Cobalt bottle embossed W. S. Merrell & Co. – Cincinnati

Posted on 4 October 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Cobalt bottle embossed W. S. Merrell & Co. – Cincinnati

04 October 2014

Apple-Touch-IconANow here is an interesting e-mail about a killer bottle that brings to mind the Solomon’s Strengthening and Invigorating Bitters from Savannah, Georgia and the S. S. Smith Jr. & Co. from Cincinnati, Ohio. As you will find out, the Merrell name is a big part of chemical manufacturing and medicine history in America that spanned some 167 years which is quite amazing.

Ferdinand, I have sent photos of a bottle unknown to me. It is typical Bitters shape, deep cobalt blue but is only embossed W S Merrell & Co and Cincinnati on the reverse panel. He was a druggist from the 1850s through the 80s. I am trying to figure out if it is a Bitters or a Medicine. Thanks for any help you can give. Dennis Huey

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William Stanley Merrell

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William Stanley Merrell

William Stanley Merrell, whose parents were from colonial New Hartford, Connecticut, was born at New Durham, Greene County, New York on 08 January 1798 and moved with his family to Oneida, New York in 1801 when he was a child. At the age of sixteen, he journeyed on horseback to Cincinnati to visit his uncle, Major William Stanley, and returned, in the same manner, to New York State and briefly studied medicine in common schools and eventually graduated from Hamilton College in 1824 with a chemistry and allied sciences degree. With his degree, he immediately returned to Cincinnati and opened a preparatory school which specialized in chemistry and applied sciences. In 1825, he went to Augusta, Kentucky and became principal of a seminary. He next moved to Tuscumbia, Alabama in 1828 and became president of a female college. On 10 June 1828, Merrill opened the Western Market Apothecary which was the first apothecary shop west of the Allegheny Mountains at Sixth Street and Western Row in downtown Cincinnati.

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The William S. Merril Company was established in 1830

The William S. Merril Company was established in 1830. Merrell turned out to be more of a research scientist than a merchant and in 1832 he began to manufacture drugs for other pharmacies. In 1847, he discovered podophyllin, a substitute for calomel, and became the first pharmaceutical manufacturer to begin producing newly discovered resinous compounds commercially. His company served as an agent for “green drug” preparations and sold an assortment of specific tinctures along with corn silk, saw palmetto, black haw, echinacea, black cohosh, cactus, passion flowers, cotton root bark, fringe tree, and stone root. In 1850, his brother, Albert S. Merrell, became his business partner. Merrell was also the president of the Eclectic Medical College and served as a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association.

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William S. Merrell & Co advertisement – Eclectic Medical College, 1856

His wholesale drug business became quite successful and by the 1870s he was supplying ingredients to pharmacies throughout the United States and Europe. After his death in 1880, his sons incorporated the business as the William S. Merrell Chemical Company. The president at that time was George Merrell who organized the William S. Merrell Chemical Company of Cincinnati in 1888. 

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George Merrell

Later, in 1932 the business, still called the William S. Merrell Co., opened a research and manufacturing facility in Reading, Pennsylvania. By 1939 it operated out of 10 buildings on 9 acres. By 1978, the company was on 37 acres and employed 1,100. Merrell merged with Dow Chemicals in 1980.

William S. Merrell died in Cincinnati in 1880 when he was 82 years old. He is depicted on a mural that is on permanent display at the Greater Cincinnati Airport (see below). His brother George, took over the company after his death.

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W. Reiss took the photos for this mural of two Merrell employees overseeing the coating of tablets in rotary kettles. Reiss’ mural, moved from the Cincinnati’s Union (Train) Station to the main terminal at Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport.

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1901 Letterhead Merrell Chemical Co., San Francisco

Perhaps the most notable event on the company’s 167-year history was their planned United States introduction of thalidomide (as Kevadon). In 1960 Merrell licensed the drug from the German company Chemie Grünenthal but a brand new reviewer at the FDA, Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey, refused the application on the grounds that it needed more clinical studies. Merrell argued that the drug, already widely used in Europe, was completely safe. It was soon found that thalidomide, commonly prescribed as a morning-sickness treatment, was exceptionally teratogenic and caused phocomelia. A disaster was averted in the US but some 10,000+ thalidomide babies were born in Europe.

Unfortunately I can find no specific confirmation that the cobalt bottle represented in this post is a bitters. There are some records that suggest a cordial but that can not be proved either without a labeled example or advertising showing this bottle.

William Stanley Merrell Select Timeline:

1798: William S. Merrell, born in Durham, New York on 08 January 1798.

1815: William S. Merrill, Cincinnati – 1842 Catalog of the Members of the Union Society

1824: William Stanley Merrell received a chemistry degree from Hamilton College in 1824.

1828: William S. Merrell opened the Western Market Drug Store at Sixth Street and Western Row (now Central Avenue) in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. – Wikipedia

1830: William S. Merril Company established.

1831: Marriage to Mehitable Thurston Poore.

1836: William S. Merrell, S E c W row and 6th r Longorth b Plum – The Cincinnati Directory Advertiser

1852: William S. Merrell, Druggists & Apothecaries, n.w.c. Court and Plum – Williams’ Cincinnati Guide and Business Register for 1852

1856: William S. Merrell & Co advertisement (see above) – Eclectic Medical College

1865: Wm S. Merrell & Co., (Wm. S. R. & Albert S. Merrell)  (George Merrell, salesman) Dealers in Medicines, and Manufacturers of Concentrated Medical Preparations, 110 W. 3d – Cincinnati, Ohio City Directory

1869: Wm S. Merrell & Co., (Wm. S. M., President; George Merrell, Secretary) Manufacturers and Wholesale Druggists, 112 W. 3d, Factory 11 Burnett – Cincinnati, Ohio City Directory

1875: Wm S. Merrell & Co., (Wm. S. M., A. S. M. & George Merrell) Manufacturering Chemists and Wholesale Druggists, 114 W. 3d; Drug Mills and Laboratory, s.w.c. 6th and Eggleston Av – Cincinnati, Ohio City Directory

1880: William Stanley Merrell dies on 04 Sept 1880.

1888: George Merrell organizes the William S. Merrell Chemical Company of Cincinnati. – Steel and Iron Volume 48

1899: The William S. Merrell Chemical Company, 517 to 525 E. 5th – Cincinnati, Ohio City Directory

1914: George Merrell, President of W.S. Merrell & Company dies 0n 15 December 1914 – Steel & Iron Volume 48

1917: The William S. Merrell Chemical Company, 5th, Pike and Butler; Phone Canal 4190 – Cincinnati, Ohio City Directory

1925: The Wm. S. Merrell & Co., Chas. G. Merrell, President; Thurston Merrell, Vice President, 5th. Pike and Butler, Phone Main 5750 – Cincinnati, Ohio City Directory

Posted in Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chief Two Moon Meridas and his Bitter Oil

Posted on 30 September 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Chief Two Moon Meridas and his Bitter Oil

30 September 2014 (R•013117)

Apple-Touch-IconAWhile cruising around eBay a little while ago I came across this monster cardboard folding advertising piece for Chief Two Moon Bitter Oil. I mean, this piece is big, measuring approximately 39.5 inches tall and 52 inches wide when fully expanded. See eBay listing. I am wondering, who is Chief Two Moon? Curiously, the Bitter Oil is listed in Bitters Bottles without a classification number.

2 Moon Faces

What I find particularly creative in this advertising is the use of two moons, both a happy and sad moon face in the medicine packaging. As you may know now, the face and pain threshold pictogram is a regular tool in doctors offices to solicit pain level responses.

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“Chief” Two Moon Meridas

“Chief” Two Moon Meridas

“Chief” Two Moon Meridas (ca. 1888–1933) was an American seller of herbal medicine who claimed that he was of Sioux birth.

Meridas was born Chico Colon Meridan, son of Chico Meridan and Mary Tumoon; his exact place and date of birth are unclear. Later, his marriage certificate recorded his date of birth as August 29, 1888, but this information in unconfirmed.

By 1914 Meridas was selling herbal medicines in the streets of Philadelphia and New York. In New York he met Helen Gertrude Nugent and later married her. Shortly afterwards they moved to Waterbury, Connecticut. Meridas began to sell his herbal medicines from his house. Contemporary newspaper accounts stated that during the 1918 influenza epidemic, none of his patients died. This increased his prestige and clientele. His most famous product was “Bitter Oil”, a laxative that was widely marketed as a cure-all.

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Chief Two Moon Laboratory Illustration

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Chief Two Moon Sales Bus

In 1921 Meridas moved to a larger house and established an extensive and prosperous herb business in a storefront at 1898 East Main Street. He built his own laboratory at 1864 East Main Street in 1925. His business increased to such an extent that he had a fleet of buses for his salesmen and an airplane. He took money only for his products, not his advice. He spent lavishly but also surreptitiously donated to charities and to the poor.

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In 1928 the Atlantic City gave him the keys to the city when he founded his Indian Temple there.

Meridas claimed that he was a Pueblo Indian. However, the United States Department of Interior refused to certify that he was an American Indian, although he was presented as one in his publicity. On August 6, 1930 the Oglala Lakota Sioux of the Pine Ridge Reservation gave him the honorary title of chief, due to his financial help during the Great Depression.

In October 1930 Meridas and his wife traveled to Europe to meet Pope Pius XI. On May 3, 1932 Meridas was indicted and later convicted of practicing medicine without a license in New York and Connecticut. In November 1932 Meridas brought 26 Sioux to Waterbury to speak for his defense, some of whom stated that they had taken part of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. They also stated that Meridas had been named an Honorary Chief of the Sioux. They later celebrated at Meridas’ Connecticut estate. Two Moon Meridas died on November 3, 1933. He is buried in Hillside Cemetery, Roslyn, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [Wikipedia]

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Another Chief Two Moon Advertising Piece – Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

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Chief Two Moon Bitter Oil Laxative in original box c. 1930 20th Century 9 in. x 3 1/4 in. x 2 in. cardboard, glass, metal, bitter oil – Mattatuck Museum

Labeled Chief Two Moon Bitter Oil – I was going through my friends 50 year collection of labeled bottles and came across this one. As you can imagine, I found a dozen or so labels that were obviously applied to the bottle in the last couple of decades but found hundreds that are no doubt original to the bottle. I also had a few with original labels on them but the label had been reproduced so it would be hard to convince someone it was original to the bottle. Anyway, this one looks like it has been on the bottle a long time but so hard to tell. – Mark Newton

Embossed side of a labeled Chief Two Moon Bitter Oil – (see above)  – Mark Newton

Posted in Advertising, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anti-Malarial Bitters, D. T. Everts & Company – Petersburg, Virginia

Posted on 29 September 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Anti-Malarial Bitters, D. T. Everts & Company – Petersburg, Virginia

29 September 2014 (R•093014) (R•100314)

Apple-Touch-IconATom Leveille sent me the below pictures of the only known example of the open pontil and triangular Anti-Malarial Bitters in a personal Facebook message yesterday. The bottle is in a private collection. It is rumored that a second example resides in the Hunter Cox collection. Boy this is an exciting bottle. Put out by D. T. Everts & Company in Petersburg, Virginia, this bottle is not even pictured in the Ring & Ham Bitters Bottles book though there is a newspaper reference. For Bill Ham, the third panel is blank.

A 75  ANTI-MALARIAL BITTERS
D.T. Everts & Co., Petersburg, Virginia
Lynchburg Daily News (Va.), May 29, 1867
Trade Mark January, 1, issued to S.O. McKerran, New Holland, Illinois (PRG: I do not think this is the same bitters)

[Updated] The new listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 will be:

A 75  ANTI-MALARIAL BITTERS
ANTI-MALARIAL / BITTERS // D. T. EVERTS & CO / PETERSBURG, VA // f //
10? x ?
Tringular, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Rough pontil mark, Extremely rare
D. T. Evert was a Civil War veteran and settled at 60 Sycamore Street in Petersburg, Virginia where he became a druggist and wholesale liquor dealer. Probably produced in 1867 and 1868 only.
The Progress-Index (Petersburg, Virginia), March 19, 1867 and June 8, 1868
Lynchburg Daily News, May 29 1867

CHILLS!   CHILLS!   THEIR CONSEQUENCES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

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Anti-Malarial Bitters – Private Collection

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Anti-Malarial Bitters – Private Collection

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Anti-Malarial Bitters pontil – Private Collection

D. T. Evert was a Civil War veteran of some distinction as I see many military references. With the end of the war, Evert settled at 60 Sycamore Street in Petersburg, Virginia and became a druggist and wholesale liquor dealer. Kind of the same thing back then. The Anti-Malarial Bitters was probably only produced in 1867 and 1868 as you can see from the advertisements below. One advertisement showed that he was also selling the brand in North Carolina in 1867.

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Anti-Malarial Bitters by D.T. Everts & Co. advertisement – The Progress-Index from Petersburg, Virginia, Tuesday, March 19, 1867

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SIXTY. Anti-Malarial Bitters by D.T. Everts & Co. advertisement – The Progress-Index from Petersburg, Virginia, Monday, June 8, 1868

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D.T. Everts helping out with contributions to a Soup House in Petersburg, Virginia right after the Civil War. – December 6, 1865

Select Timeline:

1863: D. T. Everts, paroled, Camp Annapolis, February 1863 – U.S. Returns from Military Posts

1866: D. T. Everts, Virginia, Wholesale Liquors – U.S. IRS Tax Assessment List

1867: Anti-Malarial Bitters by D.T. Everts & Co. advertisement – The Progress-Index from Petersburg, Virginia

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Herman Rosswinkle’s Crown Bitters – Cincinnati

Posted on 28 September 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Herman Rosswinkle’s Crown Bitters – Cincinnati

28 September 2014

Apple-Touch-IconAHere is another great bitters that I picked up as a floor sale at the 2014 Lexington National Antique Bottle Show. The Rosswinkle’s Crown Bitters. I had been tracking this example and was glad to bring it home. Highly whittled and a great color, it will proudly join my collection.

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

R 102  ROSSWINKLE’S CROWN BITTERS
ROSSWINKLE’S // CROWN // BITTERS // f //
8 7/8 x 2 5/8 (6 3/4) 1/4
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Extremely rare

RosswinkleOutdoorGWA

This bottle had previously shown up at a Glass Works Auctions event with the following description:

“ROSSWINKLE’S – CROWN – BITTERS”, (R-102), American, ca. 1865 – 1875, yellowish amber, 9”h, smooth base, applied mouth. Pristine perfect condition in a bright color and with highly whittled glass! We auctioned this bottle in 1996 and have not seen one since! Ex. Carlyn Ring Collection.

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I also had these pictures above that were in my files. I can not attribute them to any one person but I believe this is a different example.

I am going to go out on the limb here, but using the powerful search engines of Ancestry.com, I was able to enter “Rosswinkle” in the 1870 era and got a hit for a Herman Rosswinkle in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was at first running a coffee house and then was a saloon keeper for many years. I will hang my hat here unless some other door opens. With no advertising, trade cards or a label, this is a tough one.

Select Timeline:

1824: Herman Rosswinkle born about 1824 in Germany

1861: Herman Rosswinkle, coffee house, n.e.c., Broadway St Landing h 84 Pike – Cincinnati Ohio City Directory

1862: Herman Rosswinkle, coffee house, 1 Casilly’s Row – Cincinnati Ohio City Directory

1866-67: Herman Rosswinkle, saloon, Broadway & Levee – Cincinnati Ohio City Directory

1869: Herman Rosswinkle, 1 Casilly’s Row – Cincinnati Ohio City Directory

1870: Herman Rosswinkle, Cincinnati, Ohio, saloon keeper, age 46, birth Deutschland, wife Mary, children:  Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, Herman, Emma, Frances, Frederick – 1870 United States Federal Census

1871-81: Herman Rosswinkle, saloon, n.w.c. Front and Vine – Cincinnati Ohio City Directory

1883: Herman Rosswinkle, h. 54 Clay – Cincinnati Ohio City Directory

Posted in Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

So who made Burkhart’s Homestead Bitters?

Posted on 27 September 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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So who made Burkhart’s Homestead Bitters?

27 September 2014

Apple-Touch-IconASometimes you just have to throw something at the wall and see if it sticks. I picked up the extremely rare Burkhart’s Homestead Bitters back in June on eBay. Both pictures are from the seller. The bottle is from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Just today I opened the box to look at the bottle. I am not kidding, I am so backed up with work, travel and Federation business, that I have not opened or inspected some incoming bottles. I feel a bit foolish but it is what it is.

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

B 269  BURKHART’S HOMESTEAD BITTERS
BURKHART’S / HOMESTEAD BITTERS // f // FOND DU LAC. WIS. // f //
9 1/8 x 2 5/8 (6 5/8)
Square, Amber, LTC, Tooled lip, Extremely rare
Newspaper advertisement

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The only medicine-related Burkhart that I could find in that period, within the region, was a Dr. William Sherman (W. S.) Burkhart. He was born in 1864 and was in the patent medicine business in Cincinnati, Ohio. Burkhart claimed that he had discovered the greatest blood purifier ever. Six months treatment with one of his vegetable compounds cost one dollar. I find no record of Burkhart in Fond du Lac but he did advertise in their local Commonwealth Reporter newspaper. He would have had to put out the bitters in his late teens or very early twenties though.

Here is where is gets interesting as Congress, during our time period, was offering 160 acres of free land as an incentive to settle in Florida. As a result homesteaders were flocking to the south Dade area for free land, however Congress remained steadfast that the thirty-six square mile prime land tract given to the Perrine heirs was the Perrine Grant and could not to be homesteaded. By 1886, many families had taken over parts of the grant and built farms. They formed what was known as a “Squatter’s Union” in order to protect their rights, hiring a Dr. Cutler as their representative.

This Dr. W. S. Burkhart from Cincinnati, took advantage of this deal and actually owned hundreds of acres of land in the Southern portion of Homestead, Florida. He later, in 1930, was listed as a real estate salesman. The agriculturally rich area of Homestead was an important component of Miami-Dade County, so were the small communities located between Miami and Homestead. Communities named Cutler, Kendall, Perrine, Peters, and Princeton. F. S. Morse described Dr. W. S. Burkhart as “a very enthusiastic and apparently well-to-do patent medicine man, who has bought considerable property in this county and whose disposition is in the way of growing vegetables and fruits.”

Well that is all I have. A man named Burkhart who put out Burkhart’s Homestead Bitters in Fond du Lac and a patent medicine doctor named W. S. Burkhart who bought land in Homestead, Florida. Kind of a stretch. Do you all know anything? Maybe bitters collector Jeff Burkhardt from Wisconsin knows something?

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Dr. Burkhart’s Vegetable Compound advertisement – Omaha Daily Bee, January 1902

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Dr. Burkhart is Famous advertisement – Fond du Lac (Wisconsin) Commonwealth Reporter, March 1913

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Another red herring. Drs. Burkhart & Burkhart from Rock Island, Illinois

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, eBay, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My “Fall” grouping of 1/2 pint Union Clasped Hands

Posted on 26 September 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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My “Fall” grouping of 1/2 pint Union Clasped Hands

26 September 2014

Apple-Touch-IconAAs I returned to Houston yesterday, I noticed the temperature was a good 15 degrees cooler than when I left earlier in the week. Here at Peach Ridge there are even some early leaves on the ground from our Pecan trees. Yes Autumn is finally here, my favorite time of the year. What a nice way to usher it in with some spectacular Union Clasped Hands historical flasks from Troy Scafuro.

Hi Ferdinand,

I wanted to send along some pictures of my “Fall” grouping of 1/2 pint Union Clasped Hands. I’ve been very blessed in knowing some great people in the field of antique and historical glass. I started collecting along time ago when my cousin, Matt Lacy got me into the hobby. I’ve learned a great deal from Matt over the years, and am proud to say that I have a good foundation of knowledge in just the little area in which I collect, which is the Union Clasped Hands. As of recent, I had the pleasure of of gaining some fine examples through Mark and Andrew Vuono, as well as Jim Bender. These people have graciously extended their knowledge and help to me in bettering my collection, and for them, I am thankful. It’s nice knowing that no matter you are in your collecting, there are always people willing to help you. Whether that be in knowledge or acquisition.

Below is a few of what I feel are considered “Fall” worthy examples of coloring. Sadly one of the gems that you’ll see in the pics is an amber cannon with a shoulder crack. This is a beautiful example filled with tons of bubbles, but sadly it is damaged. But I am proud that I have an intact example.

Throughout the years of collecting, I was glad to see that a simple aqua union (which was my first flask) could lead to such a beautiful little color run. I hope this small collection helps to inspire starting collectors out there. Some of the most beautiful pieces in my opinion don’t always have to cost thousands of dollars. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and these little guys are quite fun and beautiful to collect.

My small collection will be setup at the Richfield, Ohio show this weekend. It will have more examples than just the “Fall” ones that you see here. For those that would like to see, feel free to stop by.

Cheers,
Troy Scafuro

PS: Also, I would like to thank Matt’s wife, Elizabeth for the lovely pictures that she took! She has quite the eye for photographing antique glass!

Scafuro

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Read More: I took a few photos this morning of my Union Clasping Hands flasks

Posted in Bottle Shows, Club News, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Flasks, Historical Flasks, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Swayne’s Bitter Catholicon – A Very Valuable Bitters

Posted on 26 September 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Dr. Swayne’s Bitter Catholicon – A Very Valuable Bitters

26 September 2014

Apple-Touch-IconAJeff Noordsy, up in Cornwall, Vermont, posted three pictures of an early, pontiled, aqua bitters saying “Yup, it’s cracked but how many of you have seen a “Swayne’s – Valuable Bitters – Bitter, / Catholicon – Philada”? Not me I say. How cool. By the way, this brand is not to be confused with Swain’s Bourbon Bitters.

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“Swayne’s – Valuable Bitters – Bitter, / Catholicon – Philada” – Jeff Noordsy

Carlyn Ring and W. C. Ham list in Bitters Bottles Supplement:

S 230  SWAYNE’S // VALUABLE BITTERS // BITTER / CATHOLICON // PHILADA
6?x 2 ½? X 1 ¼?
Rectangular, Aqua, DC, Applied mouth, Rough pontil mark, Extremely rare
Dr. Swayne & Son, Philadelphia, Norristown Directory (Pennsylvania), 1860-61

Dr. Huson Swayne

Huson Swayne was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on 07 December 1793. He would marry Susanna Phillips on 16 April 1818 in Hockessin, Chester, Pennsylvania and have three children, one being William P. Swayne (1825-1906) who would later work with his father.

Dr. Swayne started is business around 1838. Listings in the mid to late 1840s show a Dr. Swayne’s Family Medicines on the northwest corner of Eighth and Race streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the years they represented and sold many patent medicines including their best seller, Dr. Swayne’s Compound Syrup of Wild Cherry (see below), London Hair Color Restorer, Dr. Swayne’s Ointment, Dr. Swayne’s Panacea, Dr. Swayne’s Celebrated Vermifuge, Dr. Swains Pills, Swayne’s Bowel Cordial and The Dr. Swayne’s Bitter Catholicon.

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By 1861, the business was being listed as Dr. H. Swayne & Son (Huson & William P. Swayne) at 8 North 7th street. They continued in business together until around 1863, when Huson died. William P. Swayne then started to list himself as a “Physician” in 1867 and kept the name Swayne & Son. This made for a smooth transition around 1887, when he brought his own son, William A. Swayne into the business. They continued together for a few years, then, sometime around 1904, the business was taken over by Walter Micram and Howard Sowden. It is not known whether they bought it out, or just started managing it. William P. Huson would die in 1906.

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Dr. Swayne’s Pills – American Museum of American History

The earliest advertisement I could find was from a Reading, Pennsylvania, German newspaper below from 1847.

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Very early Dr. Swayne’s advertisement in German – Der Liberale Beobachter und Berks, Montgomery und Schuylkill Caunties allgemeine Anzeiger. (Reading, Pa.), August 10, 1847

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Marketing graphics for Dr. Swayne’s Celebrated Family Medicines and Dr. Swayne’s Compound of Syrup of Wild Cherry – The Columbia Democrat, March 31, 1849

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Dr. Swayne’s Celebrated Family Medicines advertisement – The Star of the North (Bloomsburg, PA), October 7, 1850

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Swayne’s Vereinigter Staaten Kalender, 1857 für Stadt und Land, und zum Gebrauch für alle Familien Published 1856 by Herausgegeben von Dr. H. Swayne & Son in Philadelphia – Written in German

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Early advertisement for Dr. Swayne’s Bitter Catholicon – Reading Times, 15 April 1859

Select Timeline:

1793: Birth, Huson Swayne, December 7, 1793 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Father was Caleb Swayne (1749-1825) and Mary B. Wood (1753-1825)

1818: Marriage to Susanna Phillips on 16 April 1818 in Hockessin, Chester, Pennsylvania. Children Philena P., Albanus Rest and William P. Swayne (1825-1906).

1838: Marriage to Sarah Ann Tryon in Philidelphia on 11 October 1838. Children George, Franklin  and Dorothy C. Swayne

1850: Dr. Swayne’s Family Medicines, Dr. Swayne, N.W. Corner Eighth & Race streets, Philadelphia – Pennsylvania State Business Directory 1850-51

1861: Dr. H. Swayne & Son (Huson Swayne & William P. Swayne), family medicines, 8N 7th – Philadelphia City Directory

1863: Death, Dr. Huson Swayne, April 18, 1863 in Pennsylvania

1890: Swayne, William A. (Dr. Swayne & Son), h 330 N 6th – Philidelphia City Directory

1904: Dr. Swayne & Son – Philidelphia City Directory

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Gerrish and his Brazilian Concentrated Stomach Bitter(s)

Posted on 23 September 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Dr. Gerrish and his Brazilian Concentrated Stomach Bitter(s)

and Lancaster Tonic Bitters

23 September 2014 (R•092514)

Apple-Touch-IconAWell, it looks like we can finally put to bed where the unlisted Lancaster Tonic Bitters was made (Read: Unlisted Lancaster Tonic Bitters Found). I have what might be the only known example that I picked up years ago from Greg Bair. Ruling out Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I leaned to New York. I was wrong, This bitters is from Boston, Massachusetts. The clue came in the following e-mail:

Hi Ferdinand…First of all…I love your site…a wealth of information that I refer to frequently. I recently picked up a Brazilian Stomach Bitters bottle (see above) with label and base embossed “THOS G. GERRISH rooster TRADEMARK. The label is not in great shape but does say Brazilian Concentrated Stomach Bitters. While researching, I found an early advertisement (see below) that connected Thomas Gerrish, of Lowell, Mass. with Lancaster Tonic Bitters and Brazilian Stomach Bitter. I was at the bottle show in Mass yesterday and spoke to Greg Bair…he had not acquired any further info on the Lancaster bottle that he sold to you some time ago. I saw your inquiry so just passing this info along…regards – Wendy Kelly

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Dr. Gerrish’s Standards Bitters, Lancaster Tonic Bitters and Brazilian Concentrated Stomach Bitter advertisement – The 1883 Somerville City Directory. Advertisement also occurs in many 1882 locations.

So there we go. I couple quick searches reveals the following 1875 advertisement below for Lancaster Tonic Bitters. Pay special attention to the enlarged Capital “L” of Lancaster and “S” of Bitters. You will also see the same exaggerated typographic treatment on the actual bottle which is also pictured below. Not conclusive, but pretty darn close.

LancasterTonicBittersAd

Lancaster Tonic Bitters advertisement on a cover of the 1875-76 Lowell, Massachusetts City Directory. Note the Thomas G. Gerrish name and address.

unlisted bitters

Unlisted Lancaster Tonic Bitters – Meyer Collection

Here are a few more pictures of the Brazilian Concentrated Stomach Bitter which is also unlisted. Yes, there is no “s” in Bitter. Odd. Look at that cool rooster embossed on the bottom of the bottle. Doesn’t get much better than that. The roosters also on the label.

Bill Ham has provided the following number which will be included in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

B 207.5 L . . . Brazilian (picture of rooster) Trade Mark Concentrated Stomach Bitter
// b // THOS G. GERRISH (motif of rooster) TRADE MARK
11 ½
Round-lady’s leg, Amber,
See G 37, L 11.5

See more: Fighting Cocks and Roosters on Bottles

BrazilianBittersLabel_10

Label detail Brazilian Bitters lady’s leg figural bottle – Wendy Kelly

GerrishBase

Base detail of Brazilian Bitters lady’s leg figural bottle – Wendy Kelly. Look at that embossed rooster.

So who is Dr. Gerrish? Seems like he might be a flashy guy. Looks like he had the bitters and tonic market cornered in Lowell with Dr. Gerrish’s Standard Bitters, Lancaster Tonic Bitters, Brazilian Concentrated Stomach Bitter, Dr. Gerrish’s Tonic Tonic Bitters and Dr. Gerrish’s Life Cordial. Flashy.

Stay tuned for additions to this post. I am away from my Ring & Ham books as I am in a small dark restaurant in Paducah. Time to find my hotel.

Merrimack corp., Gerrish Thomas G. architect (Boston), house Pawtucket,

1865: The city-clerk during all the years of the war was John H. McAlvin. The city-treasurer in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864, was George W. Bedlow;1 in 1865, Thomas G. Gerrish. – William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 2

1875: Gerrish, Thomas, proprietor, Lancaster Tonic Bitters, 69 Haverhill – 1875 Boston City Directory

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