector. He also does it in a very professional style. Please extend my congratulations to him. Alex appears to be a young person and one would hope has many more such informative articles in his future. Jack Sullivan Alexandria, Virginia Publisher’s note: Kudos to Alex for his great article. The note above is high praise, especially coming from fellow AB&GC columnist Jack Sullivan.

Picture this, the April Cover Hi, John, Good morning. I just received the April 2020 issue of AB&GC and wanted to offer a few comments: The cover is absolutely stunning! Just when I began thinking that your covers couldn’t possibly get any better, you produce another masterpiece. How you and your team come up with such amazing artwork (and it is artwork) each and every month leaves me speechless. Congratulations on snagging Alex Prizgintas as a writer for AB&GC! Alex has to be one of the most amazing, most gifted writers that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. While I don’t have a personal interest in milk bottles, I found the article fascinating from the first word to the last. Please do your best to keep him “on staff” as a contributor to AB&GC. I’d love to read additional “Tales from Orange County.” Anyway, I very much hope that you, Liz, Libby, Owen and everyone else at AB&GC are doing well and staying healthy. Keep up the great work! Chris Bubash Dayton, Ohio

LETTERS

to the Editor

Give Dan a Charge Regarding this Battery Jar

for ‘railroad,’ so just maybe my battery jar with the SS embossing stands for ‘switch signals’ or vice versa. Again, this is merely speculation at this point. A search on eBay turned up several battery storage jars, and some were embossed with Thomas Edison’s name. I did locate a porcelain Edison Lalande Battery jar completely made of porcelain, marked TYPE RR.

Dear Mr. Pastor, You may recall that I occasionally submit an unusual find that may be of interest to readers of your fine Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine. Pictured is a clear glass cylindrical vessel, 10.75 inches tall by 6.25 inches diameter, made to hold battery acid or copper sulfate for supplying initial low-voltage power to start up various machinery and smaller items requiring electricity to function. The base of this vessel is unmarked and smooth. The top rim has been factory-ground smooth, or rather a sheared look such as on older fruit jar finished rims. Two vertical equidistant side seams suggest the item was pressed in a two-piece mold. These lines carry on to the top rim. There are tiny bubble inclusions throughout much of the glass. About two inches down from the rim are two convex rings running parallel of the circumference. The jar shown, highlighted with black magic marker, reads: EDISON-LALANDE BATTERY TYPE SS PAT. JUNE 17. 1890. OTHER PATENTS PENDING In doing a bit of Google research, I found the listed patent date for an Edison battery container, but not shown in original patent drawings was this particular jar, which originally would have had a lid made of porcelain or another material. No doubt porcelain was best, as it would resist rust, and is not a conductor of electricity such as various metals. Earlier jars may have had a wooden closure, but over time, and if outdoor exposed, could warp, rot or split, to possibly smolder and

burn if something in the jar or connected wiring went awry. Here’s where my research gets a bit interesting. Although not finding a jar marked TYPE SS, such as the pictured example, I did see a version marked TYPE RR. After reading the minuscule patent printing, it was established that some of the battery jars were made for use by various railroads, whereas many others were designed for early electric cars, and various machines of the time. Then I found one sentence in my squinted labor that gave hope to what the “TYPE SS” stood for. The patent mentioned battery storage vessels designed for railroad usage, as well as signal and switch applications, though not as precisely as I have worded it. As stated, I had seen one example similar to mine, only with the letters RR embossed, quite possibly standing

Despite spending several hours of research, I didn’t locate a picture of a jar embossed TYPE SS. Obviously they were originally produced in numbers, but the 1890s were a long time ago, and fewer still have survived. It is also possible that Edison soon chose to drop the term TYPE SS, as TYPE RR facilitated covering the general descriptions of railroad-required low voltage battery storage containers. If this jar does stand for ‘switch signals,’ it would not only appeal to battery storage jar collectors, but to railroad memorabilia aficionados as well. If anyone can shed further light upon this historical vessel, please do so to further the knowledge of glass collectors in general. Dan Desmarais (aka Jersey Dan) Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey

ATTENTION READERS: Due to COVID-19 precautions, a number of upcoming bottle shows have been postponed or cancelled. Please check with show chairmen to see if your favorite shows are affected. We will have further updates in future issues.

May 2020

Heard it through the

Grapevine Puzzled by What to do During the Coronavirus Quarantine? Why not put together a bottle puzzle? This 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle titled “Colorful Bottles” is put out by the Ravensburger Puzzle Co. of Germany. It can be found online at various retailers, including Amazon, Target and eBay, as well as direct from the Ravensburger website. Now, if we could only find the bottles in these colors! Puzzled? Wikipedia offers this history: “Jigsaw puzzles were originally created by painting a picture on a flat, rectangular piece of wood, and then cutting that picture into small pieces. Despite it being called a jigsaw, a jigsaw was never actually used to cut it. John Spilsbury, a London cartographer and engraver, is credited with commercializing jigsaw puzzles around 1760.” In today’s world, there are 3-D puzzles as well as computer-generated puzzles. The most expensive puzzle to date was sold for $27,000 in 2005 at a charitable auction. Now, here’s a more complete picture of Ravensburger, a Gerrman game and toy company, publishing house and market leader in the European jigsaw puzzle market. The company was founded by Otto Robert Maier in Ravensburg, and he began publishing in 1883. He started publishing instruction folders for craftsmen and architects, and his first board game appeared in 1884, named “Journey Around the World.” In September 2010, Ravensburger set a record for the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle of 24,000 pieces. Ravensburger’s current largest puzzle is “Memorable Disney Moments” with 40,320 pieces! FYI: “Jig-Saw Puzzle” is a song by the Rolling Stones on their 1968 album Beggars Banquet. RIGHT: The British Library adds this about the Spilsbury jigsaw: “Europe divided into its kingdoms, etc. Believed to be the first purpose-made jigsaw puzzle. Map pasted onto board and dissected along country boundaries to make an educational jigsaw puzzle. In fifty pieces, of which four (for Scotland, the Channel, the Netherlands, and Corsica & Sardinia) are missing, and that for the Gulf of Finland is damaged. Lid of box contains reduced copy of map and incomplete handwritten label.”

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Heard it through the

Grapevine

Note the shipping box I got at an auction just a few days ago. And it sure wasn’t cheap!

A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of … Toilet Paper?* No Kidding Our Ralph Finch rhapsodizes about the bottom line. If you turn on the TV news or pick up a newspaper, the No. 1 conversation is the coronavirus (no one wants it), and the No. 2 topic, if you’ll pardon the bad pun, is toilet paper (everyone wants it). Regarding the health issue, the Finches feel fine. And since we are well stocked with food and toilet paper and as long as the pizza delivery man doesn’t get sick, we are GREAT! (The important thing is to not run out of toilet paper before you run out of food.) And, as the world goes to hell in a handbasket, my handbasket overflows with 48 examples of antique rolls of toilet paper! Some have interesting names, like Edelweis (remember the Sound of Music?), and some have bird names, like Bob White (perfect for Finches?), and some have Indian names like Iroquois, and Seminole (which now cost more than a

buck, if you buy one, you can’t return it: that would make you an Indian-giver). Or the President (where the buck does stop?) And Mecca (do you have to face East to use this?) or Japanese, when you face west?

*As Omar Khayyam wrote in The Rubaiyat, around 1120 A.C.E.. And one wonders what he used for toilet paper? In the past, grass, leaves, sponges, linen, cotton, scraps of paper, and, of course, corn cobs were used.

A couple are new, like Grand Hotel, from Michigan’s Mackinac Island. A few of the old ones have colorful names, like Pink Roll and Golden. And two Crosses, both White and Blue.

And there is a video, called “A Brief History of Toilet Paper,” which can be found on the internet.

And Wizard, when it might take a wish by a genie to unplug your plumbing, or Six Flags, that you can wave when you think you are done, or Stop when you really are done?

Advertising and stoneware collector Steve Ketcham of Minnesota recently wrote:

Or the Santa Fe, when your caboose is backed up, or Giant, when you are facing a big job. A couple are royal, for use on the throne: Empress and Windsor (as in the castle). And how about the Champion, for when you are facing a big challenge? I even have two small rolls that might be salesman samples.

r “Congratulations to Ralph Finch. I see what you did there, Ralph. You built a collection of toilet paper in historic proportions long before the rest of us thought of it. Well played, Ralph. Well played.” And I confessed: “I am waiting until the demand peaks, then put ‘em out on eBay at $100 a roll, limit of two per customer. Man, I’ll be flushed with money!” PS: In a week, I turn 80. I never expected such a wonderful life, in large part to the hobby and Janet. May 2020

The Collection of Russell & Doris Evitt

Coming Soon! Select Auction 187: An Exceptional Group of Historical Flasks, Bitters, Early Glass, Inks & More

Heckler 6

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

www.hecklerauction.com | 860-974-1634 79 Bradford Corner Road, Woodstock Valley, CT 06282

Europe’s leading specialising salesroom for Antique Bottles, Pot Lids, Advertising & Breweriana

R B B R B B R B B R B B Is temporarily AUCTIONS AUCTIONS AUCTIONS AUCTIONS

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BBR’s office doors might be closed - ut we’re busy lining up goodies for the BIG bounce back. For updates watch BBR Auctions on FB & on forums April 19 Lined upmineral - ready musings.... for the off?

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sales@onlinebbr.com www.onlinebbr.com

BBR, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Nr Barnsley, S. Yorks., S74 8HJ t: 01226 745156 e: sales@onlinebbr.com www.onlinebbr.com May 2020

The author, Tom Askjem, proudly holds a copy of his new book, Nebraska Soda Bottles.

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

“I’ve been digging 100-150 privies per year. I figure I’ve dug roughly 1,100 since I was about 14. I still live on the family farm where I dug my first privy.”

Nebraska Soda Bottles? Kool! And here is the whole story behind them Reviewed by Ralph Finch “Ralph, please evaluate this book. It’s on Nebraska soda bottles.” Darn. I hate this. Sure, I’ve done it before, several times before, actually, but I’m always nervous. See, I’m an old newspaper man, and despite what the orange guy in the White House says, I’ve never imagined “fake news.” Always, it was the search of truth. Sadly, many hobby books have been published by collectors who had a plan, but with no idea and no skill to make the results worth anyone’s interest, or money, or worth cutting down a tree to make wood pulp for paper. Many were too boring to be readable. Of course, there are those books that have become classics, must-haves in the libraries of any serious collector. This book stands out. OK, so here we go. First: I know nothing about Nebraska. It’s somewhere in the middle of nowhere, reachable by Conestoga wagons. So I decided to Google it just to get a little background information. Wikipedia revealed: Nebraska was admitted as the 37th state in 1867. Hmmmm. There must be old bottles. And “Kool-Aid was created in 1927 by Edwin Perkins in the city of Hastings, which celebrates the event the second weekend of every August with Kool-Aid Days, and Kool-Aid is the official soft drink of Nebraska.” Double hmmmmm.

The book under our focus today is Nebraska Soda Bottles, 1865-1930, by Tom Askjem of Buxton, North Dakota. (Buxton, FYI, has a population of 323 people, including Tom.) Of his publication, Tom noted, it “is meant to be a history book, a reference book, and an identification guide.” And, thank goodness, it is readable!

On the bottles, Tom noted: “The earliest embossed sodas bottled from Nebraska are from the bottling works of Ed. C. Erfling. He started his bottling works in in Omaha City, in Nebraska Territory, in 1865. This book covers everything from that point up to 1930, and is meant to be a history book, a reference book, and an identification guide.”

In it, we discover this about Tom: “I started digging and collecting bottles behind my parents’ 1898 farmhouse outside of Buxton.” Tom began digging privies at the age of 14. He is now 28 years old. “I mainly collect early soda bottles from the Dakotas and surrounding states. I also collect wagons, buggies and sleighs from the homestead era. I’ve got one wagon that still has the original paint on it, including the pinstripe design on the spokes.”

And the G. Heimrod & Co. bottles date from 1869-74. “His bottles come in aqua, dark amber (nearly black glass) and ‘straw yellow.’ I believe there are roughly five of the dark amber blobs known and only one intact in ‘straw yellow.’ I was told there were some broken pieces of other straw yellow ones found, though.”

I asked the obvious question: Does he own a Conestoga wagon? Tom explained: “My dream has always been to find an original covered wagon for my collection. I’ve asked some historians in the area about them. It seems around here most of the covered wagons that carried the homesteaders in were simply farm wagons that were renovated for cross-country travel. They were then likely turned back into farm wagons after the homesteaders reached their destination.”

