33rd Annual Baltimore Bottle Show & Sale on 03 March 2013

Posted on 2 February 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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BABC_ARTA number of us from across the United States and across the pond are finalizing plans to attend the mega 33rd Annual Baltimore Bottle Show on 03 March 2013. For those of you that are not FOHBC members and do not get Bottles and Extras, I though I would give you a chance to read my write-up on the show last year.

I also will be coming in Thursday night prior to the show weekend and would like to invite anyone interested in joining me on Friday, 01 February to visit the B&O Train Museum, Baltimore Steetcar Museum and Geppi’s Entertainment Museum.

Read More: Success to the Railroad – The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum

Read More: A Salute to the 2012 Baltimore Antique Bottle Show

Read More: Baltimore Antique Bottle Show Crowd Shots – Huge Gate Again!

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Posted in Advice, Bottle Shows, Bottles and Extras, Club News, FOHBC News, News, Publications | Leave a comment

Bininger Gallery

Posted on 1 February 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

BiningersOldDominion_Side

B I N I N G E R   G A L L E R Y

01 February 2013 (R•091515) (R•090516) (R•041317) (R•100618) (R•022219)

Apple-Touch-IconAI 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. (Note: Top picture from Ed & Kathy Gray).

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.

Much has been written about A.M. Bininger so I will stay away from that but I will reference you to a few past Peachridge Glass Bininger posts.

Read More: Bininger Advertising Art & Labels
Read more: A. M. Bininger & Co. Figural Cannon
 Read more: Bininger’s Night Cap Flask

B I N I N G E R   G A L L E R Y

A.M. BININGER & CO / No 19 BROAD ST

NEW YORK

Important Bininger Urn Bottle – A.M. Bininger & Co / No 19 Broad St New York Figural Handled Whiskey, America, 1860 – 1865. Bright honey amber shading to a deeper golden through the base and shoulders, figural urn form, applied solid ear shaped handle, sheared and tooled lip – smooth base, ht. 8 ¾”. A very attractive and rare form that is certainly susceptible to damage. However, this example is “out of the mold”, pristine perfect! In addition, it is strongly embossed and highly whittled. Finest possible example. – American Glass Gallery

BININGER’S FAVORITA GIN

A.M. BININGER & CO / No. 19 BROAD ST

NEW YORK

60. “A.M. BININGER & CO / NO. 19 BROAD ST. NEW-YORK”, (Denzin, BIN-45), (Bender, pg. 95), New York, ca. 1860 – 1870, yellow amber urn, 9 7/8”h, smooth base, tooled flared out lip, 98% original multicolored label reads: ‘Bininger’s Favorita Gin (matador and a seniority dancing) A.M. Bininger & Co., Sole Proprietors, New York’. The bottle is perfect. The Bininger’s urn is rarely offered for sale, but this is the only one that we know of with an almost fully intact original label. And what a great label it is, with an interesting play on words, Favorita Gin and a dancing Seniority! Bill Litle Collection. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #128

BININGER’S BANANA JUICE.

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The Holy Grail, a labeled BININGER’S BANANA JUICE

A.M. BININGER & CO. / NO. 19 BROAD ST. / NEW-YORK

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A.M. BININGER’S / NO. 19 BROAD ST. / NEW-YORK, (Denzin, BIN-32), New York, ca. 1865 – 1875, olive green jug, 8”h, smooth base, applied handle and double collar mouth. A chip is off the end of the lower handle attachment finial, otherwise perfect. Usually seen in amber and is considered scarce in this pure green color. One of the ‘grand slams’ of handled Bininger’s. Purchased from Jim Mitchell in 1992 at the FOHBC Expo in Toledo, Ohio. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection

BiningerJug

A.M. BININGER & CO. / NO. 19 BROAD ST. / NEW-YORK, (Denzin BIN-32), New York, ca. 1855 – 1870, golden yellow amber, 8”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. Only Bininger jug Glass Works has ever auctioned not having an applied handle! A raised dot on the shoulder is where the lower part of the handle would have been attached, but no handle! – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #96 (Part 2)

BiningerJugHandled

“A.M. BININGER & CO / NO. 19 BROAD ST / NEW – YORK“, deep orange amber, cylindrical with applied handle, early smooth base, 8″H, applied double collar, mint. American, C.1860, scarce. This attractive handled jug is a much better than average example with good color, strong embossing and some nice whittling. – Jeff & Holly Noordsy

BININGER’S / PEEP-O-DAY / NO. 19 /

BROAD ST. N.Y.

Bininger_Peep_O_Day_Flask

BININGER’S / PEEP-O-DAY / NO. 19 / BROAD ST. N.Y., (Denzin BIN-35), New York, ca. 1860 – 1870, amber flask, 7 5/8”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. A tiny chip, possibly in the making, is on the inside edge of the lip. Also some light scratches commonly associated with this bottle. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #96 (Part 2)

A.M. BININGER & CO. / NO. 17 BROAD ST. – OLD LONDON DOCK – GIN

Bininger_Old London Dock

A.M. BININGER & CO. / NO. 17 BROAD ST. – OLD LONDON DOCK – GIN, (Denzin, BIN-15), New York, ca. 1855 – 1870, yellowish olive green, 9 7/8”h, smooth base, applied mouth, 98% original label reads: ‘Old London Dock Gin, Designed Especially as a Safe & Reliable Medicine For Family Use, A.M. Bininger & Co. Importers No. 17 Broad St., New York’. A tiny flake is off the a corner edge at the base, otherwise perfect. A scarce bottle with the early No. 17 Broad St. address. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #96 (Part 2)

BININGER’S NIGHT CAP / NO. 19 /

BROAD ST. N.Y.

Biningers_Night_Cap

BININGER’S “NIGHT CAP” / NO. 19 / BROAD ST. N.Y., (Denzin BIN-34), New York, ca. 1860 – 1870, yellow amber flask, 7 3/4”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. Some additional glass is on the inside of the base, possibly excessive glass from the applied lip gather. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #96 (Part 2)

BININGER’S / OLD DOMINION – WHEAT TONIC – A.A. BININGER & CO / NO. 338 BROADWAY, N.Y.

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BININGER’S / OLD DOMINION – WHEAT TONIC – A.A. BININGER & CO / NO. 338 BROADWAY, N.Y., light to medium yellow green with an olive tone, Square with beveled corners, 9 7/8″ high, tapered applied top, bold embossing, 1,000’s of bubbles in the glass, circa 1855 – 1870 – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

A.M. BININGER & CO. / 19 BROAD ST, N.Y. – BININGER’S / OLD DOMINION / WHEAT TONIC

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A.M. BININGER & CO. / 19 BROAD ST, N.Y. – BININGER’S / OLD DOMINION / WHEAT TONIC, (Denzin, BIN-43), New York, ca. 1865 – 1875, yellowish amber, 9 3/4”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Fine example, highly whittled glass, great impression. Base and neck stickers indicate that at one time it was in the Charles Gardner collection. Purchased from Connie Stout at the 2007 Reno Bottle Show. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection

A.M. BININGER & CO. / NO. 19 BROAD ST. N.Y. – BININGER’S / OLD KENTUCKY BOURBON – 1849 RESERVE / DISTILLED IN 1848

Bininger_Old Kentucky Bourbon

A.M. BININGER & CO. / NO. 19 BROAD ST. N.Y. – BININGER’S / OLD KENTUCKY BOURBON – 1849 RESERVE / DISTILLED IN 1848, (Denzin, BIN-41), New York, ca. 1855 – 1870, yellowish amber, 9 7/8”h, smooth base, applied mouth. about perfect. A bright, very clean bottle with a number of trapped air bubbles in the glass. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #96 (Part 2)

A.M. BININGER & CO. 19 BROAD ST. N.Y.

A.M. BININGER Figural Cannon Barrel - GreatAntiqueBottles.com

A.M. BININGER & CO. 19 BROAD ST. N.Y. Figural Cannon Barrel – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

BININGERS REGULATOR (clock face)

19 BROAD ST. NEW YORK

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BININGERS REGULATOR 19 BROAD ST. NEW YORK (Clock Face), GXIII-87, Deep Amber, Excellent example, Circa 1860-1875, Open pontil base. Applied double collar mouth. Grapentine I Auction, 41 Lot #84 – Meyer Collection

“BININGER’S / (clock face) / REGULATOR – 19 BROAD ST – NEW YORK”, (Denzin, BIN-36), (Bender, pg. 119), (GXIII-87), New York, ca. 1855 – 1865, bluish aqua, 5 7/8”h, open pontil, applied double collar mouth. Pristine condition, great impression, no wear. An extra flow of glass on the inside of the neck dripped off the gather when the lip was being applied. Rarely seen in aqua glass. Bill Litle Collection. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #128

A.M. BININGER & CO. / NO. 375 BROADWAY, N.Y.

Bininger_375Broadway

A.M. BININGER & CO. / NO. 375 BROADWAY, N.Y., brilliant strawberry pink, square with beveled edges, early smooth base, 9 ¾”H, applied sloping collar, mint. American, 1865-1875, rare color. Among the most elusive and desirable of the Bininger bottles are those with the 375 Broadway address blown in shades of puce. We have seen a handful of these bottles over the years and surmised that they were blown in Baltimore, as the peculiar shade of color is a close match to known Baltimore flasks. Primarily red with strong pink tones, the Bininger case bottles we have seen in this general color range have been as a rule quite dark but as the photos show, this spectacular example passes light easily from top to bottom, making it an outstanding window bottle and one of our most exciting finds this year. – Jeff & Holly Noordsy

DISTILLED IN 1848 OLD KENTUCKY BURBON 1849 RESERVE. A.M. BININGER & CO. 19 BROAD ST. N.Y.

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DISTILLED IN 1848 OLD KENTUCKY BURBON 1849 RESERVE. A.M. BININGER & CO. 19 BROAD ST. N.Y. , Yellow amber, 8 1/2″, Best possible example, Rare larger size barrel, 9.5 in. tall, much taller and fatter then the regular version. Mint condition in light yellow amber with a nice big open pontil. – Meyer Collection

A.M. BININGER & CO. 19 BROAD ST, N.Y. / DISTILLED IN 1848 / OLD KENTUCKY 1849 RESERVE BOURBON

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The smaller A.M. BININGER & CO. 19 BROAD ST, N.Y. / DISTILLED IN 1848 / OLD KENTUCKY 1849 RESERVE BOURBON, figural barel, shaded yellowish amber, 8″ tall (see two concentric open pontil sars picture below). Applied top, bold embossing, circa 1850 – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

DISTILLED IN 1848 / OLD KENTUCKY / BOURBON / 1849 / RESERVE / A.M. BININGER & CO. 338 BROADWAY, N.Y.

BiningerBob_048

DISTILLED IN 1848 / OLD KENTUCKY / BOURBON / 1849 / RESERVE / A.M. BININGER & CO. 338 BROADWAY, N.Y., (Denzin, BIN-25), New York, ca. 1855 – 1865, deep reddish amber barrel, 9 3/8”h, open pontil, applied square lip. A tiny iridescent ‘ding’ is on the side of the lip and a tiny chip is off the lower ring. Both flaws are minor and do not effect the appearance of the bottle. Not often seen with a square mouth. Purchased from Jan Seneker in 1971. – Glass Works Auctions 112 – Bob Ferraro Collection

HEIDELBERG/ BRANNTWEIN – A.M. BININGER & CO / NO 338 BROADWAY, NY

Bininger_Heidelberg

HEIDELBERG/ BRANNTWEIN – A.M. BININGER & CO / NO 338 BROADWAY, NY, bright yellow olive, square, smooth base, 9 5/8″H, applied sloping collar, about mint (pinhead sized surface bruise on a panel edge). American, C. 1865, very rare. The Branntwein is among the most elusive of the various Bininger bottles and very rarely offered for sale. This attractive example is absolutely fresh to the market and presented exactly as found in the Chipman home in the tiny mountain village of Ripton, Vermont. The embossing of the all important “Branntwein” panel is quite bold as shown but the remaining embossing is weakened, perhaps even partially “peened out” in the mold. A myriad of bubbles percolate about the glass with two particularly appealing and interesting bubbles located in the shoulder. – Jeff & Holly Noordsy

BININGER’S / DAY DREAM / A.M. BININGER & CO. / NO. 19 BROAD ST. N.Y.

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Handled Whiskey, BININGER’S / DAY DREAM / A.M. BININGER & CO. / NO. 19 BROAD ST. N.Y., (Denzin, BIN-39), New York, ca. 1855 – 1865, yellow amber jug, 7 3/4”h, pontil scarred base, applied tapered collar mouth and handle. – Glass Works Auctions

BININGER’S / TRAVELERS / GUIDE / A.M. BININGER & CO / NO. 19 BROAD ST. N.Y.

BiningersTravelersGuide_GWA

BININGER’S / TRAVELERS / GUIDE / A.M. BININGER & CO / NO. 19 BROAD ST. N.Y., (Denzin, BIN-46), New York, ca. 1860 – 1865, medium amber center shading to more yellow in the sides, tear drop form flask, 6 3/4”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. – Glass Works Auctions

A.M. BININGER & CO. / 19 BROAD ST. N.Y. – BININGER’S / OLD MONONGAHELA. – 1850 RESERVE. / DISTILLED IN 1848.

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A.M. BININGER & CO. / 19 BROAD ST. N.Y. – BININGER’S / OLD MONONGAHELA. – 1850 RESERVE. / DISTILLED IN 1848., New York, ca. 1855 – 1870, (unlisted), deep yellowish olive green, 9 7/8″h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Extremely rare and unlisted, even in Don Denzin’s book, ‘Antique Eastern Whiskey Bottles’, that devoted an entire section to Bininger bottles. It is believed that possibly only one other example exists, and that one has a different street address. To the purest collector of Bininger bottles this could be the Holy Grail, and possibly the only chance to acquire one for the collection! – Glass Works Auctions – Auction #97

A.M. BININGER & CO NEW YORK. (no address)

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Three extraordinary A.M. BININGER & CO NEW YORK. bottles in different colors showing up in American Bottle Auctions | Auction 58. Each example does not have an address.

BININGER’S / GOLDEN APPLE / CORDIAL. / A.M. BININGER & CO. / 338 BROADWAY, N.Y.

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Bininger’s / Golden Apple / Cordial. / A. M. Bininger & Co. / 338 Broadway, N.Y. Whiskey Bottle, America, 1860-1880. Square with beveled corners, medium yellow olive, applied sloping collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 9 3/4 inches; (1/8 inch flake from base corner, interior has coating of washable content residue). H #2666 Wonderful exterior surface condition. Extremely rare. – Heckler Auction 128

Labeled BININGER’S OLD KENTUCKY BOURBON

Bininger’s Old Kentucky Bourbon: Spotted at the 2017 New England Antique Bottle Show. Jim Bender: Here’s a new one for the Bininger guys. I took some nice photos of this bottle for my upcoming book on Bininger Bottles. A rare find for sure. Also not for sale.

Labeled BININGER’S PEACH BRANDY

313. Handled Whiskey, “A.M. BININGER & CO / 19 BROAD ST. / NEW-YORK”, (Denzin, BIN-32), (Bender, pg. 103), New York, ca. 1865 – 1875, yellowish amber jug, 8”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth and handle, 98% original label reads: ‘Bininger’s Peach Brandy, A.M. Bininger & Co. Established 1778, Sole Proprietors, New York’. The bottle is perfect and has some glass whittle. Fairly available bottle, but with an extremely rare label! Ex. Charles Gardner Collection #2730. Bill Litle Collection. – Glass Works Auctions – Auction #124

Posted in Early American Glass, Figural Bottles, Flasks, Liquor Merchant, Spirits, Tonics, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Russ’ Stomach Bitters – A New York Lady’s Leg

Posted on 31 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

LadysLegFiguralSeriesART

Russ’ Stomach Bitters

A New York Lady’s Leg

31 January 2013 (Updated 21 September 2013) (R•052814) (R•112417)

R127_RussStomach_BBS

Are these Russ Products Related?

Apple-Touch-IconAThe Russ’ Stomach Bitters is an interesting lady’s leg bitters that is fairly old, from New York, is iron pontiled and smaller at 10 1/4″ +/- than the typical legs we are familiar with.

This bottle hardly ever shows up as I am only aware of three examples (2 examples were noted by Glass Works Auctions when I purchased my example back in 2006).

My example has an issue that is noted below but at the time, and even now, seems minimal compared to the example that sold from the Dr. Sam Greer Collection for $16,500, at that time a record price for a bitters bottle sold at auction. That bottle was again sold at a later Heckler Auction (pictured below), and was purchased by a prominent bitters collector from up north and returned because of a problem that was well concealed within the glass.

RussStomachBitters_Heckler

A New York Russ’ Stomach Bitters ladies leg bitters bottle in golden amber with applied mouth and iron pontil mark; image courtesy of Norman C. Heckler & Company. This is the example that has the ‘history’ as noted above.

Ah… problems. Interesting that we are so focused on issues with rare pieces but it really does affect the cost in the buyers mind, especially with the dollar amounts we are discussing.

RUSS’ STOMACH BITTERS

NEW YORK

R127_Russ'_FMV

RUSS’ STOMACH BITTERS – 10 1/8” h, iron pontil, applied ring mouth. A tiny potstone in the bulge of the neck has 1 3/16” cooling crack across it. Thought to be one of only two known (PRG: 3) examples. In 1989 an identical bottle sold in the Dr. Sam Greer Collection for $16,500, at that time a record price for a bitters bottle sold at auction. – Meyer Collection

Russ’ Stomach Bitters: November 2017. This rare and beautiful “lady’s leg” bitters bottle was discovered just a couple of months ago, in an old barn north of Portland, along the coast of Maine. The barn and attached house were purchased recently and were undergoing renovations at the time. Workers were putting new roof boards on the barn when the bottle was discovered hiding under an eve. The homeowners nearly gave the bottle to the roofer! – John Pastor, American Glass Gallery

Unfortunately, I can find little information regarding the Russ’ Stomach Bitters which is cataloged as a R 126 in Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham’s Bitters Bottles Supplement.

R 126  RUSS’ STOMACH BITTERS, Circa 1860 – 1865
RUSS’ / STOMACH / BITTERS / NEW YORK // c //
9 7/8 x 2 3/4 (4)
Round lady’s leg, Amber and Dark olive amber, ARM, Applied mouth, Metallic pontil mark, Extremely rare
* Example at top of post from Bitters Bottles Supplement

What is interesting, is that there are a few other New York ‘RUSS’ bottles that I have pictured below. One is a RUSS’S AROMATIC SCHNAPPS / NEW YORK and the other a RUSS’ ST. DOMINGO BITTERS / NEW YORK. I would bet that there is some relationship here though that is purely conjecture. This letterhead in Bitters Bottles Supplement certainly ties the Russ’ Stomach Bitters and Russ’ Aromatic Schnapps together.

Russ&HinmanLetterhead

Letterhead: Bought of Russ & Hinman, No. 94 Pearl Street, New York, Sept 23, 1857, Also agents for Russ’ Improved Aromatic Schnapps and RUSS’ STOMACH BITTERS (for Steamer South America)

Now can we link it to John A. Russ and his Russ’ St. Domingo Bitters? Read: Russ’ St. Domingo Bitters – New York

The “St. Domingo” addition to the later bitters is interesting because Saint Domingo Fever was a yellow fever from St. Domingo in the West Indies.

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RUSS’ STOMACH BITTERS embossing detail – Meyer Collection

RUSS’ ST. DOMINGO BITTERS

NEW YORK

R 125 (Russ St Domingo_X)

RUSS’ ST. DOMINGO BITTERS / NEW YORK, St. Domingo Manufacturing Co., 34 Dey Street, New York, Circa 1865 – 1880 – Meyer Collection

R 125 Boy_Trade_Card

RUSS’ ST. DOMINGO BITTERS Trade Card – Meyer Collection

RUSS’S AROMATIC SCHNAPPS
NEW YORK

Russ'SAromaticSchnapps

(From Rick Simi) Even though this recent acquisition is not a western bitters, it sure is a beautiful bottle with a wonderful story. A friend of mine was out deer hunting last week here in Northern California, when he stopped to take a quick breather, and spotted a piece of amber colored glass sticking out of the duff near an old pine tree. Upon closer inspection (he kicked the piece of glass and it didn’t move) he noticed that it was more than a piece of glass. Bending down and scratching away the pine needles, laying on the original ground, was the bottle pictured at left. Embossed on three panels are: RUSS’S AROMATIC / SCHNAPPS / NEW-YORK. The base has an iron pontil. He put the bottle in his pack and after finishing his hunt brought it home. Later in the week he stopped by where I was working and told me the story and offered the bottle to me. The pictures show the bottle exactly as I received it, un-washed and in original as found condition. Hundred’s of seed bubbles, a crudely applied top and a smokin’ shade of amber make this a magnificent piece of gold rush era glass. I guess its about time I started “deer hunting” again !!!!!!! Rick Simi – Western Bitters News

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Read More: Lady’s Leg Series – Weis Bros Knickerbocker Stomach Bitters

Read More: The old but sexy, Brown & Drake Catawba Bitters lady’s leg

Read More: Labeled Theller’s Bitters Lady’s Leg – New York

Read More: Lady’s Leg Series – Zingari Bitters

Read More: Holloway’s Bitters from Syracuse

Read More: The best Lady’s Leg in the Galaxy – Universe Bitters

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, Schnapps | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

New Shelf Displays for Colorado Collector

Posted on 29 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Sandor FussSandor Fuss sent in a few pictures of his new, killer display units and gave permission to post some of his great bottles. Sandor has been very much influenced by his visits to museums around the country (read: Some historical glass pictures from the Philadelphia Museum Of Art) as you feel like you are at a museum when looking at his collection.

His selection of historical pieces, color, lighting and placement of the glass is impeccable. It is not quantity but quality. These are the top, and in many cases, the only specimens of specific bottles. I have been fortunate enough to see his collection three times in Denver though I have not seen his new ‘built-in’ displays. Can’t wait!

Previous Display

FussOlderDisplay

This is a picture of Sandor’s previous display cabinet. While excellent by any means, you can see an uneven distribution of light. His new display system pictured below has obviously solved this concern of his.

FUSS MUSEUM OF HISTORICAL GLASS

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SandorCabinet2

SandorCabinet3

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Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Early American Glass, Figural Bottles, Historical Flasks, Museums, News | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

“Collectors” Series – What do you think?

Posted on 28 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

ArchitectFilmsCopy

Apple-Touch-IconAI received an interesting telephone call last week from a very nice fellow named Chris with Architect Films in Toronto, Canada. After trading calls, we eventually had a nice talk regarding the possibility of them coming to Houston to include my Bitters Collection in their Collectors series. We finished the call with saying we will talk again. I did, by the way, check them out.They seem to be real.

ArchitectFilmsLogo

This weekend I received the following email from Joan Cabaniss who is the President of the Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association (APBCA).

APBCALogo

Dear Joan,

Thanks for the nice chat this afternoon. Here’s the info for your members.

My name is Catherine May and I work for television series called “Collectors” that celebrates collectors and collections all over North America. I would love to be able to include a poison bottle collection in the show.

Here’s some info about the show:

In each of 14 half-hour episodes, we’ll visit a different city/region to meet 4 different collectors. Our pilot episode took place in Los Angeles and featured collectors of die cast toys, antique hats and hat boxes, Wonder Woman memorabilia, and several hundred snow globes amassed by actor Corben Bernsen of “L.A. Law”.

We are based in Toronto and the show will initially be shown on the Slice Network across Canada. (“Slice” is like “slice of life”.) Most Canadian series are eventually sold and shown all over the world and we expect that to be the case for “Collectors”.

“Collectors” is hosted by a highly knowledgeable collector-appraiser with over 30 years of experience including multiple years as an expert on “Antiques Roadshow”. Participants who appear on the show are compensated financially for their time ($750 US) and are furnished with a video record of their collection in the form of a DVD of their episode.

We’re seeking people with extensive home-based collections (as opposed to people with private museums or retail outlets). All of the collections we’ve filmed have been very nicely displayed whether the collector lived in a modest apartment or grand home. While its not the focus on the show, the collector should be comfortable with having our host estimate its total value. Given that the collections we showcase are highly valuable (so far they range from $20K to 10 million) collectors’ privacy is maintained by referring to them on the program by first name only, and providing viewers with only the most general information about where in the country they live.

The cities we will be travelling to first are Dallas, Miami and Las Vegas but I would happy to hear from any collector in the US or Canada who thinks they might be a good fit for the series.

Thanks very much and best regards,

Catherine May

Architect Films (416) 466-5888 Ext 271

I am curious if anyone else has been contacted? I know Bob Ferraro was. Would you be interested in being included? Is this good for the hobby?

This is the second studio that has contacted us this past year. After thinking it would be pretty cool, I mentioned it to my wife Elizabeth. She kind of freaked out. We have had some limited experience with television and commercials and understand a typical, 60 second commercial taking all day to film with dozens of people being involved including actors, technicians, catering, wardrobe etc.

“While its not the focus on the show, the collector should be comfortable with having our host estimate its total value.” 

The part where they ask you the value of your collection and have an ‘expert’ give you an appraisal is also kind of humorous. So many pros and cons here. Chris did ask for other names of collectors and I did draw the line there and withheld my comments.

Posted in Art & Architecture, Bitters, Club News, Collectors & Collections, Humor - Lighter Side, News, Peachridge Glass, Poison Bottles, Questions | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Washington – Taylor (Portrait Only) Historical Flasks

Posted on 27 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

WASHINGTON  TAYLOR PORTRAIT  FLASKS

27 January 2013 (R•061717) (R•031719-AGG) (R•040418-Heckler Aprill)

Apple-Touch-IconASince starting out as a Bitters collector back in 2002, I have ‘strayed’ slightly from my course a couple of times into the Historical Flask world. As a specialist in color runs I found it immensely pleasurably to look at runs of Baltimore, Corn for the World (Read: Corn for the World Historical Flasks) and Washington Taylor Portrait Flasks from Dyottville Glass Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

That is my old run of Washington Taylor portrait flasks above. The color range is extraordinary in this mold. I would buy a few, start my run with five or six and then be slammed by a beauty of another of such high degree and cost that I quickly said, ‘no’ and saved my money for Bitters bottles. Here is my tribute to the W/T’s  as I call them. Simple, no embossed words, historical, gutsy and gorgeous.

Dyottvilleview

T. W. Dyott’s Glass Works (Dyottville) at Richmond & Beach, as seen from the Delaware River, 1831

The McKearin Historical Flask Groups

Group I – Portrait Flasks

Numbers 1 through 61 are Washington Flasks, 
Numbers 62 through 79a include Adams, Harrison, Jackson and Taylor, 
Numbers 80 through 93 are Lafayette, Numbers 94 through 98 are Franklin, 
Numbers 99 through 107a are Jenny Lind. Other portrait flasks are listed in molds 111 through 131

G A L L E R Y

BUST OF WASHINGTON – BUST OF TAYLOR, (GI-54), Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ca. 1848 – 1855, deep sapphire blue quart, smooth base, applied blob mouth. Two in-making chips that occurred when the lip was sheared extend slightly below the edge of the mouth at the neck. A bright, clean flask with good glass whittle, a number of air bubbles and in an incredible vivid blue color. Another great window bottle, some real eye candy! – Glass Works Auctions #115

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BUST OF WASHINGTON BUST OF TAYLOR (GI-54?), Medium Citron Green, Circa 1849-1855, Perfect, Lots of character. From a private collection in Lancaster, PA., Ex: Blaske Collection, sticker on base. – ex Ferdinand Meyer V Collection

WashTaylorHeckler_072

Washington – Taylor Portrait Flask, Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1860-1870. Prussian blue, heavy applied collared mouth – smooth base, quart; (minor manufacturer’s mouth roughness). GI-54 Beautiful bottle, rare color, strong mold impression, exceptional example. The Dr. Gary and Arlette Johnson collection. – Heckler Auction 102

