The low down on Submarine Poisons

Posted on 6 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Civil War: Submarine fine art print – Granger

S U B M A R I N E    P O I S O N    

B  O  T  T  L  E  S

“So that it may goe under water unto the bottome, and so to come up againe at your pleasure”

William Bourne – 16th Century submarine designer

Civil War Submarine: A, Propeller.—B, Rudder.-C, Force-pump for ballast.—D, Dead light.—E, Torpedo.—F, Man-hole plate.—G, Cock to let water in the ballast-room.—H, Ballast-room.—I, India-rubber suction-plate.—J, India-rubber air-tube.-K, Foul-air pump. – Harper’s Weekly, November 2, 1861

Some of you may not know this but my granddaughter Adriana is a member of the Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association and my father; Ferdinand Meyer IV was a major poison bottle collector in the prime of his collecting days. Our home now has a few special areas of poison bottles that always seem to get attention when guests look at our bottle collection. Bright colors, interesting shapes, great embossings and good stories. This is what bottle collecting is all about.

In recent posts I have written about skull and coffin poison figural bottles. Another drop-dead gorgeous poison bottle is the figural submarine or sub as they are sometimes called. You have to wonder, with the use of coffins and skulls for poison bottles, how this shape was developed? It is certainly distinct. I suspect the nickname ‘sub’ is appropriate because the submarine and torpedo were certainly making major news with the advancement of naval weaponry. Also, many of these early subs were stubby, fat and short and very unlike the later, sleeker designs. Read more: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

Read More: Looking at Coffin Poison Bottles

Read More: Skull Shaped Poison Bottles – A frightening favorite

It seems like most of the poison bottles that we are familiar with date from the 1870s to 1930s. A good portion of the population at that time was illiterate, so accidental poisonings were a fact of life. Dim lighting in rooms was also a major consideration and it was not wise to take a drink of anything when you might stumble from bed looking for cough syrup and come across some poison instead in the medicine cabinet. A New York Times article dated May 11, 1913, reported a superintendent of a Missouri hospital ordered sleigh bells chained to the necks of bottles containing poisons after an attendant gave carbolic acid to a patient by mistake. The patient died, and the attendant was indicted.

Using sleigh bells, though attention getting was not the answer for a growing chemical industry in the late 1800s. England was experiencing an economic boom from the Industrial Revolution. Local chemists and druggists found they could produce cleaning compounds, insect killers, vermin poison, etc. cheaply enough to sell far and wide. Glass bottles, too, were inexpensive and perfect for transporting their contents to market, so the poison trade really began to take off. Reference: Collecting Poison Bottles

And so did the death rate. Both the governments of the United States and England enacted laws to prevent accidental poisonings. However, it was the poison manufacturers themselves who took direct action to save customers who, for instance, were fumbling for medicine by candlelight and grabbing bedbug poison by mistake. What they did, not only reduced the number of accidental deaths, but it also created an almost irresistible collectible.

To distinguish them from non-lethal products, poison bottles were made unique and dramatic in color, texture and shape. Colors like cobalt blue, honey amber, black, and emerald and several other shades of green were used to ensure they stood out from the other bottles on the shelf.

Poison bottles were also designed with unique textures: latticework, raised ridges, dots, diamonds, horizontal or vertical ribbing, or hobnails. Also, embossed lettering warned, “DEATH,” “POISON,” “POISONOUS,” or “NOT TO BE TAKEN INTERNALLY.”

The bottle was described as “a bottle for the use of poisonous substances”

In England, cobalt blue “subs” bottles were invented by H. J. W. Martin and G. W. J. Walker in the fat cigar shape of a submarine. The bottle featured a long, vertical neck protruding from the center of the top and is embossed “POISON.” The bottle comes in three, four and five-inch sizes. Registered in 1899, the bottle did not for some reason, receive its letters patent till 1906 on April 12th. The bottle was described as “a bottle for the use of poisonous substances, made with there necks situated between.”

Reference: Rob’s Famous Poisons

Submarine (“Submarine Vessel, Submarine Bombs and Mode of Attack”) for the United States government. Submarine vessel, longitudinal section. Scan from original engineering design in pencil, ink, and watercolor. 1806. – Library of Congress

“these ones rarely surface.”

collector and digger Taylor McBurney

SMALL SUBMARINE POISON. – Got this little beauty some years ago in Alans BBR Auction and i really love it,as it has a nice crude whippy thin lip and a nice long neck. And its not repaired!! Cheers Wayne. – Bottle Digging UK

Two early 20th-Century Bristol blue ‘Submarine’ poison bottles, with ribs, embossed POISON on one side and REGISERED NO 336907 on the underside — 10cm. (4in.) and 7.8cm. (3in.) wide (2) – Cristie’s

Three submarine POISON bottles and a Skull Poison Bottle – photograph by Daniel Palmer – Elsecar Heritage Center

Web site home page image for the Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association (APBCA) – Joan Cabanis

Posted in Civil War, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, History, Poison Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking at Coffin Poison Bottles

Posted on 5 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

C O F F I N    P O I S O N    B O T T L E S

Recently I did a post on Skull Poison Bottles. There is no doubt, at least in my mind, that if I see a skull bottle, I might think twice about taking a drink. Now days, with all of the energy drinks and Generation X and Y’ers, I doubt that this may be the case with many. Some of the packaging for these products is quite frightful as in the Monster Energy drink. The skulls, bones and scary graphics actually promote these products!