“There are maybe five Erflings known. I believe they may be the only Nebraska sodas that could date back to Territorial times. Though they aren’t embossed with ‘Territory,’ the bottles are very crude. Ed bottled from 1865-69.” The book lists 187 companies from 69 towns both large and small, but Tom adds: “I do not believe there are any ghost-town sodas known from Nebraska.” There are 321 full-color, high-quality images of bottles in the book. Nearly every bottle was photographed in a photography studio by a professional photographer. There were countless hours put into this book. May 2020

“Not including photography time, phone time and travel time back and forth from North Dakota to Nebraska, I figure I have over 1,000 hours just into research. Even though the bottles were photographed against a white background, I had to go into Photoshop and cut each bottle out, eliminating the background. It took about 15-20 minutes per bottle in the beginning, though I learned some techniques and got it down to about 3-5 minutes per bottle.” Tom also tallies 42 flavors and brands found in Nebraska. Among my favorite flavors: Banana Champagne, Crab Apple Cider, and Pear Cider. (But no mention of Kool-Aid!) Your reviewer’s favorite brand? Little Daisy. Tom explained: “I wish I knew more about ‘Little Daisy.’ I imagine it was a brand, though I’m not sure. It was advertised at George Burgess’s Bottling Works in Arapahoe.” He also admitted that there is no reference to Nebraska’s connection with KoolAid. “I actually didn’t know about it although – unless it was before 1930 – I likely wouldn’t have mentioned it. I only wanted to cover up to 1930, based mostly off of my interests.” And how are sodas doing? Tom admits that “the Nebraska bottle market is a bit soft in spots, though there are some bottles that I consider to have ‘national appeal.’ Prices range from $10-$20 for some common crown tops, up to thousands for some of the earliest blob tops. In my opinion, the best bottles in the book are from Ed. C. Erfling and from G. Heimrod & Co.” OK, while Tom is king of Nebraska sodas, what else does he do? He explains: “I’m a full-time digger when the weather allows. I’ve been digging 100-150 privies per year. I figure I’ve dug roughly 1,100 since I was about 14. I still live on the family farm where I dug my first privy. I don’t have any kids and my car is paid

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

for, so I don’t have much overhead cost, allowing me to dig full time when the ground isn’t frozen around here. I’ve traveled to warmer areas in the winter to dig, though lately I’ve taken the down-time to work on bottle books. I have a North Dakota soda book that should be finished by spring. “I’ve dug bottles in eight different states, literally from coast to coast. I’ve dug privies from Cape-style houses of Eastport, Maine, to an abandoned California gold rush camp. I spent part of a winter digging Galveston, Texas. My main focus though, is the Dakotas. When I dig the Dakotas, I can usually stay within a reasonable driving distance from home. Anything further than a couple hours away I’ll camp if the weather isn’t too cold. “While on digging trips, I’ve camped in downpouring rain, I’ve camped with near in-line winds, where the pop-up tent was literally blown down flat on top of me. I’ve also camped without being able to shower for days, waking up with dirt clods on my pillow from my hair.

PHOTOS: PREVIOUS PAGE: TOP: “This is a picture of me in one of the deepest privies I’ve dug. It was behind an early 1870s Victorian home in South Dakota. It was found with bricks in shape, though it was loaded with nightsoil and bottomed out around 12 feet.” BOTTOM: Tom poses with “one of my wagons. This is not the one with all original paint, though. The all-original is in the back of my parents’ pole barn with a lot of vehicles and other stuff surrounding it. THIS PAGE: TOP: Tom explains: “I imagine (‘Little Daisy’ ) was a brand, though am not sure. It was advertised at George Burgess’s Bottling Works in Arapahoe.” BOTTOM LEFT: The Heimrod bottles date from 1869-1874. They’re the second earliest type of Nebraska soda. The “straw yellow” example is the only intact example known, “though pieces of others have been found,” Tom explains. BOTTOM RIGHT: There are roughly five Erfling sodas known. “They’re the earliest Nebraska sodas and date back from 1865-1869,” says Tom.

“The deepest I’ve dug is about thirty feet. The pit turned out to be an old homestead well. The deepest privy I’ve dug is about twelve feet. This is a picture of me in one of the deepest privies I’ve dug. It was behind an early 1870s Victorian in South Dakota. It was found-brick in shape, though was loaded with night soil and bottomed out around twelve feet.” And, now the bottom line. I liked the book. Well done, Tom, well done.

r Editor’s note: The book, hard-bound with 111 pages and glossy paper, can be purchased for $65, with free shipping. PayPal or a check by mail is fine. Tom says: “My Paypal is Thomas.Askjem@gmail.com.” Checks can be mailed to Tom Askjem, 16813 16th St. NE, Buxton, ND 58218. For more information, contact thomas. Askjem@gmail.com; his phone number is 701-864-0126. May 2020

An early image of the author digging for bottles and other treasures.

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

The Story of One Salve Jar

Based on a true story, The One Salve Jar is an excerpt from my book, The Field Guide to American Trash. It is my hope that this book introduces new diggers and divers to the great hobby of bottle collecting, and reinvitorates some who have given up, thinking there’s not still great treasure to be found out there. There are pontiled bottles still in dumps, privies, and rivers just waiting for you! By Bram Hepburn

May 2020

n 1855, along a small river in Marston, New Hampshire, a family by the name of Foster had a log cabin-type “factory” where they manufactured some of the first American-made glass bottles by hand. They would toil away, blowing molten glass into cast iron molds, and use pontil rods and fine glassworking tools to create utilitarian and medicinal bottles for their customers. The Foster family was well-known for their bottle-making business, but they could never have known that each bottle they were making would be worth hundreds of dollars to collectors of Stoddard bottles a century and a half later! One of these jars created there in Stoddard, New Hampshire, was part of an order from a Boston customer. The jar was packed into a wooden crate along with dozens of other empty jars, loaded into a horse-drawn wagon, and arrived days later at an apothecary supply store in Boston.

When Dr. Green arrived back home in Portsmouth a few days later, he told his stockboy to unload the wagon, and stock up the shelves with the new inventory. The filled salve jars then sat on the mapletop counter at the front of the store, in neat little rows. At about that same moment, behind a two-story barn over in Exeter, about ten miles from Portsmouth, a white-bearded farmer was repairing a loose horseshoe on his plow horse. In haste, he whacked the side of his thumb, and let out a holler. It was mid-July, and there was no ice to be found anywhere (unless he wanted to wait fifty years).

At the Boston apothecary, a doctor proprietor had a small vat of a waxy yellow salve made of chickweed and chamomile. It was his secret recipe, and he swore by the results. The jar, along with the others, was carefully filled with the salve, sealed with a cork, and then topped with wax. Next, an impressive-looking paper label was wrapped around and pasted to the jar. Then the jar was set out with the rest of the jars, in an open warehouse with dark shelves that were stocked with other medicinal supplies. Meanwhile, Dr. Benjamin Greene of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, had taken the two-day trip by horse and buggy down from the New Hampshire seacoast to Boston, to stock up on supplies for his drugstore back north. Once in Boston, he’d load up his wagon with what he needed, including a dozen jars of salve, in the jars that were handblown in the glasshouse up in Stoddard, New Hampshire.

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

cut thumb. He walked right into Dr. Green’s pharmacy as soon as he got into town, and asked the doc for advice. The farmer showed him his thumb and the doc gave him a jar of the medicinal salve, the one in the jar from Stoddard, New Hampshire, via Boston. The farmer applied some salve right away, and got a bit of immediate relief. When he got back to Exeter, he added another dose. During the next few days, he wound up using the rest of the salve, and tossed the empty jar into the wooden trash barrel, just off the back of his porch. He would usually empty that wooden trash barrel every Sunday morning on the way to church. He would load his wife and kids into the family horse carriage and lift the wooden trash barrel onto the back flat panel of the carriage. On the way down their dirt driveway, there was a spot at the corner of the property, where he would dump the week’s trash over the edge of the rock wall, adding to a pile. He practiced this same trash routine for about ten years, until the pile became unsightly, and they stopped. Instead, they began to haul the weekly family trash down to a village dumping area where it would be burned during the damp season.

The homestead was newly built, and there were no first aid supplies to speak of in the kitchen. The farmer sat down on a stump behind the barn, deciding whether or not he could continue plowing the field. He put in another hour, but that was all he could stand. He watered the horse, and went into the shade of his farmhouse, and fell asleep as the sun set, despite his throbbing thumb.

That pile of trash behind the rock wall at the farmer’s house stayed right there at the edge of his field, year after year. Leaves fell each autumn, and the discarded waste and tin cans in the pile began to rot and rust. The dump pile slowly, decade by decade, began to get shorter and compressed by gravity. It was gradually covered by six inches of a century of fallen leaves. Eventually you could barely tell that anything had ever been dumped there. Pretty much the only things that hadn’t decomposed and disappeared were the glass bottles, including that little Stoddard-made salve jar.

In the morning he decided to ride his horse over to Portsmouth for supplies, including something for his swollen and

Life in America moved on. Lincoln was assassinated. The Industrial Revolution, WWI, WWII, The Beatles, and 9/11 all

A look at the final edit of the book cover.

shook the world. But the little jar never moved an inch.

Then one morning, more than a century later, I’m in my apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. I had been a bottle collector and a bottle digger since I was a kid, but life had become too busy, and it had been some time since my last dig. I didn’t really have time for a hobby. But I laid in bed and realized I needed to get out of the city and go out to the country and go bottle digging, for old times’ sake. I drove up Route 95 towards Portsmouth, less than an hour away. I randomly took an exit marked Exeter, New Hampshire, and headed towards some open farmland. I saw an old abandoned farm at the edge of a field, with a rock wall leading into the woods. At the spot where the wall entered the forest, along an old dirt path, I saw the remnants of some old buckets, and a few metal rings from old wooden barrels, sticking up out of the leaves. I began to dig with my potato rake, and started finding a great-looking batch of very old bottles, one after another. After about twenty minutes, I reached my gloved hand down into the hole that I’d dug, and pulled up the most beautiful, twelve-sided, olive green, hand-blown salve jar you’ve ever seen! It had been laying there waiting for me for 150 years, and the last person who touched it before me was a white-bearded farmer with a badly cut thumb.

The long-forgotten salve jar.

May 2020

R E N O 2 02 0

FOHBC RENO NATIONAL ANTIQUE BOTTLE CONVENTION WESTERN REGION

Thursday, July 30 - Sunday, August 2, 2020 Antique Bottle Show & Sales, Bottle Competition, Early Admission, Seminars, Displays, Awards Banquet, Membership Breakfast, Bowling Competition, Silent Auction, Raffle, Children’s Events and more... $5 General Admission Saturday and Sunday half day

Go to FOHBC.org for hotel booking information, schedule and dealer contracts. Hotel rooms will go fast!

Richard & Bev Siri (Show Chairs) rtsiri@sbcglobal.net

Eric McGuire (Seminars, Keynote Speaker) etmcguire@comcast.net

Max Bell (Displays) maxbell1205@gmail.com Warren Friedrich (Show Treasurer) warrenls6@sbcglobal.net

Ferdinand Meyer V (Marketing & Advertising) fmeyer@fmgdesign.com

TEAM RENO

Info: FOHBC.org

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Gina Pellegrini (Event Photographer) angelina.pellegrini@gmail.com

Fruit Jar Rambles Extra By Tom Caniff — Photos by Deena Caniff

THE ST. DENIS JARS The pint in Photo 1 is listed as #3080 in the RED BOOK. It stands 5 1/2” tall with its all-glass screw cap, and its raised lines give an overall rectangular design, except for the 3/4” clear band around the middle for the label. There are two “dimples” in the cap to receive a wire bail, but I have never seen one with any evidence that a bail was actually used. This smooth-lipped jar was obviously a later item, and it’s not terribly uncommon. The label reads only “St. Denis Bath Crystals,” with no company name or address. This jar was featured in the August 2003 Fruit Jar Rambles, and at that time nothing was known or could be found relating to either the jar nor the company that produced the “St. Denis Bath Salts.” But the internet is constantly expanding our knowledge and our potential for ferreting out facts from years past. The hunt resumed almost ten years later, and we were fortunate enough to find the ad in Figure A, featuring our glass screw cap jar, which ran in May 1828, in both the DAILY ARGUS, of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., and THE PELHAM (New York) SUN. The ad reads, “St. Denis Bath Salts,” available in the “Odors” of Jasmin, Chypre, Rose, and Narcisse, packed “In charming crystal barrel containers that have many uses after the contents are gone.” Jerry McCann, of Chicago, found the design-patent jar in Photo 2. The rectangular grid-pattern design of this jar is reminiscent of the earlier glass-screw cap jar, but this one has a black metal screw cap lettered “St. Denis.” Its base is embossed ST DENIS PAT PENDING. The pictured jar stands about 4 1/2” tall, and Jerry says that the antique shop had another, slightly larger jar of the same design and closure that took a slightly larger

screw cap. This is one of those designpatent jars for which no patent registration has been found, although it obviously fits in that category. Again, through luck and diligent searching, we came up with the ad in Figure B, which appeared in the OAKLAND (California) TRIBUNE on December 17, 1930. Capwell, Sullivan & Furth, “The Store With The Christmas Spirit,” offered “St. Denis Bath Salts Sets” for 79¢, which included the jar of St. Denis Bath Salts, Bath Powder, and Soap. We were also able to learn that the “Parfumerie St. Denis” was established by Irving Veith, East 21st Street, New York, in 1921, launching a range of appealing perfume fragrances. The SYRACUSE (New York) HERALD, on Aug. 29, 1924, carried the first mention we found for “St. Denis Bath Salts,” with the 75¢ size selling at Hunter’s for 59¢. Irving Veith’s use of the St. Denis name may have been inspired by either Ruth Saint Denis, a popular modern dance pioneer of the period, or by St. Denis, the patron saint of France, who was martyred shortly after 250 AD. It always helps to have an easily remembered, popular name associated with your company, and the martyred St. Denis’s French connection would have fit in well with fancy perfumes, cosmetics, and such. Americans have long over-appreciated products made, or thought to be made, abroad, such as French champagne, German mustard, Spanish olives, English marmalade, and such. Photo 3 shows yet another bath crystal (salts) jar, clear, 4 1/2” tall, with a squarequilted design in the glass. The square jar has the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company’s HA logo on the base, and its closure is basically the same black metal “St. Denis” screw cap as found on jar number 2.

