Barrel Series – Liquore del Diavolo Figural Barrel

Posted on 20 August 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Barrel Series – Liquore del Diavolo Figural Barrel

20 August 2012 (R•052615) (R•052815)

LIQUORE DEL DIAVOLO

I can not think of too many antique bottles embossed with the devil or satan so when I saw a picture of this figural barrel I was intrigued with the embossing and name. This barrel comes at the tail end of my series on figural barrels simply because it is not American. Most of us figural collectors do not go after these foreign barrels as indicated by the low price of $220 and 3 bids that this barrel commanded in the latest Glass Works Auctions #95. It was estimated to bring between $275 and $375.

The English translation is ‘Liquor of the Naples Devil’

I can not find any information while searching online for this brand so it must be rare. As usual, please send me any other support information so I can update this post.

Two other ‘devil’ or ‘satan’ like embossings on a bottle is the P.W.B.L. – PITT’S WONDERFUL BLACK LINIMENT and PLUTO water bottle (see below). See more great bottle embossings: Cool Bottle Embossings

Patent medicine with embossing of a huge bird/man/dragon embossed on the front which is known to people in the area as the Piasa Bird. The Piasa Bird was painted by Indians on the bluffs above the Mississippi River near Jerseyville. JERSEYVILLE, ILLS embossed on one side and P.W.B.L. Co. This stood for Pitts Wonderful Black Liniment.

Vintage PLUTO WATER Bottle, America’s Physic, Devil symbol embossed on bottom – eBay

Offer to Devil – Italian Woodcut

“LIQUORE DEL DIAVOLO / (motif of a devil) / E. CIABURRI E. FIGLI / NAPOLI”, Italian, ca. 1890 – 1900, red amber barrel, 9 3/4”h, smooth base, tooled mouth, about perfect (a tiny flake is off a lower ring). Looking for something different that you haven’t seen before? Well, you just found it. The English translation is ‘Liquor of the Naples Devil’

“LIQUORE DEL DIAVOLO / (motif of a devil) / E. CIABURRI E. FIGLI / NAPOLI” – Glass Works Auctions | Auction 95

Lot: 49 “Liquore Del Diavolo / (Devil Motif) / E. Ciaburri / Napoli” Figural Liquor Bottle, probably Italy, 1870-1890. Barrel form, bright pink puce, tooled double collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 9 3/8 inches; (light interior stain). Beautiful and unusual color. Fine condition. – Heckler Auction 122

The Devil’s Fiddle and the Saint’s Tongue – In his Voyage d’un François en Italie (Paris 1769), the astronomer Lalande recounts that one night the devil appeared to the violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770). In this dream, the devil offered the violinist a Faustian deal and then played a wonderful violin piece, which Tartini imitated in one of his sonatas.

A Tale of Two Cabins

Posted on 20 August 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS

Still one of our favorite pictures, for color and overall appeal, this grouping of KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Blue/green Kelly’s #1 pictured) is hard to beat. With the downturn in home prices these days, it might be a good time to invest in a new one. This could be just the thing – American Bottle Auctions

I vividly remember one evening back in 2003 where I kept sneaking out on my porch steps of my loft (hiding from my wife, Elizabeth) in downtown Houston. I was actually in a virtual online and telephone bidding war with some unknown person (who I now know was Bryan Grapentine) for a teal green and minty looking KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS. Let’s call this Kelly’s #1. I think my last bid was rather healthy but I got spooked because Jeff Wichmann, the auction house chief, suspected the bottle may sell at a price in the stratospheric level. So I bowed out. Well the bottle sold for $27 large to Bryan and in my, and others opinion, Bryan got a great deal on an extraordinary bottle. As you will see, the next time the bottle sold, it sold for quite a bit more. The picture (below) and description in the American Bottle Auctions catalog at that time read:

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #1) – American Bottle Auctions

“found in Nebraska in a dried up water well”

Lot #45: KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #1). Ring/Ham K 21. Another of the great bottles in this collection and the highlight of our trip was this beautiful teal green/blue Kelly’s! I had heard about this bottle but had never seen it and was somewhat skeptical of its existence. However, after seeing it, I was hardly disappointed. In fact, I was flabbergasted at how beautiful the bottle actually was! A true greenish teal with some blue, I gasped as I saw the sun gleam through it sitting in his window. It’s so odd to see a bottle you’ve seen so many times in amber, suddenly appear in an unknown (at least to us) color. In addition, it’s a superb example with loads of bubbles and good overall crudity. Aside from an open bubble between two logs, (it couldn’t have been in a better spot as it’s real tough to see) it is Almost Mint or better. On the way home from Nebraska, I wondered at the number of these colored examples known? Were there two, five, ten or was this it? So far, we only know of this example and the one from the Cris Batdorff collection, which had some repair done to it, and which we now understand was quite a bit different hue. There are most likely others, but who knows? We’ve tried to capture the exact color of the glass and we would say it’s within a degree or two, so what you are seeing is what you’re buying. A bottle we are proud to offer, this was found in Nebraska in a dried up water well. A couple of other amber Kelly’s were found within earshot of this example. Needless to say, this is one you need to see in person, altough the pictures are right on the money. Please call us for additional photos and any other questions you may have. Almost Mint–or better. Bottle selling price: $27,000 (wither the auction house premium)

Bryan Grapentine eventually sold his great bitters collection and the bottle again made an appearance with American Bottle Auctions in late 2007 in the three segment Grapentine Auction series. This time the same bottle (Kelly’s #1) sold for a whopping $46,000, not including the auction house premium. The ABA catalog write-up is as follows:

“he took it to a bottle show in the 1970’s and collectors there told him to go home, that it was a fake. He knew however that it couldn’t possibly be a fake because he dug it himself”

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #1) PATENTED 1863. Applied top in a cabin shape. PLEASE NOTE: We’ve had a couple people that have suggested this bottle and possibly others in this sale are not what we’ve presented them to be. I suggest you man-up and either speak with us personally or keep your mouths shut. We have an 100% gurantee on all of the bottles we sell. Okay, having said that, here is the Kelly’s Bitters. We actually sold this Kelly’s years ago and now it has found its way back for another auction. We originally purchased this bottle from a collector by the name of Pete Peters in Nebraska. So really it’s had only two owners, Pete and Bryan. Pete told the story that he took it to a bottle show in the 1970’s and collectors there told him to go home, that it was a fake. He knew however that it couldn’t possibly be a fake because he dug it himself, 30 feet into a well. He also found others in the same hole. What an absolutely wonderful bottle in a dramatic color. We have photographed it with three other colors, just to show the different hues one can obtain in these popular bitters. When people mention a green Kelly’s, they usually think of olive, but as you can see, this is more of a teal. There is a partial open bubble on one corner of a side log. It’s actually very hard to tell that it’s an open bubble. Otherwise, the bottle is perfect. It has a wonderful top, a little stubbier than some we’ve seen. Everything else about it is top notch. If the bubble bothers you we recommend staying away. Otherwise, for cabin collectors, this is the one. We’ve photographed it with another green example that is not in the Grapentine collection. Forget the rumors, look at the bottle, some in this hobby (and you know who you are) need to grow up. Est. $15,000-25,000. MB $15,000. Note: The bottle sold for $46,000 not including the auction house premium.

A post auction write-up in Antique Trader said the following:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The second batch of approximately 300 bottles from a single Arizona collector totaled more than $500,000 in the online sale conducted by American Bottle Auctions. “Numerous records were broken and this has put the Bryan Grapentine collection so far over $1 million with another auction to go,” said Jeff Wichman, owner of the auction company. A rare colored Kelley’s Old Cabin Bitters bottle, sold for $51,520 (including 12 percent buyers premium), while a Cassins Grape Brandy Bitters bottle made $40,320. A Keach Baltimore “torpedo” bottle with stand sold for $17,920, and an R.L. Higgins Virginia City master inkbottle, one of only two known, realized $14,400.

The bottles come from collector Bryan Grapentine, 70, of Phoenix, who has been building his collection for 25 years. Grapentine now wants to “make some room in his house” and concentrate his efforts on specialized areas of glass, like scent bottles and ink containers.

Well, now the mate of this great Kelly’s #1 has shown up in a current American Bottle Auction event. The ABA write-up is as follows:

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #2) – American Bottle Auctions

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #2) PATENTED 1863 with applied top. Over forty years ago, a gentleman named Pete dug a well in Ogallala, Nebraska. According to Pete, as they neared the bottom, they found a number of these bitters. Amber was represented as well as olive green. Most startling were two light greenish examples they had never seen before. They eventually brought them to a bottle show and were told they were fakes. They explained that they had themselves found them along with other more prevalent colored examples to no avail. At that point they each decided to keep one. The other, which we sold out of the Bryan Grapentine sale in 1997, and again in 2007 brought over $50,000. That was Pete’s original acquisition and since then he has worked a deal out with his partner for the other one, the one we now offer. Now while we don’t believe these are the only two that exist in this color, we do believe that this example may be one of the prettiest. There is a small area on one roof with some interior haze, which when viewed from the other side is nearly unnoticeable. The bottle is overall quite uneven and the color leans toward green rather than blue, as the glass is much thicker than the other variant. We never thought we’d have another opportunity to represent a bottle of this nature, however, here it is. We will grade this a 9.7 with just a bit of typical usage wear.

More Kelly’s #2 Pictures

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #2) on display on the American Bottle Auctions table at the recent FOHBC Reno Expo.

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #2) – American Bottle Auctions

KELLY’s OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #2) – American Bottle Auctions

Interesting enough, I had the opportunity to review a third KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS in Houston a few years back that is in the possession of Dan Cowman. This specimen has a repaired top and is similar in color. Read more: A Picture of a Picture of Two of Brad Francis’s Kelly’s Old Cabin Bitters. See below.

I do not know where the Kelly’s #2 in the American Bottles Auctions will end up. As of this morning the bid was at $36k. Stay tuned.

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS (Kelly’s #3) – Dan Cowman

Posted in Advice, Auction News, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Digging and Finding, Figural Bottles, History, News | Tagged American Bottle Auctions, bitters, Bryan Grapentine, cabin, Cris Batdorff, Dan Cowman, Figural, Jeff Wichmann, Kelly's Old Cabin Bitters, nebraska, Pete Peters, Phoenix, well | Leave a comment

Bodmann Baltimore Cathedral Pickles perish in great San Francisco Fire

Posted on 19 August 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

KELLY’S OLD CABIN BITTERS sits next to the WM BODMANN BALTIMORE cathedral pickle at the recent FOHBC Reno Expo – American Bottle Auctions table

Jeff Wichmann over at American Bottle Auctions in Sacramento, California, has an exciting auction online as I write. This is Auction #56 that closes on 26 August 2012. Besides the spectacular Kelly’s Old Cabin Bitters (see above), and the Cropper’s Stomach Bitters (Read: Unlisted Dr. Cropper’s Bitters spotted at ABA table at Reno Expo) there is a killer cathedral pickle that caught me completely by surprise. Sitting near the later auction lots is the WM BODMANN BALTIMORE cathedral pickle. I saw this beauty in Reno recently but was dazzled by the Kelly’s. The cathedral pickle is noted as being found in an attic in San Francisco. The ABA pictures and write-up is as follows:

WM BODMANN BALTIMORE Cathedral Pickle – American Bottle Auctions

WM BODMANN/BALTIMORE CATHDERAL PICKLE. 11 ½”. Outwardly folded mouth. Open pontil, four-sided, quart+. 1840’s.

Originally an exhaustive search for information on this pickle yielded little as to Bodmann or his pickling business itself. Since then, we’ve obtained some information on Bodmann and his business. We know that from 1842-45 the Baltimore directory lists Wm. Bodmann Pickling Depot at 48 S. Howard St. in Baltimore. Bodmann later apparently went into business with his son as the company is listed as Bodmann & Son.

There are believed two other jars with their two names on them. We also believe that there are only three Cathedral style jars ever made in Baltimore. This beautiful jar appears to have been inspired by the well-known Westminster Abbey of London with its multitude of Gothic archways, stained glass windows and pointed towers, each side of the jar having a unique and different design. The glass is almost colorless which speaks possibly to its early heritage and we believe it could be one of the first Cathedral Pickles ever blown in America. In fact, it could have possibly been a prototype for others to follow. To our knowledge and according to the people we spoke with in the hobby, there are only two other of these unique jars known to exist and they both have damage

This example was found in an attic in San Francisco and therefore appears as perfect as the day it was made. No flaws of any kind, just loads of diamond-like faucets combined with a multitude of whittle and tiny bubbles creating quite a shown when viewed under light. This jar is certainly a centerpiece for any collector of Baltimore glass or food containers for that matter. Possibly the only quart plus sized cathedral pickles with a name and city embossed. We want to thank our fellow collectors who helped in preparation of this description. Grades a 9.9.

What I find fascinating is how this early Baltimore pickle jar was found in San Francisco in an attic? I started looking online and quickly found a number of supporting documents including city directories with Bodmann’s address in Baltimore as Wichmann notes. I also found a tidbit from a cookbook referencing a William Bodemann (note spelling difference) who must be the same (see below).

Reference to William Bodemann in A Quaker’s Woman’s Cookbook

Further research online led me to a publication from The Society of Historical Archaeology titled The Hoff Store Site and Gold Rush Merchandise in San Francisco, California (see cover below). Did this store have any of the Bodmann pickles for sale? Checking the Table of Contents, I see an entire section by Dennis P. McDougall called The Bottles of the Hoff Store Site.

Reading further, I found out that the Hoff Store collapsed into San Francisco Bay during the conflagration of May 3rd and 4th, 1851. Hundreds of glass bottles containing preserved food, alcoholic beverages, medicines, toiletries, and various other contents for retail purchase were deposited onto the muddy floor of the Bay. The waters and sediments of the Bay, combined with the landfill from expansion of San Francisco’s shoreline in the years following the fire, “sealed” these glass containers. As a result, many still retained their original contents.

The Society of Historical Archaeology book on The Huff Store Site and Gold Rush Merchandise from San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Fire (Image from www.sfmuseum.org)

The article references the many types of bottles and shard specimens that were found including WELLS, MILLER & PROVOST, NEW YORK (read more: Blue Wells Miller & Provost & blue cathedral pepper sauce question?) and UNDERWOOD & CO., BOSTON. I feel like I am getting closer. Finally, nearing the end of the chapter, I find the information I am looking for in the Culinary section. Yes. the Wm Bodmann’s from Baltimore were sitting on the shelves when the store collapsed into the bay (see below). So it looks like the Bodmann pickle jars followed the Gold Rush miners and families to California and sat within the Hoff General Store until the terrible fire. One can only think that this Baltimore cathedral pickle for sale in the current auction may have been purchased in the days before the fire or maybe they were safely stowed on the ships waiting to be unloaded, if they escaped the fire. Read: The Bottles of the Hoff Store Site

The cover image is Long Wharf where the Oregon docked. The American Flag (left) flies above Hoff’s Store. (Courtesy National Maritime Museum, San Francisco)

“Recessed shoulder panels suggest these bottles were Cathedral-styled. A bulbous ring separated the shoulder from the cylindrical neck”

The Society of Historical Archaeology book on The Huff Store Site and Gold Rush Merchandise from San Francisco, California, documenting the discovery of WM BODMANN BALTIMORE cathedral pickle bottle shard specimens on the bottom of San Francisco Bay.

WM BODMANN BALTIMORE Cathedral Pickle – American Bottle Auctions

Posted in Article Publications, Auction News, Digging and Finding, Early American Glass, Figural Bottles, History, Museums, News, Pickle Jars, Publications | Tagged American Bottle Auctions, Baltomore, california, Cathedral, fire, Gold Rush, Hoffs Store, Jeff Wichmann, Pickle, San Francisco, William Bodmann | 3 Comments

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part II

Posted on 19 August 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part II

PART II of a Series

19 August 2012

It is time to open the second gallery of vintage drinking pictures as the first galley filled to volume. This is a continuation of Photographs of People Drinking – Part I). If you have any candidates for inclusion, please forward. Thanks.

Drinking Gallery

Old School Party (ca. 1900) – A cigar smoking man poses with a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of beer. –Image by © DaZo Vintage Stock Photos/Images.com/Corbis

Civil War drinking – ca 1864

Drinking Buddies – Jeff Wichmann says that this is a young Dennis Fox in the middle

Woman drinking from a whiskey bottle.

Union Soldiers pictured playing cards and drinking “Old Red Eye”

Three Men Seated with a Wine Bottle, Paper, & Glass – Tintype Photo – An interesting tintype with three men seated at a table. The man on the left is holding a piece of paper. The man at the center has his hand on what appears to be a wine bottle with a circular label. The man at the right has his hand on a drinking glass. This tintype was found in Elmira, N. Y. – eBay (imajgin)

Bottling and labeling wine bottles – submitted by Dennis Humphrey

Circa. 1905– A beer drinking group pauses the party for a photo. –Image by © DaZo Vintage Stock

Sunday Morning – after a long night of drinking and whoring in a gold rush town

For you fruit jar fans, a photo of cases of Ball jars confiscated as “bootleg paraphernalia” during Prohibition.
Photo from the Library of Congress

Sutler’s Tent – Petersburg – A sutler is a civilian merchant who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters. The sutler sold wares from the back of a wagon or a temporary tent, allowing them to travel along with an army or to remote military outposts. Sutler’s wagons were associated with the military while chuck wagons served a similar purpose for civilian wagon trains and outposts.

Photo of cases of Ball jars confiscated as “bootleg paraphernalia” during Prohibition.
Photo from the Library of Congress

Mining operation showing miners working, eating within view of cabins and flumes, Hunker Creek, 1899. A little coffee after a hard night of whisky. – University of Washington

Public Drinking

Confederate soldiers at their campsite play poker, while drinking and smoking between battles.

Drinking Beer – France, circa 1910 – image Corbis

The Civil War – Between the Battles, with two slaves serving them. – PBS

“Throughout the Civil War, coffee was as prevalent on the battlefields as it is in offices today. In fact, the Union army was fueled by the stuff to the point that, if there was no time to boil water, the Boys in Blue would chew on whole beans as they marched. And at night, Union campsites were dotted with tiny fires, each boiling a pot of coffee like a million miniature Starbucks. Beyond caffeine cravings, Union troops loved their coffee because it was, literally, the best thing on the menu.” – Library of Congress

Great photograph of women drinking

Four miners in a cabin eating dinner by candlelight, probably Yukon Territory, ca. 1898. – University of Washington

1874 Whisky War Ohio – Ladies Siege Drinking Saloon

Circa. 1900– A group of young adults drinking alcohol from a jug. –Image by © DaZo Vintage Stock

Three Women Swilling Whiskey – “We Don’t Care if We Never Come Back!”. Studio tintype photo with painted backdrop showing a cannon. Original tintype photo measures 2-3/8 by 3-3/8 inches. – eBay

Photographs of People Drinking – Part I

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part II

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part III

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part IV (Brewing)

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part V

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part VI

Possibly the Earliest Photograph of People Drinking Beer – Part VII

Posted in Breweriana, Civil War, Fruit Jars, Photography, Spirits, Tobacco, Whiskey, Wine & Champagne | Tagged bootleg, Civil War, Confederate, Dennis Fox, Dennis Humphrey, Drinking, Jeff Wichmann, photograph, Prohibition, soldiers, Sutler, tent, Union, Whiskey, whisky | Leave a comment

Buchanan Brass Printing Plate – Figural Cannon Series

Posted on 19 August 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Buchanan Brass Printing Plate – Figural Cannon Series

19 August 2012

Really phenomenal new material coming in from Abel Da Silva regarding my recent post on the Buchanan Cannons. This information pretty much closes the door on my questions about James Buchanan. Read: “the Buchanan Cannons”

Hello Mr. Ferdinand Meyer V.

I have just read your article on Buchanan’s Figural whiskey cannon bottles. Back in the 1980’s in Yorkville which is part of Toronto, Canada I dug two Buchanan’s Figural whiskey cannon bottles. One was the Malt Whisky and the other extract of sugar corn. Both bottles were auctioned off at Glass Works Auctions in East Greenville, Pa. I also suspect that James Buchanan in 1889 opened an office in Toronto, Canada. I do not believe that this company lasted very much more than one year in business here in Canada because there has been only a few of his bottles found in Toronto in the last 30 years. The bottles have been found only in 1889-1890 dumps in Toronto. I do have a brass printers plate of an advertising of the the two cannon bottles with a paper label near the top of the bottle and one near the bottom of the bottle. I will see if I can scan and sent you some photo’s of the plate.

Regards, Abel Da Silva

More from Abel: The copper plate (see above) bears the oval stamp of ‘HUGHES & KIMBER (LIMITED) / MANUFACTURERS / LONDON E.C.’ This size of plate (or ones very close in size) with the same stamp were used for at least a dozen etchings (including Cottage Door [252], St James’s Park [250], Wimpole Street [279], Theatre, Loches [418] and Hôtel de la Promenade, Loches [415]). Although not all of these are dated, there is a strong probability that they were obtained from Hughes & Kimber in 1887 and 1888. Other etchings of similar size may also have been drawn on Hughes & Kimber plates and date from the same time although the copper plates are missing (e.g. The Menpes Children [300] and Butcher’s Shop, Sandwich, Kent [320]).

The plate was listed as ‘Hotel Windows’ (see below) in a studio inventory with the size given in inches as ‘3 7/8 x 2 5/8’, which is 98 x 67mm. Windows opposite hotel, Bourges is actually slightly larger, at 100 x 67mm, but this is a reasonable margin of error – Whistler’s studio stock-taking seems to have been rather sloppy, since several etchings were recorded twice, under different titles.

The plate was in Whistler’s studio at his death and bequeathed to Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958) who gave it to the University of Glasgow in 1935. It was cancelled posthumously with a diagonal line across the lower left corner.

Whistler’s (James McNeill Whistler) Windows opposite Hotel, Bourges – image National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

Posted in Advertising, Digging and Finding, Ephemera, Figural Bottles, History, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged Abel Da Silva, advertising, canada, Cannon, copper, Figural, Glass Works Auctions, Hotel Bourges, Hughes and Kimber, James Buchanan & Co., James McNeill Whistler, Malt Whiskey, plate, printing, Toronto, Whiskey, whisky, Yorkville | Leave a comment

Barrel Series – Crow’s Celebrated Tonic Bitters

Posted on 18 August 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

CROW’S CELEBRATED TONIC BITTERS

18 August 2012 (R•021914 major update) (R•090516)

Saving the best for last is the Crow’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. Only one known example is residing in the great figural collection of Bob Ferraro in Boulder City, Nevada. I was fortunate enough to see this beauty a few years back. The is no other barrel with this exact mold though the top half is similar to the large Roback’s Stomach Bitters. I can not find any information on this rarity and welcome any news. Bob’s example came from an old Indiana collection. We can only hope one shows up in a Thrift Shop. Read: Barrel Series – W. Wolf found at Thrift Shop for $1.00

Update 19 February 2014:

We are probably talking about ~~Frank M. Crow~~ and Walter A. Ruhe. This is a fascinating bottle to research because the clues are so sparse. I would like to thank Tim Pillow for the “W. A. Ruhe’s Philadelphia Gallery” photo card from Evansville, Indiana below. This very important clue led me to Walter A. Ruhe, who guess what, lived in or near Philadelphia and a number of points in his life as you will see by the updated timeline below.

~~This further led me to Frank M. Crow~~, who was a distinguished early physician and druggist in Evansville. Though I have not found the ‘smoking gun’ to tie these two together, I believe there is a high probability that we are on the right track. How exciting!

POST IN UPDATE & RESEARCH MODE

William M. Crow (clue?)

Biographical and Historical Record of Greene and Carroll Counties, Iowa

William M. Crow, druggist, Grand Junction, was born in Warren County, Indiana, February 20, 1844. His father, John Crow, is a native of Dansville, Kentucky, and now resides in Polk County, this State. William M. was reared a farmer, and was educated in the high school at Des Moines, and also at Worthington and Warner’s Commercial College of the same city. He came with his parents to Des Moines in 1850. In many respects he is a self-made man, having taught school sixteen years. He taught in Polk, Jasper, Dallas and Greene Counties; he also taught in Kansas. His mother was formerly Medina Mace, a sister of Hon. Daniel Mace, who represented the La Fayette, Indiana, district from 1852 to 1856, and it was he who presented the name of Andrew Johnson for Vice-President of the United States. He was a celebrated lawyer, and was the attorney of the famous criminal, Bowles. Afterward, while talking with President Johnson, he was stricken with paralysis, from which he never recovered. Mr. Crow came to Grand Junction in 1878, and engaged in his present business. He carries a capital stock of $2,500, consisting of drugs, medicines, paints, oils, books, stationery, school books, notions, and everything usually kept in a first-class drug store. He does an annual business of $8,000. He was married September l, 1874, to Mary E. Jenks, daughter of William C. Jenks, deceased, and they have three children — R. Ernest, Arthur M. and Hazel. The latter was named for the heroine of the beautiful drama, Hazel Kirk. Mr. Crow is serving as president of the school board. Mrs. Crow is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Frank M. Crow

Frank M. Crow, one of the best known and ablest druggists of this section, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and served his apprenticeship in a drug store at Newcastle, Pennsylvania. He has worked at the business all his life from the time he was a boy of fifteen. He came to Evansville to manage the Pioneer Drug Store for the late Dr. Evans, the founder of the city and after whom Evansville was named. For nineteen years Mr. Crow had the supervision of this concern, being Dr. Evans’ right hand man. When he established his own business five years ago it became known far and wide as the “Sign
of the Crow,” and for some time this bird of wisdom was the living trademark of the business. Though the bird is now dead and gone, his master is in the prime of life and usefulness and his dispensary is one of Evansville’s popular places of trade. Mr. Crow has always aimed to Frank M. Crow’s Drug operate an exclusive drug store and he hews closely to this line, and has built up a most successful business.

Frank M. Crow’s motto, to put it briefly, is “not how cheap, but how good.” He has always lived up to his principle and his many friends and customers recognize in him the ideal of a first class druggist. Mr. Crow’s ready response to the plan of advertising Evansville was typical of his character. He is a man of quick decision, the nature of his business being such as to demand these qualities of action and judgment in order to be successful.

~~Mr. Crow is a member of the Masonic and other fraternities and enjoys to the full the social side of life, being genial in his manners and broad in his ideas of business.~~

The only known example of the CROW’S CELEBRATED STOMACH BITTERS – Ferraro Collection

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

C 254.4 CROW’S CELEBRATED TONIC BITTERS

CROW’S CELEBRATED / TONIC BITTERS // W. A. RUHE / SOLE AGENT / EVANSVILLE IND.
9 7/8 x 2 3/8
Round – barrel, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
10 rings above and indented panels on opposite sides with embossing vertical. Upper portion of barrel is very similar to the large ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS barrel (R 73).
Only known example came from an early Indiana collection.

CROW’S CELEBRATED STOMACH BITTERS – Bitters Bottles Supplement

“CROWS CELEBRATED / TONIC BITTERS – W.A. RUHE / SOLE AGENT / EVANSVILLE IND”, (on indented panels), (Ring/Ham, C-254.4), Indiana, ca. 1865 – 1875, reddish amber barrel, 10 1/8”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Near perfect. Extremely rare and to our knowledge the only known example! One of the most important pieces in the Ferraro collection! In the early 1980’s Jim Hagenbuch bought it from Billy Gonterman, who he met at a rest area on the Indiana, Illinois border line. It was bought by Carlyn Ring at the 1988 FOHBC Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Purchased from Glass Works Auction in 1995, auction 41 lot 25. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection (Session 1)

Unidentified photograph taken at W. A. Ruhe’s Philadelphia Gallery. I’ve long been aware of the vertically embossed bitters barrel is from my home town and I was told that an example was discovered in the top of a chifferobe in a local antique shop on Illinois St. I don’t recall who told me that story as it’s been twenty years since. The above circa 1870s photograph card is a recent purchase. – Tim Pillow

Select Timeline Events for Walter A. Ruhe

(probable A=Augusta)

abt 1834: Walter A. Ruhe, born Pennsylvania, father William, mother Sarah Matchett. wife: Martha Slocumb, children, Charles A., William S., Ida T.D., Ada , Emma, Walter, Samuel, Frederick)

1850: Ruhe living in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

1850: Samuel E. Gilbert first wholesale grocery in Evansville, Indiana. Ruhe later works with Gilbert.

~~1854: born, Frank M. Crow, druggist, Main St., Evansville, Indiana~~

1859: Married Martha Slocumb in Carmi, White, Illinois (just northwest of Evansville) on 06 January, 1859

1861-1865: Walter A. Ruhe, Musician, Union, Company F & S, 18th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (Army) – Civil War Service Index

1865?: W. A. Ruhe’s Philadelphia Gallery, Corner Main and Second Streets, Evansville, Indiana (see photo card above)

1866-1867: Ruhe & Finch Photographic Gallery (Walter A. Ruhe and John J. Finch), corner 2d and Main, Sawyers Building, 1866 Evansville, Indiana City Directory

1868-1869: Traveling agent (probably Samuel E. Gilbert, Grocer)

John Scantlin, who died many years ago, played the bass horn and Walter Ruhe, who was also a traveling man for S. E. Gilbert & Co., played the tuba horn. – History of the city of Evansville and Vanderburg County, Indiana *Samuel E. Gilbert, Grocer

Frank M. Gilbert, son of Samuel E. and Cordelia Manson Gilbert, was born in Mobile, Ala., on July 1, 1846, and went with his parents in 1852 (1850 some reports) to Evansville, Ind., where he was educated in the public schools and where he lived most of his life.

1870-1871: Walter A. Ruhe, clerk, 31 N. 1st. h n e s b Mulberry and Gum, 1870 Evansville, Indiana City Directory

1871-1872: Only residence is listed.

1883 – 1895: F. Hoyt & Co. (Frank Hoyt & Walter A. Ruhe) perfumery, 37 Strawberry – 1883 Philadelphia City Directory (see bottle below)

1899 – 1900: Walter A. Ruhe, cigarmaker by trade, resident Southern Branch National Home Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Elizabeth City, Virginia

1903 – 1904: Walter A. Ruhe, Atlantic City (wife Martha) – Atlantic City City Directory

Reference: Evansville Public Library and BottlePickers.com

Panoramic aerial view of Evansville, Indiana

Evansville, ca. 1900. Courtesy of the Special Collections Department of Willard Library, Evansville, Indiana.

Here you can see the CROW’S CELEBRATED STOMACH BITTERS on the second shelf on the far left – Ferraro Collection

Merchant’s Gargling Oil – “Good for Man and Beast”

Posted on 18 August 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Merchant’s Gargling Oil for Man and Beast, Clay, Cosack & Co., c 1873, print: wood engraving. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

Merchant’s Gargling Oil – “Good for Man and Beast”

18 August 2012

A couple of paths converged last evening and pointed to developing this post for Merchants Gargling Oil. The first was when I was looking at Marianne Dow’s great images of monkeys (see above) in bottle advertising on Just Monkeying Around and the second was when I was admiring a picture by Dave Kam at Early American Glass on facebook (see below).

Merchant’s Gargling Oil in original package with three different colors of MERCHANT’S GARGLING OIL bottles – Dave Kam

“Good for Man and Beast”

I have always liked the color, shape, typography and name of these bottles as I find my eyes pleasantly resting every time on a Merchant’s bottle whether it is at a bottle show or pictured at an online auction. As with many brands, I am drawn by the name and in this case “Gargling Oil” and the slogan “Good for Man and Beast”. I mean who would gargle with oil and who would take medicine that animals used too! Well, this prompted a little look at Dr. George Merchant, his products and methods of advertising.

Fully labeled example of a MERCHANT’S GARGLING OIL – photo RicksBottleRoom.com

GEORGE W. MERCHANT’S

GARGLING OIL LINIMENT

Yellow Wrapper for Animal and White for Human Flesh.

“Whether for use on man or beast, Merchant’s Gargling Oil will be found an invaluable Liniment, and worthy of use by every resident in the land. We know of no proprietary medicine or article now used in the United States which shares the good-will of the people to a greater decree than this. Yellow wrapper for animal and white for human flesh.”– New York Independent

From C. T. Dale & Co. Mortonsville, Kentucky – “We sell about twenty bottles of Gurgling Oil where we sell one of any other liniments, and in the last year we have bought and sold more than any year previous”.

From Dr. J. P. Terrell, March 3, 1856 – “I am engaged in the practice of medicine, and find your Gargling Oil an extremely efficient remedy in all cases where an external application is indicated”.

From J. C. B. Ish, M.D., dated Arrow Rook, Missouri, Sept. 9, 1872 – “I sell a great deal of your Gargling Oil, and think it is the finest medicine I ever saw”.

Merchant’s Gargling Oil as a Family Liniment

We are now, and have been for some years, preparing the Oil free from stain, to be used as a common Liniment for human flesh, extracting the coloring ingredient which has heretofore rendered it objectionable. This Oil possesses all the medicinal properties of that prepared with the dark tinge for horses and cattle, and will be found one of the best remedies for all purposes where a liniment is required that has ever been manufactured.

Although prepared intentionally for human flesh, answers as well for beasts, vice versa, the dark oil answers as well for human, flesh, only it will stain and discolor the skin, but not permanently.

Gargling Oil Liniment as an Internal Remedy

Merchant’s Gargling Oil is a diffusible stimulant and carminative. It can be taken internally when such a remedy is indicated, and is a good substitute for pain killers, cordials and anodynes. For Cramps or Spasms of the Stomach, Colic, Asthma, or Internal Pain, the dose may be from fifteen to twenty drops, on sugar, or mixed with syrup in any convenient form, and repeated at intervals of three to six hours.

Merchant’s Gargling Oil is the Standard Liniment of the United States. Established 1833. Large size, $1; medium, 50c.; small, 25c.; small size for family use, 25c.

Manufactured at Lockport, N. Y., by M. G. O. Co., and sold by all druggists.

[above from RicksBottleRoom.com]

Merchant’s Gargling Oil (no, the horse or person did not have to gargle it) could trace its pedigree to 1833 Philadelphia, though it was manufactured in Lockport, New York. The first incarnation of the liniment was intended to cure almost any illness that could befall a domestic animal. The form intended for human use was not introduced until 1875. Four years earlier Merchant’s Vegetable Worm Tablets had made their appearance. Merchant’s Gargling Oil was then made in two versions, one for animals and one for people. The ointment for animal ailments was intended for surface wounds and skin ailments common to horses, cattle, sheep and poultry. A topical ointment was also made for human skin problems. Neither product was intended for internal use, despite the product name of gargling oil.

Merchant’s Gargling Oil Co’s. laboratory and office, Lockport, N.Y. (Burned Jan. 5, 1881, from Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views

The Merchant’s Gargling Oil Company of Lockport, New York was founded by Dr. George W. Merchant, a druggist, in 1833, and initially sold to drivers of horses and mules alongside the Erie Canal. Dr Merchant started out in “Lower Town” and moved to “Upper Town” in 1836. Dr. Merchant shrewdly marketed with the slogan “Good for Man and Beast”. By the end of the 19th century the product was sold worldwide and company was one of Lockport’s main industries. George W. Merchant sold the business to M.H. Tucker around 1855. John Hodge joined the company as a teenager, and was elected Secretary when M.H. Tucker & Company was incorporated in 1858. Hodge married one of Tucker’s daughters and gained control of the company in 1865 when Tucker died. Overall, Merchant’s Gargling Oil lasted almost 100 years, going out of business in 1928 when the factory finally burned down. The company ownership changed hands at least 3 or 4 times in the 19th century.

References:

Farley, Doug. “Erie Canal Discovery: Merchant’s Gargling Oil’s tie to Lockport.” Lockport Union-Sun & Journal. 13 July 2008.

“Merchant’s Gargling Oil.” Patent Medicine: Hagley Museum and Library.

“Dr. G.W. Merchant” Matt’s Collectibles Antique Medicines

rdhinstl’s Page – Philatelic Website

Grouping of G.W. Merchant bottles showing a nice range of blu/green colors in the Lockport Glass. – Mike Stephano

Both the one-cent black and two-cent green private die stamps were first issued in May of 1869, and last issued February 1, 1883. 853,270 of the black ones were printed on old paper, 1,378,458 on silk paper and 1,873,195 on pink and watermarked papers. The copy above is on silk paper. 626,650 of the two-cent green stamps were issued on old paper, 901,438 on silk paper and 969,026 on pink and watermarked papers. The one shown is on pink paper, though the scan does not pick up the paper color well. – rdhinstl’s Page

An 1854 cover for Merchant’s Celebrated Gargling Oil – rdhinstl’s Page

The contents of the cover pictured above, asking for payment of an 1853 bill and showing the wholesale product prices – rdhinstl’s Page

An ornate corner card on an 1858 cover from Merchant’s. Wording on the back reflects the purchase of the product by H.M. Tucker, which occurred around 1855 – rdhinstl’s Page

Merchant’s Gargling Oil Songster, Lockport, N.Y. c 1887 – DeGolyer, Pamphlet Collection

Merchant’s Gargling Oil dream fate calendar songster. Lockport, NY: Merchant’s Gargling Oil Co., n.d., (ca. 1882) – image Rulon – Miller Books

Colored embossed tin advertising sign for the patent medicine Merchant’s Gargling Oil. It bears the company’s whimsical slogan, “A Liniment for Man or Beast. Established 1833.” An illustration in a central oval in the sign shows the product being applied to the leg of an Arabian stallion by Turkish groomsmen, a scene related to a publicity stunt conceived by Morris Tucker, a partner in the company. Tucker sent a dozen bottles in a satin-lined oak box as a gift to the Sultan of Turkey and announced it to the American press, which ran with the story, boosting sales, even though the sultan never acknowledged receiving the gift. Thereafter, the company decorated its packaging of gargling oil for animals with this picture. – George Glazer Gallery

Merchant’s Gargling Oil Victorian Trade Card – AntiqueBottles.com

This trade card could have been used between the time John Hodge was elected Secretary of M.H. Tucker & Company in 1858 and when he took control of the company in 1865. However, it appears that Hodge did not take a different title until well after he took control, so the card may be from the 1870’s – rdhinstl’s Page

1862 Merchant’s Almanac – James Schmidt Collection

Cover art and advertising for Merchant’s Gargling Oil Dream and Fate, Palmistry & c. Almanac, Songster, Lockport, N.Y. ca. 1880 – 1890

This is an old piece you don’t see too often, and great color and condition. Guess I’m in the market for a frame now. That is four large size Gargling Oils holding down the corners. This is a big piece. – Dave Kam

1847 Ad for Merchant’s Gargling Oil. Product was sold in a white wrapper for Human use and a yellow wrapper for Animal use – Matt’s Collectibles Antique Medicines

Posted in Advertising, Color Runs, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, Glass Companies & Works, History, Medicines & Cures, Postage, Remedy, Tax Stamps, Trade Cards, Veterinary | Tagged almanac, beast, Dave Kam, Druggist & Drugstore, George W. Merchant, James Schmidt, Liniment, Lockport, Man, Marianne Dow, Merchant's Gargling Oil, Mike Stephano, monkey, New York | 2 Comments

Buchanan’s Black & White Scotch Whisky Advertising

Posted on 17 August 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Yesterday I was writing and posting pictures of figural Buchanan cannon bottles (read: “the Buchanan Cannons”). During my research to determine the source of the Buchanan name I was led to the James Buchanan Company which is a scotch whisky “merchant”- a company that purchases and blends lots of scotch whisky to make their own signature blend labels. The company was named for James Buchanan who was Canadian born and returned back across the Atlantic and settled in London. He founded the company in 1884. Today the James Buchanan Company markets a number of scotch labels.

When I started looking at 20th century Buchanan products, I was reminded that this is the same Buchanan that produced the Black & White label scotch whisky. Always a favorite of mine and Elizabeth’s because they used a black and white Scottish Terrier as mascots on their brand logo. Over the years I have collected various labels, post cards, paper weights and other items with the Black & White logo.

You see, when I was a child growing up in Towson, Maryland, we had a neighbor who had a little Scottie. His name was McDuff. I still remember playing with him all the time as this little fellow had so much energy and was so cute and distinguished looking at the same time. As some of you know may know, terriers have great personalities.

Flash forward to the early nineties when I was settled in Houston. My first dog, guess, was a Scottish Terrier named McGee. My second dog and a playmate for McGee was Mia, a West Highland White Terrier. These two dogs are pictured with my wife Elizabeth below. I believe this picture was taken sometime around 1993. I miss these two dogs though we have many pictures framed sitting in our office and at home as they were part of our family.

Magee (hard to see), Mia and my wife, Elizabeth

Today, as I sit in my studio office in downtown Houston, we are surrounded by eight dogs of various shapes and sizes (see FMG Dog Pack). Three are Scottish Terriers (Macintosh aka Mac, Murphy and Maggie).

For fun, I put together some of the great Buchanan Black & White scotch whisky advertising.

Posted in Advertising, Ephemera, History, Holiday, Humor - Lighter Side, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged Black & White, Elizabeth Meyer, Glascow, James Buchanan & Co., London, Mac, Magee, Maggie, maryland, Mia, Murphy, Scotch, Scottie, Scottish, Terrier, Towson, West Highand, Westie, Whiskey, whisky | Leave a comment

“the Buchanan Cannons”

Posted on 16 August 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

“the Buchanan Cannons”

16 August 2012

Buchanan’s Malt Whiskey

Buchanan Sour Mash Whiskey

Buchanan’s Extract of Sugar Corn

In late June of this year, I felt like I was wrapping up the Figural Cannon Series (see bottom of page) with the R.G.A. Wright Great Gun Cologne. At this time, I had set aside an image from Charles Aprill (see below) of his “Buchanan Cannons“, hoping that I might get some more information and imagery from other sources for a final post to wrap the series up. Well this information did not come and what I do have is in short supply. It is my hope, by creating this post, that more examples and information might be forthcoming for inclusion. I have only seen one example in person and that was within figural collector, Bob Ferraro’s collection in Nevada.

“the Buchanan Cannons”

There are three “Buchanan Cannon” variants represented in the picture below according to Charles. The cannon shape is dissimilar from the cannons pictured at the top of this post (left to right: 1. Bininger, 2. R.G.A. Wright, 3. J.T. Gayen) in that they are broader and shorter, almost ‘squatty’ in form. The Aprill cannons are embossed as follows:

BUCHANAN’S / ABSOLUTELY PURE / MALT / WHISKEY

(embossed rearing stags alongside a shield BUCHANAN / DISTILLED (in a long ribbon beneath the shield, HAND MADE SOUR MASH WHISKEY

BUCHANAN’S / EXTRACT / OF / SUGAR CORN

Incoming…

Ferdinand,

I strongly suspect that these cannon bottles are related to James Buchanan, the Canadian/English whiskey guy. The attached ad, from The Toronto Daily Mail of August 7, 1889, is probably the same product. Your description of the hearaldic coat of arms on the sour mash version of the bottle sounds very much like the British royal coat of arms, except there should be a rampant lion on the left side of the shield. Also, the horse on the right is nearly always depicted as a unicorn.

Eric McGuire

BUCHANAN’S ABSOLUTELY PURE MALT WHISKEY advertisement – Eric McGuire

Excited new material related to the press sheet image above added on 19 August 2012. Read: Buchanan Brass Printing Plate – Figural Cannon Series

Buchanan figural cannon whiskey trio. Left: BUCHANAN’S / ABSOLUTELY PURE / MALT / WHISKEY. Middle: Embossed rearing stags alongside a shield BUCHANAN / DISTILLED . In a long ribbon beneath the shield, HAND MADE SOUR MASH WHISKEY. Right: BUCHANAN’S / EXTRACT / OF / SUGAR CORN. The middle bottle is ex. Charles Gardner. – Charles Aprill

BUCHANAN’S / ABSOLUTELY PURE / MALT / WHISKEY – Charles Aprill

Embossed rearing stags alongside a shield BUCHANAN / DISTILLED . In a long ribbon beneath the shield, HAND MADE SOUR MASH WHISKEY. ex. Charles Gardner – Charles Aprill

BUCHANAN’S / EXTRACT / OF / SUGAR CORN – Charles Aprill

Searching the internet reveals the following information for two primary James Buchanan’s that may be related to the bottle. James Buchanan (Buchanan #1) was a well known liquor merchant associated with many whiskey names and brands.

It is quite possible that the “Buchanan Cannon’s” predate this information related to the liquor merchant and the Buchanan name is related to our 15th president, James Buchanan (Buchanan #2). Does anyone know the answer? Is there yet another Buchanan? I would highly suspect, that the Buchanan embossed on the bottles is related to our president, James Buchanan, because of the time period and the Civil War.

Update 19 August 2012: New information from two sources, confirm that the Buchanan Cannons were a product of James Buchanan Co.

James Buchanan #1 (the liquor merchant)

James Buchanan, born in Canada but son of Scottish immigrants, returned to the United Kingdom shortly after he was born and he was brought up in Larne. He joined a Glasgow shipping firm as an office boy when he was fourteen or fifteen, and was later promoted to be a clerk. In 1868 he joined his brother in the grain business until 1879, when he moved to London as an agent for a company in the whisky trade. He realised that there was an untapped market in England for bottled Scotch whisky and set about producing his own, the Buchanan Blend. He went into business on his own in 1884 as James Buchanan & Co.

In 1898, James Buchanan was given the Royal Warrant to supply the Royal Household with Buchanan’s Whisky to Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales.

The company joined Distillers Company in 1925. Distillers was acquired by Guinness in 1986, and Guinness merged with Grand Metropolitan to form Diageo in 1997. [from Wikipedia]

and more:

Black and White Whisky Poster – Buchanan
Black & White is a blended Scotch whisky. It was first produced by the London-based whisky blender founded by James Buchanan. Originally known as House of Commons (after the British House of Commons), its nickname- referring to the black and white labelling- was eventually adopted as the official brand instead. The brand’s motif (featuring a black Scottish Terrier and a white West Highland White Terrier) was conceived by James Buchanan himself during the 1890s.

James Buchanan Company is a scotch whisky “merchant”- a company that purchases and blends lots of scotch whisky to make their own signature blend labels. The company is named for James Buchanan (actually Canadian born returning back across the Atlantic and settling in London) who founded the company in 1884 and today markets a number of scotch labels. The company purchased a number of distilleries before itself becoming part of different conglomerates.

The Buchanan Red Seal scotch is their ultra-premium offering aged 21 years. It is said that it is a recreation of the 1901 version that James Buchanan himself created to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII–hence, the red seal.

James Buchanan #2 (our 15th president)

James Buchanan, Jr. (April 23, 1791 – June 1, 1868) was the 15th President of the United States (1857–1861). He is the only president from Pennsylvania and the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor. His niece Harriet Lane played the role of lady of the house.

Buchanan (often called Buck-anan by his contemporaries was a popular and experienced state politician and a successful attorney before his presidency. He represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives and later the Senate and served as Minister to Russia under President Andrew Jackson. He was also Secretary of State under President James K. Polk. After he turned down an offer for an appointment to the Supreme Court, President Franklin Pierce appointed him Minister to the United Kingdom, in which capacity he helped draft the controversial Ostend Manifesto.

Buchanan was nominated in the 1856 election. Throughout most of Franklin Pierce’s term he was stationed in London as a Minister to the Court of St. James’s and therefore was not caught up in the crossfire of sectional politics that dominated the country. Buchanan was viewed by many as a compromise between the two sides of the slavery question. His subsequent election victory took place in a three-man race with John C. Frémont and Millard Fillmore. As President, he was often called a “doughface”, a Northerner with Southern sympathies, who battled with Stephen A. Douglas for the control of the Democratic Party. Buchanan’s efforts to maintain peace between the North and the South alienated both sides, and the Southern states declared their secession in the prologue to the American Civil War. Buchanan’s view of record was that secession was illegal, but that going to war to stop it was also illegal. Buchanan, first and foremost an attorney, was noted for his mantra, “I acknowledge no master but the law.”

When he left office, popular opinion had turned against him, and the Democratic Party had split in two. Buchanan had once aspired to a presidency that would rank in history with that of George Washington. However, his inability to impose peace on sharply divided partisans on the brink of the Civil War has led to his consistent ranking by historians as one of the worst Presidents. Buchanan biographer Philip Klein puts these rankings into context: “Buchanan assumed leadership … when an unprecedented wave of angry passion was sweeping over the nation. That he held the hostile sections in check during these revolutionary times was in itself a remarkable achievement. His weaknesses in the stormy years of his presidency were magnified by enraged partisans of the North and South. His many talents, which in a quieter era might have gained for him a place among the great presidents, were quickly overshadowed by the cataclysmic events of civil war and by the towering Abraham Lincoln.” Buchanan was the last president born in the 18th century. [from Wikipedia]

BUCHANAN’S figural cannon sitting on the shelves of the great figural collector, Bob Ferraro. Bob and Connie Ferraro posing during my visit to Boulder City, Nevada.

Detail of BUCHANAN’S figural cannon sitting on the shelves of the great figural collector, Bob Ferraro.

Read Further: R. & G. A. Wright – Great Gun Cologne

Read Further: General Scotts Artillery Bitters – The Ultimate Cannon Barrel Figural

Read Further: Tobias Barto and his Great Gun Bitters – Reading, PA

Read Further: Figural Cannon Bottles – J T GAYEN / ALTONA

Read Further: A. M. Bininger & Co. Figural Cannon

Read Further: Sol Frank’s Panacea Bitters – Great Form

Read Further: Thad Waterman “Warsaw” Stomach Bitters – Figural Cannon Barrel, Lighthouse or House Roof?

Read Further: Brown’s Castilian Bitters – Transitional Cannon Barrel Figural

Read Further: Castilian Bitters – Brown & Embree Proprietors – New York

Posted in Civil War, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, History, Questions, Stained Glass, Whiskey | Tagged Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Bob Ferraro, Buchanan, canada, Cannon, Charles Aprill, Charles Gardner, Connie Ferraro, corn, England, Eric McGuire, Figural, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan & Co., James K. Polk, King Edward VII, liquor, London, Malt, merchant, Millard Fillmore, President, Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria, Scotch, Scottish, Series, sugar, Whiskey | 1 Comment

Evolution of Syphilis Posters

Posted on 15 August 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

While working on the recent post on the great SWIFT’S SYPHILITIC SPECIFIC (SSS), I came across some wonderful vintage posters from an international community of graphic designers. These posters are quite spectacular.

SWIFT’S SYPHILITIC SPECIFIC in natural light. The dark one is 8 1/2″ tall. The lighter one has a longer neck, 9″ tall. Close inspection suggests these two bottles were from the same mold. Fairly dramatic difference in the blue – c.a. (Charles Aprill)

Antique French syphilis medicine apothecary bottle

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis. Other human diseases caused by related Treponema pallidum include yaws (subspecies pertenue), pinta (subspecies carateum), and bejel (subspecies endemicum).

The signs and symptoms of syphilis vary depending in which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary). The primary stage classically presents with a single chancre (a firm, painless, non-itchy skin ulceration), secondary syphilis with a diffuse rash which frequently involves the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, latent syphilis with little to no symptoms, and tertiary syphilis with gummas, neurological, or cardiac symptoms. It has, however, been known as “the great imitator” due to its frequent atypical presentations. Diagnosis is usually via blood tests; however, the bacteria can also be visualized under a microscope. Syphilis can be effectively treated with antibiotics, specifically the preferred intramuscular penicillin G (given intravenously for neurosyphilis), or else ceftriaxone, and in those who have a severe pencillin allergy, oral doxycycline or azithromycin.

Syphilis is believed to have infected 12 million people worldwide in 1999, with greater than 90% of cases in the developing world. After decreasing dramatically since the widespread availability of penicillin in the 1940s, rates of infection have increased since the turn of the millennium in many countries, often in combination with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This has been attributed partly to unsafe sexual practices among men who have sex with men, increased promiscuity, prostitution, and decreasing use of barrier protection.