A question in from Bill Ham:
“Ferdinand: Did you see the OLD HOME BITTERS that showed up at Mansfield a few weeks ago? Do you know if it was the O35 LAUGHLIN & BUSHFIELD or the O 36 LAUGHLIN / SMITH CO variant. I understand that it was olive green and may or may not have had remnants of a metallic pontil. Do you know anyuthing about it. Bill”
[PRG] Well I had heard about this bottle in Mansfield from some of the big bitters guys who were there such as Burkhardt, Ferraro and Taylor. I can not answer Bill but I suspect someone can help with his question.
[PRG] I have a perfect example (pictured) of an O 36 which is a Light Smoky Yellow Amber w/olive tone. It is a strange color and you can see a slug plate remnant.
O 35 OLD HOME BITTERS OLD HOME / BITTERS // WHEELING. W. VA // sp // LAUGHLIN / & BUSHFIELD // 10 x 2 3/4 (5 3/4) 1/4 Square, Amber, LTCR, 4 sp, Rare, The newer business.
O 36 OLD HOME BITTERS Circa 1865 – 1875, OLD HOME / BITTERS // WHEELING. W. VA // sp // LAUGHLIN / SMITH & CO // 9 3/4 x 2 5/8 (5 3/4) 1/4 Square, Amber, LTCR, 4 sp, Rare, Very crude letters…especially G & C The older firm. The firm later became Laughlin and Bushfield.
O 36 Old Home Bitters - Meyer Collection
***** POST ADDITION *****
Lot: 1 "Old Home / Bitters / Laughlin / Smith & Co / Wheeling. W. VA." Figural Bitters Bottle, America, 1860-1870. Modified cabin form with all panels indented even the tapering roof panels, olive yellow, applied sloping collared mouth with ring - smooth base, ht. 9 3/4 inches; (professionally cleaned to original luster with some minor wear remaining). R/H #O36 Beautiful rare color, lots of bold embossing, fine condition. Estimate: $4,000 - $8,000 Minimum bid: $2,000 (Sold $9,650.00 + 15%) March 2012
I saw this OLD HOME but at a distance(10′) as it changed hands. It appeared to be OLIVE-YELLOW with a strong green tone and was said to be iron pontiled. I did not see which variant it was. It was sold by a digger to, I believe another digger, for an undisclosed amount of cash.