KEYSTONE BITTERS
12 July 2012 (R•091516)
Here is another figural Bitters barrel that most Bitters collectors possess or are familiar with. Not terribly hard to find, as they are rated Very Scarce, but they do show up, usually in a darker amber color. I am surprised that there is not much information on the brand that was made by the Keystone Bitters and Cordial Co. in Cleveland, Ohio. I am hoping that this post will generate some more examples and support material such as advertising.
Please look at the comparison image below comparing the KEYSTONE BITTERS form with the WORMSER BROS and MIST OF THE MORNING figural barrels. You can also follow this link to see the similar HALL’S BITTERS.
The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:
K 36 KEYSTONE BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1875,
KEYSTONE ( au ) / BITTERS // c //
Keystone Cordial and Bitters Co. Cleveland, Ohio
9 3/4 x 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 (7 3/4)
Barrel, 4-3-3-4, Amber and Puce, LTC, Applied mouth, Very scarce
Cleveland City Directory 1908-09.
KEYSTONE BITTERS, American, ca. 1865-1875, deep reddish amber barrel, 10 1/4″h, smooth base, applied sloping collar mouth. A tough one to find, especially in this pristine condition – Meyer Collection
“KEYSTONE / BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, K-36), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1875, deep reddish amber barrel, 10 1/4”h, smooth base, applied mouth. Some minor scratches, but no form of damage. Purchased from John Stampe in 1971. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection – Session 1
Up for auction very rare, applied top, amber barrel, KEYSTONE BITTERS bottle. It is in good condition, but has small scratches and small dings in the rips and bottom. The bottom of the bottle is distorted. Inside a little bit dirty. Measuring 9 3/4 tall on 3 1/2 wide. – eBay (vlupul1970) *available now
(L) WORMSER BROS SAN FRANCISCO (C) KEYSTONE BITTERS (R) MIST OF THE MORNING. All figural barrel Bitters with similar shapes. All about 10″ tall. The Keystone is a little more trim. Obviously different embossings and applied tops. – Wormser Bros and Keystone barrels are Meyer examples.
Read More on Figural Barrels
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Barrel Series – The Mysterious Blue Barrel
Barrel Series – Original Pocahontas Bitters
Figural Barrel Series – Hall’s Bitters
Greeley’s Bourbon Whiskey Bitters – aka Vertical Greeley’s
Peach colored Bourbon Whiskey Bitters added to Color Run
Greeley’s Bourbon Bitters – A Great Boston Bitters Barrel
The earliest and latest with the blue W. Wolf’s Pittsburgh barrel
Barrel Series – Brent, Warder & Co. – Louisville
Barrel Series – I. Nelson’s Old Bourbon
Barrel Series – B.M. & E.A. Whitlock & Co. – New York
Bennett & Carroll – Figural Barrel Series
Barrel Series – Liquore del Diavolo Figural Barrel
Barrel Series – Crow’s Celebrated Tonic Bitters
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Barrel Series – Bininger Old Kentucky Bourbon
Barrel Series – Columbus in a Barrel
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Barrel Series – Ben Franklin Bitters
Barrel Series – Highland Bitters and Scotch Tonic
Barrel Series – Smith’s Druid Bitters
Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the smaller ones)
Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the big boys)
Barrel Series – Dr. Chandler’s Jamaica Ginger Root Bitters
Barrel Series – Favorite Bitters & Peoples Favorite Bitters
Barrel Series – Wormser Bros San Francisco
The Robinson & Lord Figural Barrel – Baltimore
The James A. Clark barrel from Louisville
The Hull Brothers barrel from Detroit, Michigan
Barrel Series – Out of the Ashes, the Wolford Z – Whiskey
