Manhattan Medicine Company v. Wood

Posted on 3 January 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Label: Formerly manufactured by Moses Atwood Georgetown, Mass, and sold by his agents throughout the United States by Manhattan Medicine Co. Proprietors, New York.

Manhattan Medicine Company v. Wood

03 January 2015

Compliments of Manhattan Medicine Co. marketing folder (inside) Note Atwood’s Physical Jaundice Bitters for sale – Joe Gourd Collection

Working on the Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters post yesterday led me to understand the Henry & Johnson had an interest in Manhattan Medicine Company in New York to distribute their brands. When researching this company I came across the United States Supreme Court case, Manhattan Medicine Company v. Wood. My Atwood’s Jaundice Bitters is pictured at the top of the post. The label would have read Atwood’s Vegetable Physical Bitters.

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

A 115 ATWOOD’S JAUNDICE BITTERS
ATWOOD’S // JAUNDICE BITTERS // MOSES ATWOOD //
GEORGETOWN, MASS. // f // f // f // f // f // f // f //
L…Atwood’s Vegetable Physical Bitters
6 x 2 1/4 (4 3/4) 12-sided, Aqua, Pontil scar, SC, Tooled lip, Common
Lettering large in lines one, two and four. Lettering small in lines three and five

Label: Formerly manufactured by Moses Atwood Georgetown, Mass, and sold by his agents throughout the United States by Manhattan Medicine Co. Proprietors, New York.

Atwood’s Vegetable Physical Jaundice Bitters – sold on Etsy

United States Supreme Court

108 U.S. 218

MANHATTAN MEDICINE COMPANY v. WOOD

This is a suit in equity to restrain the defendants from using an alleged trade-mark of the complainant, upon certain medicines prepared by them, and to compel an accounting for the profits made from its use in their sale of the medicines; also, the payment of damages for their infringement of the complainant’s rights. The complainant, a corporation formed under the laws of New York, manufactures in that state medicines designated as ‘Atwood’s Vegetable Physical Jaundice Bitters;’ and claims as its trade-mark this designation, with the accompanying labels. Whatever right it possesses it derives by various mesne assignments from one Moses Atwood, of Georgetown, Massachusetts. The bill alleges that the complainant is, and for a long time previous to the grievances complained of was, the manufacturer and vendor of the medicine mentioned; that it is put up and sold in glass bottles with 12 panel-shaped sides, on five of which, in raised words and letters, ‘ATWOOD’S GENUINE PHYSICAL JAUNDICE BITTERS, GEORGETOWN, MASS.,’ are blown in the glass, each bottle containing about a pint, with a light-yellow printed label pasted on the outside, designating the many virtues of the medicine, and the manner in which it is to be taken; and stating that it is manufactured by Moses Atwood, Georgetown, Massachusetts, and sold by his agents throughout the United States. The bill also alleges that the bottles thus filled and labeled are put up in half-dozen packages with the same label on each package; that the medicine was first invented and put up for sale about 25 years ago by one Dr. Moses Atwood, formerly of Georgetown, Massachusetts, by whom, and his assigns and successors, it has been ever since sold ‘by the name, and in the manner, and with the trade-marks, label, and description substantially the same as aforesaid;’ that the complainant is the exclusive owner of the formula and recipe for making the medicine, and of the right of using the said name or designation, together with the trade-marks, labels, and good-will of the business of making and selling the same; that large sales of the medicine under that name and designation are made, amounting annually to 12,000 bottles; that the defendants are manufacturing and selling at Portland, Maine, and at other places within the United States unknown to the complainant, an imitation of the medicine, with the same designation and labels, and put up in similar bottles, with the same, or nearly the same, words raised on their sides, in fraud of the rights of the complainant and to its serious injury; that this imitation article is calculated and was intended to deceive purchasers, and to mislead them to use it instead of the genuine article manufactured by the complainant, and has had, and does have, that effect. The bill, therefore, prays for an injunction to restrain the defendants from affixing or applying the words ‘Atwood’s Vegetable Physical Jaundice Bitters,’ or either of them, or any imitation thereof, to any medicine sold by them, or to place them on any bottles in which it is put up, and also from using any labels in imitation of those of the complainant. It also prays for an accounting of profits and for damages.

Among the defenses interposed are these: That Moses Atwood never claimed any trade-mark of the words used in connection with the medicine manufactured and sold by him; and assuming that he had claimed the words used as a trade-mark, and that the right to use them had been transferred to the assignors of the complainant, it was forfeited by the misrepresentation as to the manufacture of the medicine on the labels accompanying it, – a misrepresentation continued by the complainant.

Philo Chase and Thorndike Saunders, for appellant.

Wm. Henry Clifford, for appellee.

Decided April 2, 1883

108 U.S. 218

Syllabus

A court of equity will extend no aid to sustain a claim to a trademark of an article which is put forth with a misrepresentation to the public as to the manufacturer of the article, and as to the place where it is manufactured, both being originally circumstances to guide the purchaser of the medicine.

When it is the object of a trademark to indicate the origin of manufactured goods, and a person affixes to goods of his own manufacture a trademark which declares that they are goods of the manufacture of some other person, it is a fraud upon the public which no court of equity will countenance.

The plaintiff claimed to be the owner of a patent medicine and of a trademark to distinguish it. The medicine was manufactured by the plaintiff in New York; the trademark declared that it was manufactured by another party in Massachusetts. Held that he was entitled to no relief against a person using the same trademark in Maine.

Bill in equity to restrain the defendants from using an alleged trademark of the complainant, upon certain medicines prepared by them, and to compel an accounting for the profits made from its use in their sale of the medicines; also, the payment of damages for their infringement of the complainant’s rights.

The complainant, a corporation formed under the laws of New York, manufactured in that state medicines designated as “Atwood’s Vegetable Physical Jaundice Bitters,” and claimed as its trademark this designation, with the accompanying labels. Whatever right it possessed it derived by various mesne assignments from one Moses Atwood, of Georgetown, Massachusetts. The bill alleged that the complainant was, and for a long time previous to the grievances complained of had been the manufacturer and vender of the medicine mentioned; that it was put up and sold in glass bottles with twelve panel-shaped sides, on five of which in raised words and letters

Some More Atwood’s

A 112: ATWOOD’S JANNAICE BITTERS – FORMERLY MADE BY MOSES ATWOOD – GEORGETOWN, MASS. – Meyer Collection

A 113: FREE SAMPLE – ATWOOD’S JAUNDICE BITTERS – Meyer Collection

A 114: Labeled FREE SAMPLE – ATWOOD’S JAUNDICE BITTERS – Meyer Collection

A 118: ATWOOD’S JAUNDICE BITTERS – FORMERLY MADE BY MOSES ATWOOD – GEORGETOWN, MASS. – Meyer Collection

A 123: ATWOOD’S JAUNDICE BITTERS – M. CARTER & SON – GEORGETOWN MASS. – Meyer Collection

A 130: ATWOOD’S VEGETABLE DYSPEPTIC BITTERS – Meyer Collection

A 131: ATWOOD’S VEGETABLE JAUNDICE BITTERS (Ex: Gardner Collection) – Meyer Collection

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, History, Legal, Medicines & Cures, Miniatures | Tagged Atwood, atwoods, bitters, company, Court, Georgetown, Gourd, jaundice, Manhattan, Massachusetts, Medicine, Meyer, Moses, New York, Physical, States, Supreme, United, Vegetable | Leave a comment

Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters – Burlington, Vermont

Posted on 2 January 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters –Burlington, Vermont

02 January 2015 (R•010315)

I can not believe that I have not posted about Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters from Burlington, Vermont before. This is one of my favorite squares as it comes in so many exciting colors. This purple example that just showed up on Jeff Wichmann’s American Bottle Auctions “For Sale” page is something else. It is pictured at the top of the post. Can this color be true?

My run is pictured below. I am aware of two bottles of similar purplish coloration resting comfortably in New York and Nevada collections. This new example is a total surprise.

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

J 45 JOHNSON’S CALISAYA BITTERS
JOHNSON’S / CALISAYA / BITTERS // sp // BURLINGTON / VT. // f //
L… Dr. Johnson’s Calisaya’s Bitters
10 x 2 3/4 (7 5/8) 3/8
Square, LTCR, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Amber – Scarce; Green and Puce- Extremely rare

Label: A superior combination of barks, roots and herbs not hitherto attained by any other manufacturer of bitters. A sovereign remedy for dyspepsia, jaundice, constipation, loss of appetite and kindred diseases.
Drug Catalog: 1878 CBN&Co. as of October 1, 1877 distributed by Manhattan Medicine Co. 122 Liberty Street New York City. Henry & Johnson, Sole proprietors.

Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters in a medium amber – Meyer Collection

Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters in an orange amber – Meyer Collection

Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters in yellow olive – Meyer Collection

Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters in a pink puce – Meyer Collection

Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters in a strawberry puce – Meyer Collection

Tracing the Roots

In 1833 or so, up in Northern Vermont, a medicine man named Reverend N. H. Downs manufactured and sold his popular Downs’ Vegetable Balsamic Elixir to patrons in New England and Canada. Eventually his business was taken over by the firm, J. M. Henry & Sons. They acquired other proprietary medicines, originated some of their own and gradually developed a considerable wholesale and retail drug trade.

1874 Henry & Johnson billhead noting Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters. Interesting to note that the billhead also traces the generations of Henry company names up to Henry, Johnson & Lord. – Joe Gourd Collection

When J. M. Henry died around 1862, the business became J. F. Henry & Co., the members being the sons, John F. Henry and William W. Henry. Realizing that the activities in a small town were limited, John F. Henry came to New York in 1865 and went to work for Demas Barnes & Company, one of the larger wholesale drug firms in the country. In the fall of 1868, John F. Henry & Company became the successor to Demas Barnes & Company as Barnes moved on to politics and became a United States Representative from New York. The Henry business grew substantially during this period.

Private Die Medicine Stamps Essay, Demas Barnes, 6c black, B & C die essay on india – Eric Jackson Revenues

In 1873, John F. Henry & Co. expanded again with the acquisition of A. L. Scovill & Company. That same year Henry took on a new partner, Theodore Curran, formally associated with Scovill. The new company name was John F. Henry, Curran & Company.

