Figaro, Figaro – Griffith’s Opera Bitters

16 October 2014

Wait to you see the gorgeous example of a Griffith’s Opera Bitters that John Pastor has in his American Glass Gallery Auction #13, now open for bidding. No, that is not it at the top of the post. That is my homely (to some) example of this very rare bitters that is a raw as the day it was found. I left it alone as it was the only one I had ever seen. I like it that way, but boy-o-boy is this new auction example a killer.

Oil City Oil Trader by Day, Opera Goers by Night? – 1870

To my knowledge, this is the only bitters with the word “opera” in it. It is believed to be from Oil City, Pennsylvania and that was fairly easy to confirm as you will see. Opera and Oil City. Grease and water. Oil City is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania that is known in the initial exploration and development of the petroleum industry. After the first oil wells were drilled nearby in the 1850s, Oil City became central in the petroleum industry while hosting headquarters for the Pennzoil, Quaker State, and Wolf’s Head motor oil companies. [Wikipedia]

Fleet of Oil Boats at Oil City 1864

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows. Note that amber is very rare and yellow and green are extremely rare. You mean there are yellow and green examples out there?

G 116  GRIFFITH’S OPERA BITTERS

GRIFFITH’S / OPERA BITTERS // f // A. R. GRIFFITH // f //
// b // L & W / 13
8 7/8 x 2 3/4 (6 7/8) 3/8
Square, LTC, Applied mouth, 2 sp; Amber, Very rare;
Yellow olive and Green, Extremely rare

“GRIFFITH’S / OPERA BITTERS – A. R. GRIFFITH”, Lorenz & Wightman Glass Manufacturers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1863 – 1872. yellowish honey amber, square with beveled corners, applied sloping collar – “L & W / 13″ (on smooth base), ht. 8 7/8″; (professionally cleaned to original luster with a little light wear remaining; a shallow 3/16” bruise on shoulder). R/H #G116. Very rare. Provenance: Ex. Carlyn Ring collection. A very rare bitters, one that has not been offered for sale in quite some time, and believed to be from Oil City, Pennsylvania. – American Glass Gallery Auction #13

The Griffith Bothers, and there were at least three of them, were druggists and started a retail drug store business called Griffith and Brother in 1863. This was Albert R. Griffith and A.D. Griffith. Albert’s name is on the bottle. He was born in 1845.

They brothers had two drug stores in Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania and two stores later in New York City. Maybe one of the brothers went to New York City to get out of the oil field environment and see the opera and a few Broadway plays? Maybe adding a little culture would help this Charlie Tuna sell his bitters? In 1869, the brothers opened a second drug store opposite the Opera House on Washington Street in Oil City. As early as 1870 there were advertisements for Griffith’s Celebrated Opera Bitters. This is where the name most likely came from.

Later, younger brother Edward J. Griffith was running the show and sold the business in 1911 to Alfred W. Britton and Thomas Gaddess. Britton was previously employed as pharmacist with Griffith. That is a photography of one of their stores below. Look at all the bottles on the wall.

1896 interior shot of Griffith Brothers Drug Store. Look closely on right wall. Probably bitters bottles and other medicines. – 1896 Derrick Souvenir Book

Select Listings: Griffith Brothers 

Albert R. Griffith, A.D. Griffith and Edward J. Griffith

1863: Griffith & Brother drug business established 1863.

1869: Griffith Brothers to open a new drug store notice opposite the Opera House (see below). – The Petroleum Centre Daily Record, December 01, 1869

Griffith Brothers to open a new drug store opposite the Opera House notice (see below). – The Petroleum Centre Daily Record, December 01, 1869

1870: Griffith’s Opera Bitters sold by W. D. Terbell & Co. advertisement (see below) – Corning N.Y. Journal

Griffith’s Opera Bitters sold by W. D. Terbell & Co. advertisement – Corning N.Y. Journal, 1870

1876: A.R. Griffith & Brother, drugs, (A.R. Griffith & A.D. Griffith), 53 Centre – Titusville (Oil City), Pennsylvania City Directory

1883-85: Griffith Brothers (A.R. & A.D. Griffith), druggists, Centre & Sycamore, both living at  Harriott ave corner Washington with mother, Mrs. E. Griffith (also Thomas and William at other addresses) – Titusville, Pennsylvania City Directory

1885: Griffith Brothers open 3rd drug store in New York City at 2241 Third Avenue.

1887: Griffith & Bro’s Diuretic Cordial advertisement (see below) – The Oil City Derrick, Thursday, December 1, 1887

Griffith & Bro’s Diuretic Cordial advertisement – The Oil City Derrick, Thursday, December 1, 1887

1892: Griffith Brothers advertisement “The People’s Druggist! (see below) – Oil City Derrick, Saturday, July 16, 1892

Griffith Brothers advertisement “The People’s Druggist! – Oil City Derrick, Saturday, July 16, 1892

1896: Griffith & Brother listing (see below). They have two locations in Oil City and one location in New York city.

Griffith Bros. established 1863 – 1896 Derrick Souvenir Book

1897: Albert R. Griffith death, April 7, 1897 (see below). Now notes two locations in New York City. – The Druggists’ Circular and Chemical Gazette

Albert R. Griffith death, April 7, 1897 – The Druggists’ Circular and Chemical Gazette, 1897

1911: Alfred W. Britton previously employed as pharmacist buys, in partnership with Thomas Gaddess, the E.J. Griffith establishment, on of the oldest drug stores in Venango County – Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People

1916: Edward J. Griffith death (see below) – NARD Journal, 1916

Edward J. Griffith death (see below) – NARD Journal, 1916