PHOTO 1: Glass screw-cap St. Denis Bath Salts jar.

FIGURE A: A 1928 ad featuring the St. Denis "Crystal Barrel" jar.

Its label reads, “St. Denis Bath Crystals Printed In U.S.A., with a sticker for “Les Fleurs de Jasmin” on the base. The Parfumerie St. Denis filed papers with the U. S. Patent Office on March 26, 1925, for a trademark for the words ST. DENIS in a particular arrangement, unlike that found on the above label or May 2020

Fruit Jar Rambles Extra By Tom Caniff — Photos by Deena Caniff

Quality and Quantity as in bottles at 75¢” for only 25¢. Thirteen different fragrances were listed, including Jasmine. Was the “Paris” mention legitimate or only advertising hype? We’re not sure, as pursuing the Paris connection has garnered no results. In July 1926, St. Denis Bath Crystals were being offered by Gimbel’s in a new round Special Package that was probably cardboard, but bath salts continued to be available in glass jars, bags, and “cartridges.” And in February 1931, St. Denis Bath Salts were available in an “Attractive water bottle of iridescent glass and individual tumbler to match,” as a “Night Set.”

PHOTO 2: ST. DENIS design-patent jar.

lid. The description of the company’s

FIGURE B: 1930 ad featuring the ST. DENIS design-patent jar of bath salts.

products listed Face Powders, Face Creams, Toilet Waters, Perfumes, Deodorizing Preparations, and Bath Salts. Then on July 26, 1925, the SAN ANTONIO (Texas) LIGHT ran an ad for the Joske Bros. Co., which carries the first found suggestion of an international connection. “St. Denis Paris – New York Bath Salts” were now being sold in bags wrapped in glassine paper, the “Same

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Then on Feb. 6, 1936, the SYRACUSE (New York) JOURNAL announced that, “Stricken with a heart attack, Irving Veith, 47, of 885 Park Ave., died yesterday in a taxicab while riding to his office, 452 Fifth Ave. He was vice president and treasurer of the Parfumerie St. Denis Company. Unmarried, he lived with his brother-in-law, Richard F. Trental, president of the firm.” The NEW YORK (N.Y.) POST, of February 5th, stated that the Parfumerie St. Denis had a factory at 48 East Twenty-first Street, and also identified Dr. Francis Koenigsberger, a cousin, as another company vice-president. So, we learn more about the company at his death than has been found in searching the previous fifteen years. The last ad found for the company was in the BINGHAMTON (New York) PRESS, on May 15, 1940, for St. Denis Bath Salts and St. Denis Toiletries, offered by Hamlin’s Drug and Toiletries. Whether there was a real French affiliation or not, possibly the death of Irving Veith accelerated the demise of at least the New York branch of the Parfumerie St. Denis. In any case, we lost the

PHOTO 3: Square-quilted design jar for ST. DENIS bath crystals.

company at this point, and I suspect that our featured jars 1 and 2 will remain the company’s main attractions as far as jar collectors are concerned.

Americans have long overappreciated products made, or thought to be made, abroad, such as French champagne, German mustard, Spanish olives, English marmalade, …

Fruit Jars and More

May 2020

Special Offer - Price Reduction!

Diggers, Get It All!!

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

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

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John Keating P.O. Box 13255 Olympia, WA 98508 360-628-9576 johnkeating473@yahoo.com 20

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The Spring Antiques & Bottle Show Presented by Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc

Sunday, May 17, 2020 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Rain or Shine event Batsto Village Wharton State Forrest Hammonton, NJ 08037 For information: Harry Rheam (856) 768-1532 (hcrheam@gmail.com)

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Please don't forget to use your 60-Word FREE classified ad credit in the magazine. Email, or "snail-mail" your ad to us! Libby@AmericanGlassGallery.com P.O. Box 227 New Hudson, MI 48165

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Any old Medicine or Pharmacy Bottles from Columbus, Georgia or Phenix City, Alabama May 2020

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For Sale d FELLOW COLLECTORS/DEALERS: Please include a name and phone number with your advertisements. Not everyone has a computer, and an address does help. FOR SALE: Cobalt Blue!! American Eagle. Tobacco Works. Detroit Michigan. Jar is in perfect, pristine condition with original lid. Some minor lip chips from the factory grinding process. Rich cobalt blue color with strong embossing ... $6,800. Contact me for pictures or information. BOB KENNERKNECHT, 941-460-3245. sunburst4me@gmail.com 5/20

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

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FOR SALE: Antique and vintage bottles for sale..NY, NJ, & PA.., all types..milks sodas beers medicines, etc. Call or email. EDDIE, doubledestats 7055@gmail.com Phone: 845-430-7965. 5/20 FOR SALE: Old Bottles - $2.00, 3 for $5.00. All types - beers, sodas, medicines. Some fruit & milks. No Hutch's or Blob Tops - you can restock for flea markets or bottle showers. STEVE SHOWERS, 651-380-2698 or 651-380-2699. 5/20 FOR SALE: Currently downsizing my bottle collection. I have a lot of random med bottles, flasks, inkwells and stoneware. Send email if interested. Let me know what you're looking for. DREW ZAMBELLA, Antiqueglass11@gmail.com 5/20

FOR SALE: Hundreds of Painted Labels and Embossed Sodas and Wooden Cases. Send for list. 400 Old Canning Jars, Lids Covers, Books, Openers. 50 year collection. All must go. No room. Send for list. JOHN HUMPHREY, PhoneL 607-639-2470. 187 Hunt Rd, Afton NY 13730. 5/20

Shows, Shops & Services d FELLOW COLLECTORS/DEALERS: Please include a name and phone number with your ads. Not everyone has a computer, and an address does help. Thanks. 12/18

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VISIT THE MUSEUM OF THE MOUNTAIN WEST in Montrose, CO. Runner Up to the Top Western Museums in the U.S. Also contains the largest collections of "Patent Medicines" in the U.S. in original labeled containers / bottles. Also visit 25 original buildings moved on to the grounds, many furnished. website: museumofthemountainwest.org Phone: 970-240-3400. 5/20 VISIT THE NATIONAL BOTTLE MUSEUM and see a collection of over 2,000 bottles dating from the 1700s to a few years ago. Learn about bottle manufacturing from the handmade era 5/20 to modern day.

When in the Four Corners, look for bottles at the TRADITIONAL CHARM ANTIQUE MALL IN DOLORES, COLORADO, and at PRAIRIE DOG ANTIQUES NEAR CORTEZ, COLORADO. Call DOUG, 970-560-6500 or LINDA, 970-560-4682. 6/20 Calling all New Englanders, COME JOIN THE LITTLE RHODY BOTTLE CLUB! Visit us online at littlerhodybottleclub.org (all lower case) or rhodeislandbottleclub. com. Come to our Club meetings the 2nd Tuesday of every month at the Pontiac Free Library, 101 Greenwich Ave, Warwick, RI. Call Bill Rose at 508-880-4929. 6/20

On Sunday May 3, 2020, the Mohawk Valley Antique Bottle Club will host its 26TH ANNUAL UTICA BOTTLE SHOW & SALE at the Utica Maennerchor, 5535 Flanagan Road, Marcy, NY 13403. For information, contact PETER BLEIBERG at (315) 735-5430 or by email at pmbleiberg@ aol.com. www.mohawkvalleybottleclub.com 5/20

Wanted d

DON'T MISS THE DELMARVA ANTIQUE BOTTLE CLUB SHOW AND SALE, Sunday, May 17, 9 am-3 pm; (Dealer Setup: Sunday 7 am-9 am) at the Ellendale Fire Hall, 302 Main Street, Ellendale, DE. Admission $3.00. No early buyers. Antique Bottles, Milk Bottles, Insulators, Fruit Jars, Advertising, Breweriana, Small antiques, Stoneware and Tabletop Collectibles. Dealer loading and unloading at back of building - ground level!! Large Club Display!! ****FREE APPRAISALS*** For additional Info: KEITH FLEMING, 13798 Emerald Pine Rd., Ellendale, DE 19941 PH: 1-302-6848138. Email JohnKeithFleming@gmail.com 5/20

WANTED: U.S.A. Hospital Dept. and any pre-1866 embossed food bottles, mustards, early Baltimore, Wheeling, D.C., Alexandria sodas, beers (stoneware or glass) damage free. BRUCE, cwaddic@yahoo.com Phone: 703307-7792. 12/20

Always Some Bottle and Collectible Action Here! SHORE ANTIQUE CENTER, 413 Allen Avenue, Allenhurst, NJ 07711, 732-531-4466. art1960@aol.com www.shoreantiquecenter.com 5/20

WANTED: Hobbleskirt embossed Coca-Cola bottles: 1915's, 1923's, D-Patent's 6oz's and 6 1/2 oz's. Collector will buy or trade. JIM GEORGES, georges77@twcny.rr.com or 315-662-7729. 7/21

WANTED: Clarke's Vegetable Sherry Wine Bitters, Sharon, Mass & Rockland, ME. All bottle sizes & variants. Thank you. CHARLIE MARTIN, 781-248-8620. cemartinjr@comcast.net 5/20 WANTED: GEORGE OHR CABINS. Or Cabin Inks. BOB TERRY, 303-569-2502. llterryualusa@yahoo.com 9/20 WANTED: Old OWL DRUG Co. bottles, tins, boxes, paper, anything/everything from the Owl Drug Company. Paying TOP DOLLAR. MARC LUTSKO, Email: letsgo@montanasky.net PO Box 97, Libby MT 59923. 5/20

WANTED: EMBOSSED CURES WANTED: Including these pontils: Avery's, Benson's, Bernard's, Brown's, Bull's, Burt's, Cannon's, Flander's, Frambe's Geoghegan's, Hamilton's, Jacob's, Lay's, McAdoo's, McElroy's, Parham's, Rhodes' Prov. R.I., Rohrer's, Rudolph's, Star-in's, Stone's, Toledo, Woodman's. ALSO BIMALS: Anchor, Bavarian Bitters, Beesting, Bixler's, Bliss, Boot's Indigestion, Bowanee, Bower's, Bradford's, Bromo Mineral, Bronson's, Bull's (Baltimore), Carey's CholiCura, Clement's Certain (green), Collins' Opium (aqua), Cook's Turpentine, Cowan's Certain, Davis Indian, Detchon's Infallible, Edelweiss, Electrofluid, Ewer's Arcanum, Forest Pine (unpontiled), Francisco's, Frog Pond 8", Green's King's Cure, Large Handyside's (chocolate amber), Helmer's, Hilleman's, Hinderman's, Holden's (green), Hungarian, Indian Mixture, JBF, Kauffman Phthisis, Keeley's (opium, neurotine, solution), Large Kellum's, Kid-Nee-Kure, Lenape's, Lindley's, Long's Malaria, Loryea (green), Marsden, McConnon Cough, Amber McLean's (8"), Miniotti's (clear), Morning Glory, Murphy K & L. Pageapfel's, Park's (clear), Peck's, Pennock's, Peterman's (green), Rattail, large River Swamp, Riverview, Scott's (bird), Streetman's, Struble's (aqua), Tremaine's, Universal, Vosburgh, Wadsworth (goat), Warner's K & L Rochester (green, aqua, clear), Wildwest, Wilkinson's, Wilson Footrot, Winan's (no Indian), York Corn Cure. Looking for many others, especially embossed with label, contents, box. Also would like data on unlisted cures for future Cure Book. JOHN WOLF, 937-275-1617. ohcures@yahoo.com 1186 Latchwood Ave., Dayton, OH 45405. 12/20 WANTED: Charley Ross Bottles; New Bedford, MA Bottles & Stoneware, Trade Cards and Matchcovers. Also New Bedford MA Souvenir China. RON TETRAULT, 508-999-0275. arjaytee777@gmail.com 5/20 WANTED: Buying collections of quality antique bottles, including flasks, bitters, sodas, medicines, etc. MATT LACY, 440228-1873. info@antiquebottlesales.com 5/20 May 2020

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WANTED: McQuade Utica NY liquor bottles. SUE YOUNG, 315-724-2778. 6/20 WANTED: Paying $2000 for amber or unusual colored Wisconsin strapped-sided Flasks. Let me know what you have. Also looking for Wisconsin Whiskey advertisement especially Peter Barth - Milwaukee advertisement or signs. JOE WHEELER, 715-572-9810. llnur@uniontel.net PO Box 232 Plainfield WI 54966. 5/20 WANTED: Harley bottles of West Chester, Pa. and Philadelphia, Pa. The West Chester bottles display either J. Harley or James Harley. The Phila. Bottles display Edwd Harley, Schul (Schuylkill) 4th & Market St., Philada (Philadelphia) or E. Harley, 802 Market St or E. Harley, West Market St. These two bottling businesses operated in the 1840s through the early 1880s. BOB HARLEY, Phone: 215-721-1107. Email: rwh220@yahoo.com 12/20 WANTED: Buffalo, NY & Lockport, NY stoneware and bottles. Also, Buffalo beer trays and advertising signs. PETER JABLONSKI, 12489 Hunts Corners Rd, Akron, NY, 14001. Ph: 716-440-7985. 12/20 WANTED: Connecticut drug store, pharmacy or apothecary bottles. Embossed or labeled. We collect, research and document Connecticut drug stores. STEVE POULIOT, 860-608-7208, steve@ctbottleman.com 12/20 WANTED: H. & J. F. Meyer / New York, aqua soda bottle. DAVID RAKES, 352-8175136 call or text. Barakes123@gmail.com 5/20 WANTED: Native Southern Californian still needs the sample bottle embossed, "FIRST WATER FROM LOS ANGELES AQUADUCT NOV. 5th 1913." It celebrated the opening of the 235 mile aquaduct from Owens Valley to L.A. and spawned one of the most aggressive growth spurts ever! MARTY VOLLMER, martyvollmer@aol.com Phone: 803.629.8553. 6/20

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

WANTED: USA Hosp Dept Bottles & Southern Pontil Sodas & Medicines. rfhjr5123@gmail.com 5/20 WANTED: Pre-1930 ephemera to include maps, broadsides, trade catalogs, pamphlets, historical documents, manuscripts, photo albums, scrapbooks, newspapers. Especially interested in material from Western and Southern states, Vermont, Eastern New York State. Will travel or pay shipping. Phone: 518-756-6492. 4/20 WANTED: Any signage or milk bottle go-withs; “lids”, tin cans, porcelain signage, etc, that has the name Maxbauer, having to do with the Maxbauer Meat Market and Maxbauer Dairy in Traverse City, Michigan. I have plenty of Milk bottles, but more interested in the other go-withs. Contact LIZ MAXBAUER at Liz@mcnamaraortho. com or call 734-645-5585. 12/21 WANTED: Dr Claris Buffalo NY bottles, jugs, billheads, advertising items, photos, All Buffalo NY bottles, stoneware and beer advertising. PETER JABLONSKI, Phone: (716) 440-7985. pjablonski66@gmail.com 12489 Hunts Corners Rd. Akron, NY 14001. 6/20 WANTED: Unusual and rare Cincinnati, Ohio bottles. Interested in anything you may have. Please call or email. ED, 513,732,1898. dkamann@fuse.net 6/20 WANTED: Collect BelAir, Baltimore MD, Delta, York PA Bromo bottles in colors. STEVE CIBOROWSKI, 410-459-7610. cobaltbot@yahoo.com 5/20 WANTED: Rare and unusual Dr. Kilmer bottles and advertising! Especially examples with original labels and boxes. Always looking for embossed lung cough cure and consumption oil bottles. Top prices paid. Call me first! TERRY McMURRAY, Phone: 607-775-5972. mcmurrayauctions@aol.com PO Box 939, Kirkwood, NY 13795. 7/20 WANTED: Twenty-six ogival Stiegel bottle. JAMES DUGUID, 540-937-4727. 5/20

WANTED: PHILADELPHIA STRAPSIDED or Seamed Whiskey Flasks. I collect and catalog these and also have an interest in Thomas H. Dillon (TD) Philadelphia mineral water bottles. Please contact me if you have any in your collection or wish to sell. ART MIRON, 215-248-4612. jestar484@verizon.net 4/21 WANTED: Paying $2000 for amber or unusual colored Wisconsin strapped-sided Flasks. Let me know what you have. Also looking for Wisconsin Whiskey advertisement especially Peter Barth - Milwaukee advertisement or signs. JOE WHEELER, 715-572-9810. llnur@uniontel.net PO Box 232 Plainfield WI 54966. 5/20 WANTED: Native Southern Californian still needs the sample bottle embossed, "FIRST WATER FROM LOS ANGELES AQUADUCT NOV. 5th 1913". It celebrated the opening of the 235 mile aquaduct from Owens Valley to LA and spawned one of the most aggressive growth spurts ever! MARTY VOLLMER, martyvollmer@aol.com 803.629.8553. 6/20 WANTED: Bottles, glasses of Western theme - cowboys, horses, saddles, spurs, etc. OTIS HIBLER, 830-885-2322. 5/20 WANTED: Eagle Run Beer Items, Shamokin PA McHenry Brothers Pure Rye Whiskey, Shamokin PA Crocks. Thomas Maher script Jug, Shamokin PA crock. Beer, whiskey signs Shamokin PA. Back Bar Bottles Shamokin, PA. Fritz Iron pontil, Shamokin, PA. C. YODER, 570-898-5553. 5/20 WANTED: BENNETT PIETERS & Co / 21 RIVER STREET / CHICAGO in black glass (olive). Also, a C.F. GOODMANOMAHA NEB. (a square Cobalt blue drugstore bottle). Also, an ED.C.ERFLING OMAHA, NEB with an eagle on back (blob soda). LANSON RECKNOR, Phone: 308-940-0730. 5/20 WANTED: Common Embossed Pontiled Bottles. LEE BERNARD, 262-677-2789. bernardantiques@core.com 5/20

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WANTED: California Embossed Drugstore Bottles. PAUL ACKERMAN, Email: jptahoe2@icloud.com 5/20 WANTED: Buckhannon, WV Stoneware. DON HENDERSON, 304-266-5523. buckantmal@aol.com 5/20 WANTED: U.S. Lighthouse Service or U.S. Life Saving Service artifacts. Rare, labeled, or colored New Hampshire pharmacy bottles, medicine bottles and stoneware. Galveston and Houston, Texas medicine, pharmacy and soda bottles as well as pottery jugs. BRANDON DeWOLFE, 713-2479555. brandondewolfe@hotmail.com 5/20 WANTED: Looking for Antique Bottles from the Following Towns: Greenwich, East Port Chester, Norwalk, South Norwalk, Stamford, Glenbrook, New Canaan, CT; East Port Chester, Port Chester, Armonk NY. Please email if you're interested in selling. Also, check out Ashdigger on YouTube for live bottle digs! KAMIL, nebottleshop@gmail. com 5/20 WANTED: U.S.A. Hospital Dept, Qt in rare unusual colors. Prefer mint if possible. Dog license from Nevada before 1920's. Thanks! HENRY GUILLEN, 760-668-0117. 5/20 WANTED: Fruit Jars. Collect rare pints, unusual closures and colored jars. Looking for J.C. Baker pint, lid for Trademark Advanced pint (small mouth), band for A.E. Bray Flaccus bands and original closure for Commodore. JERRY IKEDA, 916-4247204. ikeda.jerry@gmail.com 5/20 WANTED: Syracuse & Central New York (Utica, Auburn, Liverpool, Spafford) investment grade advertising and especially bottles (J.F. Barker, H. Lakes Indian Specific, Wahoo & Calisaya, MacArthur's Genuine Yankee Liniment). Ridiculous prices paid!! Please call. ED KANTOR, 315-706-5112. ekantor@twc.com 5/20 WANTED: Collector of unusual pint fruit jars. Buy or trade. DAVE, 302-388-9311. 6/20

WANTED: Any information on bottles with the embossing "BILLIE TAYLOR WHISKEY" probably supplied by Henry Fleckenstien Portland, OR. Also, info on bottles embossed "RATHJEN MERCHANTILE" with 3 addresses and any "RATHJEN BROS. WINE MERCHANTS S.F. CA" even if not for sale. Please call. LES RATHJEN, 701-301-9483. 5/20 WANTED: Stoneware bottle, A.F. Dietz, Peerless Aqua Lid Qt. BILL SCHLUTOW, 518-861-5994. 5/20 WANTED: SERIOUS COLLECTOR seeking bottles, postcards, and advertising from the village and town of AVON SPRINGS or AVON, NEW YORK. Many categories of bottles - milks, bitters, Saratoga's, cures, druggists, beer, soda, etc. Does ANYONE have a REXALL bottle from F.H. COOPER - THE REXALL STORE - AVON, N.Y.? Please call, text or email. JIM BARTHOLOMEW, 585-705-8106. barthology@frontiernet.net 5/20 WANTED: Pontiled Soda's from Baltimore & Eastern Shore of Maryland. MELVIN G. SMITH, 443-417-3916. 5/20

WANTED: Pontiled Sarsaparillas. Must be in mint or near mint condition. Call or email. MARK DUMOND, 207-607-0058. dumondmd55@gmail.com 5/20

Notice of Fraud Alert! Readers: Please be aware of solicitations to “WANTED ads” in the magazine. Specifically, a "bob chris," email bobchris463@gmail. com, or Darlene.makowski123@ gmail.com. Several folks advertising in the magazine have been contacted by this person claiming to have items they are looking for in their "Wanted ads.” It is always prudent to be cautious when sending money to people who you do not know. The staff at AB&GC

WANTED: BUY - SELL - TRADE I love fruit jars and closures. Buying one or a collection. Currently trying to find the following: Root Mason lids, Colored Mason 1858 jars, Embossing errors, over sized jars. DAVE EIFLER, Phone: 269-362-1302. eiflers@comcast.net 4048 Wildon Ct., Buchanan MI 49107. 5/20 WANTED: Deep Rock Springs Saratogatype Mineral Water Bottles. Rare colors or variants. Would like to buy advertising items or go-withs from this spring. Also wanted large size 754 Austens Oswego Bitters. BARRY HAYNES, 315-963-3749. 5/20 WANTED: Harpers Ferry WV bottles and go-withs. Also Charlestown WV, Shepherdstown WV and Brunswick MD. I have some of these bottles for sale or trade. Call or email. fitzh20s@aol.com Phone: 703-929-8144. 5/20 May 2020

Show CALENDAR MAY 1 & 2

MAY 16

JUNE 6

STURBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

RICHMOND, RHODE ISLAND

The National Association of Milk Bottle Collectors 40th Annual Convention at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center, Sturbridge, MA. Activities include seminars, displays, a banquet, buying and selling of dairy bottles and related memorabilia. Registration for the convention is open to all. For more info, or to join the NAMBC, contact: GENE SCHURMAN, 1663 Rt. 580 Hwy, Clymer, PA 15728. PH: 724.541.2111, Email: exs10@psu.edu., or visit their website: www. milkbottlecollectors.com

RALEIGH (YOUNGSVILLE), NORTH CAROLINA

MAY 3 MARCY, NEW YORK Mohawk Valley Antique Bottle Club’s 26th Annual Antique Bottle Show & Sale, (9 AM to 2:30 PM), at the Utica Maennerchor, 5535 Flanagan Rd, Marcy, NY, 13403. Adm. $3; (no early adm). Info: PETER BLEIBERG, 7 White Pine Road, New Hartford, NY. PH. 315.735.5430, Email: pmbleiberg@aol.com www.mohawkvalleybottleclub.com MAY 9 COVENTRY, CONNECTICUT The Museum of Connecticut Glass Annual Spring Antique Bottle & Glass Show, (9 AM to 1PM, Early buyers 8 AM, $15), outdoors, rain or shine, on the grounds of the historic Coventry Glass Works, 289 North River Road, (at the blinking light - intersection of Rt. 44 & North River Road), Coventry, CT. Adm. $4. Tailgate show and House Tours. Info: BRUCE MITCHELL, PH: 203.799.2570, Email: Bruce.Mitchell@glassmuseum.org. Visit: www.glassmuseum.org MAY 15 & 16 KENT, WASHINGTON The Washington Bottle & Collectibles Association Annual Show, (Friday, Noon to 5 PM, $5 early buyer; Saturday, 9 AM to 3 PM, Free) at Kent Commons West Gym 525 4th Ave N, Kent, WA 98032. Info: PETE HENDRICKS, PH: 253.335.1732, or: NIEL SMITH, 360.485.8343, or 360.943.0518, Email: wbcaweb@gmail.com

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

MAY 17

WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA

Washington County Antique Bottle Club 46th Annual Show & Sale, (9 AM to 2 PM), at the Alpine Star Lodge, 735 Jefferson Ave., Washington, PA 15301. Adm. $3. Info: ED KUSKIE, 352 Pineview Dr., Elizabeth, PA 15037. PH: 412.405.9061, email: bottlewizard@comcast.net

MAY 17 ELLENDALE, DELAWARE Delmarva Antique Bottle Club Show & Sale, (9 AM to 3 PM; Dealer set-up 7 - 9 AM), at the Ellendale Fire Hall, 302 Main Street, Ellendale, DE. Adm. $3. No early buyers. Info: KEITH FLEMING, 13798 Emerald Pine Rd., Ellendale, DE 19941. PH: 302.684.8138; email: JohnKeithFleming@ gmail.com MAY 17 HAMMONTON, NEW JERSEY The Spring Antiques & Bottle Show, presented by the Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc, (9 AM to 3 PM), in the Historic Batsto Village, Wharton State Forest, Rt. 542 Pleasant Mills Road, Hammonton, NJ. FREE Adm. Info: HARRY RHEAM, PH: 856.768.1532, email: hcrheam@gmail.com

New Location: The Raleigh Bottle Club Annual Show and Sale, (9 AM to 2 PM, Dealer set-up 7-9 AM) at the Hill Ridge Farms Event Center, 703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville, NC, 27596. Adm. $3, Children under 12 Free! Info: DAVE TINGEN, PH: 919.848.4387, Email: tingen1@mindspring. com, or visit the Website: raleighbottleclub. org

JUNE 7 BALLSTON SPA, NEW YORK The National Bottle Museum presents the Annual Saratoga Springs Show & Sale, (9:00 AM to 2:30 PM; early adm. 8:00 AM, $15) at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds, 4H building, 162 Prospect St, Ballston Spa, NY. Adm. $5, Children 12 and under free. Info: NATIONAL BOTTLE MUSEUM, 76 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, NY 12020, PH 518-885-7589; www.NationalBottleMuseum. org, email: nbm@nycap.rr.com; Co Chairmen: ROY TOPKA, PH 518-7791243, email: rmt556@yahoo.com, or ADAM STODDARD, PH: 518.256.7663, email: acstoddard63@gmail.com JUNE 13 CAMBRIDGE CITY, INDIANA Antique Jar, Bottle, and Antique Show, (9 AM to 3 PM, dealer set-up 7:30 AM), outdoors on the grounds of the historic Huddleston House, 838 National Road, Cambridge City, IN 47327. Info: MARTY TROXELL, PH. 765.478.3800, or: RICHARD LEECE, 765.586.2798. JUNE 27 JOHNSTON, IOWA The Iowa Antique Bottleers 51st Anniversary Show and Sale, (8 AM to 1 PM), at the Johnston Lions Club, 64th Place and Merle Hay Road, Johnston, IA. Adm. $2. Info: MARK C. WISEMAN, 3505 Sheridan Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310-4557, PH: 515.344.8333, email: markcwiseman@msn.com, or: JOYCE JESSEN, 515.979.5216.

Show CALENDAR JUNE 28

JULY 30 – AUGUST 2

SEPTEMBER 11 & 12

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA

RENO, NEVADA

SMYRNA, GEORGIA

NEW DATE! (this year only), Dunkard Valley Antique Bottle Show & Sale, (9 AM to 2 PM; Early buyers 7 AM, $25), in the new Agricultural 4-H Building, 500 Mylan Park Lane, Morgantown, WV 26501. Adm. $2, 16 and under FREE! Info: DON KELLEY, PH: 724.998.2734, email: bonzeyekelley@gmail. com

2020 FOHBC National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo, Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, Information: RICHARD SIRI, email: rtsiri@sbcglobal.net, or FERDINAND MEYER V, email: fmeyer@fmgdesign.com, FOHBC National Convention – Western Region.

50th Annual Atlanta Antique Bottle Show & Sale, (Sat. 9 AM to 3 PM; Dealer set-up and Early Adm. Friday, 3 PM to 8 PM, $20 Early adm. - includes BBQ dinner Friday evening), at the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna, GA 30080. Free adm. Sat! Info: JACK HEWITT, Box 12126 Big Canoe, Jasper, GA 30143. PH: 770.856.6062, or: BILL JOHNSON, 770.823.2626, email: bj3605@comcast.net. Sponsored by the R.M. Rose Co, Distillers.

AUGUST 10 – 16

JULY 11

BOUCKVILLE, NEW YORK

RICHMOND, RHODE ISLAND

49th Annual Madison-Bouckville Antique Show, outdoor antiques and collectibles including two huge bottle tents! Over 2,000 dealers and vendors located on scenic Route 20, Bouckville, NY. Info: JIM BURNS, 315.527.3269 or JIM BARTHOLOMEW, 585.705.8106.

The Little Rhody Bottle Club tailgate swap meet, (9AM to 2PM) at the Jules Antique Center, 320 Kingstown, Richmond, Rhode Island (3 miles East of Route #95 on Route #138). Free set up for all! Free coffee, donuts and pizza for participants. Bring your own tables! Info: WILLIAM ROSE, 508.880.4929; email: sierramadre@comcast. net JULY 18 DAPHNE, ALABAMA The Mobile Bottle Collectors Club's 47th Annual Show & Sale, (9 AM to 3 PM; Dealer set-up Friday, July 17th, 3 PM to 7 PM, and Sat. 7 AM to 9 AM), at the Daphne Civic Center, 2603 US Hwy 98, Daphne, AL 36525. Free Adm., Free Appraisals. Info: ROD VINING, 251.957.6725. Email: vinewood@mchsi.com, or, RICHARD, P.O. Box 241, Pensacola, FL 32591. PH: 850.435.5425. Email: shards@bellsouth.net JULY 18 & 19 ADAMSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA The 20th Annual Shupp’s Grove Bottle Festival, (Sat. & Sun. 6 AM to dusk, early buyers Fri. 3 PM), at the famous ‘Shupp’s Grove’, 607 Willow Street, Reinholds, PA 17569. Info: STEVE GUION, PH: 717.626.5557, or: 717.371.1259, Email: affinityinsurance1@windstream.net

AUGUST 16 POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK Hudson Valley Bottle Club 33rd Annual Mid Hudson Bottle Show & Sale, (9AM to 2:30PM, early buyers 8AM), at the Poughkeepsie Elks Lodge 275, 29 Overocker Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY. Info: MIKE STEPHANO, 27 Rogers Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538, PH. 845.233.4340; Email: mjsantique@aol. com AUGUST 22 EDGEWOOD, KENTUCKY 3rd Annual Northern Kentucky Antique Bottle & Small Antiques Show, (9AM to 2PM; Early Bird, 8AM, $15) at the Milligan Hall - St. Pius X Church, 348 Dudley Pike, Edgewood, KY. Adm. $3. Info: ED MORRIS, PH: 859.414.4693; email: ed@morristreasures.com, or: RANDY DEATON, PH: 859.334.0512; email: nkyfinds@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER 12 HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA The Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club’s 54th Annual Antique Bottles, Fruit Jars, Insulators, Antiques & Collectibles Show & Sale, (9 AM to 3 PM; Early Birds $10 at 8 AM), at the Huntington Beach, Elks Lodge #1959, 7711 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92648. Free Adm! Info: DON WIPPERT, Ph. 818.346.9833, Email donwippert@yahoo.com, or DICK HOMME, Ph. 818.362.3368. SEPTEMBER 12 & 13 GRAYSLAKE, ILLINOIS Antique Bottle Show, (Sat. 9 AM to 4 PM; Sun. 9 AM to 3 PM), at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Rd, Grayslake, IL 60030. Adm. $7, Children under 12 free. Info: TIM ZURKO, Zurko Promotions: 715.526.9769. SEPTEMBER 15 CHEEKTOWAGA, NEW YORK New Location! The Greater Buffalo Bottle Collectors Association 22nd Annual Show and Sale, (9:00 AM to 2:00 PM), at the Pvt. Leonard Post, Jr. VFW, 2450 Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga, N.Y. Info: TOM KARAPANTSO, 716.487.9645, email: tomar@stny.rr.com, or: PETER JABLONSKI, 716.440.7985, email: peterjablonski@ roadrunner.com; or JOE GUERRA, 716.207.9948, email: jguerra3@roadrunner.com May 2020

Show CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 18 & 19

OCTOBER 4

AURORA, OREGON

CHELSEA, MICHIGAN

Oregon Bottle Collectors Association Bottle, Antiques, & Collectibles Show & Sale, (Friday 12 - 5PM, dealer set-up & early bird admission $5; Sat. 9AM - 3PM general adm. by donation), at the American Legion Hall, 21510 Main St. N.E., Aurora, OR. Info: WAYNE HERRING, Ph: 503.864.2009; or: BILL BOGYNSKA, Ph: 503.657.1726, email: billbogy7@gmail.com

The Huron Valley Bottle and Insulator Club 44th Annual Show & Sale, (9AM to 2 PM), at the Comfort Inn Conference Center, 1645 Commerce Park Drive next to the Comfort Inn, Chelsea (Exit 159 off I-94). Adm $3 for adults, children 16 and under, free. Info: MIKE BRUNER, Email, abbott4girl@sbcglobal.net, or ROD KRUPKA, 248.627.6351; Email: rod.krupka@yahoo. com

SEPTEMBER 19 RICHMOND, RHODE ISLAND

OCTOBER 25

ALSIP, ILLINOIS

SEPTEMBER 26

NOVEMBER 8

BATH, ONTARIO, CANADA

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

4th Annual Bath Antique Bottle and Insulator Show, (9 AM to 2:30 PM), at the Bath Masonic Lodge, 428 Main Street, Bath, Ontario, Canada. Info: RICHARD DOBING, email: loyalistcollectibles@gmail.com

New Location! The Pittsburgh Antique Bottle Club’s 51st Annual Show & Sale, (9 AM to 2 PM, early buyers 7 AM, $25), at the Elizabeth VFD Station 139, 107 Market Street, Elizabeth, PA 15037. Adm. $3. Info: BOB DeCROO, 694 Fayette City Rd., Fayette City, PA 15438. PH: 724.326.8741, or JAY HAWKINS, 1280 Mt. Pleasant Rd., West Newton, PA 15089, PH: 724.872.6013; web: www.PittsburghAntiqueBottleClub.org

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

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

New Location! 1st Chicago Bottle Club's 51st Annual Show & Sale, (9 AM to 2 PM), at the Doubletree Inn by Hilton, 5000 W 127th St, Alsip, IL 60803. Adm. $3, Children under 16 free (No early adm). Info: RAY KOMOROWSKI, 127 S. Cuyler, Oak Park, IL 60302. PH: 708.848.7947. Email: 1stChicagoBottleClub@gmail.com

NOVEMBER 14 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA Antique Bottle Collectors of North Florida 52nd Annual Show & Sale, (Sat. 8 AM to 2 PM; early buyers Fri. 2 PM to 7 PM, $50, 3 - 7 PM, $40, 5 - 7 PM, $20), at the Fraternal Order of Police Bldg., 5530 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL. Free adm. Saturday. Info: MIKE SKIE, 3047 Julington Creek Road, Jacksonville, FL 32223, PH: 904.710.0422, or COREY STOCK, 904.607.3133, or email: jaxbottleshow@yahoo.com

Publisher’s Note: Antique Bottle & Glass Collector is looking for great digging stories! Do you have an interesting digging (or diving), story that you would like to share with your fellow readers? Let us know, as we would love to include recent finds and funny stories in one of our upcoming issues. And don’t forget about the Antique Bottle & Glass Collector Writer’s Contest: you may also win a great bottle! Send articles (and don’t forget to include plenty of good images) to: Antique Bottle & Glass Collector Attn: Editor P.O. Box 227 New Hudson, MI 48165 Phone: 248.486.0530 Email: jpastor@americanglassgallery.com

An Interview with Mark Vuono In the July 9, 2018 issue of Journal of Antiques & Collectibles, New Jersey’s Bob Strickhart wrote this (edited) interview, where Mark explained: “I was born in Stamford, Conn., and have spent my entire life there. At the age of 23, I started a retail jewelry store which I can proudly say has been in continual operation for over 44 years. Treating customers fairly and honestly is the key to success.” How were you first introduced to the flask collecting world, and what made you so interested in historical flasks? “I really had no choice in learning about historical flasks. My father, being a social studies teacher and loving American history, had the summers off from teaching and would travel around various locations hunting down antique shops and shows in search of flasks. At the tender age of nine, I really had no choice but to follow in his footsteps.” Tell us a bit about your father, Charles, and your sons, and how long this collection and fascination with historical flasks has grown through the generations. “My father picked up his first flask in the summer of 1958 in an antique shop in Vermont. He had no idea what it was but realized it was a quality piece of glass. After doing research on it he went back the next summer to try and buy it only to find out the dealer had died and the contents of his shop were being auctioned. At the auction, he did buy two quart New England flasks for $9 each. Not really knowing too much about them, he bought them for their size thinking bigger is better. Those two flasks are still in the collection today!

“Both my sons Andrew and David are very much interested in the flasks, as well. Both are very well versed in knowing the various McKearin charted numbers of the flasks and have turned it into a third generation collection. “My wife, Annie, has supported me throughout my collecting endeavors. I guess our forty years of marriage can attest to that. Sometimes she scratches her head with what I buy but she certainly appreciates the flasks and especially all the friends we have met along the way.” I’m sure there are many, many memories of your collecting days with your dad. Can you share one particular favorite with us? And while you’re at it, any favorite collecting stories that include your sons? “As you can imagine there are countless stories to be told about adventures collecting flasks with my dad. One memorable one is as follows: both my dad and I were good friends with the late Bill Pollard from Virginia. Back in 1970, Bill stumbled upon a pretty good collection of bottles. Bill, who was just starting his business at the time, was short of funds to buy the collection in its entirety. He contacted my father, telling him the situation and my father agreed to split the

collection with him. The only glitch was that the collection was inherited by the owner’s son who was not quite ready to sell them yet. Bill promised he would call us when the son was ready to sell. “Well, out of nowhere, Bill called my father on the Friday night of Memorial Day weekend at 5 p.m. saying the son was ready to sell the collection. The collection was located at a rural western Maryland farmhouse. We were to meet with Bill that night so we could split the collection up among us in the morning. “Needless to say we were “off and running” at 5:20 to meet up with Bill at the location he requested (my father never was one to let grass grow under his feet when a good flask was offered). Upon arriving at the farmhouse early the next morning, we were treated to a fresh bacon and egg breakfast. After breakfast, Bill and my father started picking bottles from the collection. My father had first pick from the flasks and Bill had first pick from the bitters. To this day, I can remember their first picks. My father chose the GI-115 short-haired Wheat Price & Co. flask and Bill chose a Dingen’s Napolian Cocktail bitters. Everything was going smoothly with the dispersal of the collection until the son left the room emotionally crying May 2020

in seeing his dad’s collection being broken up. That kind of put a sad touch to the whole weekend. “As far as an adventure with my son Andrew is concerned, I can relate this story: it was back in 2009 when I received a phone call at work from a lady asking me if I knew anything about historical flasks. When I responded that I knew a little about them, a great sigh of relief came over her and she stated that she had “found me.” As it turned out, my father had sold her father flasks back in the late 1960s. Her father passed away and she was settling his estate and wanted to sell the flasks. Her father lived in southern Texas and told her before his death to contact my father and I should she ever decide to sell them. His daughter was living in Dallas at the time and had picked up the collection from south Texas. After sending pictures of the collection to us and agreeing on a price, my son Andrew and I flew to Dallas and picked up the collection. It was a memorable trip and a great father/son bonding experience.” I know you’ve gone to great lengths to build the collection, which is in my mind the finest collection of historical flasks to be found. What is the furthest you have traveled or wildest story you can share about adding a piece to the collection? “Distance was never an issue as far as a flask was concerned. Whatever it took to attain one we liked, the trip was made. One of the wildest adventures my father and I had was back in 1972 when the Albert Swank collection was being auctioned by Gerald Patton in Duncansville, Pennsylvania. Mr. Swank assembled a fine collection of flasks back in the 1930s and ‘40s, many of them being sold to him by Gerald Patton. Previous to the auction, the region was struck by Hurricane Gloria. Roads were impassable, with even sections of the interstates closed. That didn’t stop my father and me from getting to the auction, though. Driving through various detours and roadblocks, we got as far as Tyrone, Pennsylvania, about a half hour

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

away from our destination, when we met our first REAL obstacle. There appeared to be a small, fast-flowing river going over the road from the flood waters. I was driving at the time and stopped. I looked at my father and he said, ‘Drive through it!’ Obeying his command, I proceeded. We were about halfway across, with the water being halfway up the car doors, when the car started to buck a little. My father yelled out ‘floor it’ which I did and we just made it across to the other side safely. Upon arriving at the auction, I saw the great flask collector Ed Blaske from Battle Creek, Michigan, in attendance at the auction preview. I just mentioned to him that ‘come hell or high water’ we made it!”

“Enjoy the hobby and purchase items that you really like and can afford. It is also important to be well informed about what you are purchasing and also to share your knowledge among other collectors.” When I think of historical flasks, the name McKearin automatically comes to mind. As a sort of Flasks 101, can you estimate how many flasks are currently in your collection? “That is a good question and I cannot honestly answer it. Over the years, this third generation collection just enjoys collecting and appreciating them without really counting them.” Do you have a favorite flask? “Being from Connecticut, I would have to say my favorite flask is the expandedmouth Connecticut-blown JPF Connecticut Eagle flask. The embossed JPF initials

under a heraldic eagle stand for Joseph P. Foster, who was the superintendent of the Pitkin Glass Works in Manchester, Connecticut. The reverse depicts a cornucopia with the word CONN beneath it. My father actually purchased this flask when the famed collection Charles Gardiner was auctioned in 1975. It was depicted as the frontispiece on the cover of the catalog.” What would you say is the rarest piece in your collection? Is there an interesting story to go along with it? “That is a difficult question to answer as there are several pieces having unique molds to date. I think what is the most desirable flask would be a better question. That being said, I feel the green colored American System flask depicting a paddle-wheeler on the obverse side with the words “The American System” encompassing it. The reverse depicts a large sheaf of rye encompassed by the wording “Use Me But Do Not Abuse Me.” It is one of the most historical flasks. Also, a flask commemorating Henry Clay’s “American System Movement” given to the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, Connecticut, by Thomas Wayland. It was de-accessioned from the museum and auctioned in 1980 at which point my father purchased it.” I know you’re not just a flask collector, but you are also a fine writer on the subject of flasks and do extensive research as well. Many of us in the bottle family think of you as a mentor. Did you have a mentor? Did your dad? “That is an easy question for me. My father was my mentor. I was basically under his guidance and tutelage since I was nine years old. As far as my father’s mentor(s), I would have to say the early collectors Charlie Gardiner and George Austin. They basically helped him along in his early stages of collecting.” How many bottle shows a year do you attend?

“I attend approximately ten shows a year. I feel it is important to try and support the local clubs who sponsor the shows. As many of you know, a lot of work and effort goes into these local shows. By attending them, not only do you enjoy the camaraderie among your friends with the same interest, but you learn new information as it develops throughout the hobby. Many new leads have come from attending the shows and on occasion a good flask may be attained from them.” What are your thoughts about the hobby’s changes over the last three decades?

“Well, like anything else, the internet has changed the hobby immensely. In the ‘Old Days,’ a lot of hard work went into trying to obtain a good flask that was being sold privately. Many Polaroid photos were sent via snail mail and many letters were written. You really had to earn that flask if you wanted it. Today everyone wants instant gratification, which is understandable with today’s technology. “I feel the health of the flask community is relatively strong. At the shows I see many new faces interested in flasks and eager to learn about them. Quite a few of the new collectors I see are in their

late twenties and early thirties buying what is affordable to them. In time, like anything else, they will be able to afford some of the higher-priced flasks when they become available. In general, I feel the flask community displays quite a bit of vibrancy.” Any final thoughts? “Enjoy the hobby and purchase items that you really like and can afford. It is also important to be well informed about what you are purchasing and also to share your knowledge among other collectors. After all, this is what the hobby is all about!”

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

May 2020

Mark Vuono May Be Gone, but Will Never Be Forgotten A tragedy for his family, his friends, and the hobby Edited by Ralph Finch

ark Vuono meant so much to so many. Like a great smile from a man who shared his time and expertise with everyone, whether seasoned flask collector or a brand-new hobbyist. A man with a wonderful family, which included many hundreds of people across the entire country. In 2017, both Mark and his famous father, Charles, were inducted into the FOHBC’s Hall of Fame, honoring them for their “continuing contributions to the antique bottle hobby.”

But on March 29 the local newspaper blared: “Mark Vuono, 69, owner of Marco Jewelers in Stamford, Conn., was fatally shot at his store during an afternoon robbery, police said. According to reports, a customer entered the 6th Street store and discovered Vuono suffering from apparent fatal gunshot injuries around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.” The next day, the local newspaper, as well as local TV stations, noted that Mark: “was a fiercely devoted family man who loved his country and was deeply trusted by his customers,” and “The Stamford community is mourning.” Now, the hobby is mourning. Mark’s father, Charles H. Vuono, predeceased him by more than a decade.

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Mark is survived by his wonderful wife, Annie, and their sons, Andrew and David. It was only last October that Mark’s mother, Grace, died at the age of 96. For the Maine Antique Digest I wrote a long obituary for Charles (which the family framed and placed on the wall). I never imagined that I would ever write one for Mark. Mark was much more than being just mere mortal, to the hobby he was a giant. He was everywhere, at many shows, often on Facebook, and a steadfast regular columnist for Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine. For many of us “old-time” collectors, a highlight of our hobby memories will always be the first time we were invited to the Vuono home and swooned as we stood in awe before the incredible flask collection put together by the family. And you weren’t just welcomed as inconveniences, nor as friends, but like old friends. Family couldn’t get a warmer welcome. A favorite memory was when a dozen people were invited to visit, and another collector heard of it. Thinking it was an “open house,” which it wasn’t, he just showed up, uninvited. Still, the Vuonos brought him in with their usual warmth, and the guy got the bottle tour of his life.

A few friends add passing thoughts: John Pastor and Liz Maxbauer: “We were profoundly saddened to learn of Mark’s passing. Our hearts go out to his family; Annie, Andrew and David. It is a tragic loss for not only his family, but also for the hobby and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. “It is virtually impossible to overemphasize the love and respect that fellow collectors had for Mark. His passing has left a void that can never, will never, be filled. The bottle world grieves at the loss of this incredible person, friend, fellow collector, teacher and mentor that Mark was to untold numbers of collectors, whether young or old, novice or veteran. Mark was, without question, one of the greatest ambassadors that this hobby has ever known. “Liz and I have countless special memories of Mark and his family that we will always cherish. Mark was a dear friend, a mentor and leader in every conceivable way. “My late father and I were set up next to Mark and his father, Charlie, thirty-six years ago at the 1984 FOHBC Montgomery EXPO. That is my first recollection of meeting Mark. Both Mark and

his father were true gentlemen and we thoroughly enjoyed meeting them. “At the time, I was a poor, starving college student and quickly spent all of the money that I had at the show. At the end of the show, Mark and his father gave us a Udolpho Wolfe’s Schnapps bottle that we had admired on their table. I still have that bottle today and cherish it for that memory. “We all have to keep in mind that it is the people, not the glass, that have made this hobby great. Especially during times like this, we all have to be mindful of the fragility of life, appreciate the time that we have, and hold close the memories of those whom we have lost.” Jeff and Holly Noordsy: “Just getting my thoughts together after a fitful night’s sleep. It’s inconceivable that Mark is gone and I first want to pass along my deepest sympathies to Annie, Andrew and David. He loved you all very much. “I met Mark in the mid-to-late ’90s when he purchased a colored WashingtonTaylor quart that Holly and I were offering on eBay. Knowing the Vuono name, I was flabbergasted that he would buy anything from us. I immediately packed the flask and sent it to Stamford for his approval. Several days later I received a long and gracious note from Mark thanking me for sending the flask before he had even had a chance to write a check and letting me know that he loved the bottle. Mark was deeply appreciative that I would send a flask of this value ($1,150 if I recall) without having been paid, and he would introduce me to folks by telling them this story. (Quite frankly, I think he thought I was nuts :-)) “Over the years I was fortunate enough to spend many hours at Mark and Annie’s. They were fabulous hosts and, of course, the flasks are beyond compare. “One of my greatest memories of Mark came when he moved the flasks from his Mom’s home and merged them with his

TOP: From left to right are Mark Vuono, Carl Pratt, and Mark’s father, Charles Vuono, circa 1985. BOTTOM: One of your reporter’s proudest items, this stunning sheet of U.S. stamps issued in 1999, and autographed to me by Mark Vuono. The stamps show different methods of American glassmaking, including pressed glass, free-blown glass, and art glass. Several of the free-blown pieces shown are from the Vuono collection.

May 2020

own collection. As most of you will recall, the flasks were displayed in Mrs. Vuono’s basement and one day she called to let Mark know that the basement was flooding. Mark went to the house and found that the flasks housed on the lower two shelves were literally floating in the knee deep water. Amazingly, only one flask was damaged (a blue Washington-Taylor quart, I believe) but the decision was soon made to move the flasks to Mark’s safer and more secure location.” Tom Lines: “The heart-wrenching news I heard about Mark’s passing has left me hollow.

Bob Stern: “Mark and I had essentially no interaction between the late ’70s and a brief meeting two years ago at the Baltimore show, where he remembered me from the Courtney Sale at Garth’s (in Delaware, Ohio). We communicated a few times after that and then, because my son lives in Stamford, I called him last August when we were in town visiting. He left work and met me at his house. “We spent two-and-a-half hours together and it was one of the most special encounters I’ve ever experienced. It was as if we had been the closest of friends for the

“I don’t remember the first time I met Mark but I know it would have been with his dad Charlie at a show somewhere. The time I recall most vividly was at the Mansfield Show in the early 1980s when they came by my table and commented about a flask on my table. It was a pint Washington-Taylor in a deep cherry puce with an applied top. “We talked about the flask for a minute or two when Mark asked “Why are you selling this one?” I replied that I was prepping for an upcoming auction by selling a few top-shelf pieces. Charlie responded “Well it must be a killer piece you’re wanting because this is an exceptional flask.” Mark added “I would put this one back on my shelf if I were you because you don’t know if you’ll even get the one you’re after.” Sage advice for my young collecting ears. “I re-boxed my flask and kept it a number of more years, and, as Mark speculated, the item I wanted went above my limits anyway! “I was fortunate to visit his home back in the spring of 2001 when I went north to bid on the purple Corn For The World out of the Merritt Vanderbilt auction. Mark was the perfect host and friend that I will miss. I send my heartfelt condolences to Annie and the boys (men) along with prayers for peace and comfort.”

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

especially in such a senseless act. When Mary and I jumped back into bottles, there was no one kinder and more welcoming than Mark. “He freely shared his knowledge and time with a couple who needed guidance at that time, and we immediately felt like we had known him forever. I cannot imagine Mark being any less than what we saw in him — a good family man, a man who always made you feel welcome with his smile, an avid collector with no hidden agenda when sharing information, a man who thought he could never feed you enough, and a man with a kind spirit. Even though it felt like we had known him forever, we have regrets we did not. “I don’t think I ever met someone who seemed like a friend so quickly. I think it is easy to see the impression he left on us and he will never be forgotten. Our legacy will be to treat others as he treated us. We hope it helps to know how he was thought about as a member of his bottle community, but more importantly, as a member of humankind.”

The quotes below were edited from Facebook: An image of Mark standing next to of one of his beautiful display cases of Historical Flasks.

past forty years. Mark talked about how thrilled he was that I had come to visit and he couldn’t have been more gracious. I told him how truly grateful I was for his warm welcome and heartfelt hospitality. “We shared so much during those few hours that day, packing in the forty years that we had missed. We talked a few times after my visit, always trying to figure out a time we could get together again. I feel a deep sadness due to the loss of a longtime friend, despite the decades between our actual times together.” Kim and Mary Kokles: “We are so, so sorry to hear of Mark Vuono’s passing,

Helena VonDrakenstein: “I have been in the hobby since 1969 and have heard his name mentioned many times over the years. I never knew him, but for sure can understand his passion. Sadly I will never have the chance to meet him in person.” Dana Charlton: “Mark Vuono. A man whose name and memory will be written in bottle collecting history as an icon of the hobby. Mark was humble, generous with his time and knowledge, brilliant, charming, honest, and special.” “I knew Mark for over forty years, and he, his family, and I were friends. I always enjoyed visiting with Mark at bottle shows and at his and Annie’s home to see his flask collection. Those are treasured highlights.”

“The news of Mark’s passing is sorrowful beyond words. I will miss Mark’s flask posts – always something sublime – his coveted compliments on mine, and his beautifully written magazine articles.” Mike Stephano: “Measure a man by his character, not by his possessions, but by the strength of his words, and how he faces the world. Mark, as my friend, above all things was a statesman. A spokesman for our hobby, an icon to all. Mark’s character was one that accepted and encouraged all collectors, even the younger starry-eyed kind that I was the first time I set foot in his home so many years ago. His warmth and that of his wife, Annie, and his boys, Andrew and David, to open their home so often as they did to any who wished to come, to spend time, to laugh, to eat, to drink, to spin tales, to bond and to share in the huge well of knowledge and experience that he had acquired himself, through his father before him, and the many pioneers of our hobby at the time. Mark, you’ve been my mentor and friend for quite some time now. I hurt for your family, such a tragic end, for myself and the sense of loss I feel, for all of us who had the privilege of knowing you and spending time with you through all these years, sharing in your love of the hobby, of friendship and family.” Jack Stecher: “So very sorry to wake up this morning and hear that such a great man has passed. I was privileged several years ago to visit his home and view his collection while on our way to a Coventry show. Although not a flask collector personally, I was amazed to see such a beautiful collection. Mark took time to describe many of the flasks and what historical background they possess. A special day to remember. Mark and his wife were very gracious and welcoming people.” Greg Sweet: “I remember placing a bid on eBay for a scroll flask. Mark messaged me and said he saw that I was interested in the scroll. He said what I had bid was too high for that flask and suggested waiting until another came along. So I

Mark, standing next to the stamp, “Mold Blown Glass”, that he helped make a reality. Three of the items depicted on the stamp are from the Vuono collection.

watched the flask and as I remember it finally went for quite a bit more.” “About a week later Mark contacted me asking if I still had an interest in the flask. He said he had one for sale and it was mint. I bought it, and for less money. Who does that other than a true gentleman who loves to see people thrive in such a hobby.” Daniel Baldwin: “I remember the first time I visited with Mark and Annie, I was a young collector with a focus on bitters and inks. I was awestruck. I recall sitting on the couch just staring at what was in front of me, overwhelmed and nervous. Mark encouraged me to study, note the differences within molds, and was more than willing to answer any question I could throw at him.” “I thought I had overstayed my welcome, but no such thing. Annie had prepared food.” “Each and every time I visited after, Mark was more than patient, inviting and willing to teach. I wish I had visited more, an open invitation was always on the table.

With Mark’s advice and direction, just over a year ago I seriously started acquiring better flasks. Mark was a mentor, and a friend. And, in general, one of best I have had the pleasure of knowing.” Louise Krasniewicz: “I knew him in high school when we dated for several years! What you are saying about him now was true then. He was fun and kind and generous. Fifty years later and I still remember details of our good times together, including freezing at his hockey games, his bravery wearing a pink sweater when no other guy would dare do that, that fancy yellow car, and his love of languages, especially French.” Jamie Houdeshell: “I’m not sure when I first met Mark and his father but it would have been sometime in the 1970s, when I was a teenager. These men were class personified. I was carrying a flask back to my table at the 1984 Montgomery show and I remember Mark asking me what I had purchased. I don’t remember the flask anymore but I remember Mark being genuinely interested in what a 21-year-old collector had purchased. That is what I mean by class.” May 2020

Michael E. Anderson: “Having been in the bottle collecting community for fifty years, I certainly knew Mark Vuono and his deep passion for collecting. I never had any real conversations with him over the years, as we did not share the same passion for flasks and yet I saw him almost everywhere I went. I will never forget how nice of a person he was and he will be remembered in my eyes for his infectious smile and propensity for his professional character. Always, always, always the professional.”

inspire all of us to live up to his standard and to be the kind, sharing and generous person that Mark so clearly was.”

Dave Kam: “I was a novice flask collector and only knew Mark from the Facebook pages. I met him a couple months later at the Manchester national show. His speech about the hobby that weekend was very inspirational and his love for sharing his knowledge was undeniable. After that show we became friends and I now own several fine flasks because of his generosity. He was a true patriarch of the hobby and just a fine human being.”

Rich Tucker: “I first met Mark at the National Bottle Show in Las Vegas in 1988. It was Mark and his father, Charles. I was a new collector with a lot to learn, and I soon learned that Mark was a great mentor. We crossed paths at many bottle shows and the old live auctions. I learned to seek him out to learn about flasks and collectors. He always said “every flask has a story.”

Robert Girouard: “The first time I ever saw Mark he was with his dad, sitting front row center at a Skinner’s auction bidding on flasks in the Edmund Blaske sale back in 1983. I was sitting right behind him and I sat there in awe, watching him and his father buy flask after flask and competing for nothing but the best of the collection. “I was a newbie back then, going home with two common flasks, $50 apiece. I never met Mark or his father on that day but came to know Mark soon after that auction. Mark’s enthusiasm for early bottles and glass was contagious and we shared countless wonderful conversations over the years about a subject that we both loved so much. “Mark was not only generous with his knowledge, he was eager to share it with anybody who showed interest, especially new collectors. Mark was the kind of person and collector we should all aspire to be. So if anything good can come from this senseless tragedy, let Mark’s memory

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Mike Newman: “Mark Vuono was such a genuine guy, and so open with his hospitality along with Annie, Andrew, and David. To be such an icon and the biggest fish in the bottle hobby pond, his modest and uplifting disposition made all of us feel like our mediocre collections were at a level right there with him. Even when we had a bunch of clunkers.”

“And then there were the open houses held in conjunction with Norm’s barn sale and the Keene bottle shows. Annie loaded the kitchen with mounds of wonderful food and Mark held court in the bottle rooms. This huge two generation collection is such a treat to visit but so enhanced by the knowledgeable host. “Even a new collector with a beginner’s question would always be carefully answered by Mark Vuono, a trained teacher in his first career. This is born out in his many articles about historical flasks in the Antique Bottle magazine. I was always amazed at how he knew in whose collections great rare flasks resided and who had which colors of that flask. An amazing memory meant for storytelling and history lessons. “It’s fortunate that Andrew has acquired a love and knowledge of the collection and it would be wonderful if it becomes a third generation legacy. Antonio Picadio: “Mark’s face tells you everything you need to know about him. In the 18th century, when a man would

come into a great fortune, they would say he had been placed at ease. Mark’s is the face of a man who had been placed at ease, not by a great inheritance, but by a great life. “When I first became interested in historical flasks, I kept hearing about Mark Vuono and his collection. So, one day I called him, introduced myself, and asked if I could visit him and see his collection. Of course, he immediately invited me to his home. I arrived a few days later about ten in the morning and was greeted by that smiling gentle face. “His wife was out of the country, so it was just the two of us. Except for a break for a wonderful lunch, we spent the entire day talking about historical flasks. Mostly he talked and I listened. “You spend a day like that with a man, you learn a lot about him. I learned that Mark’s knowledge of the field was inexhaustible. I learned that he derived great joy in sharing that knowledge with others. But I also learned that he was a good man, content with his life, who enjoyed other people and had a deep sense of honor. He was a gentleman. “I considered him both a friend and a mentor who I will really miss. He enriched my life.”

“Measure a man by his character, not by his possessions, but by the strength of his words, and how he faces the world. Mark, as my friend, above all things was a statesman. A spokesman for our hobby, an icon to all.”

Collectors

Were Rolling in Antiques (especially oats) Edit by Ralph Finch

mpressive! On February 9, after forty years of searching, assembling and upgrading, Dan and Linda Castleman, due to health issues, sold the entirety of their collections. And it was, as I said, impressive. The Finches have been collecting for forty-plus years, and what we have acquired isn’t a hint of what the Castlemans have achieved.

Lot 501: Success Manure Spreader Advertising Tip Tray. Tin lithograph tip tray for Kemp & Burpee M’f ’g Co. “Success” Manure Spreader, Syracuse, NY. Measures 3.5 by 4.75 inches. Good condition, noting some wear around the edges and a small dent in a corner. $75-$100. Sold for $160. (Prices do not include the 13 percent buyer’s premium.)

Most of us who collect know that the first item is easy. Maybe so are the first dozen examples. But 800 lots?

Man, I wanted to bid on this! If I were starting my life over, and being a newsman/writer for 45 years, I think I would have specialized in manure spreaders. It seems a natural.

The sale was held by Dick Soulis in Lone Jack, Missouri, and included cardboard, tin and porcelain advertising signs and posters, especially collections of cardboard oatmeal containers, tin coffee canisters and tin litho tobacco tins, cigar boxes, countertop showcases, syrup tins, cigar, spice, and the list went on. I was impressed that the Castlemans weren’t just into quality, but quantity. For example, the pair liked cardboard containers of “rolled oats.” They had dozens of different examples! You’d need to have Wheaties for breakfast every day to have approached that number. A couple of notes: The Soulis photos are impressive, but the Castlemans’ collection is even more so. Here is an edited look at what the two-day sale included:

Lot 233: Circa 1940, a die-cut easel back counter sign, design of a Polar Bear holding a pack of cigarettes, reads Polar Mentholated Cigarettes, Cool And Soothing, by P. Lorillard Tobacco Co. Measures 17 by 13.25 inches. Estimated $100-$200, and sold for $350. A neat item that can remind you of a product that could give you lung cancer AND frostbite! Lot 382: Cast Brass and Cast Iron Advertising Match Safes. Two similar turtle figural advertising novelties, the hinged top of each with embossed letter advertising. One iron example for J.H. Lesher & Co. Tailors Trimmings, Chicago and a brass example with striker in the cover for Grand Rapids Brass Co. Souve-

nir, and with additional advertising cast in debossed letters on the under side. Largest turtle measures 1.25 by 5.25 by 2.75 inches. Very good condition throughout. $75-$150. Sold for $325. Grrrr. I meant to bid but, appropriately, I was toooo slow. Lot 318: Coca-Cola Advertising Vienna Art Plate. A Vienna Art Plate circa 1905 for Coca-Cola Bottling, displayed in an ornate frame of the period. A 10 inch diameter plate, and the frame measures 14.5 by 14.5 inches. Good condition, minor toning, with some light crazing. $100-$200. Sold for $400. Lot 542: Sedalia Street Fair Celluloid Advtg Pinback 1899. Color celluloid image of a buxom woman with long flowing blonde hair astride a mule with “Hello Bill! Tell ‘Em That You Saw Me At The Sedalia Street Fair,” Sept. 4-9, 1899; nice Missouri piece, 1.75 inches in diameter. Shows some age toning, crazing and insect holes in the Whitehead & Hoag signed reverse paper lining. $50-$75. Sold for $100. Lot 21: A Pre-Prohibition Advtg Tray for Ruhstallers Lager. The beautifully composed image of a woman portrayed in the manner of a Gibson Girl dressed in classical robes casting poppies and posed on the grounds of the Panama-California May 2020

Lot 318: Coca-Cola Advertising Vienna Art Plate.

Lot 21: A Pre-Prohibition Advertising Tray for Ruhstallers Lager.

Lot 233: Polar Mentholated Cigarettes, Cool And Soothing, by the P. Lorillard Tobacco Co.

Lot 44: Hills Liver Tickler Advertising Poster Circa 1910.

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Exposition held in San Diego, between Jan. 1, 1915, and Jan. 1, 1917, titled “California Invites The World,” the Sacramento Brewery was located at 12th and H streets as early as 1910, the tray rim advertises Ruhstaller’s Gilt Edge Lager Sacramento California. 12.25 inches in diameter. Very good condition, noting chipping to the top edge and very minor foxing, nice color and condition overall. $400-$600; sold for $275. Lot 44: Hills Liver Tickler Advertising Poster Circa 1910. A chromo-litho poster, portrait of a beauty for “Hills Liver Tickler - Fixes Your Liver & Bowels,” displayed in an oak frame circa 1890. Sight size measures 18 by 14 inches, frame measures 30 by 26 inches. Not examined outside of the frame, good condition with strong colors noting areas of in-painting on the bodice. $250-$400+. It tickled some bidder to liver it up and pay $1,350.

Lot 4: An early and rare coffee can for Universal Blend brand coffee by E.B. Millar & Co., Chicago, three-color tin litho features a patriotic image of Uncle Sam, signed Illinois Can Co., Chicago, original metal lid. Measures 6.5 by 4.25 inches. Very good condition throughout, and estimated at $800-$1,200; it sold for $450. Lot 20: A rare pre-Prohibition string holder advertising Anheuser-Busch’s Malt-Nutrine supplement, a bottle-form tin litho can with a friction fit base and string dispenser in the top. Measures 9.5 by 3.75 inches. Good to very good condition, some wear and darkening. $400$600. It sold for $525 (photo at right).

D Join us August 10th - August 16th at New York State’s largest antique show,

Madison-Bouckville, NY, on scenic Rt. 20 Dealers - Buyers - Friends Collectors What do we sell and collect? Bottles and milk bottles, stoneware, advertising, kitchen collectibles, political, furniture, antiques, just about everything!

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

How many days do I have to set up? Set up 1 day, set up 7 days... whatever works for you!

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

May 2020

By John Panella and Joe Widman

“THE LABEL TELLS THE STORY” GERMS, MICROBES, CONTAGION AND VIRUSES DURING THE GOLDEN ERA OF AMERICAN MEDICINE — SOME CLASSIC QUACK CURES AND REMEDIES

The History of Germ Theory Germ theory is centered around the belief that diseases are caused by the presence and reactions to specific microbes (microorganisms) within the body. This theory was developed in Europe and the United States and grew to gradual acceptance from the mid-1800s. It eventually was substituted for earlier theories of disease held by man for many thousands of years, and in doing so radically changed the practice of medicine. Today it remains the guiding principle in biomedicine. Awareness of the physical existence of germs preceded the theory by more than two centuries. Discoveries made by scientists and medical professionals pointed the way to germ theory. It all started with the invention of the first simple microscope in 1677, when Antoni van Leeuwenhoek was surprised to see tiny organisms (he called them ‘animalcules’) in droplets of water he was examining. He made no connection with disease at the time. Later scientists observed microbes and germs in the blood of people suffering from disease, suggesting that they were the effect of the disease rather than the cause. This fitted the then popular scientific theory of spontaneous generation. The observations and actions of Ignaz Semmelweis, Joseph Lister and John Snow would retrospectively be acknowledged as groundbreaking contributions to the acceptance of germ theory. Their work opened the door to research into the

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

identification of disease-causing germs and potential life-saving treatments. In this column I would like to concentrate on labeled medicine bottles and containers, trade cards and medical advertising, as these are direct vehicles into our medicines of the past. No long stories, simply a picture book of medical quackery of the past, which was constantly being legislated, causing it to change into the medical quackery of the present and future. As long as monetary rewards are derived from people concerned with their health and disease this will continue. An environment of ever-changing formulas and often dangerous mixtures of chemicals and herbs is a detriment to health. Awareness and independent investigation is the key to maintaining health and vigor. NOSTRUMS

Radam’s Microbe Killer Samuel Hopkins Adams in THE GREAT AMERICAN FRAUD was editorializing about this nostrum early on. It was at its peak of popularity, and then it seemed to drop out of notice for some time. After a hiatus in the American market, it was produced again in quantities and sold vigorously, especially in New York City and on the Pacific coast. Around 1909 the federal government seized a shipment and served notice on the firm in whose possession it was found. The Department of Agriculture was tasked with its analysis. The results as follows: Sulphuric acid 0.59 percent, Sulphurous acid 0.016, Inorganic matter (ash) 0.013 percent, Water by difference 99.381 percent. This analysis clearly showed it consisted of a mixture of sulphuric acid and sulphurous acid dissolved in hydrant water. It is quite possible that the sulphuric acid may have been present in part as sulphurous acid. It had absolutely

Radam's Microbe Killer ad and labeled bottle.

1905 Mulford Anti-Toxin ad

May 2020

By John Panella and Joe Widman

no therapeutic value, was confiscated and labeled misbranded and made illegal to sell. This product was sold internationally on a later date in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia, before eventually being banned in all places.

Piso’s Cure For Consumption After the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, patent medicines were being reigned in and many old nostrums were being subjected to many labeling and content changes in an attempt to avoid the letter of the law. Piso’s had claimed itself as a cure for consumption. The law was clear that consumption was too vague a term and the word cure was also out. Piso’s now had to promise in a modest manner to effect relief for coughs and colds. Its name was changed numerous times, first to Piso’s Remedy for Cough and Colds, and then marketed under the name Piso’s only. Old analysis shows the compositionn of the contents of Piso’s Cure for Consumption consisted of alcohol, chloroform, opium and cannabis indica. It was a very effective formula for the panacea that it actually was. In a reply to an inquiry as to whether their remedy contained morphine and cannabis indica the company stated: “Since the year 1872 Piso’s Cure has contained no morphine or anything derived from opium.” The question as to cannabis indica was not answered. Analysis showed that the “cure” contained chloroform, alcohol, and apparently cannabis indica. It is therefore another of the remedies which cannot possibly cure consumption, but, on the contrary, tend by their poisonous and debilitating drugs to undermine the victim’s stamina. As you can see in the pictures many ingredient changes took place once the law mandated the contents be labeled on the bottle.

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Image of labeled Radam's Microbe Killer bottle.

By John Panella and Joe Widman

OTHER QUACK NOSTRUMS AND ADVERTISING The next assortment of cures and remedies promotes their promises and ingredients right there on the boxes and labels. A picture is worth a thousand words so this is the end of the story. Judge for yourself, the proof is right there. SOME FAMOUS QUOTES ON QUACKERY 1. “If your brain won’t get you into the papers, sign a “patent medicine” testimonial. Maybe your kidneys will.” – Toronto Star, cited in A.J. Cramp, Nostrums & Quackery, Volume 3. Pseudo Medicine, AMA Chicago 1936. 2. “Our experience of more than thirty years in the enforcement of the Food and Drugs Act has demonstrated that testimonials may be obtained for practically any article labeled as a treatment for any disease.” – Walter G. Campbell, Food and Drug Administration Records, Washington National Records Center, Suitland, Maryland. 3. “No quack is a perfect quack without a pretense of religion.” – Charles W. Warner, Quacks, Jackson, Mississippi, 1930. 4. “What need of an Aladdin’s lamp when we can build a palace with a patent pill.” – James Russell Lowell, An Introduction to the History of Medicine, Philadelphia, 1922. 5. “It is the most extraordinary thing, but I never read a patent medicine advertisement without being impelled to the TOP LEFT: Piso's Cure For Consumption, the tall variant, large size. There are two variants of the larger size bottles, and both have different labels. TOP RIGHT: Piso's Remedy, outer box, sample, listing cannabis indica and chloroform. Collection of Brett Weathersbee. BOTTOM: Beautiful grouping of different Piso's bottles in different colors and label variations.

May 2020

By John Panella and Joe Widman

conclusion that I am suffering from the particular disease therein dealt with in its most virulent form.” – Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men in a Boat, New York, New York 1889. This analysis particularly true in today’s world. Don’t believe everything you see and hear. CREDITS This project would not have been possible without the photographs and hands-on advice 24/7 of Gordon Hugi from Rough and Ready, California; the ultimate labeled bottle collector, Matt Knapp, Frederick, Maryland; Ernie Dimler and Sophia Turner, both from Maryland; Paul Bata of Niles, Michigan; Patricia and Dr. Dennis Pappas Sr., Birmingham, Alabama; the late Dr. George D. Oetting, retired Director of Education for the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, Montgomery, Alabama; Dr. Robert Kravetz, M.D., University of Arizona; Christine Rusiniak, Tucson, Arizona; Brian Commerton, Pascagoula, Mississippi; John F. Tague III and Dana Charlton Zarro, my NYC counterparts and local advisors in bottlemania. Facebook coast-to-coast and international blogs enhance my daily quest for interesting ideas and information.

r BIBLIOGRAPHY PHOTOS: TOP LEFT: "ONE NIGHT COUGH CURE" from the Kohler Manufacturing Company of Baltimore, Maryland. Ingredients include: Alcohol, cannabis indica, morphine sulphate and chloroform. One of the most desirable of the quack patent medicines. From the Terry McMurray collection. TOP RIGHT: An early photo of William Radam. Image courtesy of Manny Bitirrieri. BOTTOM RIGHT: A rare large size bottle of Piso's Cure for Consumption.

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

1. American Health Quackery, Collected essays from James Harvey Young. 2. The Great American Fraud, by Samuel Hopkins Adams, 1905. 3. A Manual of Pharmacodynamics, Richard. 4. An Epitome of the Newer Materia Medica, Parke, Davis & Company, Detroit, Michigan, 1886. 5. Nostrums & Quackery, Volumes 1 thru 3, A.J. Cramp for the AMA, 1912, 1921, 1936.

May 2020

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“The worlds 1 st full colour bottle mag. simply got...

BETTER & BETTER revitalised, reinvented & reinvigorated!”

BBR130 Incorporating No 130 January - March

rt Collectors Ma

2012

Slabtastic digging tales & new finds

Dr Webster’s

& pieces

Cordials

Pots • Quack Cures • Breweriana • Cream • Inks Lids • Ginger Beers Doulton • Guinness Antique Bottles • Pot • Baby Feeders • Early Mineral Waters Clay Pipes • Wine Bottles • Enamel Signs • Poisons • Eyebaths • • Pharmacy Antique Advertising

latest finds collectors & thier

er James Rog

All the pieces, bits

Researched articles, Fakes focus, special features, upcoming sale items, Show calendar, Classified ads. Every page in glorious full colour.

Essential reading since 1979.

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BBR, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Barnsley, S Yorks S74 8HJ, England Int tel: 0044 1226 745156 email: sales@onlinebbr.com

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Articles inside

Collectors Were Rolling in Antiques

Mark Vuono Remembered

Fruit Jar Rambles: The St. Denis Jars

Letters to the Editor

An Interview with Mark Vuono

Nebraska Sodas, Digging, and a Great New Book

The Story of One Salve Jar

Classified Advertisements

Heard it through the Grapevine

Show Calendar