This site is presented and hosted by Ferdinand and Elizabeth Meyer. We hope to share our passion for collecting and dealing in Early American Antique Bottles and Glass. Please contact us for any information and or bottle and glass news for post consideration. We are also looking for guest authors as we continue work on the FOHBC Virtual Museum project. Thanks!
Continental Bitters, Mayer, Strouse & Baum – Philadelphia
I recently came across this neat circa 1862 trade card advertisement (above) held by the The Library Company of Philadelphia for Continental Bitters put out by Mayer, Strouse & Baum which surprisingly, seems to be unlisted. The proprietors are noted as Importers of Wines, Brandies Gins &c. The primary image and the reason for the bitters name is an illustration of the Continental Hotel, at No. 116 North 3rd Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The card also shows street and pedestrian traffic, including horse-drawn carriages, an omnibus, and a man on horseback.
Benjamin Lieber’s French Cordial Bitters – Philadelphia
I recently came across this neat advertisement (above) held by the The Library Company of Philadelphia for B. Lieber (Benjamin) showing his storefront in Philadelphia in 1849. The illustration shows that Lieber is an Importer of Brandies, Wines and Gins. His address is No. 121 North Fourth Street between Vine & Callowhill Streets in Philadelphia. The ad also notes that he specializes in Foreign Wines and Liquors, London Brown-Stout, Scotch Ale, Absinthe, Segars, &c. and that he is a Manufacturer of Punch Essence, Cordials, Lemon Syrup, Raspberry, Lavender, Rose, Blackberry and Wild-Cherry, Brandies, Bitters &c. The bitters reference set me off in a search for more information.
Could this bottle be for the Celebrated Tobias’s Wine Bitters?
A patron enters one of the two open entryways at which a straw basket and wine cask are displayed across from a large-cask shaped sign. Sign reads “S. Tobias No. 68 Importer & Dealer in Wines Liquors Cordials and Syrups.” At the other entryway, a laborer rolls a cask out the door near a worker entering the cellar. Within the store, the backs of a patron and a clerk are visible in the rear of the store in which shelves of liquor bottles, straw baskets, wine casks, and barrels are displayed on shelves, the floor, and the open display window. Other boxes, bottles, casks, and barrels are visible at the upper floor windows. Barrels and boxes, one marked “S. Tobias” line the sidewalk, near a street lamp in front of the store.
Augusta Seminar Schedule, Topics & Presenters
2019 FOHBC 50th Anniversary National Antique Bottle Convention | Augusta, Georgia. We are truly fortunate to be able to present a variety of fascinating educational seminars at the 2019 FOHBC 50th Anniversary National Antique Bottle Convention in Augusta, Georgia. We have a distinguished group of seminar presenters organized by seminar coordinator Bill Baab.
Solomon’s Strengthening & Invigorating Bitters – Savannah, Ga.
Post update: Sometimes I have bottle posts that take a longer and broader range approach such as the Fancy Square Series and the Figural Barrel Series etc. Other posts just announce antique glass related topics or deal with current events for bottle shows and auctions. This post today occurs because of a request or inspiration from a fellow collector. In this case, it is Charles Aprill, again. Charles and Jane Aprill are the King and Queen of Blues in the Crescent City or NOLA.
Lippman’s Great German Bitters, The Standard Bitters of Germany – Savannah, Georgia and New York
Post update. Jacob Lippman was the second son of Joseph (1808-1876) and Barbette Lippman who were from Reichmansderf, Bavaria which of course is Germany. Joseph and Barbette arrived in Philadelphia in 1838 and shortly thereafter, Jacob was born in 1843. He was preceded by two years by his brother Louis. Another brother Lawrence, was born in 1846 in Savannah, Georgia. Jacob and his brothers constituted Jacob Lippman Wholesale Drug House, Lippman & Bro. and eventually Lippman Brothers at various points in time. Something brought the family to Chatham, Georgia in 1846 or so as Joseph, the father, established himself as a dry goods merchant and druggist according to an 1850 United States Federal Census and other sources. Chatham is the county for Savannah.
2019 FOHBC 50th Anniversary National Antique Bottle Convention | Augusta, Georgia
OPENING EVENT
Mike Newman Open House • Thursday early afternoon, August 1st, Please join Mike Newman at his home early afternoon, noon to 3:00 pm for an Open House to see his fantastic bottle collection. This is an important collection of a wide variety of the best of Georgia and South Carolina pottery and soda bottles. Mike also has a remarkable collection of inks, flasks and bitters bottles. The presentation and lighting is museum quality. A shuttle will be available from the Augusta Marriott to Mike’s house in Martinez, Georgia which is 15 minutes (6.9 mi) via GA-28 if you are driving. Light lunch fare and refreshments will be served.
Spring Bitters – John W. Service, Hartford, Connecticut
Bobby Conner sent me the two top-most pictures here and said, “Good morning Ferd. Here’s a bitters you may enjoy seeing. I can’t find any info on it other than Bill Steele ‘thinks’ he may have had one at one time. Enjoy.” I’ve not seen this bottle before so I thought I would check it out. Spring Bitters was somewhat of a generic term for bitters but there are certainly a few Spring Bitters out there associated with proprietors.
He Sold Black Hawk Bitters
In another newspaper notice, druggist, M.K. Shuggart in Iowa also had his Black Hawk Bitters seized. In court, he said it was a medicine and that it was a summer drink and should be classified with lemonade, even though the bitters was labeled 30 percent alcohol. Still more arrests for selling Black Hawk Bitters that reportedly made men climb telegraph poles and throw their tools in the street! The last from the Kansas Democrat in Hiawatha, Kansas. This is the kind of material you find in bitters researching, just like the assorted nefarious material put in a bitters bottle.
Tincture of Centaury Bitters – Bernheim Brothers & Uri – Louisville, Kentucky
If you go to the I.W. Harper website and visit the history menu on the banner, the following opening screen reads, “THE I.W. HARPER LEGACY, A LEGEND IS BORN” followed by “I.W. Harper’s story begins in 1848 when our founder, I.W. Bernheim, came to America with $4 and a dream. A century later, his bourbon whiskey empire remains.” Jerry Phelps recently shared some bottle images of a round, amber, sealed and pontiled Tincture of Centaury Bitters bottle from Louisville, Kentucky. I have heard of this bottle but have never seen pictures before, so this is pretty exciting.
2019 FOHBC 50th Anniversary National Antique Bottle Convention | Augusta, Georgia
The Southern Region of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (FOHBC) would like to invite you to the 2019 FOHBC National Antique Bottle Convention in Augusta, Georgia. We will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the FOHBC. Please note the removal of Sunday (and Saturday night) event in schedule.
Congress Bitters – The Great American Tonic!
I have an amber rectangular embossed Congress Bitters bottle in my collection that I know nothing about. There is no proprietor name or location embossed on the bottle. Of course a paper label would have had that information, but the label is long gone. I also have an advertising trade card for Congress Bitters, The Great American Tonic with no proprietor name noted. It is pictured below. I always assumed the bottle and the card were related.
Edward Wilder and his Building Bottles
Post Update: Leading up to Edward Wilder’s Stomach Bitters, we see that Edward Wilder (grandfather) was the first of three generations of Edward Wilders. He resided at Bird’s Creek, Charles County, Maryland. He died in 1779, leaving only one son, who was also named Edward Wilder. The second Edward was born on the December 10, 1779, a few weeks after the death of his father. Edward served with much distinction as captain of a company in Colonel Thomas Neill’s regiment of cavalry in the State of Maryland during the War of 1812.
Excelsior Stomach Bitters – Rose’s Drug Store, Westminster, Maryland
Here is an advertisement below for a possibly unlisted Excelsior Stomach Bitters that I came across during research for the Excelsior Stomach Bitters post from St. John, Iowa. This bitters is late and was advertised in 1904, came in three sizes (25c, 50c and $1 bottles) and could be purchased at Rose’s Drug Store in Westminster, Maryland. Westminster is northwest of Baltimore City. Being from Baltimore, I was curious.
Bottles and Extras January – February 2019 Mailed to FOHBC Members
Features: This North Carolina Distiller Had the “Old Nick” in Him Jack Sullivan 14 Cleaning Privy Iron Ed Stewart 24 Privies of Augusta, Georgia Uncovered by Radar Unit Bill Baab 32 Bottle Collecting A Chautauqua Chris Hartz 38 Warner’s Log Cabin Remedies: The Other Safe Remedies Stephen R. Jackson 48 David Tingen: A Profile of Bottle Collecting 58, Vignettes: Shards of Wisdom 4 History’s Corner 5 Gold Rush Artifact Hunters Archival Research Specialists Reginald Shoeman 26 Book Review: The Coca-Cola Trail Bill Baab 57 Lost & Found 60 Virtual Museum News 56 Member Photo Gallery 64, Departments: Table of Contents 1 FOHBC Officer Listing 2018-2020 2 President’s Message 3 FOHBC News, From and For Our Members 6 Classified Ads & Ad Rate Info 66 Membership Directory 67 FOHBC Show-Biz, Show Calendar Listings 68 Membership Application 72
Excelsior Stomach Bitters – Drs. Ault and McGavern – St. John, Iowa
I am now looking at an 1867 advertisement from Mark from the Sioux City Register below for an unlisted Excelsior Stomach Bitters manufactured by Drs. Ault and McGavern in St. John, Iowa which is a small town that is not around anymore. Mark included the ad with his email and included an advertisement from the bitters agents, Smith & Moore of Sioux City, Iowa.
Dr. Thomas A. Hurley’s Stomach Bitters – Louisville
Hurley’s first drug store newspaper advertising occurs in The Louisville Daily Courier in 1850 where he is listed as a Druggist and Apothecary located on the corner of Seventh and Green Streets in Louisville, Kentucky. He was selling medicinal extracts for prescriptions along with Turkey Rhubarb, Pearl Starch, Venetian Red and Tobacco. In 1852, Thos. A. Hurley is noted as a candidate for School Trustee in the Seventh Ward in Louisville. There isn’t much follow-up information here in this direction so he may not have been successful.
The 1948 Prince Cantacuzène Collection of Early American Bottles and Flasks
Dear Flask Collectors, As a result of doing some research, I found the the Auction Catalog for the Prince Cantacuzene Flask Collection. If you Google him, you’ll notice he fled Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution coming to America and dying in 1955 in Sarasota, Florida. He was married to Ulysses S. Grants granddaughter. Why would a Russian Prince form such a flask collection? Here are a few photos. A link to the catalog follows photos
Riddle, Fuller & Co. selling Celebrated California Bitters? Council Bluffs, Iowa
Riddle & Company was founded by Samuel H. Riddle sometime around 1851. He took on S. Fuller as a partner and most of the Riddle, Fuller Co. advertising dates around 1867. The two were located on Palmer’s Block, on lower Broadway in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Julius Palmer worked as a butcher near Coatesville, Pennsylvania before he moved to Council Bluffs in 1854. He built the Palmer Block on the northwest corner of West Broadway and Sixth Street. The red box on the top map image indicates their location.
R.C. Ridgway & Co. Lady’s Leg – Philadelphia
We first see him listed as selling wines and liquors at 104 South Front Street in Philly in 1855. He was single and residing at the US Hotel. By 1861, his address is 220 S. Front Street and he is noted as a retail and wholesale liquor and wine dealer. In 1865, he is residing at the famous Continental Hotel located on the Southeast corner of 9th and Chestnut which is famed for having an elevator, called a vertical train back then. It was where all the wealthy and powerful chose to stay when in Philadelphia.
Post update. The triangular Hagan’s Bitters – Philadelphia & Atlantic City
What is really interesting is that John Hagan, the proprietor of Hagan’s Bitters, chose the triangular form for marketing purposes to stand out from all of the other square form bitters bottles. Even his trademark artwork (pictured below) celebrates the triangle geometric shape. Look at the triangle within a triangle typography treatment and at the triangle in the curtain shape, at the bottom of the angels gown and the shadow on the rug! Maybe I’m seeing too much but I doubt it. Some early subliminal advertising?
Use Dr. Henley’s Celebrated California IXL Bitters
Dr. Henley was initially known for medicines like Dr. Henley’s Regulator, Royal Balsam and Indian Queen Hair Restorative to name a few. Some of his better known bitters include the Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters, Dr. Henley’s California IXL Bitters, Dr. Henley’s Eye Opener and OK Bitters. He also put out Dr. Henley’s Royal Palm Gin and Dr. Henley’s Celery, Beef and Iron. Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters was invented in 1868 by Dr. William Henley who partnered with Louis Gross (L. Gross & Co.) who was a wholesale and retail druggist in Portland, Oregon. At least fifty cases of this product were displayed at the 1868 California State Fair by Dr. Henley and he won first prize.
Dr. Smith’s Magic Bitters – John Brown Adkins – Council Bluffs, Iowa
I like the photograph at the top of the post showing the two-story building with the J. B. ATKINS bas-relief letters on the front facade. If you look closely, you will see that John Brown Atkins is standing proudly in the doorway and his windows and shelves within are fully stocked. I also see a camel and rider sitting on a box. Look at the roof, as there is a cool sculptural mortar and pestle on top of the building and painted graphics on the side advertising J. B. Atkins selling Drugs, Chemicals, Perfumery, Paints, Oils, Glassware etc. His address is 351 West Broadway. You can see the numbers on a column on the left side of the building.
Kohn & Adler’s Bitters – Rock Island, Illinois
I recently received an email and 1866 newspaper clipping from Mark Wiseman about an unlisted Adler’s Celebrated Anti-Cholera Bitters which led me to do a search for “Adler” information. This led me to another unlisted bitters advertisement for Kohn & Adler’s Bitters from Rock Island, Illinois. There is no relation though, as the ad is from 1889. Here we are talking about Solomon and Monroe Kohn and Joseph H. Adler. Solomon was the father of Monroe. Kohn was born in Austria in 1826 and received his U.S. citizenship in 1866. Adler was born in Bohemia around 1832. I suspect the families knew each other and they both came to America together.
Adler’s Celebrated Anti-Cholera Bitters – Simon Adler | St. Joe & St. Louis
I recently received and email and 1866 newspaper clipping (below) from Mark Wiseman about an unlisted Adler’s Celebrated Anti-Cholera Bitters put out by S. Adler & Company in St. Joseph, Missouri. This rang a bell. After researching, I found out that this is the same “Adler” embossed on Landsberg’s Century Bitters.
Pond’s Bitters “Makes You Go Some”
Pond’s Bitters is named after George Morgan Pond who was born in Tareytown, New York on 29 May 1854. Tarrytown is a village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about 25 miles north of midtown Manhattan in New York City. He was the son of Loyal Sylvester Pond (Vermont) and Harriet Sarah Taylor (New Hampshire). He later married Louise Fitch in 1882. Their children were Annie, Kate, George Jr., Guy and Rainsferd Pond.
If you can’t do business, drink Rex Bitters – Chicago
Here is what I call a telephone bitters. A bitters product so late that you could call your favorite saloon, liquor or drug store and order a case of Rex Bitters using your Chicago Telephone Company issued telephone, if you were fortunate enough to have one. Illinois Bell would not form until 1923 when they began automatic telephone service in Chicago.
Henry Fess Jr. Jaundice Bitters – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Here is an extremely rare Jaundice Bitters from Milwaukee, Wisconsin put out by Henry Fess Jr., who was a prominent wholesale and retail druggist. The bottle recently showed up in an online auction that included other rather common bottles. Fess came to Milwaukee from Pittsburgh in April, 1846 and initially was located next door to Ludington’s Corner, at what is now 405 East Water Street.
Buck’s Aromatic Bitters – a First Rate Tonic & Remedy
I came across an unlisted Buck’s Aromatic Bitters and was curious about the brand. It looks like the proprietors were Captain John Thomas Buck and Dr. Pinckney T. Baley (pictured above) working under the name Buck & Baley in Jackson, Mississippi. They were wholesale and retail druggists who also put out Buck’s Diarrhoea (sic) Syrup and Buck & Baley’s Chemical Yeast Powder.
Sazerac Aromatic Bitters – P. H. Drake & Co.
Looking at the motif of the monogram “PHD & Co.” on a Sazerac Aromatic Bitters bottle leads you to Patrick Henry Drake, the proprietor for the famous Drake’s Plantation Bitters. You can see the link with the product name and Drake below with the monogram in the advertisement from Bitters Bottles. The bottles are called a figural lady’s leg due to the sensual shape of the bottle neck. Three great examples are pictured at the top of this post from the great…
Dr. Wright’s Tonic Bitters and Invigorating Cordial
Dr. Wright’s Tonic Bitters and Invigorating Cordial Bitters was put out by Homer (Hoemer) Wright in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from about 1855 to 1857. Yes, this is early Pittsburgh glass with an iron pontil. As good as it gets. Previously an amber example was recorded. This one is yellow with an olive tone with lots of character. It is extremely rare, either color. Dr. Homer Wright was born in Wellsville, Ohio on April 8, 1833 and was a son of Dr. Hugh Wright, an eminent physician, and…
Life Everlasting Bitters – Atlanta, Georgia
Here is a great bitters square that John Pastor had in his recent American Glass Gallery Auction #21 which closed earlier in the week. The picture at the top of the post is from the auction. The Life Everlasting Bitters is one of the top Georgia bottles (see list further below). Here is the auction write-upon the bottle…
3-part moulded glassmaking in Britain, Ireland & the US.
Migrant glassmakers arriving in Colonial America had a hard time. First, in overcoming the barriers laid by the British to prevent them from getting there. And, second, having finally got there, in establishing viable businesses in a vast country short of skills & cash yet flooded with imports.So, American makers petitioned Congress for protection. Customs tariffs were imposed at 10% in 1789 & peaked at 45%. Even so, most early 19th-century American glasshouses failed within five years.
Jacob & David Hostetter – Dr. J. Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters
David Hostetter was a millionaire manufacturer of one of the most, if not the most famous and successful bitters ever produced, the Dr. J. Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. Much has been written about the brand. I thought I would try to tie it all together. Of Dutch extraction, David Hostetter was the eldest child of Jacob Hostetter by his wife Mary Landis, and was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on 23 January 1819. Dr. Jacob Hostetter was born on 13 October 1785 in York County, Pennsylvania…
American Glass: The Collections At Yale
Read this fine article called American Glass: The Collections At Yale by Laura Beach published in the latest issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly. Exciting to see that this story made the cover of their latest issue. It also made the home page of their web site. Good exposure for our hobby too.
Reed’s Bitters – A mysterious little Reed’s Bitters Vial
Not much personal information is available for George W. M. Reed from New Haven, Connecticut but he sure put out a rather well-known bitters, that being Reed’s Bitters, which later morphs into Reed’s Cocktail Bitters, Reed’s Aromatic Bitters and Reed’s Aromatic Stomach Bitters. Essentially the same bitters put up in beautiful amber lady’s leg figural bottles. He was also known for his Reed’s Gilt-Edge Tonic. Reed advertised extensively and sold his product nationally so we can track him that way.
Gentry, Slote & Co., New York
Dean Ferguson sent in three pictures of a “Good Samaritan Brandy”, “Gentry, Slote & Co., New York” flattened globular form bottle that he found at a barn find from the Darlington farm in Darling, Pennsylvania which is west of Philadelphia. He said the house was very early. The bottle has an applied mouth with a cork and a super iron pontil. Dean asked if I had any information on the bottle. I was unfamiliar with the bottle but the Gentry name caught my attention.
Dr. Perley’s Leptandrin Tonic Bitters – Lebanon, New Hampshire
Isaac N. Perley was born on 17 January 1839 in Enfield, New Hampshire, son of father Uri Perley (Enfield, NH) and mother Fanny Sawyer (Saulsbury, NH). He had to be pretty smart with a name like Isaac Newton right? After graduating from Canaan Union Academy in 1855 he went on to Dartmouth College and then graduated from Harvard Medical School in Boston in 1865. He next set up a medical practice and by 1870 was listed as a druggist in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Dr. Zadoc and Madame Zadoc Porter – New York
In separate bitters folders I had clippings for Porter’s Bitters and another file for Zadoc’s Bitters. I thought I would wait for a rainy day (it has rained on and off for days here now) to do a little research on both. I have now combined the files into one file named “Dr. Zadoc Porter’s Medicated Stomach Bitters.” Zadoc Porter operated out of New York City and also sold Dr. Porter’s Sugar Pills and called himself “Mr Porter, The Great Benefactor.” His sugar-coated pills sold for 6 cents a box and were far easier to swallow than the crude and often horrid-tasting concoctions prepared by physicians.
A. Lambert Bitters – Philadelphia
Nick Downs posted some great pictures of an “A. Lambert’s Bitters Philada” cylinder from Philadelphia over on the Antique Bitters Bottles Facebook page. His pictures are below. I cropped away the background on the two hand-held pictures. The bottle image on the top is from a past Norman C. Hecker Auction, I believe. Nick wrote the following with the pictures; Here is an exceptional example of this exceedingly rare colored pontiled bitters bottle from Philadelphia. It is boldly and crisply embossed “A. LAMBERT’S BITTERS PHILADa” and comes in a beautiful shade of yellowish olive green. It is absolutely loaded with bubbles and sports a large full iron pontil mark…
Harry Johnson’s 1882 Bartender’s Manual
It was interesting to come across and read online the New and Improved Illustrated Bartender’s Manual or How to Mix Drinks of the Present Style. It was published in New York City in 1882 by Harry Johnson who was a professional bartender. The manual was printed in English and German by Samisch & Goldmann and sold for 50 cents. I pulled out a few illustrations here though you can read cover-to-cover here.
Red Cross Bitters
Here is a really cool, circa 1870, patent medicine label (below) that the Library of Congress is holding for William B. Dorman’s Original Red Cross Bitters. Pictured is a crusader in armor with a red cross on the shield. The New England Lithography Company in Boston printed the piece. In heraldry, Saint George’s Cross, also called the Cross of Saint George, is a red cross, usually on a white background, which from the Late Middle Ages became associated with Saint George, the military saint, often depicted as a crusader.
Looking at Spanish Bitters
The Library of Congress holds this great advertising patent proof lithograph label for Gainer’s Celebrated Spanish Bitters (above) being transported by a passenger train, steamboat and horses and wagon emblazoned with the product name. A product sign is even on the river railing. I started searching for information online and found a few other Spanish Bitters. Let’s take a quick look at them starting off with the Gainers. They are all extremely rare, some unlisted.
PE-RU-NA For Catarrh – The Great American Fraud
I like this PE-RU-NA for Catarrh advertisement. A Heavy Hand on TEXAS. Peruna was a late product related to the Mishler brand. Steve Ketcham adds the bottle picture and says, “The advertising was far more dynamic than the packaging!”
TO-NI-TA – Dr. Lorentz’s Mucous Membrane Bitters
TO-NI-TA, is a scientific combination of the vital principles of the most powerful healing herbs known to medicine, and is guaranteed to contain no opiates or dangerous drugs of any kind. It has been analyzed and tested by the most eminent chemists and doctors throughout the world, all of whom have come to one decision, that “TO-NI-TA” is the most wonderful medicinal discovery of modern times.
Bininger Gallery Update
I have been nesting some great images of Bininger bottles for the past year or so waiting for a few missing pictures to justify a post gallery. With the Glass Works Auctions | Auction #96 additions, I can now release this post. If you have any additions of any different bottles, please send to me. My interest in Bininger’s started early with figural clock, cannon and barrel additions to go with my bitters collection. Many of us do this as the Bininger name means great bottles and history.
Dr. Frank’s Laxitive Tonic Bitters
Now here is a cool bitters bottle that up until now, I had never seen before. As coincidences go, I’m seeing two examples this past week. The first was auctioned off earlier in the week in Glass Works Auctions | Auction #124 which is pictured below. The second, pictured above, was on a dealer table at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bottle Show happening this past weekend. Tom Lines from Alabama sent me a picture.
Dr. I. Newton’s Anti-Bilious Bitters – Norwich, Vermont
Major post update. Israel Newton lived and operated out of Norwich, Vermont for over 70 years and as his newspaper advertising in 1805 states, he was the inventor of well known medical preparations such as Newton’s Essence of Peppermint, Patent Effence of Tanfly, Tooth Ache Tincture and Eye Water which he sold in small glass vials. His early bitters, in the same 1805 advertising were Elixir of Health (stomach bitters pills) and Lady’s and Gentlemen’s Cordial Bitters. His Elixir of Health pills were put-up in boxes and meant to be dissolved in rum.
A. Loranger Globe Bitters – What is your Story?
I received an email and pictures this morning from John Throop. “Hi Ferd – was happy to find this Loranger Globe Bitters jug on eBay for a reasonable price. Do you happen to know where this is from or any other info? Thanks!”
Dr. Michael Cox’s Bitters – Pittsburgh
I’d forgotten about my Dr. Michael Cox’s Bitters with the three embossed cocks until somebody posted a picture of an example on PRG Facebook the other day. What a cool bottle. I always thought it was from New Orleans around 1885 but it is really from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a really late, tooled lip bottle. So late, the proprietor Herman Obernauer could have people place orders for his bitters by phone!
Dr. Varena’s Japan Bitters – From Tokyo to Peoria
Dr. Varena’s Japan Bitters was made by Lion Manufacturing Company in 1887 in Peoria, Illinois. Originally the company was called the Lion Vinegar Company. They filled a Trademark Application on October 1, 1887 and noted that the product had been used since March 1887. The Trademark consisted of the the words ‘DR. VARENA’S JAPAN BITTERS’ with a representation of Japanese landscape. Unfortunately I can not find a labeled example or any color advertising.
Dr. Hills Restorative Strengthening Bitters – Farmer N.Y.
“I was tired and in a hurry, and took a drink of water out of a graduated glass in which I had dissolved strychnine. The water was bitter, but not much so. I can’t have taken very much. I shall soon be over it; don’t you think so?”
Looking at the Morning Star Bitters – Baltimore
The first proprietor of Morning Star Bitters was John Burns located at 100 South Charles Street in Baltimore, Maryland in 1866. He created a company called Morning Star Bitters Company to market and sell his product locally and across the state line in West Virginia. He said it was the Greatest Tonic of the Ages. By 1868, it was Burns & Weigley (John B. Burns and O.C. Weigley) who were selling Morning Star Bitters at the same address, same company. This era would be the first pontiled bottles. They would patent the brand and bottle in 1869.
Post Update: Looking closer at the Brown’s Celebrated Indian Herb Bitters
Not much is known about the proprietor, Neal N. Brown (also spelled Neall and Neill in historical documents) other than he lived and operated in Philadelphia and took out a couple of patents for his famous figural bottle in 1867 and 1868. I suspect he was an Irishman. We first see him as an innkeeper and tavern owner in 1863 and 1864. In 1866 he has some legal problems as he is charged by the United States government for transporting unsealed whiskey. Next Brown is into Patent Medicines and puts out his Indian Queen bitters. In the mid 1870s, he is listed as a liquor dealer…
Post Update with early use info: Log Cabin Series – Drake’s Plantation Bitters
This medicinal make-up was unknown until the middle of the seventeenth century. The natives of Peru were generally supposed to have been long previously acquainted with its most wonderful medicinal qualities. Humbboldt makes favorable mention of the febrifuge qualities of this article as an antidote to Fever and Ague, Intermittent and Malarious Fevers, in his extensive South American travels. The Countess, wife of the Viceroy of Peru, having in her own person experienced the beneficial effects of the bark, is said, on her return to Spain …
New information on Charles C.Jerome and his many inventions related to National Bitters C.C. Jerome & Co. Detroit
Charles C. Jerome was best known in railway circles as the inventor of Jerome Metallic Packing. Jerome was born in 1833 in Canada, and in his early days studied medicine in Toronto. He practiced medicine for a time at Port Huron, Michigan and entered the Civil War as surgeon in a Michigan regimen. In Detroit in 1865, Jerome was located at 32 Woodward Avenue where he put out his National Bitters in two different bottles…
Looking at Dr. Gottlieb Fisch’s Bitters and The Fish Bitters
I can not believe that I have not definitively written about the original figural fish bitters bottles before so I thought I would dust off my laptop and put something together. There are three variants worth noting and that includes Dr. Gottlieb Fisch’s Bitters and The Fish Bitters (centered and off-centered mouth versions). There are also later 20th century bottles.
Edward H. Hartshorn – Hartshorn’s Family Medicines
Recently, I saw a Dr. Hartshorn’s Jaundice Bitters bottle on eBay and liked the color and label which features a key. I don’t have an example in my collection as they are fairly common so I figured I would add one somewhere down the road. In the meantime, I thought it might be nice to pull together some information and support imagery as Dr. Hartshorn was rather well-known and put out a lot of products and advertising like these Dr. Hartshorn’s Jaundice Bitters “Key to Health” advertising trade cards to support his brand.
Goldheim Bitters featured in Bottles and Extras
The July | August 2018 issue of Bottles and Extras has a super article on the extremely rare, Goldheim Celebrated Swiss Stomach Bitters from Baltimore. The article was written by Susan Helen Adler. This is a pretty tough-to-get Baltimore bitters square.
FOHBC 2018 Cleveland National Souvenir Program
2019 FOHBC 50th Anniversary National Antique Bottle Convention | Augusta, Georgia | Info & Contract Packet Online
Per FOHBC convention guidelines, we are posting the first online draft of the 2019 Augusta National Info & Contract Packet. We do this one week before the current year national which of course is the 2018 Cleveland National which starts a week from today. You can reserve tables and advertising space as of today. First come – first served. Packets will be available in Cleveland. See Packet
RENO announced for the 2020 National Antique Bottle Show & Expo
After an extensive search, negotiations, presentations and FOHBC board approval, Reno has be selected as the location for the FOHBC 2020 National Antique Bottle Show & Expo. The event will be held at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino. Richard Siri will act as Show Chair. Team Reno at this point will also include Warren Friedrich, Eric McGuire and Ferdinand Meyer V. Essentially the same team as the very successful 2016 Sacramento National.
Moses Atwood – Atwood’s Jaundice Bitters – Georgetown, Massachusetts
I was going through some material the other day that I gathered for the recent Dr. Henry Baxter’s Mandrake Bitters post which referenced the Atwood’s Jaundice Bitters bottle. You see, both bottle shapes are similar. I was curious, who was Moses Atwood? It turns out that there were two primary Moses Atwoods operating about the same time in New England. Both were in medicine and started out in New Hampshire. This was confusing at first and I wanted to sort it out.
I’ve just spent several hours perusing this website for Antique Bottle Collectors, I have to say this is the most comprehensive internet site ever developed for the antique bottle enthusiast. It is destined to be the GO TO site for all those interested in the antique bottle hobby.
This is a great looking website — well done! Love all the pix of the beautiful bottles. Looking forward to watching this site grow. All the best wishes from the Findlay Bottle Club! –Marianne Dow
Well done, Ferd. Lots of great info and destined to be a favorite of a bunch of collectors.
Great job Ferd ! The information and enjoyment of your site is a huge asset to the bottle and glass collecting community not to mention the history buff ! My enjoyment of collecting has just increased 10 fold thanks to your efforts !