Prior to using printed logos and labels as a primary identification tool, and when embossed bottles were in their heyday, there was a need for Poison Bottles to be clearly identified and tactile to the touch. Beginning in the 1870s, here in the United States, uniquely designed containers in bright cobalt blue began appearing. In order to warn the user of the dangerous nature of the contents, the outside of the bottle was covered with a series of raised bumps, dots, ridges, or lattice work. Without abundant bathroom and kitchen lights, like we have today, it was felt that there needed to be a way to emboss a bottle so the drowsy medicine gulper, in a dimly lit room, might think twice about taking a swig from a bottle with patterned shapes and lines.

Back-lit Poison bottle display in coffin – ex Ferdinand Meyer IV – courtesy Joan Cabanis

Today we look at Coffin shaped bottles. I always liked these little fellows and felt them to be kind of cute. They are beautiful in their form and color. The light always reflects nicely from the abundant embossing. The picture above, if I am not mistaken, was once my fathers, Ferdinand Meyer IV, famous poison display. He was a collector in Baltimore and used to cart this back-lit coffin, with his poison bottles to bottle shows. I understand that he won quite a few display awards. This coffin display now resides comfortably in an eastern Poison bottle collection. I would like to thank Dr. Charles Aprill for fueling this post with his outstanding picture below.

Read More: Skull Shaped Poison Bottles – A frightening favorite

C O F F I N    G A L L E R Y

This Blue Glass Coffin Poison Bottle was patented in 1871 by a man named Langford. What’s odd is that only 2 or 3 are known to exist, and the one shown here is believed to be c. 1895-1900 because of the shape of its neck & lip. Notice that the surface detail around the edge looks like coffin-nails! – JTRForums.com

POISON / NORWICH / 16A
Large size coffin-shaped cobalt blue poison with original label. Label says 500 TABLETS/ COFFIN SHAPE/ CORROSIVE/ MERCURIC CHLORIDE – AntiqueBottles.com

POISON / F.A. THOMPSON / & CO. / DETROIT / POISON. This golden yellow amber coffin shaped poison. –  AntiqueBottles.com

“Poison”, America, 1890 – 1905. Clear light to medium sapphire blue, figural coffin form with an overall diamond pattern on three sides, BIM with tooled ring type lip – smooth base, ht. 3 ½”, attic mint! KU-18. A somewhat scarce, very attractive lighter color for this mold with nice clarity.

Coffin poisons, three sizes. Small coffin and “Triloids” poisons with full labels. – Charles Aprill

Assorted Poison bottles in a coffin form – Joan Cabanis (Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association)

United Drug Co. Amber coffin poison, this is a nice and pretty scarce bottle. Much rarer in larger sizes than this 3 1/2 inch size. The merger of Riker-Hegeman from New York and United Drug in Boston in about 1912 – RicksBottleRoom.com

Wheaton Amber Glass Coffin Bottle – Etsy

Set of mint 1971 Wheaton skull and crossbone poison bottles.

Coffin-shaped poison bottle, 19th century – Courtesy of Mark L. Ryan

“Poison” (with complete original label), America, 1890 – 1905. Medium amber, figural coffin form with an overall diamond pattern on three sides, BIM with tooled ring type lip – smooth base, ht. 3 ½”, very near mint; (a tiny bit of roughness on one panel edge, otherwise perfect). KU-18. Label reads in part, “25 Tablets / Coffin Shape / Poison / Pat Applied For / The Norwich / Pharmacal Co”. A desirable form and a great example with the original label. – American Glass Gallery

Reverse of Above: “Poison” (with complete original label), America, 1890 – 1905. Medium amber, figural coffin form with an overall diamond pattern on three sides, BIM with tooled ring type lip – smooth base, ht. 3 ½”, very near mint; (a tiny bit of roughness on one panel edge, otherwise perfect). KU-18. Label reads in part, “25 Tablets / Coffin Shape / Poison / Pat Applied For / The Norwich / Pharmacal Co”. A desirable form and a great example with the original label. – American Glass Gallery

Web site home page image for the Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association (APBCA) – Joan Cabanis

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, History, Poison Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“In keeping with the Dr. Townsend’s theme started by others”

Posted on 4 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Sarsaparilla Grouping – photo Michael George

Looks like we have some really nice dialog and pictures of older Dr. Townsend’s Sarsaparilla’s over at Early American Glass on facebook from the usual suspects like Rick Ciralli, Mark Yates, Jeff Noordsy, Woody Douglas, Matt Greig, Michael George, Taylor McBurney, Matthew Tigue Levanti and others. Rick Ciralli says he will post one variant from his collection a day for 10 days so stay tuned as this post will grow!

This is the 1st of (10) different Townsends variants that I have in my collection. I will start with a ZINGER. This one is a brilliant blue green with the high relief embossing and a rare 3 BAR or 3 SLASH on the normally plain panel. – Rick Ciralli (see larger pictures below)

Ah, my best dug bottle, and the one I couldn’t keep! One day I’ll find another whole Townsends…- Taylor McBurney

“In keeping with the Townsends theme started by others… Here is what I think I know. Please correct me if I’m wrong or missing any. Based on site excavations, Townsends were known to be made at Mt Vernon, Mt Pleasant, Stoddard, Coventry and Willington. They were likely made at Albany Glassworks and Lockport/Lancaster but as far as I know, no direct proof. Any others????”