WasyTaylorQuartsYellowOliveMeyer

BUST OF WASHINGTON BUST OF TAYLOR (GI-54), Yellow Olive, Circa 1849-1855, Near Perfect, Rich yellow olive quart, smooth base, applied sloping collar mouth. A Rarely offered in this attractive color. Glass Works Auction 80 Lot #101. June 2007 – ex Ferdinand Meyer V Collection

Washington – Taylor Portrait Flask, Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1840-1860. Yellow with a slight olive tone, sheared mouth – pontil scar, half pint; GI-53 – Norman C. Heckler & Company

WashTaylorFlaskSapphireBlueMeyer

BUST OF WASHINGTON BUST OF TAYLOR (GI-54?), Sapphire Blue, Circa 1849-1855, Mint, Tons of character. From a private collection in Lancaster, PA. – ex Ferdinand Meyer V Collection

Washington – Taylor Portrait Flask, Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1860-1870. Brilliant medium green, applied sloping collared mouth with ring – smooth base, quart; (1/16 inch bruise on the underside of the collar, 1/8 inch flash at the top of the mouth, a manufacturer’s defect). GI- 54 Beautiful color, strong embossing. Warren “Bud” Lane collection. – Heckler Auction 100 – Lot: 18

WashTaylorTealMeyer

BUST OF WASHINGTON BUST OF TAYLOR (GI-54) Light Teal Blue, Circa 1848-1855, About Perfect, Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1848-1855, light teal blue quart, open pontil, applied mouth, about perfect. Plenty of glass whittle and in a nice shade of blue that approaches being sapphire., Glass Works Auction 86 Lot #8 – Ferdinand Meyer V Collection

Washington – Taylor Portrait Flask, Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1840-1860. Ginger ale color, sheared mouth – pontil scar, quart. GI-51 Great condition, unique in this most unusual and beautiful color. Exceptional – Norman C. Heckler & Company

WashTaylorGreenMeyer

BUST OF WASHINGTON BUST OF TAYLOR (GI- ) Medium Green, Circa 1840 -1860, Near Perfect, Dyottville Glass Works. Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Brilliant bubbly medium green, applied sloping collared mouth – pontil scar, quart. Some very minor highpoint wear and scratches. Norman Heckler Auction 83 Lot #22 Jun 2007 – Ferdinand Meyer V Collection

Washington – Taylor Portrait Flask, Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1840-1860. Unusual yellow golden amber, sheared mouth – pontil scar, pint. GI-52 An exceptional bottle, great color, strong embossing, filled with millions of tiny bubbles, great condition. – Norman C. Heckler & Company

WashTaylorLightGreenMeyer

BUST OF WASHINGTON BUST OF TAYLOR (GI-57), Light Emerald
Green Aqua, Circa 1849-1855, Perfect, Very crude flask in perfect condition. Quart, 7 7/8″ tall, with a sheared lip and strong, intact, iron pontil. The glass is crude, with an overall pebbled effect. The color is a blue-green or light emerald green. This is not a deep, rich color, but it is very pretty. – Meyer Colection

Washington – Taylor Portrait Flask, Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1840-1860. Yellow with an olive tone, sheared mouth – pontil scar, half pint; (slightly buffed portion at the top of the sheared lip). GI-56 An extremely rare color in a hard to find half pint mold, strong embossing. Ex Charles B. Gardner collection #1860, ex Robert Mebane collection, Warren “Bud” Lane collection. – Heckler Auction 100 – Lot: 25

WT_GW96_195

BUST OF WASHINGTON – BUST OF TAYLOR, (GI-54), Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ca. 1848 – 1855, medium ginger ale color quart, big tubular open pontil, applied mouth. Pristine perfect condition, nicely whittled glass and having a strikingly bold impression. One of the best, and in a very rare eye appealing color that changes depending of the light it is viewed in. Very few flasks were ever blown in this wild a color! – Glass Works Auction #96

WashTaylor_023

Washington – Taylor Portrait Flask, Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1840-1860. Yellow with an olive tint, sheared mouth – tubular pontil scar, half pint. GI-56 Strongly embossed, extremely rare color, beautiful example. The Dr. Gary and Arlette Johnson collection. – Heckler Auction 102

WASHINGTON – TAYLOR Portrait Flask, Dyottville Glass Works, 1848 – 1855. Gorgeous, light-to-medium pinkish-puce with profuse striations swirled throughout, sheared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, Qt, near mint; (a little scattered light exterior wear). GI-51. Unlisted and exceptional color, incredible eye-appeal. A top example! We are privileged to offer this flask at auction, the 1st time on the market in more than 20 years. Provenance: James Chebalo collection. – American Glass Gallery | Auction #22

WASHINGTON – WASHINGTON Portrait Flask, Lockport Glass Works, Lockport, NY, 1850 – 1860. Rich, deep blue green, sheared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, Qt, virtually attic mint; (just a trace bit of faint wear and a pinprick speck of roughness on the inside edge of the lip, otherwise pristine!) GI-61. A scarce mold, vivid, rare, eye-appealing color, beautifully whittled. Provenance: James Chebalo collection. – American Glass Gallery | Auction #22

BUST OF WASHINGTON / “WASHINGTON” – BUST OF TAYLOR / “G.Z. TAYLOR”, (GI-50), Dyottville Glass Works, ca. 1848 – 1855, clear glass with a hint of amethyst pint, open pontil, sheared and tooled lip. A chip off the outer edge of the lip has been partially buffed out, otherwise perfect. Rare color in a scarce mold! – Glass Works Auction #115

Lot: 87 Washington Bust – Sheaf Of Wheat Portrait Flask, probably Dyottville Glass Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1840-1860. Rich cobalt blue, sheared mouth – pontil scar, half pint; (moderate exterior high point wear, shallow 3/8 inch pontil chip comes to edge of base). GI-59 A heavy little flask with thick glass. Extremely rare. Found at a construction site in Cincinnati, Ohio. Generally fine condition. Dr. Charles and Jane Aprill collection. Estimate: $15,000 – $30,000 Minimum bid: $7,500 Price Realized: $14,040 – The Dr. Charles & Jane Aprill Collection: Heckler Auction, Session I, Premier Auction 172,

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Early American Glass, Flasks, Historical Flasks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“knife-edged” Pitkins made by “that guy”

Posted on 27 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Hi Ferd,

This Sunday a week ago, the annual members’ meeting of the Museum of Connecticut Glass was held at the Manchester Connecticut Historical Society. One of the highlights was an outstanding presentation by Tom Haunton on 20th Century South Jersey Glass.

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Picture of Dana’s Pitkins at the MOCG Meeting, Manchester History Center.

Dana Charlton, a museum member, had brought a couple of Pitkin flasks. After taking a picture of them, I asked her to tell me why she brought them and what made them interesting. With the hub-bub of the meeting, Dana never got a chance to answer and said “I’ll send it in an e-mail”, and here is her reply:

“The annual meetings of the Museum of Connecticut Glass are enjoyable for me for a variety of reasons…Manchester was home to Pitkin Glass Works and as a collector of Pitkin-type flasks, I bring a flask or two with me to the meetings for show & tell. Recently, when Pitkin Glass Works expert Tom Duff and I spoke by phone, I asked his thoughts on an unusual form of Pitkin — I call these “knife-edged” Pitkins, because the side edges of the flasks are flattened, bringing them to a near point.

Although it’s hard to know what New England factory they were blown in, every example that I’ve seen is crafted with great skill, well blown in the pattern mold to give good definition to both fine swirls and ribs, and the glass itself has good clarity.

There are few enough Pitkin flasks of this form known that I theorize they might have been blown by one glassblower. Indeed, collectors who have examples refer to them as made by “that guy”. Tom was intrigued by the form and we discussed the possible reasons for forming the edges of the flask this way. Possibly it was to make it easier to get a grip on the flask when drinking from it, or it was the way the apprentice pinched the sides carrying it to the annealing oven, or it could have been, my favorite theory, that it was the personal style of “that guy”!

Dana's Charlton's Pitkins

The same flasks from another angle, to better show the ‘knife-edge

Dana also provided another picture that better illustrates the “knife-edge” or flattened edge, with a second form for comparison.

Regards,

K. (Ken Previtali)

Posted in Club News, Collectors & Collections, Early American Glass, Flasks, Freeblown Glass, Glass Companies & Works, Glass Makers, History, Museums, News, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The New Bedford Museum of Glass

Posted on 27 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

NewBedfordMuseumWebHeader

The New Bedford Museum of Glass

1994.030.BlueVases

Dear Mr. Meyer,

I was speaking with our mutual friend Ken Previtali at a recent glass lecture in Connecticut (Thomas Haunton’s talk on Clevenger glass), and he suggested that I get in touch with you relative to a library development project currently underway at the New Bedford Museum of Glass.

Our museum was opened to the public two years ago, and among our various projects we are working to expand our glass research library. Currently it numbers some 9,500 publications, but we are missing many back issues of newsletters, etc., published by glass collecting organizations. Several months ago we were contacted by the Early American Pattern Glass Society, which wanted to add us to their newsletter mailing list as a way to publicize their organization. I asked them about back issues, and a query published in their most recent issue allowed us to assemble a full set received from their generous members. Inspired by this success, we are approaching other organizations, including the National Greentown Glass Association, the Vaseline Glass Collectors, the Antique Glass Salt and Sugar Shaker Club, the Paperweight Collectors Association, and the National Toothpick Holder Collectors’ Society.

Oh yes, and also the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors.

Do you think the Federation would be willing to add our museum to its mailing list and help us to assemble a set of the Bottles and Extras publication? Whether or not this is possible, we would be happy to add a link to your organization on our website.

I look forward to hearing from you, and hope you might be able to stop in to see the new glass museum, should your travels bring you out this way.

Sincerely,
Kirk J. Nelson
________________________________
President and Executive Director
New Bedford Museum of Glass
61 Wamsutta St.
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-984-1666
www.nbmog.org

Bottles&Extras4

Museum Virtual Tour

NewBedfordMuseumVideo

Posted in Advice, Display, Early American Glass, FOHBC News, History, Museums, News, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Some Great US Postal Advertising Covers & Cards

Posted on 26 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V
ColumbiaGoddessCover

Gorgeous early US Patriotic Cover with three cent 1868 stamp. In the 19th century the goddess-like figure Columbia often appeared as a symbol of the United States. On this envelope Columbia stands beside the American flag and a shield bearing the stars and stripes.

Apple-Touch-IconAAs a United States stamp collector too, I find myself really enjoying patriotic covers and advertising covers related to history and antique bottle and glass collecting. I have assembled a few here to demonstrate my point. By combining a topic, art, design, a stamp, cancellation and personal hand writing (and some typing) you get a amazing piece of history. My have times changed.

SmithbrosBrew

This 1862 cover is considered by many to be the finest U.S. advertising cover, with its artfully executed scene in multicolored crayon lithography by the firm of Sarony, Major & Knapp. (Collection of Benjamin Franklin Bailar, U.S. Postmaster General from 1975 to 1978, and a current member of the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee.) – Sheaff

McCully_GW_AdCover

Super cover for Illustrated advertising for Wm McCully & Co, glass works, postmark – Mar 11, 1871, Origin: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Destination – Natchez, Mississippi

Weisbrod&HessCover

Weisbrod & Hess Brewery, Philadelphia. Illustrated multicolor advertising design showing Company Logo Surrounded by Hops on 1907 cover franked with 2¢ regular issue tied by Philadelphia, Pa. machine flag cancel – Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions

LawtonsIndianBloodSyrupCover

Advertising cover for Lawton’s Indian Blood Syrup, A Most Wonderful Remedy, Orleans County, N.Y.

Masten&WellsCover

The Masten and Wells Fireworks Mfg. Co. Red illustrated ad showing Man Igniting Fireworks, on cover franked with 2¢ red tied by 1900 Boston, Mass. machine cancel – Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions

Seabury&JohnsonCover

2c Carmine, Ty. I, nicely centered single tied to desirable all-over multicolored medical and surgical advertising cover of Seabury & Johnson, one of the most famous and spectacularly beautiful advertising covers known, front shows gold medals and red cross in an ornate design, while reverse depicts three barechested people and extolling the virtues of the company’s “Benson’s Plaster” for backaches, light strike of 1906 New York machine cancel ties stamp, Des Moines, Iowa – Stamp Auction Network

DrKilmerAdvertisingCover

Advertising cover with Two Cent stamp for Dr. Kilmer & Co, Binghamton, N.Y., cancelled 1866 – Sheaf

speerswineadcvr150

Advertising cover for Speer’s Vineyards in Passaic, N.J.

coopervolunteercvr150

Cooper Shop Volunteer refreshment Saloon and Hospital advertising cover

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Hunt’s Remedy advertising cover

FechtenburgCover

DANISH WEST INDIES (7c) 1903 BISECT ON WHISKEY ADVERTISING COVER Bisected 4¢ stamp paying 2¢ rate, tied with 1/20/03 St. Thomas cds, handstamped DWI address, on D.C.L. Scotch Whiskey advertising cover, with whiskey bottle at left and company crest on backflap. A few trivial toning specks, otherwise very fine. Cat value does not include any premium for advertising covers.

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Perkins & Stearn California Wines – N.Y.C. showing California State Seal

128245

Ayer’s Sarsaparilla, Cure’s That Tired Old Feeling – Lowell, Mass.

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Milwaukee Beer Festival, Sept. 8-13, 1902, all-over illustrated multicolor advertising cover bearing 2¢ carmine (279B) tied by “Milwaukee Jul 14 ’02” machine cancel to DeWitt, Ioa., reverse with “Drink Schlitz” slogan.

Breinigs_JEMohnCover

Breinig’s Pure Linseed Oil Paints. Multicolored illustrated lithograph ad showing Painter Hanging from Steeple Weather Vane, on cover franked with 2¢ red tied by 1903 Jersey Shore, Pa. duplex postmark – Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions

Rub-No-More Washing Powder. Illustrated advertising design in black with red text showing Mother & Baby Elephant on 1906 cover franked with 2¢ Regular Issue (pulled perf) by McConnelsville, Ohio duplex cancel, reverse with all over advertising text

Rub-No-More Washing Powder. Illustrated advertising design in black with red text showing Mother & Baby Elephant on 1906 cover franked with 2¢ Regular Issue (pulled perf) by McConnelsville, Ohio duplex cancel, reverse with all over advertising text – Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions

H 195 Map (PC_F)

Panama Canal advertising card for Hostetter’s Bitters – Meyer Collection

PabstCover

1898 Pabst Brewery advertising card, UX14. A UX14 from Milwaukee, Wis to Buffalo, NY in 1898. Fantastic colorful Pabst Brewery advertising on the back of the postal card. – DK Enterprise

BoonesCreekCover

1880 Bourbon Whisky Advertising Cover Boone’s Creek – Cover Franked With 3c Banknote, Tied By Black Cork And Postmarked With Faint Cds (Fayette County). Illustrated Advertisement For Hand Made Sour Mash And Pure Bourbon Whisky From Hc Clay & Co Distillers Of Boone’s Creek Kentucky. Addressed To Circlesville.

ParisMedicineCoCover

2c Carmine, Ty. I, tied to an immaculate all-over multicolored advertising cover depicting a huge adorable baby’s face for the Paris Medicine Co. of St. Louis, listing several of the company’s products both on the front and reverse, clear “St. Louis, Mo./Oct 13, 1904” World’s Fair slogan postmark, extremely fine; an especially striking advertising cover

GoochsSyrup

1887 Medical Advertising Cover ‘Gooch’s Mexican Syrup For Coughs And Colds’ Liberty (Casey County) To Lawrenceburg Kentucky.Versailles

EagleBrewingCover

The Eagle Brewing Co. Illustrated multicolor advertising design showing Two Bottles of Eagle Beer on 1934 cover franked with 3¢ Washington tied by Utica, NY machine cancel – Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions

Read More: A Picture is Worth a Thousands Words – Patriotic Envelopes – Part I

Posted in Advertising, Breweriana, Ephemera, History, Postage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The old but sexy, Brown & Drake Catawba Bitters lady’s leg

Posted on 25 January 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

BROWN & DRAKE CATAWBA BITTERS

LadysLegFiguralSeriesART

The old but sexy, Brown & Drake Catawba Bitters lady’s leg

25 January 2013 (R•030319)

Apple-Touch-IconAThe first in the series of Lady’s Leg figural bottles is a ‘doozie’ as it is the predecessor brand to the famous Drake’s Plantation Bitters. It is even confused with the Catawba Wine Bitters embossed grapes square from Cincinnati.

The Brown & Drake Catawba Bitters, from Binghamton, New York, is one of the most desirable bitters bottles for most of us hard core collectors. I believe there are only three known examples. With history, form and character, these are great bottles. I am fortunate to have seen two personally and will not forget the experience.

We will include below, an email from Jeff Burkhardt (Cedarburg, Wisconsin) talking about his example and the story behind how it became part of his special collection. I am hoping that Jeff and another advanced figural collector Bill Taylor (Oregon) will be sharing more of their great lady’s leg bottles pictures in the future for this series.

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

C 81  Brown & Drake Catawba Bitters
BROWN & DRAKE ( cu ) / CATAWBA BITTERS ( cu ) / BINGHAMTON ( cd ) / N.Y.  // c //
P.H. Drake and Company   New York
11 1/2 x 3 3/8 (5)
Round Lady’s Leg, Puce and Amber, ARM, Applied mouth, Metallic pontil mark
The Corning (New York) Journal May 19, 1859
*Listing required for J.B. Brown & Co.’s Catawba Wine Bitters, Binghamton, N.Y. (see. further below)

Brown&DrakeCatawba

Greetings Ferdinand – Tough photographing on a dreary, snowy day.

Attached you will find two pictures of my BROWN & DRAKE CATAWBA BITTERS ladies leg. It is golden-amber in the top half and a puce-red amber in the lower half.

The bottle was purchased from the late Alan Spear of Lockport, New York shortly after its “brother” was sold in the 1989 Glass Works sale of Roger Sweetland’s legendary collection of Western New York bottles. Every bottle has a story, and this pair of legs has a great one. Here’s the earlier part.

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Alan delighted in telling me the story of buying a PAIR of these great rarities when he was a door-to-door FULLER BRUSH salesman (if you’re old enough to remember those products, it’s time to sell the collection!).

As Alan approached a prospective home, there they were in the window. Obviously he acquired the bottles, but I don’t know if he made a brush sale! The first and arguably best example (deep puce), went to Roger Sweetland; the second example (mine), Alan kept.

When the Sweetland collection was subsequently sold in the aforementioned Glass Works auction, Jimmy Chebalo purchased it. The hammer price was $13,000 + 10% BP = $14,300. I was the underbidder, my maximum bid of $13,000 having tied Chebalo’s. I declined going any further (by far and away the MOST I’d ever offered for any bottle), so he won the bottle. The sale price obviously convinced Spear to sell the second bottle, as I received a call from him shortly after the auction, wherein we struck a deal on it. I never did find out how Alan knew I was the underbidder.

Currently there are three examples extant. The Sweetland example now resides in a Connecticut Bitters collection. I do not know where the third example is. An extreme rarity, the bottles are very desirable for their form, iron pontils and good early character and color.

Historic significance perhaps overshadowing the glass itself, this bottle precedes the Drake’s cabin, thus it is the FIRST of a long line of the coveted and highly collectible Drake’s Plantation Bitters figural cabins. Thus it could be seen as the cornerstone of a Drakes collection; at least that’s how I view mine!

Feel free to post and use this information as you wish to further bottle and bitters collecting!

Regards,
Jeff (froggy) Burkhardt

Jeff, please read the post below (link to Bill Ham visit) to see where the third example resides.

Bill Ham Visit – Some Extraordinary Pontiled Bottles

Brown&DrakeCatawbaPontil

Brown & Drake’s Catawba Bitters – Patrick Henry Drake – Binghamton, N.Y.

Looking at newspaper advertising, we can see that Brown & Drake’s Catawba Bitters was sold from 1858 to 1860. That’s a pretty short run. Patrick Henry Drake was the proprietor when he lived in Binghamton, New York. He was born in Ithaca, New York in 1827. This of course, is the same P.H. Drake who put out Drake’s Plantation Bitters and Sazearac Aromatic Bitters.

Drake would sell his first bitters through various agents and merchants in the region. Advertising said that the bitters was “From the juice of the Grape; designed for hotels and restaurants. The best Bar Bitters in the world.”

Interesting that the ads I found say “Prepared exclusively by Drake & Co., Binghamton, N.Y.” There is no mention of a “Brown.”

Here is an advertisement below for J.B. Brown & Co.’s Catawba Wine Bitters, Binghamton, N.Y., in April 1859. This would most likely be the Brown in the name. Looking in the Binghamton directory in 1860, you see two other possible candidates. The first being Charles Brown who was a liquor dealer. The second possibility is T. L. Brown who was listed as a homeopathic physician.

In the mid 1800s, wine-making was in its infancy in America and there were many pioneers in grape-growing in New York, Ohio, Missouri and other States leading in a line to California. The Catawba Grape and Isabella Grapes in particular were being found to make wine that rivaled the best wines of Europe. Putting their wine or brandy in bitters was just the next step.

Read: Nicholas Longworth – Catawba Wine Bitters, Cincinnati, Ohio

Read: Missouri IXL Bitters – Isidor Bush

Read: Could this bottle be for the Celebrated Tobias’s Wine Bitters?

Read: Use Dr. Henley’s Celebrated California IXL Bitters

More on Drake’s Plantation Bitters:

Read More: Log Cabin Series – Drake’s Plantation Bitters

Read More: Information on the Drake’s Plantation Bitters Variants

More on Lady’s Leg Bitters:

Read More: Sazerac Aromatic Bitters Lady’s Leg, P.H. Drake & Co.

Read More: Lady’s Leg Series – Weis Bros Knickerbocker Stomach Bitters

Read More: Russ’ Stomach Bitters – A New York Lady’s Leg

Read More: The old but sexy, Brown & Drake Catawba Bitters lady’s leg

Read More: Lady’s Leg Series – Zingari Bitters

Read More: Holloway’s Bitters from Syracuse

Read More: The best Lady’s Leg in the Galaxy – Universe Bitters

Select Listings:

1827: Patrick Henry Drake, Birth Date: 22 Feb 1827, Birth Place: Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York – U.S. Find a Grave Index
1849: Patrick Henry Drake, First Marriage Date: 10 June 1849, Father: Benjamin Drake, Spouse: Jane Eldridge Lewis, Child: Virginia Maria Drake, Julia Randall Drake – North American Family Histories
1850: P H Drake, [Patrick Henry Drake] Age:23, Birth Year: abt 1827, Birthplace: New York, Home in 1850: Ithaca, Tompkins, New York, Family Number: 556, Household Members: Maria Drake 53, P H Drake 23, Jane Drake 23, Mary Drake 24 – 1850 United States Federal Census
1854: Benjamin Drake [father], Physician, 151 E. Broadway – New York City Directory
1858: Newspaper advertisement (below) George Gilbert, New Wine and Liquor Store selling Brown & Drake’s Catawba Bitters, in cases or bottles – The Buffalo Daily Republic, Tuesday, June 15, 1858

1859: Newspaper advertisement (below) J.B. Brown & Co.’s Catawba Wine Bitters, Binghamton, N.Y., sold by Thomas H. Belden, Sole Agentfor Hartford County. – Hartford Courant, Wednesday, April 13, 1859

1859: Newspaper advertisement (below) George Gilbert selling Drake & Co’s Catawba Bitters “Brown & Drake Catawba Bitters” – The Daily Empire (Dayton, Ohio), Friday, December 2, 1859

1860: Newspaper advertisement (below) Brown & Drake’s Celebrated Catawba Bitters, From there juice of the Grape; designed for hotels and restaurants. The best Bar Bitters in the world. Prepared exclusively by Drake  & Co., Binghampton, N.Y. For sale by D.A. Enyart, Sole Agent and Wholesale Liquor Merchant, 48 Public Landing, Cincinnati – The Cincinnati Enquirer, Wednesday, February 15, 1860

186o: Patrick H Drake, Manufacturer, Age: 31, Birth Year: abt 1829, Birth Place: New York, Home in 1860: Binghampton Ward 3, Broome, New York, Post Office: Binghamton, Dwelling Number: 456, Family Number: 487, Real Estate Value: 5,000, Personal Estate Value: 1,500, Household Members: Patrick H Drake 31, Jane E Drake 31, Virginia N Drake 10, Julia R Drake 3 – 1860 United States Federal Census
1861: Patrick Henry Drake and Demas S. Barnes formed a partnership in 1860 in New York City to manufacture and market Drake’s Plantation Bitters, initially called Plantation Toddy – History of Drug Containers and Their Labels By George B. Griffenhagen, Mary Bogard
1862: Bottle Patent – P. H. Drake of Binghamton, New York. Design for a Bottle (Drake’s Plantation Bitters) – Specification forming part of a design No. 1538 dated February 18, 1862 – United States Patent Office
1862: P H Drake and Co., Manufacturer, 47 Dey, Tax Year: 1862, State: New York – U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918
1863: P H Drake and Co., Manufacturer, 105 Liberty, Tax Year: 1863, State: New York – U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918
1867: Demas Barnes and Patrick Henry Drake dissolved their partnership and Plantation Bitters was transferred to P.H. Drake & Company
1867: P. H. Drake, Plantation Bitters, 21 Park Row, N.Y. – Brooklyn New York City Directory
1868: P. H. Drake & Co. [Patrick Henry Drake], Bitters, 21 Park Row, 105 Liberty – New York City Directory
1869: January 1st, 1869, P.H. Drake & Co., New York, sole right to manufacture and sell “Sazerac” Aromatic Bitters – Bitters Bottles
1870: P H Drake [Patrick Henry Drake], Age in 1870: 43, Manufacturer Of Bitters, Birth Year: abt 1827, Birthplace: New York, Dwelling Number: 117, Home in 1870: New York, Ward 21, District 16 (2nd Enum), New York, New York, Inferred Spouse: J E Drake [Jane Eldridge Lewis], Inferred Children: Mary E Drake , Virginia Drake, J E Drake, Household Members: Mary E Drake 25, Virginia Drake 19, J E Drake 14, P H Drake 43, J E Drake 42 – 1870 United States Federal Census
1870: P. H. Drake & Co. [Patrick Henry Drake], Bitters, 55 Park Place – New York City Directory
1872: P. H. Drake & Co., Bitters, 53 Park Place – Goulding’s Business Directory of New York
1877: P. H. Drake & Co. [Patrick Henry Drake], Patent Medicines, 53 Park Place – New York City Directory
1878: P. H. Drake & Co. [Patrick Henry Drake], Bitters, 53 Park Place – New York City Directory
1880: Patrick H. Drake, Chemist, Age: 57, Birth Date: Abt 1823, Birthplace: New York, Home in 1880: New York City, New York, New York, USA, Street: West 56th St, House Number: 38, Dwelling Number: 122, Relation to Head of House: Self (Head), Marital Status: Married, Spouse’s Name: Jane E. Drake, Father’s Birthplace: New York, Mother’s Birthplace: New York, Household Members: Patrick H. Drake 57, Jane E. Drake 51, Virginia Drake 28, Julia Drake 22 – 1880 United States Federal Census
1882: Patrick Henry Drake, Death 4 Nov 1882, Death Place: Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Cemetery: Spring Forest Cemetery, Burial or Cremation Place: Binghamton, Broome County, New York – U.S. Find a Grave Index
1882: Patrick H Drake, Merchant, Age: 55, Birth Date: abt 1827, Birth Place: Ithaca, New York, Death Date: 4 Nov 1882, Death Place: Boston, Massachusetts, Hotel Brunswick, Cause: Acute Pericarditis, Father: Benjamin Drake, Mother: Maud Drake – Massachusetts Death Records
1883: After Drakes death business operated by William P. Ward, Proprietor
1884: P. H. Drake & Co., Patent Medicines, 81 Beekman – New York City Directory

 

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