Johnsons_The_Vermont_Transcript_Fri__Mar_17__1865_

News Summary: “Two new drinks at the “saloons”: “Johnson’s bitters”… – The Vermont Transcript, Friday, March 17, 1865

Later in 1873, the firm was renamed Henry & Johnson with the Henry’s adding Eli Broadstreet Johnson as a partner. This is when we see our first advertising for Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters (see below) though there is a hint of Johnson’s Bitters in 1865 (see above). Eli probably brought his brand to the plate when the partnership was formed.

Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters listed in Henry & Johnson advertisement – Burlington Vermont City Directory, 1873

Page from The Manhattan Cook-Book for Dr. Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters

Sometime in the late 1870s, The Henry’s created the Manhattan Medicine Company to manufacture and sell their medicines in the big cities. William B. Henry headed up this effort. If you look within the Manhattan Medicine Company marketing folder below you will see Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters and Atwood’s Physical Jaundice Bitters for sale.

Compliments of Manhattan Medicine Co. marketing folder cover – Joe Gourd Collection

Compliments of Manhattan Medicine Co. marketing folder inside – Joe Gourd Collection

Read: A Thrilling Tale, Running a Time Table, A Brakeman’s Story 1873, Published by Henry & Johnson

In 1875 or so, Henry and Johnson added a third partner Loren B. Lord and the druggist business was renamed Henry, Johnson & Lord. They were making and selling proprietary medicines on Druggists’ block at College Street in Burlington, Vermont. In 1882, they were listed as manufacturers of proprietary medicines, pure flavoring extracts, essences, toilet articles, etc., addressing at 119, 121 and 123 College Street. The 1886 almanac below indicates that they were present in both Vermont and Montreal, Quebec. These guys remained in business until at least 1917.

Household almanac, Henry, Johnson & Lord, Burlington, Vermont and Montréal, Québec, 1886 – Products such as Dr. Baxter’s Mandrake Bitters, N.H. Downs’ Vegetable Balsamic Elixir and Henry & Johnson’s Arnica & Oil Liniment are described within the almanac. The items are sold by John S. Tufts, druggists, Plymouth, New Hampshire. – HistoricNewEngland.org

[From the Household Almanac] Historical records assert that in 1840 Moses Atwood of Boston created what became a widely used and very popular patent medicine, Atwood’s Quinine Tonic Bitters. Rights to the product were eventually bought by John Henry, who added another remedy, Dr. Roger’s Compound Syrup of Liverwort, Tar & Canchalagua, to his collection and created the Manhattan Medicine Company to manufacture and sell the concoctions. The Manhattan Cook-Book is a small volume that is essentially a promotional flyer for the company’s patent medicines. Recipes and recommendations for hair care and personal toiletry are threaded throughout with patent medicine ads, so that page 1 of the content touts Dr. Rogers’ Compound Syrup, and page 2 lists “recipes” for Tea Biscuit, Delicious Lemon Jelly Cake, and Rusks. Every page is headed by an exhortation to, “Take Spalding’s Pills for Costiveness,” “Take Dr. Johnson’s Bitters for Indigestion,” “Use Phalon’s Hair Invigorator for the Hair,” and many more. Recipes for tapioca, coffee cake, and strawberry tartlets are sandwiched in between medical advice (using many of the medicines advertised) for whooping cough, asthma, pneumonia, and other diseases. This charming example provides fascinating insight into contemporary cooking, medicine, and lifestyles. This edition of The Manhattan Cook-Book by the Manhattan Medicine Company was reproduced by permission from the volume in the collection of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1812 by Isaiah Thomas, a Revolutionary War patriot and successful printer and publisher, the Society is a research library documenting the life of Americans from the colonial era through 1876. The Society collects, preserves, and makes available as complete a record as possible of the printed materials from the early American experience. The cookbook collection includes approximately 1,100 volumes.

William W. Henry

William Wirt Henry

William Wirt Henry (November 21, 1831 – August 31, 1915) was a manufacturer and a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a recipient of the brevet grade of brigadier general of volunteers and of the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action.

Henry was born in Waterbury, Vermont, the son of James Madison and Matilda (Gale) Henry. He taught school in his hometown for one year, then caught ‘gold fever,’ and moved to California in 1851. He served as constable in White Oak, El Dorado County, California, in 1856. He returned to Vermont in 1857 and joined his father’s business manufacturing pharmaceuticals.

Henry married on August 5, 1857, Mary Jane Beebe, daughter of Lyman and Mary (Sherman) Beebe of Waterbury, Vermont. They had five children. Mary Jane died in 1871, and Henry married Valeria (Lillie) Heaton, daughter of Timothy and Susan (White) Heaton of Waterbury.

He was commissioned first lieutenant of Company D, 2nd Vermont Infantry, on May 20, 1861, but resigned on November 5, 1861, for medical reasons. He rejoined his father’s business, and returned to the Washington area, selling drugs to sutlers and military surgeons. He then accepted a position as major of the 10th Vermont Infantry on August 26, 1862. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on October 17, 1862, and assumed command of the regiment as colonel on April 26, 1864, replacing Albert B. Jewett, who had resigned. He commanded his regiment at the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomy Creek, Cold Harbor, and Cedar Creek.

He was wounded in action six times, slightly at Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864, and Monocacy on July 9, 1864, and was hit four times at Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864. Due to his wounds and other medical reasons, he resigned his commission on December 17, 1864 and was mustered out of the volunteer service. His departure from the regiment, was “greatly regretted by the officers and men, and their personal regard and regret found expression in a highly complimentary parting testimonial, signed by all but two of the officers of the regiment. In this paper they also requested Colonel Henry to carry home with him and present to the Legislature of Vermont the tattered colors of the regiment, under which no less than twenty of the color guard had been killed or wounded.”

After Henry was mustered out of the Union Army, on March 7, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Henry for appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general, to rank from March 7, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 9, 1865.

On December 21, 1892, he received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Cedar Creek, “though suffering from severe wounds, rejoined his regiment and led it in a brilliant charge, recapturing the guns of an abandoned battery.”

After he returned from war, Henry rejoined the family business, which included, over the years, manufacturing and wholesaling of drugs, first in Waterbury, and then in Burlington, Vermont.

Henry served as a state senator from Washington County from 1865 to 1868, and from Chittenden County in 1888-1889. He served two years as mayor of Burlington, from 1887 to 1889. He was appointed United States Marshal on April 10, 1879, replacing George P. Foster, and served until June 24, 1886. In 1892 he was appointed U.S. Immigration Inspector. From 1897 until 1907, he was the American Consul in Quebec.

He became a Mason in 1858, was a member of the I.O.O.F, the Grand Army of the Republic, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, the Society of the Army of the Potomac, and the Knights of Pythias.

Henry died at the age of 83, and is buried at Lake View Cemetery in Burlington, Vermont.

[Wikipedia]

Select Dates:

1830: Eli Broadstret Johnson born 23 August 1830 in Salisbury, Addison, Vermont.

1865: News Summary: “Two new drinks at the “saloons”: “Johnson’s bitters”… – The Vermont Transcript, Friday, March 17, 1865.

1870: Eli B. Johnson, age 38, Wholesale Druggist, Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont – United States Federal Census

1873: Henry & Johnson, manufacturers of proprietary medicines (William W. Henry & Eli B. Johnson), 127 Church street (see advertisement above) – Burlington Vermont City Directory

1875: Rev. N. H. Downs’ Elixir advertisement as sold by Henry, Johnson & Lord (see below) – Burlington Vermont City Directory

Rev. N. H. Downs’ Elixir advertisement as sold by Henry, Johnson & Lord – Burlington Vermont City Directory, 1875

1877: Henry, Johnson & Lord, proprietary medicines, Druggists’ block, College st. (William W. Henry, Eli B. Johnson, Loren B. Lord) – Burlington Vermont City Directory

1880: Eli B. Johnson, age 49, Druggist, wife Florilla B. Barrett (2nd wife), Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont – United States Federal Census

1880: Manhattan Medicine Company, 24 College Place – New York City Directory

1882-83: Henry, Johnson & Lord (William W. Henry, Eli B. Johnson and L. B. Lord) manufacturers or proprietary medicines, pure flavoring extracts, essences, toilet articles, etc., 119, 121 and 123 College) – Gazetteer and Business Directory of Chittenden County, Vermont

1886: The Household Almanac, Henry, Johnson & L0rd, Burlington, Vermont & Montreal, Quebec, 1886 – HistoricNewEngland.org

1890-91: Barrett & Johnsons (B. S. Barrett; Eli B. Johnson; F. B. Johnson), publishers “The Earth,” book and job printers, 119 College – Burlington, Vermont City Directory

1903: Death Eli B. Johnson on 26 Jan 1903 in Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont –

1908: “The Household Almanac” circa 1908, Henry, Johnson & Lord, Burlington, Vermont – eBay

1917: “The Household Almanac” circa 1917, Henry, Johnson & Lord, Burlington, Vermont – eBay

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Civil War, Collectors & Collections, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged almanac, bitters, Burlington, Calisaya, Downs, Ferdinand, Gourd, Henry, Johnson, Lord, Meyer, Vermont | Leave a comment

Brazilian Soda Bitters – Indianapolis

Posted on 1 January 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Brazilian coat of arms 19th-century engraving. Published in Systematischer Bilder-Atlas zum Conversations-Lexikon, Ikonographische Encyklopaedie der Wissenschaften und Kuenste (Brockhaus, Leipzig) in 1875.

Brazilian Soda Bitters – Indianapolis

01 January 2015

BrazilianSodaBitters_The_Indianapolis_News_Wed__Aug_28__1878_

Brazilian Soda Bitters advertisement – The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, August 28, 1878

The Brazilian Soda Bitters is the third post in a week for a bitters from Indianapolis, Indiana. The other brands discussed were the Kaufman’s Celebrated Blue Jacket Bitters and Apple Brandy Bitters. The clipping above prompted this short post.

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

B 209 BRAZILIAN SODA BITTERS
Trade Mark April, 1878 to Nathaniel S. Driggs & Winfield S. Lynn, Indianapolis, Indiana

Nathaniel S. Driggs & Winfield S. Lynn

Nathaniel S. Driggs went to Indianapolis as a boy in 1862 from Madison, Indiana and clerked with Winfield S. Lynn at the drug store of Robert Browning. Browning was was Driggs’ Uncle. He continued with the house of Browning & Sloan during almost its entire existence, with the exception of three months service in the 132nd Indiana Regiment, in which he served as a hospital steward. For 1895 to 1897, Driggs owned his own drug store at East Washington and State Street. He died in 1898.

In 1878, Driggs and Scott received a Trade Mark Patent for the Brazilian coat-of-arms and the word “Brazilian” for a new remedy and medical preparation called Brazilian Soda Bitters. The product was short-lived and advertising in Indianapolis occurred for less than a year. There are no examples of this bottle. Was it embossed and labeled or just labeled?

George W. Sloan

George W. Sloan, Phar. D., M. D. One of Indianapolis’ most prominent druggists is Dr. George W. Sloan, who was born at Harrisburg, Pa., June 28, 1835, a son of John and Mary (White) Sloan. His father was a native of New York city, his mother of Philadelphia. His paternal ancestors were of that stanch Pennsylvanian stock which has stamped the impress of its thrift and enterprise upon nearly all sections of our country, and his maternal relatives were Quakers, better known around Philadelphia as members of the Society of Friends. His father, who was a cabinet maker, moved to Indianapolis in the spring of 1837, and became an active and well-known business man of the city where he resided until his death in 1873.

Dr. Sloan was reared in Indianapolis from the time he was two years old, and here obtained his primary education in the public schools. At the early age of thirteen years he found employment in a drug store, and there remained until 1856, when he entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and there took the course of that institution. The panic of 1857 made it impossible for him to continue his studies, and he returned to Indianapolis and resumed work as a drug clerk. In 1862 he became a member of the drug firm of Browning & Sloan, and so continued until 1887, since when he has conducted a drug business of which he has been the sole proprietor. Meantime (May 16, 1864) he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-second Regiment Indiana Infantry, and was made first lieutenant. His regiment saw four mouths’ service doing guard duty between Louisville, Ky., and Chattanooga, Tenn., keeping railway communication open during Sherman’s famous ”March to the Sea.”

As a druggist, Dr. Sloan ranks with the best pharmacists in the city or State, carrying a stock averaging from $12,000 to $15,000 in value, and doing an extensive and profitable trade. He is one of the oldest active members of the American Pharmaceutical Society, his connection with that body dating from 1857, and was its president in 1879-80. He was one of the charter members and organizers of the Indiana State Pharmaceutical Society and has served on several of its most important committees. The degree of doctor of pharmacy was conferred upon Dr. Sloan by Purdue University, and the degree of doctor of medicine by the Medical College of Indiana, and he is an honorary member of the Marion County Medical Society, and of the Indiana State Medical Society. In Masonry Dr. Sloan has been specially prominent, having been treasurer of his lodge of Free and Accepted Masons for more than twenty years. He is a thirty-third degree Scottish Rite Mason, and also a Knight Templar of the York Rite, and is a member of the Chosen Friends. Dr. Sloan has been a member of the board of trade since its organization, and has, during all the time that has since elapsed, been a member of the board of governors, and is at present vice president. He is also prominently identified with the Commercial Club, and is a member of George H. Thomas post, G. A. R., and Indiana Commandery, L. L.

In 1866 Dr. Sloan married Miss Caroline, daughter of Hiram and Mary A. (Blair) Bacon, her parents being natives of Massachusetts, and among the early settlers of Marion County, Ind. Three children have been born to their union, named: George B., Mary A. and Frank T. The first named, who is a graduate of pharmacy from Purdue College, his father’s alma mater in the same science, has been for some years connected with his father’s business. Dr. and Mrs. Sloan are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church and the former has been a member of its vestry for more than a score of years. The Doctor is a Republican in his political affiliations, but has always been too busy with, and too entirely devoted to his business, to take any prominent or more than ordinary active part in politics. [Pictorial and biographical memoirs of Indianapolis and Marion County]

Browning & Sloan

As an important factor in the growth and commercial development of our thriving inland metropolis, the drug trade has assumed no insignificant part, as might be illustrated by a detailed history of the rise and progress of the house now conducted by the firm of Browning & Sloan and popularly known to the trade as “Apothecaries’ Hall.” This house was established in the infancy of our commerce and even before Indianapolis had attained the dignity conferred by a city charier. The limits allotted in the present volume will, however, permit but a cursory glance at the early history of this representative house, which was founded nearly half a century ago and is consequently now one of the oldest established business houses in the state. At its inception limited quarters at No. 22 West Washington St. were found adequate for the transaction of the business at that time, which did not exceed $1o,oco per annum, while at the present day the annual transactions range from $250,000 to $300,000, with a trade extending not only to all sections of Indiana but to all the adjacent states.

Browning & Sloan or “Apothecaries Hall”

The premises now occupied, at Nos. 7 and 9 East Washington St., for general sales purposes, comprise the spacious and commodious four story business structure known as Apothecaries’ Hall, 30 x 120 feet in dimensions, a view of which appears in connection with this sketch, while two floors of an additional building in the rear each 30 x 75 feet in dimensions are occupied for laboratory and storage purposes. The firm also occupies for the storage of original packages and duplicate stock the commodious warehouses at Nos. 10, 12 and 13 East Pearl St. and at Nos. 223 and 225 South Pennsylvania St.

Browning & Son Apothecaries Hall Indianapolis {small} W.T. & Co. AD U.S.A. C1081S1-43 – Bergsengs.com

Their stock, which is complete and comprehensive in every department of Apothecaries’ supplies, embraces a general line of drugs, chemicals, dye stuffs, paints, oils, varnishes, brushes and painters’ supplies, glass and putty, pure and imported wines and liquors for medicinal and mechanical purposes, the leading proprietary medicines and pharmaceutical preparations of the day, surgical instruments, perfumeries, toilet articles and druggists’ sundries generally.

This is the leading and most extensive as well as oldest commercial establishment of its class in the city or state and in the completeness of its stock, magnitude of its transactions snd facilities for supplying dealers of the West will not suffer by comparison with any contemporaneous establishment in any of the prominent trade centers of the country. The average valuation of stock carried in the different departments will not fall short of $100,000 and 20 experienced and competent assistants are regularly employed, while every care and precaution is taken in the accurate filling of all orders.

The individual members of the present firm, which was organized in 1863, are Robert Browning and Geo. W. Sloan. The former is a native of Jefferson County, Ind., and came to this city in 1843, entering the store of which he is now one of the proprietors, as a boy, remaining in the employ of his predecessors in various capacities untif assuming the present position as the head of this important house.

Robert Browning (Late Craighead & Browning) advertisement – A.C. Howard’s Directory for the City of Indianapolis, 1857

Mr. Browning has taken an active interest in the growth, development and progress of the business and educational interests of the city and has been for the past six years a member of the Board of School Commissioners. Mr. George W. Sloan, the junior member of the firm, is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in Harrisburg, in that state, coming to this city when quite young and commenced his business career as a boy in this house, remaining in its employ until the formation of the present partnership, as above noted. Both members of the firm having been identif1ed with this business since boyhood are thoroughly conversant w1th all the details and requirements and possess an extended acquaintance with the trade in this and adjacent states, through which the trade of the house extends. [Manufacturing and Mercantile Resources of Indianapolis, Indiana]

Sloan Drug Company

Sloan Drug Company, organized January 1, 1896, is the outgrowth of the firm of George W. Sloan, originally established in 1887. Mr. Sloan has had a longer continued identification with the drug business in Indianapolis than any other person now living in the city. In 185o he entered the service of his uncle, David Craighead, who was then operating a drug store in the same room that is now occupied by the present company, also with Craighead & Browning, and after the death of Mr. Craighead, with Mr. Browning, who became the successor. In 1862 he took an interest in the business and the firm became known as Browning & Sloan, and were recognized as the leading pharmacists of Indianapolis.

The business having outgrown the capacity of the room then occupied, they moved to 7 and 9 East Washington street, where the business was conducted under this firm name until 1887, when Mr. Sloan retired and embarked for himself in the present location-the place occupied by the old house in 185o.

Sloan’s Drug Store – Hyman’s Handbook of Indianapolis, 1897

Through the long term of years that Mr. Sloan has been identified with the business interests of the city – longer than that of any business man now engaged in Washington street, he has at all times been held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens. He has been honored with the degree of “Doctor in Medicine” by the Medical College of Indiana, and with the degree of “Doctor of Pharmacy,” Purdue University. He is ex-president of the American Pharmaceutical Association and is also a charter member of the Board of Trade, being a member of its governing committee; he is also a member of the Commercial Club, and a member of the Board of School Commissioners, being its treasurer.

The Sloan Drug Company are extensive manufacturers of various Pharmaceuticals, also Sloan’s Carbolated Dentifrice, that has a large sale throughout the country, and many other preparations that bear their well known brand. Associated in the business with Mr. Sloan is his son Geo. B. Sloan, a graduate of Purdue University Pharmacy School, who has been reared in business under his father. [Hyman’s Handbook of Indianapolis, Max Robinson Hyman, 1897]

Select Listings:

1857: Robert Browning (late Craighead & Browning) advertisement (see above) – A.C. Howard’s Directory for the City of Indianapolis, 1857

1862: Nathaniel S. Driggs went to Indianapolis as a boy in 1862 from Madison, Indiana and clerked with Winfield S. Scott at the drug store of Robert Browning.

1871: Nathaniel S. Driggs, clerk, Browning & Sloan, bds 169 N. Illinois – Indianapolis City Directory

1871-1877: Browing & Sloan, Druggists, Robert Browning, George W. Sloan, 7 & 9 E. Washington – R. L. Polk & Co.’s Indianapolis City Directory

1877: Nathaniel S. Driggs, clerk, Browning & Sloan, bds Remy Hotel (also Robert Driggs, clerk) – R. L. Polk & Co.’s Indianapolis City Directory

1877: Winfield S. Lynn, clerk, Browning & Sloan, res 175 N Alabama – R. L. Polk & Co.’s Indianapolis City Directory

1878-1879: Brazilian Soda Bitters advertisements (see top of post) – The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, May 1878 – March 1879

1878: Nathaniel S. Driggs and Winfield S. Lynn get a Trade Mark Patent for The Brazilian coat-of-arms and the work “Brazilian” for a New Remedy and Medical Preparation in May 1878 (see above).

1887: Nathaniel S. Driggs, member American Pharmaceutical Association

1895-1897: Nathaniel S. Driggs, Retail Druggist, 850 E. Washington – Polks Indianapolis City Directory

1898: Death Nathaniel S. Driggs

Posted in Advertising, Apothecary, Article Publications, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, Medicines & Cures | Tagged apothecaries, bitters, Brazil, Brazilian, Browning, Driggs, Druggist & Drugstore, indiana, Indianapolis, Lynn, Nathaniel, Sloan, Soda, Winfield | Leave a comment

Daily Dose | January 2015

Posted on 1 January 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

JANUARY | 2 0 1 5

Saturday, 31 January 2015

Interesting letter over in Mailbox from Kimberly R, a relation of S.O. Richardson. Visit MAILBOX

Hi Ferd, Hope all is well with you. The link below is to the ebay seller ntqlvr (LINK) He has some bitters for sale, don’t know if you are interested in any, but this seller is the one who has the Dr. Stillman’s black looking bottle in the picture I sent you several weeks ago. He runs hot and cold selling on ebay, these are his first listings in a while. Worth keeping an eye on.

Richard Kramerich
Pensacola

Friday, 30 January 2015

Wow, has it been since Monday since I have posted on Daily Dose. Time flies. Been in and out of town and in many meetings. Also getting the March April issue of Bottles and Extras buttoned up.

Here is an extremely rare Dr. Tutt’s Sarsaparilla and Queens Delight in aqua that was added to the Golden Eagle Bitters post. The bottle also comes in amber.

George C. Hubbel’s Golden Bitters post updated.

Monday, 26 January 2015

Regarding the extremely rare Golden Eagle Bitters from Augusta, Georgia: The variant without Augusta, GA embossed typically comes in a medium amber color, with my example being the only one known in a honey yellow color. I am guessing that there are maybe a half dozen undamaged examples known without the city name. My bottles measures 9 1/4 inches in height with a 2 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches square base. The neck is 2 inches long, meaning it measures 7 1/4 inches from base to where neck begins.

Mike Newman to Bill Ham for Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 listing. Look for a post this week. Read Post

Saturday, 24 January 2015

I received a communication from Martin Van Zant who says that Dr. Lovegood was from Anderson, Indiana. He shared the picture below. He added that there was no actual Doctor named Lovegood. That was a made up name and sold under another Doctor. There are two versions of the Dr. Lovegood’s bottle. One has the Anderson Indiana reference. The one depicted below does not. READ Log Cabin Series – Dr. Lovegood’s Family Bitters

Did you know that Dr. Hoofland’s German Bitters that was prepared by C. M. Jackson in Philadelphia was NOT A RUM DRINK and will NOT MAKE DUNKARDS!

Hooflands_Reading_Times_Wed__May_27__1863_

Dr. Hoofland’s German Bitters advertisement – Reading Times, Wednesday, May 27, 1863

Friday, 23 January 2015

The Frederick’s American Star Bitters seems to be unlisted.

FredAmerStarBitters_Harrisburg_Telegraph_Thu__Oct_29__1868_

Fredericks American Star Bitters – Harrisburg Telegraph, Thursday, October 29, 1868

Here is something that I did not know. The Mishler’s Bitters advertisement below reference three Medical Compounds. This first is the well-known Mishler’s Herb Bitters, the second is Mishler’s Green Label Bitters and the third is Mishler’s Red Label Bitters.

Read More on the Mishler brand:

Mishler’s Keystone Bitters – Stencil and Bottle

Mishler’s Herb Bitters & Prof. Parker’s Pleasant Worm Syrup

Mishler’s Herb Bitters Advertising Wall Clock

Wednesday, 21 January 2015

Sent the FOHBC Bottles and Extras March April issue cover up to the FOHBC Editor Martin Van Zant this past weekend. Our Dick Watson will be profiled. Please join the FOHBC. Five or so did just so yesterday online.

Orolo Bitters post updated with some interesting comments.

Monday, 19 January 2015

Can I say MF Fiddlesticks on the web? It is legal or wrong for the FOHBC prez to say ~~mf**ker~~ (mother baker) Well I just did! Jeff Wichmann posts his new batch of bottles at noon today. I pick three I want and his web site breaks! Jeff later says, “Ferd-I just had our server people fix it. Traffic was overloading the site.” Well I get home, the site works and those puppies are already sold. Don’t get me wrong, Jeff is cool, I just need to say the F bomb. I’m a good sport though. Congrats to the buyer. You know I’m breathing down your neck :)! CONGRATS TO JEFF for creating some much needed excitement. Visit American Bottle Auctions Store

Read post about this extraordinary bottle: Knoefel’s Orolo Bitters – New Albany, Indiana

Saturday, 17 January 2015

Liking the Dr. Petzold’s that Norm Heckler has in his current auction. Added image to: Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters – Patent Medicine

Picture of an extremely rare Dr. I. Hester’s Stomach Bitters. Another “Hostetter’s knock-off. Picture courtesy of Dennis Humphrey. Ring & Ham say an example was found in an abandoned well in Louisiana. Apparently there are two known examples.

Thursday, 15 January 2015

Been traveling. Seems like I haven’t seen the sun in a month. Dr. Carey’s Mandrake Bitters post updated with this labeled example from Ryan McMurray.

Monday, 12 January 2015

A couple of odd bitters pieces. Look closely at the clover leaves.

AuntRachelsBitters_The_Humboldt_Union_Sat__Jan_9__1897_

Aunt Rachel’s Bitters – The Humboldt Union, Saturday, January 9, 1897

Sunday, 11 January 2015

Hey Ferdinand, Heath Jenkins, Ohio bottle digger here. Your recent Monopole Bitters article caught my attention and I wanted to share some pics with you of a bottle that I dug this fall. Not only is the Wm Frank, Pittsburg, Pa similar but so is the picture frame design on the side of the bottle. I assume Frank to be the manufacturer? Any info would be appreciated?

Collector Club Presidents and contacts,

The Red Wing Collectors Society would like to invite you to our MidWinter GetTogether in our new location in Oconomowoc WI! We have opportunities for your organization and members to come join us next month in Wisconsin:

~ Registration for our member events
~ Room sales and stoneware auction
~ Show and Sale tables for $35
~ Your free Organization signup table.

The Red Wing Collectors Society is holding its MidWinter GetTogether February 5-7th at the Olympia Conference Center and Resort in Oconomowoc, WI. Our members get away from Winter for a few days each February to learn about stoneware, buy/sell/trade stoneware, and renew friendships with other collectors. This year we are moving our Get Together to Oconomowoc, WI. from Des Moines, IA., so many of our members who were unable to attend before, can now be part of the fun and festivities.

Because many of our members are also collectors of stoneware, pottery, and dinnerware that are not Red Wing, we thought it would be fun to invite members of other Collectors groups to this year’s event. The idea is to allow other groups to come for a fun weekend of collecting, conversation, and maybe gain some new collectors for their group. Since the event is open to the public and is being advertised all over Wisconsin as well as the entire 3300 members of the RWCS, maybe we can convince some collectors to join our group, or your group, depending on what they like and collect.

The MidWinter GetTogether consists of:

Room sales: Thursday, Feb. 5 through Saturday, Feb. 7
Members reception: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6
Continental Breakfast: Saturday 7:00-8:15am
Welcome Session and Keynote: Saturday 8:00-9:30am
Education Sessions: Saturday 9:40-11:30am
Show & Sale: Saturday 1:00-4:00pm (Open to the Public)
Evening Auction: Saturday 5:00pm (Open to the Public)
Continental Breakfast: Sunday – 7:00-9:00am

We would like to offer your members admittance to the MidWinter GetTogether for the Regular Registration Price of $25/pre registration, $30 on site, without the usual requirement of RWCS membership first. This allows your members full access to the Get Together for all the events. Another option is just to attend and participate in the room sales, the Saturday Show and Sale, and Saturday evening auction without attending any of the other events. If your members would like to sell at the Show and Sale, seller’s tables are $35 each and reservations can be made through our Executive Director. In addition, we would be happy to furnish a table for your organization to set up in the lobby area to solicit new members for your group. Please let us know if you would like a table.

I’m attaching a copy of the “About MidWinter” web page, a copy of the MidWinter brochure, and a copy of the Registration Form so you will know more about the event and be able to pre-register if you choose. Please call the Olympia direct (1-866-332-3590) and tell them you are with the Red Wing group for your special room rate. We’re hoping to see you and your members at the MidWinter GetTogether!

Larry Birks-President – Red Wing Collectors Society – president@redwingcollectors.org

Stacy Wegner- Exec. Director – Red Wing Collectors Society – director@redwingcollectors.org

Was trying to research a bottle I wish to sell and found your website. Would like to contact John Panella or any other collectors of DeGurley’s Bitters bottles. The bottle my family has is a DeGurley’s Herb Bitters bottle. It was found on property we once owned in West Virginia. It appears to be a dark brown in color (would guess it’s dark amber) and is intact and in great shape except for a small chip (hole) in one of the bottom corners. I have enclosed two pictures of it, and can send you more if you are interested. One side says “DeGurley’s Herb Bitters”, one side has “Manufactured Baltimore MD” one side has windows on it and one side is plain. Any help would be appreciated. Robert

Read: John Panella and his special Dr. DeGurley’s Herb Bitters

Friday, 09 January 2015

Hi Ferdinand,

Attached is an image of a recent addition to my brewery/saloon/drinking scene photo collection. The condition of this original photo is not as good as I would have preferred, but where can one find another? This image was taken beside the Garden City Brewery in Chicago. The concern was established in 1902 and closed during Prohibition in 1925. It was revived after Repeal and operated from 1933-1951.

A close up examination reveals the bottles on the table at front and center are labeled “Vita Malt,” “Daisy,” and “Export.” There are etched beer glasses on the table as well, and some of those same glasses are in the hands of the fellows in the top row.

Steve Ketcham

Read: Saloons and Establishments from Yesteryear

Hi Ferdinand,

I read your recent postings regarding Dr. Beach with great interest. Attached is a photo of a bottle I have had in my collection since 1987. I have never been able to learn anything about it.

Its color speaks for itself. The 12- sided bottle stands 9 1/4 inches tall and is 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Applied tapered collar, tubular pontil scar. Lots of “whittle marks.”

The only embossing is the word BEACH.

Should this bottle look familiar to any of the Peachridge audience, I would love to hear from them.

Thanks,

Steve Ketcham

Read: Dr. Beach’s Restorative Wine Bitters

Saluting the new year, a century ago with spiritschweppes – Hans-Jürgen Krackher‎

Read: Story Telling Schweppes

Occupational hazard I guess (as ex librarian) but was playing around with your recent post on the Apple Brandy Bitters bottle. Warren W. Elliott was found dead in his room in Aug of 1880 in New Orleans, according to snippets of a Indianapolis newspaper article that I was able to only partially access.

However, prior to that, he was very very briefly a “correspondent” for a newspaper called The Indianapolis People, reporting from Arizona. He reports having arrived there in April of 1879 in the “Arivaca District” He traveled by steamer from SF to Los Angeles, stopping near San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, and eventually departing LA via the Southern Pacific RR to arrive in Yuma AZ. A 2nd article indicates he returned to Indianapolis in November of 1879, where he went to work at the Insane Asylum. He apparently didn’t care for the work, left to find employment in Cincinnati and then somehow ended up in New Orleans.

I guess it’s theoretically possible, assuming he’s the same W.W. Elliott that made the Apple Brandy Bitters in Indiana, for him to have brought some along and left them behind in the West? Or sold/gave them to fellow travelers along the way?? A long shot for sure, and one that doesn’t adequately describe the removal of lettering on the bottle. But fun to ponder 😉

Just thought I’d pass along some possible leads to other explanations

Ellen Levesque

Read: What was peened out of the Apple Brandy Bitters?

Thursday, 08 January 2015

Bruce Springsteen Bitters? From The (Sacramento) Record Union in 1884

Wednesday, 07 January 2015

This nice Walker’s California Vinegar Bitters card closed on eBay yesterday according to Joe Gourd for a heathy $336.89.

Ferd, here is the story on this extremely rare bitters. As you can see it is a “Dr. M BLOCH’S GERMAN BITTERS.” It was listed on eBay about three weeks ago. The top is half missing, plus the bottom corner on the label side. The gentleman that I purchased it from was from California. He had it for about twenty five years. He use to hunt for Civil war camp sites in the southern states. He found what he believes was a Brigade campsite in Mississippi because of its size. In the dump area they found two of these Dr. M BLOCHS Bitters. One was whole and the one pictured broken. He has never seen any more surface. I do not find any listing for one. I purchased it even though it was broken and heavily stained. I took a chance and tumbled it and this is the result. I use to see this ad in AB&GC magazine where this fellow advertised for Broken Back Bitters, but let this one go by. I am glad he did. I like it broken and all. I know you would appreciate seeing it. Best Regards, Gary Beatty

Read: An Unlisted German Bitters dug in Vicksburg, Mississippi

Tuesday, 06 January 2015

Good news from Bill Ham. He has been drawing three bottles a day for the proposed Bitters Bottles Supplement 2. Quite a bit of work. Have any of you tried to draw a bottle in correct proportions with typography? Monumental and tedious task.

Here is where many of us have seen the P. H. Drake and D. S. Barnes signatures. Read Demas S. Barnes – Medicine Man to Politician

Monday, 05 January 2015

Dick Watson Funeral Information.

Cool picture for Old Hickory Bitters in Glass Works “Cabin Fever” Potpourri Auction.

Saturday, 03 January 2015

Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters piece updated with new ephemera from Joe Gourd.

Friday, 02 January 2015

A cool lithograph by Nathaniel Currier supporting the temperance movement.
Date, circa 1846. Click image to enlarge.

Thursday, 01 January 2015

Update: Funeral Info

So unfortunate to lose Dick Watson. Great man. Really feel privileged to have known him as a collector and a Federation board member. Was a good friend of my father too. Cool picture from the 187os. Dick in ochre tie. Read about Dick

UPDATE: From Jim Bender yesterday… “I spoke to Steven (one of Dicks sons) yesterday and he is not sure about viewing or funeral dates for sure yet but they are thinking the 9th and 10th at this point. No other info at this time about that. Dick passed at home in peace with his family by his side. He had done well during Christmas and then got a cut on his foot which took him to the Hospital where he got pneumonia . They could not clear it up with his breathing issues and Dick made his own choice to go home. That was the way Dick always wanted it, to go with his stuff around him.” The FOHBC will be doing a reflection of Dick Watson piece in the next issue of Bottles and Extras. It will be led off by stories from some of Dick’s closest friends. Please consider sharing.

Jeff Wichmann has some more great bottles on his FOR SALE page. Look for a Golden Bitters, St. Nicholas Stomach Bitters, Penn’s Pony Bitters, Rosenbaum’s Bitters and a few more Killers.

There is also an outrageous Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters in purple. Not aware of this bottle. Lot’s of questions. Would fit in nice if…

Posted in Advice, Auction News, Daily Dose, News | Tagged 2015, Daily Dose, January, news | Leave a comment

Dr. Kaufmann’s Sulphur Bitters etc. etc. etc.

Posted on 30 December 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

This gallery contains 34 photos.

Dr. Kaufmann’s Sulphur Bitters etc. etc. etc. Tracing the roots of A. P. Ordway & Company 30 December 2014 Now that we have completed posts for the Dr. B. H. Kauffman Stomach Bitters and Kaufman’s Celebrated Blue Jacket Bitters, it seems reasonable … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Leave a comment

Kaufman’s Celebrated Blue Jacket Bitters – Indianapolis

Posted on 28 December 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Kaufman’s Celebrated Blue Jacket Bitters – Indianapolis

28 December 2014

While working on the post for the Dr. B. H. Kauffman Stomach Bitters from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I checked the Joe Gourd collection inventory list to see if Joe was holding any paper ephemera for the brand. I doubted it as the bottle was very old and extremely rare. Advertising trade cards came later in most cases. What I did see was that he possessed other bitters material for other Kaufman brands. Note the spelling differences, “Kaufman” vs. “Kauffman” vs “Kaufmann”. The first files Joe provided were for Kaufman’s Celebrated Blue Jacket Bitters, which we will look at now. The second set was for Dr. Kaufmann’s Sulfur Bitters. Note yet another spelling for “Kaufmann”.

Read: He had a new variety of bitters known as Red Jacket Bitters

Read: Lewis’ Red Jacket Bitters – New Haven, Connecticut

Well, as said, Joe has obliged and has sent in some fine advertising material for both brands. The two images (front and back) of the Blue Jacket Bitters trade card used in this post are from his collection. The Sulphur Bitters post will probably be tomorrow.

Looking at the back of the Kaufman’s Celebrated Blue Jacket Bitters advertising trade card above, we see the names Moses Kaufman and Charles Kaufman doing business as M. Kaufman & Brother at 42 Louisiana Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seems like we were in Indianapolis earlier in the week. Read: What was peened out of the Apple Brandy Bitters? The front of the card has a great illustration of a union soldier standing with his rifle. On the front of the card, there is a mysterious signature in red that looks to read, “C. A. Freeman” or something to the effect. What is that all about? There is also a reference for Dr. Kaufman’s World’s Premium Bitters on the reverse of the card. Is this the same or a different bitters?

Looking at Bitters Bottles and Bitters Bottles Supplement, we see the listing for the Blue Jacket Bitters and a few surprises.

Trade Card
K 16.5 KAUFMAN’S CELEBRATED BLUE JACKET BITTERS (Bitters Bottles Supplement)
M. Kaufman & Brother, 42 Louisiana Street, Indianapolis, Ind.
Dr. Kaufman’s World Premium Bitters
Possibly a label for K 17 Dr. Kaufman’s World Premium Bitters

The K 16.5 listing above from Bitters Bottles Supplement is obviously for the subject Joe Gourd trade card.

K 15.5 KAUFMAN’S BITTERS (Bitters Bottles)
Charles Kaufman, Wholesale dealer in liquors, 23 W. Maryland Street
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indiana Daily Commercial, January 19, 1871

The K. 15.5 listing above from Bitters Bottles is a surprise. Here we have a similar product reference in Indianapolis in 1871 by Charles Kaufman. Remember, there is a Charles Kaufman listed on the back of the trade card. One of the brothers, a father or son?

K 16 KAUFMAN’S / CELEBRATED // sp // ANTI CHOLERA / BITTERS // sp // // s // PATD // sp // 1865 // sp // (Bitters Bottles)
Prepared and sold by Solomon Kaufman. Liquor dealer, Indianapolis, Indiana
9 7/8 x 2 3/4 (7)
Square semi cabin, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Extremely rare

The K 16 listing above from Bitters Bottles is another big surprise as we have a great bottle that I have never even seen a picture of by Solomon Kaufman in Indianapolis. Solomon Kaufman is a new name in the mix.

K 17 KAUFMAN’S // WORLD / PREMIUM // BITTERS // f // (Bitters Bottles)
9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/2) 5/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare

Wow, another surprise. The K 17 listing above from Bitters Bottles pretty much proves that the Kaufman Blue Jacket Bitters and the Kaufman World Premium Bitters are different products.

M. Kaufman & Brother

Moses Kaufman and Charles Kaufman, doing business as M. Kaufman and Brother, were wholesale dealers and importers of wines, liquors, bourbon and rye whiskey’s along with just about every other type of spirit. They also were the proprietors of the K 16.5, Kaufman’s Celebrated Blue Jacket Bitters and K.17, Kaufman’s World Premium Bitters. These obviously are two different bitters. An example or two of the World Premium Bitters is known to exist. No example of the Blue Jacket Bitters is known. This very well could be an applied top square.

I found records that state that Moses was born in Affaltrach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany on 07 January 1834. He arrived in New York in 1853 on the Sea Queen from Le Havre, France, the ship voyage originating in Baden, Germany.

Moses and Charles Kaufman were only joined in business in 1869 in Indianapolis, Indiana so the trade card is much older than thought which is very interesting. The brothers addressed at 42 Louisiana Street, opposite the Union Depot. This was post Civil War but not by much so obviously they were capitalizing on sales to post Civil War America and Grand Army of the Republic veterans.

In 1870, Moses Kaufman is listed as a wholesale liquor dealer at the same 42 W. Louisiana Street address while Charles Kaufman is listed as a wholesale liquor dealer at 23 West Maryland Street in Indianapolis according to Polks Indianapolis Indiana City Directory. This is odd. Did the brothers not get along? In January 1871, Charles Kaufman is advertising his own Kaufman’s Bitters in the Indiana Daily Commercial newspaper. This would be the K 15.5 listing in Bitters Bottles. I suppose they could have been partners at different locations but something doesn’t feel right here.

Moses Kaufman dies at the age of 85 in Indianapolis on 30 October 1919. He sold liquors throughout the 1880s and was retired according to the 1890 Federal Census. It is not known what happened to Charles, his brother.

This post has some other very interesting Kaufman characters. Aaron and Solomon Kaufman were distillers in 1871. There was also a Simon Kaufman, who was also in the liquor business the same year. These guys had to all be related. Still trying to figure that out. The kingpin here seems to be Solomon. He is the one who put out the Kaufman’s Celebrated Anti-Cholera Bitters.

Select Listings:

1834: Moses Kaufman born in Affaltrach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany on 07 January 1834

1839: Solomon Kaufman born in Kentucky.

1853: Moses Kaufman arrives on the Sea Queen as a passenger in New York from Le Havre, France originating in Baden, Germany

1860: Moses Kaufman, age 26, merchant, Pipe Creek, Madison, Indiana, wife Sarah, brother Charles 15, living with him – United States Federal Census

1863: Solomon Kaufman, tobacco and cigars, 81 E. Washington, bds 143 n Pennsylvania – Indianapolis Indiana City Directory

1865: Solomon Kaufman, liquors and bitters, commission merchant and tobacco dealer, 213 E. Washington, res Pennsylvania – Indianapolis Indiana City Directory

1866: Advertisement for Kaufman’s Celebrated Anti-Cholera Bitters, S. Kauffman & Co. Cincinnati Sole Proprietors – Fort Wayne Daily Gazette, Thursday, June 28, 1866

1867: Solomon Kaufman, bourbon & rye whiskey, grocer, 213 E. Washington – Indianapolis Indiana City Directory

1867-1868: Moses Kaufman, butcher shop, 267 n East, res same – Polks Indianapolis Indiana City Directory

1869: Kaufman & Bro. listing (see below) mentioning both Dr. Kaufman’s World Premium and Blue Jacket Bitters – Polks Indianapolis (Marion County, Ind.) City Directory 1869

1869: S. Kaufman & Co. (Solomon Kaufman and Jonus Fox), Importers and Dealers in Foreign and Domestic Liquors and Cigars, 31 Sycamore – Cincinnati, Ohio City Directory City Directory

1870: Moses Kaufman, wholesale liquor dealer, 42 W. Louisiana – Polks Indianapolis Indiana City Directory

1870: Charles Kaufman, wholesale liquor dealer, 23 West Maryland – Polks Indianapolis Indiana City Directory

1871: Various listings for Kaufman’s (Aaron, Solomon, Charles, Simon) in Indianapolis (see below) – Indianapolis Indiana City Directory

1870: Solomon Kaufman, age 31, wholesale liquor dealer, Indianapolis Ward 2, Marion, Indiana, wife Matie, son Charles 3 – United States Federal Census

1870: Moses Kaufman, age 37, wholesale liquor dealer, wife sara (sophia), 5 children, Indianapolis Ward 3, Marion County, Indiana – United States Federal Census

1872: Blue Jacket Bitters regarded as a dangerous medicine – The Cambridge City Tribune, Thursday, February 8, 1872

1880: Moses Kaufman, age 46, retail merchant, wife s, 6 children (Nettie, Annie, Nora, Hannah, Abraham, Pherla, Gertrude, Indianapolis Ward 3, Marion County, Indiana – United States Federal Census

1900: Moses Kaufman, age 66, retired, widowed, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana – United States Federal Census

1919: Death Moses Kaufman, age 85, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, 30 October 1919

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Civil War, Ephemera, History, Liquor Merchant, Questions, Spirits | Tagged advertising, bitters, blue, card, Celebrated, Charles, Civil, Germany, Gourd, indiana, Indianapolis, Jacket, Kaufman, liquors, Louisiana, Moses, trade, war, Wine | Leave a comment

Dr. B. H. Kauffman Stomach Bitters – Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Posted on 27 December 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. B. H. Kauffman Stomach Bitters – Lancaster, Pennsylvania

27 December 2014 (R•100915)

Robert Cohen posted a picture of a Dr. Kauffman Stomach Bitters from Lancaster, Pennsylvania over on the Bottle Colletors Facebook page (pictured at top of post) and I immediately recognized my baby. The picture must have come from the American Bottle Auctions site. Their picture is a bit greener than the actual bottle. The bubble across the letters “AUF” in “KAUFFMAN” is an obvious DNA signature. My example came from American Bottle Auctions – Grapentine I -Auction 41, in April 2007 and was lot #177. What a great bottle with a nice iron pontil.

As an aside, this bottle should not be confused with the much later Dr. Kaufmann’s Sulfur Bitters. Note the spelling difference (Kauffman vs Kaufmann). We will talk about that in another post.

Here is Jeff Wichmann’s description of the bottle in the auction catalog (pictured above). “Interesting to note is the letter “O” in STOMAOH. It’s definitely an “O” and we’re not sure if it’s an apparition or inherent to the bottle. It maybe tough to know as there aren’t many out there to compare it to. The provenance on this bottle is being determined. It was not sold in a Glass Works Auction in 1997. You can compare still photos and you’ll see this example is much darker and has different attributes.”

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

K 13.5 DR KAUFFMAN STOMACH BITTERS

DR. B. H. KAUFFMAN. / STOMAOH BITTERS // f // f // LANCASTER PA //
9 1/4 x 3 5/8 x 2 3/8 (7 1/4) 5/8
Rectangular, Blue-green and Green, (also Aqua) LTC, Metallic pontil mark, Extremely rare
STOMACH is misspelled STOMAOH.

Dr. B. H. Kauffman Stomach Bitters – Lancaster, Pennsylvania – Meyer Collection

Dr. B. H. Kaufman Stomach Bitters – Lancaster, Pennsylvania – Meyer Collection

Dr. B. H. Kauffman Stomach Bitters – Lancaster, Pennsylvania – One of the rarest bitters from Lancaster, Pa. definitely the oldest, iron pontiled ! I’ve heard of a mint example with full label in a collection ! This bottle also comes in aqua and I’ve heard only one exists undamaged. Here’s one I dug broken. – Christian Raezer

B. H. Kauffman Stomach Bitters Aqua Bottle, Lancaster, PA. . Broken Remains. Condition: Incomplete. Ex: Nolt Collection – Conestoga Auctions

Benjamin H. Kauffman

At times it felt like I was dealing with three different Benjamin H. Kauffmans from Pennsylvania. The first B. H. Kauffman was a druggist and maker of patent medicines. He put out the Dr. B. H. Kauffman Stomach Bitters. The second B. H. Kauffman was a hotelier and ran hotels at one time or another in Lancaster, Dayton, Philadelphia and Baltimore. The third B. H. Kauffman was the Doctor of Dr. Kauffman’s Horse and Cattle Powders. This is one person, just different points in life.

Dr. Benjamin H. Kauffman

Benjamin H. Kauffman was born in East Petersburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on April 25, 1810. His father was John Kauffman and his mother was Mary Hershey. Kauffman came to Lancaster, PA in 1850 and opened a drug store on North Queen Street. He remained in the drug store and patent medicine business throughout 1859 when he acquired a hotel in Lancaster. This is the start of Phase 2 of his career as on the 1860 United States Federal Census, Kauffman lists himself as a Hotel Keeper. After this, he moved to Dayton, Ohio and also ran a hotel for a year or two. He then returned to Lancaster and ran the Allegheny and Great Western hotels in Philadelphia for seven years and the General Wayne Inn in Baltimore for five years and the Bentz House Carlisle, PA for several years. These hotel’s were not great in size like hotels around the turn of the century but more like Inns.

Dr. B. H. Kauffman trade card, Jacob M. Kauffman manufacturer of Dr. B.H. Kauffman’s Horse and Cattle Powders and Patent Medicines, East Petersburg, Lancaster, Pennsylvania *MD – Notice the English Reading Puzzle

In Phase 3 of his life, Kauffman leaves the hotel business and returns to Lancaster and devotes most of his time being a veterinary surgeon and manufacturer and seller of horse and cattle medicines. He had three children, Aaron, Harry (Henry) and Mary, all who died before him in May 1886. Mary’s husband was John J. Strine. A Charles B. Strine was running the business in 1887. There was a Jacob B. Kauffman who was selling products under the Dr. B. H. Kauffman name. I believe this was his brother. Was he a doctor? Jury still out.

Select Listings:

1810: Birth 25 April 1810, Benjamin H. Kauffman, East Petersburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Parents John Kauffman and Mary Hershey

1850: Benjamin H. Kauffman comes to Lancaster and opens a drug store on North Queen Street in Lancaster, PA.

1859: Benjamin H. Kauffman, drugs, 41 N. Queen, and hotel 45 N. Queen, h same – – Boyd’s Lancaster County Business Directory

Thereafter he was manager of the drug store of Benjamin Kauffman for a year and a half, and after that again for another year and a half for John Markley, who had bought out Kauffman and was no druggist himself. [passage without date, probably 1859)

1860: B. H. Kauffman, hotel keeper, age 50, Susannah age 43, Henry H, age 24 and Mary E, age 14, Lancaster, North West Ward, Lancaster, Pennsylvania – United States Federal Census

1872: Benjamin H. Kauffman, hotel, 1313 Market – Philadelphia City Directory

1887: “Dr. B. H. Kauffman & Co. manufacture and sell largely of horse and cattle powders” (see below) – Resources and Industries of the City of Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Board of trade, 1887

Reference to B.H. Kauffmann & Company and bitters – Resources and Industries of the City of Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Board of trade, 1887

1887: B. H. Kauffman & Co., (Charles B. Strine), horse and cattle powders, 427 1/2 N. Queen – Lancasterm Pennsylvania City Directory

1886: Death, Benjamin H. Kauffman, May 13, 1886, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (read below)

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Veterinary | Tagged Baltimore, Benjamin, bitters, cattle, Cohen, dayton, Druggist & Drugstore, Grapentine, horse, Hotel, Jacob, Kauffman, lancaster, Medicines, Patent, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Raezer, Stomach, Strine, veterinary, Wichmann | Leave a comment

Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil – New York

Posted on 25 December 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil New York

25 December 2014 [Christmas]

It is always nice to see a bottle that I am unfamiliar with and to meet someone new in bottle collecting. In this case I am referring to Ken Darnell from Mount Sterling, Kentucky. Here is an e-mail and pictures that I received from Ken.

Ferdinand:

I am a new member of FOHBC, joining at the Lexington, Kentucky National Antique Bottle Show in August. I just purchased (see attached pictures) this wonderfully heavy F V Rushton Cod Liver Oil New York bottle with hinge mold base. I have exhausted my research, including finding an on line article (attached) that you recently authored (Read: The Rushton & Aspinwall Compound Chlorine Toothwash – New York).

I have also attached the cover of a 60 page treatise on the benefits of Cod Liver Oil by F. V. Rushton in 1855 (Read: Rushton’s Treatise on Cod Liver Oil). I see that his father started the company in the 1830’s with FV Rushton taking over sometime after that. I am trying to date this bottle. I believe it is circa 1860. Do you have an opinion that you can offer as to its date of manufacturer, or can you suggest a source who could help with that question?

I have been a long time Civil War artifacts collector and casual bottle collector. Thanks to your National Show in Lexington, and to the excellent articles in the “Bottles and Extras” magazine, my interest in historical bottles has taken another step up.

Thank you and your TEAM for your enthusiasm and leadership in preserving the history of historical bottles.

Very sincerely,

Ken Darnell
Mt Sterling, KY

PS: Bottle measures 10 1/8″ tall, and is unusually heavy. It is light green in color vs the usual aqua blue/green. Hinge mold base. Note the mold seam on neck that runs full length of neck, both sides, up under the applied lip.

Rushton’s Treatise on Cod Liver Oil Giving its Curative Properties and Uses in Various Diseases, New York, Frederick V. Rushton, 1855

Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil

Rushton & Aspinwall were leading druggist of their time in New York City. In 1827, William L. Rushton opened a drug store at 81 William Street, which was previously the dry goods store of Reuben & Henry M. Sikes. James S. Aspinwall does not appear in the directories prior to the partnership. Rushton and Aspinwall were listed as partners in 1830. They moved their William Street store from 81 to 86 William Street in 1835 and in 1836 they added a third location at 10 Astor House.

In 1850, we start seeing advertisements for Rushton, Clark & Company selling the Cod Liver Oil. The firm dissolves in 1855 and Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil is being advertised by Frederick V. Rushton, son of William. Frederick was born in New York in 1929. This probably is the earliest advertising for the subject bottle though it looks to be a later make, say 1865 to 1875. If you notice, the third to last advertisement below is dated 1870 and includes “F. V.” in the advertising which matches the “F. V.” on the bottle. This is probably dead center on the date for the bottle. In 1872 the advertising seems to stop for this product.

In 1878, the Supreme Court of the State of New York decided that J.C. Ayer & Co. of Lowell, Massachusetts had the sole right to use the word Cherry Pectoral for a medicine. Unfortunately F. V. Rushton was selling a similar product using the same name. F.V. Rushton died in New York on 5 January 1898.

Read: Early Cod Liver Oil Bottle

Rushton&Clark_The_Tri_Weekly_Commercial_Sat__Jan_19__1850_

Rushton, Clark & Co’s Cod Liver Oil advertisement – The Tri Weekly Commercial, Saturday, January 19, 1850

Rushtons_The_Times_Picayune_Tue__Apr_15__1851_

Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil advertisement – The Times Picayune, Tuesday, April 15, 1851

Rushtons_Fayetteville_Semi_Weekly_Observer_Mon__Feb_28__1853_

Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil advertisement – Fayetteville Semi Weekly Observer, Monday, February 28, 1853

RushtonsR_Richmond_Dispatch_Thu__Apr_26__1855_

Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil advertisement – Richmond Dispatch, Thursday, April 26, 1855

Rushtons_The_Wilmington_Daily_Herald_Sat__May_12__1860_

Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil advertisement – The Wilmington Daily Herald, Saturday, May 12, 1860

Rushton's_The_Daily_Kansas_Tribune_Fri__Dec_16__1870_

F. V. Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil advertisement – The Daily Kansas Tribune, Friday, December, 16, 1870

Rushton's_Decatur_Weekly_Republican_Thu__Jan_12__1871_

F. V. Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil advertisement – Decatur Weekly Republican, Thursday, January 12, 1871

Rushton_Fort_Scott_Daily_Monitor_Fri__Sep_20__1878_

Supreme Court of the State of New York decided that J.C. Ayer & Co. of Lowell, Massachusetts have the sole right to use the word Cherry Pectoral for a medicine – Fort Scott Daily Monitor, Friday, September 20, 1878

Posted in Advertising, Cod Liver Oil, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged Cod, Darnell, Frederick, Liver, New York, oil, Rushton, William | Leave a comment

With and without the words Monopole Bitters

Posted on 24 December 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

With and without the words Monopole Bitters

Herman Toser Co. – Milwaukee & William Frank & Sons – Pittsburgh

24 December 2014 [Christmas Eve]

Monopole Bitters – Herman Toser Milwaukee. This is one of the premier Wisconsin bitters. It is simply embossed on the back “MONOPOLE BITTERS” and “W F & S” (William Frank & Sons Pittsburgh 1860 1875) and has a large iron pontil. It is a product of the Herman Toser Co. of Milwaukee Wisconsin. It is extremely rare with only a couple of known examples. One was found in Wisconsin in the 1960’s and was sold to a national bitters collector outside of Wisconsin. – Wisconsin Antique Advertising Club

Frank Wicker with BottlePickers scored himself an early Christmas present when he picked up a en-embossed Monopole Bitters. Great bottle picking! Frank sent me the following e-mail and pictures.

Hi Ferdinand. Have you ever seen one of these? Embossed on base” WM FRANK
& SONS”. It is 11 inches tall with a strange iron pontil. There is iron even on
the lettering. This bottle is listed in Digger Odell’s 2010 Bitters Price Guide on page 65. It is just like the bottle in the Ring & Ham Bitters Bottles book on page 390 except it is not embossed Monopole Bitters. I picked this one up for $8 in an antique store this past Saturday. Pics attached. – Frank

Unembossed Monopole Bitters – Wicker Collection

Applied mouth on an unembossed Monopole Bitters – Wicker Collection

The Unembossed Monopole Bitters

Actually I have seen pictures of an unembossed example. Glass Works Auctions had an example in one of their recent auctions. A nice picture is represented below.

“WM. FRANK & SONS” (on base), (M-101L), Franktown Glass Works, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ca. 1870 – 1880, amber globular form, 10 1/2”h, big red iron pontil, applied double collar mouth, about perfect. Extremely rare, identical form as the Monopole Bitters but lacking the embossing. – Glass Works Auctions

Another example, in the form of a spinner can be seen here at the Wisconsin Antique Advertising Club’s fine web site. Monopole Bitters H. Toser Milwaukee, WI Style Bottle

Here is a great example of what a Monopole Bitters bottle looks like minus the embossing from Herman Toser, Milwaukee, WI. This bottle has a huge Iron Pontil and was made by Wm. Frank & Son Glassworks. From The Collection of Jon Steiner. – Wisconsin Antique Advertising Club

The Embossed Monopole Bitters

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

M 121 MONOPOLE BITTERS

MONOPOLE / BITTERS // c // b // WM FRANK & SONS
11 1/8 x 3 3/4 (7 1/2)
Round globular with pedestal base, Amber, DC, Extremely rare
Oval outlined flattened label area
Ring around neck, 4″ below mouth
Trade Mark No. 9792, dated November, 1882 by Herman Toser Co., Milwaukee
Used since 1872

“In addition to his whiskey brands, Toser also was mixing and merchandising his own brand of bitters, a highly alcoholic potion that also claimed to have medicinal values. He called it “Monopole Bitters.”

For an absolutely great and informative article by Jack Sullivan, you must read, Herman Toser Provided “Gemuetlichkeit” in Its Truest Form over at Those Pre-Pro Whiskey Men! Jack notes within, “In addition to his whiskey brands, Toser also was mixing and merchandising his own brand of bitters, a highly alcoholic potion that also claimed to have medicinal values. He called it “Monopole Bitters.”

Herman F. Toser is sitting with a friend testing the flavor of sherry drawn from a barrel behind them. They are seated in an establishment called Herman Toser’s Weinstube. – Those Pre-Pro Whiskey Men!

To find a picture of an embossed example of a Monopole Bitters I had to look far and wide as I do not have either an embossed or unembossed example in my collection. I found one gracing the shelves of the late Elvin Moody collection and John Feldmann collection. Read: Elvin Moody Bottle Collection pictures surface!

A Monopole Bitters sitting on the sleeves of the great Elvin Moody collection.

Monopole Bitters in lower left corner – John Feldmann Collection

The Monopole Bitters form reminds me of my partially labeled Brand Brothers Company Stuttgarter Stomach Bitters bottle (pictures below) that is embossed “BRAND BROS. CO // EIGENTHUMER / GESETZLICH GESCHUTZT”. The bottle is 10 1/2 inches tall, round at the base and the body is 3 sided with knobs near the shoulder on the bevel.

Embossed side of a labeled Brand Brothers (B 201) Stuttgarter Stomach Bitter (see label side below) – Meyer Collection

Labeled Brand Brothers (B 201) Stuttgarter Stomach Bitter (see embossed side above) – Meyer Collection

Posted in Article Publications, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Display, Glass Makers, History, Liquor Merchant, Spirits | Tagged bitters, brand, embossed, Feldmann, Frank, Herman, Meyer, milwaukee, Monopole, Moody, Pittsburgh, Sullivan, Toser, unembossed, Wiliam, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Stadiger’s Aurantii Stomach Bitters – Philadelphia

Posted on 24 December 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Stadiger’s Aurantii Stomach Bitters – Philadelphia

24 December 2014 [Christmas Eve]

The Stadiger’s Aurantii Stomach Bitters is another extremely rare bitters square that Jeff Wichmann pictured and sold on his new American Bottle Auctions | Bottle Store page. Previously I posted about the Acorn Bitters, Apple Brandy Bitters and Rose Hill Stomach Bitters from the page. Jeff’s description for the Stadiger’s:

Stadiger’s Aurantii Stomach Bitters: 9 1/8”. Applied top, smooth base. Here’s another extremely rare bitters, it is a medium amber. There are loads of tiny bubbles and the bottle itself appears perfect. With just a hint of interior stain, we’d have to grade this a 9.8.

Stadiger’s Aurantii Stomach Bitters – American Bottle Auctions Bottle Store Page

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

S 172 STADIGER’S AURANTII STOMACH BITTERS

STADIGER’S / AURANTII / STOMACH BITTERS // f // f // f //
9 1/8 x 2 3/4 (6 1/2) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare

Stadiger’s Aurantii Stomach Bitters advertisement – Austin Weekly Statesman (Austin, Tex.) Thursday, August 19, 1886

Charles F. Stadiger

Charles F. Stadiger was born in February 1833 in Pennsylvania and spent the first part of his business career (1862-1887) as a liquor merchant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His shop was at 407 Arch Street and he boarded at the Union Hotel in the early years. In 1886 he announced and sold his Stadiger’s Aurantii Stomach Bitters from 140 South Front Street in Philadelphia. He said his bitters and tonic would cure and prevent just about anything and he sold it for a $1 dollar a bottle. He must have had high hopes for the product as he changed his directory listings to “patent medicines” in 1888 and developed and trade marked the wonderful art with the owl and related advertisement shown in this post. I bet the bitters was loaded with alcohol.

He used this same art and advertised heavily in 1886 and 1887 in Texas (Austin, Brenham, Fort Worth, Galveston, Waco), Louisiana (Alexandria, Donaldsonville, New Orleans), Kansas (Fort Scott, Lawrence, Topeka), Georgia (Atlanta, Carrollton) and South Carolina (Bennettsville, Laurens, Manning) but like many extremely rare bitters, the product disappears as fast as it appears. It is surprising that more bottle examples have not shown up.

Stadiger moves into the insurance business in 1888 and remains in this arena for a number of years. He passed away in Philadelphia in October 1908.

Select Listings

1833: C. F. Stadiger born February 1833 in Pennsylvania, fathers birthplace Germany, mothers birthplace Pennsylvania.

1862-1865: C. F. Stadiger, wines and liquors (liquor merchant), 407 Arch, bds Union Hotel – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1863-1865: C. F. Stadiger, liquor dealer – Civil War Draft Registration Records

1870: C. F. Stadiger, age 35, liquors, Philadelphia Ward 15, District 44, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – United States Federal Census

1876: Charles F. Stadiger, h 1919 Wallace – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1880: C. F. Stadiger, age 45, liquors, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – United States Federal Census

1881-1887: Charles F. Stadiger, liquors, 140 S. Front, h 1919 Wallace – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1886: Stadiger’s Aurantii advertisement (see above), C. F. Stadiger, Proprietor, 140 S. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa. – Austin Weekly Statesman

1888: Charles F. Stadiger, patent medicines, 140 S. Front, h 1919 Wallace – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1888: Charles F. Stadiger, insurance, 436 Walnut, h 1919 Wallace – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1892-1895: Charles F. Stadiger, insurance, 436 Walnut, h 2006 Mt Vernon – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1908: Charles F. Stadiger death in October 1908, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Holiday, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Tonics | Tagged Aurantii, bitters, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Stadiger, Stomach, Tonic, Wichmann | Leave a comment

Label: Formerly manufactured by Moses Atwood Georgetown, Mass, and sold by his agents throughout the United States by Manhattan Medicine Co. Proprietors, New York.

Manhattan Medicine Company v. Wood

03 January 2015

Label: Formerly manufactured by Moses Atwood Georgetown, Mass, and sold by his agents throughout the United States by Manhattan Medicine Co. Proprietors, New York.

United States Supreme Court

108 U.S. 218

MANHATTAN MEDICINE COMPANY v. WOOD

Some More Atwood’s

Johnson’s Calisaya Bitters –Burlington, Vermont

02 January 2015 (R•010315)

J 45 JOHNSON’S CALISAYA BITTERS JOHNSON’S / CALISAYA / BITTERS // sp // BURLINGTON / VT. // f // L… Dr. Johnson’s Calisaya’s Bitters 10 x 2 3/4 (7 5/8) 3/8 Square, LTCR, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Amber – Scarce; Green and Puce- Extremely rare

Tracing the Roots

William W. Henry

[Wikipedia]

Select Dates:

Brazilian Soda Bitters – Indianapolis

01 January 2015

B 209 BRAZILIAN SODA BITTERS Trade Mark April, 1878 to Nathaniel S. Driggs & Winfield S. Lynn, Indianapolis, Indiana

Nathaniel S. Driggs & Winfield S. Lynn

George W. Sloan

Browning & Sloan

Sloan Drug Company

Select Listings:

JANUARY | 2 0 1 5

Saturday, 31 January 2015

Friday, 30 January 2015

Monday, 26 January 2015

Saturday, 24 January 2015

Friday, 23 January 2015

Wednesday, 21 January 2015

Monday, 19 January 2015

Saturday, 17 January 2015

Thursday, 15 January 2015

Monday, 12 January 2015

Sunday, 11 January 2015

Friday, 09 January 2015

Thursday, 08 January 2015

Wednesday, 07 January 2015

Tuesday, 06 January 2015

Monday, 05 January 2015

Saturday, 03 January 2015

Friday, 02 January 2015

Thursday, 01 January 2015

Kaufman’s Celebrated Blue Jacket Bitters – Indianapolis

28 December 2014

Trade Card K 16.5 KAUFMAN’S CELEBRATED BLUE JACKET BITTERS (Bitters Bottles Supplement) M. Kaufman & Brother, 42 Louisiana Street, Indianapolis, Ind. Dr. Kaufman’s World Premium Bitters Possibly a label for K 17 Dr. Kaufman’s World Premium Bitters

K 15.5 KAUFMAN’S BITTERS (Bitters Bottles) Charles Kaufman, Wholesale dealer in liquors, 23 W. Maryland Street Indianapolis, Indiana Indiana Daily Commercial, January 19, 1871

K 16 KAUFMAN’S / CELEBRATED // sp // ANTI CHOLERA / BITTERS // sp // // s // PATD // sp // 1865 // sp // (Bitters Bottles) Prepared and sold by Solomon Kaufman. Liquor dealer, Indianapolis, Indiana 9 7/8 x 2 3/4 (7) Square semi cabin, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Extremely rare

K 17 KAUFMAN’S // WORLD / PREMIUM // BITTERS // f // (Bitters Bottles) 9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/2) 5/8 Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare

M. Kaufman & Brother

Select Listings:

Dr. B. H. Kauffman Stomach Bitters – Lancaster, Pennsylvania

27 December 2014 (R•100915)

K 13.5 DR KAUFFMAN STOMACH BITTERS

DR. B. H. KAUFFMAN. / STOMAOH BITTERS // f // f // LANCASTER PA // 9 1/4 x 3 5/8 x 2 3/8 (7 1/4) 5/8 Rectangular, Blue-green and Green, (also Aqua) LTC, Metallic pontil mark, Extremely rare STOMACH is misspelled STOMAOH.

Benjamin H. Kauffman

Select Listings:

Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil New York

25 December 2014 [Christmas]

Rushton’s Cod Liver Oil

With and without the words Monopole Bitters

Herman Toser Co. – Milwaukee & William Frank & Sons – Pittsburgh

24 December 2014 [Christmas Eve]

The Unembossed Monopole Bitters

The Embossed Monopole Bitters

M 121 MONOPOLE BITTERS

MONOPOLE / BITTERS // c // b // WM FRANK & SONS 11 1/8 x 3 3/4 (7 1/2) Round globular with pedestal base, Amber, DC, Extremely rare Oval outlined flattened label area Ring around neck, 4″ below mouth Trade Mark No. 9792, dated November, 1882 by Herman Toser Co., Milwaukee Used since 1872

“In addition to his whiskey brands, Toser also was mixing and merchandising his own brand of bitters, a highly alcoholic potion that also claimed to have medicinal values. He called it “Monopole Bitters.”

Stadiger’s Aurantii Stomach Bitters – Philadelphia

24 December 2014 [Christmas Eve]

S 172 STADIGER’S AURANTII STOMACH BITTERS

STADIGER’S / AURANTII / STOMACH BITTERS // f // f // f // 9 1/8 x 2 3/4 (6 1/2) 3/8 Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare

Charles F. Stadiger

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J 45 JOHNSON’S CALISAYA BITTERS
JOHNSON’S / CALISAYA / BITTERS // sp // BURLINGTON / VT. // f //
L… Dr. Johnson’s Calisaya’s Bitters
10 x 2 3/4 (7 5/8) 3/8
Square, LTCR, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Amber – Scarce; Green and Puce- Extremely rare

B 209 BRAZILIAN SODA BITTERS
Trade Mark April, 1878 to Nathaniel S. Driggs & Winfield S. Lynn, Indianapolis, Indiana

Trade Card
K 16.5 KAUFMAN’S CELEBRATED BLUE JACKET BITTERS (Bitters Bottles Supplement)
M. Kaufman & Brother, 42 Louisiana Street, Indianapolis, Ind.
Dr. Kaufman’s World Premium Bitters
Possibly a label for K 17 Dr. Kaufman’s World Premium Bitters

K 15.5 KAUFMAN’S BITTERS (Bitters Bottles)
Charles Kaufman, Wholesale dealer in liquors, 23 W. Maryland Street
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indiana Daily Commercial, January 19, 1871

K 16 KAUFMAN’S / CELEBRATED // sp // ANTI CHOLERA / BITTERS // sp // // s // PATD // sp // 1865 // sp // (Bitters Bottles)
Prepared and sold by Solomon Kaufman. Liquor dealer, Indianapolis, Indiana
9 7/8 x 2 3/4 (7)
Square semi cabin, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Extremely rare

K 17 KAUFMAN’S // WORLD / PREMIUM // BITTERS // f // (Bitters Bottles)
9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/2) 5/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare

DR. B. H. KAUFFMAN. / STOMAOH BITTERS // f // f // LANCASTER PA //
9 1/4 x 3 5/8 x 2 3/8 (7 1/4) 5/8
Rectangular, Blue-green and Green, (also Aqua) LTC, Metallic pontil mark, Extremely rare
STOMACH is misspelled STOMAOH.

MONOPOLE / BITTERS // c // b // WM FRANK & SONS
11 1/8 x 3 3/4 (7 1/2)
Round globular with pedestal base, Amber, DC, Extremely rare
Oval outlined flattened label area
Ring around neck, 4″ below mouth
Trade Mark No. 9792, dated November, 1882 by Herman Toser Co., Milwaukee
Used since 1872

STADIGER’S / AURANTII / STOMACH BITTERS // f // f // f //
9 1/8 x 2 3/4 (6 1/2) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare