B&e 4julyaug2011

Vol. 22 No. 4

July - August • 2011

Bottles

and

Extras

Feature Story: The Boston Ranch

Other Articles Included:

• Using GIS to locate Historical Sites

• Legends of the Jar

• Keeping a Lid on It

• The Dating Game

• A Hike in the Park

• Perfection Water Bottle Co.

The official publication of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors

Since 1993

Glass n a eric m A rly a E of y t u Bea e h t er Discov • Call or email us for auction dates

• We pay top dollar for quality bottles and glass • Free appraisals

2523 J Street Suite 203 Sacramento, CA 95816 1800-806-7722

On the web: americanbottle.com Email: info@americanbottle.com

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Bottles an Extras d

Vol. 22 No. 4

July-August 2011

No. 196

Table of Contents FOHBC Officer Listing 2010-2012...... 2 President’s Message.............................. 3 Recent Finds.......................................... 4 At Auction.............................................. 5 Shards of Wisdom................................. 6 A Book in Review................................. 8 Regional Reports................................. 10 Bottle Collecting in Kansas

By Ed and Phil Stewart............... 22

The Boston Ranch

By Ken Morrill................................... 25 Using GIS to Locate Historic Sites and

Potential Privies

By Jeff Mahalik.................................... 30 Legends of the Jar: Dick Bere –

Collector Extraordinaire

By Bruce W. Schank........................... 32 Keeping a Lid on It

By Rex Barber...................................... 36 Perfection Water Bottle Company

By Barry L. Bernas.................................38 A Hike in the Park Yields an Old Bottle

By David C. Hess....................................48

The Dating Game

By Bill Lockhart and Harvey S. Teal

with contributions by

Tod von Mechow . ........................49 George W. Swett Root Beer

By Donald Yates . ........................59 Classified Ads & Ad Rate Info............62 FOHBC Show-Biz

Show Calendar Listings...............66 Membership Additions and Changes.....69 Membership Application.....................71 Membership Benefits.................................72

Don’t miss an issue - Please check your labels for expiration information.

Fair use notice: Some material above has been submitted for publication in this magazine and/or was originally published by the authers and is copyrighted. We, as a non-profit organization, offer it here as an educational tool to increase further understanding and discussion of bottle collecting and related history. We believe this constitutes “fair use” of the copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this material for purposes of your own that go beyond “fair use,” you must obtain permission from the copyrighted owner(s).

WHO DO I CONTACT ABOUT THE MAGAZINE? CHANGE OF ADDRESS, MISSING ISSUES, etc., contact Alan DeMaison, 1605 Clipper Cove, Painesville, OH 44077; phone: (H) 440-358-1223, (C) 440-796-7539; e-mail: a.demaison@sbcglobal.net To ADVERTISE, SUBSCRIBE or RENEW a subscription, see pages 62 and 71 for details.

To SUBMIT A STORY, send a LETTER TO THE EDITOR or have COMMENTS and concerns, Contact: Martin Van Zant, Bottles and Extras Editor, 208 Urban St., Danville, IN 46122 Phone: 812-841-9495 or E-mail: mdvanzant@yahoo.com BOTTLES AND EXTRAS © (ISSN 1050-5598) is published bi-monthly (6 Issues per year) by the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc. (a non-profit IRS C3 educational organization) at 1605 Clipper Cove, Painesville, OH 44077; phone: 440-358-1223; Website: http://www.fohbc.com. Non-profit periodicals postage paid at Raymore, MO 64083 and additional mailing office, Pub. #005062.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Bottles and Extras, FOHBC, 1605 Clipper Cove, Painesville, OH 44077; phone: 440-358-1223. Annual subscription rate is: $30 or $45 for First Class, $50 Canada and other foreign, $65 in U.S. funds. The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc. assumes no responsibility for products and services advertised in this publication.

The names: Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc., and Bottles and Extras ©, are registered ® names of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc., and no use of either, other than as references, may be used without expressed written consent from the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc. Certain material contained in this publication is copyrighted by, and remains the sole property of, the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc., while others remain property of the submitting authors. Detailed information concerning a particular article may be obtained from the Editor. Printed by Modernlitho, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

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

FOHBC Officers 2010-2012 President: Gene Bradberry, PO Box 341062,

Memphis, TN 38184; phone: 901-372-8428;

e-mail: Genebsa@comcast.net First Vice-President: Bob Ferraro, 515 Northridge Dr,

Boulder City, NV 89005; phone: 702-293-3114;

e-mail: mayorferraro@aol.com.

Second Vice-President: Ferdinand Meyer V, 101 Crawford,

Studio 1A, Houston, TX 77002; phone: 713-222-7979;

e-mail: fmeyer@fmgdesign.com.

Secretary: James Berry, 200 Fort Plain Watershed Rd, St. Johnsville, NY 13452; phone: 518-568-5683; e-mail: jhberry10@yahoo.com Treasurer: Mike Newman Historian: Richard Watson, 10 S Wendover Rd,

Medford, NJ 08055; phone: 856-983-1364;

e-mail: crwatsonnj@verizon.net Editor: Martin Van Zant, 208 Urban St,

Danville, IN 46122; phone: 812-841-9495;

e-mail: mdvanzant@yahoo.com.

Merchandising Director: office vacant Membership Director: Jim Bender, PO Box 162,

Sprakers, NY 12166; phone: 518-673-8833;

e-mail: jim1@frontiernet.net Conventions Director: Tom Phillips, 6645 Green Shadows Ln., Memphis, TN 38119; phone: 901-277-4225;

e-mail: tomlisa.phillips@gmail.com

Business Manager: Alan DeMaison, 1605 Clipper Cove,

Painesville, OH 44077; phone: (H)440-358-1223; (C) 440-796-7539;

e-mail: a.demaison@sbcglobal.net Director-at-Large: Carl Sturm, 88 Sweetbriar Branch,

Longwood, FL 32750; phone:407-332-7689;

e-mail: glassmancarl@sprintmail.com Director-at-Large: Sheldon Baugh, 252 W Valley Dr,

Russellville, KY 42276; phone: 270726-2712;

e-mail: shel6943@bellsouth.net Director-at-Large: John Pastor, PO Box 227,

New Hudson, MI 48165; phone: 248-486-0530;

e-mail: jpastor@americanglassgallery.com Midwest Region Director: Joe Hardin, 594 Layman Rd,

New Vienna, OH 45159; phone: 937-28-9930;

e-mail: jkcollectables@gmail.com.

Northeast Region Director: Ed Kuskie, 352 Pineview Dr,

Elizabeth, PA 15037; phone: 412-405-9061;

e-mail: bottlewizard@comcast.net.

Southern Region Director: Jack Hewitt, 1765 Potomac Ct,

Lawrenceville, GA 30043; phone: 770-856-6062,

e-mail: hewittja@bellsouth.net.

Western Region Director: Dave Maryo,

12634 Westway Ln, Victorville, CA 92392;

phone: 760-617-5788; e-mail: dmaryo@verizon.net Public Relations Director: office vacant

Bottles and Extras

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Fohbcs President’s Message Gene Bradberry

(901) 372-8428 Genebsa@comcast.net Well, folks, by the time you get this issue of Bottles and Extras, the National Bottle & Advertising Show in Memphis will be history. I am looking forward to a great show and convention as well as a super auction. I would like to personally thank Ron Pevahouse and Tom Phillips for their untiring efforts in setting up the auction, A special thanks goes to Bill Meier for doing the online part of it and to Ferd Meyer for his diligent work on the website and getting the auction on our website, I think it looks great.

Now for a few announcements. As mentioned in our last issue, Wayne Lowry has stepped down as Conventions Director effective at the end of the show on June 26. I have named Tom Phillips as our new Conventions Director. Tom has been a collector and Memphis Bottle Collectors Club member, MBCC President and Show Chairman over the past 40 years. Tom travels the country extensively in his business and can easily meet with and check out many locations in his regular travels. He will be a real asset in this position, He has an excellent working knowledge of shows and their needs.

To replace June Lowry, who is stepping down as Business Manager, I am naming former FOHBC Treasurer Alan DeMaison as the new Business Manager. Alan did an outstanding job as Treasurer and I look forward to him continuing as a most worthy Business Manager as well. To contact him, send all correspondence (e-mails or snail mails) to his address as listed in this issue. He has fully assumed the duties of Business Manager.

Thanks, again, to Wayne and June for their service to the Federation.

Secretary Randy Driskill also resigned and I have named Jim Berry, formerly the Public Relations Director, to replace him. Thanks for your service, Randy. Jim is a very capable individual to take over this most important position as records need to be reported and kept in a factual manner.

The next change is that of Membership Director. Ed Herrold resigned this post the first of April and I have named Jim Bender to the post. He previously held the Northeast Region Director’s job and is quite capable of doing a fine job here. Jim and I have discussed several creative ideas to increase our membership and we will be sharing them with you in upcoming issues of the magazine. Ed Herrold is a longtime supporter of the Federation and will be missed.

Thanks, Ed, for your service.

All of these appointments were made during a Board of Directors conference call on April 28, with the support,

PO Box 341062 Memphis, TN 38184

knowledge and approval of the Board.

It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Johnnie Fletcher of the Oklahoma Territory Bottle & Relic Club as the new Southern Region Editor for that region by Southern Region Director Jack Hewitt. The appointment was made since Bill Baab, of Augusta, Georgia, is stepping down after having served several years in that position. A hearty thanks to Bill for his service, but he is not totally going away. He is going to serve the Federation by helping proof each issue of B and E for the foreseeable future, Thanks, Bill, for your past service as well as your willingness to continue to serve.

We still have much work to do with EXPO 2012 coming up in Reno, Nev. Check out the advertisement in this issue and be sure to get in your reservations early. It promises to be a great show. By the way, we also are working on National Show sites for 2013 and 2014.

I would like to solicit articles for your magazine, Bottles and Extras. If you have submitted an article in the past and it never got printed, please resubmit it and it will be given every consideration. We want to hear from ALL areas of collecting. Send your articles to our Editor, Martin Van Zant, whose address is in this issue.

As alluded to earlier, the NEW Federation Website will be up and running by the time you read this. I have seen the preview and it looks really great. Ferd Meyer has done a super job of putting it all together. On the site, you may read about the listed Federation officers as well as check out their photos and biographies. Folks, this site is something that you can really be proud of. IT IS JUST SUPERB! It is your site and will be very user-friendly, as you will see. Again, a hearty thanks to Ferd Meyer and all of those who worked so diligently in getting it up and going.

I really want to emphasize to all of you that we need all members to be involved and what better way than to submit an article for publication. If you have never written one before, just give us a call and we will head you in the right direction and assist you along the way. This is YOUR Federation, YOUR Website and YOUR Bottles and Extras.

Let’s all strive to make YOUR Federation the best we can.

As always, LET’S KEEP THE FUN IN BOTTLE COLLECTING! Gene Bradberry, President, FOHBC

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Bottles and Extras

Recent Finds Garth and Linda Ziegenhagen report an extremely important new find in a A.P. HOTALING & Co. J.H. CUTTER (embossed crown) WHISKY, PORTLAND. OGN. Garth states that “an 80-year-old man had the bottle and was going to put it on eBay. He dug it in The Dalles Oregon in the 1970′s. He doesn’t want his name used. Richard Siri and Mike Dolcini have the half pints. I have another shard of the pint that Randy Littlefied had dug. It shows the slug plate well but the top is broken off. Apparently this is the only one known”.

OGN is an older abbreviation for Oregon and WHISKY is an older spelling of whiskey. Also the crown is a much fancier crown than normally used. It doesn’t have the bumps on the shoulder that were invented in 1874 for air vents.

A.P. Hotaling opened the Portland office in 1873 and was the most successful whiskey dealer in the west after he acquired the Cutter brand name. There is much more to the story of acquiring the Cutter brand already on the blogs. See Western Glob Top Whiskey’s Blog.

When power’s out, go antiquing

Here’s one of those you-never-know stories. School was in full session and it was just about out for the day. I had decided to stay and do some school work. It was about 3:15 and all of a sudden the lights went out. Now not only did the lights go out, but all the power to the whole school.

Well, shoot, what am I going to do now. It’s hard to enter grades on the computer when there’s no power. I left disappointed in not getting anything done. Since I left early and wasn’t ready to go home I decided to take a different than normal route and go in the opposite direction of home and go east. It was early enough and I decided to stop by an antiques store. Sometimes when I get off early I look for digging sites.

I walked in and started looking around the shop. There was an older lady who owns and operates this store. There a few bottles here and there and the normal antiques you find in the stores. In the cases were a couple of fruit jars. I tried to finagle her down on the prices. She even made a couple of calls, but I couldn’t get them in my price range. I was trying to be cheap so I could make a little money on them. They had nice colors, but not that nice. We continued to talk as I ventured around and looked at all the wonderful antiques in her store. All of a sudden, she said, “hey, wait a minute, I have a jar in my car if you’re interested.” Sure, I said what is it?

She said, “Hang on a minute, I think it says Hoosier something on it.” I didn’t flinch because a month earlier a student brought me in a supposedly Hoosier jar that was in fact a Hoosier spice, white milk glass piece of nothing. Well, it wasn’t even a jar. So I didn’t even get my hopes up when this lady said she had something with Hoosier on it.

About five minutes later, the lady went out to her car and came back with a Hoosier jar, yes, a real one. I smiled as she handed me the jar and said, well, this is nice but it has the wrong lid, how much? She said I’ll take $ -- bucks. I said, is that the best you can do, and she said I’ll throw in the tax if you want it. I won’t tell you the price, but I will tell you that it was rather cheap. Once she brought the jar in, I wouldn’t put it down. I was done shopping after that. That made my day, my week, month and a great beginning to a new year. I went home and called all of my bottle buddies; well, most of them anyway.

– Martin D. Van Zant

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July - August 2011

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SOLD at auction SOLD

Compliments of American Bottle Auctions

quite a history. During the 1940s, a man in Tucson, Ariz., bought an old adobe row-house in an older part of town.

While restoring the structure, (SACRAMENTO, Calif.) – A mint condition spin mold fifth “ONLY KNOWN PERFECT EXAMPLE he discovered a closed-off, abandoned basement. There, bottle for Jule’s Bourbon, probably OF A JULIUS GOLDMAN BACK BAR he found boxes of papers and made around 1900 and most likely artifacts once belonging to the only known perfect example of BOTTLE GAVELS FOR $25,200” Julius Goldman, a frontier a Julius Goldman back bar bottle, saloon keeper and local liquor distributor. soared to $25,200 to claim Among the scattered piles were several old bottles, top lot honors in an Internet including three magnificent back bars. One was broken at and catalog sale that began the neck, another was just a piece of the lip. But the third April 29 and ended May was in pristine condition – the 14 by American Bottle bottle offered in this auction.

Auctions (americanbottle.

In addition to its near-mint com). grade of 9.9 out of 10 for The bottle sailed overall condition, the bottle past its high estimate boasted an applied top with of $20,000, which was enamel writing and gold expected considering decoration. it is quite possibly the Following are additional finest back bar bottle in highlights from the auction. existence. Hundreds of All prices quoted include a 12 other rare, vintage and percent buyer’s premium. highly collectible bottles A triangular-shaped, also crossed the block, extremely dark National to include an amazing Bitters bottle (C.C. Jerome offering of blown three& Company, Detroit, 1865), mold inkwells, a nice with extremely crude overall collection of back bar glass and with areas of bottles and some rare waviness and uneven texture Western whiskey bottles that made it hard to believe it and flasks. had no pontil (which it didn’t), “All in all it was a went for $12,880. The bottle very satisfying auction had been purchased by a with great participation,” solider in Detroit in the 1940s said Jeff Wichmann and had been in his collection of American Bottle ever since.

Auctions. “The inkwells, A rarely-seen Keach a very special and select Torpedo Soda bottle (made grouping, did quite well, in Baltimore), apricot puce in considering the market. color and graded 9.3, mainly Some categories were up for some extremely minor and some were down, but scratches and what appears overall the news was more to have been a professional good than bad.” By the National: Goldman: cleaning, hammered for time it was over, 248 lots National Bitters bottle, The top lot of the sale $8,960. The bottle was had sold and the auction C.C. Jerome & Co., was this Julius Goldman extremely crude with lots Detroit, 1865, very dark, tallied $239,429. back bar bottle for Jule’s of whittle, and the fact that 10 ½ inches tall ($12,880).

The Julius Goldman Bourbon. another one won’t be seen at bottle came to auction with

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Bottles and Extras We were greatly disappointed to be informed by the Wyndham Hotel staff that the “Greater Midwest Antique Bottle Show & Sale” in Indy was canceled. It’s a long way to drive for nothing.

We’re still planning on attending the national show in Memphis. I think I’ll call the day before we leave to verify all future shows.

Sincerely, Linda Dunn

Schmidt Coca-Cola Museum closed; Online, live auctions are coming up ELIZABETHTOWN, Tenn. – It was the biggest and best privately held collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia in the world – one-of-a-kind posters, rare serving trays and bottles, colorful jewelry, lighted signs, antique delivery trucks – altogether some 80,000 items worth as much as $10 million.

The Schmidt Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia is divesting its collection which dates to the 1800s and fills a museum and warehouse totaling 32,000 square feet. So members of the public will have a chance to bid on all of it.

The items of most interest will be sold at live auctions, the first of which is tentatively planned for September.

Online auctions of some of the items were to begin in late June or July. “Anyone who has a credit card or PayPal account can participate,” said a spokesman for the Schmidt family. “There will be a catalog issued for the live action and it will be designed to be a collector’s item.”

Coca-Cola memorabilia authority Alan Petretti says two pieces stand out and each is conservatively valued at $30,000, but could conceivably go for much more. One is a large, bright yellow poster, circa 1895, featuring a woman with a beverage in her hand. It reads, “Drink Coca-Cola. Delicious.

Refreshing. Cures Headache. Relieves Exhaustion. At Soda Fountains 5 Cents.” It is in immaculate condition and is the only one of its kind to survive.

The other is known as the “Victorian Girl” serving tray and is one of only two known. It’s circa 1897.

Richard Opfer Auctioneering will handle the events.

The Schmidt family will establish a foundation where the vast majority of funds from sales will be used for benevolent purposes.

Dear Bottles and Extras, Just a quick note to tell you how much we love all the articles and stories in your magazine.

We try to make (attend) a few of the shows that are advertised each year. Some we like better than others but we’ve enjoyed them all.

Dear Bottles and Extras, Creative Promotions would like to apologize to any and all bottle collectors for the cancellation of the “Greater Midwest Antique Bottle Show & Sale” in Indianapolis. We tried to contact as many people as we could; however, we could not reach everyone, even with today’s technology. The Wyndham Hotel shut us down, which left us with no choice three days before the show. We know many of you showed up and drove many miles, so once again, we apologize for the great inconvience this may have caused. Please do not let this reflect on this great hobby we have.

Sincerely, MVZ A Special from Mike Elling All Bottlers; A special run of the 2011 Graduation CocaCola bottles were made for the Philadelphia territory. The distributer there, offers them to local high schools for fund raisers and commemoration. The special bottles are offered every year, but they are made only if a bottler wants to actually order them. The are applied color label bottles, which are considered premium for collectors. Other bottles available have plastic vinyl sleeves, but they are not considered as permanent to soda bottle collectors. One of these is going to my grandson, Baylen Thompson, of Shalimar, Fla., who is graduating from high school, and another is going to my niece Angie Hart, who just graduated from college in California.

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Bottles and Extras The Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club Proudly Presents its 45th Annual

ANTIQUE BOTTLE, FRUIT JAR, ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLE SHOW AND SALE

The Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club was established in 1966. The club is the 5th Charter Member of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors.

ONE DAY SHOW Saturday, September 10, 2011 9:00AM to 4:00PM Early Bird starts at 8:00AM Admission $3.00. Earlybird $5.00. *** $1.00 off admission with this flyer . *** Not Valid On Early Bird

Including insulators, small antiques, advertising, fruit jars, bottles, glass, postcards, primitive items galore with much much, much more!

FREE PARKING!!!!!

Member F.O.H.B.C.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Don Wippert (818) 346-9833 or Dick Homme (818) 362-3368 or internet: http://www.lahbc.org

SHOW LOCATION:

ad

Duarte Ro

*

Sant a Anita Avenue

Take the San Bernardino Fwy. I-10 Exit at Santa Anita Ave. Go north on Santa Anita five miles to Duarte Road turn west on Duarte Road or exit south on Santa Anita from I-210 and go south to Duarte Road.

Foothill Fwy I-210

Rosemead Blvd

The Arcadia Masonic Temple 50 West Duarte Road Arcadia, CA

Huntington Drive

N

To: San Bernardino Fwy I-10

▲

The Pittsburgh Antique Bottle Club Presents Our Annual Antique Bottle Show Sunday November 13, 2011 9:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m $3.00 General Admission $25 Early Admission - 7:00 a.m.

Bottles, stoneware, tins, pottery, advertising, ephemera, small collectibles, and table-top antiques.

Appraisals and Club Displays

Location: The Ice Garden, Rostraver Twp. Exit 46 B off I-70 to Rt 51 North, 4.1 miles to The Ice Garden (Detailed directions on back) 110+ TABLES AVAILABLE (1ST $30, additional tables $25 – 3 table limit) Dealer set up at 7:00 a.m Sunday (doors open at 6:00 a.m.)

DEALER HOSPITALITY ROOM 6-8 p.m. Sat. Night For more information and reduced room rates contact: Bob DeCroo 694 Fayette City Rd., Fayette City, PA 15438 (724) 326-8741 Jay Hawkins 1280 Mt. Pleasant Rd., West Newton, PA 15089 (724) 872-6013

bottle book ad.indd 1

1/13/2011 3:39:10 PM

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A Book in Review Ginger Beer & Root Beer Heritage, 1790-1930

By Don and Betsy Yates A review

By Bill Baab

Root beer: what does that remind you of? For me, it’s a root beer float, in which a large gob of vanilla ice cream battles a straw for space in the glass. Sheer bliss!

Ever wonder about the origins of the drink? Well, wonder no more.

Donald and Elizabeth (Betsy) Yates, of Homerville, Ohio, in 2003 published Ginger Beer & Root Beer Heritage, 1790-1930, packing gallons of information within its wellillustrated 350 pages. Happily for new collectors, the book remains available.

The Yateses quickly point out that they didn’t do all the research – just gathered material written by others before them and placed it all inside the book. They devote three whole pages to listing the names of those contributors.

The history of root beer, the drink’s aromatic flavors, a state-by-state listing of root beer brewers – you name it, this book’s got it.

England had 20,000 ginger beer brewers, but no root beer brewers, according to the authors. Why not? Wintergreen, the primary root beer flavor, was considered to be medicinal.

Canada had 10 or so root beer brewers.

Also listed are the potteries that produced the stoneware containers used by ginger beer and root beer manufacturers.

The second half of the book starts with a colorful look at the artifacts of the Root Beer Museum in Pottsville, Pa. “We were allowed to photograph the great artifacts in the many wings of the museum,” the authors said. The collection included handmade oak barrels – 50 of them – and 40 halfsized barrels, 14-inch-high ceramic root beer dispensers, many of them hand-painted.

Donald and Betsy devoted thousands of hours of research in developing this wonderful book and the histories behind the root beer brewers simply make fascinating reading.

The book won the prestigious Pinnacle Award as self-published from the National American Book Dealers Exchange (NABE).

You, too, can own a copy of this book for $25 postpaid from Don Yates, 8300 River Corners Road, Homerville, OH 44235.

Bottles and Extras

July - August 2011

The Golden Age of English Glass 1650-1775

By Dwight P. Lanmon FSA (Antique collectors’ Club, Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK. ISBN 978-1-85149-656-3 ©May 2011)

A review

By Willy Van den Bossche As a former director of The Corning Museum of Glass and with 50 years experience in antique glass Dwight P. Lanmon wrote this book which may be considered as one of the most interesting books on English glass spanning the most critical period 1650 – 1775 in the development of the English glass industry for the last 25 years.

The book differs from its predecessors because of its comprehensive survey of objects discussed in depth based on extensive research and experience.

After a short history of glassmaking in England, including tools used by glassblowers, and a survey of drinking in England the author systematically builds up the book on English glassware of lead glass, gadrooning, drinking glasses with heavy-baluster stems, diamond-point engraving, wheelengraved English glass, panel-moulded stems, Jacobite glass, glasses with internal spirals in their stems, gilding on glass, glass candlesticks, “branches” and chandeliers, window glass, plate glass and mirrors, English black-glass bottles and chemical analyses of the glasses. Many Notes, an extended Bibliography, and an Index complete the book.

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The heart of the book is built up around the important glass and bottle collection from John H. Bryan illustrating in full colour one hundred and forty eight (148) items. Many of the objects in the book are of great rarity, importance, and beautiful photographed.

The history of English glass (1650-1775) and the collection is very well researched and written, easy to read and understand, magnificently illustrated by one hundred and ninety two (192) figures such as paintings, engravings, the techniques used for glassmaking and decorating, etc. The chapter on English black-glass bottles illustrates the evolution of English “wine” bottles from the beginning (c.1650) up to 1809 with bottles sealed and dated for each decade starting with the famous and extremely rare “Thomas Bydder / 1674 / Thistle Boon” bottle. In order to better understand what the objects meant, the author expanded upon the surrounding social, technological, and historical milieu for each object and reevaluates the history of glassmaking in England during the period 1650-1775, lead glass included.

The book is a luxury edition (373 pages, 319 ill., 30.5 x 24.5 x 3.8 cm, 2.6 kilos), hardback, attractive dust jacket, made of high quality paper inside, well bound, and excellent printing. The price of £50.00 (c.EUR 65.00) is very reasonable for it’s quality.

I highly recommend this book, which should be in each library of the serious glass collector.

The Golden Age of English Glass 1650-1775 by Dwight P. Lanmon, FSA is published by The Antique Collectors’ Club, Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK. (£50.00). To order a copy please call 01394 389977 or visit at www.antiquecollectorsclub.com

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Northeast Regional News Chris Davis 522 Woodhill Newark, NY 14513 (315) 331-4078 cdavis016@rochester.rr.com

The Applied Lip Finger Lakes Bottle Collectors Association, Ithaca, N.Y. April’s program was “A Night at the Circus,” presented by Don Wilkinson.

Don spoke about circus collectibles and circus nostalgia. This sounds like a very good topic.

FLBCA “by the numbers” -20 attended the March meeting, 44 memberships in 2011, 104 memberships in 1973! I guess many clubs share similar numbers, when compared to the 1970s.

Traveler’s Companion Greater Buffalo Bottle Collectors Association, Buffalo, N.Y. The GBBCA met at the Pearl Street Brewing Co. in April. The members attending had dinner there, followed by a lecture on Buffalo beer styles and then a tour of the brewery.

There was a German film crew there making a film called “Bamberg: A City Built on Beer”. At the May meeting, the film was shown. It was in German, with English subtitles. It was a quality production, all about the beer culture in Germany. June featured Dan Barski who spoke on colonial black glass wine bottles. Dan showed the evolution of the wine bottle from very early times to the present.

The club has held some of its meetings at the Cosmopolitan Art Gallery, in downtown Buffalo. It is a very interesting location, in a relaxed atmosphere.

The Queen City, Buffalo, once had 40 breweries in the late 19th century, second only to Brooklyn, in New York State. It was prohibition and industrialization that ended the run of many of

Buffalo’s smaller breweries.

The craft beer movement of the late 1980s and 1990s revitalized the local beer scene immensely.

Popular breweries like “Flying Bison” and “Pearl Street Brewing Co.”, where the April meeting was held, are keeping Buffalo’s beer history alive and well.

Vince Martonis and Tom Karapantso attended the Crocker Farms Stoneware and Redware Auction, held the same weekend as the Baltimore Bottle show, in nearby Sparks, Md. Vince reported on both events for the newsletter, which included many great photos. Vince was able to add eight lots of marked NYS redware pieces to his collection. Noteworthy was the top lot in the auction. A blue slip-decorated, incised memorium jug, made for a Schenectady potter who drowned in 1823 at age 22, was estimated to bring $20-$30,000. The selling price, however, with buyers’ premium, was $138,000! The piece was recently discovered in a closet in California. At the Baltimore show, one of the displays was “Baltimore Redware”, which garnered several awards.

Bottles Along the Mohawk Mohawk Valley Antique Bottle Club, Utica, N.Y. The club’s new show location, at the Sons of Italy Hall in downtown Utica, proved to be a very good move.

It was much more centrally located compared to the two former show venues in Whitseboro and Herkimer.

There was ample parking at the new site, with easy loading and unloading.

Lighting was terrific. Larger, 8-foot x 3-foot tables were welcome, with comfortable, padded chairs. The soldout show seemed to draw well, with good sales reported. For the first time, contracts with a map and information, could be printed out from the club website. Once again, the club held a pet food drive to support a local humane society. The poor economy has resulted in a large number of pets being given

Bottles and Extras up for adoption.

The show also offered an outstanding selection of milk bottles, by some well-known dealers, in addition to the usual items found.

Members John & Carol Spellman continued their series of articles on the Florida bottle show scene in the winter months. There they visited Carl Sturm, and Jim & Lynn Mitchell.

Both collections were a feast for the eyes. John & Carol are relatively new “snowbirds”.

May’s program was on Wheaton Bottles and the Wheaton Glass Works, of southern New Jersey. The works weas founded in 1888, but seem to be more well known these days for bright, colorful reproduction bottles and flasks.

The company is still in business today.

A little known fact is that some of the Jim Beam and Avon bottles were made there. Ron Weir was the presenter.

The club held a dig in May. Novices were welcome, to learn from the experts. Members were asked to bring heavy shoes or boots, gloves, shovel, garden digger, water to drink, and a good luck charm. This had to be a fun way to spend the day. One of benefits of belonging to an antique bottle club, for sure!

An article on the H.G. Hotchkiss Essential Oil Co. of Lyons, N.Y., by Richard Kelley, was featured in the May newsletter. The longtime peppermint oil company was founded in 1839 and in business through about 1990. It was located on the Erie Canal. Hotchkiss was a world leader in the business, and was considered to be the father of the commercial peppermint oil business in America.

Baltimore Bottle Digger Baltimore Antique Bottle Club, Baltimore, Md. April’s program featured Jeff Ingram, of Thomas Restorations, who presented “Baltimore Redware, Stonware, and Restoration.” Jeff is a longtime collector and renowned stonware restorer. It was revealed there were about 80-90 potteries in Baltimore, dating back to the late 1700s

Bottles and Extras and early 1800s.

The March meeting drew 51. The show attendance was announced at 1,314. Rick Lease and Andy Agnew were thanked for a job very well done in running the show.

Once again, the Baltimore show proved it was the best in the country, with too many superlatives to mention at this writing. It is an experience not to be missed! Chris Rowell’s “Baltimore Redware” display won Best of Show and “Peoples’ Choice”. The following club meeting featured “Bottle Show Finds” and there were many!

An interesting page of the newsletter deslt with how members have their collections displayed.

Members submitted photos, many using antique display cases. Some were floor-standing, others were countertop.

One was a nice Eastlake style case, another came from a candy store.