“There were two competing (Jacob and SP Townsend) proprietors over MANY years and it was a very popular medicine. Literally millions of bottles wee needed, so therefore multiple glasshouses and molds.”

Read More: Embossed DR TOWNSEND’S SARSAPARILLA ALBANY N.Y. Sand Pontil 17 Rivets Dark Amber

Read More: Dr. S.P. Townsend’s Sarsaparilla, Albany, New York

Dug Townsends – Here you go Rick, you’d know better than I about anything special. I personally like the bent neck and full iron pontil…Taylor McBurney

As I recall I owe Mark Yates some photos of Dr. Townsends. I have some others I’ll photograph and post late. – Woody Douglas

Some more Dr. T’s for Mark Yates. The second from the left is a pure green I don’t associate with NE. Possibly NY state? The embossing is markedly different from the others. – Woody Douglas

DR. TOWNSEND’S embossing – Woody Douglas

My sad lonely bottle, the one Townsend I have. – Matt Greig

OK, This is the 1st of (10) Different Townsends variants that I have in my collection. I will start with a ZINGER. This one is a brilliant blue green with the high relief embossing and a rare 3 BAR or 3 SLASH on the normally plain panel. Lot of theories as to what these bars represent. At one time I had a 1 bar, 2 bar, 3 bar and 4 bar. They all went different ways at different times but I’m back. I would love to hear from other collectors who have Townsend variants to share. Brian Wolff , can you get this into our file? Michael George and Woody Douglas, the collector in Maine was Mike Obrien, otherwise known as the Townsendman (his former eBay handle). Mike had THE collection of these and sold them off in many past Heckler sales. Mike Stephano has a rare variant that I hope he will share. I will post one a day for 10 days… – Rick Ciralli

Bottom side view of picture above – Rick Ciralli

I have posted this one before… it is a rare variant attributed to NY, but Mt. Pleasant not Vernon. – Michael George

DR. TOWNSEND’S SARSAPARILLA ALBANY N.Y., of great whittle. Truly an attic find. Came out of a barn with original Sarsaparilla remnants. Hand carved cork. Sand chip pontil. – Meyer collection

Ciralli Post #2 – I can’t wait until tommorrow…sorry. Another ZINGER, a rare variant with a period under the R in DR, diagonal mold seam, funky sunky base, glass tip pontil. NE or NYS??!! – Rick Ciralli

A rare variant with a period under the R in DR, diagonal mold seam, funky sunky base, glass tip pontil. NE or NYS??!! – Rick Ciralli

This Rivet mold was a favorite too! – Matthew Tigue Levanti

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Early American Glass, Facebook, Glass Companies & Works, Sarsaparilla | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An eBay bottle leads to something much bigger!

Posted on 3 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

I was in southern California earlier in the week and was able to have dinner at a really fantastic Indian restaurant in San Bernardino with my friends Pam and Randy Selenak from Orange, California. During the course of dinner, Pam started telling me this really cool story about a bottle and postal history which is right up my alley. Pam was kind enough to recite the story again and send some pictures to accompany her tale. I think you will enjoy this.

P A M    G O E S    P O S T A L

Ferdinand:

On July 29, 2011 I bought a cobalt blue Owen Casey Eagle Soda Works (pictured above) from a seller on eBay. Little did I know that this was a beginning of a great friendship. I noticed that the city that the bottle was from was in the next town over from me. So I e-mailed the seller to see if I could just pick up the bottle there. The owner replied and said that she could drop it by on her way to the Orange Antique Circle when she goes for coffee. The “Circle” is a famous antique area of Orange, California about a 1/2 mile from my house. I told her that would be great.

When she arrived, she was surprised to see all the old bottles and more surprised to see all the ghost town artifacts that Randy and I have on display. She told me the story of her growing up with her parents who loved digging and site seeing in the old ghost towns. This was back in the early 1960’s. She particularly had great memories of times in Gold Point. Then in the early 1970’s (she thinks it was 1972), her parents bought the post office and a few other things from Ora Mae Wiley, the last post mistress for Gold Point. Ora Mae Wiley was married to Senator Harry Wiley. Her parents had a museum in Garden Grove, California and it was displayed along with all the other articles from Gold Point until her parents past away. The museum no longer exists. These items have been in her garage since the passing of her mother.

She made me the offer to come by the house to see all these things that she had once she was more organized. She was living in the house that her parents lived in and she had not even begun to find all that there was to see. We stayed in touch throughout the year and this late spring we were able to go see her Gold Point items. When she opened the garage I almost fell over. Before me was this 12 ft long by 8 ft. high masterpiece. I had goose bumps on my arms. Along with the post office was the original post stamp with the date of Dec. 2, 1915. If this piece of history could talk, what a story it could tell. She said there was more in the back.

There I found the general store’s book keepers desktop complete with all of the receipts with dates, names and items bought. It was solid oak with a glass top over what looks like the names of specific merchants. The top also raised and under the top was stacks of sales books with names, dates and items sold. The top of the desk also had receipts that were clipped into place. Some of them had red CREDIT STOPPED over their space. There were seven of these metal trays that flipped down to reveal more receipts. There was also a book specific to the Great Western Mine. In it were sales of items sold to the G.W. Mine with dates and amounts.

Then she brought us over to a very odd item and she told us that it was an old washing machine that still had all the working parts. I was offered all of these items because she thought that her parents would be happy to see it go to somebody who could appreciate the history. She had offered it back to the owners of Gold Point but they had refinished the post office and made it into the museum and all of the pieces would not fit.

In September we were made the proud new owners of the Gold Point Post Office and all of this is now in our garage. Randy and I go out everyday and look upon this majestic piece of history and know how fortunate we are to be able part of it’s journey. If anyone would like to come see these items we would love to share it with you. Please call first. The washing machine is for sale if anyone is interested.

We have become good friends with the seller and keep in touch to this day. If you are reading this, Joan, Thank you so much!!!!! For more information on Gold Point read: Gold Point History

Pam Selenak (FOHBC Public Relations Director) *Visit the FOHBC web site for Pams information.

Hi Pam,

What a wonderful article! Photo’s were fantastic also. I started to cry because my parents would have really liked this article and I know they are very pleased! Their store which had a museum was in Stanton on Beach Blvd down the street from Hobby City . it was called “Rock and Relics”. I am going to Santa Monica today, I will call you later. Thank’s again for the wonderful article.

Joan

G O L D    P O I N T    P O S T    O F F I C E

T H E    W A S H I N G    M A C H I N E

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, eBay, Ephemera, FOHBC News, History, Museums, News, Postage, Soda Water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The “Blue-Green” Drakes Mystery

Posted on 3 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

T H E   “B L U E – G R E E N”  D R A K E S

Updated 01 July 2013

A good marketing or advertising piece should catch your eye whether it is mailed,  displayed or used in any media. Most of us know that a large majority of information that is sent or projected at us is discarded or completely ignored. And junk-mail is certainly something most of us distinctly dislike.

I have rather strong filters on my e-mail system that remove 99% of the junk e-mails and spam that I receive. Fortunately, I do not even see it. If it is suspect, my e-mail filters place it in quarantine and deliver me a report each evening at 9:00 pm sharp. I have to peruse this list of fifty to one hundred e-mails and usually find that one or two are real and important. Most of the others are outright junk or they are from mass e-mailings. This includes auction house news, organization news and other messages where the system detects a potential problem because the e-mail did not come from a singular person or business. This is just the way it is in the world I live in. Oh, I also have 3 or 4 e-mail addresses which make e-mail management a must. Maybe the next time that I hear that a person does not have a computer or do e-mails, I will think twice before feeling sorry for them. Maybe they are having the last laugh.

Anyway, I find this e-mail from Jim Hagenbuch and Glass Works Auctions within my quarantine report last night. No surprise as it was mass mailed. I forward it to my inbox for reading this morning. Probably something announcing his next auction.

Well, not an auction announcement date per say, only Jim trolling for consignments for his January 2013 “Cabin Fever” Auction. Nothing earth shattering until I look at the one and only accompanying picture and I see a ‘blue-green” Drake’s Plantation Bitters. Leaping lizards and ‘whoa Nellie’ here folks. There are only four known “blue-green” Drakes (at least with the crowd I run with) and I know Jim Hagenbuch has one of the four. Actually, the Hagenbuch example is the only one I have not seen in person. Is this example pictured the Hagenbuch example? Is this a new example unbeknownst to me and my figural Bitters buddies? Of course and as expected, Jeff Burkhardt received this e-mail from Jim and Glass Works Auctions too and he is wondering the same.

Update #1: This is a ‘new’ find. Probably the new Drake’s super figural collector Bill Taylor heard about.

Update #2: Includes new example auctioned off by American Bottle Auctions on 30 June 2013.

“I look at the one and only accompanying picture and I see a ‘blue-green” Drake’s Plantation Bitters. Leaping lizards and ‘whoa Nellie’ here folks. There are only four known “blue-green” Drakes (at least with the crowd I run with)…”

This might be a good time to look at these “blue-green” Drakes that sometimes are called the ” teal-green” Drakes. They have NEVER been grouped together for study and comparison. They are simply legends in the figural bottle world that receive a lot of conjecture about color, embossing and character. The pictures I use below have been taken at different times, by different persons and methods using different light sources. This is all I have for now. This only adds more intrigue to the discussion because every picture is different!

It is also inevitable to hear someone say “which one is the best”. This is impossible to say unless they are judged together such as at the FOHBC Reno Expo shootout. Read more: FOHBC Reno Expo Shoot-Out Pictures

For clarity of discussion and for identifying pictures, I have numbered and described the four known “blue-green” Drakes.

Burkhardt Specimen #1 – Possible containing more blue than the other three. Provenance: Ex: Frank Kurzewski

Fuss Specimen #2 (aka travelin’ Drake’s) – Provenance: Ex: Mike Henness. Rumored sale to Bill Taylor.

Meyer Specimen #3 – Provenance: Ex: John Feldmann. Winner of the FOHBC Reno Expo Shootout (note: other three, at the time, “blue-green” Drakes were not there)

Hagenbuch Specimen #4 – Rumored. Obtained privately from Oregon thru California intermediary. Not pictured. Held privately by Jim Hagenbuch.

New Specimen #5 – Connecticut find cosigned to Glass Works Auctions

New Specimen #6 – Sold by Jeff Wichmann with American Bottle Auctions on 30 June 2013. $33,000 not including auction house premium.

Jeff Burkhardt – Specimen #1

Burkhardt Specimen #1 (far left) – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in a blue ‘blue-green”. Killer color run display at the Burkhardt home

Burkhardt Specimen #1 (I am pointing to the bottle) – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in a blue ‘blue-green”. – Jeff Burkhardt home

Sandor Fuss – Specimen #2

Fuss Specimen #2 – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in ‘blue-green”. Ex Mike Henness. Picture taken at the 2012 Morro Bay Show prior to Fuss purchase. Rumored sale to Bill Taylor.

Ferdinand Meyer V – Specimen #3

Meyer Specimen #3 – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in ‘blue-green”. Ex John Feldmann. Picture taken at John Feldmann’s famous bottle room.

Meyer Specimen #3 – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in ‘blue-green”. Ex John Feldmann. Picture taken at the 2012 Houston Bottle Show (Meyer table display)

Meyer Specimen #3 – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in ‘blue-green”. Ex John Feldmann. Picture taken at the 2012 Reno Expo Shootout (bottle top center). Winner of Drake’s Shootout.

New Find –  Specimen #5 (GW)

Hagenbuch New Specimen #5 – Rare, circa 1862 – 1870, blue-green ‘Drake’s Plantation Bitters’ Estimate: $30,000-40,000 – picture and caption featured on a Glass Works Auctions e-mail “Cabin Fever” marketing piece to get cosigned bottles – November 2012

BlueGreenDrakesAuctionGW96

“ST / DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS – PATENTED / 1862”, (D-105), New York, ca. 1862 – 1875, medium cotton candy blue green, 6-log cabin, 10”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. A less than pinhead size flake is off the underside of a roof peak that we mention only for accuracy. This recently discovered bottle is in as found attic condition, never washed it does retain some slight inside dried contents that a little soap and water will remove. You are bidding on what is considered by the Drake’s collecting fraternity to be the most sought after color of any Drake’s Plantation Bitters. It’s been 22 years since we’ve auctioned one close to this color. (Cris Batdorff Collection 1990). We have been made aware that a Drake’s Plantation in an almost identical color was sold privately within the past six months for in excess of $55,000! – Glass Works Auction #96 The “Cabin Fever” Auction” (January 2013)

New Find – Specimen #6 (ABA)

See Video

ABABlueGreenDrakes1

ST DRAKE’S 1860 PLANTATION X BITTERS. Applied top 10”. 1862-72. D-105. In a recent article on the Peachridge Glass website (https://www.peachridgeglass.com/2012/11/the-blue-green-drakes-mystery/) Ferdinand Meyer talked about this elusive bottle in regard to its blue green color. Here’s one that could simply be described as turquoise, and is a bottle that surpasses our expectations on almost every front. Condition is beautiful with the word Drake’s being very weak and there is some light wear on a roof edge corner, along with what could be described as a microscopic open bubble near the edge of the roof (see pictures and video). We believe the light strike on the word Drake’s is due to the bottle possibly being removed from the mold too quickly, or rather before the glass had a chance to settle into the upper part of the mold. As you can see, the entire upper portion of the bottle is slightly twisted. In Ring/Ham they talk about the inconsistencies of the embossing on these bottles, some even having dates that look a few years off. Here is one that rarely shows up and if you collect Drake’s, bitters, or just bottles for that matter, this is one you might not want to miss. Grade is 9.7 even with slight imperfections. Please look at this bottle; you’ll know what we mean. We’ve gone to great lengths to make sure the color is consistent with the bottle. As always, the still photos are the most reliable. Winning Bid: $ 33,000 – ST DRAKE’S 1860 PLANTATION X BITTERS. Applied top detail – American Bottle Auctions – Auction 58

ABABlueGreenDrakes2

ST DRAKE’S 1860 PLANTATION X BITTERS Top detail. – American Bottle Auctions – Auction 58

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Color, Figural Bottles, News, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Some Great Bottles worth watching in American Glass Gallery Auction #9

Posted on 2 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

American Glass Gallery | Auction #9

This is my second post reviewing the outstanding American Glass Gallery Auction #9 which is now online. Read: 1st post Historical Flasks worth watching in American Glass Gallery Auction #9. Great photography, good write-ups and a nice round-up of bottles. Visit Auction

John Pastor and Liz Maxbauer certainly are hitting it out of the park with their stellar efforts with Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine and American Glass Gallery Auctions.

S O M E    G R E A T    B O T T L E S 

Josee Johnson Fruit Jar

America, 1865. Aquamarine, cylindrical, short neck with ground lip and original heavy metal (likely iron), lid with a hardened rubber insert – smooth base, ½ gal., mint. The jar is enclosed in original wooden frame stamped along top end, “PAT’D MAY 16 – 65”. A metal thumbscrew (part of the wooden frame), is used to turn down and seal the metal lid against the lip of the jar. This is the only recorded example to date. See p.414, Standard Fruit Jar Reference, 2011.

“Jerry indicated that the jar, to his knowledge, remains unique!”

In a recent phone conversation with Jerry McCann, noted jar authority and publisher of the 2011 encyclopedic, 854 page The Standard Fruit Jar Reference, Jerry indicated that the jar, to his knowledge, remains unique! Jerry further commented that it is one of the most unusual closures ever produced and one that was probably never put in production. The jar represents one of the most complicated closures thus far known. The impractical nature of this closure likely doomed any chances for the commercial success of this jar. A very interesting and historically important jar.

“Western – Spice – Mills” Cathedral Peppersauce Bottle

America, 1860 – 1870. Brilliant yellow with a slight honey or topaz tone in the base and corners, square with arched gothic panels and a diamond pattern in the upper windows, applied round collared mouth with lower bevel – smooth base, ht. 8 ¾”, attic mint! Provenance: Ex. Dr. Burton Spiller, Sandor Fuss collections. The color is intense, vivid, and spectacular! Considered by many to be the finest peppersauce bottle known.

“Considered by many to be the finest peppersauce bottle known.”

Note: pictured in the book, Encyclopedia of Collectibles, Beads to Boxes, Time Life Books, page 139. This particular peppersauce bottle is absolutely one of brightest, most appealing, and prettiest bottles in the entire peppersauce / pickle or food bottle category. It is arguably one of the most attractive bottles in any category!

“Race & Sheldons / Magic / Waterproof / Boot Polish.”

Blacking Bottle, America, 1845 – 1855. Brilliant deep blue green, cylindrical with 10 flat panels, cone type shoulders, applied wide flared mouth – iron pontil scar, ht. 7 ¾”, virtually attic mint! Extremely rare, one of only two known examples in this large size (the other having a mouth chip). This bottle was found during Boston’s famous “Big Dig”, and luckily only required soap and water to clean to attic condition. Sandor Fuss collection. A very impressive bottle with intense color and brilliance, great multisided form, and nice large size!

“This bottle was found during Boston’s famous “Big Dig”, and luckily only required soap and water to clean to attic condition.”

“E. Waters / Troy. NY” Master Ink Bottle

America, 1845 – 1855. Brilliant clear yellowish green, cylindrical with fancy fluted shoulders, large applied flanged mouth – iron pontil scar, ht. 6 ¼”, near mint; (a minor, 1/8” flake on the edge of the applied mouth and a small, pinhead-size potstone on the reverse with a tiny, 1/8” flash). C#774. An extremely rare and beautiful master ink, nicely whittled, with great clarity and outstanding color. Ex. Ed & Kathy Gray collection.

“it is believed to be possibly the finest example known to date.”

Note: it is believed that virtually all examples of this impressive, ornate master ink have some form of damage. The flaws on this one are extremely minor and it is believed to be possibly the finest example known to date.

“W. Wolf / Pittsburgh” Figural Whiskey

Probably a Pittsburgh district glasshouse, 1850 – 1860. Deep cornflower or light sapphire blue, squatty barrel form, applied round collared mouth with ring – red iron pontil scar, ht. 7 ¾”; (two tiny, pinhead flakes that are easy to miss on the upper rings at the side of the bottle and two shallow pinhead flakes on the center rings at the side; some dried interior calcium or mineral deposits in the upper shoulder and neck area). An iconic bottle, one of two known examples!

“The last and only other example was sold in the legendary Charlie Gardner Auction more than 35 years ago in 1975.”

Note: This beautiful blue barrel is certainly one of the most important bottles known from the Pittsburgh area. It is considered by many to be one of the top whiskey bottles and would likely be a shoe-in on almost anyone’s “most desirable barrel” list. As mentioned, it is only the second example known. The last and only other example was sold in the legendary Charlie Gardner Auction more than 35 years ago in 1975. The noted condition items mentioned are very minor. The bottle has outstanding color, character, eye appeal and rarity!

For more information on how this amazing bottle was discovered, see the October issue of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector.

Read More: Barrel Series – W. Wolf found at Thrift Shop for $1.00

Posted in Auction News, Blacking, Figural Bottles, Fruit Jars, Inks, Pickle Jars, Sauce, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Historical Flasks worth watching in American Glass Gallery Auction #9

Posted on 2 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

American Glass Gallery | Auction #9

Just getting a notification today that American Glass Gallery has opened the Internet portal for their exciting Auction #9. I was also able to closely look at the auction catalog during my 3+ hour flight from Houston to LA Wednesday evening. Of course I always check the Bitters bottles out first and then I slowly start at Lot #1 and work my way through the catalog. Typically I am looking for stand-out bottles that deserve special attention. In this case I have circled the following Historical Flasks that are all exceptional with a long lineage of provenance. It is also interesting to note that Denver collector extraordinaire, Sandor Fuss, is moving some of his historical flasks. This can only mean that he is making room for other bottles of a higher degree of importance to him which is another story in itself. Stay tuned.

I would also like to congratulate John Pastor on another great auction catelogue and photography. Great job! Visit Auction

H I S T O R I C A L    F L A S K S

“Lafayette” / Bust of Lafayette / “T.S.”

Masonic Historical Flask, Coventry Glass Works, Coventry, Connecticut, 1824 – 1826. Bright, clear medium olive, sheared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, pint, virtually attic mint; (just a faint touch of very light high point wear, otherwise pristine). GI-83. Outstanding clarity and color. Certainly one of the finest possible examples of this rare and desirable mold. Provenance: Ex. Paul Richards, Jeff Noordsy, Sandor Fuss collections.

Note: in discussions with Mark Vuono about the various Lafayette flasks, Mark indicated that this mold, the GI-83, is actually a more difficult mold to acquire that the ½ pint 84 mold.

“Lafayette” / Bust of Lafayette / “T.S.”

Masonic Historical Flask, Coventry Glass Works, Coventry, Connecticut, 1824 – 1826. Bright, clear medium olive, sheared mouth – pontil scar, ½ pint, virtually pristine perfect; (two tiny, onionskin-thin open bubbles at corrugated edge, otherwise “out-of-the-mold” perfect). GI-84. Extremely rare. A bright, bubbly, exceptional example with a very strong impression, as nice as one could hope to find without even a trace of high point wear! Provenance: Ex. Blaske, Spiller, Noordsy and Fuss collections.

Eagle – Eagle Historical Flask

Louisville Glassworks, Louisville, Kentucky, 1855 – 1860. Brilliant medium to deep blue green, more of a bluish or teal tone than most, applied ring type collared mouth with lower bevel – large blowpipe pontil scar, Qt; (other than a tiny, less than pinhead bit of roughness on one of the heavy vertical ribs, it is absolutely “out of the mold” pristine perfect). GII-31. Exceptional condition, color and clarity. Provenance: Sandor Fuss collection.

Masonic – Eagle Historical Flask

Probably Keene Marlboro Street Glassworks, Keene, NH, 1817 – 1830. Rich, very deep aquamarine, sheared mouth – pontil scar, ½ pint, sparking attic mint! An unlisted mold having 29 bricks as on the GIV-13a, but with an 8-pointed star similar to GIV-14. An absolutely “finest possible example” with a strong impression, wonderful density of color and “out of the mold” sparking condition. Provenance: Ex. George McKearin, Sandor Fuss collections.

Sunburst Flask

Probably Baltimore Glass Works, Baltimore, Maryland, 1820 – 1830. Clear light to medium copper coloration, sheared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, ½ pint, perfect. GVIII-25. This scarce little sunburst flask is truly a gem with gorgeous color and clarity, nice light density, and outstanding condition! This mold is extremely rare in the lighter tones and certainly as nice as they come! Provenance: Ex. Terry Gillis, Sandor Fuss collections.

Anchor – Fleur-de-lis Wide Mouth Scroll Flask

Probably John Robinson & Son Glass Manufacturers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1830 – 1834. Aquamarine, sheared, tooled and expanded wide mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, ½ pint, perfect! GIX-41. A very scarce, early and attractive mold to begin with, this example was fashioned by the glassblower into a jar, possibly for snuff. A great rarity and one of only a handful of documented or known flasks that have been made into whimseys or jars.

Note: this example is likely one of the earliest of the various Scroll Flask molds and as mentioned, in a unique class with only a handful of other known flasks that were made into snuff jars or whimseys.

Pattern Molded Pocket Flask

28 ogival diamonds or “honeycomb pattern” over flutes, probably Stiegel’s American Flint Glass Manufactory, Manheim, Pennsylvania, 1769 – 1774. Grape amethyst, plump horseshoe form, sheared mouth – pontil scar, ht. 5 1/8”, near mint; (somewhat weakened impression in lower body and some scattered light exterior high point wear). A beautiful, vivid color, classic form and pattern (see, Glass in Early America, Arlene Palmer, #353).

Posted in Advice, Auction News, Collectors & Collections, Early American Glass, Flasks, Glass Companies & Works, Historical Flasks, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Skull Shaped Poison Bottles – A frightening favorite

Posted on 1 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Exciting photograph of the three different sizes of the cobalt blue poison skulls – Aprill Collection

P O I S O N   –   P A T    A P P L ‘ D    F O R

A skull and crossbones is a symbol consisting of a human skull and two long bones crossed together under the skull. It is generally used as a warning of danger, usually in regard to poisonous substances, such as deadly chemicals.

Now that halloween is past, and after Dr. Charles Aprill from New Orleans posted the above poisons for our frightful delight, I circle back to look at this wonderful bottle.

Since the 1850s, the skull & cross bones has been the accepted symbol warning users of a poisonous substance. Poison bottle collectors love the bottles with the skull and crossbones embossed. In the 1700s the “Skull & Crossbones” flag was first flown by French pirate Emanuel Wynne.  

The handling of poisonous substances has always been a matter of concern both here and abroad. Various symbols have been used over the centuries to indicate dangerous substances. The Danes used + + + on their ceramic containers to warn the unwary.  Sometimes apothecaries would display skeletons when they were compounding poisonous materials. As early as 1829, New York state required the clear labeling of containers whose contents was poisonous. 

Beginning in the 1870s here in the United States uniquely designed containers in bright cobalt blue began appearing. In order to warn the user of the dangerous nature of the contents, the outside of the bottle was covered with a series of raised bumps, dots, ridges, or lattice work. The purpose of these features was that should an unsuspecting victim mistakenly grab a bottle in a dark or dimly lit room he could tell by feel that the contents should not be ingested. Various unusual shapes (triangular or hexagonal) were widely adopted to store poisons, but the skull and crossbones had a long history and appealed to a primitive part of our conscience.

“In the 1700s the “Skull & Crossbones” flag was first flown by French pirate Emanuel Wynne.” 

It was not until the late 1880-1890s that the skull and crossbones became a familiar site embossed on bottles. The practice continued through the 1920s when it was decided that the brightly colored bottles and symbols maybe attractive to children and harming more than helping the situation. Eventually the emphasis changed to creating containers which would be difficult for children to open. [reference John Odell]

The three sizes of antique poison bottle skulls – Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association

The three very rare skeleton skull bottles pictured above were patented on June 26, 1894 by Carlton Lewe of Boston, Mass. To most, these figurals have become the most famous and desired poison bottle. Each is embossed POISON on the forehead and PAT APPL’D FOR on the reverse near the base. The base of the bottle is embossed with crossed bones. Also, the reverse features a raised panel obviously for an ingredient-identifying paper label. The famous blue bottle came in three sizes, 2-3/4”,  3-l/2” and 4-l/2”. The smallest size is reported to be the hardest to find. It has been estimated that less than 100 of the rare skull-shaped poison bottles are in existence.

The Aprill image was posted on the Peachridge Glass facebook page and generated a ton of excitement as you might expect. Some of my favorite comments:

“My favorite bottle in poisons.”

Toni Scholtz Johnston

“I think we all would like to dig one. A couple were found many years ago in a chemist’s shop in Wales.”

Francis Romanowski

“Probably the coolest bottle ever…”

Dustin Scott Baker

Skull shaped poison bottle, 19th century – Museum of American Glass at Wheaton Village

Antique skull shaped poison bottle. Still looking for my own after years of searching! – I am an Addams.. Girl. 28 years. Lives in the UK. Collects skulls, antique religious items, and eye tattoos. Feels she has connections to the Addams family. Likes Victorian styling, catholic art, and the macabre….

The very rare 3″ ‘middle’ size skull poison (they come in 3 sizes – small one below). Embossed POISON on the forehead, and PAT APPL’D FOR on the back label panel near the base. Deep cobalt blue color, with embossed crossbones across the base (this is the non-lettered base variant), and has a tooled lip. Sold by James Hagenbuch. – AntiqueBottles.com

“Poison – Pat. Appl’d. For” Figural Skull, America, 1890 – 1905. Medium cobalt, in the form of a skull, tooled prescription type mouth – crossbones on smooth base, ht. 4 1/8”; (several flakes around the edge of the mouth, the largest one is approx. ½” wide on top of the beveled collar, and a bit of interior dirt or residue that would likely wash out, but no cracks or other form of damage). KU-10. The noted flakes could easily be professionally repaired, if desired. An impressive, desirable poison! – American Glass Gallery Auction #9

On left: Crystal Head Vodka bottle, designed in 2008 by American landscape painter and portrait artist John Alexander; center & right: a blue “KU-10“ poison bottle and an 1894 advertisement from the Druggist Circular and Chemical Gazette – Bottlebooks.com

Web site home page image for the Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association (APBCA) – Joan Cabanis

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, History, Poison Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Capt. John B. Morris Occupational Shaving Mug

Posted on 1 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Occupational Shaving Mug for Ship Capt. John B Morris made by C A Smith Barber Supplies – Philadelphia

Ferdinand:

I did get an interesting barber related piece this month. We were in Florida on vacation and I got a phone call from a friend of mine who said he heard a nice occupational shaving mug turned up at a local junk store. I found out the guy who bought it was someone I knew. I called him and asked about it. He said he didn’t know anything about it other than it had the man’s name on it and a picture of a boat. He wasn’t sure if it was a reproduction or an old one. I told him I would like to see it when I got back in town. He said fine. I got back in town and met him. He pulled it out of a paper sack and showed it to me. I couldn’t believe it. He asked if it was a good one and if it was something I would be interested in. I said yes it is good and yes I am interested in it. We negotiated on a price. Now I have it in my mug rack.

Jack (Hewitt)

FOHBC Southern Region Director

PRG Question: I wonder is this John B. Morris is a descendant of the pirate John Morris?

Charles A. Smith was in the Barber’s Supplies business in Philadelphia from 1893 until at least 1910. His business was at the corner of Jefferson and Randolph. In 1895 Smith added a second location at 901 Filbert, but it only lasted a year. Starting around the turn of the century, his business was at 1219 Germantown Avenue. [Hair Raising Stories]

The mug rack came from a barber shop near Balston Spa, in New York State. I bought it at an Antique shop in that area along with the New York State Barbers license (see below) that was issued in 1903.

New York State Barbers license that was issued in 1903.

Base of Occupational Shaving Mug – C A Smith Barber Supplies – Philadelphia

Left: Occupational Shaving Mug for Ship Capt. John B Morris – C A Smith Barber Supplies – Philadelphia

Right: Occupational Shaving Mug for Ship Capt. John B Morris
 – C A Smith Barber Supplies – Philadelphia

Posted in Barber Bottles, Collectors & Collections, FOHBC News, Hair Tonics, History, Shaving Mugs | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Burnable Bottles – Hand Crafted Antique Bottle Candles

Posted on 30 October 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Rick Meech Burchfield (Flaschenjager@aol.com) recently updated his great web site AntiqueBottleHunter.com and added an interesting retail component for Burnable Bottles. I think he has done a fine job here. The photographs are excellent too. Just in time for the holidays! I like the Cloverland Farm milk bottles. Used to get these bottles delivered to our door in Towson, Maryland as a kid. Pretty cool. I know what’s going to be in the kids and family stockings this Christmas.

We can make our candles to suit your needs. Large group and multiple orders are available upon request. Turnaround time may take a while, so please contact us well in advance.

These are great for collecting, weddings, Christmas presents, Halloween, gifts for friends and family and the list goes on and on.

Our quality beeswax candles are nice to display or burn. Grab one to display or burn OR get one for burning and another to display.

We use only all natural white beeswax for our candles and it’s refined in the USA without any chemical bleaching aids. The beeswax we use to make our candles is suitable for pharmaceutical as well as all food, cosmetic and all personal care product applications.

Many colors are available, plus we offer each variant without dyes in an all natural ‘white’ beeswax.

Each candle is a representation of a collectible antique bottle. We offer many hard-to-find shapes and sizes of desirable antique glass bottles.

Availability and selection is limited, so order yours today!

Posted in Advertising, Advice, Color Runs, Ephemera, Folk Art, Humor - Lighter Side, Milk & Creamers, News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment