Look at this labeled 481 Brand Stomach Bitters

Posted on 25 May 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

481BrandBitters_AGG14

Look at this labeled 481 Brand Stomach Bitters

25 May 2014

Apple-Touch-IconAThat is exactly what the gentleman is doing with one keen eye, looking at his 481 Brand Stomach Bitters, “At Last”….”The Best”. Hidden away in John Pastor’s current American Glass Gallery Auction #12 is this labeled beauty. What a cool, yet late, bitters bottle with a killer label and neck foil stamp. I also believe it to be unlisted in both Bitters Bottles books. John’s nice pictures are included (top and below) and his write-up is as follows:

Label only Bitters, “481 / BRAND / STOMACH BITTERS” / (image of man holding bottle of bitters) / “AT / LAST / THE / BEST / PREPARED BY THE / ARROW DISTILLERIES CO. / PEORIA, ILL. / Buffalo Co-Operative Liquor Co., / 481 Washington St. BUFFALO, N. Y.”, Illinois Glass Co., Alton, ILL, 1916 – 1920. Amber, square, ABM sloping collared mouth – “I” (within diamond) on base, ht. 9 5/8″; (a ¼” wide flake down side of lip, beneath the original neck foil). Original label, contents, neck foil & seal. Although it is an early machine bottle, it is fast approaching 100 years of age. Probably not many of these around. This one must have been put away in the back of a cupboard for the past 95 years.

481BrandBitterslip_AGG14

481 Brand Stomach Bitters – American Glass Gallery Auction #12

The Buffalo Co-Operative Liquor Co., located at 481 Washington Street in Buffalo, New York operated from about 1911 to 1918 according to Jack Sullivan. This is confirmed by looking at Buffalo directories and at the Annual Report of the State Commissioner of Excise of the State of New York in 1918. House specialities included Palate Whiskey and Jolley Club Whiskey. President at the time was Anthony Fischer. Their street address obviously gave the name to their 481 Brand Stomach Bitters. The brand, according to the label was prepared by The Arrow Distilleries Company in Peoria, Illinois who were in business from 1912 to 1919.

ManhattanClubPalateWhiskey

Manhattan Club Bourbon Whiskey from the Arrow Distilleries in Peoria, Illinois and Palate Whiskey from the Buffalo Co-operative Liquor Company.

Anthony Fischer was born in Alsace – Lorraine and came to Buffalo in 1880 at the age of 17. He worked first in a tavern in lower Main Street, and a few years later bought the business and operated it 22 years. He then acquired the tavern next to the Iroquois and named it the White Bear. He fortunately sold it a year before prohibition. During the dry years, Mr. Fischer was a partner of Martin Delaney in the Buffalo Co-operative Liquor Company which sold spirits for medicinal use. Mr. Fischer died at 89 years old in 1950,

BuffaloCoOpLetter

Buffalo Co-Operative Liquor Co. letterhead – Pre-Pro.com

BuffaloCoOpShotGlassEbay

Buffalo Co-Operative Brewing Co. shot glass – eBay

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Shot Glasses, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Another Dewey’s Manila Bitters Pitcher

Posted on 24 May 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dewey'sManillaRick

Another Dewey’s Manila Bitters Pitcher

24 May 2014 (R•060114)

Apple-Touch-IconAI received an email from a gentleman who was asking questions about a Dewey’s Manila Bitters pitcher (see above). The piece is from the private collection of Judy Milner, wife of Martin Milner and apparently the person is the administrator of their “downsizing” sale. A week from Sunday they will be conducting a series of eBay auctions, that will primarily feature some of Martin Milner’s memorabilia. As a hong teen, I remember Mr. Milner from Adam-12, the TV series.

Martin_Milner_1975

MartinMilnerCollectionArt

Martin Sam Milner (born December 28, 1931) is a retired American film, stage, radio, and television actor. Milner is best known for his performances in two popular television series: Route 66, which aired on CBS from 1960 to 1964, and Adam-12, which aired on NBC from 1968 to 1975. [Wikipedia]

Legendary DEWEY's MANILLA BITTERS pitcher on Dan Cowman's table. The pictcher used to be in the collection of the Booths.

I immediately recognized the piece as authentic as I had seen an example (see above) at the 2012 Houston Antique Bottle Show at Dan Cowman’s table. He had a healthy price on it so I shied away. He had obtained the piece years earlier from Houston bottle greats, Tom and Alicia Booth.

Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham list the piece in Bitters Bottles as a “Pitcher” reading, “Dewey’s Manila Bitters” saying that it is white china with a metal top. Maybe they had seen the Milner example? There is also a listing for a labeled, Dewey’s Manila Bitters (D63L) that is rectangular and clear. The label has a picture of Admiral Dewey and his battleship. I bet that is a neat bottle. Probably a bit late as 1899 or so as the Battle of Manila Bay took place on 1 May 1898, during the Spanish-American War.

Jeff Wichmann adds in correspondence, “It would appeal to a lot of different collectors.  It’s really one of those neat items that would look good almost anywhere in your house or office. Admiral Dewey is a well-known name and you’d think the buyers would go way beyond just bottle collectors. It’s a wide margin but I could see a lot of interest. Plus the most important thing of all, you can drink beer out of it!”

GeorgeDeweyprint

George Dewey (December 26, 1837 – January 16, 1917) was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. The Battle of Manila Bay took place on 1 May 1898, during the Spanish-American War. The American Asiatic Squadron under Commodore George Dewey engaged and destroyed the Spanish Pacific Squadron under Admiral Patricio Montojo. The battle took place in Manila Bay in the Philippines, and was the first major engagement of the Spanish-American War. The battle was one of the most decisive naval battles in history and marked the end of the Spanish colonial period in Philippine history. He is also the only person in the history of the United States to have attained the rank of Admiral of the Navy, the most senior rank in the United States Navy. [Wikipedia]

Additional Pictures of the Milner Example

Dewey5

Dewey6Dewey2Dewey1Dewey3Dewey4

Posted in Bitters, Bottle Shows, Ephemera, History, Pitchers, Spanish-American War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Top 25 Kentucky’s Rarest Bitters Bottles

Posted on 20 May 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

KentuckyWordArtR

Apple-Touch-IconAIn honor of and in preparation for the upcoming FOHBC 2014 National Antique Bottle Show in Lexington, Kentucky, I thought it would be nice to look at the Top 25 Kentucky’s Rarest Bitters Bottles. I will try to add pictures if I have actual examples, file pictures or if I can obtain pictures. Please help if you have images of any of these great bottles. We can only hope that some of these examples will make an appearance in the regional display exhibit at the Lexington National Show. Info

LexingtonWidget

Kentucky’s Top 25 Rarest Bitters Bottles

Compiled by Paul Van Vactor, Sheldon Baugh and Steve Keith

20 May 2014 (R•011719)

Compiling top 25 lists is a favorite with sports fans, but there’s no rule against doing the same for a state’s antique bottles. So we got together and the following lists are what we came up with. Not all of them are bottles. Enjoy.

TOP 25 of Kentucky’s Rarest Bitters Bottles:

See list for Top 25 Kentucky Rarest Bottles

1. Large olive green lady’s leg, measuring approximately 12 by 3.5 inches and embossed Universe Bitters / Manufactured by / Aug. Horstmann / Sole Agent / F.J. Schaefer / 231 Market St. / Louisville, Ky.

UniverseBitters

2. Amber triangular-shaped bitters bottle with embossed ribs on the sides. Embossed PASQUIER’S / FRENCH BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. Read: F. Pasquier’s French Hygienic Bitters – Louisville

PasquiersClipped_10

3. Amber octagonal lady’s leg bitters bottle embossed RIVAUD’S / COCKTAIL / BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. Smooth base.

4. Amber square bitters embossed RIVAUD’S IMPERIAL BITTERS / VICTOR RIVAUD / LOUISVILLE, KY. Smooth base. Read: Victor Rivaud’s Imperial Bitters | Louisville

RivaudsClipped1x

5. Amber square bottle with roofed shoulder embossed DR. M. SMITH’S / STOMACH / BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. Smooth base.

6. Round amber seal bottle embossed on seal BERNHEIM BROS. / & URI / LOUISVILLE / KY. Embossed horizontally below seal ULBRIGHT / RELIABLE / IMPORT CO. / TINCTURE / OF / CENTAURY / BITTERS. Also, embossed vertically on sides: BLOOD PURIFIER / STOMACH TONIC.

7. Green rectangular bottle with smooth base approximately 9.5 x 3 3/8 x 2 3/8 inches. Embossed O’MARRAS / FENIAN BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. / J.B. WILDER & CO.

8. Rectangular aqua bottle embossed DR. J.L. FLEECE’S / FEMALE BITTERS / LEBANON, KY. Smooth base.

9. Square amber bottle embossed COURTNEY’S / DIXIANA BITTERS / COURTNEY MEDICINE CO. / OWENSBORO, KY. Smooth base. (see below)

CourtneysDixianaBitters_10

10. Square amber bottle embossed HAVIS’ IRON BITTERS / THE WILLIAMSBURG DRUG CO. / WILLIAMSBURG, KY. Smooth base.

11. Square clear bottle with hobnail corners embossed WILDER’S BOURBON BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. Roofed shoulders.

12. Amber lady’s leg bottle approximately 11 5/16 by 3 3/8 inches and embossed SCHROEDER’S / SPICE BITTERS. Approximately 70 bottles were found in the wreck of the steamboat Bertrand.

13. Green square bottle with label: SCHROEDER’S STOMACH BITTERS. Bottle is embossed J.H. SCHROEDER / 28 WALL STREET / LOUISVILLE, KY. Measures approximately 10 x 3.25 inches, found on the wreck of the steamboat Bertrand.

14. Square bottle (green and amber examples) embossed DR. JOHN BULL’S / COMPOUND / CEDRON BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below, 2 variants)

B254_DrJohnBulls_Meyer

JohnBullsCedronBittersSemiCabin

15. Square amber bottle 10.5 x 2 3/4 inches embossed R.L. EGERTON’S / STOMACH BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below)

Egertons

16. Aqua to very light green E. CAMPBELL’S / STOMACH BITTERS / CREELSBORO, KY.

17. Amber DR. JAS. FOLEY’S TONIC BITTERS / J.T.S. BROWN / LOUISVILLE, KY.

18. Square aqua bottle with roofed shoulders embossed DR. JAS. GRAVES / TONIC BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below)

G96_Graves&Son

19. Square aqua bottle with roofed shoulders embossed GRAVES & SON / TONIC BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. Probably has an embossed star.

20. Square amber bottle with roofed shoulders embossed A. HOFFELD’S / LIVER BITTERS / LOUISVILLE CHEMICAL / MANUFACTURING CO. / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below)

H132_HoffeldsBitters_Meyer

21. Square amber bottle embossed THOMAS A. HURLEY’S / STOMACH BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below two different examples)

H214_HurleysBitters_Meyer

HurleysBittersVariant

22. Clear rectangular bottle measuring approximately 8 by 2 7/8 by 1.25 inches and embossed QUININE / TONIC BITTERS / MANF. BY / Q.T.B. CHEMICAL CO. / LEXINGTON, KY. / U.S.A. Has initials Q.T.B. on side panels. Bottle also comes in a smaller size with the same embossing.

QuinineTonicBitters

23. Like No. 22, but shorter in size.

24. Amber sample-sized bottle with lady’s leg measuring approximately 4 inches in height and embossed SCHROEDER’S / BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. / AND CINCINNATI. Embossed rooster on bottle.

25. Amber bottle with bulged neck and four smooth sides embossed E. BULL’S / LUXURY BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below)

B256_BullsLuxury)

Credits:
1. Carlyn Ring Collection – Glass Works Auctions Sale 2. Private Collection 4. Anonymous Collection 5. Jerry Phelps 9. Anonymous Collection 14. Meyer Collection (top) and Anonymous Collection (bottom) 15. Meyer Collection 18. Meyer Collection 20. Meyer Collection 21. Meyer Collection (top) and Anonymous Collection (bottom) 22. Anonymous Collection 25. Meyer Collection
Posted in Advice, Bitters, Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, FOHBC News, Medicines & Cures, News, Questions, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kentucky’s Top 25 Rarest Bottles

Posted on 20 May 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

KentuckyWordArtR

Apple-Touch-IconAIn honor of and in preparation for the upcoming FOHBC 2014 National Antique Bottle Show in Lexington, Kentucky, I thought it would be nice to look at the Top 25 Kentucky’s Rarest Bottles. I will try to add pictures if I have actual examples, file pictures or if I can obtain pictures. Please help if you have images of any of these great bottles. We can only hope that some of these examples will make an appearance in the regional display exhibit at the Lexington National Show. Info

LexingtonWidget

Kentucky’s Top 25 Rarest Bottles

Compiled by Paul Van Vactor, Sheldon Baugh and Steve Keith

20 May 2014

Compiling top 25 lists is a favorite with sports fans, but there’s no rule against doing the same for a state’s antique bottles. So we got together and the following lists are what we came up with. Not all of them are bottles. Enjoy.

TOP 25 of Kentucky’s Rarest Bottles:

See list for Top 25 Rarest Kentucky Bitters

1. Large olive green lady’s leg, measuring approximately 12 by 3.5 inches and embossed Universe Bitters / Manufactured by / Aug. Horstmann / Sole Agent / F.J. Schaefer / 231 Market St. / Louisville, Ky.

UniverseBitters

2. Amber historical flask (GII-27), 2.5 quart size. Embossed on front is a large American eagle, head turned left, wings spread, embossed arrows in feet. On the reverse: FARLEY & TAYLOR / RICHMOND, KY. Corrugated sides, plain lip and pontil. (see below)

Farley&TaylorFlask

3. Cobalt blue pig-shaped bottle, DUFFY’S CRESCENT SALOON / LOUISVILLE, KY. Embossed rooster. Probably has a Jefferson Street address. Read: Figural Pig Series | Duffy Crescent Saloon Figural Pig Bottle (see below)

125GW100_DuffyBluePig

4. Large (one gallon) pottery pig bottle incised JOHN BERLING / COLUMBUS, KY. POTTERY. Here’s what the owner had to say: “The Columbus pig is very reminiscent of an Anna (Pottery) pig with the Mississippi River, railroads and the streets of Columbus, Ky. On one side is BACK STREET (backs up to the river) and JOHN BERLING / COLUMBUS, KY. POTTERY with an incising of his house and kiln.”

5. Cobalt blue ale or mineral water bottle shape embossed METCALFE BREWERY / LOUISVILLE, KY. Probably about a quart and with an iron pontil.

 

6. Aqua target ball embossed LOUISVILLE, KY. GLASS WORKS.

TB_LouisvilleGW

7. Olive amber whiskey barrel-shaped quart bottle embossed BLAKE & HALL’S / OLD BOURBON / WHISKEY / GREENUP, KY. Smooth base. (see below)

Blake&HallWhiskeyBarrell

8. Aqua round bottle similar to a pickle with a smooth base and embossed SHAKER PRESERVES. (see below)

ShakerPreserves_Baugh

9. Green “John Bull Sarsaparilla-shaped bottle embossed GENUINE PHOENIX SARSAPARILLA / LOUISVILLE, KY. Pontiled.

10. Amber whiskey tall and about a 5th in size, six-sided with an iron pontil and embossed KEENE & CO. / FRANKFORT, KY. Bottle is full of seed bubbles.

11. Open pontiled medicine, probably a small rectangular bottle embossed AMERICAN OIL / BURKESVILLE, KY. Color is lighter than cobalt and darker than cornflower blue. (see below)AmericanOil

12. Amber bitters-shaped barrel bottle with a smooth base. Embossed J.A. CLARK / 219 THIRD ST. / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below)

JA_ClarkBarrel_Louisville

13. Amber triangular-shaped bitters bottle with embossed ribs on the sides. Embossed PASQUIER’S / FRENCH BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY.

PasquiersClipped_10

14. Olive green whiskey-shaped barrel bottle with smooth base. Embossed NELSON’S / OLD BOURBON / MAYSVILLE, KY. Another rare color is honey amber. Read: Barrel Series – I. Nelson’s Old Bourbon (see below)

Nelsons2Forbes

15. Amber octagonal lady’s leg bitters bottle embossed RIVAUD’S / COCKTAIL / BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. A related bottle is very rare and is an amber square bitters embossed RIVAUD’S IMPERIAL BITTERS / VICTOR RIVAUD / LOUISVILLE, KY.

16. Aqua smooth base (just missing pontil era) embossed DR. BRUCE’S / INDIAN VEGETABLE / PANACEA / NEW CASTLE, KY. It’s similar in shape to a large John Bull Sarsaparilla-shaped bottle. (see below)

DrBruces

17. Deep emerald green bottle with iron pontil (slightly taller than most mineral waters) embossed T.E. JENKINS / PAROQUET / WATER / LOUISVILLE, KY. It has a tapered top with ring. Only one known in this color; one is known in teal.

18. Aqua umbrella ink with open pontil embossed WALKER’S / LOUISVILLE, KY.

19. Deep emerald green blob top soda embossed CRYSTAL PALACE / LUPE & EVANS / LOUISVILLE, KY. Base is smooth and bottle is loaded with tiny seed bubbles. (see below)

CrystalPalaceLupe&Evans

20. Green rectangular bitters bottle with smooth base, measuring approximately 9.5 x 3-3/8 x 2-3/8 inches and embossed O’MARRAS / FENIAN BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. / J.B. WILDER & CO.

21. Half-pint deep green historical flask (GI-33) embossed LOUISVILLE, L KY. / GLASS WORKS on one side. The other side embossed with an American eagle with talons, five embossed stars.

22. Yellow to citron open pontil rectangular medicine embossed S & S / MAYSVILLE, KY.

23. Olive-green mineral water bottle with open pontil, embossed ARTESIAN WATER / LOUISVILLE, KY. On reverse is DuPONT lettered vertically. There is a series of 1-1/2-inch panels which are rounded off and embossed all around the side at base. Another example exists in olive amber. (see below)

ArtesianWater

24. Tall black glass bottle with seal embossed T. RUCKER / LOUISVILLE. Seal is placed on top just below shoulder. Probably one of the oldest known Kentucky bottles, it was dug in Louisville during the early 1900s.

25. Very large aqua bottle (John Bull Sarsaparilla-shaped) with iron pontil. Embossed J.T. RICKERSON’S / HOARHOPUND / & / SARSAPARILLA / CYNTHIANA, KY. All four sides are embossed. (see below)

RickersonsHoarhopund

Credits:
1. Carlyn Ring Collection – Glass Works Auctions Sale 2. Kentucky Online Arts Resource Blog 3. Glass Works Auctions. 6. Glass Works Auctions 7. Anonymous Collection 11. Anonymous Collection 12. Anonymous Collection 13. Anonymous Collection 14. Jerry Forbes Collection 16. Medicine Bottle Nexus 19. Glass Works Auctions 23. Glass Works Auctions 25. Anonymous Collection
Posted in Advice, Ales & Ciders, Bitters, Black Glass, Bourbon, Breweriana, Display, Figural Bottles, FOHBC News, Glass Companies & Works, Historical Flasks, History, Inks, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Mineral Water, News, Pottery, Sarsaparilla, Soda Water, Spirits, Target Balls, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The California Herb Bitters from Pittsburgh

Posted on 18 May 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

C20_CaliforniaHerbside

The California Herb Bitters from Pittsburgh

18 May 2014 (R•052514) (R•090216) (R•111018)

Apple-Touch-IconAHere is an extremely rare, bitters square with a phenomenal form and name. When I say rare, I mean like “only known example”. The California Herb Bitters is from Pittsburgh and has G. W. Frazier embossed on one panel. In a way, it reminds me of the California Bitters that was manufactured by J. G. Frisch in San Francisco. Also an only known example though there is a partial, reconstructed example that also exists. Such great bottles.

FancyGentSeriesArt

The California Herb Bitters is a “Fancy Square” and will be linked back to that series on Peachridge. The California Herb Bitters is pictured in Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham’s Bitters Bottles Supplement and is ex John Feldmann. A little bird told me that the bottle came from a private collection in California and then went into another California collection prior to being sent to Glass Works Auctions in 2000. At that point the bottle went to the great John Feldmann collection in New York. Most recently the bottle was auctioned again by Glass Works Auctions and the bottle now sits in Houston. The Glass Works write-up is as follows:

“G.W. FRAZIER – CALIFORNIA / HERB BITTERS – PITTSBURGH, PA.”, (C-20), Pennsylvania, ca. 1865 – 1875, yellowish amber semi-cabin, 9 3/8”h, smooth base, applied mouth, about perfect (two tiny open surface bubbles). We auctioned this bottle in the year 2000. At that time it was considered to be unique, we believe it still is today.

C20_CaliforniaHerb

California Herb Bitters – ex Meyer Collection (Bitters Bottles Supplement photograph)

CaliforniaHerbBitters_Meyer

California Herb Bitters – ex Meyer Collection (Glass Works Auctions photograph)

chb_speckmorrow_gwa

“CALIFORNIA / HERB BITTERS – SPECK & MORROW – PITTSBURGH PA”, (unlisted), Pennsylvania, ca. 181865 – 1875, yellow amber semi-cabin, 9 1/2”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Cleaned to its original luster, but retains a few very tiny imperfections. Currently the only know example! – Glass Works Auctions #113

CaliforniaHerbBitters_bothVariantsX

A nice picture of both California Herb Bitters variants from the Chip Cable collection. C 20 is on the left. C 20.5 is on the right.

The Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement is as follows:

C 20Drawing

C 20  CALIFORNIA HERB BITTERS
CALIFORNIA HERB / BITTERS // PITTSBURGH PA // sp // G. W. FRAZIER //
9 1/4 x 3 x 2 5/8 (7)
Amber, Rectangular and rounded inset corners, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp
Extremely rare
C 20.5  CALIFORNIA HERB BITTERS (new example found)
CALIFORNIA HERB / BITTERS // PITTSBURGH PA // sp // SPECK & MORROW //
9 1/4 x 3 x 2 5/8 (7)
Rectangular, Amber, DLTC,  Applied mouth, Extremely rare

This is one bear of a bottle to figure out. The first clue I work with is from the book Pittsburg and Allegheny in the Centennial Year 1876. A listing reads, “California Herb Bitters is another distinctive proprietary medicine prepared by J. J. Speck & Co. This compound was established in 1868 by Dierker & Speck, and at present the firm uses 35,000 bottles putting up the preparation and some three tons of certain California herbs.” Wow, 35,000 bottles and only one surviving example?

OK, so they say that the California Herb Bitters got its start in 1868 by the wholesale liquor dealers, Dierker & Speck in Pittsburgh. That’s great, but how did G. W. Frazier get his name on the bottle? There is an important G. W. Frazier in Pittsburgh with Frazier Brothers who were in to timber and building towns. I doubt it was this guy.

The next clue comes by looking at regional advertising, which I only find in 1871, and seeing things like, “Millions Bear Testimony to their Wonderful Curative Effects, Dr. Frazier’s California Herb Bitters”. Now we may have a doctor that Dierker and Speck used to give their concoction some marketing punch.

FraziersF83envelope

Dr. G. W. Frazier, Cleveland, Ohio noting Dr. Frazier’s Root Bitters among other products – Bitters Bottles Supplement

Something or another leads me to Cleveland, Ohio where I do find a George W. Frazier who was in to patent medicines. I suspect this is the guy. Cleveland it not too far from Pittsburgh. I just can not make a definitive connection. Maybe, Dierker and Speck meet up with Frazier in 1867 or so, and they work out a deal to buy the brand and sell the concoction from Frazier. They retain Frazier’s name and go on and sell it up until 1876 or so. Maybe for one year the bottle is embossed “Frazier”, say 1871, and thereafter, Jacob J. Speck drops the Frazier name and sells a labeled only, California Herb Bitters. Frazier still has the ‘itch’ so he makes up a Fraziers Root Bitters. There were quite a few advertisements for this bitters between 1874 and 1882. Jury’s still out on this one.

** UPDATE **

The newspaper advertisement below from The Boston Globe on Saturday June 20 1874 states that “The demand from my friends and others hearing about these Bitters, became very great, I removed from Pennsylvania, my native State, to Cleveland, O, and commenced putter them up for sale calling them Frazier’s Root Bitters”.

FRAZIER’S ROOT BITTERS FOR THE BLOOD DEPOT CLEVELAND, OHIO. F-83, 7 ¾” Applied top. And yet another rare bitters, this one from Cleveland. Great condition and grades a 9.5.

Select Listings

1852: Dierker, Henry, (probably John Henry Dierker) barkeeper, Cherry ay – Woodward & Rowlands’ Pittsburgh Directory
1856: The first regular drug store in the county was established by C. T. Frazer (not Frazier) in April, 1856, at the corner of Main and Franklin streets. Prior to that time drugs were kept in connection with such commodities as books, stationery and groceries. In those days the physicians kept their own drugs, and for some time after Colonel Frazer began the prescription trade was limited. It is also true that when he started the exclusive drug store on the corner of Main and Franklin streets it was out of the business district, the center of trade being on Clinton. He tried to get a room there, but it was out of the question, and he was forced to go to the other corner at an annual rental of $125. It is now the business center of a district of 100,000 people. – History of Cambria County, 1907
1857-58: Dierker, J.H. & Bro., (John Henry Dierker) liquor dealers, 498 Penn – Directory of Pittsburgh & vicinity
1861: George H. Dierker, wholesale liquor merchant, 496 Penn – Pittsburgh City Directory
1862: George H. Dierker, liquor merchant, E. H. Dierker, salesman, 496 Penn – Pittsburgh City Directory
1862: Jacob J. Speck, bar keeper, corner Smithfield and Virgin ay – Pittsburgh City Directory
1863: G. H. Dierker & Bro., (George H. Dierker, prother probably John H. Dierker), liquor dealers, 496 Penn, E. H. Dierker, clerk, 526 Penn – Pittsburgh City Directory
1864-65: Dierker, Aberhard, of G. H. Dierker & Bro. 471 Penn, Dierker, G. H. & Bro., grocers & liquor dealers, 496 Penn, Dierker, Henry of G. H. Dierker & Bro., 496 Penn – Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities
1865: John H. Dierker, liquor store, 488 Penn – Pittsburgh City Directory
1867: Dierker & Speck, Liquors, 63 Smithfield – Pittsburgh Almanac & Business Directory
1867-69: Dierker & Speck, wholesale liquor merchants (J. H. Dierker and Jacob J. Speck), 63 Smithfield – Pittsburgh City Directory
1869: Newspaper advertisement (below) The Celebrated California Bitters, Dierker & Speck, manufacturers, No. 63 Smithfield Street – The Pittsburgh Daily Commercial, Wednesday August 18, 1869

1870: Speck & Morrow, wholesale liquors, 63 Smithfield – Pittsburgh City Directory
1871: Dr. Frazier’s California Herb Bitters advertisement (see below) – The Cambria Freeman (Ebensburg, PA), August 10, 1871
Fraziers1871Ad

Dr. Frazier’s California Herb Bitters advertisement – The Cambria Freeman (Ebensburg, PA), August 10, 1871

1871: Dr. Frazier’s California Herb Bitters advertisement (see below) – The Wheeling (VA) Daily Intelligencer, July 29, 1871, 591 St. Class
CaliHerbBittersWheeling1871

Dr. Frazier’s California Herb Bitters advertisement – The Cambria Freeman (Ebensburg, PA), August 10, 1871

1871: George H. Dierker, saloon, 4 Main A – Pittsburgh City Directory
1874: A Sure Cure For Consumption notice (see below), George W. Frazier, 201 Ontario street, Cleveland, Ohio – Donaldsonville Chief, (Louisiana), May 30, 1874
FrazierDonaldsonvilleChief,La053074

A Sure Cure For Consumption notice, George W. Frazier, 201 Ontario street, Cleveland, Ohio – Donaldsonville Chief, (Louisiana), May 30, 1874

1874: Frazier’s Root Bitters advertisement (see below), George W. Frazier, St. Clair street, Cleveland, Ohio – Omaha Daily Bee, October 19, 1874
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Frazier’s Root Bitters advertisement. Is this related? – Omaha Daily Bee, October 19, 1874

1875-76: Dierker & Thompson, Wines & Liquors, 21 Diamond – Pittsburgh & Allegheny business directory
1876: California Herb Bitters is another distinctive proprietary medicine prepared by J. J. Speck & Co. This compound was established in 1868 by Dierker & Speck, and at present the firm use 35,000 bottles putting up the preparation and some three tons of certain California herbs. ** J. J. Speck & Co., also manufacture, as a specialty, domestic cordials, in which they use 300 barrels of sugar, 11,000 bottles and produce blackberry, cherry and raspberry brandies. – Pittsburg and Allegheny in the Centennial Year, George H. Thurston, 1876
1875-76: George W. Frazier, patent medicines, 318 Erie – Cleveland, Ohio City Directory
1876: J. J. Speck & Co., Wholesale Liquor dealers, 145 Water Street, estab’d 1866 by Dierker & Speck – Pittsburgh and Allegheny in the Centennial Year by George H. Thurston, 1876
1877-78: Dierker, John H., liquors, 97 Roberts, Dierker, Wm. H., law student, 97 Roberts, Dierker, G. H., 4 Main, A. – Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities
1882: Dr. Frazier’s Root Bitters advertisement (testimonial from Cleveland) – Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Kentucky), May 15, 1882.
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Dr. Frazier’s Root Bitters advertisement (testimonial from Cleveland) – Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Kentucky), May 15, 1882.

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Ezekial Porter Eastman and his Yellow Dock Bitters

Posted on 17 May 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Ezekial Porter Eastman and his Yellow Dock Bitters

It came as no surprise – to his sisters – that Ezekiel also decided to bottle a medicine made of yellow dock root. He arranged to have the bitters manufactured by Joseph P. Hill, a barber in Lynn.

An Old and Bitter Story Teller
17 May 2014

Apple-Touch-IconAWow, here is another fantastic bitters in the current Heckler Auction 110 that is online now. I’ve heard about this baby and here she is. How exciting. The Yellow Dock Bitters is a very early, pontiled, aqua medicine put out by Dr. Ezekial Porter Eastman in Lynn, Massachusetts. He patented the concoction in 1852. The Heckler write-up is as follows. All pictures are from the auction.

Lot: 49 “Dr. E. P. Eastman’s / Yellow Dock / Bitters / Lynn Mass.” Bitters Bottle, America, 1845-1860. Rectangular with beveled corners, aquamarine, applied sloping collared mouth – iron pontil mark, ht. 7 3/4 inches; (professionally cleaned to original lustre). R/H #E-14 Extremely rare. Whittled and crude.

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Dr. E. P. Eastman’s / Yellow Dock / Bitters / Lynn Mass. – Heckler Auction 110

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Dr. E. P. Eastman’s / Yellow Dock / Bitters / Lynn Mass. – Heckler Auction 110

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

YellowDockDrawingE 14

E 14  DR. E. P. EASTMAN’S YELLOW DOCK BITTERS

f // DR. E. P. EASTMAN’S // YELLOW DOCK / BITTERS // LYNN MASS. //
L… Dr. Eastman’s Celebrated Yellow Dock Bitters
E. P. Eastman, M.D., Manufactured by J. B. Hill, Lynn, Mass.
7 3/4 x 3 3/8 x 2 1/8 (5 1/8) 7/8
Recangular, Aqua, LTC, Applied mouth, Metallic pontil mark, Extremely rare
Label: Prepared from Yellow Dock, thoroughwort & c. Made purely from vegetables. Patented in 1852.

Many times I must start from scratch to find out the story behind the bottles I enjoy so much. In this case, I was really pleased to find a wonderful article by Andrew V. Rapoza from Bottles and Extras in 2006. Well done Andrew. Click article to read.

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Read: An Old and Bitter Story Teller

Posted in Auction News, Bottles and Extras, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Robinson & Lord Figural Barrel – Baltimore

Posted on 17 May 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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The Robinson & Lord Figural Barrel – Baltimore

A figural barrel by broom makers?

17 May 2014

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Apple-Touch-IconASeeing the Robinson & Lord figural barrel from Baltimore was a real surprise in the current Heckler Auction 110. I wasn’t aware of this piece from my home town and certainly was intrigued by the “Robinson & Lord” embossing, the “88 & 90 Lombard Street” address and curious if this was indeed a whiskey or bitters, or both. The Heckler write-up is below. The bottle pictures are from their auction.

Lot: 36 “Robinson & Lord / 88 & 90 / Lombard St. / Baltimore” Figural Whiskey Bottle, America, 1845-1860. Barrel form, medium yellowish amber, applied square collared mouth – iron pontil mark, ht. 10 inches; (light exterior wear, light interior haze, 3/8 inch by 5/8 inch mouth chip, two 1/8 inch chips from mouth). An extremely rare pontiled whiskey barrel. Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000

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Robinson & Lord figural barrel, Baltimore – Heckler Auction 110

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Robinson & Lord figural barrel, Baltimore – Heckler Auction 110

BaltBarrelWhat is really curious about this figural barrel bottle is that it was made by George W. Robinson and Charles W. Lord who partnered in business as Robinson & Lord (or Robinson, Lord & Co.) from about 1851 to 1863 at 88 and 90 Lombard Street in Baltimore City. And guess what? They specialized in selling brooms, chairs, brushes, wood ware, cordage, matches, house keeping articles and fancy goods. I guess this barrel was considered one of their  “Fancy Goods”. In 1864, Robinson would drop out of the picture and Charles would continue running things at the Lombard address. He would change the company name to Lord & Robinson, putting his name first and retaining the Robinson name. Never could find an advertisement for the product. The low resolution bottle picture to the left is from the Baltimore Antique Bottle Club web site. They call it a whiskey. Bet it was a bitters!

Read about another great Baltimore barrel – Barrel Series – Smith’s Druid Bitters

Select Listings

1814: John Robinson, chair maker – The Baltimore Directory and Register for 1814 and 1815.

1842: Tucker & Robinson, chair manufacturers – 1842 Matchetts Baltimore City Directory

1849-50: G. W. Robinson & Co., dealers in brooms, brushes, wood & c. – 1849 Matchetts Baltimore City Directory

1849-50: Murdoch & Robinson, brooms and wooden ware dealers, s.w. corner Lombard and Calvert (Charles Murdoch) (G. W. Robinson sucessor to J. Robinson & Son, chair manufacturers) – 1849 Matchetts Baltimore City Directory

1851: Robinson, Lord & Co., C. W. Lord and G. W. Robinson (see ad below) – 1851 Matchetts Baltimore City Directory

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Robinson, Lord & Co. advertisement – 1851 Matchettes Baltimore City Directory

1855: Robinson, Lord & Co., Manufacturers and Wholesale Dealers in Wooden Ware,  Cordage & c., 88 & 90 Lombard street (see ad below) – 1855 Matchetts Baltimore City Directory

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1860: Robinson & Lord, wholesale dealers in brooms, cordage, and woodware,  88 & 90 W. Lombard (George W. Robinson and Charles W. Lord) – 1860 Matchetts Baltimore City Directory

1864: Charles W. Lord, (see two ads below) Successor to Robinson & Lord, wholesale dealer in brooms, cordage, and woodenware, and importer of fancy goods, 88 and 90 w Lombard – 1864 Matchetts Baltimore City Directory

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Charles W. Lord, Successor to Robinson & Lord, wholesale dealer in brooms, cordage, and woodenware, and importer of fancy goods, 88 and 90 w Lombard – 1864 Matchetts Baltimore City Directory

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Charles W. Lord, Successor to Robinson & Lord, wholesale dealer in brooms, cordage, and woodenware, and importer of fancy goods, 88 and 90 w Lombard – 1864 Matchetts Baltimore City Directory

1876: The Fires of Sunday and Monday (see below). Two upper floors destroyed by fire at Lord & Robinson – The Baltimore Underwriter, April 13, 1876

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The Fires of Sunday and Monday (see below) – The Baltimore Underwriter, April 13, 1876

1880: Lord & Robinson, Wooden and Willow Ware, 88 & 90 w Lombard – 1880 Wood’s Baltimore City Directory

Posted in Advertising, Auction News, Bitters, Figural Bottles, History, Liquor Merchant, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Indian Vegetable and Sarsaparilla Bitters by George C. Goodwin

Posted on 16 May 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Indian Vegetable and Sarsaparilla Bitters by George C. Goodwin

16 May 2014

Apple-Touch-IconAHmmmm. Where have we heard the name George Clinton Goodwin before? Could it be the same fellow related to the immensely popular Old Sachems Bitters and Wigwam Tonic figural barrel from Beantown? Or was it related to the Dr. Langley’s Root & Herb Bitters from Boston? Yes of course, it is both, as the Indian Vegetable and Sarsaparilla Bitters is a Goodwin product from Boston too. Here is another great bottle similar to the west coast, Hierapicra Bitters which is in the same current Heckler auction.

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Indian Vegetable and Sarsaparilla Bitters – GreatAntiqueBottles.com. The bottle at the top of this post is also from Ed and Cathy Gray’s, Great Antique Bottles web site.

What got me thinking about this bottle today was the inclusion of a fine example in the Heckler Auction 110 that is online now. Their listing and pictures are below:

Lot: 4 “Indian Vegetable / And / Sarsaparilla / Bitters / Geo. C. Goodwin / Boston” Bitters Bottle, America, 1840-1860. Rectangular with beveled corners, aquamarine, applied sloping collared mouth with ring – pontil scar, ht. 8 1/4 inches; (shallow bubble near pontil scar has disturbance of cover glass). R/H #I-25 Beautiful whittled glass. Fine condition.

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Indian Vegetable and Sarsaparilla Bitters – Heckler Auction 110

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Indian Vegetable and Sarsaparilla Bitters – Heckler Auction 110

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Indian Vegetable and Sarsaparilla Bitters pontil – Heckler Auction 110

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

I 25  INDIAN VEGETABLE AND SARSAPARILLA BITTERS

INDIAN VEGETABLE / AND / SARSAPARILLA // BITTERS //
GEO. C. GOODWIN // BOSTON //
8 3/8 x 3 x 2 (6 3/8) 3/8
Rectangular, Aqua, LTC, Applied mouth, Rough pontil mark, Scarce
New York (newspaper) 1849

Drug Catalogs: 1896-7 and 1901-2 JP&K Co.

Boston Directory: George C. Goodwin, who became one of the most important wholesale druggists, began in 1840 as a grocer. In 1860 he is listed as a dealer in medicines and fancy goods. He began Geo. C. Goodwin & Co. in 1860 with Wm. E. Hibbard. By 1870-1890 his partners were Charles C. Good and F. B. Webster.

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Indian Vegetable and Sarsaparilla Bitters – Meyer Collection

George Clinton Goodwin

George Clinton Goodwin, son of Anson Goodwin, was born in Ashfield, October 3, 1807, and died at Charlestown, Massachusetts, May 12, 1869. He was educated in public schools of his native town, and became associated with his father in the manufacture of extracts and compounds. The business, begun on the homestead, grew eventually into the large wholesale drug business of Mr. Goodwin. He removed first to Lowelll, Massachusetts, where he continued his business his father established. About 1839 he started the business on Union street, Boston, under the name George C. Goodwin & Company, manufacturing drugs of various kinds. Later he moved to larger quarters on Marshall a street and thence to Hanover street, where it was located until it was incorporated as the Eastern Drug Company in 1900. The business grew to large proportions and the house of George C. Goodwin & Company was well and favorably known in every prt of New England and to trade throughout the country. It was one of the largest concerns in this line of business in United States.

After leaving his home in Lowell, Mr. Goodwin resided for a time on Union street, then Washington, in Charlestown. About 1848 he moved to Lexington, but in 1855 returned to Charlestown, living at Monument Square in that city the remainder of his life. In politics he was a Whig until that part disbanded, afterwards a Republican. He was a prominent member and generous supporter of the old First Baptist Church of Charlestown and was superintendent of the Sunday school of that church twenty-three years and also for a time of the Baptist Church of Lexington. His good judgement, great ability and business sagacity were often demonstrated. His associates in business often mentioned his good penmanship, as well as his gift of expression. Much reading and deep thinking made him a man of unusual intellectual attainments, though he was modest and disliked publicity of every form.

He married April 2, 1833, Jane Pearson, of Haverhill, Masachusetts, born December 10, 1811, died October 13, 1855, at Lexington. He married second, July 16, 1857, Hannah Elizabeth Bradbury, born in Chesterville, Maine, daughter of Benjamin B. and Elizabeth (Lowell) Bradbury. His widow died June 1, 1893. Children of first wife: 1. George Clinton, Jr. 2. Charles Jackson. 3. Arthur Franklin. 4. Charles Clinton, born February 1, 1839. 5. Clara Elizabeth, born 1841, died October 1859. 6. Georgiana Jane, born 1843, married, June 7, 1879, Oscar B. Mowry, of Boston. 7. Caroline L., born 1845, died at Woonsocker, Rhode Island, 1906.

Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Volume 3 – William Richard Cutter, 1908
Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The sexy, aqua and tall Hierapicra Bitters

Posted on 16 May 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

HierapicraBittersHeckler2The sexy, aqua and tall Hierapicra Bitters

16 May 2014

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The country around Sonora is largely whitewashed with a strange medley of medicinal recipes – all no doubt very good in their sway, but it cannot be said that the landscape is beautified by their repeated appearance. Our old friend “Bitters”, which had been with us ever since we first set foot in the New World, figured here in great prominence and in much variety. Some of the more frequent, yet withal useful announcements that we noticed, were the following:

“TRY FIG BITTERS;” “FIG BITTERS FOR INDIGESTION;” “WE TAKE WAHOO BITTERS;” “IF YOU HAVE AGUE AND FIND NO ENJOYMENT TRY HIERAPICRA BITTERS;” “TO PREVENT FEVER AND AGUE TRY HIERAPICRA BITTERS;” “USE MARSHALL’S COOKING EXTRACTS;” “TRY MARSHALLS HORSE LINIMENT;” “MARSHALLS HORSE LINIMENT GOOD FOR MAN AND BEAST.” And so on usque ad nauseam

There is a limit to everything, even to these hideous white paint advertisements. But on the road to the Yosemite Valley this limit is over-stepped, for one passes certain conspicuous white (and yellow) paint notices that are really not fir to meet the eye of the man or woman who has the least regard for any decency or propriety.

passage from Through America by Walter Gore Marshall in 1882

Apple-Touch-IconAI like the passage above. Reminds me of all the reported Drakes Plantation Bitters signs that were painted on rocks, signs, fences and barns. Norman Heckler Auctions has a really nice example of a Hierapicra Bitters in their present Auction 110 which is now online. The photographs are quite nice, particularly the window example (pictured above). Also ex Gardner and MacKenzie collections which makes it even nicer.

Hierapicra means “Sacred Bitter” which is warming cathartic medicine, made of aloes and canella bark. Apparently, the bitters were sold out of Angels Camp, California. The embossed “Rs” have the curved leg indicative of San Francisco glasshouses of the time.

 The Heckler write-up is as follows:

Lot: 14 “Hierapicra Bitters / Extract Of Figs / California / Botanical Society” Bitters Bottle, America, 1860-1880. Rectangular with beveled corners, medium blue aquamarine, applied sloping collared mouth – smooth base embossed “FIG”, ht. 9 5/8 inches. R/H #H-116 Listed as very rare. Fine condition. Ex Charles B. Gardner collection, ex Judge MacKenzie collection.

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Hierapicra Bitters Extract of Figs California Botanical Society California – Heckler Auction 110

This is a pretty neat bottle that the western collectors like. Looks like Rick Simi picked one up at the FOHBC 2012 Reno Expo (see picture below).

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From left to right: Hierapicra Bitters Extract of Figs California Botanical Society California (with curved R’s) Dr. Warrens Botanic Cough Balsam S.F. Cal Hall’s Sarsaparilla Shepardson & Gates Proprietors S.F.

 

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