May’s program was called “My Other Hobby”. This is one we can all relate to. Members were asked to bring in something they collect other than bottles. As part of the meeting, Jim Fishel showed his collection of Mountain Dew bottles and related items. He gave a history of the company and showed a variety of examples.

The club will be updating Jim Ross’ “Baltimore Beer Bottles, Pre1920” book. Information on bottles not listed in the book are needed. Already, there were over 50 new variants to be added. Greg Franklin is coordinating the effort.

Bits and Pieces Empire State Bottle Collectors Assoc., Syracuse, N.Y. Member Mark Jackson, better known as an ink collector, gave the April program on “Chittenango (N.Y.) Pottery”. May’s program was given by the Town of Onondaga Historian Jane Tracy on “The County Poor House”.

History goes well with collecting antiques and bottles. In June, the club held their annual “Club Bottle Sale”, originally scheduled for February but called off due to bad weather. Members can rent all or part

July - August 2011 of a table at the meeting to sell bottles and related items. This has traditionally drawn well, and is in lieu of a business meeting or program. It is a fun way to spend a cold, winter evening.

An article, “Brewing in Syracuse from 1804 to the Middle Ages”, by Peter Wensminger, was reprinted from the “Great Lakes Brewing News” (1996). It was stated “Brewing has a long and venerable history in Syracuse.” Commercial brewing began around 1800. By 1880, there were some 40 breweries in the city.

The longest operating brewery, Haberle, closed in 1962. This followed a decline in local breweries starting in the late 1890s. Since then, a revival in beer making is taking shape in Syracuse nowadays, with a microbrewery, a beer pub and quality home brewers. The newest brewery in town is Middle Ages Brewing Co., opened in 1995. They specialize in English style ales.

The April newsletter also included an article from the “New York Teacher” (2009), by GBBCA president Peter Jablonski. It is entitled, “Privies, Wells are Archeological Time Capsules.” The question is asked, “Why would anyone want to dig up an old outhouse pit...?”

It was explained that privy pits are a known time capsule to archeologists.

Students at Orleans-Niagara BOCES took part in Archeology Day. They dug an old outhouse at the site of the N.Y. Central Railroad Hotel, in use from 1870 - 1903. The dig yielded many artifacts and treasures. It turned into quite an educational outing. One student remarked, “It was a lot of fun and exciting. I want to show my brother and cousins the amazing things you can find in the dirt. I may even switch my career to archeology.”

When research and classes following the dig were completed, students put together a display of artifacts and their reports in the school lobby.

A fine report on the annual ESBCA Show & Sale held March 27th was written by new show chair Dave Tuxill.

All 57 tables were sold, with dealers from N.Y., Mass., and N.J. Attendance

11 was up a lot from last year, at 428, with a steady flow all six hours of the show.

Sales for many were on the upswing.

The newsletter also included the 2011 Club Directory, with contact information and collecting interests.

The Jersey Shore Shards Jersey Shore Bottle Club, Toms River, N.J. April’s program was a Show & Tell with the theme of “Bring Something Easter.” And bring a friend!

The March meeting was shown in many photographs of many items brought in for the Show & Tell. There were scents, colognes, spirits, beers and much more. There was a “Little about all kinds of bottle collecting,” stated the editor.

Richard Peal retired as show chair following the May 1st Show. He will be replaced by Monto Boshko. The 39th show was held at the Elks Lodge in Brick, N.J. The show cards noted “An Educational Experience for all.

Dealers will be pleased to answer your questions.” It was stated attendance was “modest”, but many were seen going out the door with bags. A good case of quality vs. quantity.

The editor also stated, “Mr. Peal, our show chairman, did a fantastic job as always....” 18 show photos rounded out the newsletter.

Applied Seals Genesee Valley Bottle Collectors Association, Rochester, N.Y. Well known bottle collector Don Keating was the speaker in April, to the delight of all who attended. His topic was Jenny Lind, the 19th century singer known as the “Swedish Nightingale”.

Her concert tours in America during the 1850s were extremely popular. She was memorialized in many ways with many different objects, some of which Don brought with him for a remarkable display. There are a number of early calabash flasks with Jenny Lind on them, blown in Ohio and New Jersey.

The 42nd annual show is now history. The results are in: there were

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195 sales tables, manned by 111 dealers. Attendance was 651, an increase over last year. The club netted a profit of $900 on the 50/50 raffle.

Tickets were $10 with 200 sold. The show program brought in another $300 with the sale of 11 ads. Three cheers to show and dealer chairs Aaron & Pamela Weber for their work.

The Rochester show has become one of the leaders in presenting fine exhibits every year. This year featured 11 of them. Five were done by club members. The best of show plaque, sponsored by FOHBC Hall of Fame member Dr. Burton Spiller, was won by first-time Rochester show exhibitor Tom Palone. His display, “Insulators of the Erie R.R.” also won Most Educational ribbon, sponsored by the FOHBC. Frank Celement took home the Peoples’ Choice ribbon for his “Made of Mud,” showing unusual bricks.

The 12 Horse Chapter of the Brewery Collectors Club of America

(BCCA) displayed Rochester Breweriana. Other diplays included Rochester Pontil Era Medicines & Sarsaparillas by Mike Malanowski, “Historical Peppermint Bottles of Hiram Gilbert Hotchkiss, Lyons, N.Y.”

by Richard Kelley, “F. Gleason and Boughton & Chase Sodas & Mineral Waters” by Jack Stecher, Don Keating’s “A.M. Bininger Co.” and more.

FOHBC Hall of Fame member Howard Dean displayed a very rare “Wm. Floyd, 1790” black glass seal bottle. Floyd lived in the same town as Howard, and was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence! Mark Yates had two displays, including one that caught a lot of attention. “Shattered Dreams” was a display of rare broken bottles that, had they been perfect, would have exceeded $50,000 in value!

Probe Pittsburgh Antique Bottle Club, Pittsburgh, Pa. April’s meeting was a fine evening dig. In some cases, this was quite a process. The “Outs” were trying to get through the process with something to show for it. The pictures and running commentary were very informative, especially for someone who has never turned a shovel full of dirt on one of these excursions.

The program at the May club meeting was given by Pete Peterson.

He said it was going to be short and sweet, and it was. He showed a variety of the fruit jars which he said were of a common variety made after 1900.

There were apple green Ball and Atlas Strong Shoulder, Whitney Mason Patent 1858, sky blue Atlas, White Crown milkglass lid, glass inserts with zinc band, Glassboro, Lockport, Mason Keystone Improved, Columbia wire bail, Sure Seal, Clyde Telephone Jar, White Bear, Mason 1858, Gem and Keystone midgets. Pete said that these are common jars that you may never see. Figure that out!

For information on joining the

Midwest Regional News Joe Coulson 10515 Collingswood Lane Fishers, IN 46038 (317) 385 - 0956 jcoulson@leaderjar.com Hello, bottle collectors! Welcome to another installment of the Midwest Region news report. We love to hear from the Midwest bottle clubs – so keep sending in those news items… please, please, please and thank you!

Antique Bottle Club of Northern Illinois Dorothy Furman is newsletter editor of the ABCNI, and Jeff Dahlberg is president. The club has been holding its meetings at the Antioch Senior Center, 817 Holbeck, Antioch, Ill. The program at the March club meeting was given by Dennis Klinkhammer. He showed everyone the “Ins” and “Outs”, literally, of a dig.

The “Ins” were getting the people on various properties to let him “In” to

Bottles and Extras of bottle talk -- digging stories and recent acquisitions. Five members contributed to the discussion. Bob Decroo placed a sign in his yard looking to buy items and it has had some good results. Others have been busy digging now that spring arrived, with mixed results. Ed Kuskie and Tim Tokosh, despite digging three pits that ended up being dipped clean, found a squat J.C. Buffum soda and a Mrs. Allen’s hair bottle.

The April program featured more discussion. The topic was to “share one or two of your most memorable, crazy, sad, strange or whatever stories about digging or acquisitions.” There were quite a variety of amazing, and humerous, memories shared. Kuskie was digging in Santa Ana, Calif., in 115-degree heat. He uncovered a gigantic piece of cement with a bottle sticking out of it, upside down. The bottle was carefully removed, to find that it was a “one of a kind” western whiskey. He was thrilled.

Nothing like the thrill of the hunt.

ABCNI, you may contact: Dorothy Furman, 26287 W. Marie Ave., Antioch, IL 60002.

Findlay Antique Bottle Club Marianne Dow maintains the club’s website, which has news items posted almost weekly as well as pictures from the club’s past shows. You should check out the club’s website: http://finbotclub. blogspot.com/. Richard Elwood is president. Monthly club meetings are held at the University of Findlay.

1st Chicago Bottle Club Ray and Peggy Komorowksi are the newsletter editors. Carl Malik is club president.

The program at the February club meeting was ink blotters. Keith Leeders showed his collection of blotters from Carter’s and Sanford’s, about 35 in all, some common, some rare. He had a single, very scarce blotter from Thomas’ Ink of Chicago.

John Panek showed his collection of ink blotters from Chicago companies, coal and coke companies, tailors, etc.

Bottles and Extras Craig Wright had a blotter from a furnace repair company in Western Springs from 1949. The business was torn down in the 1960s, and the village hall is now on the site.

Lou Metzinger brought his collection of Carter’s Ink items, including a wooden box, two blotters, and six ink bottles. He also showed a Northern Lithographic Company blotter, and a badge from the Lithographic Convention in 1893.

For more information on the 1St Chicago Bottle Club you may contact Ray and Peggy Komorowski by phone: 708-848-7947, or email: midwestbottlednews@gmail.com Minnesota’s 1st Antique Bottle Club Barb Robertus is editor of the MFABC newsletter, The Bottle Digger’s Dope. Linda Sandell takes care of the printing and mailing.

The March newsletter had a small article on A.M. Smith, a well-known Minneapolis liquor dealer in the later 1800s. The article was written by Steve Ketcham: The story of Minneapolis liquor dealer A.M. Smith could fill a book. In fact, Smith did write an autobiography titled “Up and Down the World or Paddle Your Own Canoe.” Smith started business in the West. His Salt Lake City flask is among the most sought after early Western liquor flasks.

He used great graphics on various pieces of ephemera while in business in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Some examples (pictured in the original article) include three labels applied to quart flasks, a trade card, and two versions of playing cards.

A.M. Smith was a collector of rare coins. He wrote a comprehensive encyclopedia on the subject and by doing so touched many of his temporary collectors. Ironically, his business savvy as a liquor dealer would touch collectors of another sort of metal years later – in ways Smith could have never imagined.

For some reason yet unknown to bottle collectors, Smith dated his flasks.

They are found with the following dates embossed beneath Smith’s name: 1892,

July - August 2011 1896, 1900, 1903, 1907, 1909, 1914.

Other interesting items carrying A.M. Smith’s California Wine Depot advertising include: a shoe brush, yard stick, soap dish, egg separator, funnel, domino set, calendars, stoneware tea pot, three styles of pocket knives, can opener, two styles of playing cards, beer steins, and several serving trays.

The April newsletter contained a “Minnesota Bottle Show Report 2011” (there were lots of great pictures): We did it again! Thanks to all for another successful show. Here is a bit of a review. We sold 79 tables for this year’s event. That is 4 fewer than last year. Some dealers were kept home by the Red River flooding, others had conflicts with the date but will return next year.

We sold 218 admissions. That is down 13 from last year. We publicized well, using the Star Tribune, the Pioneer Press, the Old Times, on-line bottle show listings, the two bottle magazines and hundreds of flyers placed at shows and shops in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

As chairman, I am in debt to the many members of both clubs who helped.--Steve Ketcham.

Membership in the MFABC is $10/ yr. For more information, please contact Linda Sandell, 7735 Silver Lake Road #208, Moundsview, MN 55112.

North Star Historical Bottle Club Doug Shilson is newsletter editor of the North Star Historical Bottle News.

Steve Ketcham is president. Doug and Steve do a great job each month reporting the club’s latest happenings.

The club celebrated its 40th birthday. The theme for show and tell at the April meeting was “bring your favorite beer items.” Doug Shilson brought some spelling error beer bottles: one was a quart beer – all letters are backwards – Hastings Beer Bottling Co / Minn; a quart Grain Belt Beer, with Beer spelled “Reers”; a debossed stoneware beer, J. Schmucker (all letters upside down); and a pint beer, A.J. Noerenberg, with the letter “J” backwards. With the thousands of bottles blown in special iron molds,

13 it’s extremely rare to find backward anything on glass bottles, but the fun is in the chase.

Steve Ketcham’s Minnesota Show Report was in the May newsletter (printed in the Minnesota club’s news above).

For more information on joining the NSHBA, please contact Doug Shilson: 3308 32 Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55406-2015.

Ohio Bottle Club Phyllis Koch (editor) and Dennis Peine (secretary) are doing a very nice job with The Ohio Swirl, the OBC’s newsletter. Terry Crislip is president.

At the February club meeting, Jim Cady introduced Bill Koster to the audience. Bill presented an overview lecture on rules to remember when bottle digging. Bill advised the first and most important rule is to never dig alone.

Additionally he advised to wear heavy boots, bring leather gloves, a shovel, a surface scratching tool, a cutter to cut through roots, a first aid kit, and fluids to re hydrate yourself. Bill suggested starting off slowly at the beginning at each season to avoid over exertion, be aware of the temperature to avoid heat related illnesses, and to make sure you are up to date on your tetanus shot. Bill advised to always fill in the hole after the dig is complete and to cover the hole with something to protect others from falling into the hole in between digging sessions. He also commented on knowing the environment that you are digging in whether it is in a city or rural area. Bill gave an example of digging in the woods in the fall that you should be aware if there are any open hunting seasons in session. He stressed that it is always best to obtain written permission from the owners of the property that you want to dig on to avoid any legal issues. Bill added that other than occasionally finding a good bottle, you also benefit from the friendship of your digging buddies and that you have an opportunity to learn a bit of history of the bottles that you have dug.

Jim Cady introduced Adam Koch to the audience. Adam presented

14 his collection of colorfully labeled kitchen product jars and jars. Adam says the main criteria for his collection are nice colorful labels. There were approximately two dozen examples displayed. He commented that one of the nice things about this type of collection is that they are relatively inexpensive to obtain. Adam said that most of the jars dated from the 1920s and 1930s, with a few of them being older.

Jim Cady thanked Bill and Adam and introduced Lavon Daugherty to the audience. Lavon gave a lecture on “How I got started collecting liquor containers.” Lavon said that he collects containers manufactured up to 1992. Lavon commented that one of his favorite containers is a 1966 Ohio State Jim Beam container that he obtained from a friend. Lavon reported that he now has over 3,000 containers, representing 80 different manufacturers in his collection, and that he has a museum and store for these containers located in Sugarcreek, Ohio.

He reported that there are only two manufacturers left in the United States who currently make liquor containers and that he has owned the rights of one of them, Ski Country, for the last six years. The other manufacturer is Jim Beam. Lavon also reported that he has put out five containers for Ohio and two for Missouri and Minnesota. Following the lecture, Lavon answered questions from the audience.

Jim Cady thanked Lavon and introduced Joe Franchino to the audience. Joe gave a presentation on metal detecting. Joe advised that he has been metal detecting for 27 years.

He brought in a framed display of artifacts that he had detected from Independence, Ohio. He advised that metal detecting led him to collecting bottles. He said that like bottle digging, getting permission from the property owner is a key rule for this hobby. Joe reported having found toys, pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars and silver dollars, horse shoes, goat shoes and a gold ring. Joe also reported that in the areas that he would metal detect he often uncovered bottles and

July - August 2011 during his early years did not pay any attention to them. Joe said that he started collecting bottles 15 years ago.

Joe told the audience that he metal detects for fun, to enjoy the artifacts he finds, not for their worth.

Jack Sullivan had an article titled “Ohio Brewers and Their Prize Goats” in the March newsletter. Jack had another article titled “Another Look at Northern Ohio Shots” in the April newsletter.

For more information on joining the OBC, please contact Berny Baldwin (treasurer), 1931 Thorpe Circle, Brunswick, OH 44212. The club also has a new website which can be found at: http://www.ohiobottleclub.com.

Details about its milk bottle book can be found there also.

Iowa Antique Bottleers Mark Wiseman is the newsletter editor, and does a great job each month.

Mike Magee does the minutes quarterly, and supplies Mark with articles that Mark selects for the newsletter. Tom Southard is president.

The following April club meeting highlights were reported in the May newsletter: The theme for the April 2nd meeting in Morrison was the “Auction.” Some members brought items they put into an auction to sell to other members, and there were also a lot of items donated to the club auction. Chuck Erb did a very fine job of organizing the listing of the items, the bidders numbers, and kept track of the winning bidders. Jack La Baume and Clyde Jones were the auctioneers, and I think the participants were all pleased. If you were not there, some very fine jars, an amber drugstore bottle, some coins, a bitters, and a rare medicine bottle were sold.

The club auction was also very lively with some very nice donations. A big thank you to Chuck Erb for his hard work and incredible generosity on the auction day’s event. Clyde Jones, the past president, presented Tom Southard a ceremonial gavel, and was officially introduced as the second honoree for the annual Don Faas award. Duane Mangold brought a jar quiz to see who

Bottles and Extras could decipher or guess which one of three oversize Atlas, Kerr or Ball jars would hold the most liquid, and there were some people scratching their heads trying to answer this correctly.

Kevin Williams, our host, brought some of the amazing stoneware restorations he has recently completed, including a four-gallon Red Wing churn dug in many, many pieces last year.

The IAB newsletters always contain wonderful digging stories

by Mark Wiseman. He has a regular column, “The Digger’s Scoop,” that tells of his local digging adventures with his dog, the old truck, and various digging friends that join him. You can find out more about IAB membership ($15/yr.) from: The Iowa Antique Bottleers, c/o Mark C. Wiseman, 3505 Sheridan Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310.

Kalamazoo Antique Bottle Club Al Holden is the newsletter editor.

Al gave this Kalamazoo Bottle Show report in the May newsletter: As for the bottle show, I think it was a GREAT time! Chuck didn’t have any numbers to give me for the newsletter, so I can only guess at the results based on what I saw. The first three hours of the show seemed really busy with a good crowd moving through. It really was a very enjoyable atmosphere and the selection of great bottles and other collectibles was awesome! By 2 o’clock, it slowed up a little more than I recall in the past.

All of the dealers whom I spoke with seemed really happy with their sales totals. It was just so neat to be there! I had a good friend, Mike Walker, help me with my display. Mike is the President of our treasure hunting club and just a great guy to be around! As many of you know, I started setting up at the Kalamazoo Antique Bottle Show at the suggestion and encouragement of my buddies and club founders, Jack Short and Ernie Lawson. Jack and Ernie looked forward to helping me each year.

Jack, as most of you know, has passed on to be with the Lord, and I

Bottles and Extras sure miss him. But one of the bright spots of the whole show was the time Mike and I got to visit with Ernie!

What an uplifting spirit he has!

Scott Hendrickson found himself in the winner’s circle again with the Peoples’ Choice Award! Dennis Smith had an awesome display, which won the Most Educational Award, and Jeff Sharnoski was also awarded! Dennis had a display of green milk bottles the like of which I had never seen!

Congratulations to each of you, and thanks for contributing to the success of the show!

Another amazing thing… I was on the sales floor for the entire 32nd annual Kalamazoo Antique Bottle Show, and I did not hear even one bottle break! Perhaps the most amazing story that unfolds at each show is related to the show offer of a free bottle appraisal. I think the most amazing to me was the year a lady showed up with a “Best Bitters in America” bottle that she picked up at a yard sale! This year was just as amazing! This time, the bottle was an open-pontiled historic flask from 1840. The flask is the Washington-Taylor variety that says, under Washington’s bust, “The Father of our Country.” On the Taylor side it says, “Taylor Never Surrenders.”

The feature that put this flask overthe-top was the pinkish “Puce” color.

This bottle was estimated to be worth between $10,000 and $20,000!

Chuck Parker is the club president, and you can contact him for more information about their club at: 607 Crocket Ave., Portage, MI 49024 (ph: 616-329-0853). The club meets regularly at the Kalamazoo Public Library, located at 315 S. Rose Street.

The club has a website: http://www. kalamazoobottleclub.org/ Metropolitan Detroit Antique Bottle Club The Metropolitan Detroit Antique Bottle Club, which was founded in March 1971, has been actively meeting again since January 2010.

Mike Brodzik is newsletter editor as well as president.

The following report comes from

July - August 2011 the March newsletter: Well, it had finally arrived and the 40-year anniversary of the club was held with much fanfare at the Finch “Home/Museum.” The Finches were wonderful hosts and very kind to open up their home for this event and for allowing the viewing of their extensive collection. Everywhere one would look there was some wondrous item to gaze on and admire. For those that were unable to attend, a real opportunity was missed. There were current members present, and many members from the early years.

Items were brought by a few members, but there was no shortage of items to be seen everywhere. Bruce Heckman brought a rare example of a large blob top picnic beer. Femia Alberts brought an example of a nice free-blown case gin.

She indicated that she had purchased it, but had found many broken ones diving in the Caribbean. Mike Brodzik brought two bottles that were recently acquired at the Flint Bottle Show. One was an early clear flint glass bottle embossed “RANDALL’S / CICASSIAN CREAM WASH / DETROIT. MICH.” The other was an early aqua 12-sided patent medicine bottle embossed “McGRAWS / CONSUMTIVE / SYRUP / DETROIT. MICH / PRICE $200.” Yes, there isn’t any decimal on the bottle, but this early 1860s bottle must have been two dollars. The most disastrous occurrence was that this bottle after surviving 150+ years happened on this night to develop a sudden spiral crack on the heel of the bottle.

The main attraction of the meeting was the extensive collection of the Finches. Included was the amazing collection of target balls and target ball pitchers, and the massive collection of catsup bottles and related items. There was also the beautiful collection of “blue onion” china and some interesting items from MDABC history. Present were also some early members, which included Vic Steel, Alice Stephens and Joe and Wanda Kray. Alice Stephens was the club’s first vice president.

Including our wonderful hosts, there were 20 people in attendance. There was quite a spread of food that included

15 pizza, salad, vegetables, fruit and the club birthday cake.

You can find out more about the MDABC and its monthly meeting schedule by contacting Mike Brodzik (586-219-9980).

Midwest Antique Fruit Jar & Bottle Club The MAFJBC has members nationwide and is heavily fruit jar focused. Meetings are generally held the first Sunday of the month at 1:30 p.m. in the Cantina at Minnetrista, which is located in Muncie, Indiana.

Dave Rittenhouse is president.

The MAFJBC has a website: http:// www.fruitjar.org.

Future meeting details as well as lots and lots of pictures from their semi-annual shows can be found there.

Flint Antique Bottle Club Tim and Angie Buda are the newsletter editors, and they produce a colorful newsletter.

Tim gave a quick report on the club’s recent bottle show in the April newsletter: Everything came together smoothly to make for a very successful show. The weather was decent and getting the tables arranged was much easier this year, as we didn’t run into a table shortage like last year. Overall attendance was the same as last year at 297, but sales for most dealers were up. Attendance for the first hour was 120 with the rest being almost equally divided among the following four hours, which made for a steady stream of customers with no real lull in activity. A big thanks goes to all of you that pitched in and helped to pull off another great show. Without all of your help it would have been impossible. To my wife, Angie, a special thanks for running the kitchen that provides such a great dinner for all the dealers and helpers. Thanks to all the ladies that made all of the wonderful desserts.

Jim and Muriel Lang submitted the following article titled “Odd Glass Products” for the May newsletter: In 1916, the American Glass Casket Company built one of the

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largest factories in Ada, Oklahoma, for the purpose of manufacturing Glass Coffins! The site was chosen because of the large deposits of top quality sands available along with the availability of natural gas.

These glass coffins were extremely attractive at funerals, and did a great job preserving the remains. Alas these coffins proved to be very impractical, because they were so heavy they caused numerous hernia injuries to the pallbearers and broke easily from the weight of the dirt. The plant was taken over in 1920 by the Hazel Atlas Glass Container Company, which specialized in making canning jars used to preserve fruits and vegetables, and the making of caskets was ceased.

According to local legend, the last batch of glass coffins, four or five in number, were too few and heavy to be shipped away, and too pretty to be destroyed. Instead the empty coffins were buried near the factory.

Over the years the factory changed hands from Hazel Atlas to the Continental Can Company then to Brockway Corporation. It employed as many as three hundred twenty employees on round the clock shifts, producing as many as 1.3 million bottles and jars a day to be used by

Coke, Pepsi, Miller Beer, Gerber baby food, salad dressing and pickles. The plant was closed in 1991.

The club meets regularly at the Grand Blanc Heritage Museum, 203 Grand Blanc Road, Grand Blanc, Michigan on the second Thursday of the month from 7 – 9 pm. You can find out more about the club by contacting Bill Heatley (810-214-1850) or Tim & Angie Buda (989-271-9193).

Kansas Territory Bottle Club This is a relatively new club in the Midwest. Every meeting has a show and tell time among the members.

Contact Mike McJunkin by email for more information about their club: scarleits@cox.net Wabash Valley Antique Bottle & Pottery Club Martin Van Zant is newsletter editor for The Wabash Cannonball, the WVABPC’s monthly newsletter. Doug Porter is president.

Martin had the following to say in the April newsletter: I hope that you all have been getting out and finding those everdeserved goodies. I picked up an open pontil scroll flask the other day. It was aqua, of course, and pint in size and

Southern Regional News Johnnie Fletcher 1300 S. Blue Haven Dr. Mustang, OK 73064 405-376-1045 privyguy@aol.com The Tulsa Antiques & Bottle Club newsletter reported that the Editor, Richard Carr, will be giving a program on collecting early Muskogee, Oklahoma advertising items 18751940 at the May meeting. Richard will be showing lots of different items including: postcards, photos, pencils, pens, letter openers, buttons, banks, bottles, jars, crocks, etc. He invited members to bring their dug items, raffle items and Show & Tell items to

the meeting.

Thanks were extended to Jerry Callison for acting as the auctioneer during last month’s auction.

Richard reports that he attended the Chanute, Kansas Bottle & Relic Show last month and found both the number of dealers and public attending were down; however, he enjoyed seeing old friends, bought & sold good.

The Suncoast Antique Bottle Collectors Association, from the Tampa & St. Petersburg, Florida area, reports that their scheduled program for March was snuffs and new additions to collections. Three people took part in showing items. Bill Buttstead brought a bunch of bottles he had recently

Bottles and Extras just dirty. I washed it, and the thing came out mint. The funny thing is, I ran into the guy at a garage sale. He stated he had some bottles and started out talking about a Paine’s Celery Cure, a Hostetter’s, and a Warner’s. I told him I was interested for the right price. So I went to check them out, and he sure enough had a Paine’s and a Hostetter’s. However, it wasn’t a new Hostetter’s, it was an older one with a backwards “L & W” on the base. Then he pulled out some flasks, all were new but one. He was confused why I didn’t want the other ones. I bought the scroll and the Hostetter’s for $40 – Ching!

I didn’t even blink. There are plenty of auctions and garage sales popping up everywhere. All you have to do is get out. I know with the ever rising gas prices it sure makes things a little tougher. I think in the end it will all even out. If this rain ever stops maybe we can get out and dig some. I was able to break ground this last weekend.

The WVABPC holds their monthly meeting at Shadows Auction Barn, 1517 Maple Ave., Terre Haute, IN. Club dues are $10/yr. For more information, please contact Tony Stringfellow (treasurer), P.O. Box 690, Farmersburg, IN 47850. acquired. Dale Sanders brought a bunch of pretty, swirled glass snuffs and Jerry Zolg brought a number of amber snuffs, one with a label. The newsletter contained many color photos of the items brought.

A suggestion was made to print up cards with the club’s email address.

That way, when talking to people about the club or an upcoming bottle show and they want to be emailed information, you can present them with a card and put the responsibility on them to contact the club. That way the information will be sent to them directly with less chance of being misplaced. They hope to have some cards printed for the next meeting.

The club has a new date for their bottle show. It will be held on

Bottles and Extras November 5, 2011 at the Fraternal Order of Police Building, 5530 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, Fl. Information: Mike Skie (904) 710-0422 or Jackie McRae (904) 879-3696.

The Probe & Plunder newsletter of the Horse Creek Antique Bottle Club (South Carolina) had a photo and a mention that Bill Baab will be inducted into the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors Hall of Fame in June.

Baab reported that he tried to research a damaged Dixie Medicine Co., Augusta, Ga. brought to the last meeting by Steve Harrison. Bill couldn’t find a listing for the company; however, his friend, Joe Lee, came up with the following information: Dixie Tasteless Chill Tonic, manufactured

by Dixie Medicine Company, from 1897 to 1899. Two “new” Augusta mini jugs have been found: one was stenciled Compliments of J.C. Flynn, the other Compliments of R.A. Frain.

Flynn was in the grocery business at 1118 9th Street in 1891. In 189293, he added a saloon to his grocery.

In 1898 he took William Bennett as probably a silent partner. Bennett was also the superintendent of the Augusta Canal and Water Works. Flynn retired in 1913. Frain worked for the grocery firm of Doscher & Co., 606 Broad St., during 1892-93 as a clerk. By 1898, Frain was in the grocery business by himself at 1372 Broad Street and stayed in the business until 1917 when he became a commercial traveler.

The Groundhog Gazette, a newsletter of the State of Franklin Antique Bottles & Collectibles Association, reported that during their March meeting they had a visitor, Ron Ruble, who is going to set up at the show and present a display. Richard Begley, Robert & Clayton Stanley, Sam Crowder, Harold Carlton, Gerry Brown, Fred & Melissa Milner brought items for show-n-tell. They also had a few items for auction.

The April newsletter had an interesting article on Collectible Bicycles with lots of color photos.

July - August 2011 The May newsletter reported on their bottle show, which was held on May 6th & 7th. The show was down from previous years, probably because of storms, sickness in several families and the downturn in the economy.

However, they had 71 sales tables with a steady flow of people on Saturday.

Melissa Milner, the show’s chairman and newsletter editor, has several recommendations for changes in future shows that will be voted on by the members. She says that many shows have died because of an unwillingness to change with the times and we don’t want to be among the causalities. The newletter was full of color photos from the bottle show.

The Bottle Talk, a newsletter of the Raleigh (N.C.) Bottle Club, reported in their March-April issue that Travis Hardin was their guest at the April meeting. Their publication was full of full color photos of items brought to the meeting by the members including flasks, drugstore bottles, signs, jugs, blob sodas, a mercury bottle, and a straight-sided Coca Cola bottle. There were photos of their annual RBC Pizza Party showing everyone chowing down on some good looking pizzas.

There was an article on North Carolina Before and During Prohibition.

The article pointed out that due to strict prohibition laws that in 1919 the Collector of Internal Revenue for the eastern counties declared: “We have more illicit distilleries than any state in the Union or any other portion of the earth and the number is increasing.” In 1920, of all the stills seized by Federal agents, more than one fifth were in North Carolina.

Oklahoma Territory Bottle & Relic Club’s April newsletter had a photo of Mark Wiseman and his “new” pup, Jimmy, on the front cover and a story about Iowa Digging written by Mark. The story is about Mark’s digging with his faithful dog Elsie (Elsie has since passed away) with lots of color photos of their digging around Iowa.

There was also a Montana digging

17 story featuring Reggie Shoeman and James Campiglia and their discovery of a Montana Territory Hutchinson.

In the May issue the editor, Johnnie Fletcher, says the Arkansas bottle book is still progressing although at a slower rate because of the time devoted to privy digging. He says he is up to about a thousand drawings of Arkansas bottles and hopes to have the book ready for publication by the end of the year.

There was a digging story, by Fletcher, about The First Dig of 2011 featuring digs in Ellsworth and Atchison, Kansas.

The Ellsworth dig resulted in the finding of several rare Ellsworth drugstore bottles. In Atchison, a stone lined privy was dug containing over 40 embossed drugstores and an extremely rare citrate bottle from the M. Noll Pharmacy of Atchison.

A second digging story titled Will Work For Soda was about Ed Stewart’s dig in St. Joseph, Missouri resulting in the finding of two rare bottles: a McGregor Bros/ Saint Joseph, Mo. blob soda and a pontiled G. Landry/ St. Joseph/ Mo. with the “N” in Landry reversed.

–––––––––––– EDITOR’S NOTE: Bottles and Extras regrets that the MarchApril Southern Region notes were inadvertently published again in May-June. Following are the correct notes.

This will be my last report as Southern Region editor, having resigned effective at the end of the Memphis National Show.

I just turned 76 and decided I wanted to become just another Federation member, without any responsibilities.

It’s been a mostly fun trip over the last dozen years or so. My wife, Bea, and I will attend the Memphis show because it’s my only chance to meet a bunch of you with whom I’ve corresponded by phone or e-mails over the last dozen years or so.

18 I’m leaving you in the talented hands of Federation Hall of Famer Johnnie Fletcher, of the Oklahoma Territory Bottle & Relic Club. He has agreed to take over as Southern Region editor, and Southern Region Director has approved his appointment..

Thanks to all of you who contributed one way or another to this report.

And, speaking of Fletcher: He continued his digging sagas in the February Oklahoma Territory News (of which he is apparently editor for life!). A One Bottle, One Hole Weekend tells of the adventures in Atchison, Kan., featuring Fletcher, Ed Stewart, Francis Wiltz and Richard Carr.

The dig netted a number of Atchison drug store bottles, including a rare J.H. Brown & Co. / Druggists / Cor. 8th & Commercial Streets / Atchison, Kan, Other drug store bottles included Augustus Lang / Druggist / Atchison, Kansas; Dr. J.A. Maggard / Druggist / Wellington, Kan.; Taylor & Co. / Atchison, Kas.; Simonds & McConaughey / Druggists / Atchison, Kan., and James Yates & Co. / Pharmacists / Atchison, Kan. The March newsletter featured the writing talents of Mark Wiseman under the Iowa Digging title. He lives in Des Moines. He filled up most of the 16-page issue with stories of fabulous finds, including a rare quart Enterprise Bottling Works, Des Moines, Ia. Hutchinson.

Fletcher always features Oklahoma bottles sold on eBay. These included a Hugo, Indian Territory drug store bottle for $237.50, Solon Curtice Druggist from Purcell, Indian Territory, for $89 and a Harry J. Bettes drug store bottle from South McAlester, Indian Territory, for $66.99.

July - August 2011

The Groundhog Gazette of February, newsletter of The State of Franklin (Tenn.) Antique Bottles & Collectibles Club, edited by Melissa Milner, featured the history of Coca-Cola taken from Wikipedia.

You can check it out at www. cokeconsolidated.com/history.html.

Show and tell items at the club’s January meeting included a 10-gallon Grapette syrup tin shown by Geff Moore, a Double Cola Jr., bottle by Richard Begley and a Mountain Dew bottle that says “Filled by Debbie Bailey” by Carl Bailey, whose wife’s name is Debbie, but she wasn’t the “filler.”

Fred Milner showed a photo of a 1921 10-20 Titan tractor with the owner’s son (Rollin Kennerley) on its seat. Fred was able to buy and restore the tractor.

Her March issue noted that pottery seemed to have taken over at the Columbia (S.C.) Bottle Show in February, especially face jugs.

“They just don’t appeal to me at all,” she said, and then proceeded to publish a background story about face jugs and mugs, ugly jugs, devil jugs and voodoo pots. She published some color photos of some neat face jugs. Readers can find a wealth of information online.

January’s program of the Suncoast Antique Bottle Collectors Association of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area featured new items added to collections. Participants included Linda Buttstead, editor of the club’s The Glass Bubble, yellow/honey amber blown flask, a tiny frosted perfume bottle and a figural cat; Dale Sanders, a black glass champagne bottle, a pontiled New York beer and game tokens made from musket balls; Larry Smith, a 1915 Coke from Palm Beach Bottling Works, a cathedral art deco bottle from the Keys and a

Bottles and Extras

straight-sided Miami Coke.

There was an unusual item featured on the cover of the January-February issue of Bottle Talk, newsletter of the Raleigh (N.C.) Bottle Club: a blue light bulb that was dug years ago by editor Marshall Clements.

Why would anyone want to collect old light bulbs? An Edison bulb recently sold for $511 on eBay. That’s a good reason. Want to know more? Marshall quoted from an article found at www.ideafinder.com/history/ invention/lightbulb/htm. Check it out and maybe you’ll see the light!

David Tingen, a former Bottle Talk editor, asked Did You Know that, in 1915, after stringent antiliquor laws were passed by the North Carolina Legislature, “in 1915 the booze continued to flow for personal use and was sold throughout Raleigh by the ‘blind tiger’ drug stores. It is noted that one Raleigh druggist within a three-month period filled 3,990 prescriptions for whiskey, 555 for beer, 26 for gin, 50 for wine and 14 for brandy.”

Those loopholes meant you could get as drunk as a skunk at those pharmacies.

Harvey Teal, a collectorhistorian from Columbia, S.C., was guest speaker at the Horse Creek Bottle Club’s January meeting.

He spoke about the Atlanta Glass Works, a company that made historical and local flasks. He brought along several specimens from his personal collection.

Editor Brenda Baratto also noted in her newsletter, Probe & Plunder, that name bricks were the subject of member Bob Riddick’s February program. He started collecting in the late 1960s and his first find was an R.M. Stork brick from Columbia.

Among other bricks shown at the meeting was a Landrum brick from

July - August 2011

Bottles and Extras

Columbia – the same Landrum family who was involved with early Edgefield District pottery.

The March program was

conducted by Skeet Willingham, Washington County, Ga., pottery. of Washington, Ga., a super Willingham authored The History pottery collector and historian of Wilkes County, Georgia. whose presentation highlighted North and the South. The first Western Pumpkin seeds were seen about 1870. There were Union ovals, straight sides, knife edge, shoofly, jojo longnecked flasks, dandies and the stronger banded flasks. Many flasks were purchased empty and filled with whiskey. He also mentioned that other products found in flasks were Jamaica Ginger, medicines, machine oil and more.

Dennis Spence was one of several members who participated in the show and tell portion of a meeting by showing his Los Angeles seltzer bottle.

Mike Dolcini brought three amber A.P. Hotaling whiskeys from Portland, Oregon dating from 1874-76. Ken Edward showed three tall pickles. He displayed a Wellington style dark green pickle with a clock on the neck, a dark blue green, and his third was a light blue green. A ladies leg wine, Udolpho Wolfe’s Aromatic Schnapps were shown by Max Bell. Labeled pumpkin seeds were presented by Steve Abbott and Jim Kuykendall showed his Hartwig’s Bitters.

Western Regional News Ken Lawler & “Dar” 6677 Oak Forest Drive Oak Park, CA 91377 (818) 889 - 5451 kenlawler@roadrunner.com Dump Digger’s Gazette Antique Bottle Collectors of Colorado A program was given by Martie and Ken Grubenhoff, members of the Rocky Mountain Depression Glass Society. They discussed the history and variety of the glass, as follows: “Depression glass is glassware made

by American glass companies primarily during the late 1920s and 1930s. Some glassware was made after the 1930s and is included in the Depression Glass category. It includes finer quality elegant glassware and cheaply made glass sold in local five and dime stores, given as promotions at stores, theaters, gas stations, or in boxes of cereal, flour, soap, and other commonly acquired commodities.

Collectors can find a wide variety of pieces from decorative flower vases and candy dishes to utilitarian mixing bowls and measuring pitchers.

Children’s sets of toy dishes, flower pots, lamps, and bed and bath items were also made.” If you are curious about this type of collectible you can learn more by checking out this website: www.rmdgs.com.

Bottle Bug Briefs Forty-Niner Historical Bottle Association A program on whiskey flasks was presented by Mike Lake. He displayed about 35 whiskey flasks. They ranged in colors from amber, clear, yellow, corn flower blue, lime and puce. Mike told about cheap give away Defender Pumpkin Seeds that were filled at the bar and carried home. After the Civil War, ‘Union Clasped Hands’ (Unity flasks) were introduced in hopes of uniting the

19

Las Vegas Antique Bottles and Collectibles Club For those of you interested in collecting items of a medical nature, club President Teresa O’Dell showed a WWII personal first aid kit and Dee Morris brought in a medic bag for their show and tell.

There was a picture, in one of this club’s newsletters, of a museum curator of optical collectibles bent over a large frame that was holding probably well over 50 pairs of glasses. They probably originated from the 1920s or maybe as early as the 1860s. There is a website, provided in the newsletter, for the Optical Heritage Museum that I looked at. They mention the executives of Bausch and Lomb which still exists in Rochester, New York today. If you

want to get some history on this type of collectible look around on their website: http://www.opticalheritagemuseum.org.

The Whittlemark Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club Tom Hanna proudly showed two pint-sized fruit jars that he purchased at the Las Vegas 2011 show. One was a corn-flower blue and the other a light lime green. He also showed a LISK lunch pail, with multiple parts, that is from his mining collection. Tom had the parts spaced out separately and deftly put them back into the lunch pail within a matter of seconds as he demonstrated how the lunch pail was used by miners who carried them into the mines where they worked. Dwayne Anthony brought in a western whiskey, while Dennis Rogers described, in detail, the nice colored Tippecanoe he brought in. Dave Maryo showed a very old citron-colored chestnut New England bottle that contained multiple bubbles and a sheared lip. I am not sure, but I think he said it was probably from around 1785. Scott Yeargain told a story of having attended this year’s Chico show in Northern California and while there he looked around at an estate sale. He said, “I never go to these things, but this time I decided to.” He said the house was small and practically empty of items when he got there. However, he spotted a bottle sitting in the bathroom. He purchased it for $3. Scott had purchased an IXL Valley Whiskey, E&B Bevan, Pittston, PA. He says it has seven stars on it and that it has an open pontil. Scott said that the bottle is probably from the 1840 to 1845 time period. When you put it up to the light it looks like a reddish amber. Nice going, Scott!

A Baltimore show report, including a picture of the wall-to-wall crowd and another picture of some nice high-end bottles, was written by Dave Maryo who attended the show this year.

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It gave those of us who have never attended that show a chance to get the feel of how great of a show this one is. It has an excellent reputation. He noted that there was a wide selection of bottles and buyers from all over the United States and some from around the world. His article said, “There was something for everyone at this show.”

All categories of bottles were seen.

WWII vintage labeled prescription bottles were selling for $5 and $15.

Bottles attributed to Wistarburg Glass Works, during our Revolutionary War period, were reasonably priced.

Rare bitters bottles, early blown glass and some rare Western bottles could be found. Dave encouraged folks to consider attending a show on the East coast. He considers those type shows a “Bottle Feast in the East.”

irregular swirls, textures and surface patterns “that resemble a whittler’s handiwork.” It is the fact that the older bottles come in rounded forms, freeblown or mold-formed and that the embossment adds ownership. History plays an important part in that it is “the tangible evidence of a bygone era that you can hold in your hand.” He goes on to explain the various products the old glass bottles have held and of how they survived some 125 years before we have managed to add them to our collections. He is amazed, as I think many of us are, of how the old bottles survived being hauled around by some form of very early modes of transportation and yet still stayed intact.

His last line reads, “Thanks to our great passion as diggers and collectors, the magic will live on.”

The Big Sky Glass Gazette The Montana Bottle Collectors Association President Ray Thompson had a catchy little paragraph in his “Ray’s Ramblings” in his “From the Desk of the President” that I felt hit right at the main core of our hobby. Preface: He had been reading some articles and business discussions from some old newsletters during the wee hours of early morning and this is what he concluded: “The activities which stuck out as the glue holding interest and enthusiasm together, were sharing bottles, displaying collections and researching information with others.

Each club meeting, each show and sale and each dig were replete with these same elements. When people responded to what was needed to bring more members to meetings and more folks to shows it was sharing what you found or purchased with others and providing details about the artifacts you had discovered.”

Another reflective piece was by secretary-treasurer Erich Weber. His article is entitled, “Bottle Magic – a Personal Viewpoint.” His first few words were, “I believe there is magic in old bottles.” Then he goes further to point out that the magic is found in the color of the glass, the bubbles and

The Glass Blower Northwestern Bottle Collectors Assoc.

Gary Ingols had shown two notebooks from Wells Fargo, Mendocino County, along with a map dated 1859. His notebooks aroused interest among the attendees so he promised to bring in more Wells Fargo memorabilia to a future meeting.

Frank Ritz mentioned and passed around, some pieces of broken historical flasks he found in a barrel. He had acquired two shot glasses that also made the rounds. One was a Tea Cup Shea Bocoveraz Co San Francisco Cal and the other was a Davey Crocket Pure Old Bourbon Hey Grauerholtz & Co. Richard Siri also showed a clear Four Aces American Rye Whiskey bottle, a San Jose Soda Works bottle (unusual small size), an applied top aqua Union Soda Works bottle and a green, graphite pontiled liquor bottle. Members enjoyed all of the “hands-on experiences” with Richard’s bottles, as well.

The Stumptown Report Oregon Bottle Collectors Association Pat Darneille brought some new blood into the club, Amy O’Brien from Monmouth, Oregon and Joe O’Brien who is from Crestline, California. The newsletter stated that their memberships

Bottles and Extras were a gift from Pat. CongratulationsGarth Ziegenhagen on your acquisition of a rare half pint A.P.Hotaling & Co. J.H. Cutter Whisky Portland.OGN. This may be old news by the time readers spot this, but whether learned from other sources or not, it doesn’t matter with a find as significant as this. It can’t be mentioned too often. Garth says that A.P. Hotaling opened the Portland office in 1873 and was the most successful whiskey dealer in the West after he acquired the Cutter brand. I am sure Garth is open to sharing how he originally was contacted about this flask and how he acquired it.

Pat showed some items he hadn’t looked at in 18 years (according to his wife), one of which was a rare Cusick & Flinn / Druggist / Gervais Ogn. drug bottle. Kim brought in an amber Owl Drug Co. she dug about a year ago and a triangular cobalt Owl Drug poison Shayne dug in 1997. During show and tell Jim gave a lesson on back bar bottles, with a gold leaf being the most common. He said enamel ones are better and colored enamel are the best. Jim then showed examples including a sixcolored Magnolia / Straight Blend / Old Bourbon / Rothchild Bros. / Portland, Or. “This is Oregon’s number one back bar bottle, with only two known.” Julie showed a W.C. Lewis 1891 amethyst fountain ink with its lid, a Morgan’s Pat. 1867 fountain ink, and two Mason’s Pat. 1858 jars with amber swirls.

The A-Z Collector Phoenix Antiques, Bottles, and Collectibles Club Earlier this year, Dr. Jeremy Rowe presented a program on vintage photography. A newsletter stated, “Jeremy is in the ASU Research Faculty, School of Computing, Informatics and Decision Systems Engineering. He is a purveyor of fine 19th and early 20th century photographs and collector of better Arizona and New Mexico imagery from cased images to real photo postcards.” There was a website called out if you want to learn more: www.vintagephoto.com.

Bottles and Extras Club treasurer Bryan Grapentine had something of interest in a newsletter. “Anyone interested in reading bottle and general collecting articles should sign up for Cecil Munsey’s ‘Complimentary Tidings.’

These articles are the result of much research and good writing. Recent articles were about a cache of hundred year old whiskey bottles recovered from the Antarctic and full spirits and beer bottles recovered from an ancient ship wreck and Otzi the 5,000 year old iceman. It costs nothing to sign up to get on Cecil’s email list: Website: http://www.CecilMunsey.com Email: CecilMunsey@cox.net.”

Digger’s Dirt Reno Antique Bottle Club Here is a piece of digging news I noticed in one of this club’s newsletters: “An outhouse hole, at the site of an old boarding house, produced a nice array of bottles for digger Ron Bommarito. It must have been a drinking man’s hangout because the hole contained many pumpkin seed bottles rather than food containers. The best find was a flask from the Reno Waldorf Tavern along with a nice Roth flask.”

Some show and tell choices were shown such as Bill Metscher’s turnof-the-century railroad lantern. Loren Love showed miscellaneous treasures he found such as some bottles, old cans, old iron pieces and pretty shards of glass. It seems he was out roaming around in the Nevada hills. Old key fobs from different hotels such as the Palace Hotel and the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee were brought in by Marvin Jacobson. Maryann Lawrence also joined the displayers and showed her metal advertisement from the old Sports Car Club. Editor Helene Walker brought a purple, cut glass sugar and creamer, along with duplicate miniatures of the pair, which she said, “we dug in Virginia City.”

The Bottleneck San Diego Antique Bottle and Collectibles Club Of interest to all of us, is to try not

July - August 2011 to get “taken” by a “Reproduction” or “Repro” for short, as Mike Bryant calls it in his newsletter. As usual Mike does his homework and puts informative articles in his newsletters.

Here is another one entitled, “I’ve Got Those Old Repro Blues.” The old standard saying of “Buyer Beware” comes to mind again. His advice is to purchase a good reference book. His recommendations are: “The Illustrated Guide to Collecting Bottles,” by Cecil Munsey and “Coca-Cola Collectibles Price Guide,” by Alan Petretti. One of Mike’s main points is that you do your research and learn what questions to ask the seller prior to finalizing your purchase. His article and warnings are timeless and covers many areas of consideration. There are two example illustrations at the bottom of his article of an original Christmas Hobble Skirt Coke and a “fake.” It is an eye opener.

Here is another “timeless” article.

This one written by Bob Adams is, “What Makes a Good Hobby?” He says that it should be your own idea to take up a particular hobby and not start on the advice of someone else.

Don’t go through wasted motions; you must determine that you feel it is worth doing, if not, he suggests dropping the idea. He states that your hobby should be a relaxing one so that you can forget your problems for a time. It should also give you a sense of real satisfaction.

You would want to be able to increase your knowledge and skills. Bob also pointed out the fact that some hobbies can be expensive, but also may prove somewhat profitable. His specific viewpoint which should interest us is, “A collector of bottles and insulators, for example, may search in dumps for interesting specimens of glass and when obtained in duplicates, they can be cleaned up and traded or sold.”

(Editor’s Note: Having dug myself, I did find I was totally focused on digging; however, I didn’t relax a moment. I was on “high alert” so that I didn’t catch a bottle with my shovel.)

Note: The above was somewhat paraphrased, by above editor, from the original, which was gleaned from

21 a Central Florida Insulator Club Newsletter, sent in by Clarice Gordon.

It appeared in Crown Jewels of the Wire, November, 1988. The article has also obviously appeared in one of, “The Bottleneck” issues in 2011.

Ghost Town Echo Washington Bottle & Collectors Association Club member Niel Smith related an unexpected interesting experience when checking out Craigslist. He tells the reader that he often uses Craigslist to find ads about old bottles. He arranged a meeting with a Dr. Jim Moore to meet him in person, as he learned that Dr. Moore lived near his house. He ended up acquiring the doctor’s Hawaiian soda bottles. Also among his purchases was a most impressive labeled bottle that read, W Peacock and Co. Whiskey bottle from Honolulu T.H. While at the doctor’s house he learned that Dr. Moore is a dealer in rare books (which may be of interest to some readers). During their conversation it was borne out that the doctor had been a distributor for the Coca-Cola Company in Missouri at the age of eighteen. One does not usually delve into the history of the company they are working for at the age of eighteen. That was the way it was with Dr. Moore, according to Niel. The rest of this story gets really funny. I opted to leave the rest of the story between you and Niel. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind being contacted so he could relate it in his own way. If your interest peaks, you might want to check with the Washington club and get in touch with Niel.

Have something to share, tell us about it? Have you been out finding some treasures?

Keep us informed, write to: mdvanzant@yahoo.com Martin Van Zant 208 Urban St. Danville Ind. 46122

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Bottles and Extras

Bottle Collecting in Kansas on the Upswing One of a Series

By Ed and Phil Stewart Paola, Kan.

Ed recalled that “my “A move to Kansas came dad, Phil, began digging and in 1973. There was a bottle collecting bottles during the club in Kansas City, but most 1960s and later operated a of its members were from bottle shop behind our home in the Missouri side. We met Paola. occasionally in Independence, “When he decided to open Mo., but no club digs ever the shop, he started a contest happened because of a between my mom and all the reluctance of members to kids who were old enough to share digging. That was most name the shop. I was about unfriendly.

12 years old and my entry of “There was a lot of digging Stewart and Sons Old Bottles around eastern Kansas at the was the winner. ‘Sanford & time, especially in the Kansas Son’ was a very popular TV City and Leavenworth areas. show of the day and was my Ed Stewart showing a freshly-dug drugstore bottle. The latter was heavily dug and inspiration. the digging was made possible “Dad operated the shop for about 15 years. It was listed by urban renewal projects. Many choice bottles were found, in several bottle books and even included in later editions including a Denver, Kansas Territory Hutchinson. even after the shop closed. Dad still occasionally gets calls “One of the most avid and early Kansas diggers I met from someone who saw the shop listed in one of the books. was Pat Montgomery, who lived in Overland Park. As far as “Dad also encouraged me and my younger brother, John, I know (in 2008), he is still digging. Once in 1973 or 74, Pat, to enjoy the hobby. He helped us both build collections which another fellow and I flew in a four-seater plane to Louisville, we also displayed at bottle shows. John no longer collects, Ky., to attend a bottle show. but the hobby obviously “took” with me. :-) “My special collection consisted of colored drug store “A 50-state colored drug store bottle display at the bottles. I had a display of such bottles from all 50 states, with 1978 Chanute, Kan., show won first place in the medicines all but eight or 10 represented by colored examples. Amber, and sodas category (blue ribbon), the Federation’s most cobalt, emerald – they were beautiful. I collected best of show educational ribbon (yellow and white ribbon), the Old Bottle awards in Tulsa, St. Louis and Chanute, Kan. Fear of tornados Magazine Award (red, white and blue ribbon) and the judges’ made me sell the entire collection to a man in Texas.”

Best of Show trophy.

“I’ll let dad tell how he got started collecting.”

Now it’s Ed’s turn.

“I got started collecting bottles in the 1960s by digging in “One of the most active current Kansas bottle diggers old Montana ghost towns. I dug my first bottle, a pharmacy and the owner of the largest collection of Kansas bottles bottle from Fort Benton, Mont., in a ghost town named does not actually live in Kansas. No history of Kansas bottle Granite near Phillipsburg. The whole town site had been digging and collecting would be complete, however, without heavily dug. Later, I dug in another ghost town called Garnet a mention of Johnnie Fletcher, of Mustang, Okla. In the near Drummond.

1980s, as the dumps were starting to play out or get covered “In 1965, I moved to Oregon, but there was no digging up, Johnnie switched to privy digging. A lot of this digging to be found in the two places I lived so I continued to collect, was in Kansas and a large number of previously unknown mostly by mail. The Old Bottle Magazine, published in Kansas bottles were brought to light. Johnnie purchased a nearby Bend, was full of interesting ads. collection of Kansas drug store bottles in the early 1990s, and “In 1970, I moved to Missouri where great digging was then decided to collect all Kansas bottles. In 1994, Johnnie found. In Windsor and Sedalia, digging was easy and very published Kansas Bottles, 1854 to 1915. This 380-page book rewarding. Most of it was dump digging. I met a fellow from has sold 400 copies and is the standard reference for Kansas Nevada, Mo., who lived right on the old dump. He wouldn’t bottles. let anyone dig, but sold most all of what he dug. I used to buy “I met Johnnie at the Southeast Kansas Bottle and Relic amber Nevada drug store bottles from him at five for a dollar!

Show in Chanute in April 2002 and was invited to come on an

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upcoming dig in May. After that first dig in Atchison, Kansas, I was hooked on privy digging. A few months earlier, Kenny Burbrink, an up-and-coming digger from Newton, Kansas, had also met Johnnie and benefitted from his years of privy digging experience. It wasn’t long before Kenny, Johnnie and I were digging together regularly.

“One of the towns that we dig in frequently is Atchison.

On one of those trips, Johnnie met a homeowner who became very interested in bottles and bottle digging. In short order, there was a new member in the regular Kansas bottle digging crew. Francis Wiltz is a very avid digger and is the king of getting permission, which he always generously shared with the group.

Francis Wiltz holding two rare Atchison, Kan. ales.

“In the last several years, I have dug with this group in over 20 of Kansas’ 105 counties – from Atchison to Baldwin to West Mineral and Wichita. During this time, the group has uncovered several very important bottles. Those from Kansas include five different ale bottles from Atchison and a whiskey from that city. Kansas enacted prohibition in 1881 so these bottles are extremely rare and most are one-of-a-kind. Kenny Burbrink dug up a short blobtop C. Conrad & Co.’s/Original/ Budweiser that was unknown in Budweiser collectors’ circles.

“The group of diggers I belong to is one of the most active n the state. I believe that there are a couple of active diggers in the Leavenworth area, but I have not had the opportunity to meet them. There may be other diggers that I am not aware of.

“Each of my digging partners is also a collector with an impressive collection of Kansas bottles, with Johnnie’s being museum quality. Among other collectors in the state are Jim Hovious, of Butler, who has a great Kansas soda collection; Mark Law, of Topeka, who has a wide-ranging Kansas collection, and Jim Ricketts of Holton, who has another great collection of Kansas sodas.

“Kansas has enjoyed an active bottle collecting history.

More recently, there has been an up-tick in the interest of Kansas bottles as a collecting category. Active diggers are making new discoveries each year. Given this vitality and interest, Kansas bottle collecting promises to have a bright future.”

New Mexico Historical Bottle Society &

Enchantment Insulator Club New LOCATION - Bigger & Better Will accommodate MORE dealers

24th Annual Show & Sale Insulators Marbles Collectibles

Table Top Antiques

Bottles Barbwire Advertising

Albuquerque Grace Church 6901 San Antonio Dr NE Albuquerque, NM 87109

September 24, 2011 Free Admission Contact: Mike Gay (505) 899-8755 Cdn102@comcast.net

Hours: 8:30 am - 4 pm Tom Katonak 1024 Camino de Lucia Corrales, NM 87048 (505) 898-5592 tkatonak@comcast.net

Free Parking

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Merrimack Valley Antique Bottle Club Presents the 37th Annual

Lowell Antique Bottle Show & Sale Sunday September 25, 2011 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Early Buyers 8 a.m.

Early Buyer Admission - $15 General Admission - $3 Children under 12 Free

Lowell ELKS Club, 40 Old Ferry Rd, Lowell, MA (Take Exit 32 off US Rte 3 Then follow the signs.

Map also located on our web site)

80 Dealer Tables with Bottles, Postcards, Advertising, Stoneware, Fruit Jars, Insulators & Collectables Free Bottle Appraisals Free Parking Free Children’s Bottle Table Free $20 Door Prize Drawings For information contact: Cliff Hoyt: 978-458-6575 Maureen Crawford: 978-897-7327 Or visit our web site for: Maps, Directions, Dealer Contracts, Discount Coupons & more at: choyt48.home.comcast.net/mvbc.htm

“A Show with Moxie” Catered Lunch

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Support your Local Club

Get involved in your hobby, attend meetings and/or become a club officer!

Need assistance finding your local club, contact your FOHBC regional director.

They can supply with a list of local clubs in your area.

––– See page two for a list of Officers and Regional Directors in your area

KETCHUP, PICKLES, SAUCES 19th Century Food in Glass Betty Zumwalt, author ––– 498 pages of pictures and research of glass containers the early food industry utlilized Smyth Bound - $25 ––– Mark West Publishers PO Box 1914 Sandpoint, ID 86864

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The Boston Ranch

By Ken Morrill

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ry to picture the city of San Francisco as it nineteenth century but few were large enough to bear looked following the discovery of the cost of bottling their milk. Competition gold in California in 1848. Can between dairies kept milk prices low, you imagine the undeveloped as little as five cents per quart, and grass covered hillsides, the changing consequently most dairies delivered landscape as new buildings were their milk from three gallon cans, constructed and the fact that cows carried on horse drawn wagons. roamed nearly everywhere there A measuring device was used were not buildings? Cows were to dip the milk from the can a common sight in San Francisco and place it into a receptacle in the second half of the nineteen supplied by the customer. This century. Dairymen, during these was a highly unsanitary method early years, grazed their cattle in the of distribution and also allowed fields of the Presidio, in Cow Hollow, many unscrupulous dealers to water on the slopes of Twin Peaks, south down or adulterate their milk. Many of the Mission district, along the San Francisco dairies did not favor shore at Brisbane, up Visitation and the practice of bottling milk and it Guadaloupe Valleys and all across would take a quarter of a century the Peninsula to the south. from the bottles inception to finally Dairying was an important replace the antiquated system of part of San Francisco’s past yet dipping from cans. today perhaps the only evidence Deliveries were available of its existence, apart from old twice daily to accommodate photographs, are the milk bottles the twice daily milking of the that were left on the doorsteps cows as well as to ensure fresh of the cities residents. Although milk to customers who had no bottled milk was not available in refrigeration. Milk at that time San Francisco until 1888, these was raw and unprocessed and bottles are a reminder of a lifestyle without refrigeration could not long forgotten in this city. be kept fresh for more than a Milk bottles were to be washed day. It would not be until the and returned to the milkman every early twentieth century that the day and were reused until lost or process of pasteurization and destroyed, consequently very few development of refrigeration remain today. would allow the customer to There were more than one keep their milk fresh for days. hundred dairies supplying San Recently an early half pint Francisco at the end of the “Tin top� Boston Ranch half-pint milk bottle milk bottle was discovered,

26 from a milk dealer who played a very important role in San Francisco’s dairy industry, having roots tracing back to the Gold Rush. This bottle is known as a “tin top” milk because of the tin coated metal lid that was used to seal the mouth. It is embossed with a monogram of a “C” encircling an “H”, Boston Ranch, Geo. L. Perham.

The meaning of the monogram and the story that follows unfolded after discovering a letter written in the 1940’s to the California district of the Borden’s Dairy Delivery Company.

The explosive growth of San Francisco following the Gold Rush created great demand for milk, cream, butter and cheese. Many of the gold seekers, with experience in dairying, left the mines and came back to the Bay Area to establish dairies. The climate and vegetation that existed in this area was ideal for cattle. Large and small dairy operations flourished in and around San Francisco for decades as the demand for milk increased.

However, with increasing land values and property development, as well as mounting pressure from health concerns over keeping cows in the city, dairymen were either forced out of business or had to relocate their herds to surrounding counties where grazing land was still available.

Among the gold seekers that came to California to find their fortune was Hiram Penny Clifford.

The lure of riches and a new life prompted Hiram to bring his wife, Martha, and their three young sons; Clarence (7), Daniel (5), and Hersey (5 mo.), to California. The family left Bridgewater, Massachusetts in 1856 and traveled to Panama where they crossed the Isthmus to continue on to San Francisco. From there they traveled up the Sacramento River and on to Oroville, finally settling at Tarr’s ranch near Bidwell’s bar on the Feather River.

Although Bidwell’s Bar yielded a fortune in gold, by the time Hiram arrived the placers were largely played out. The 1860 federal census lists Hiram’s occupation as a carpenter so

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Hiram Clifford it is likely that he found it easier to support a growing family by working for wages.

Martha gave birth to a daughter, Jennie, in 1859 and five years later to a fourth son whom they named Ulysses S. Grant. The Clifford’s remained in the Oroville area until moving to San Francisco in 1869.

Hiram purchased a ranch located northwest of the Mission Delores on the corner of Castro and Fourteenth streets. He named his dairy the Boston Ranch and it is likely that his cows grazed on the slopes of Twin Peaks where water was available from several springs and a small stream that flowed by the mission.

In 1872 Hiram purchased a larger ranch south of the Mission district in the University mound Tract area. The

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The Clifford house family moved in to a large two story home on the corner of Cambridge and Bacon and they had several large barns nearby to house the dairy operation.

As the Clifford boys grew older they assisted their father with the business. In 1877 Hiram took in a partner, Alpheus Talbot, and an office and depot was opened at 35 Eddy.

The business was called Clifford and Talbot but the partnership only lasted a year. Hiram maintained the office and depot at 35 Eddy and Daniel and Hersey worked as deliverymen. When Hiram’s youngest son, Grant, had finished school in 1882, at the age of 18, he became a deliveryman.

While on a trip back to his home state of Maine, in 1883, Hiram passed away. The Boston Ranch was carried on by Hersey and Grant, both serving

Boston Ranch barns and silos

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as proprietors throughout the rest of the 1880’s.

Hersey met the daughter of another successful gold seeker turned dairyman by the name of William Edgar Randall. William traveled with his wife from Boston, Massachusetts to California, via the Cape Horn route, and arrived in San Francisco in 1850.

They found their way to Murphy’s Camp and established a claim that proved quite rich. After leaving the gold fields the Randalls eventually purchased 1400 acres in Bolinas, Marin County, to operate a dairy. Most of the milk was made in to butter that was shipped to San Francisco.

Hersey married Mary Lorraine Randall in 1886 and over the next four years had three children. The first child, Rue Randall, became a school teacher and well respected member and contributor to the South San Francisco community. In the 1940’s she wrote to her cousin, George Sheldon Perham (president of the Dairy Delivery Company), about the history of her

grandfather’s (Hiram Clifford) dairy.

It was from this correspondence that I discovered the relationship between the Clifford’s and Perham’s and a wealth of information about many of the other early San Francisco milk dealers.

In 1875 a fourteen year old boy, by the name of George Lawrence Perham

George L. Perham

and his mother came to California with another family by the name of Shafter.

The Perham’s had been living with the Shafter’s on a farm in Vermont and apparently decided to follow the Shafter’s to a diary ranch they bought near San Jose on the slopes of Mt. Hamilton.

Some time in the 1880’s George and his mother moved to San Francisco and George got a job delivering papers.

Living in San Francisco he chanced to meet Hiram Clifford’s daughter, Jennie, and they were married in 1888.

The following year Jennie gave birth to a daughter, Ina C. and George’s career was about to take a turn from paper deliveyman to milkman.

In 1890 George and Jennie moved into the ranch house at the corner of Cambridge and Bacon and joined Hersey and Grant in running the Boston Ranch. The partnership was called U.S. Clifford and Co. In 1893 Jennie gave birth to a son, George Sheldon, or “Shel” as he was later known by his friends.

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For thirty years the cows of the Boston Ranch grazed on land south of the Mission district and the milk was distributed from the depot at 35 Eddy. The depot also served as a location where the cities milkmen held meetings and could pick up their mail.

It became the milkman’s headquarters and here, with the encouragement of George L. Perham, the first drivers union was created.

In 1897 George L. Perham became the sole proprietor of the Boston Ranch and Grant and Hersey went on to pursue other interests. Grant became the assistant grand secretary for the grand lodge I.O.O.F. and Hersey made a living as an inventor.

The great earthquake and fire of 1906 was a turning point for dairies and milk dealers that served San Francisco.

For the next five years George ran the Boston Ranch while living at the home on the corner of Cambridge and Bacon, with his cows grazing the hills to the west and south.

In 1902 the Boston Ranch joined force with the Pacific dairy and the business was renamed the Boston Ranch and Pacific Dairy. The herds were moved to the hills of Baden, now known as South San Francisco.

George moved his family to Baden and the depot in San Francisco was relocated to 2779 Folsom street.

The great earthquake and fire of 1906 was a turning point for dairies and milk dealers that served San Francisco.

The Boston Ranch and Pacific Dairy in Baden was probably not seriously damaged but their business in San Francisco temporarily evaporated.

Many of the city milk depots were destroyed by the devastating fire that followed the quake. For businesses that relied on daily deliveries and monthly billings the loss of depots, equipment, records and customers created havoc for all of the dairies.

The Dairy Delivery Company delivery wagons at 19th St. plant Bottle (above right) is a quart Dairy Delivery Company bottle.

Bottles and Extras Two hundred thousand refugees were created by the earthquake and fire but their needs were partially met with the help of many of the cities milk dealers. George L. Perham joined forces with seven other leading San Francisco dairies to provide free milk to the cities refugees. For six days following the earthquake, milk was brought into the city and dispensed from cans into whatever receptacle the homeless had to receive it.

These previously competing companies cooperated in sharing equipment, supplies, personnel and experience to enable the free distribution of milk to the cities homeless.

This arrangement was so successful that the eight dairies formed a legal partnership and became the Dairy Delivery Company.

In 1906 George L. Perham became the first president and his depot on Folsom street became one of four branch stores for the company. A new plant was completed that year, at 3550

These bottles were cheaper, easier to use, maintain, wash and thus were more sanitary than the tin top bottles.

Quart milk bottles in horse-drawn delivery wagon

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19th street, which was considered the most modern and sanitary dairy operation on the west coast. This location was the headquarters for all the company’s dairy operations from receiving through bottling and distribution. The plant was over 20,000 square feet and included rooms for management and employees, receiving, processing, bottling, cold storage, creamery, laboratory, bottle storage, bottle washing, blacksmith shop, machinery room, retail sales room as well as stables and an 8700 square foot wagon shed.

The cities residents were encouraged to tour the plant so they could observe first hand the degree of care taken to provide a clean and wholesome

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Early delivery trucks for the Dairy Delivery Company. product. One of the operations that in 1929; the same year that the Dairy could be observed was a new bottle Delivery Company was purchased by capping system, utilizing a device that Borden’s forming the Borden’s Dairy could seal hundreds of bottles per hour Delivery Company. and was the first of its kind to be used Shel, like his father, was well on the west coast. A new style of bottle respected by his peers and employees. was used that had a rim (cap seat) inside His consistent work for improvements the mouth of the bottle. These bottles in the dairy industry included, serving were cheaper, easier to use, maintain, as director of the California Dairy wash and thus were more sanitary than Council and the Milk Institute of the tin top bottles.

California. In 1930 Shel was the vice For over 25 years George L. Perham president of the California district of was a highly respected member of the Borden’s Dairy Delivery Company the San Francisco dairy industry, and later went on to become president continually striving to improve the and Chairmen of the board until his quality of milk and service provided retirement in 1949. Sheldon died in to the cities residents. While living 1955, being survived by his wife and in San Mateo county George also three of his children. played an active role in improving Luckily, my search for family the counties highway system. In 1913 members was rewarded by finding George moved to Hillsborough and that George Sheldon Jr. still resides in maintained his position as president of California; however neither George or the Dairy Delivery Company until his his brother entered the dairy business death in 1915, at the age of 54. thus ending 80 years of family George’s son, Shel, was 22 at the involvement in San Francisco’s dairy time of his fathers passing and he industry. At the age of 82, George was already moving up the ranks of Sheldon Jr. and his wife Ann operate the company. He started work in the a bed and breakfast and farm 30 acres dairy business, as a teen, breaking of vineyard. They have graciously in the horses that were used to pull provided me with many photographs the companies milk wagons. Later and helped fill some gaps in my he drove the trucks which replaced research on the Clifford and Perham the horse drawn wagons. In 1920 he families. had become a director of the Dairy –––––––– Delivery Company.

For information about San Shel married Francis Bell in 1921.

Francisco dairies and milk dealers, or They had four children; Jane, George the bottles they used, prior to 1910, Sheldon Jr., Patricia and Arthur contact me at arrowheadfarms@ Francis. George Sheldon Jr. was born cruzio.com.

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Using GIS to Locate Historic Sites and Potential Privies

l

By Jeff Mihalik

OK, it is winter here in eastern Pennsylvania and there are several inches of frozen snow covering the ground, so what’s a privy digger supposed to do? For one thing, I’d like to go back to Texas where I lived for 18 years and dig up some southern glass, but I can’t seem to get away from work right now. I’m the GIS (Geographic Information Systems) manager for a mid-sized consulting company located about 20 minutes south of Pittsburgh.

If you have watched CSI, then you have seen GIS at work. Also, all of you that use Google Maps or other search engines or navigation devices to find your way around, then you, too, are GIS users. Basically, GIS allows for layering of information to allow detailed query of information and analysis.

I’m often using aerial imagery as a base map, then overlay digital layers of data such as streams, wetlands, roadways, natural areas and engineering data, whatever the current project requires. I can then do my analysis work and ask questions like how many wetlands and or streams are in a given area and how may this impact/alter a design of a new construction project (since most of the time it is more economical to avoid impacting these resources than to procure permits for mitigation to compensate for impacts). OK, enough of the tech talk. So how does this relate to privy digging, since this is what a lot of us have on our minds, whether at work, at home, or hanging out with friends? I guess I have privies on the brain.

Well, as I conduct my daily work activities, one thing I normally do is search for aerial imagery of certain areas of interest. In addition, I often have to use historic imagery to show what areas looked like before

something was built. This has led me to spend a lot of time searching imagery archives and just doing searches for imagery in general. As many of you know, a lot of the local county atlases (those first published in the 1860-70s time period) have been made available digitally. I use these all the time when hunting for historic home sites where there may be privies. In Ohio, the Sanborn maps have also been made available through digital libraries. Again, these are much needed resources for any serious privy enthusiast. However, some issues I often encounter include how hard it can be to determine exactly how many lots there were on a given block then (1860s), as compared to now. Street names often changed over time, and or an old road no longer exists.

OK, now back to the GIS. One technique I utilize in my work is called Spatial Analysis. A tool called Geo Referencing allows for the overlaying of data that may be in different projections (coordinate systems) or of data sets that may have no coordinates tied to the data at all. Remember when I was talking about Google Maps and navigational devices, this is a key concept to GIS that everything is spatial and has a spatial location in the real world (coordinates). Once you have that, then you can overlay various data sets that are often disparate. Many of the digital atlases and Sanborn maps do not have coordinates attached to the file. Therefore, the use of GIS and spatial tools allow for the merging of these data sets.

Once you have your data sets in the GIS (as image files such as jpeg, bitmap, pdf, etc.), you can start the geo-referencing process. To get the best results, you have to be able to determine at least 5 to 10 common locations on each map. Major intersections are usually the best as

these generally do not change much over time. As you pick a location on your base map and then choose the same location on your overlay map, the geo-referencing tool starts to align the two maps together. To better see your base map, you can set a transparency on the overlay map so you can then see underneath and better choose your starting and ending points.

Notice the red/green tick marks.

These are the control points I used to establish the common areas. You cannot expect everything to line up perfectly. Not only were these maps produced at different scales, but they are based on the best available data that the map makers could get at the time.

So now I can see where potential 1860s buildings exist and also where potential privies may be located.

Although Sanborn maps do not have a unique symbol for privies, you can tell what “may” be a privy by the

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construction material (the Sanborn does provide) and location/size in relationship to the building on the lot.

After digging many privies and then looking back on Sanborn maps, I now can pick out the privies with a higher than 70% success rate (well, most of the time, at least). I’ll now pick out some potential privy sites that are of interest. I like downtown privies as these generally were abandoned earlier than other privies in the surrounding town areas and are often loaded with “material.”

The arrows above are pointing to structures on the Sanborn maps that have a high degree of potential to be privy locations. The Sanborn maps have a scale to them, so you can get a fairly good idea of the exact location of any of these structures.

OK, so now I have some sites in mind. At this point I could hit the road and do some “ground truthing” (this is a techno term for verifying in real life what you see on your computer screen). However, doing this is can be costly now. Not only do you have to take into account your time, but costs associated with gas and vehicle wear and tear also need to be considered.

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Going to one location my not break the bank, but looking at multiple locations in several towns can put a pinch in your wallet (that said, some of my best enjoyment comes from just driving around and seeing history everywhere I go). But this is about the GIS and how it can aid in your search. So, as the final step in the GIS process, I bring in an aerial map that I copied from Google Maps or one of the various search and mapping sites that are readily available. Once in the GIS, I start geo-referencing the aerial to the Sanborn base map. I can then make the Sanborn transparent and determine which of the potential privy locations I have just located, are on lots where there is still open areas (grassy yards or maybe gravel driveways/parking lots).

I’ve circled in red, privies that appear to be in areas that may be accessible. The red circle to the top right is really of interest to me. Although this privy may be in a parking lot, there is a chance it could extend into the adjoining yard. Remember how I mentioned previously (a couple times) that the mapping most likely will not line up perfectly so it is important to

check all the sites that you believe have a high potential for producing artifacts.

My partner and I are usually very good at getting permissions, especially when landowners see how much effort we have put into the search. For the above site, I’ll start checking the county atlas maps to see if I can determine who may have lived at this location back in the 1800s and do an internet review to find any data that is available.

There is a wealth of information out there at our fingertips, just waiting for a hungry history buff to come look, read, learn, and share what you have found. The more time I spend searching for history, the more I feel connected with the past. As most of you long time diggers and collectors know, it’s the people we meet and the time we share that makes our lives rich…and not the bottles we collect.

Don’t get me wrong: I do love my collection, but it is mainly because each piece of glass has a story to tell (memories of past use and memories of the present dig). When did I find it, where was it dug, who possibly lived at this location and used this item?

I’m now using GIS for preliminary analysis of sites in most all my digs.

Recently, I was able to find an entire block of 1860s era homes that no longer exist, but are buried under vacant and grassy lots. I’m also focusing in on hotel lots. Even in urban areas, you may find depressions in paved parking areas that could indicate a potential privy site and if you can back that up with a “hit” on the Sanborn map, then you have a high confidence that a privy is there. Also, finding the privies on an 1880s era Sanborn map can also lead to older adjacent privies.

Have something to share, tell us about it? Have you been out finding some treasures?

Keep us informed, write to: mdvanzant@yahoo.com Martin Van Zant, 208 Urban St. Danville IN 46122

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Dick Bere – Collector Extraordinaire

By Bruce W. Schank

[Editor’s Note: This article is a result of long-time collector and author, Bruce W. Schank, reaching out to long-time collector, Dick Bere.]

––––––––– here comes a time in everyone’s life when they actually get a chance to meet someone who is really rather special.

Actually in my humble opinion, this person is extraordinary to say the least. I haven’t known Dick for very long but after spending the entire day with him, seeing his fabulous collection and hearing from others about his life and personal passions, I agree that he Dick Bere is somewhat remarkable.

And mind you, it is not because he is a former president of Kroger Company, the largest food retailer in the country bar none. It is because he unselfishly gives of his money, time and energy to benefit the least of those in Cincinnati.

Incredibly, instead of sitting on his laurels and living the good life, Dick has spent the major portion of the last decade driving to downtown Cincinnati to a place he helped get started – “Crayons to Computers” (C2C) – a non-profit organization that benefits poor inner city children and teachers who do everything within their power to educate those same children. C2C was the original model for a nationwide network of Teacher Free Stores that have one simple mission: “To serve the educational and imaginative

T

needs of children in the Greater Cincinnati area by providing a unique means to transfer donated, value purchased product, and created product from businesses and individuals free to teachers for use in their classrooms and schools”. Since it was founded in 1997, C2C has given away more than $80 million in free school supplies. The only thing asked of the teachers is that they or their students write thank-you notes to the donors.

Take my word for it when I tell you that Dick has a tremendous fruit jar collection among other fabulous collectibles that, simply put, would turn any collector’s head. Just looking at all of the wonderful jars as well as the other collectibles he has amassed and how he has displayed everything, you can immediately tell he has an incredible passion for many different hobbies, notably fruit jars. Yet, he also has a deep burning inner passion to help poor

Another look inside C2C.

Phil Smith, notable jar collector and recent donor to C2C, is shown inside the store (in rear).

Adjacent warehouse full of donated materials.

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inner city children have the opportunity to get properly educated, and thus have every chance to be as successful as humanly possible. Let’s face it, it’s a daunting challenge to say the least, but a very noble one indeed. I will also freely admit right here and now, my sheer inadequacy in terms of what this man has done for others and my lack thereof.

Crayons to Computers is fortunate to have several hundred “family” volunteers who come in at least once a week to stock the store, sort product, help teachers shop in the afternoons and do whatever other tasks that may be needed. C2C has a small staff and relies on volunteers to do most of the work. It gets no government funding. For more complete information on C2C, visit the Website at www.Crayons2Computers.org Dick has managed to use his former business and professional contacts to get companies to donate product, equipment and financial help to this worthy cause. He states that he has become good at begging. He also has worked very hard in the warehouse and store setting up racking, shelving, unloading trucks, stocking the store and cataloging what has been donated by various donors.

For some reason, you might think you are in a Kroger store without perishables. His guidelines to the many volunteers are that when they get done restocking the store, it should be in grand opening condition.

W

hen I arrived at Dick’s home, the first thing I saw at the front entrance was a very nice hand painted sign with fruit jars on it given to him by a friend.

This time I brought my better half with me so she could get a bird’s eye view of what I see and do when getting these stories. To say she was impressed with Dick and his collections is an understatement to say the least. Dick took a real liking to my wife, Glenna Mae (who wouldn’t?). At one point, while she was looking at a coffee table book, Dick decided to give it to her as a gift. Dick’s generosity knows no bounds.

Dick was born north of Dayton, Ohio in a little town with a population of just over 300 people at the time of his birth. He’s not at all sure whether he was born in a hospital or in the farm house.

His mother was a school teacher and didn’t get hired until the war broke out because a married teacher couldn’t be hired back then. He went to Olive Branch High School and graduated from Ohio State University. While working on his doctorate, Dick was approached about an opportunity at Kroger by his advisor who had spent six weeks with a summer fellowship. Dick wanting to change from the academic field to the business field, and having already done some research work for Kroger, asked his advisor to call some of his Kroger people and tell them he knew

Fabulous was sealer wall display. of a bright young fellow in Columbus who they should hire.

So he interviewed believing he did fairly well on the test. He was called back numerous times and finally someone from the general office in Cincinnati interviewed him. Then he interviewed with the top people from the general office and they finally offered him a job. After starting work he asked the assistant personnel manager what took them so long to hire him and he said, “We didn’t know what to do with a guy with a Ph.D. degree and wondered why he would want to work for Kroger.”

It was while Dick was already working at Kroger that he received his degree. Incredibly, he started out as a carry out-boy in a store in Columbus, Ohio with a Ph.D. While working one day in the produce department, a fellow he graduated with came by while Dick was standing near a food rack with his dirty apron on. All that guy could do while turning his head numerous times in Dick’s direction was shake it as he moved on. Dick had a great career with Kroger and doesn’t regret one moment spent with them.

Dick’s meteoric rise in Kroger to the top spot as president was not overnight by any means. He was transferred a lot to different locations and each transfer was to a better position. He also claims he had some guardian angels in the front office looking out for him. Dick told me besides the lack of candidates at the time, and the fact he was qualified for the position while running a southern division for Kroger, that he really wanted to retire. He was called into the front office in Cincinnati and met with the CEO at the time and asked not to retire yet. A few weeks later he received an offer to come to Cincinnati as a regional VP and then a few years later he was promoted to president.

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Bottles and Extras

ick first became interested in fruit jars while on a sales trip. He went into an antique store in which there was a Hoosier cabinet. On top of it was a queen jar and he bought it. Dick claims he paid way too much for it, but that was the trigger that got him started on the endless merry-go-round we call fruit jar collecting. So in the beginning, Dick collected everything and anything as most new collectors do. He eventually limited it to quarts and now buys only good quarts that he finds and that he doesn’t already have and is a good example. He has sold off all of his cheaper jars, although he does not like to use the term “cheaper” because all jars have value and are basically important to the hobby. He stills has many full sets of half gallons, quarts and pints that he really likes and decided they should stay put.

Fantastic colored and rare fruit jars.

Dick claims no favorite jar per se but he says he does especially enjoy both of his cobalt Canton jars, the domestic and the electric.

As I walked around Dick’s home, I was astonished at not only how many jars he had but the overall quality in his collection. I found it quite fascinating how he displayed many of his jars using different nooks and crannies around the home and how efficiently and ingeniously he used all available wall space that could be had.

Although a Ball collector, I was unaware that Dick had been honored by the Kroger Company who commissioned Ball Corporation to make two clear quart jars depicting his history with Kroger plus Dazell/Viking to make an amber pint with his caricature and name on it. Dick’s image also graces both Ball jars. I was astonished to see he had the two molds used by Ball

Dick’s two Ball-made commemorative jars.

Jar display tucked into stairwell.

Corporations on display. According to Dick, two jars were made because they couldn’t fit everything about him on one jar alone.

Dick had some famous expressions he used (such as dumb S#%*) for some of his associates when they did something dumb. So, on one quart is DS which is short for that terminology, which Dick said was used on him as much as he used it.

Also, while at Kroger, Dick was against double coupons although they were spread out across the company. On one of the jars is a coupon with an X through it, representing Dick’s displeasure with them. At least half of Dick’s thirty-eight years with Kroger were spent in the fruit and vegetable area.

For some reason, I had thought that Ball Corporation only made these commemorative jars for their employees, but there were these two jars with the molds for everyone to see and a testimony to Dick’s character as a very special person indeed.

This also tells me that he is without a doubt an uncommon person for sure. My personal take is that Dick is a very humble, low key, incredibly intelligent man whose very presence has made a huge difference wherever he has been. I’m grateful I was able to get his story and see his wonderful collection of jars and other fantastic memorabilia.

Dick has enjoyed collecting fruit jars for more than 40 years, continually upgrading his way to what his collection is today. He claims he knows he pays too much for the rarer jars but figures he is just a caretaker for these jars until he dies. Dick considers some people in the hobby as his best friends and never has gone to a show where he has not learned more about different jars and the hobby. Every jar is different and that is what makes it fun, he told me. He especially misses Norm Barnett and Jim Chamberlin, who he bought many jars from over the years.

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Rare one-of-a-kind Ball Corporation molds for two Dick Bere commemorative jars.

Rare colored Ball Mason and rare South Jersey Pogue jars.

Dick Bere with miniature Kroger truck.

Nice jar sets of half-gallon, quart and pints.

Fabulous antique desk with angels collected

by Dick’s wife, Betty Jo.

Very nice Lightning fruit jars.

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Bottles and Extras

Keeping a Lid on It

By Rex Barber

My wife and I started collecting pot lids back in 1969 and by the mid 1970s we had sold all our Australian pot lids to Bob and Sue Keeling as we both imagined that we would dig plenty more (Oh, well). We next decided to collect only coloured pot lids and bought quite a few from June Heath on a visit to England in 1977 to add to our collection. It was also during this period that we realized we were never going to be able to either collect, or afford to buy single fields of pot lids such as bears’ greases, or the more specialized pictorial toothpaste lids as

collected by the American collector Ben Swanson.

We looked at our collection and made our minds up to collect cureall pot lids, ointments, salves and creams, and sold the rest to give us some buying power, a 40-year-long conversion. As with the rest of you dedicated collectors out there, it is our individual choice to chop and change whether you dig, buy, or swap your bottles and lids. Perhaps it is a combination of all those means of acquiring for your collection.

Regardless of our real jobs in life

we amateur archaeologists are keeping treasures of the past for the future, and I believe that the Victorian and Edwardian periods were the greatest for commercial advertising ware regardless of if it be bottles, stoneware or pot lids.

Look carefully at the Measams lid, a genuine cure-all pot lid that not only cures ring worms and other nasties, but is good for cleaning the teeth. I begs first go for my teeth only please; you get something else for your flaming ring worms.

People like Hollaways, with their

Bottles and Extras lids predate the impressive advertising of Coca-Cola and Kentucky Fried Chicken, remembering that Hollaway did all of his advertising before television, telephone and even radio, and yet we dig his lids and pots all around the globe.

Most cure-all pot lids have a variation of cures that proclaim to cure nearly ever known disease to man, including a cure for cancer from Wales from “The Mannina Ointment Company” that also produced a threesome of quack cures.

Another lid by Dr. Showers salve cures cancerous growths and uses a new word in the dictionary at that time – radium.

Common amongst quack cure script on lids in Victorian times was the word Egyptian as used in both the Clarkes cure-all lid and the Western Australian Trouchets corn cure lid from the Gold Fields. This evolved from the mid 18th century cure of ground-up mummy wrappings as shown in the famous William Hogarth Cartoon. This dust was added to the cetine and other strange ingredients to form the cure.

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Many of the Victorian cures were from doctors, if we are to believe the scripts and perhaps at that time in history they were. Dr. McWhinnie’s Ung Rub, the red ointment, Dr. Buchan’s vegetable ointment, Old Dr. Hardy’s Scorbutic ointment and Dr. Wright’s Celebrated Pearl Ointment pot lids in four separate colours and prices.

Two of the great pictorial cures are Johnsons Celebrated Ointment showing the manufactory building in Crewe (still standing in 2009) and the brown owl eye ointment from Sargent’s Chemist of York, in Western Australia.

Amongst my collection of pot lids are cures for just about every disease known to man including many whose named aliments have gone out of common usage such as anti scorbutic

37 which apparently is pitting of the skin.

The use of words like Cetine, Cerate and Ceratum, refer to the fixing or bonding agent used in these concoctions, and this was normally bees wax or some form of animal fat such as lard, or pig fat.

If you take the time to read Culpeper’s Complete Herbal and English Physician, (written in 1653) and as recommended by Dr Johnson in 1760, (Pratt pot lid) you will find the basis for a great many quack cures lid scripts, for even in the very front piece of the book you read “Are physically applied to the cure of all disorders incident to mankind” I appreciate that many of his cures have found their way into modern medicine, but you have to wonder at Moonwort, for stopping bleeding, consolidating fractures, blows and bruises and reportedly has having removed 30 newly shod horse shoes from the Earl of Essex’s command on White Down in Devonshire, near Tiverton.

Of course quack cures can be traced back in written history, to Romans, Greeks and many other cultures, but the Victorian period is the pottiest.

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Perfection Water Bottle Company – E. D. Beckwith & Company

By Barry L. Bernas

Introduction

In the past, I’ve written extensively about the Perfection Glass Company and the products that were made in its Washington, Pennsylvania factory.

Also, the histories of the Novelty Glass Works, Sterling Glass Company and Perfection Manufacturing Company, predecessor firms, were briefly documented as well as their manufactured articles. These items were turned out from within the same structures Perfection Glass would occupy from mid-1903 to late 1906.[1] Throughout a nearly five-year manufacturing and marketing cycle within these firms, the lineage of one product is clearly evident. It is the William B. Fenn-conceived, March 30th, 1897-patented, machine-made separating water bottle. This unique carafe started to be blown and pressed mechanically by workers at the Novelty Glass Works during the first quarter of 1902.[2] It continued to be produced by Sterling Glass[3] personnel and finally

by Perfection Glass hands until this corporation too passed into history.

Most likely, this utilitarian item was machine-made in the Novelty Glass Works for the Perfection Bottle Company of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.[4] Thereafter, the latter concern relocated to the southwestern part of the Commonwealth. For a brief period, it operated under the same Perfection Bottle Company label in Washington until the Perfection Manufacturing Company was formed out of it.[5] The simplistic nature, durability, sparkling character, clarity and separating feature of Mr. Fenn’s water bottle was soon adapted for an expanded line of similarly constructed tableware pieces that were intended to be used on hotel, rooming house, restaurant, steamship, riverboat, railroad, tavern and household dining

tables. Also mechanically made, these counterparts followed a similar production and commercial trail as the Fenn water bottle until the Perfection Glass Company absorbed both of the manufacturing and marketing functions.

Having already discussed this patented model and its associated line in considerable detail, I’d like to turn away from the machinemade side of the story and focus on its earlier handmade part.[6] Before the Novelty Glass Works-Perfection Bottle Company (Wilkes Barre) team was formed, there were at least two other businesses that either made or marketed or just marketed the premachine-made water bottle turned out to Mr. Fenn’s 1897 patent. These organizations and their hand-blown flint/lime glass versions of the later Perfection machine-made water bottle with exterior patterns either hand cut or

molded onto the bowl are the topics for this article.

Patented Water Bottle

You cannot discuss the history of either of the firms listed in the title of this piece without considering William B. Fenn’s remarkably simple concept for a water bottle which came apart for easy filling and cleaning. His idea was the prime reason for the existence of both as a commercial enterprise.

Taken directly from his patent application, two profiles of this detachable carafe, in their conceptual form with numeral identifiers still in place, can be seen in Figure 1.[7] In his own words, here is how Mr. Fenn described his invention. The numbers in the text below refer to the digits on the Figure 1 drawings. “… I provide a bottle or vessel … which consists of a base or body portion 5 … and which is provided

Figure 1

Bottles and Extras with a large central circular opening in the top thereof being inclined inwardly and upwardly, and formed around the base of said neck or arm is an annular bead 8, and between the annular bead 8 and the base of the neck or arm is a packing-ring 9, composed of rubber or similar material. I also provide a detachable neck 10, which is preferably of the form shown, the base thereof being much greater in diameter than the upper end and the upper end being greater in diameter than the central portion, and said neck is provided at its lower end with an outwardly-directed annular flange 11, above which is an annular shoulder 12, and below the annular flange 11 is an inwardly and downwardly directed annular rim 13, at the bottom of which is an outwardly-directed annular flange 14, and placed between the flanges 11 and 14 is a packing-ring 15, composed of rubber or similar material. In practice I connect the neck 10 with the body or base portion 5 by means of an annular coupling ring or band 16, which is provided at its upper side with an inwardly-directed conical flange or rim 17, and formed on the outer upper portion of the ring or band 16 at the base of the conical flange is an annular bead or shoulder 18, which is circular in cross-section and below which is an outwardly-directed flange 19.

The neck or arm 7 of the body or base portion 5 of the bottle or vessel is provided on its outside sides with inclined shoulders or projections 20, one of which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the ring or band 16 is provided on its inner surfaces with corresponding inclined shoulders or projections 21, one of which is shown in full line in Fig. 2, and in connecting the separate parts the upper end of the neck 10 is inserted upwardly through the ring or band 16, and said ring or band is then connected with the neck or rim 7 of the bottom or base 5 by placing it thereon so that the inclined shoulders or projections 21 will pass downwardly between the shoulders or projections 20, and then by turning said ring or band to the right the parts

July - August 2011 will be securely locked together and will assume the position shown in Fig. 1 …” [8] Neither the drawing nor the remaining verbiage that accompanied it in the 1896 patent submission revealed a desire by Mr. Fenn for an exterior design to be on either the neck or bowl segments of his water bottle. In the application’s write-up, the closest he came to addressing these issues was in a comment about the bottom part’s shape. Here is what he had to say.

“In the practice of my invention I provide a bottle or vessel for the purpose herein specified which consists of a base or body portion 5, which is preferably of the usual form, but which may be of any desired shape … ” There was a lack of specificity about the coupling device as well. Whether it was to be outwardly adorned wasn’t mentioned. Also, the composition of the joining ring wasn’t provided.

I’m assuming it was to be made of metal but that was only a guess on my part. Mr. Fenn did allude to a glass tightening and/or sealing ring as being one possibility; however, beyond that brief statement, he was silent.

One intriguing revelation from his patent request was the following comment. After the description of his water bottle in that document, he wrote: “My invention is not limited to the material of which the bottle or vessel is made, and any desired material may be employed, such as chinaware, glassware, or other forms of earthenware or metal, or a combination of metals may be employed … ” Due to the lack of precise detail in the November 1896 application about the outward appearance of his water bottle, the earliest production models of William B. Fenn’s separating carafe may have been without any pattern on their major two glass parts or on their coupling rings. Likewise, examples may have been turned out from materials other than glass.

Pre-1900

Did William B. Fenn begin to make and sell his idea immediately after being

39 granted a patent for it? Unfortunately, I don’t know for sure. Since no example has been found that corresponds to his Figure 1 design, I would guess that it wasn’t manufactured or marketed between March 1897 and the turn of the new century. However, I must caveat my supposition by further stating that I’ve nothing concrete to back-up my nebulous musing.

On the other hand, the tidbits of information I’ve been able to find add credence to my presumption. This evidence points to Mr. Fenn following other lines of endeavors at least for this three-year period.

In May 1897, he filed another patent request for a raisin seeder from Dorranceton, Pennsylvania.[9] This Luzerne County location was the same one from which the 1896 water bottle submission was forwarded. Since the rights to this innovation were signed over to the Monarch Seeder Company, Limited, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, I assume Mr. Fenn was working for this firm in some capacity.

Early the next year on February 7th, 1898, he submitted his seventh patent application. This one was also for a raisin seeder but this time it was forwarded to the United States Patent Office from New York City.[10] The 1898 City Directory for this Empire State municipality carried the following entry for him: “Wm. Fenn carpenter, h 146 W. End Ave.”[11] The subsequent document from 1899 showed Mr. Fenn living at the same address but working as a patternmaker.[12] The aforementioned fragmentary data, the lack of any ephemera about his water bottle and the absence of an actual example all suggest William B. Fenn’s 1897 concept wasn’t pursued from 1897 through 1899.

If there had been one made, the neck of the initial model shown in Figure 1 would probably have been hand pressed on a machine in a two-piece mold. Conversely, the bowl from the same illustration would undoubtedly have been blown by an experienced

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glass blower in a two or three-piece mold.

In the case of the former, the only indication of its pressing would be the traces of a mold seam, if these weren’t fire polished away by a finisher, running lengthwise along the top section. For the latter, I would expect to see aligned vertical mold seams from the lip to the base, a ground or partially ground and partially smooth lip atop the bottom’s finish and a pattern-less underside with the remnants of a smoothly polished pontil scar.[13] Taking this theoretical discussion one step further, a design of some type could have graced the exterior of both the top and bottom sections of the water bottle shown in Figure 1.

Depending upon the target audience for this carafe, the patterns, if present, could have varied from simple to the quite ornate.

For the former model, the outer bowl motif would be imparted by the blower when he blew and hand formed this item most likely out of less expensive lime glass. Alternately, the latter specimen probably was blown as a clear and pattern-less blank out of the heavier but softer metal - flint glass.

After annealing, a skilled worker would later cut the decorative design onto the blank’s outer surface.

During the 1897-1900 timeframe, Mr. Fenn would have had to have sought the services of one or more glass making firms to produce either style of his water bottle. Likewise, to market this separating carafe, he needed to advertise it in trade journals or popular magazines to generate a demand while simultaneously forming a company himself or employing an existing one to sell it. To further bolster my contention that he didn’t pursue his patented innovation before the start of the twentieth century, I’ve found no evidence to suggest any of the above three necessities occurred.

Dual Firms

Once the 1900s arrived, a different story began to unfold. Advertisements for William B. Fenn’s separating water

bottle started to appear in prominent periodicals. Also, no less than two firms were formed to market and/or produce the same carafe. Based on the documented record of both of these events, I think it can be confidently stated that this is the point in time when this item started to be manufactured by the hand blown and pressing processes I briefly detailed in the prior section.[14]

Figure 2 Figure 2 carries the first advertisement I’ve come across for Mr. Fenn’s water bottle.[15] As you can see, the separating carafe has undergone quite an upgrade from the plain model depicted in Figure 1.

Panels have been added to the neck and at least two distinctive patterns are shown on the bowl’s outer surface.

Also, the decorated connecting band is presented in two styles each with two rows of raised dots. According to the brief description in the Figure 2 ad, this ring was made of silver and unscrewed.

Whether or not the inclined lugs which formed the joining apparatus from the 1897 patent were retained or a new kind of closure comprised of a screw thread was added cannot be determined. The drawing of the bowl’s finish in Figure 2 is inconclusive on this issue.

Six days after this initial promotion appeared in Crockery and Glass Journal, William B. Fenn filed his eighth patent request from Winfield, New York for an improvement to

Bottles and Extras the water bottle carried in Figure 1.

Specifically, the band holding the two sections together was modified. The band upgrade wasn’t a screw type so it would have been awkward to use, to say the least. In my opinion, calling it an improvement is a stretch in terminology. In addition, an ice container was added inside the bottom section. It was a glass jar with a top suspended inside the base. As I look at it, this enhancement would classify as the real improvement.[16] The brief announcement of Mr. Fenn’s novel water bottle was supplemented with more details when the February 8th, 1900 edition of Crockery and Glass Journal carried the below statement.

“The Perfection Water Bottle Co. have {sic – has} opened an office at 32 Park Place. This is the bottle we illustrated last week, divided at the bulge of the bowl so that ice may be inserted. The neck is screwed on with a silver clasp.”[17] The initial Perfection Water Bottle Company advertisement appeared in the Jewelers’ Circular-Weekly on February 21st, 1900.[18] It can be viewed in Figure 3.

The water bottle in this sale’s enticement matches the right-hand model seen in Figure 2. Accompanying this example was a textual component which gave more data about the carafe and the Perfection Water Bottle Company.

For the carafe’s neck section, a plain or ornamented (paneled?) motif was available.

The joining ring was made of silver or of some unidentified metal which was silver plated. Although the ring was said to screw both halves together, the finish on the bowl was still devoid of either lugs or a screw thread. Since the electrotype was the same one as in Figure 2, the newly submitted patent request for an improvement to the water bottle’s coupling mechanism wasn’t incorporated as of yet.

Nothing was said about the name of the pattern on the bowl. I assume at least the two designs seen in Figure 2

Bottles and Extras

Figure 3 were being marketed.

The ad also mentioned that Mr. Fenn’s water bottle could be made in a “ … large variety of grades, from pressed glass to the finest cut crystal, and are of many prices … ” In addition, the Figure 3 Perfection Water Bottle promotion did announce the separate ice container which was one of the improvements mentioned in the February 7th, 1900 patent submission by Mr. Fenn.

And finally, we find out that the Perfection Water Bottle Company was actually from Little Falls, New York and only recently set-up an office in New York City at 32 Park Place.[19] All of the pieces that were missing from the era of 1896-1900 are now in place. Mr. Fenn’s water bottle is being displayed in New York City, advertised

July - August 2011 in trade journals and marketed by an actual company.

Why did he choose to produce so many versions of his product? I think the next quotation covers one of the reasons. “THE FANCY GLASS MARKET. - Cut Glass is Having a Great Call in the East. - The demand for fancy glassware has been better this fall than for the past five years.

Cut glass is beyond doubt the leader in this line. The finest goods are manufactured in this country. We have so far surpassed European productions that American made cut glass articles are found in all the large jewelry and fancy good shops of the old world, says the New York Commercial … .

The reason the export trade does not increase more rapidly is due to the high duty imposed on cut glass in foreign countries. There is still a very small amount of goods imported, but the appearance is not nearly as handsome as that of articles made here, and the goods are much more expensive. As is usual every year the buyers who come to the market are always on the lookout for something new. However, the number of styles in cut glass has almost been exhausted, and although the manufacturers are showing a few new combinations, there is practically no change from last year. The prices are very firm, as is always the case when goods are selling freely, but there has been no advance. There seems to be a growing disposition in the fine trade for colored effects. The favorite colors are red and green, but there are some beautiful shading in violet and amber. Silver trimmings are largely used on the better grade of goods. It is almost impossible to state just what articles in the line are receiving the most attention. Tableware of all kinds is particularly strong. Among some of the handsomest pieces suitable for the dining table are large punch bowls, with glasses to match. Everything that can possibly be used on a dining table is being shown in cut glass … Some excellent imitations of cut glass are being shown in this market, which can hardly be distinguished from the real

41 … Liquor glasses of all kinds often with a decanter to match, are good property...” [20] This demand might have been the catalyst which caused William B. Fenn to birth his 1897 patent at the dawn of the new century. Furthermore, it certainly explains for me why an advertisement was placed in the Jewelers - Circular Weekly and what group was being focused on for sales. Together with ads in Crockery and Glass Journal, it isn’t too difficult to surmise the early marketing strategy established by the officers of the Perfection Water Bottle Company.

Who were the leaders of this new concern? The 1900 City Directory for New York City provided a partial answer to this question with the next listings.

“Wm. B. Fenn, sec, 32 Park Place, pl h 247 W. 25th … Russell Uhl, waists 621 Broadway & pres 32 Park Place, h. Pa … Perfection Bottle Co. 32 Park pl.”[21] Russell Uhl, a businessman from Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania[22], was the president of the Perfection Water Bottle Company which was located at 32 Park Place. William B. Fenn was identified as this firm’s secretary.

Unfortunately, the vice president and treasurer weren’t revealed so I don’t know who else was involved with or invested in this company.

The February 28th, 1900 issue of Jewelers’ Circular-Weekly contained the subsequent Perfection ad displayed in Figure 4.[23] It continued to appear in the same publication for the first three weeks in March as well.

As you can see, the information about the officers from the Perfection Water Bottle Company on this promotion conflicted with that carried in the 1900 Directory from New York City. This contrasting snippet listed E. D. Beckwith as the organization’s president and treasurer and W. B. Fenn as a general salesman for the Company.

Which source is correct? I can’t say for sure. On the other hand, I do know that this murkiness doesn’t get any clearer with time; it only get cloudier.

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Figure 4

Figure 5 The Figure 4 enticement shows the same two water bottles seen in Figure 2. The only new bits of information gleaned from it were the location of the factory in Little Falls, New York which supposedly made these items and the opening of a marketing office in Montreal, Canada to sell them.[24] This newly formed business with across the northern border ties was apparently off on the right foot as the next report from the March 1st, 1900 issue of Crockery and Glass Journal indicates.

“Attention is called to the advertisement of the Perfection Water Bottle Co. on another page. This useful article has struck the popular fancy and is selling rapidly wherever shown.” [25] Figure 5 contains the marketing ploy referred to in the above quotation.[26] It was just a rework of the Figure 4 advertisement. Also, it ran in the same trade publication through the March 22nd, 1900 edition.

A prolific inventor, William B. Fenn continued to add variety to his 1897 concept. On March 7th, 1900, he forwarded three more applications

to the United States Patent Office. His ninth, 10th and 11th filings were for the issuance of three design patents for separating water bottles. The Patent Office concurred on April 3rd, 1900.

[27] See Figure 6.

At first, the absence of advertisements from the Perfection Water Bottle Company from March 22nd through May 3rd, 1900 didn’t cause me any concern. However, when I found out that William B. Fenn had secured a $5,000 loan on May 4th, 1900 from John P. Elkin to start-up a glass house in Indiana, Pennsylvania, I

Figure 6 left

began to wonder what was happening with this organization.[28] My suspicion deepened when the May 10th, 1900 issue of Crockery and Glass Journal carried an announcement from the Perfection Water Bottle Company and an ad from E. D. Beckwith & Company about the same subject – a separating water bottle. Here is the pronouncement.

“The Perfection Water Bottle Co. make an offer this week that everybody should accept.

This bottle or carafe is made in two parts in such a way that ice may be put into the bowl portion.

The neck is screwed on perfectly water-tight. Besides being a useful article it is very ornamental on a table. Their offer is to send one bottle to a firm for 75 cents in order to introduce it. This will not pay for the fastening which holds the two parts together; but as they want everybody to have a sample they are advertising it in this way.

Read their card and then send for a bottle.”[29] Figure 7 shows the promotion.[30] It ran for three more consecutive weeks in May in the same publication.

Strangely, the sale’s enticement in Figure 7 was sponsored by E. D. Beckwith & Company and not the Perfection Water Bottle Company. Also, the tenor of both the announcement and promotion had a tinge of desperation.

Perhaps the detachable carafe wasn’t selling as quickly as the writer of the March 1st, 1900 account in Crockery and Glass Journal opined? Or

Figure 6 middle

Figure 6 right

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Figure 7

Figure 8 maybe a rift developed between officials within the Perfection Water Bottle Company, causing the creation of a separate organization by some of the same people? Could the Beckwith concern have been created to market only the improved water bottle with an ice chamber? Or possibly, something else was afoot altogether? We may never know for sure. But what is clear is that something occurred because there were no more ads in Crockery and Glass Journal or Jewelers’ CircularWeekly from either concern throughout the remainder of 1900. Likewise, there were no reports about a new glass company being formed in Indiana, Pennsylvania in any trade journal I reviewed.[31]

To add another level of complexity to this tale, the 1901 Directory for New York City listed the following: “Wm. B. Fenn, sec 32 Park Pl h 247 W. 25th; Perfection Bottle Co., 32 Park pl ; Russell Uhl, waists 621 Broadway & Pres 32 Park pl, h Pa.”[32] If one takes this reference at face value, the Perfection Water Bottle Company was still open for business in New York City. In fact, it was as the Figure 8 promotion reveals.[33] Appearing in the February 7th, 1901 edition of Crockery and Glass Journal, this ad showed several enhancements to Mr. Fenn’s separating carafe. For one, the bowl had a new pattern on its exterior. Another one was the addition of a screw thread to the finish of the bottom section, indicating a closure modification. A third change occurred to the coupling band. Its vertical side wall was decorated with just one line of beading.[34] Curiously, the company placing this advertisement didn’t appear in it. However, in Buyer’s Directory section of the same trade magazine, the Perfection Water Bottle Company was identified as the sponsoring agency.[35] This marketing technique was repeated in the following week’s issue of Crockery and Glass Journal.

Two months later, the sale’s enticement pictured in Figure 9 appeared in the May 1901 issue of

Figure 9

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I’ve religiously searched for an example of William B. Fenn’s work from the early 1900 period. However, I’d never come across one until now.

I believe the water bottle shown in Figure 10, which belongs to Adele and Orrin Klitzner of Andover, New Jersey, is the first model to be reported from the era in question.

The overall height of this specimen is 7 inches. When filled with water to the base of the finish, it holds 16 ounces. In Figure 6, the center design was said by Mr. Fenn to come with either a dome or bell-shaped bowl. Clearly, the middle drawing represents the dome-shaped version. I think the one shown in Figure 10 could be its bell-shaped mate.

Figure 11 has a close-up look at the finish (left) and base (right) of the bowl. This part is 3-1/2

inches tall. As you can see, the lip is partly ground and partly smooth. Below it on the vertical portion of the bowl’s finish is a screw thread. There are 10 flat-surfaced panels around the outer body of the bottom section. Rounded upward at the top and downward at the bottom, the width of an individual exterior flute has a top measurement of 1-1/8 inches and an opposite end tally of 1-7/16 inches. Inside of this piece, the reverse surface is smooth.

On the underneath side, there is no embossed or debossed pattern.

According to Adele and Orrin, the mark that you see on the base is a rough polished pontil.

The top section can be seen in Figure 12. On the left is a profile while beside it is a view of its bottom side. Two opposite facing mold seams run along its exterior surface. Around the same area are 10 flat surfaced panels of equal height, width and form. At its base, the circular flange under the annular bead is 1/2-inch long and angles inward. I mentioned this fact because on most machine-made versions, the same

Figure 11 – left

Figure 11 – right

Mr. Fenn underwent changes. While the process of manufacture moved to a machine, the firm that promoted them relocated to a large northeastern Pennsylvania city.

Handmade Piece

Figure 10 the popular magazine - The Munsey.

It depicted a further modification to the exterior pattern on the two water bottles, making this design slightly different from those shown in the Figure 8 ad. Another anomaly was the originator. In this case, it was the Perfection Bottle Company of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and not the Perfection Water Bottle Company of New York City.

From the advertisements shown in Figures 2-4 and 7-9, I believe two or more periods of production techniques can be clearly identified. For certain, the February through May 1900 ads refer to water bottles that were handmade. In my estimation, the two February 1901 promotions probably referenced the initial machine-made water bottles. Thereafter, the May 1901 marketing ploy depicted another machine-produced specimen with the eventual Royal motif on its bowl.

With the move away from New York City, I believe this side of the story comes to a close.[36] The initial hand blown and pressed separating carafes and the firms that made or sold them passed into history. Both the method of production and the organization that marketed the separating water from

Bottles and Extras

Figure 12 – right

Figure 12 – left

Bottles and Extras feature is only 3/16-inch in length.

To finish, the coupling ring for this early model is made of tin.

This unique water bottle was likely formed partially by machine (neck pressed in a two-piece mold and screw band spun) and partially by hand (bowl blown in a two-piece mold and finished). The bottom exterior design was a result of the hand blowing process. It wasn’t from the work of a glass cutter. Likewise, the metal that it was formed from wasn’t of the heavier flint type but of the commoner lime variety.

Possible Early Machine-Made Piece

I believe the water bottle shown in Figures 13-15 is an example of an early machine-made piece of separating ware.

The carafe profiled in Figure 13 is 91/8 inches tall. It weighs two pounds, 11 ounces and can hold 38 ounces of liquid

Figure 14 – left opposite facing mold seams run from the base through the lip. Its finish has an interrupted screw thread on the outer side wall. The flat lip and interior surface have been slightly ground and possess a rough feel and murky white appearance. Also, take note of the raised shoulder region just below the finish. This feature is prominent in the Figure 8 1901 advertisement.

Turning to the underneath portion on the right in Figure 14, this area has an embossed pattern on it. Twenty-four petal-shaped objects are set in a circular pattern around a central meeting point.

What is unusual about this design is that it was embossed vice being debossed (indented) on later versions.

Of equal size, width and form, there are 10 flat surface panels on the neck that have rounded upward tops and curved downward bottoms. These decorative flutes are aligned side by

Figure 14 – right side around the exterior of the top section.

Figure 15 has two views of this top part. On the left is a lengthwise look while the right-hand picture shows its underneath construction. Two opposite facing mold seams run along a portion of the outer surface. Starting at the bottom edge of the circular and angled inward flange, which is ½ inch in length, the seam goes over the horizontal annular bead and up the initial vertical section until it terminates at the beginning of the flared up and inward flute. Throughout the remaining body of the neck and the lip area, the same two lines have been removed.

Of note, instead of having a smooth outer surface as the Figure 12 specimen does, the circular flange on the top in Figure 15 has an initial 3/16-inch slanted inward segment followed by an outward and curved down projection which has a less angled side wall.

The latter part of the circular flange is

Figure 15 – right

Figure 13 when measured at the bowl’s shoulder parting line or 46 ounces when filled to the overflow point.

The pattern-less bowl for this likely early machine-made model can be seen on the left in Figure 14. It is 4-7/16inches tall and weighs twentyseven and one-half ounces. Two

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Figure 15 – left

5/16 inch in length. The last segment forms somewhat of a ledge, possible to support the ice container apparatus described earlier as an improvement to Mr. Fenn’s 1897 patent.

To round out the description of this carafe, the screw band for this probable early model is made of an unidentified metal.

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Wrap Up

I’d like to lead off this ending section with a quotation. It came from the circa late-1903 product catalog – The Evolution of Table Glass – from the Perfection Glass Company.

“We started where the regular glassware makers left off. We made a patented separating water bottle in cut glass, hundreds of them, that cost us $4.00 each to turn out, but a bottle in cut glass is only within reach of the well-to-do. Then we made a bottle in flint glass, thousands of them; the public were eager for them, but still we were not satisfied, for we realized that even the slight additional cost of these goods over the non-separable stood in the way of many sales, notwithstanding the immense advantages of the article over non-separating ware. We kept everlastingly at it, realizing that it was possible to make separating glass just as cheaply as the non-separating, and once this fact was accomplished, nothing short of the millennium would prevent its universal use. That the former is now a reality, and the latter about to become one, can be readily seen when we state that less than three years ago we made but one article (a water bottle). We had these made for us by a glass factory, about five hundred of them a day. Since then our business has rapidly increased so that now we own and operate our own plant, in which we make and sell over thirty-five thousand pieces of glass daily, working twentyfour hours to the day, and equipped with our own automatic patented machinery, having a capacity of a completed article every four seconds … ”[37] I think these sentences pretty well summarize the manufacturing and marketing history of William B. Fenn’s 1897 innovation. In the former, three distinct production phases were briefly discussed.

In the first one, the $4 apiece cut glass water bottles were made at a yet to be identified factory via the hand blown and pressed method. I maintain Figures 10-12 represent a single example from this era.[38]

For the next phase, the carafe shown in Figures 13-15 likely is a representative of the early machinemade timeframe. Where it was first turned out is unknown. However, after December 1901, models like it came from the Novelty Glass Works.

The last period of production probably comes after Mr. Fenn’s glass pressing and blowing machine was perfected and patented.[39] At this point, the Sterling Glass Company was making this product and others on Fenn’s improved machine until the Perfection Glass Company was founded and took over this task. [40] Turning to the latter, the initial phase almost certainly refers to the involvement of the Perfection Water Bottle Company and/or E.D. Beckwith & Company.

The early machine-made articles were popularized initially by the Perfection Water Bottle Company of New York City and then by the renamed Perfection Bottle Company of Wilkes Barre and then Washington, Pennsylvania.

In the final stage, the recently formed Perfection Manufacturing Company marketed the separating carafe and other tableware items until it was absorbed by the Perfection Glass Company.

As much as possible, I’ve laid out the entire story about William B. Fenn’s separating water bottle and the subsequent expanded tableware list of products made to his 1897 patent.

Also, I’ve documented the firms that produced and sold these items. If you have any information to add to this comprehensive tale or possess another example from the hand blown era, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly so that your piece can be reported as well. BLB _______ NOTES

[1] Two Corners in Time, Barry L. Bernas, Bottles and Extras, Winter 2005, pgs. 6671; Perfection, Another Glasshouse in A Glass Town, Barry L. Bernas, Spring 2005, pgs. 56-63 and Perfection Glass Company, One of Many Glass Houses in Washington,

Bottles and Extras Pennsylvania, Barry L. Bernas, 239 Ridge Avenue, Gettysburg, PA 17325, 2005.

[2] Crockery and Glass Journal, April 17, 1902, pg. 29. This was the first report I found that indicated the Novelty Glass Works was using semiautomatic pressing and blowing machines to turn out water bottles and an expanded separating tableware line. Prior to Mr. Fenn coming to this firm in early December 1901, company hands only made machine pressed items from glass melted in pots.

[3] Commoner and Glassworker, September 20, 1902, pg. 16.

[4] The Munsey, May 1901. The referenced magazine contained an advertisement sponsored by the Perfection Bottle Company of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.

This enticement shows a Royal patterned water bottle bowl with a screw thread on its finish. Based on this fact, it appears the Novelty Glass Works wasn’t the first or only firm to manufacture Mr. Fenn’s patented idea. This company may not even have been the first glass maker to turn out the separating carafe on a semiautomatic machine. Where these earlier water bottles sold by the Perfection Bottle Company of Wilkes Barre were manufactured isn’t yet known. Likewise, it isn’t apparent if the threaded finish Royal patterned bowls transitioned from being hand blown in a mold by a glass blower to then being blown by compressed air on a machine.

[5] Crockery and Glass Journal, October 16, 1902.

[6] The William B. Fenn Patented Water Bottle, Made For Perfection, Barry L. Bernas, Bottles and Extras, Summer 2004, pgs. 1719; More Tableware from Fenn, Barry L. Bernas, Bottles and Extras, Fall 2005, pgs.

59-62; Have You Seen a Scalloped Flange Tumbler? (Parts One and Two), Barry L. Bernas, Bottles and Extras, SeptemberOctober 2007, pgs. 38-42 and NovemberDecember 2007, pgs. 54-60 and A Third Round of Separating Glassware from Perfection, Barry L. Bernas, look for this article in a future edition of Bottles and Extras.

[7] Patents Issued to William Beach Fenn (Part 1 of 2), Barry L. Bernas, Bottles and Extras, January-February 2007, pg. 29. See the above reference for more information about this patent.

[8] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. WILLIAM B. FENN, OF DORRANCETON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DUANE HOWARD, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK. WATERBOTTLE – SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,867, dated March 30, 1897. Application filed November 10, 1896, Serial No. 611,617.

[9] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. WILLIAM B. FENN OF DORRANCETON,

Bottles and Extras PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MONARCH SEEDER COMPANY, LIMITED, OF KINGSTON, PENNSYLVANIA. RAISIN-SEEDER. SPECIFICATIONS forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,866, dated March 7, 1899. Application filed May 8, 1897, Serial No. 635,652.

[10] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. WILLIAM B. FENN OF NEW YORK, N.Y. RAISIN-SEEDER. SPECIFICATIONS forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,069, dated August 15, 1899. Application filed February 7, 1898, Serial No. 669,430.

[11] Trow’s Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, City of New York, Trow Directory, Printing and Bookbinding Company, 21 University Place, Manhattan, City of New York, 1898 (for the year ending July 1, 1899), pg. 397.

[12] Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, City of New York, Trow Directory, Printing and Bookbinding Company, 21 University Place, Manhattan, City of New York, 1899 (for the year ending July 2, 1900), pg. 383.

[13] EMPONTILLING; a history Part one, Dr. Julian H. Toulouse, The Glass Industry, March 1968, pg. 137. A quotation from this source is relevant. It reads: “ … On pieces of very fine glassware the roughened area left by breaking off the glass-tipped pontil was sometimes ground away and polished smooth … ” [14] Revolution in Glassmaking Entrepreneurship and Technological Change In the American Industry 1880-1920, Warren C. Scoville, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1948, pg. 155. The following quotation from the above reference shows that the bowl from William B. Fenn’s water bottle that was depicted in early 1900 advertisements undoubtedly wasn’t machine-made. Later in 1902, it would be. “ … As the nineteenth century ended, the manufacture of wide-mouth jars (as contrasted with bottles) was undergoing really radical changes. Rather simple machines, most often designed to make only one jar at a time, were gradually coming into use.

They were frequently operated by hand and relied upon skilled gatherers to feed them with glass taken from the furnace … ” [15] Crockery and Glass Journal, February 1, 1900, pg. 26.

[16] UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. WILLIAM B. FENN, OF WINFIELD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EZRA D. BECKWITH. OF LITTLE FALLS, NEW YOUR. WATER-BOTTLE. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,472, dated December 25, 1900. Application filed February 7, 1900. Serial No. 4,335 and Patents Issued to William Beach Fenn (Part 1 of 2), Barry L. Bernas, Bottles and Extras, January-February 2007, pg. 2. 29-30.

July - August 2011 [17] Crockery and Glass Journal, February 8, 1900, pg. 23. The announcement of this novelty was also carried on page six in the February 10, 1900 edition of Commoner and Glassworker. This write-up read as follows: “A New Water Bottle. One of the best novelties of the season in glass is a water bottle or carafe in two parts, held together by a silver rim. By unscrewing this rim ice may be placed in the lower part, and the bottle then filled with water.”

[18] Jewelers’ Circular-Weekly, February 21, 1900, pg. 62.

[19] A review of the Little Falls, New York daily newspaper – The Evening Times – between September 14, 1899 and January 8, 1900 failed to turn up any mention of the Perfection Water Bottle Company. Also, the Little Falls Directory for 1899-1900 didn’t carry a listing for this firm. Little Falls Directory 1899-1900, George S. Hughes, 47 Arcade Building, Utica, N.Y. [20] The Commoner and Glassworker, December 9, 1899, pg. 2. The same outlook for 1900 was envisioned. See the following two references for more supporting information. Commoner and Glassworker, February 3, 1900, pg. 8 and Ibid, February 19, 1900, pg. 6.

[21] Trow’s Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, City of New York, Vol. CXIV for the year ending July 1, 1901, Trow Directory, Printing and Bookbinding Company, 21 University Place, Manhattan, City of New York, pgs 406, 1374, and 1050, respectively.

[22] Cataloging a Russell Uhl-Patented, Glass Screw Cap, Barry L. Bernas, Bottles and Extras, Spring 2004, pgs. 29-30.

[23] The Jewelers’ Circular-Weekly, February 28, 1900, pg. 63.

[24] Additional New Finds, Barry L. Bernas, Bottles and Extras, XXX-XXX 2008, pgs. xx-xx. Oddly, Ezra D. Beckwith filed a patent request with the Canadian Intellectual Properties Office on March 21/23, 1900 for the same water bottle improvement (ice chamber) that William B. Fenn filed with the United States Patent Office on February 7, 1900. Mr. Fenn was listed as the inventor of the water bottle on Mr. Beckwith’s submission. The rationale for this action is unclear.

[25] Crockery and Glass Journal, March 1, 1900, pg. 20.

[26] Crockery and Glass Journal, March 1, 1900, pg. 37.

[27] Patents Issued to William Beach Fenn (Part 1 of 2), Barry L. Bernas, Bottles and Extras, January-February 2007, pg. 30.

[28] Perfection Glass Company, One of Many Glass Houses in Washington, Pennsylvania, Barry L. Bernas, 239 Ridge Avenue, Gettysburg, PA 17325, 2005, pg.

13 and District Court of the United States, for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Docket No. 2339.

47 [29] Crockery and Glass Journal, May 10, 1900, pg. 19.

[30] Crockery and Glass Journal, May 10, 1900, pg. 8.

[31] I searched through Crockery and Glass Journal, China, Glass and Lamps, National Glass Budget and Commoner and Glassworker. Also, I reviewed the newspaper from Indiana, Pennsylvania – Indiana Democrat. Between August 30, 1899 and June 25, 1902, I found no mention of a new glass firm either coming to or being formed in that Borough.

[32] Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, City of New York, Trow’s Directory, Printing and Bookbinding Company, 21 University Place, City of New York, 1901, (for the year ending July 1, 1902), pgs. 406, 1050 and 1374. On page 1004 of the above source, there was a listing for the Novelty Glass Works at 55 Park Place. Whether this was an office of the Washington, Pennsylvania based company isn’t known.

If it was then the later connection between William B. Fenn and Novelty might have occurred because of the proximity of the offices of the Perfection Water Bottle Company and Novelty Glass Works along Park Place.

[33] Crockery and Glass Journal, February 7, 1901, pg. 7.

[34] Although I can’t prove it just yet, I believe this advertisement was the first one for a separating water bottle blown on a machine vice being hand made.

[35] Crockery and Glass Journal, February 7, 1901, pg. 28.

[36] Williams’ Wilkes Barre City Directory 1901, published by E. M. Williams, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., pg. 201 and Trow’s Business Directory of Greater New York (Five Boroughs Combined) 1902, Trow Directory, Printing and Bookbinding Company, 21 University Place, Manhattan, City of New York, 1902. The 1901 WilkesBarre City Directory carried an entry for the Perfection Bottle Company. Its place of business was at 79 East Northampton.

Russell Uhl was its president. There was no mention of the Perfection Water Bottle Company in the 1902 version of the New York City Directory.

[37] The Evolution of Table Glass, Perfection Glass Company, circa 1903.

[38] Adele and Orrin Klitzner observed that the neck of their probable early piece of separating ware has particles of either dirt or metal of some sort imbedded in the glass.

This fact is a good indicator that the top section was formed from glass that came from an uncovered pot [39] Patents Issued to William Beach Fenn (Part 1 of 2), Barry L. Bernas, Bottles and Extras, January-February 2007, pg. 31-32.

[40] Commoner and Glassworker, October 25, 1902, pg 5.

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Bottles and Extras

A Hike in the Park Yields an Old Bottle

By David C. Hess

Around 1965, my wife Ruth and I started bottle collecting. At that time, we lived in the far northwestern section of Philadelphia, Pa., in an area called Wissahickon.

Adjacent to it is an area called Manayunk. To the north of us was the Wissahickon Valley and the historic Germantown area. All of these towns are now part of Philadelphia. Also, all of these areas are surrounded by Philadelphia’s huge Fairmount Park system. These areas and communities are steeped in history dating back to the Revolutionary War and before – for example, the famous battle of Germantown.

From out our back door we had easy access to this huge park system, which contained miles and miles of hiking and bridle trails. Along the edge of these trails are many old homes and buildings dating back 150 years or more.

While hiking in the park one day along one of these trails near our home within sight of one of these old colonial homes, we saw in the center of the trail, the corner of what we thought might be an exposed bottle. We asked each other if we should we dig it out, because Fairmount Park

so many times it’s nothing more than a broken fragment. Well, we dug it out, and low and behold, much to our surprise and excitement, out came an entire bottle.

The bottle turned out to be an aqua squat beer with some surface scratches, 7-inches tall by 2-2/4 inches in diameter. It has an oval panel with P. (standing for Peter) Serwai, Manayunk, Pa. (Notice the reversed Z) Here is just a little information about Manayunk. It is located on the side of a steep hill that steadily rises from the banks of the Schuylkill River. One hundred years ago, it was an active mill town which had its share of local breweries.

For people interested in sports, this area is part of the course for the Philadelphia International bike race with the famous hill section known as the Manayunk wall.

Over the course of the following years that we lived in the Wissahickon area, we found several other bottles while hiking the trails – for example, a half-pint plain amber ribbed flask and a green aqua squat beer with embossed lettering from Philadelphia. (Both in mint condition) These outings did not start out as a bottle hunt or dig, but, it just goes to show what you can find when you are just out and about and very observant.

The bottle turned out to be an aqua squat beer with some surface scratches, 7-inches tall by 2-2/4 inches in diameter.

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Bottles and Extras

The Dating Game: Will the Real AGCo Please Stand up And the ACCo Sit Down?

Although the AGCo mark is generally uncommon and is relatively unknown to collectors and researchers in most of the U.S., the logo has been found on a variety of bottles. The range of use is generally limited to the American South, although bottles with the AGCo marks have been found as far north as Baltimore and in at least one context in Arizona. This study of the marks and the possible manufacturers unravels previous confusion and reveals an interesting diversity.

Containers and Marks The authors were led to this study by the ambiguity between ACCo and AGCo marks as reported in the literature.1 Initial studies failed to find any glass house with a name that could correspond to the ACCo logo or any glass supply house that fit the initials.

The similarity between the two sets of initials led to the hypothesis that “AGCo” was the intended set of initials in both cases.

ACCo on Flasks Teal (2005:74) discussed what he interpreted to be an “ACCo” mark found on pre-Dispensary (i.e., before July 1, 1893) liquor flasks in South Carolina. Since these initials appeared on flasks used by at least seven merchants, the mark almost certainly indicated a glass company, rather than a local distributor. Each flask was strap-sided (union oval), aqua in color, and had a tooled, double-ring finish.

1 The marks were used both with punctuation and without (i.e., A.G.Co. or AGCo). For consistency, we have left out the punctuation, except in the case of the fruit jars, where full punctuation is present in every example or photo we have found. The jars also consistently used a capital “O” in “CO.”

By Bill Lockhart and Harvey S. Teal with contributions by Tod von Mechow Teal (2005:74) noted that, “since all of the above ACCo embossed bottles have double ring necks and do not have applied tops, their period of use likely was 1890-93” (Figure 1).

Figure 1 The date range requires a bit of explanation.

Manufacturing techniques developed at different dates and were adopted by different glass houses at different times. One such change occurred when gaffers (blowers) began tooling the finishes of bottles directly out of the mold, replacing the older technique, where a blob of glass was applied to the top of the neck, then tooled. In replacing applied finishes with tooled finishes, the glass industry went through a long transition phase from the 1870s to ca. 1896. The new technique seems to have first been adapted to smaller bottles and gradually increased in use on larger containers. Glass houses began tooling finishes on medicinal bottles in the 1870s but did not apply

the technique to the larger quart beer bottles until the mid-1890s, possibly not entirely until the turn of the century. The approximate date of change to tooled finishes on liquor flasks was 1890 (Lindsey 2010).

Teal’s end date is easier to explain.

On July 1, 1893, the state of South Carolina officially adopted the Dispensary system, whereby the only sale of liquor within state borders was controlled entirely by the Dispensary.

All bottles used by the Dispensary were embossed with a very distinctive logo composed of a Palmetto tree (the state tree) above crossed logs.

Any pre-Dispensary bottles with tooled finishes had to have been made between ca. 1890 and early 1893.

Teal also noted that McKearin & Wilson (1978:554) described a Grover Cleveland flask marked ACCo from the 1880-1900 period and noted that “most bottles found with this company’s initials have turned up in the Southeast.” McKearin and Wilson (1978:554-555) discussed the flask and illustrated the front (but not the base).

They described the sides of the flask as “wide flat band;” in other words, this was a strap-sided or union oval flask. They noted the finish as “double round collar” and the base as “smooth ‘A.C.CO.’ in concave disk.” The color was blue-aqua, but they did not know the maker (Figures 2 & 3). Because of the embossed portrait of Grover Cleveland, they stated that the bottle was “probably brought out during the 1884 presidential campaign.” One of these flasks was offered on eBay (although the seller said the basemark was “AGCO), and the photos showed a cup-bottom base.

In 1926, Van Rensselaer (1926:37)

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Figures 2 and 3 was the first to record the embossing on the base of the Grover Cleveland flask as ACCo. Knittle (1927:441) was unclear about which flask she meant, but she attributed an AGCo mark to the Arsenal Glass Co., Pittsburgh. McKearin & McKearin (1941) failed to record the flask or the mark. Freeman (1964:77) apparently copied his identification from Van Rensselaer, and Toulouse (1971:34) cited Van Rensselaer as the source of his information. Toulouse, however, noted the possibility that the “C” may have been misread and should actually be a “G.”

Figure 4

Figure 5 Part of the problem has to do with the way the letter “G” is created and its similarity to the letter “C.” In a typical modern font, the “G” is like a “C” but has a vertical upswing on the bottom rather than the curved one (Figure 4). In addition, the “G” has either a bar (serif) at the lower termination or a “tail” that extends downward in a curve. When late-19th century engravers carved the letters, they generally began with a “C” and either extended the serif to the left or added a “tail.” A final method was to merely

turn the lower curve of the “C” into a vertical line and not add a serif. This type of “G” closely resembles a “C” (Figure 5).

In addition, there were other ways that the mark could be disfigured. Many letters, written to Charles Yockell, a noted mold maker in Philadelphia, have survived. Most of the ones from the 19th century were hand written in script. As a result, they were very easy to misunderstand. Thus, the letter “G” in the correspondence could easily have been mistaken by the engraver as a “C” – creating an error baseplate. Since molds were often the most expensive hardware involved in the process, they were generally used despite any errors.

Molds were also lubricated, and that lubricant built up over time.

Eventually, the old lubricant buildup had to be cleaned out. Since cleaning slowed down production, it was generally done quickly, so it was easy for buildup to be missed, especially in places on the baseplate that were small – like the serif of a “G.” This could result in fainter embossing, and all of these issues could create a “G” that could easily be seen as a “C.” Toulouse (1971:34) assigned date ranges of 1885-1889 or 1893-1897 to the mark “because Van Rensselaer lists these initials on the bottom of a ‘Grover Cleveland’ flask, and the years cited are the years of his presidencies.”

Since the flask has a tooled finish, it was more likely to have been issued toward the end of Cleveland’s first term or just prior to his second term, although a campaign ploy right before the second election seems likely. If the flask had been issued during the early part of Cleveland’s first term, it would probably have had an applied finish.

Grover Cleveland was the first Democrat to be elected President since the Civil War, and, consequently, he enjoyed great popularity in the solidly Democratic South. The town of Grover, in Cleveland County, North Carolina, was named for him.

Cleveland hunted in the low country of Georgetown County in South

Bottles and Extras Carolina and had many ties with other areas of the South. A flask bearing his likeness stood a good chance of enjoying popularity in that region.

In mid-2010, Teal began readdressing the question of the ACCo/ AGCo initials using approaches that included: 1) re-examining the Grover Cleveland flask and the 14 other bottles in his collection bearing the mark in question; 2) seeking information from Bill Baab; 3) examining hundreds of illustrations and actual bottles from the period that were embossed with the letter “C” or “G”; 4) seeking the opinions of eight advanced collectors in the area; 5) researching Atlanta city directories for further information; and 6) consulting with six curators and staff at a historical library at the University of South Carolina; these individuals daily collect, catalog, and handle print and other items containing the letters “C” and “G” from the period between 1670 and 1970.

Upon the examination of Teal’s 15 bottles and flasks, and the information he had discovered, the above-noted collectors agreed unanimously that the embossed initials are AGCo. Based on his personal reexamination of his bottles and flasks, his study of the letters “C” and “G” on bottles from the period, and the opinions of the other collectors, Teal concluded that the initials embossed on the containers are AGCo. Teal stated, “I hereby pronounce the benediction at the death and burial of the ACCo and administer the ‘last rights’ to it.”

AGCo The AGCo mark has long been identified with a number of containers.

These include flasks, soda bottles, beer bottles, peppersauce bottles and fruit jars. These containers have been found in a variety of venues, but, as with the flasks noted above, most have connections with the American South .

Bottles and Extras Flasks Knittle (1927:441) attributed the AGCo mark on flasks to the Arsenal Glass Co., Pittsburgh. Toulouse (1971:39) followed Knittle, but dated the mark (probably without ever seeing an example) ca. 1865 to 1868. Toulouse noted that “no other reference has been found.” Innes (1976:216, 229), however, (correctly) called the company the Arsenal Glass Works. Jones (1966:15) agreed with the Arsenal identification and dated the mark “1755-1865 - - ??” then added, “also Avis Glass co [sic], Avis, PA 1906-1910.” But this is all a red herring. The firm discussed by these researchers was the Arsenal Glass Works, and it never used an AGCo logo (Lockhart 2010).

Freeman (1964:103) listed a flask he described as “anchor in depressed circular panel, flukes to left ‘AGCo’ on bottom 182 pint amber,” but he did not assess the maker. Freeman was mostly describing flasks from the 19th century, although he was not specific about this one. McKearin & Wilson (1978:668) described the same flask in better detail, making it clear that the “large anchor” was in a “medallion” on the side of the flask. Their bottle was “golden amber” in quart size.

They described the finish as “narrow round collar, lower bevel” and the base as “smooth. large concave disk inscribed ‘AGCo’” They marked the glass house as “unidentified” and made no attempt to date the bottle.

Unfortunately, it was also one of the few that they failed to illustrate.

Soda Bottles The AGCo mark has appeared on several eBay auctions, always on solarized amethyst Hutchinson bottles.

On all amethyst bottles, the mark was embossed horizontally across the base. The “o” in “Co” appeared in both upper- and lower-case forms.

All appear to have cup-bottom bases, although the photos are of poor quality (Figure 6). Although our sample is small, all of these Hutchinson bottles appear to have been used by soda

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Figure 6 bottlers in the southeast.

In addition, Teal has two Hutchinson bottles with tooled finishes and “AGCo” embossed horizontally across the bases. Both were aqua in color and were made for South Carolina bottlers.

A single eBay auction illustrated an aqua Hutchinson bottle with an AGCo heelmark. Unfortunately, the location of the bottler is illegible in the photo.

According to von Mechow, a collector in Annapolis, Maryland, “has a number of ten-pin-shaped crown top soda bottles (1900-1910) with different names in the plate from Maryland and Virginia that had ‘AGCo’ on the base.

I suspect that these were made by the Alexandria Glass Company outside of Washington D.C.” The “ten-pin” shape was popular on soda and milk bottles during the first two decades of the 20th century, especially in the South.

Beer Bottles Tod von Mechow (2010) reported a single beer bottle with an AGCo logo.

This champagnestyle beer bottle was embossed “B.B.Co.” (Bartholomay Brewing Co.) and “ B A LT I M O R E BRANCH” on the side, with the base embossed “AGCo / 2” (Figure 7). The maker, according to von Mechow, was the Figure 7

Annapolis Glass Co. Annapolis Glass produced bottles and flasks from 1885 to ca. 1887 (Roller 1998a; von Mechow 2009). The Bartholomay Brewing Co., however, was in business at Rochester, New York, from 1874 to at least 1933, although the term Bartholomay Brewery was also used starting in 1889 (Van Wieren (1995:251-252).

Unfortunately, Van Wieren did not include the Baltimore branch in his book, although it certainly existed.

Baltimore directories show that the branch was in business during the early 1890s, but we have been unable to find any further dates of operation.

Assuming that the Baltimore branch was in business during approximately the same period as the one in Rochester, the use of a bottle made by the Annapolis Glass Co. is easily within the date range. However, the Alexandria Glass Co. could also have made the bottle.

Figure 8 Layton Bare reported a similar aqua Hutchinson bottle that was made for the Florida Brewing Co., Tampa.

This, too, had the horizontal AGCo embossing across the center of the base (Figure 8). Unfortunately, the brewery was in business from 1896 to 1961, far too long a span to help with dating the bottle.

Other Bottle Types The Bottle Research Group photographed a round base with an AGCo logo (lower-case “o”) at the Fort Bowie, Arizona, collection (Figure 9).

The container exhibited mold lines for a wide post-bottom. The post extended almost to the outer edge of the base.

Unfortunately, we were unable to ascertain a good provenance for the

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Figure 9 container, although Fort Bowie was in use from 1862 to 1894. An eBay auction offered a crudely made, gothicstyle peppersauce bottle, with “AGCo” embossed horizontally across the base (Figures 10 & 11).

The bottle was mouth blown into a twopiece mold with a cupbottom base.

Figure 10

Histories Alexandria Glass Co., Alexandria, Virginia (1905-1916) The Alexandria Glass Co. received its corporate charter on May 11, 1905, with a capitalization of $30,000 (Eggleston 1905:258; Harkness 1915:237). In 1909, during the firm’s “fourth season,” the plant made “standard blown ware which includes beer, soda and wine bottles, ovals, Blakes and some panels” and had “been attended with a goodly measure of success” (Mayer 1909:1). In 1907, the firm (referred to as Alexandria Glass Works)2 made “Beer; Soda; Wine; Brandy; Packers’; [and] Preservers’” ware and continued with the same listing in 1909 (Thomas Publishing Co. 1907-1908:161; 1909:202).

The firm apparently reorganized and received a separate incorporation as the Alexandria Glass Co., Inc. on July 28, 1913 (State Corporation Comm. 1922:231). The same year, the Alexandria Glass Works was using 2 The terms “Co.” and “Works” were often used in a generic sense by reporters in glass industry publications and newspapers. To further complicate matters, many glass houses, during the late 19th and very early 20th centuries, used two names. One (often a “company”) was the operating firm – the management or owner – while the other (usually “works”) meant the actual factory building. It is thus possible that the Alexandria Glass Co. operated the Alexandria Glass Works – although the use of “Works” may have just been a generic reference to the plant.

Figure 11 Fruit Jars “SUPERIOR / A.G.CO.” was also embossed on the lower part of a round plate on the side of an aqua jar (Figure 12). According to Creswick (1987:127), this type of jar had a “smooth lip” (i.e., machine made) and may have been manufactured by the Hazel-Atlas Glass Co. – almost certainly equating A.G.CO. with the Atlas Glass Co., a predecessor of Hazel-Atlas. Occasional eBay auctions have reported faint letters and letter/ number combinations in the ejection scar – including “E2” and “C.”

Figure 12

Bottles and Extras one continuous tank with nine rings to make a “general line” of bottles (Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 1913:954). The company was last listed as making beer, sodas, and packers’ ware in 1915 (Thomas Publishing Co. 1915:579).

J.E. Lippincott died on August 1, 1916, and the Old Dominion Glass Co. purchased the Alexandria Glass Co. that same year. We have not yet discovered whether the two events were related. The plant was completely devastated by fire shortly thereafter.

German-American entrepreneurs had erected the original Old Dominion Glass Co. factory in January 1901.

Old Dominion produced beer, soda, medicine, and food bottles as well as flasks (City of Alexandria 2010; Potomac Pontil 2003:1).

Anacortes Glass Co., Anacortes, Washington (1910-ca. 1923) Construction of the Anacortes Glass Co. commenced in 1907, with N. Jerns as president of the corporation and E.A. Mackay as secretary and general manager. The factory operated a single continuous tank with four rings (Roller 1997a; Toulouse 1970:3435; 1971:427). Although Toulouse claimed that the plant opened in 1911, the Anacortes American placed the opening in 1910 to produce jars (Anacortes American 2000). The firm was apparently beset with problems from the very beginning.

The plant was a union shop.

Frank J. Curran (1911:37), the union representative for the American Flint Glass Workers’ Union (commonly called “The Flints”), reported that the plant had been making “half gallons and quarts fruit jars” from at least his arrival on the “29th of last June 29”3 until “five weeks later” when the “plant closed down to remodel [and] to install other facilities that were needed, also to build a mould room.”

At the time he wrote (December 1911), the factory had not reopened. He 3 Curran’s choice of words is unfortunate. He was writing in December 1911, so “last June” probably refers to 1910, but we cannot be certain.

Bottles and Extras admitted the place was a “prosperous location,” with “shipping by rail or water, limerock for the main material is located on the islands for miles and miles, with oil for fuel.” Curran also stated that there were “orders on file yet to be made” when manger Mackay closed the plant.

The production record for the company was apparently quite sporadic. For example, the Anacortes Glass Co. was on a list of “Companies stricken from record since last report Sept. 30, 1912, for failure to pay annual license fee” (Howell 1914:56).

Although this does not necessarily mean the plant was inoperable, it does show that the company was in financial trouble.

In 1913, the plant used one continuous tank with four rings to make packers’ and preservers’ jars and bottles (Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 1913:954).

Toulouse (1970:35; 1971:428) noted that E.J. Pearson, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bought the factory in 1912, although the directories continued to list Jerns as president until 1914.

Although Pearson claimed to have purchased the plant to make beer bottles, that product never appeared in any listings. The plant made packers and fruit jars until it closed about 1914, although it remained in sporadic production until ca. 1923.

Things were looking up again in 1919. The Anacortes American (2010) quoted a newspaper article from April 24, 1919: The Anacortes Glass Company will more than double its blowing Monday and will begin a big season of work. One new machine is on its way here, and another is to be secured in Los Angeles. Three new shops are coming from San Francisco, and new employees will be taken on, bringing the force up to about sixty. Some new contracts for soda water bottles and other articles have been made that will keep the plant running to 100 per cent capacity for some time.

The factory was still open on May 22, 1920, when the workers struck,

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July - August 2011 although it may not have been in actual production at that date (Younger 1920:18). Anacortes Glass must have again been removed from the state corporate record; a 1920 report lists the firm under “Reinstatements” – following the list of those who had been stricken from the record (Savidge 1920:93). As noted above, Toulouse commented on the plant’s erratic production lasting until 1923, but Roller (1997a) presented a listing for the company as a supplier of fruit jars in 1926.

Annapolis Glass Co., Annapolis, Maryland (1885-ca. 1887) The Annapolis Glass Co. incorporated on May 12, 1885, with a capital of $3,000. The plant began operations about October and made green and amber glass. The factory was offered for sale on July 18, 1887, but the offer was withdrawn when the only bid was $4,000. The plant apparently remained idle and was again presented for sale in 1891. The factory reopened in 1897, although this apparent reactivation was probably initiated to process the sale of the property later that year to the Severn Glass Co. (Roller 1998; von Mechow 2010).

Atlanta Glass Co., Atlanta, Georgia (1887-1892) Rankin-Nichols Glass Co. Atlanta, Georgia (1893) Southern Glass Co., Atlanta, Georgia (1894-ca. 1894) Reed (1889:465) discussed the early development of the Atlanta Glass Co.: The Atlanta Glass Works Company was incorporated in 1887, the incorporators being S.M. Inman, E.P. Howell, D.W. Curry, A.G. Candler, J.L. Pinson, Theodore Schuman, H.G. Hutchinson and J.W. Rankin.

The officers of the company are J.W. Rankin, president ; H.G. Hutchinson, vice-president; J.L. Pinson, secretary and treasurer, and A.E. Finkel, superintendent. The capital stock of the company was authorized to

be $50,000, with the privilege of increasing it to $100,000. Since the organization the capital has been increased to $60,000. The factory is outside the city limits on South Pryor street, where are employed one hundred and fifty hands, the weekly pay roll amounting to $1,500, and the weekly output of bottles and chimneys amounts to about $3,000.

Figure 13 Atlanta Glass advertised in the Proceedings of the Georgia Pharmaceutical Association in 1890 and 1891 as “Manufacturers of Druggists’ Glassware.” The plant made “flint prescription bottles, lamp chimneys, green and amber ware” and noted, “private molds for proprietary medicine a specialty” (Georgia Pharmaceutical Association 1890:79).

The following year, the glass house replaced “lamp chimneys” with “longneck panels” and stressed that they manufactured “all styles of Druggists’ Glassware, making a special feature of our lettered prescription ware” (Figure 13) Of special interest to Georgia drug stores, the firm noted that, “Owing to our short haul we can furnish you with glass quicker, with less breakage and better freight, than any other house” (Georgia Pharmaceutical Association 1891:124).

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On December 30, 1891, however, the plant burned. The company began rebuilding in January 1892 but went into receivership by March.4 A new corporation, the Rankins-Nichols Glass Co., bought the plant a year later (March 1893) and had resumed operations by April 13. By December, however, this group, too, had gone into receivership, and the Southern Glass Co. took control of the property

by February 1894 (Roller 1997b).

Little is known about this Southern Glass Co. (there were at least two others by that name), except that it sold a half carload of 1/2 pint and pint flasks along with pint and quart round whiskey bottles to the South Carolina Dispensary in 1894. The receipt for the bottles showed the word “Southern” superimposed over “Atlanta,” suggesting that the RankinNichols company had continued to use the Atlanta Glass Co. name. The Dispensary bottles were not embossed with any manufacturer’s marks (Teal 2005:96). Nothing else is currently known about the company, although it likely closed soon after 1894.

Augusta Glass Works, Augusta, Georgia (1890-1894) Baab (2007:32) noted that J.H. Alexander and ten other Augusta residents incorporated the Augusta Glass Works on March 22, 1890.

4

The ad in the Proceedings of the Georgia Pharmaceutical Association had to have run after the Atlanta Glass ceased production. A question that remains is: Did the Rankin-Nicholson Glass Co. continue to use the Atlanta Glass Co. name?

By May 1892, the firm’s letterhead indicated that the factory made flasks, bottles, druggists’ glassware, beer and soda bottles in green and colorless glass. The plant also made 20 railroad cars of union oval flasks and “wine” bottles5 in amber, flint (colorless), and green (aqua) glass for the South Carolina Dispensary in 1893. These were the first bottles produced for the Dispensary. In June 1894, however, George J. Howard purchased the plant from receivers (Roller 1896; Teal 2007:93-94).

As an interesting post-script, on January 14, 1895, the Supreme Court of Georgia reviewed an earlier suit by the Augusta Glass Works against Thomas P. Branch for the sum of $500 plus interest. Branch, an original subscriber to the corporation, had not paid the requisite sum for his share of the corporate stock. Branch was ordered to pay, demanded a retrial, then took his plea to the Supreme Court of Georgia (Southeastern Reporter 1896:128-129).

The court noted that the corporate charter for the firm required a subscription of $50,000 at $100 per share. The charter demanded the full subscription before the firm could legally conduct business. It was disclosed that only $48,000 was actually subscribed prior to the opening of the firm, so all subsequent business was rendered legally null.

5

This refers to bottles made in a “wine” shape.

These bottles were round in cross-section with a long neck. They actually contained liquor.

Bottles and Extras The contract with Branch, therefore, was not a legal one, and the Supreme Court reversed the lower court ruling.

However, the court noted that no action was required, since the firm had been in the hands of three receivers prior to the court date (Southeastern Reporter 1896:128-131).

Discussion and Conclusions The immediate question about the user of the AGCo mark concerns whether the logo was used by a single glass house or had multiple users.

To determine the answer, we need to examine each style of bottle that bears the mark. Table 1 places the various glass houses with AGCo (or similar) initials in a perspective by dates, location, and products.

Flasks The association of the bulk of “AGCo” flasks with the southeast, coupled with Teal’s notation that they were probably made during the ca.

1890-1893 period, gives us a very close date/regional range within which to work. All flasks with the mark appear to be the “union oval” or strap-sided variety with concave post bases and double-ring, tooled finishes. The date ranges suggested by Toulouse (18851889 or 1893-1897) also fit fairly well into the general time period assessed

by Teal.

We could not find a single glass houses with names that fit the ACCo initials. Assuming that Teal’s dates for the flasks were correct, only two

Table 1 – Characteristics of Glass Factories with A.G. Co. Initials Glass Company

Location

Date Range

Products

Alexandria Glass Co.

Alexandria, VA

1905-1916

beer, sodas, wine, brandy, packers

Anacortes Glass Co.

Anacortes, WA

1910-ca. 1923

packers; fruit jars (poss. sodas)

Annapolis Glass Co.

Annapolis, MD

1885-ca. 1887

green and amber glass

Atlanta Glass Co.

Atlanta, GA

1887-ca. 1892

prescription; lamp chimneys

Augusta Glass Works

Augusta, GA

1890-1894

flasks, druggists ware, sodas, beer

July - August 2011

Bottles and Extras glass houses were in business in the southeast (or nearby)6, made flasks, had even close to the right initials, and were in business during the right time period – the Augusta Glass Works and the Atlanta Glass Co. The Augusta Glass Works was certainly open during the correct period and made flasks and other bottles. However, only a single entry ever recorded the firm as “Company” (Roller 1996). That reference was to a letter from the “Augusta Glass Co.” Teal has a copy of that specific letter that is clearly marked “Augusta Glass Works.” Roller, a careful researcher, almost certainly made a typographical error in that instance. It seems unlikely that the plant would have ever used the initials “AGCo.” The other possibility is the Atlanta Glass Co. As noted in the histories section, the Atlanta Glass Co. began as a business in 1887 and remained in production until at least December 1891. The company may have still been using the Atlanta Glass Co. name under the management of the RankinsNichols Glass Co. during 1893. This five- to six-year period was certainly sufficient for the plant to have made the relatively few AGCo flasks in existence.7 The succeeding firm, the Southern Glass Co., made containers for the South Carolina Dispensary. This suggests that Southern Glass made flasks; its predecessor also may have made flasks. Although the selection of the Atlanta Glass Co. as the user of the AGCo mark is imperfect, it remains by far the best choice based on the evidence currently available.

AGCo on Soda Bottles As noted in the Containers and Marks section, the “ten-pin” style of crown-capped soda bottles was 6

We checked states as far away as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri to the west as well as Maryland and Delaware to the north – plus all the southern states.

7 For example, in the Harvey Teal collection, there are only 14 South Carolina flasks used by local pre-Dispensary liquor dealers that are marked with the AGCo logo. And that collection contains 90% of the known examples.

in common use during the first two decades of the 20th century, although some were made earlier. Hutchinsonstyle bottles were made much earlier, patented in 1879, with a popularity that extended until at least ca. 1912 or later. On both bottle types, the AGCo logo was embossed across the base.

Most examples of the Hutchinson bottles that we have seen were made of colorless glass that had solarized to an amethyst hue, and all were used by bottlers in the Southeast and as far north as Maryland.

Like the ten-pin style, the amethyst color on soda bottles was most common during the 1900-1920 period.

Since the production of Hutchinson bottles declined sharply after ca. 1912, the most likely manufacturer was the Alexandria Glass Co., a known maker of soda bottles, in business from 1905 to 1916. The firm was perfectly situated to serve Maryland and the South. Although both the Annapolis Glass Co. and the Atlanta Glass Co. were in business at the right time to have made Hutchinson bottles, neither could have made crowntopped containers and were unlikely to have made soda bottles that would turn purple.8 However, the two Hutchinson bottles cited by Teal, and the only Hutchinson bottle offered on eBay with AGCo embossed on the heel, were aqua in color, and Teal’s bottles were made for South Carolina firms.

Bare’s Florida bottle, although used for beer, was a Hutchinson, and should be included here. These almost certainly indicate that the Atlanta Glass Co. also made Hutchinson soda bottles and embossed them with the AGCo logo. The main indicators for an Atlanta manufacture seem to be glass color (aqua) and location of the 8

Although manganese dioxide (the ingredient that causes glass to turn amethyst or purple when exposed to prolonged sunlight) was used in some container glass at least as early as 1880 and as late as 1933, its popularity as a decolorant for various kinds of bottles was in vogue at different times. Since the containers in question were soda bottles, the most likely period was ca. 1900-1920. See Lockhart (2006) for a discussion on purple glass.

55 users (i.e., soda bottlers or breweries) in the Deep South.

AGCo on Beer Bottles A single “blob-top” (one-part finish for Lightning-style stoppers) Baltimore beer bottle suggests a second possibility. Radically different in style from the soda bottles described above, the bottle may have been made by the Annapolis Glass Co. – as suggested by von Mechow (2010).

The Annapolis glass house was open from 1885 to 1887, possibly again in 1893 and possibly in 1897, ideal times to have produced such a bottle.

Arguing against this identification, however, is a lack of other similarly marked bottles that can be traced to the Annapolis glass house.

However, such finishes were still in use into the 20th century, so the Alexandria Glass Co. cannot be entirely ruled out. Since the Alexandria firm produced crowntopped soda bottles used in Maryland, the Baltimore location was easily within the plant’s service area, and the factory almost certainly used the AGCo logo, as discussed above.

In addition, the Atlanta Glass Co. remains a possibility, although less likely. We have no evidence that Atlanta produced soda or beers bottles that were not in the Hutchinson style, and we have no other contenders for Atlanta manufacture from that far north.

Other Bottle Types Both the crudeness of the peppersauce bottle and the probable date range for the base found at Fort Bowie (1862-1894) eliminate the Alexandria firm as a possible maker.

Both the Annapolis Glass Co. and the Atlanta Glass Co., however, fit the right time period. Since we have no provenance for the peppersauce bottle, it could easily fit either glass house. Similarly, the base from Fort Bowie could have originated almost anywhere. Food, medicinal items, and household items were all shipped into Fort Bowie from various locations within the U.S.

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Bottles and Extras

Table 2 – Probable Users of the A.G.Co. Mark by Bottle Style Bottle Type

Glass Company

Date Range

flasks

Atlanta Glass Co.

1887-ca. 1892

Hutchinson soda or beer bottles (aqua)

Atlanta Glass Co.

1887-ca. 1892

Hutchinson or crown soda bottles (solarized amethyst)

Alexandria Glass Co.

1905-1916

blob-top beer bottles

Alexandria Glass Co. or Annapolis Glass Co.

1905-1916 1885-ca. 1887

unknown round and peppersauce

Annapolis Glass Co. or Atlanta Glass Co.

1885-ca. 1887 1887-ca. 1892

fruit jars

Anacortes Glass Co.

1910fc-1920s

Superior A.G.CO. Jars Aqua-colored jars embossed “SUPERIOR A.G.CO.” in circular plates on the front were almost certainly not associated with the companies that made flasks and other bottles. According to Tom Caniff (personal communication 3/20/2010), the jars were probably made during the ca. 1915-1920 period – far too late for the Atlas Glass Co. – but he cautioned that his estimate was far from absolute. He suggested that Creswick’s guess – that the HazelAtlas Glass Co. made the jars – was probably a good one. The jars appear to be somewhat common.

The only other glass houses that possibly made jars and had AGCo initials were the Anchor Glass Co. (Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania), the Acme Glass Co. (Olean, New York), and the Anacortes Glass Co. (Anacortes, Washington). The Anchor Glass Co. was only in business from 1907 to 1909. The company and products have been thoroughly researched, and the plant was only known to have made a single style of jar – albeit with several variations (e.g., Bernas 2003). The Acme Glass Co. was never listed as a jar manufacturer, but the firm eventually acquired the Olean Glass Co. and thereafter made some packers’ ware.

The Anacortes Glass Co., however, made packers and fruit

jars sporadically from ca. 1910 to ca. 1923 or later. Sources from the period indicate a large output during the periods when the plant was in production. One strike at the plant was by the members of “The Flints” (the American Flint Glass Workers Union) which may indicate that the plant made colorless glass (flint = colorless glass in glass industry publications).

Although that may argue against the identification of the Anacortes plant, the “Flints” were involved in 1910. It is easily possible that subsequent plant re-openings included the manufacture of aqua glass. It is also possible that the Anacortes workers chose that union, even though their primary product was not flint glass. All of the Superior AGCO jars offered on eBay are made of aqua glass, and Creswick also only listed the jars in aqua. The factory used semiautomatic machines by at least 1919 and certainly may have operated one machine or more during the earlier period. We therefore propose that current evidence suggests the Anacortes Glass Co. as the best choice as the user of the A.G.CO. mark on jars.

Future Research Table 2 summarizes the probable users of the A.G.Co. mark on different container types, but the evidence is not fully conclusive. The identification of

the Atlanta Glass Co. as the maker of the flasks seems highly likely as does the recognition of the Alexandria Glass Co. as the producer of most soda bottles (although some Hutchinson bottles were almost certainly made at Atlanta). The maker of the beer and other bottles with the A.G.Co. logos is much less certain, but the Anacortes Glass Co. was the likely manufacturer of the Superior AGCo jars.

Evidence for the manufacture of soda and beer bottles would be greatly enhanced by research on local soda bottlers and breweries. The discovery of reliable dates when these firms were in business would help confirm the dates when their bottles were made – and thus the dates when the glass houses were in business.

Future research should center on the Annapolis and Alexandria areas, especially Annapolis. If bottles made at the Annapolis Glass Co. were embossed with the A.G.Co. mark, there should be some local evidence.

Very few companies used a mark on only one or two molds – although that has occasionally been the case.

The final local area for inspection is Anacortes, Washington. Once again, if the Superior A.G.CO. jars were made at Anacortes, there should be some evidence locally, especially at the site of the factory.

Bottles and Extras Sources Anacortes American 2000 “Our Century: A look back at Anacortes’ last 100 years from the pages of the Anacortes American, 1910-1919.” http:// w w w. s k a g i t p u b l i s h i n g . c o m / ourcentury/1910-1919.html 2010 “Back in the day in Anacortes, April 22, 2009.” www.goskagit. com/home/article/back_in_the_ day_in_anacortes_april_22_2009/ Baab, Bill 2007 Augusta on Glass: Drops of history from glass and pottery containers used by soda water manufacturers, whiskey distillers, beer brewers, mineral water sellers and patent medicine man in and around Augusta, Georgia. Privately Printed, [Augusta, Georgia].

Bernas, Barry 2003 The Anchor Glass Company: A Southwestern Pennsylvania Corporation. Privately published, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

City of Alexandria 2010 “Alexandria Archaeology Museum: Discovering the Decades: 1900.” [taken from the Alexandria Gazette 2/8/1917.] http://oha. alexandriava.gov/archaeology/ decades/ar-decades-1900.html Creswick, Alice 1987 The Fruit Jar Works, Volume II, Listing Jars Made Circa 1900 to Modern. Privately printed, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Curran, Frank J. 1911 “Correspondence: Anacortes, Wash.” American Flint December. [journal of the American Flint Glass Workers’ Union] Eggleston, D.Q. 1905 Annual Report of the Secretary of the Commonwealth to the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia for the Year Ending September 30, 1905. Davis Bottom, Superintendent of Public Printing, Richmond, Virginia.

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

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Edition, October 29, 1895–March 24, 1896. National Reporter, State Series. West Publishing Co., St. Paul, Minnisota.

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Thomas Nelson, New York.

Van Rensselaer, Stephen 1926 Early American Bottles and Flasks. Rev. Ed. Transcript Printing Co., Petersbrough, New Hampshire.

Von Mechow, Tod 2010 “Soda and Beer Bottles of North America: Bottle Attributes - Beer & Soda Bottle Manufacturers.” http://www.sodasandbeers.com/ SABBottleManufBeerSoda.htm Younger, C.H. 1920 State of Washington, Bureau of Labor: Twelfth Biennial Report, 1919-1920. C.H. Younger, Commissioner. Frank M. Lamborn, Olympia, Washington.

Have something to share, tell us about it?

Have you been out finding some treasures?

Keep us informed, write to: mdvanzant@yahoo.com Martin Van Zant, 208 Urban St. Danville IN 46122

Check out the new FOHBC Web site: FOHBC.org

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July - August 2011

Bottles and Extras

George W. Swett Root Beer 1845-1952 – Boston, Mass.

The second half of our book, Ginger Beer & Root Beer Heritage, contains photographs of Bob Avrill’s Root Beer Museum in Pottsville, Pa. He was the proprietor and gave us permission to photograph the artifacts in this world class collection. Unfortunately, this collection has been dispersed via auction. Our book is now the only record of this historical collection.

One entire floor of the Root Beer Museum was just for Hires Root Beer. Other rooms were dedicated to each individual brand of root beer. The entire lower floor contained 75 full sized oak root beer barrels that weigh 250 pounds each.

He also had 100 medium size oak barrels that weigh 75 pounds each. He also had 85 small sized oak barrels that were 18 inches high. Every Oak Root B+eer Barrel was hand-made by skilled coopers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. See my Federation Article on Coopers and Whiskey Barrels.

John D. Rockefeller was the largest user of wooden barrels in Ohio. He was also the sole proprietor of Dr. Swett Root Beer at one time. The Museum also owned several great oak and brass Dr. Swett Root Barrels.

The Root Beer Museum also owned the most phenomenal collection of ceramic Root Beer dispensers. One interesting style of dispenser is 12 inches high and was shaped like a barrel and had a hand plunger for dispensing the syrup.

These ceramic dispensers were made by The American Standard Company in Toledo, Ohio - the same folks who make ceramic plumbing components. They also owned several other designs of root beer dispensers including small ceramic barrels and the great Bardwell Root Beer Canteen (repros made in Mexico) and Bardwell pitchers.

The stoneware in the Root Beer Museum dates from 1750 to 1920. The

By Donald Yates primitive bottles were made by the Edward Merrill Pottery in Akron, Ohio, and also several other New England potteries. Sherwood Brothers Pottery in New Brighton, Pa., made the majority of the stoneware mugs and the transfer type stoneware bottles. They also made the majority of the stoneware whiskey bottles. See Jack Sullivan’s Federation Article on the Sherwood Pottery.

Stoneware Transfer Type Bottles: These were made by casing each half (top and bottom) in clay then, after drying, the top and bottom halves would be joined together by placing them in a ceramic fixture and pouring clay slip around the neck of the bottle. This would allow the joint to be formed that held the bottle together. All of the bottles made this way have a ring mark around the neck, indicating how high the slip was.

The transfer would then be applied after the bottle was removed from the fixture. One type of transfer was a rubber stamp that was dipped in black ink and then directly applied to the bottle.

The earlier type of transfer was made by etching a copper plate in the desired

pattern by highly skilled lithograph artists. The plate was then coated with a special ink and stamped onto a thin pager. While still wet, the transfer would be applied to the stoneware by rubbing it in place with an ivory tool.

The interior of each bottle would then be filled with chocolate brown Albany Slip. After drying for a day, the exterior would be sprayed with a buffcolored Bristol glaze. After drying, the top would be dipped in a dark-colored Bristol glaze, giving each bottle their characteristic two-tone finish. They would then be fired in the kiln for seven days, making it a total of 12 days to make each bottle.

The common Dr. Swett Stoneware bottles say: Dr. Swetts Root Beer Boston. They used an identical transfer for the Tristate Beverage Co in El Paso Texas.

They also had stoneware bottles made for the Kittanning Brewing Co in Kittanning, Pa. There is also an early Dr. Sweet stoneware bottle. The wood Sweet was misspelled by the minister who married the Swetts.

The ornate colorful Dr. Swett Stoneware Mugs were also made by the Sherwood Brothers Pottery. The

Dr. Swett’s stoneware transfer type bottles

60 original patterns were carved in a soft material – possibly bees wax. Dr. Swett’s portrait had to be hand carved by highly skilled artists. They also carved three dimensional cherubs.

Brass coggle wheels were used for repeating pattern around the mug and around the base and on the handle.

Once the wax pattern was complete, it could be used to make plaster molds.

The mugs were poured in these hinged plaster molds, a top plug and bottom plug were used to create the interior and bottom space. Each mug would be made by pouring slip clay in the mold and it would be allowed to dry for two days.

The handle would be glued on with the clay slip and it would dry for another day. Each mug would be finished by the painters. Most of the mugs were painted in a cobalt blue, deep green, or chocolate Albany slip. After painting, each mug would be fired in the kiln for seven days. The bottom of each mug is stamped with a mold number, a potters stamp, and a fine check mark, indicating that it has been inspected.

These wonderful mugs were probably made from 1890 to 1900. Dr. Swett used a subsequent stoneware mug that has an image of the ornate mug, indicating that it was later than those. There is also a late 1800 tray that has a lithograph image of the ornate mug. This mug had a copper lithograph type transfer.

Dr. Swett’s Root Beer: Research by Ben H. Swett, Colonel USAF. Dr. Swett’s Root Beer was originated by Dr. George W. Swett (1834-1924). He owned two large wholesale and retail pharmacies in the 1800s – one in Boston and the other in New York City.

His root beer was first sold in little packets of dry ingredients and as a soda fountain drink in his pharmacies; then it was shipped to other pharmacies, as syrup to be mixed with soda water and, later it was pre-mixed and sold in bottles.

It was not fermented and contained

July - August 2011 no alcohol. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Dr. Swett’s Root Beer was available throughout the United States. It may have been unavailable for a few years in the 1930s, but, it was produced by franchised bottling companies until the 1950s.

Everett Stackpoole’s Swett Genealogy lists among the children of Stephen Swett and Hannah Knight: Nathaniel born 7 Feb 1804; Amelia Swett, daughter of Captain John Hall. Children: George, Emma, Amanda, and Augusta who married 24 October 1866, James Reed Kimball, and Clark. The 1890 Census shows Dr. George Swett living with his sister, Emma Waldron.

1829 – George W. Swett’s parents were married in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada. Nathaniel Sweet of this Parish, Cabinet Maker, and Amelia Hall of this Parish, Spinning Wheel Operator, were married by License with Consent of Parents and Guardians on the 29th of November 1829.

Notice that the Rector misspelled their name Sweet, whereas, the true spelling is Swett. This mistake occurs many times and was even used on some stoneware bottles.

1834 – George W. Swett was born in October, 1834 in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, son of Nathaniel Swett and Amelia L Hall. St. Stephen is just across the international boundary (St. Croix River) from Calais, Maine.

1845 – Many examples of company advertising state that Dr. Swett’s Root Beer was established in 1845 when he was 11 years old, and, although this claim has not been proven, it seems likely that he was experimenting with various concoctions when he was a boy and perhaps even selling something like root beer.

1858 – His death notice says that George W. Swett graduated from New York University in 1858. The 1900 Boston Census states that he immigrated to the United States in 1860.

1859 – He was listed in the Boston City Directory, occupation: Botanic

Bottles and Extras Medicine, living at 106 Hanover Street.

The Business Directory included an ad for the New England Botanic Depot at the same address.

1862 – George W. Strett married Ella Haring on 25 September 1862 in Boston.

1866 – The Bureau of Internal Revenue was created in 1862 to collect stamp taxes and internal duties. The next year it administered the nation’s first income tax. It also issued Revenue Stamps. These were legal tender notes, not backed by specie.

The four-cent Private Die Medicine Stamp advertising “Dr. J. W. Poland’s White Pine Compound” for sale by Dr. George W. Swett, Boston, Mass, was printed and in use from 1866 through 1879.

Dr. Swett published a brochure entitled “The Illuminated White Pine Alphabet” about 1867. It contained 20 pages and was intended for children, but the entire book is advertising for patent medicines sold by his New England Botanic Depot.

The following paragraphs are condensed extracts of the advertising in his brochures. The price for each of these four medicines was 25 cents.

They basically state that Dr. J. W. Poland’s White Pine Compound will cure everything.

Fellow’s Worm Lozenges are a remarkable power in expelling worms with pleasant taste and perfect safety.

They contain no mercury, no mineral, no turpentine, no oil of worm seed, no poison, nothing injurious. They do not act as a purgative or emetic.

1876 – Hires Root Beer made its debut at the U.S. Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia along with Alexander Graham Bell’s Telephone, the Remington Typewriter, and Heinz Ketchup. At that time, Charles Elmer Hires (1851 – 1937) was a young pharmacist in Philadelphia.

1880 – The 1880 Boston Census has George W. Swett, wholesale druggist, and his wife, Ella, living with her parents, Lemon and Elizabeth Harding.

1885 – Harper’s Bazaar, New York, Saturday, July 4,1885:

Bottles and Extras Hires Improved Root Beer – package 25 cents. Makes five gallons of a delicious, sparkling and wholesome beverage. Sold by all druggists or sent by mail on receipt of 25 cents. C. E. Hires, 48 N. Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Swett’s Root Beer – Packages contain Sarsaparilla, Checkerberries, Juniper and Wintergreen. It acts mildly and beneficially on the Stomach, Liver, and Kidneys. Each package will make five gallons. 25 cents by mail prepared and packaged by the New England Botanic Depot – 245 Washington Street, Boston, George W. Swett, MD Proprietor.

1885 – New York City: George W. Swett & Company – Wholesale and Retail Druggists, No 29 Park Row. This is an important business in this city that is owned by George W. Swett & Company, and specializes in wholesale and retail drugs. The business dates its inception from 1836 and controls a trade which already large, is constantly expanding. This establishment is conducted as a branch of the New England Botanic Depot of Boston. This firm is owned by Dr. George W. Swett and Alfred B. Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell conducts the New York business. The building occupied is large and well adapted for the business and contains a very full and complete line of drugs, chemicals, medicines, etc. Special attention is given to the selection of medicinal roots, herbs, barks, leaves and flowers and physicians prescriptions are accurately prepared of the best materials. A specialty is also made of natural mineral waters. The establishment owns a splendid soda fountain.

1890 – The Boston City Directory for 1890 states: George W. Swett, drugs and medicines, 245 Washington Street, Boston, 28 Worchester Square, Boston and 29 Park Row, New York.

The liquid concentrate (syrup) was mixed with soda water at drugstores and soda fountains. The stoneware dispenser was shaped like a large root beer bottle and would be readily available behind the counter and,

July - August 2011 probably dates to 1890. The stoneware dispenser was made by the Sherwood Brothers Pottery and the bottom was completed in a buff Bristol Glaze and the top was done in a chocolate Albany Slip. The transfer was done with a fiveinch diameter rubber stamp, similar to those used on the stoneware bottles. Dr. Swett also made a Canadian Root Beer dispenser for Montreal. These large dispensers were 22 inches tall.

The ready to drink version of Dr. Swett’s Root Beer was sold in stoneware bottles, probably before 1892, because the first ones used Lightning Toggle Stoppers. The Sherwood Brothers were proud of their smooth Bristol Glaze stoneware. This allowed them to use a transfer stamp, which could be seen through the transparent glaze. The Bristol style glazed bottles were developed by the Powell family in Bristol, England in 1835. See our book, Ginger Beer & Root Beer Heritage, for a complete history by Tim Newell Price. His father was the last owner of the Price-Bristol Pottery.

The Sherwood Brothers Pottery probably started making Bristol stoneware bottles in the 1870s. We have all seen the Christian Moerlein bottles from Cincinnati. These used the copper plate transfers and were highly ornate.

1900 – The 1900 Boston Census has George W. Swett, physician, widower, born October, 1834 in Canada age 56, living in the home of his sister Emma Waldron at 579 Columbia Rd. 1903 – The first automatic bottle blowing machine was put in operation by its inventor, Michael Owens, an employee of the Libby Glass Company. By 1910, this new machine could produce over 57,000 bottles each day. The previous production by hand blowing was about 1,500 bottles per day.

1906 – Congress passed the First Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906, including provisions that were intended to stop the fraudulent advertising of patent medicines and required open disclosure of their contents.

Dr. Swett used an advertising folder

61 that shows a young boy drinking his root beer and a reflection of an old man in the background. It gave reasons why you should drink his root beer: Made from the juices of such beneficial berries, barks, roots, and herbs such as checkerberry (tea berry), sweet birch, sassafras, sarsaparilla, spikenard, juniper, wintergreen, ginger and hops.

Beer made from this extract is in every respect the most refreshing and beneficial drink of its kind manufactured. Its medicinal properties render it exceedingly valuable in any disorder of the stomach, liver, or kidneys.

Dr. Swett Root Beer was first offered to the public of Boston more than 60 years ago; each year adds to its popularity and reputation for being the purest and most healthful of all temperance drinks.

The following article was published in the Boston Post Newspaper and will especially interest those who in childhood had their thirst quenched by homemade root beer.

“About half a century ago, a little youngster roamed the Massachusetts hills with an odd fancy for collecting herbs and carrying them home to his mother.

“Sometimes, his patient mother insisted that the herbs might be of doubtful origin, but the little fellow always insisted that they be cooked up in some sort of brew that would be better even than the one he made the last time.

“Every day he went farther into the hills and, once in a long time, he came upon a new thing that seemed a savory bit to add to his brew. He knew the home of all the checkerberries, and when they grew ripest. He could tell the shadowy little hill where the sassafras grew, and the pleasure to be derived from digging into the soil for the reddish brown roots.

“He found the dandelion with its fuzzy yellow top, and came under his eye for the herbal brew. The juniper tree had a special charm. All these went Continued on page 64

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July - August 2011

Classified Ads For sale For Sale: Teal druggist, Bennett Muskegon, Mich. ½ oz size $225; teal druggist, Bennett Muskegon, Mich. 1 oz size $275; mini jug Frank Kalamazoo, Mich. $200; ruby red Borden’s quart milk bottle $2,850; cobalt blue American Eagle Tobacco barrel Detroit, Mich. with lid $6,500; green pyro quart MSC (Michigan State College from East Lansing, Mich) Creamery $75: Mountain Dew 9 ounce Charlie & Jim ACL Hillbilly bottle RARE $165; cobalt blue cannon candy container with metal stand $895. Email me for pictures. All bottles are Near Mint or Mint condition. Contact: Jeff Scharnowske, 1101 N Shiawassee St, Owosso, MI 48867, ph: (989) 494-3182, email: jscharno@live.com.

For Sale: VERY RARE bluish aqua 6” tall Gross & Robinson’s Master ink bottle. Heavily embossed. Gross & Robinson’s / American / Writing Fluid in three horizontal lines. Perfect condition with lots of whittle and bubbles. Large open pontil. Price $950.00 plus postage and insurance. Will ship to US address only. Contact; John Henderson, email: johnwhenderson@earthlink.net.

For Sale: Old Western glass, Nevada items, Western memorabilia, paintings, antiques. Contact: John Shuler, ph: (775) 720-4723 For Sale: Bottles, milks and sodas – have a little bit of everything. Contact: Keith Curtis, PO Box 91, Marana, AZ 85653, ph: (520) 744-6307.

For Sale: Jumbo Peanut Butter / Frank Tea and Spice items with original closures. Contact: Phil Smith 2281 Clarkston Ln, Union, KY 41091, ph: (859) 912-2450, email: phil.smith@ insightbb.com.

Bottles and Extras

Bottles and Extras

wanted Wanted: Muskegon county, Michigan bottles that I don’t have. Towns include: Bailey, Brunswick, Casnovia, Fruitport, Fruitvale, Holton, Lake Harbor, Lakewood, Michilinoa, Montague, Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, North Muskegon, Ravenna, Trent, Twin Lake and Whitehall. Also collect post cards and souvenir china from those towns. Contact: Elmer Ogg, 1591 Hendrick Rd, Muskegon, MI 49441, ph: (231) 798-7335, email: elogg@comcast.net.

Wanted: Sacramento whiskey: THEO. BLAUTH/WHOLESALE WINE/&/LIQUOR DEALERS/ SACRAMENTO, CAL. Barnett #55.

Contact: Steve Abbott, ph: (916) 6318019, email: foabbott@comcast.net.

Wanted: RAWSONVILLE, MICH bottles or any bottles with RAWSON name. Also seeking bottles from the cities of Hell, Paradise, and/or Climax, Michigan. Contact: Michael, ph: (936) 329-8838.

Wanted: Anti-fat, Weight loss, Obesity bottles / cures and related. Also any vitamin bottles and advertising.

Contact: David Meinz, ph: (407) 8548108, email: david@davidmeinz.com.

Wanted: Bottles, stoneware, etc from capital district New York state towns include Troy, Albany, Schenectady, Lansingburgh, Saratoga. Particularly looking for Huntington’s Restorative Syrup from Troy.

Contact: Bob Latham, ph: (518) 469-1053, email: blath@capital.net.

Wanted: I am a serious collector of colored J & I EM inks. I would like the “Rare” and “exciting” colors.

Prefer mint, however, all bottles and conditions will be considered. Don’t wait – contact me today! Thank you for your consideration. Contact: Howard Crow, PO Box 133, Gold Hill, NC 28071, ph: (704) 982-0305 (after 7pm) .

July - August 2011 Wanted: Michigan Michigan! Any and all good bottles from Michigan are wanted for advanced Collector.

Pontiled medicines, colored sodas & beers, mineral waters, poisons, mini jugs, etc. Specifically need: cobalt blue pint beer COD Jackson, Mich; Green DYKEMA’s poisons; cobalt blue seltzer poisons; aqua Saratoga type mineral water Lansing, Michigan; amber Saratoga type mineral water Frosts Eaton Rapids, Mich. Contact: Jeff Scharnowske, 1101 N Shiawassee St, Owosso, MI 48867, ph: (989) 4943182, email: jscharno@live.com.

Wanted: Wisconsin bottles – all kinds especially bitters. Looking for a Chas.

Schlitz German Wine Bitters Milw Wis (triangular). All Wisconsin advertising – beer, soda, whiskey, medicine, etc.

Contact: Bill Mitchell, 703 Linwood Ave, Stevens Point, WI 54481, ph: (715) 340-8939.

Wanted: State Hutchinson sodas from Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, and South Carolina – mint or near mint.

Also territory Hutch sodas wanted.

Contact: Ed LeTard, 239 Maplewood Loop, Daphne, AL 36526, ph: (985) 788-6163, email: eandeletard@aol.com.

Wanted: Durand & Roossel Mineral Water bottles, patent sodas and pontiled Philadelphia soda & beer bottles.

Visit www.sodasandbeers. com . Contact: Tod VonMechow, 247 Washington Ave, Phoenixville, PA 19460, ph: (610) 935-0619, email: todvon@verizon.net.

Wanted: Looking for Dr. Kilmers bottles I don’t have. Already have The Blood Dr. Kilmers Ocean Weed Heart Remedy, Dr. Kilmers Femail Remedy, Dr. Kilmers Swamp Root Kidney Liver and Bladder Remedy & Cure 8”, sample bottle Dr. Kilmers Swamp Root Kidnay Remedy 4 ½” The Great Dr. Kilmers Swamp Root Kidney Liver and Bladdder Cure & Remedy (8 ½” and I ¼” (specific). Contact: John F

63 Whitney, 5709 E 22 St., Tulsa, OK 74114, ph: (918) 835-8823.

Wanted: Saratoga type bottles and historical Saratoga ephemera and collectibles related to the mineral springs area. Contact: John Tague III, 100 Marquand Ave, Bronxville, NY 10708, ph: (914) 793-0912, email: taguevan@aol.com.

Wanted: San Diego area bottles and cans. Embossed or ACL. If it says “San Diego” on it, I’m interested. Still looking for a 30 Below ACL. Will pay top dollar!

Contact: Mike Bryant, 4214 Tacoma St, San Diego, CA 92117, ph: (858) 5812787, email: sdmike@san.rr.com.

Wanted: Veterinary medicines and advertising. Also want North Carolina whiskey jugs and medicines. Contact: Stan Tart, 1581 Union Cross Rd, Kernersville, NC 27284, ph: (336) 9923152, email: ktart1@gmail.com.

Wanted: Rare Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton area sodas and pontiled medicines. And territory hutches.

Contact: Rick Marshall, 16586 Desert Star Dr, Conroe, TX 77302, ph: (281) 793-9718, email: marshrl@charter.net.

Wanted: Pre-pro Missouri whiskey items: shot glasses, jugs, advertising, etc. Contact: Fred Sweeney, PO Box 936, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201 Wanted: Always looking for a different color or variation of a Wishart Pine Tree demi-john, tobacco jar or cod liver oil. Contact: Michael Lehman, email: bottleking@rocketmail.com.

Wanted: Western sodas, marbles, Arizona milks and sodas. Contact: Keith Curtis, PO Box 91, Marana, AZ 85653, ph: (520) 744-6307.

Wanted: Rare tobacco and clear jars including any “American Eagle” jars, miniature “Globe” barrel, “Pure Food Cigar”, unusual colors, unusual lids.

Contact: Dennis Rogers, ph: (909) 982-3416, email: gloptop@aol.com.

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July - August 2011

Wanted: FRUIT JAR! Always looking for odd original closures (i.e. Newman, CF Spencers), Van Vliet pint, Hiltons, JJ Squire, also color excites me! Contact: Phil Smith 2281 Clarkston Ln, Union, KY 41091, ph: (859) 912-2450, email: phil.smith@insightbb.com.

time collector seeking singles or collections for study and possible publication. Many common types needed.

Contact: Bill Porter, 1329 Grandin Ave, Rockville, MD 20851, ph: (301) 309-0509, email: oldcokes@aol.com.

Wanted: The following NEBRASKA hutches: Auburn Carbonating/Auburn, John Lance & Putnam & Sons/Fall City, Schmid & Johnson/Holdredge, Carl Grunz/Grand Island, Hebron Bottling/Hebron, W.C. Clemens, E Herbertz and Standard Bottling/ Lincoln, Donaldson & Bauer & Joseph Sheer/Nebraska City, Daly & Landgraf & Jos Landgraf/North Platte, RO & Co/Omaha, W Weber and Weber & Brekenfeld/Plattsmouth, Emil Fisher/ Wahoo, F Garernicht/York. Contact: Vince Bramer, 18048 Trail Ridge Rd, Omaha, NE 68135, ph: (402) 8952274.

Wanted: Hutchinson sodas from Pendleton, Oregon. Contact: James Dennis, 1625 E 9th, The Dalles, OR 97058, ph: (541) 298-1979.

Wanted: Coke bottles pre 1947. Long-

Bottles and Extras

Wanted: bottles and stuff from Modesto, California. Also bottles embossed Frazier or Guzzi. Contact: Mervin Frazier, 1216 Trombetta Ave, Modesto, CA 95350, ph: (209) 5271209.

Wanted: Sodas, historical flasks, bitters – one or a collection.

Immediate payment. No premiums, free appraisals. Contact: Jim Hall, ph: (847) 249-3715, email: jim_ hall@baxter.com

Swett Root Beer Continued from page 61 into the little basket that the youngster carried under his arm, and it wasn’t very long until the mother found that she was becoming almost as interested in the root beer as her son.

“It wasn’t long before it was more than an experiment and, the neighbors from far and wide recounted the beverage that little George Swett had found out himself in the woods.

“Of course, there were many village people who indulged in these quiet mixtures of the hills, but, they were most of them for medicinal use, and, not one of them had the sharp refreshing taste that the little boy’s had.

“This is the story of the beginning of Dr. Swett’s Root Beer and, one would almost say, after hearing it first hand from the kindly old doctor, that there is a flavor of all the wood plants in it. Elsewhere, there may be rivals in the field, but New England is faithful to Dr. Swett. He has never advertised greatly, and the others have perhaps outstripped him in notoriety in the West, but in his native country, the herb brew that contains the essence of his boyhood days is still the favorite.

“When this youngster grew up, he went to college, and, then with a liking for medicine, graduated in New York as a physician.

“Dr. Swett said yesterday, in talking of the beverage, “This will stand the test of all the pure food laws in existence.” And

at the factory, one may get a glimpse of Dr. Swett himself overseeing things, and still looking after the oldest root beer in existence.”

The last page of this brochure had drawings of eight plants with brief descriptions of their uses: Hop Flowers – have been commonly used as a tonic for the nerves and have also been used in the treatment of Dyspepsia. They were also widely used in the brewing of beer. They were considered a vital flavor of beer.

Spikenard – is a New England plant and was much used by the Indians and through them became a home remedy. It is a very pleasant aromatic stimulant and also helps digestion.

Birch Bark – depends for its activity on its volatile oil, has been largely used in domestic practice for its domestic properties. It is widely employed as a flavoring agent. The chemical compound in birch bark is nearly identical to that of wintergreen. Birch beer was often brewed as a sole flavor beverage. It was still available here in the 1950s. The White Castle Restaurant had birch beer as their specialty. A lot of people stated that they loved their birch beer. Chances are that it included a few other spices.

Most English people have had their palates compromised by the chemicals in wintergreen. Their ointments and other medicines have been flavored with wintergreen, which is fine,

Bottles and Extras

July - August 2011

except they find United State root beer to taste medicinal.

Ginger beer was the favorite beverage in England for over two hundred years, but root beer has never been sold in England. Root beer is an American product and can only be appreciated by us. Our Northern Neighbors have used 5,000 different brewers of ginger beer and perhaps 20 brewers of root beer. You get the idea.

The Sassafras Root – is an aromatic stimulant and is used as an adjuvant to other ingredients to improve their flavor and render them most acceptable to the stomach.

Checkerberry Leaves – are found throughout New England, have an aromatic odor and taste due to the Volatile Oil Of Wintergreen, which they contain and act as a mild stimulant.

Juniper Trees – are also quite common and are found throughout New England. The branches are very valuable as stimulant, stomachic and carminative, also in mild forms of kidney affections.

Juniper Berries – are gently stimulating and diuretic and like sassafras are largely used as adjuvants.

Wintergreen – is a diuretic, acting mildly on the kidneys.

Wintergreen is the primary flavor of root beer.

Sarsaparilla – has a world wide reputation and the American variety which is used in this root beer is considered by many physicians to be far superior to the imported variety. It is an excellent blood purifier. The medicinal product also contains other herbs to make it more pleasant. It tastes like root beer.

All of the above ingredients were added to improve the flavor to make this root beer pleasant, while quenching the thirst.

1919 – Dr. Swett’s Root Beer was sold by the Tri-State Beverage Company in El Paso, Texas, which was in business from 1919 to 1923. This was during Prohibition, when the demand for root beer accelerated. These bottles are quite unusual in that they are the only stoneware bottles known to have carried the name of an El Paso firm. This bottle had the normal Dr. Swett’s Root Beer on the front, Boston, Mass, and Tri-State Beverages – El Paso, Texas on the back.

The oak Dr. Swett’s Root Beer Barrel Dispenser had a pump for the syrup and button to release the soda water at the end of the pump stroke.

1920 – Prohibition – The 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This act prohibited the manufacture, import, export and sale of alcoholic beverages. One of the results was a huge increase in demand for root beer. Many breweries went bankrupt. Others started to bottle soft drinks.

1920 – Dr. Swett’s Root Beer Company of Philadelphia placed a full page advertisement in the Philadelphia Record Newspaper on June 17, 1920. It shows a clear glass bottle with a bottle cap and a paper label. This was their first glass bottle. They were made in the automatic bottle machines and were filled in the automatic bottle filling machines.

They were great early lithographed colored labels. They have a yellow foreground and a red background. They state: Dr. Swett’s Original Root Beer. The best in the world. Originated

65

in 1845. Delicious and Refreshing. And they show the young boy drinking Dr. Swett’s Root Beer and the shadow of an old man.

1924 – George W. Swett died on March 12, 1924 in Malden, Massachusetts. His death certificate gave his age as 93 years.

1925 – This letter, typewritten on the letterhead of the Dr. Swett Root Beer Company or Portland, Maine, lists subsidiaries in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Oakland, New Orleans and Montreal. The logo is still the shadow of an old man in the background and a young boy in the foreground.

The left margin has drawings of some of the herbs used in Dr. Swett’s Root Beer – Hops, Birch, Sassafras Root, Wintergreen, Juniper and Checkerberry.

1928 – The Portland Main City Directory of 1928 still lists the Dirigo Bottling Company.

1929 – The Great Depression. Many of the small companies that bottled soft drinks went out of business in 1929 or shortly thereafter - another affect of our government, who enacted Prohibition in 1920. Many states immediately went bankrupt.

1932 – The Baker and Malaspina Company of Danbury, Connecticut, was listed as a manufacturer of Dr. Swett’s Root Beer from 1924 to 1932.

1934 – The end of Prohibition. The 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment, thus again permitting the legal manufacturer of alcoholic beverages.

1934 – Applied Color Label (ACL) is a baked enamel process still used today. Each color is applied separately and then baked so that the cost of labeling is proportional to the number of colors used. It is a benchmark for dating bottles because it was developed in 1934.

1937 – Dad’s Old Fashioned Root Beer began about 1937 in Chicago. How could it be Old Fashioned when it was introduced so late?

1938 – A new Dr. Swett Root Beer Company was started in the late 1930s by four stockholders, including Nelson Rockefeller.

1939 – Franchises for Dr. Swett’s Root Beer were advertised in the First Annual Blue Book of the National Carbonators and Bottlers Association – February 1939. This book contained detailed information on what was available to the bottlers of soft drinks.

1940 – The advertisement of the Second Annual Blue Book of the National Carbonators and Bottlers Association, February 1940. The company now changed their address from Boston to Rockefeller Plaza, New York. Nelson Rockefeller was the main shareholder in the new company.

––––––––––––––– The information in this article was from Ben H. Swett, Colonel, U.S. Air Force; also from our book, Ginger Beer & Root Beer Heritage, available for $29 including shipping.

Don Yates, 8300 River Corners Rd., Homerville, OH 44235 donaldbetsyyates@earthlink.net

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FOHBC Sho-Biz

Calendar of shows and related events FOHBC Sho-Biz is published in the interest of the hobby. Federation affiliated clubs are connotated with FOHBC logo.

Insulator shows (courtesy of Crown Jewels) are indicated with an insulator. Information on up-coming collecting events is welcome, but space is limited.

Please send at least three months in advance, including telephone number to: FOHBC Sho-Biz, C/O June Lowry, 401 Johnston Ct, Raymore, MO 64083 or E-mail: OSUBuckeyes71@aol.com. Show schedules are subject to change. Please call before traveling long distances.

All listings published here will also be published on the website: http://www.FOHBC.com.

July 7-9 Muncie, Indiana Summer Fruit Jar Round Up @ Signature Inn, 3400 N Chadam Ln, Muncie IN. Room-Hop-Shopping & Seminars/Groups. Auction on Saturday after Jelly Jammers and MAFJBC meetings. Food and drinks in Hospitality Room Thurs & Friday.

Hotel room rates apply, but fruit jar activities are free. Hotel room showrate good from July 6-10 (call 765284-4200). Hotel rooms almost gone.

Stay elsewhere, and hang out with us for free, including food, and free space to sell jars. For more info, contact Jerry McCann @ 773-777-0443 or Marianne Dow @ finbotclub@gmail. com (419-455-1112) or see website: http://finbotclub.blogspot.com July 8 - 10 San Jose, California 42nd National Insulator Association Show & Sale at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, CA. Info: Colin Jung, ph: (408) 732-8736.

July 9 Leadville, Colorado Antique Bottle Collectors of Colorado’s 7th Annual Show & Sale (9am - 4pm with setup at 6am). $3 admission, at the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum Convention Center, 117 W 10th St, Leadville, CO. Contact: Jim and Barb Sundquist, 2861 Olympia Ln, Evergreen, CO 80439, ph: (303) 674-4658.

July 16 - 17 Adamstown, Pennsylvania Shupp’s Grove 10th Annual Bottle Festival (Saturday and Sunday 6am – dark with early buyers Friday 3pm) at Shupp’s Grove, Adamstown, PA. Info: Steve Guion, ph: (717) 371-1259, email: affinityinsurance@dejazzd.com.

July 16 – 17 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Western Canadian Insulator Club’s Show & Sale (10am – 3pm) at the “Footloose Caboose Lodge”. Info: Eva or Ray, ph: (888) 308-6776 or (780) 662-2160, email: cabeese@telusplanet. net.

July 23 Tallahassee, Florida The 5th Annual Tallahassee Antique Bottle Show & Sale (9am - 3pm) at the North Florida Fairgrounds, Tallahassee, FL. Info: Britt Keen, 1144 Azalea Dr, Tallahassee, FL 32301, ph: (850) 87744990, email: britt_keen@hotmail. com, www.floridabottles.com.

July 23 Reno, Nevada Reno Antique Bottle and Collectibles Club’s 47th Annual Show & Sale (9am – 3pm $4) at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center, 4590 S Virginia St, Reno, NV. Info: Willy Young, ph: (775) 746-0922 July 23 Houston, Texas Antique Bottles, Advertising and Collectibles Show & Sale ($2 8:30am – 3pm with early admission on Friday, July 22 6pm – 10:30pm $10 per person) at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 12801 Northwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77040. Info: Barbara J. Puckett, 907 W. Temple, Houston, TX 77009, ph: (713) 862-1690 or (713) 409-9940, email: bpuckett7700@yahoo.com.

July 23 Altoona, Iowa The Iowa Antique Bottleers 42nd Annual Show & Sale (9am – 2pm) at the Meadows Events Center, Prairie

Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Altoona, IA. Info: Tom Southard 2815 Druid Hill Dr, De Moines, IA 50315, ph: (515) 490-9590, email; TJSdsm@aol. com July 23 Milford, Massachusetts Yankee Pole Cat Insulator Club’s 7th Annual Swap Meet and Cookout (8am – 2pm) at the Maspenock Rod and Gun Club. Info: John Rajpolt, ph: (203) 261-1190, email: rajpolt@earthlink. net or L.A. Jones, ph: (508) 6342711 between 7pm and 10pm, email: 50str8@comcast.net July 29 - 30 Arcanum, Ohio 17th Annual Swap Meet and Cookout (July 29 at 5pm with swap meet July 30 8am – 2pm) at 8784 Grubbs Rex Rd, Arcanum, OH 45304. Info: Alan Stastny, ph: (937) 884-7379 or (937) 546-4745.

August 12 - 13 Martinsburg, West Virginia The Chesapeake Bay Insulator Club is hosting the 2011 Eastern Regional at the Holiday Inn. Info: Charlie Irons, ph: (302) 422-5712, email: ironsjrc@verizon. net, www.insulators.info/clubs/cbic/ August 20 Urbana, Ohio The 2nd Annual Urbana, Ohio Antique Bottle and Jar Show & Sale (9:30am - 3pm) at the Champaign County Farigrounds and Exhibition Center, Urbana, OH—just off 68 on the south side of Urbana. Info: John Bartley, PO Box 53, North Hampton, OH, 45349, ph: (937) 964-8080, emai: jbartley@woh.rr.com.

August 20 Toccoa, Georgia The Dixie Jewels Insulator Club’s

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(More) Sho-Biz summer swap meet (8am – 4pm) at the Mitchell Allen Memorial Hall in the historic Toccoa Depot and Currahee Military Museum. Info: Mike Herron, ph: (706) 599-4705, email: hern@ windstream.net August 27 Helena, Montana 10th Annual Montana Big Sky Insulator Swap Meet (9am – 3pm) at the Yuhas Millwork Company, 2201 Hauser Blvd, Helena, MT. Info: Ron Yuhas, ph: (406) 443-6154 or (406) 439-4573, email: grampig@bresnan.net August 28 Davenport, Iowa The Prairie State Antique Bottle and Advertising Show & Sale (10am – 2pm $2), at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1111 W 35th St, Davenport, IA. Info: Jim Skinner, ph: (847) 458-7279, email: jpcskinner@sbcglobal.net.

September 10 Arcadia, California The Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club’s 45th Annual Show & Sale (9am - 4pm admission $3 with early buyers admission $5 at 8am), at the Arcadia Masonic Lodge, 50 West Duarte Rd, Arcadia, CA. Con- tact: Don Wippert (chairman), ph: (818) 346-9833 or Dick Homme, ph: (818) 362-3368, website: www.lahbc.org.

September, 10 Downieville, California Downieville 10th Annual Historic Bottle Show & Sale (10am - 3pm, early lookers 8am - 10am - $10) at the Downieville School Gym, Info: Rick Simi, 433 Main St, Downieville, CA 95936, ph: (530) 289-3659, email: ricksimi@att.net.

September 11 Lewes, Delaware Delmarva Antique Bottle Club’s 18th

Annual Antique Bottle, Advertising, and Collectibles Show &sale (9am – 3pm with dealer setup at 6:30am) at the Beacon Middle School, Route 24, Lewes, DE. Info: Kathy Moon, email: kdmoon@verizon.net or Michele Buckler, ph: (302) 645-0576, email: gemwrap@comcast.net September 25 Hammonton, New Jersey New Jersey Antique Bottle Club’s First Annual Hammonton, New Jersey Show & Sale (9am – 3pm) at the Hammonton Volunteer Fire Company #2, 51 N White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ 08037, Info: Paul Delguercio, ph: (856) 252-7730, email: paulhavoc@ comcast.net.

September 25 Depew, New York Greater Buffalo Bottle Collectors Association’s 13th Annual Show & Sale (9am – 2pm $2 admission with setup 7am – 9am) at the Polish Falcons Hall, 445 Columbia Ave, Depew, NY. Info: Dave Potter, ph: (716) 771-1581, email: potter8151@roadrunner.com September 25 Lowell, Massachusetts The Merrimack Valley Antique Bottle Club’s 37th Annual Show & Sale (9am – 2pm, early buyers 8am) at the Lowell Elks Club Hall, 40 Old Ferry Rd (take exit 21 off US Route 3 and follow the signs). Info: Cliff Hoyt, ph: (978) 4586575 or Maureen Crawford, ph: (978) 897-7327, email: mcrawf@comcast.net, choyt458.home.comcast.net/mvbc.htm October 1 Chesterfield, Virginia Richmond Area Bottle Club’s 40th Annual Show & Sale (9am – 3pm $3, early admission 7:30am $10), at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds, 10300 Courthouse Rd, Chesterfield, VA 23832, Info: Marvin Croker, ph: (804)

275-1101 or Ed Faulkner, ph: (804) 739-2951 or email: RichBottleClub@ comcast.net.

October 16 Findlay, Ohio Findlay Antique Bottle Club’s 35th Annual Bottle Show at Old Barn Auction House 10040 St. Rt. 224 West / Findlay, OH. Directions: Go WEST on SR-224 from I-75 (exit 159) (9am-3pm Gen’l Adm. $2; Early Bird 7-9am $10) Dealer set-up & free dinner w/guest speaker on Saturday 1-9pm (NO Early Bird on Saturday). Show chairman Fred Curtis @ 419-424-0486 for contracts and dealer info. Email contract requests or any questions to Marianne Dow @ finbotclub@gmail. com (or call 419-455-1112) or see our website: finbotclub.blogspot.com October 21 - 22 Santa Rosa, California Northwestern Bottle Collectors Association’s Annual Show & Sale (Friday early buyer $10 noon – 6pm, general admission Saturday 9am – 3pm) at the Santa Rosa Veterans Building, 1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa, CA (across from the fairgrounds). Info: Bev Siri, ph: (707) 542-6438.

November 4 – 6 Springfield, Ohio The 41st Mid-Ohio Insulator Show (dealer set up at noon on 4th with collectors in at 3pm – 3pm on the 6th) at the Clark County Fairgrounds, Springfield, OH. Download information from www.insulators.info/ shows/springfield. Info: Steve Blair, ph: (740) 852-3148, email: CSB50@ sbcglobal.net or Glenn Drummond, ph: (334) 257-3100, email: glenn@ patent-1871.com.

November 5 Jacksonville, Florida Antique Bottle Collectors of North

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(More) Sho-Biz Jacksonville, FL. Info: Mike Skie, 3047 Julington Creek Rd, Jacksonville, RL 32223, ph: (904) 710-0422 or Jackie McRae, ph: (904) 879-3696 November 6 Royal Oak, Michigan The Metropolitan Detroit Antique Bottle Club’s 29th Annual Antique Bottle Show & Sale (9:30am – 3pm $2 admission) at the Royal Oak Elks Lodge #1523, 2401 E Fourth St, Royal Oak, MI. Info: Michael Brodzik, ph: (586) 219-9980, email: bottlemike@ wowway.com or Bruce Heckman, ph: (248) 760-1722, email: hisser@ comcast.net.

November 13 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Pittsburgh Antique Bottle Club’s Annual Show & Sale (9am – 2pm $3,

early admission 7am $25) at The Ice Garden, Rostraver Twp, Exit 46B off I70 to Rt 51 North 4.1 miles. Info: Bob DeCroo, 694 Fayette City Rd, Fayette City, PA 15438, ph: (724) 326-8741 or Jay Hawkins, 1280 Pleasant Rd, West Newton, PA 15089, ph: (724) 872-6013.

Nov 20 Greensboro, NC. 10th annual Greensboro Antique Bottle, Pottery & Collectibles Show & Sale on Sunday Nov 20, 2011 indoors at the Farmer’s Curb Market on 501 Yanceyville St, Greensboro, NC. Public admission 9am-3pm for $1. Free appraisals. Dealer setup 7am9am, No Early Buyers. Info: Reggie Lynch (704) 221-6489. Web: www. antiquebottles.com/greensboro

December 3 Auburn, California 49er Antique Bottle & Antique Show “The Best in the West” (9am – 3pm, early admission Friday $10 noon – 7pm) at the Gold Country Fairgrounds, Auburn, CA. Info: Mike McKillop, 117 A Estates Ct, Roseville, CA 95678, ph: (916) 367-1829, email: pville1871@yahoo.com July 21, 2012 Leadville, Colorado Antique Bottle Collectors of Colorado’s 8th Annual Show & Sale (9am - 4pm with setup at 6am). $3 admission, at the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum Convention Center, 117 W 10th St, Leadville, CO. Info: Jim and Barb Sundquist, 2861 Olympia Ln, Evergreen, CO 80439, ph: (303) 6744658.

Please check your mailing label for correctness and your membership expiration date. When moving, send change of address to: Alan DeMaison 1605 Clipper Cove, Painesville, OH 44077 phone: (H) 440-358-1223; (C) 440-796-7539 e-mail: a.demaison@sbcglobal.net

Advertising helps your show and the hobby!

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FOHBC MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY Additions Dwain Armentrout PO Box 888 Fayette, AL 35555 205-932-9111 Doris & Larry Calhoun 2205 Arkwright St Maplewood, MN 55117 651-774-5061 calho001@umn.edu Pharmacy bottles Richard Caughey 324 Fawn Lake Dr Millington, TN 38053 901-876-3117 dcaughey@bigriver.net Advertising, coffee, tobacco Bill Connell 3843 S 700 E Franklin, IN 46131 317-736-4548 claudettebill@embarqmail.com Indiana beers, Indiana Hutchinsons

Buddy D Kuhstoss Jr PO Box 66 Tipton, TN 38071 901-679-4727 bkuh2@aol.com All Francis Leeck 13207 N Seymour Rd Montrose, MI 48457 810-639-6002 Mike Peace 11510 Hiway 196 Collierville, TN 38017 901-626-2869 General Tim & Michele Peters 811 N. 39th Nixa, MO 65714 417-595-7793 tpeters@classicnet.net RV Pierce, Harter, WH Bull, Missouri medicines

John Connor 8 Country Club Ln Arcola, IL 61910 jolocon2@yahoo.com

Nicholas Resser 6558 Tully Ct Dublin, OH 43016 614-270-1996 Kresser@Columbus.rr.com Coca-cola

Don Fadely 356 N Boyero Ave Pueblo West, CO 81007 719-337-1432 don@fadely.com Hair preparations

Peter & Amy Spinuzzi PO Box 1261 Hawthorne, NV 89415 775-316-2112 amyspinuzzi@aol.com Bitters, Western whiskeys

Dean Faust 2612 38th St Des Moines, IA 50310 515-277-4946 DJFausthaus@aol.com Sodas

Sammy Thomasson 338 Rosco Rd Southaven, MS 38671 662-893-3819 General

Gerald Goforth 9339 Mudville Rd Millington, TN 38053 General

Memphis Bottle Collectors Club Attn: Tom Phillips, President 6645 Green Shadows Ln Memphis, TN 38119 901-277-4225

Metropolitan Detroit Antique Bottle Club Attn: Michael Brodzik, President 26251 Koontz St Roseville, MI 48066 586-219-9980 Bottlemike@wowway.com

Changes Richard & Patty Elwood 12710 Township Road 40 Dunkirk, OH 45836 419-759-3841 rwoody5573@yahoo.com Fruit jars, aladdin lamps, lightning rod balls Daniel Grove 1300 Ferry Rd Apt 3 Bloomsburg, PA 17815 717-676-9270 dangrv2@yahoo.com Figual bitters Richard Hopp 4936 Wortser Ave Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 818-902-0532 mail@mrhopp.com Dr. James Houdeshell 1610 S. Main St. Findlay, OH 45840 419-423-2895 houdeshell@findlay.edu Houghton and Dalton pottery and bitters bottles and early American flasks Mike Lehman 147 E. Barrens Church Rd. Dillsburg, PA 17019 717-432-7162 bottleking@rocketmail.com Demi-johns, wisharts pine trees, cigar jars, cod liver & root beer extract bottles

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FOHBC MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY Rick Marshall 16586 Desert Star Dr. Conroe, TX 77302 281-793-9718 marshrl@charter.net Pontiled medicines, inks, sodas, cures, Warner cures and remedies Dennis & Sheryl Meng 37400 SE Marie St Sandy, OR 97055 503-668-7280 diggerdennis@gmail.com Oregon whiskey bottles and medicines especially Portland, Oregon ones and perfumes and inks Tom Phillips 6645 Green Shadows Ln Memphis, TN 38119 901-277-4225 tomlisa.phillips@gmail.com

Jeff Scharnowske 1101 N Shiawassee Owossa, MI 48867 989-494-3182 jscharno@live.com Michigan bottles Tod Von Mechow III 247 Washington Ave Phoenixville, PA 19460 610-935-0619 todvon@verizon.net Philadelphia pontiled sodas and beers Deland M-T Bottle Collectors Club Attn: Brian Hoblick, President PO Box 1581 Deland, FL 32721 386-985-1149 hoblick@aol.com

Empire State Bottle Collectors Association Attn: Dave Tuxill 202 Macon St Nedrow, NY 13120 315-469-0629 esbca@hotmail.com Little Rhody Bottle Club Attn: William Rose 784 King St Raynham, MA 02767 508-880-4929 sierramadre@comcast.net Richmond Area Bottle Collectors Association Attn: Bruce Wadford, President 362 Dobbins Rd Blackstone, VA 23824 434-676-8942 MLWBWAD@meckcom.net

Where there’s a will there’s a way to leave Donations to the FOHBC Did you know the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors is a 501C(3) charitable organization? How does that affect you? It allows tax deductions for any and all donations to the FOHBC. You might also consider a bequest in your will to the FOHBC. This could be a certain amount of money or part or all of your bottle collection. The appraised value of your collection would be able to be deducted from your taxes.

(This is not legal advice, please consult an attorney) I give and bequeath to the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, 401 Johnston Ct, Raymore, MO 64083, the sum of $____________ to be used as its Board of Directors determines.

The same type wording could be used for bequeathing your collection or part of it, however, before donating your collection (or part of it), you would need the collection appraised by a professional appraiser with knowledge of bottles and their market values. This is the amount that would be tax deductible.

Thank you for considering us in your donation plans.

Gene Bradberry, President Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors

Notice to Members Please check your mailing label for correctness and your membership expiration date.

This will insure you continue to receive Bottles and Extras without interruption. If moving, please send in a change of address.

Contact: Alan DeMaison, FOHBC Business Manager 1605 Clipper Cove, Painesville, OH 44077 phone: (H) 440-358-1223; (C) 440-796-7539 e-mail: a.demaison@sbcglobal.net

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Bottle and Extras Individual and Affiliated Club Membership Information Membership in the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors includes:

Bottles and Extras

Individual Subscription / Membership Rates for One Year 2nd Class $30.00 U.S. only

First Class $45.00 (inside U.S.) $50.00 (Canada) $65.00 (other foreign)

Name___________________________________________________________ Associate Member Name(s) ($5 additional each:_________________________ Street___________________________________ Apt.#___________________ City____________________________________________________________ State ___________ Zip __________ Phone (_____)______________________ Collecting Interests________________________________________________ E-mail Address:___________________________________________________

Bottles and Extras FREE ADS

Send to : FOHBC c/o Alan DeMaison

1605 Clipper Cove Painesville, OH 44077

or Email : a.demaison@sbcglobal.net Category - “WANTED” Maximum - 60 words Limit - One free ad per current membership per year.

Category - “FOR SALE” Maximum - 100 words Limit - 100 per issue.

(Use extra paper if necessary.)

Single Issues and Back Issues: $5.00 Membership information, forms and an online payment option are also available on the Website www.fohbc.org

Enclose the Appropriate Amount payable to FOHBC and mail to: FOHBC, c/o Alan DeMaison, 1605 Clipper Cove, Painesville, OH 44077 Make checks payable to: The Federation of Historicial Bottle Collectors (FOHBC) Please allow 6-8 weeks from the time you send in your payment for the arrival of your first issue of Bottles and Extras.

Bottles and Extras

Affiliated Club Membership Rates for One Year $75.00 (inside U.S.) $95.00 (Canada) $110.00 (other foreign)

Club Name_ ________________________________________________ Mailing Address_ ____________________________________________ City_______________________________________________________ State ___________ Zip ________ Telephone (_____)________________ Club President_______________________________________________ Address__________________________ City______________________ State ___________ Zip __________ Phone (_____)_________________ E-mail Address______________________________________________ Meeting Location_ ___________________________________________ Day of Week__________________ Time_________________________ Club Website________________________________________________ Newsletter Name_____________________________________________ Newsletter Editor_ ___________________________________________ Club Show Date_ ____________________________________________ Club Show Location__________________________________________ Enclose the appropriate amount payable to FOHBC and mail to: FOHBC c/o Alan DeMaison

1605 Clipper Cove Painesville, OH 44077

Clearly Print or Type all ad copy

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Membership Benefits

The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors cordially invites you to join a dedicated group of individuals and clubs who collect, study and display the treasured glass and ceramic gems of yesteryear.

The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (FOHBC) is a non-profit organization supporting collectors of historical bottles, flasks, jars, and related items. The goal of the FOHBC is to promote the collection, study, preservation and display of historical bottles and related artifacts and to share this information with other collectors and individuals.

Federation membership is open to any individual or club interested in the enjoyment and study of antique bottles. The Federation publication, Bottles and Extras, is well known throughout the hobby world as the leading publication for those interested in bottles and “go-withs”. The magazine includes articles of historical interest, stories chronicling the hobby and the history of bottle collecting, digging stories, regional news, show reports, advertisements, show listings, and an auction directory. Bottles and Extras is truly the place to go when information is needed about this popular and growing hobby.

In addition to providing strength to a national/international organization devoted to the welfare of the hobby, your FOHBC membership benefits include: • A full year subscription the Federation’s official bi-monthly publication, Bottles and Extras • One free ad per yearly membership of 60 words for use for “wanted” items, trade offers, etc.

• Eligibility for a discount at FOHBC sponsored shows (National or EXPOs) towards “early admission” or dealer table rent • Access to a knowledge of the world of antique bottle collecting unavailable elsewhere • Contact information for clubs devoted to the study of historical bottles • A forum for your writings, articles, and editorials regarding the hobby • Participation in the nomination and selection of Federation members for the Honor Roll and Hall of Fame • Federation-sponsored writing, show poster, and newsletter-design contests • Free publication assistance for your book or manuscript • And more...

We encourage Affiliated Bottle Club memberships by offering these additional benefits to your group: • Display advertising in Bottles and Extras at an increased discount of 50% • Insertion of your bottle club show ad on the Federation website to increase your show’s exposure • Links to your club website free of charge, as well as assistance with the creation of your website • Free Federation ribbon for Most Educational Display at your show • Slide programs for use at your club meetings • Participation in Federation sponsored insurance program for your club show and any other club sponsored activities Finally…

We need your support! Our continued existence is dependent upon your participation as well as expanding our membership. The Federation is the only national organization devoted to the enjoyment, study, preservation, collection, and display of historical bottles.

The FOHBC welcomes individuals who would like to contribute by running for Board positions or by sharing their expertise and volunteering their talents in other areas of interest such as contributions to our publications, assistance with the Federation’s National and EXPO shows, or through membership promotion.

If you haven’t yet joined our organization, please do so and begin reaping the benefits. If you are already a member, please encourage your friends and fellow collectors to JOIN US!!

For more information, questions, or to join the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, please contact:

Alan DeMaison 1605 Clipper Cove Painesville, OH 44077 phone: (H) 440-358-1223; (C) 440-796-7539; e-mail: a.demaison@sbcglobal.net

or visit our home page on the Web at www.FOHBC.org

s

com

American Glass Gallery

TM

Currently Accepting Quality Consignments for Our 2011 Auction Schedule!

Our Fall Auction #7 will include a colorful and diverse selection of more than 200 lots of quality bottles, flasks and blown glass. Categories include Historical Flasks, Bitters, Medicines, Black Glass, Blown and Pattern Molded and many others! Watch our website for more details!

These fine examples are already consigned to our Fall, 2011, Auction #7.

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

Bottles and Extras

FOHBC C/O June Lowery 401 Johnston Ct. Raymore, MO 64083

Please Check your information and notify us of errors. www.FOHBC.com

$176,670!

What are your glass items worth?

Whether you have a $100 or $100,000 item we have the right auction format for you.

Consignors will now benefit from a variety of new auction avenues that extend our commitment to showcase each individual lot for our 5000+ client list that receive every printed auction catalog.

Now accepting consignments for our 2011 auction schedule Contact us to learn more.

Pictured Left: General Jackson - Eagle Portrait Flask in brilliant yellow green from John Robinson Manufacturers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1820-1840.

Recently sold at Hecklers for $176,670. An antique glass record!

Norman C. Heckler & Company Auctioneers of Antique Bottles and Glass, Period Decorative Arts, Singular Art Objects & Estates

(860) 974-1634 | www.hecklerauction.com | info@hecklerauction.com