London Jockey Club House Gin

Posted on 14 April 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

London Jockey Club House Gin

Obviously Gold Rush miners loved their Gin!

14 April 2012 (R•06Oct13)

LondonJockeyAdSF1860TheHunter

Apple-Touch-IconAWithout a doubt, my favorite non-Bitters square is the great London Jockey Club House Gin with embossed horse and rider. I have owned a number of great examples but sometimes I end up selling to a persuasive buyer if I need funds for a Bitters bottle. I really would like to know where these bottles were made and wonder why so many ended up out west. Obviously Gold Rush miners loved their Gin! I have put together some pictures and advertising from my collection, Western Bitters News and other sites to try to give everyone an understanding of what has been posted and what the latest movement and thinking has been about this brand. Another thing that I find interesting is that the advertising shows the horses running left while the bottle embossing, the horse runs right.

Advertisement, London Jockey Club House Gin, 1858

London Jockey Club House Gin Ad in The Golden Era Newspaper – 25 December 1859

[from Rick Simi at Western Bitters News on 01 January 2010] Lately there seems to be a lot of interest in the early gold rush era squares found out here in the west. Although not a bitters, one of these squares, the London Jockey Clubhouse Gin, is certainly capturing the limelight as one of the most desirable of these early western distributed squares.

The value of these bottles has escalated dramatically in the last two years. Several “western” collectors are aggressively seeking the Jockey Clubhouse and consequently have driven the price of these bottles literally “through the roof” In American Bottle Auctions auction # 47 a dark green example fetched a mid 4 figure price and in auction #48 a grass green Jockey ended at just under the mid 4 figures.

The earliest mention of the London Jockey Clubhouse, that I have found, comes from the April 1859 edition of the Sacramento Daily Union and was placed by the James Patrick Company, sole agents for California. According to the information I have gathered from early advertisements for the product the Jockey Clubhouse Gin was imported by A.C. and C.E. Tilton of New York City.

Wilson, in his book Spirit Bottles of the Old West eludes to this bottle being manufactured into the 1870’s. I cannot find any reference to the Jockey Clubhouse after approximately 1866 when the Patrick Company had 1,000 cases of the London Jockey Clubhouse Gin languishing in its San Francisco warehouse. A previous advertisement in the October 1862 edition of the Sacramento Daily Union lists 100 cases of the Clubhouse Gin being auctioned at ‘agents rates”

Even though I don’t have conclusive proof of the longevity of the London Jockey Clubhouse, auction price results and the scarcity of available examples of this bottle make it a very rare, desirable and pricey piece of early western gold rush history.

[from Jeff Wichmann at American Bottle Auctions] This London Jockey Clubhouse Gin bottle (pictured above), with embossed horse and rider, applied top and smooth base brought $7,000 in a June 2010 sale by American Bottle Auctions. Read More: Trends in the Antique Bottle Market

[Comment from CalDigr2 on Antique-Bottles.net regarding the above picture] The “classic” English Gun lip is usually a definite indicator of British manufacture. Those are similarities shared by Booth’s, the ever present Gordon’s, and any other UK gin bottle. Those were often applied lip as late as the 1910s, but to a lesser extent, depending on manufacturer.

American gins have the typical chamfered corners and tapered top, a characteristic often copied by European companies. The horse and rider of the London Jockey only adds to the beauty of this bottle. The beautiful Wistar’s Club House gins that we so often dig in the Gold Rush camps of the Sierra are another fine example of American glass container for the popular alcoholic drink that it was during those few years that the gold seekers pored over the streams searching for riches. Piles of discarded bottles were so prevalent that camps were named after them. Bottle Hill, in El Dorado County and Bottle Gulch and Botilleas, in Amador, are a few that come to mind.

Advertisement, London Jockey Club House Gin

Recently dug glass shards with many London Jockey Club House Gin pieces

Yellow glass shards of a London Jockey Club House Gin

London Jockey Club House Gin Display – 49er Bottle Show in Auburn, California – December 2011

London Jockey Club House Gin color run

Three London Jockey Club House Gins – American Bottle Auctions | Auction 55

Dark rich green example London Jockey Club House Gin

Light green example London Jockey Club House Gin

Yellow citron example London Jockey Club House Gin

Olive green example London Jockey Club House Gin

Posted in Advertising, Color Runs, Digging and Finding, Gin, History, Spirits | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Occupational Shaving Mugs

Posted on 13 April 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

I have not written or posted about Occupational Shaving Mugs before though I have to admit, each time that Glass Works Auctions comes around with a new auction, I look at the vintage mugs hoping that a Ferdinand Meyer or Ferdinand Meyer II or Ferdinand Meyer III might show up from some Baltimore source. Dana Charlton-Zarro recently asked the question at Bottles Collectors on facebook “Does anyone have a bottle with their name on it?”

This reminded me of my search that probably never will yield the mug I’m looking for, but none-the-less, it is something fun to look at and search for. Looking online, I see the follow decrription:

Occupational Shaving Mugs are at the top of the list when it comes to barbershop collectibles. At the beginning of 1870’s most men owned a shaving mug at home or at his barbershop. The patrons thought it would aid in reducing the rashes caught from the barber but actually it was the unsanitary razors that caused the rashes. Shaving mugs also were a status symbol for barbers and customers as well. The amount of mugs a barber had on display would represent his clientele base.

From 1870 to 1920 millions of shaving mugs were produced making them fairly available today. On any day one can connect to eBay and find hundreds of shaving mugs to bid on. Antique shaving mugs range from tens to thousands of dollars depending on how rare the occupation was the more expensive the shaving mug.
 Hand Painted occupational shaving mugs are excellent examples of American folk art. Blank mugs were shipped from Germany and France to the US to be painted. Of course all mugs are not created equal. There are personalized mugs with mild detail and those with serious artistry including gold leaf trimming and ceramic glazes then a few sessions in a gas kiln. Collectors simply call it “Eye Appeal.”

Distinctions In Collectible Shaving Mugs is between the mugs used at home and those used in barbershops. Shaving mugs used at home had more appeal, style, shape and artistic expression. They were also the least expensive and could be found in almost any home and purchased from a local catalog.
 In 1932 Katherine Morrison Kahle wrote a article on old time shaving mugs which was published in Magazine Antiques and they have been popular collectible ever since. By 1949 writer/collector Porter Ware had collected more than 500 different mugs and wrote a book on shaving mugs.

Actor Broderick Crawford and his Shaving Mug Collection

Read More: Collectible Shaving Mugs

Read More: The Shaving Mug

Rad More: Antique Helper

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My First Bottle Tattoo – Nic Queen

Posted on 13 April 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

I am working on a feature article in the next FOHBC Bottles and Extras for the recent Baltimore Bottle Show and was remembering the really cool tattoo that Nic Queen had on his leg. He even had it on the cover of a local newspaper to promote the show! Nic was kind enough to let me reprint the story.

Some of the Baltimore boys hamming it up at the Appraisal Table at the Baltimore Bottle Show this past March. That is Nic Queen, club President holding up a local paper promoting the show with his leg and a milk bottle bottle tattoo honoring his father! (left to right - Paul Fite, club VP, Greg Franklin, Dave Mathews and Nic Queen)

Well it all started with the 20 questions on “what made you start collecting” etc.

I had been playing with the idea for sometime, really ‘cause’ I just did not know what to get. I wanted something different, something that said it was something that came from the twisted mind of Nic Queen. I just didn’t want to end up with a “tatt” of an average ‘run of the mill’ Bromo-seltzer or a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer bottle. That did not work for me at all.

Well after many long hours of thought, discarded designs, and thinking of something that was really true to me, I came up with an idea which really spoke to me. I figured I wanted to honor my father who passed a few years back at a ripe old age, a tribute of my love of collecting milk bottles, and my love of Maryland.

And now where to get it, my upper arms are about full for my liking, my fore-arms are out for my mind-set, I work in an office setting and well frankly “people” will then know for sure I come from “Glen-tucky” and have a car or 2 in the yard”. And my chest?, Well OUCH!! Well not for me, and my back is getting full and I can’t see it. I finalized on the left outside calf.

Now for the design, I arrived with something which incorporated it all! I came up with a fictitious dairy. My little brain brewed up Double “O” Dairy from Indian Head MD. 
This way I honor my father, knowing his call sign was “Double “O” during his deer hunting days. Not because he used double “O” buck shot but because when he brought liquor to the hunting lodge, it was always 100 proof or better!! 
Indian Head Maryland was where he grew up.
 And well my love of milk bottles.
 So I endured the pain even, had the guy add a bit of a purple tinge to the glass and a few bubbles too! I am very happy with it and now, how do I give “props” to my love of drinking beer, chasing women, digging bottles, and my beloved Harley motorcycles???

Read More: Tattoo Work Inspired by Glass

Posted in Bottle Shows, Club News, Collectors & Collections, Humor - Lighter Side, Milk & Creamers, News, Publications | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prickly Ash Bitters – Meyer Brothers Drug Company

Posted on 13 April 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Prickly Ash Bitters

Meyer Brothers Drug Company

13 April 2012 (R•112713 – Western photograph of sign) (R•111215) (R•032819) (R•051119-TC Swanson) (R•102619-1880 Newspaper ad)

Apple-Touch-IconADana Charlton-Zarro asked the following question over on one of the bottle collecting pages on Facebook. This gave me a chance to pull out one of my MEYER bottles.

“How many have a bottle with their name embossed?”

This got me thinking about the Meyer Brothers Prickly Ash Bitters. One of my other brothers is Charles Meyer (Chuck) who is the Treasurer of the Baltimore Bottle Club.

PricklyAsh_r__Decatur_Daily_Republican_Tue__Oct_11__1887_

Advertisement for Prickly Ash Bitters – Decatur Daily Republican, Tuesday, October 11, 1887

Advertisement for Prickly Ash Bitters – Minneapolis Independent, Saturday, June 26, 1880

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

P 140 PRICKLY ASH / BITTERS // f // f // f //
Prickly Ash Bitters Company   Meyer Brothers Drug Company
Proprietors   St. Louis   Kansas City
9 1/4 x 2 1/2 (6 3/4) 3/8
Square, Amber and Clear, LTC, Tooled lip and ABM, 1 sp, Common
P 141 PRICKLY ASH / BITTERS CO // f // f // f //
9 3/4 x 2 3/4 (7) 3/8
Square, LTC, Tooled lip, 1 sp, 1/2 inch letters
Amber, Common; Yellow olive, Very rare

READ: Dr. Sherman’s Prickley Ash Bitters from Kansas City?

Meyer Brothers Drug Company

The following data is extracted from Centennial History of Missouri.

St. Louis is recognized as one of the leading drug and chemical markets in the United States and also has the distinction of being the home of the largest wholesale drug house in the United States if not in the world. Meyer Brothers Drug Company was founded by Christian F. G. Meyer at Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1852. The founder came to this country from Lemforde in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, in 1847 and consequently was in this country only a few years before entering the drug business. In 1865 the business had grown to such an extent that the founder investigated other distributing points and finally decided to establish the St. Louis branch, realizing that this city was destined to be one of the greatest distributing markets in America. The present buildings contain over three hundred thousand square feet of floor surface fronting on both Fourth street and Broadway and occupy nearly the entire block. In addition to this Meyer Brothers Drug Company occupies three other buildings which are used for warehouse purpose at 316 to 318 South Third Street, 408 to 416 Elm street and the southwest corner of Fourth and Elm streets. The main building occupies the frontage on Clark avenue of two hundred and seventy-nine feet and on Fourth street one hundred and fourteen and a half feet, being built on the slow combustion plan and containing all the modern appliances for the quick and economical transaction of business.

Meyer Brothers Drug Company, in addition to being the largest distributer of drugs, chemicals and pharmaceutical products in this country, is also the manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, proprietary preparations, perfume and toilet requisites and numerous items handled by the drug trade. It is the originator of the well-known line of house-hold drugs in packages marketed under the name of “Certified.” These goods are certified direct to the consumer and are guaranteed by the certificate to be of the highest quality and purity. The Red Diamond line of household specialties put up under the M. B. trademark has an enormous and constantly growing sale all over the United States and especially in the territory tributary to St. Louis.

The well-known line of Imperial Crown perfumes and toilet preparations are the products of the “Meyer” laboratory. Everything bearing the “Meyer” trademark, consisting of the red diamond with three test tubes and the legend “Quality certified by test,” is fully guaranteed. Every package of drugs and chemicals is thoroughly analyzed by expert analytical chemists before being placed on the market and all products bearing the M.B. label are standardized, thus insuring uniformity of results. Meyer Brothers Drug Company years ago established a reputation for sending out goods only of the highest quality and was a pioneer in “Purity the prime consideration.”

The sponge and chamois department of Meyer Brothers Drug Company is a business in itself and probably is exceeded by few, if any, of the exclusive sponge houses of America. In 1918 it purchased the entire stock of sponges carried by McKesson & Robbins, the largest wholesale drug house in New York city. With direct representatives located at the sponge fisheries, Meyer Brothers Drug Company is in a position to supply any item in this line at the lowest prices consistent with the quality of the goods. This is a special feature of the business and the wonderful success the sponge and chamois department has met with is conclusive evidence of the ability of the house in this line.

Meyer Brothers Drug Company operates its own printing department, which is housed in the separate five-story building on the southwest corner of Fourth and Elm streets. It has an investment of over sixty thousand dollars in the way of job presses, cylinder presses, cutting machines, folding machines and in fact all equipment necessary for a modern printing establishment. Even with this investment it is necessary to have a large amount of printing done outside. About thirty people are constantly employed in the printing department.

It would be impossible to give an adequate idea of the immensity of this concern without a personal trip through the house. In the vaults, which reach from the basement to the roof, are stored narcotics, expensive chemicals, essential oils, etc., representing an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars. An extensive system of shelving in the order department carries almost every item in the proprietary line manufactured in this and other civilized countries. The warehouses are stocked with original packages of crude drugs, chemicals, proprietary goods and items that are constantly drawn from to refinish the stock in the main building.

The officers of the organization consist of Carl F. G. Meyer, president; 0. P. Meyer, vice president; S. B. Simpson, second vice president; William Biebinger, secretary and treasurer; G. J. Meyer, assistant secretary and treasurer. The company was incorporated in 1889 under the laws of the state of Missouri and has a force of traveling salesmen, regular and specialty men, comprising about one hundred, covering the United States from Pennsylvania to the Pacific coast and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

The export business is constantly increasing and the many shipments consigned to Mexico, Cuba, the Central and South American republics indicate Meyer Brothers Drug Company as a large exporter as well as importer-in fact the export business has increased so rapidly in recent years that it has been necessary to organize a department for the special handling of this business.

The company also issues a monthly publication, the “Meyer Druggist,” which has a circulation approximating twenty thousand copies per month, reaching every desirable retail druggist in the territory in which the house does business. It is strictly a house organ and is sent out gratuitously to the drug trade. As a business getter it is without equal and in addition to that is one of intrinsic value to the drug trade, keeping it informed in regard to advances and declines, the trend of the market, various laws affecting the drug trade, etc.

Every department is run systematically and one remarkable feature in regard to the business is the close cooperation between the various divisions and departments. The present quarters of Meyer Brothers Drug Company are too small for the immense volume of business that is being transacted, but plans are on foot to secure sufficient additional floor space to take care of its requirements for some years to come. We predict for this house a successful future and it is an institution of which the citizens of St. Louis and Missouri should well be proud.

Owing to the democratic manner in which the affairs of the company are conducted and the approachability of its officers and executives, every visitor is made to feel at home and carries away the most pleasant recollections of the reception accorded. Our limited space forbids a more extended sketch of this immense institution, which is destined to form one of the distinguishing features of the city’s prosperity. St. Louis is one of the greatest distributing markets of chemicals in the United States, and Meyer Brothers Drug Company has always been an important factor in contributing to this end.

BOTTLES

Fully labeled Prickly Ash Bitters – Meyer Collection

P 140: Prickly Ash Bitters – Meyer Collection

P 141: Prickly Ash Bitters Co, American, ca. 1885 – 1895, deep smoky olive amber, Extremely rare, unlisted color – Meyer Collection

ADVERTISING

Prickly Ash Bitters postal cover addressed to The Jimplecute newspaper in Jefferson, Texas May 5, 1897 – Ben Swanson collection

Pair of Prickly Ash Bitters Trade Cards – Meyer Collection

Prickly Ash Bitters Puzzle – Meyer Collection

Prickly Ash Bitters Paper Doll Furniture – Meyer Collection

PricklyAshYellowDressTC_Gourd

Prickly Ash Bitters trade card – Gourd Collection

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, Facebook, History, Questions, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jeffrey S. Evans – Some Great Early American Glass Pieces

Posted on 13 April 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

I wanted to make sure everyone had Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates on their radar. I’ve been noticing some past and upcoming auctions with some fine glass pieces. Jeffrey was kind enough to send me pictures of some stand-out glass pieces from recent auctions.

[PRG from their web site] Specialists in 18th to early 20th century Glass and Lighting, Virginia and Southern Decorative Arts, and all types of Americana, Antiques and Fine Arts. We have provided expert services to Collectors, Institutions, Estates, and the Trade for more than 30 years.

Posted in Advice, Auction News, Dinnerware, Early American Glass, Freeblown Glass, Historical Flasks, Milk & Creamers, News, Vases | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Island Alex – A Man With A Passion

Posted on 11 April 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

[In from West Coast collectors Pam and Randy Selenak (Orange, California) who are having this ‘to dream for’ bottle vacation in Key West, Florida. Pam is also the FOHBC PR Director. Coincidentally, I am in LA now near where Pam and Randy live and they are in Florida. I have been to their house before and it is really cool and filled with bottles] 

[email in yesterday from Pam]

We met Island Alex through a friend, Bob, last year in Key West. When we told Bob we were coming out again this year he told us he wanted us to meet his friend Alex. They were both interviewed by Channel 10 (Florida) sometime around the first of the year.

Alex intrigued me with his collecting of bottles by diving in the Key West waters. When we arrived at his house yesterday, I had no idea that his collecting went way past bottles. Alex and his wife, Mary, through salvaging ship wrecks and old dumps have built his house using things such as old bricks from the 17th, 18th, 19th centuries. They incorporated old coral found in some of the dumps into the stucco on the exterior of their home. I saw old bottles sticking out of the stucco on the exterior of their home also. Mary, who is a local artist, creates art with “stuff” they find. She is also an incredible painter. 
Throughout the interior of their home I found artifacts from pirate days. Along with the huge anchor outside the house there was also an anchor inside their house.

There was bottles of all kinds everywhere. Alex and Mary are avid ecologists and through a google search I found an article on the impact of the oil spill in the gulf. Alex is a musician, writer of music and currently is in a local play here in Key West. He plays in his band at local bars here in town. With all this he still has time finding artifacts while staying within the law of 50’s here in Florida. As many of you well know how hard it is now days trying to dig or dive without getting the government involved. I will be writing more about Alex and Bob in a future Bottles and Extras. I don’t think I will make the deadline for this one so for sure the July and August issue.

Pam Selenak

[PRG] See Video of Island Alex

Posted in Bottles and Extras, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Diving, Gin, Historical Flasks, Inks, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Very Rare D. Mortimores Great American Fever & Ague Tonic St. Louis Mo.

Posted on 11 April 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

D. MORTIMORES GREAT AMERICAN FEVER & AGUE TONIC

Hi Ferdinand…Here’s one you might not see listed in the pontiled medicine books. A very rare D. MORTIMORES GREAT AMERICAN FEVER & AGUE TONIC ST. LOUIS MO. How can you not love a name like that! A beautiful whittled and crude, 10 sided, open pontiled midwestern medicine.

How can you not love a name like that!

I acquired this fine sparkling example from a guy who dug it in St. Louis, and was very happy to be able to add it. Amazingly, it’s a bottle that not even was in the incredible Greer collection. Mike Dolcini mentioned to me that he dug one many years ago in Sacramento, California of all places. That one was a long ways from home! I thought you might enjoy some photos. Keep up the great work, we love your informative and exceptional website. Tim Henson

[PRG] Thanks for sending the pictures and info Tim! This bottle is simply fantastic. Great find and addition to your collection.

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Medicines & Cures, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

E. Baker’s Premium Bitters – Richmond (Virginia Bitters Series)

Posted on 10 April 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

E. Baker’s Premium Bitters – Richmond (Virginia Bitters Series)

R I C H M O N D

10 April 2012 | Post Updated 30 July 2013 (R•120513)

At the Baltimore Bottle Show this past March, Virginia digger and collector Tom Leveille, who now lives in Newport News, Virginia asked me to take a picture of my Virginia Bitters bottles in a group shot. I knew this might be a difficult assignment because I would have to look at my records, embossings and other info to determine exactly which bottles qualified. Some bottles may be from Virginia and may not even be embossed with a Virginia city, town or state name. I also asked about the Ta Tsing Bitters from West Virgina (Read previous post: Ta Tsing Bitters – The Great Chinese Remedy) and Tom said sure “Both Virginia’s”.

Of course some Bitters bottles jumped right to the front of the list and that is where I will start. The E. Bakers Premium Bitters | Richmond, VA.

Tom has also set up the Richmond Area Bottle Collectors Association on facebook and belongs to the Richmond Bottle Club.

Early Richmond Map

Early map of Richmond, Virginia

Baker Listing

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

B 10.4  E. BAKER’S PREMIUM BITTERS

E. BAKER’S / PREMIUM / BITTERS / RICHMOND VA // c //
6 3/4 x 3 1/8 x 2 1/8 (4 3/4)
Oval, Aqua, NSC, Applied mouth, Rough and Metallic pontil mark, Rare
Nothing after Richmond, period under A of Va.

Elijah Baker

EBHouse

Elijah Baker House, 2239-41 Venable – Old Richmond Neighborhoods, Mary Wingfield Scott

Elijah Baker lived and worked out of the house pictured above. The house was built in 1850 and had an arrangement of porch and entrance somewhat unique in architectural style for Richmond. The two-story portico, instead of being in the rear, is on the west end of the house, and just below, is the rather elaborately carved entrance door. This unusual arrangement is probably due to the fact that Baker carried on his business at his home. As late as 1885 he was making “Baker’s Premium Bitters”, one of the many patent medicines extensively advertised in old Richmond newspapers. – reference Old Richmond Neighborhoods, Mary Wingfield Scott

Baker’s Premium Bitters Advertising

Incoming email 29 July 2013: “I have done a bit of research on Elijah Baker, as he was my 4th-great-grandfather. If you’re interested, just today I had posted a blog about him” Read about Elijah Baker. You mentioned advertising on your page – there is one ad included on my blog, but I have others, which I’ve attached to this e-mail. Most of them are from 1894, when his grandson Elijah Jr. was running the business. Hope these are some help!” Five new Advertisements posted below.

BakersPremiumBittersAd1

Baker’s Premium Bitters Advertisement, circa 1894

BakersPremiumBittersAds

Three Baker’s Premium Bitters Advertisement, circa 1894

BakersPremiumBittersAd5

Baker’s Premium Bitters Advertisement, circa 1894

My smooth base example was purchased at the famous 3 session American Bottle Auctions | Grapentine III | Auction 43 and was Lot #868 in November 2007.

I would like to ask the Tom and/or the Richmond Bottle Club to get me more information on this bottle such as the label, advertising, where it was made and information on E. Baker, that is, if it exists.

Shoulder detail E. BAKER’S PREMIUM BITTERS – Meyer Collection

Front right E. BAKER’S PREMIUM BITTERS – Meyer Collection

Top detail E. BAKER’S PREMIUM BITTERS – Meyer Collection

Front right E. BAKER’S PREMIUM BITTERS – Meyer Collection

E. Baker’s Premium Bitters – photo Homerweb

E. Baker’s Premium Bitters – photo AntiqueBottle.net

E. Baker’s Premium Bitters – photo KFAuctions

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad China

Posted on 9 April 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dining on the B&O Recipes and Sidelights from a Bygone Age By Thomas J. Greco and Karl D. Spence

Four or five years ago, Elizabeth and I purchased a group of Baltimore and Ohio railroad china. You see, I grew up in Baltimore, am interested in Model Railroading, I am a rail fan and most recently, visited the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum prior to the Baltimore Bottle Show this past March. I thought I would put together a little information of these great pieces of history.

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

Passengers who dined on the Baltimore and Ohio during the heyday of American railroading received five-star service: white tablecloths, china, silver, food cooked from scratch, and the undivided attention of skilled waiters. The B&O’s cuisine won wide acclaim as the finest railway food in the country. Passengers enjoyed it as the slightly swaying dining car clicked along over the rails.

The dining car "Queen" on the Royal Blue of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, as advertised in 1895.

B&O Royal Blue in 1898

[from Wikipedia] The Royal Blue was the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O)’s flagship passenger train between New York City and Washington, D.C., in the United States, beginning in 1890. The Baltimore-based B&O also used the name between 1890 and 1917 for its improved passenger service between New York and Washington launched in the 1890s, collectively dubbed the Royal Blue Line. Using variants such as the Royal Limited and Royal Special for individual Royal Blue trains, the B&O operated the service in partnership with the Reading Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Principal intermediate cities served were Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore. Later, as Europe reeled from the carnage of World War I and connotations of European royalty fell into disfavor, the B&O discreetly omitted the sobriquet Royal Blue Line from its New York passenger service and the Royal Blue disappeared from B&O timetables. Beginning in 1917, former Royal Blue Line trains were renamed: the Royal Limited (inaugurated on May 15, 1898), for example, became the National Limited, continuing west from Washington to St. Louis via Cincinnati. During the Depression, the B&O hearkened back to the halcyon pre-World War I era when it launched a re-christened Royal Blue train between New York and Washington in 1935. The B&O finally discontinued passenger service north of Baltimore on April 26, 1958, and the Royal Blue faded into history.

Railroad historian Herbert Harwood said, in his seminal history of the service, “First conceived in late Victorian times to promote a new railroad line … it was indeed one of the most memorable images in the transportation business, an inspired blend of majesty and mystique … Royal Blue Line … Royal Blue Trains … the Royal Blue all meant different things at different times. But essentially they all symbolized one thing: the B&O’s regal route.” Between the 1890s and World War I, the B&O’s six daily Royal Blue trains providing service between New York and Washington were noted for their luxury, elegant appearance, and speed. The car interiors were paneled in mahogany, had fully enclosed vestibules (instead of open platforms, still widely in use at the time on U.S. railroads), then-modern heating and lighting, and leaded glass windows. The car exteriors were painted a deep “Royal Saxony blue” color with gold leaf trim.

The B&O’s use of electrification instead of steam power in a Baltimore tunnel on the Royal Blue Line, beginning in 1895, marked the first use of electric locomotives by an American railroad and presaged the dawn of practical alternatives to steam power in the 20th century. Spurred by intense competition from the formidable Pennsylvania Railroad, the dominant railroad in the lucrative New York–Washington market since the 1880s, the Royal Blue in its mid-1930s reincarnation was noted for a number of technological innovations, including streamlining and the first non-articulated diesel locomotive on a passenger train in the U.S., a harbinger of the steam locomotive’s eventual demise.

In 1924, D. William Scammell bought Maddock Pottery in Trenton, New Jersey, and founded Scammell China Co. The pottery made railroad and hotel china and began making dinnerware for home use in 1939. Scammell China Co. was bought by Sterling China in 1954. Your china was first made in 1927 to celebrate Baltimore & Ohio Railroad’s 100th anniversary. The pattern, which was based on a similar design made by Enoch Wood for the B&O Railroad c.1828, was called “Colonial.” Collectors called it “Centennial” or “Centenary,” which is what it is known as today. Pieces feature historical scenes and views of important points along the B&O line. The borders are locomotives and rail cars from various years. Most pieces were made with a blue background, but a few were made with a white or floral background. At least 26 different items were made. The railroad sold boxed pieces of china as souvenirs. Plates sold for $1 each and platters for $3.40. Some pieces of Centenary were made by Buffalo China. Sterling China began making Centenary china after World War II. Shenango China made Centenary china for the B&O Railroad Museum. Collectors look for the old Centenary dishes made by Scammell.

46 Pieces Of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad China By Shenango China, PA

Read More:  Concerning B&O’s “Centenary” China and Concerning The Blue China

Read More:  Collecting B&O’s “Centenary” China

B&O Cups and Saucers

B&O Creamer

B&O Sauce Bowl

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Shenango China bowl

Baltimore & Ohio RR "Centenary" Scammell 4" Blue Line China Cream Pitcher

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Shenango Commemorative China 9" Soup Plate

Baltimore & Ohio RR "Black Capitol" China Toast / Hot Food Cover

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad – 10 inch plate Background: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad plate was one of many “American views” produced by Enoch Wood and Sons of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. The engraving used was of Hetton Railroad, England. It was first published in The American Traveller Broadside, Boston in 1826 and subsequently reproduced in Dunbar’s History of Travel in America, Vol II, p.725. Dumbar states: “probably the primary picture of an actual railway printed in the United States.” The view shows and English type of engine similar to that designed by George Stephenson in 1825. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was built to transport freight and transport over the Allegheny Mountains. It was begun in 1828, but not until June 1831 was a practical steam locomotive built for regular service. This locomotive was perfected by Phineas Davis of York, Pennsylvania, for the Baltimore & Ohio. Halsey has suggested that the ceramic views were made about the time of the laying of the rails for the Baltimore & Ohio, 1828. This was two years after the engraving was published in Boston. Description: The shell border with the circle surrounding the central view was the most frequently used for “Views of America” The foreground shows sprays and clusters of various flowers on a dark ground across the front. Middle distance – Right to left, a quaint train. Early English locomotive with tender and three open freight cars. The locomotive has six driving wheels, a boiler the whole length, with man on running board, and smoke stack in front, three times height of boiler. Open country from train to background, two large trees in centre. Another unique freight train crossing county in diagonal line from background to middle distance right. Background – Range of hills, hills and a few houses.
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Gorgeous W & Co NY Pineapple with Blowpipe Pontil Scar

Posted on 8 April 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

[In from western collector Bruce Silva]

Ferd:

Meant to forward a photo of another pineapple. I’ve had this example in my figural lineup for a few decades. It was a local attic find. A true pineapple in all regards. Looks like it was just picked at the Dole Plantation!

This example has a blowpipe pontil scar as well. I’ve attached two photos; it could be better. Cloudy and dark now so relied on fluorescent back light. Both Bill (Taylor) and Bob (Ferraro) have seen it in person while here on visits. Bruce

Read More: Pineapple Bitters – The Different Variants

Read More: Handled Pineapples Enjoyed in Sunny Florida

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Figural Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment