Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters – Pittsburgh

16 March 2014 (R•031714)

Glass Works Auctions, in their “Winter Be Gone” Catalog Auction 101, presently online, has a nice example of a Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The bottle reminds me of a Dr. Henley’s IXL Bitters. Yesterday I was laying out Part 2 of the Dr. Henley’s Royal Palm Gin article for Bottles and Extras and was again wondering why the bottles were so similar. The picture above, from the author, Steve Hubbell and Eric McGuire, will be featured. Anyway, I thought I would pull out my Dr. Allen’s example and see if I can find out who Dr. Allen was and if there was a relationship with Dr. Henley.

Anyway, I thought I would pull out my Dr. Allen’s example and see if I can find out who Dr. Allen was and if there was a relationship with Dr. Henley.

Bottle Similarities

Bitters collectors are aware of the the similarities between the Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters and the Dr. Henley’s IXL Bitters. The bottle shape, size, appearance and applied ring on the mouth are virtually the same. The typography is basically the same with many of the characters matching as you can see by comparing various detail images below. Portions of the embossed name are also arched and the bottle glass looks very similar. Notice the treatment of the word “DR” with the under bar beneath the ‘R’. The Dr. Allen’s bottle however, only comes in the pale aqua. The Henley’s bottles come in some of the most exciting colors imaginable.

Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters Pittsburgh, Pa (A 31) – Meyer Collection

Dr. Henley’s California IXL Bitters in medium aqua (H 83) – Meyer Collection

Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters (H 85) – Meyer Collection

Dr. Henley’s California IXL Bitters in pale aqua (H 83) – Meyer Collection

Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters (H 85) – Ed & Kathy Gray

Eastern bottle authority Jeff Noordsy, quoting from his web site Jeff and Holly Noordsy, in a past sale of a Dr. Allen’s notes, “This rarely encountered Pittsburgh, PA bitters bottle is shaped very much like a Henley’s Wild Grape Root Bitters and I would be willing to hazard a guess that the two bottles were blown in the same Pittsburgh, PA glass house. With that said, the Allen’s is FAR less common than the Henley’s, with less than a handful of examples hitting the auction block over the past decade.”

According to western bitters authority Rick Simi, over at Western Bitters News, “One of the more popular bitters products of the western states, Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters, was introduced to the public in 1868. L. Gross & Co. of San Francisco was the manufacturers and proprietors of Henley’s concoction of alcohol, wild grapes from Oregon and flavorings.” Rick further notes that Dr. Henley’s was a product of the Pacific Glass Works. In a stereoscopic view photo taken at the 1869 San Francisco Mechanics Institute Fair of their glassware exhibit, an example was identified by magnification, and was able to read a portion of the embossing on the bottle.

Some fantastic colors for the Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters – Mlasko Collection

PIRATES SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS!

Notice that L. Gross & Co., manufacturers and sole proprietors were posting advertisements in San Francisco in 1869 (see below) warning of numerous imitators of the Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters. “Pirates Sail Under False Colors!” I suppose this was prophetic as a mold maker in Pittsburgh would copy the bottle in a few short years.

Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters notice – The Golden Era (San Francisco), 23 June 1869

Stephen Hubbell and Eric McGuire in their benchmark and comprehensive Dr. Henley’s Royal Palm Gin article, note the following, “The combination of relatively rapid and safe transport, as well as new capital, enabled the newly formed H. Epstein & Co to market Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Bitters throughout the Western United States and even to Australia. At the same time, another product was made available specifically for consumers east of The Rockies (e.g. Midwest and South) called Dr. Henley’s California IXL Bitters. This new product was simply the original Wild Grape Bitters with a new name designed to appeal to a more Eastern market. To efficiently sell this product a new depot and manufacturing facility was set up in Chicago, Illinois under L. Gross & Co. with, of course, Louis Gross as head of the company.” Steve and Eric go on and say, “Louis Gross had used another Pittsburgh glass house to manufacture Dr. Henley’s California and Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters.”

Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters

In Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and W.C Ham, the listing for the Dr. Allen’s is as follows:

A 31 DR. ALLEN’S STOMACH BITTERS

DR. ALLEN’S ( au ) STOMACH BITTERS / PITTSBURGH / PA // c //
12 1/4 x 3 1/4 (6 7/8)
Round, Aqua, ARM, Applied mouth, Rare

Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters – Pittsburgh – Glass Works Auctions

The listing in the Glass Works Auction (see their example above) reads as follows:

140. “DR. ALLEN’S / STOMACH BITTERS / PITTSBURGH / PA.”, (Ring/Ham, A-31), Pennsylvania, ca. 1870 – 1880, bluish aqua, 12 1/4”h, smooth base, applied ring mouth. A rare bitters in near perfect condition.

Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters – Pittsburgh – Meyer Collection

Who is Dr. Allen?

This is where it gets a little tricky. Searching for the name ‘Allen’ in Pittsburgh around 1870 is problematic as the last name “Allen” was fairly common. Looking at various Pittsburgh directories including 1839, 1841, 1860, 1862, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1870, 1873, 1874, 1877, 1882 and 1887 reveal a few possible targets.

Ricketson & Allen, wholesale and retail grocers and dealers in oils and candles, c Liberty and St Clair and Wood b Front and Second. 1839 – 1841

William B. Allen, grocer, h & s cor Webster and Roberts, 1860 – 1873, Directories of Pittsburg and Allegheny Cities

Robert L. Allen, produce and liquor merchant, 6 Wood, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania City Directory 1862 – 1865

Alexander Allen, Physician (and surgeon), Grant & Sherman, Millvale bor, 1887, student in 1870. Alexander Allen, tavern, 7 Penn, 1862, 1882: Alexander Allen, salesman, 58 Chatham 1873 – 1887, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania City Directory

William R. Allen, grocer, 287 Webster ave., 1874

A. T. Allen, grocer, 1879

Joseph Allen from Germany living in Pittsburgh (age 28), Saloon Keeper, 1880 United States Federal Census

Peter Allen from Germany living in Pittsburgh (age 29), Saloon, 1880 United States Federal Census

J. C. Allen, Merchant, from England living in Pittsburgh (age 50), 1880 United States Federal Census

William H. Allen, Analytical Chemist from Virginia living in Pittsburgh (age 20), 1880 United States Federal Census

Well, no smoking gun. I can only surmise that someone in Pittsburgh in the early 1870s (in earlier decades Pittsburgh was spelled Pittsburg by many), saw the Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root Bitters bottle and capitalized on the form and made the Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters. Probably for only a year or so. Was it William B. Allen the grocer? You didn’t have to be a doctor to create an illusion and story-name for a product. Was is Alexander Allen who was a physician and surgeon? He also worked in a tavern at one time. Was this his attempt to make some money on the side? Maybe they are related or it was someone else altogether? The ‘Allen’ web is complex. We’ll see if any of you readers have any more information.

Posted on 16 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V | 1 Comment

Jarred Fragments

Posted on 15 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Jarred Fragments

15 March 2014

Bill Steele, over on Facebook Bottle Collectors posted some gorgeous pictures of glass shards in jars. Pictured against the snow, the imagery is quite stunning. Bill said, “Here’s what I’ve done with some of the nicer pieces I’ve dug over the years. Put them in a couple clear jars and let the sun shine through. If only they could have been whole….”

I contacted Bill and he was kind enough to shoot some more pictures and forward to me to post. Again Bill, “I shot some better pictures of my jarred fragments, these are much better and clearer than the other ones. I wasn’t sure which ones you would prefer, so I’ll let you decide. These came mainly from two old city dumps and a couple little farm dumps here in southern New England. Thanks!”

I don’t know about you all, but I think I might try this tomorrow with all my bottles the housekeeper, dogs and Fedex broke over the years!

See More Shards in Jars: Bottle Shards in Window Jars – I like it!

Posted in Advice, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Display, Fruit Jars | Tagged Bill, dug, dump, Facebook, fragments, Glass, jar, shards, snow, Steele | 1 Comment

Beneath Lincoln’s ass they used to load a lot of glass.

Posted on 15 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Beneath Lincoln’s ass they used to load a lot of Glass

Washington City Glass Works – ‘Old Glass House’

by Stephen Atkinson

14 March 2014

Unknown to most Washingtonians and other Americans, and particularity we few in the glass collecting community, located literally right underneath the Lincoln Memorial, was a thriving glass works started in 1807. It rivaled the Boston Crown glass works in size and output at the time and supplied a lot of the glass windows in the city of Washington. The name, “Old Glass House,” to an old-time Washingtonian, meant not only an old factory where glass was made, but it also comprehended the settlement that grew up in the vicinity of that factory.

This factory and settlement were located in the southwestern part of Washington City. To be more explicit, the factory was at the southeast corner of Twenty-second and Water streets, northwest. The Glass-House settlement covered the space between Twenty-first and Twenty-third streets northwest, and New York avenue and the Potomac river, and occupied part of the old village of Hamburg or Funkstown, which extended from about the location of Nineteenth street to that of Twenty-third street, west, and from about the location of H street, northwest, to the Potomac River. In easier terms to understand, just north of the current location of the Lincoln Memorial monument.

Below is a map from 1800 showing the area where the glass works were located. Notice how much ground was added at the current site of the Lincoln Memorial.

This is a map from 1800. The glass house are is marked in red. The yellow area is the wharf which extended outward into the Potomac, and to the right of this area is the future site of the Washington Memorial.

Drawing looking west towards Arlington Virginia. Arlington, Virginia is in the background. In present day, you are viewing the glass works from the Washington Mall. Just to the left of the schooner is where the Lincoln Memorial would be located. – From the records of the Columbia Historical Society.

The factory buildings extended quite a distance along Water street. At the east end was the blowing room, a barn-like brick structure with broad blind arches in the walls. There was no chimney to the blowing-room, but a large cupola in the roof served as an outlet for the smoke and gases; and a small hand-engine was always standing ready to extinguish any blaze in the roof from stray sparks. In the blowing-room were the furnaces for melting the materials, and there were platforms for ten blowers. To the west, from the blowing-room, extended the flattening-house, the cutting-room, the pot-room, the mixing-room, and the box-shop, all built of brick. Outside, next to the wharf, was a large wood-yard. Boschke’s map of Washington (1857) shows the ground plan of the works. Window glass was only produced for over thirty years with the last 10 being tenuous as we will see.

1835 drawing of the Washington City Glass Works looking towards the Potomac River. Notice the small buildings on the hill in Arlington, Virginia to the right of the main roof. This is the Robert E. Lee Mansion in Arlington Cemetery today. In 1810 this was the Custis Mansion from George Washington’s wife Martha’s family. – From the records of the Columbia Historical Society.

The settlement was principally the natural growth around what was considered in those days a large and flourishing glass factory. Situated on the riverbank between Twenty-first and Twenty-second streets, northwest, which was started about the year 1807 by a firm composed of Andrew Way, Jr., George Way, Jacob Curts, Horace H. Edwards and the practical glass maker and superintendent of the works, Solomon Stanger, (a member of the famous Stanger glass making family) who in that year (according to deed dated May 12, 1807, and recorded in Liber M 17 at folio 315 of the District of Columbia Land Records) bought a piece of land in Square 89, fronting 1691/) feet on Water street and extending southward to the Potomac; and on the river side of which was a wharf fronting a]) out 130 feet on the river, and extending about 200 feet south from Water street, and called the ”Commissioners Wharf”‘ on the old plates, with a depth of about eight feet of water at mean tide.

By the year 1809, Andrew and George Way had bought out the interests of the other owners, and in 1813 they had increased their acquisitions to the east and west of the works until their property extended 3211/2 feet along Water street, a large part of it covered by water, it is true, but very valuable to them for the extension of their works and wharves.

Glass House – Glass Works Advertisements

The following advertisements were placed in newspapers around the country:

1809 advertisement listing WINDOW GLASS OF VARIOUS SIZES. In 1809 the Company was called Edwards, Way & Company.

1810 advertisement for GLASS WORKS. The company is now in full possession of the Way family.

Jar manufactured at the ‘Old Glass House’

Jar manufactured at the ‘Old Glass House’ that was made for the Schneider Family in 1825. – From the records of the Columbia Historical Society.

Pieces of Glass from the Glass Works site

The following pieces of glass were found on the shore of the Potomac river just south of the glass works site. I acquired these pieces from a gentleman who lives in Georgetown who found them as a boy around 1925. The one piece is a large hunk of slag that is bright aqua in color. The other is more green in color and is clearly a window glass piece in which diamond score cutting marks are clearly seen.

Pieces of glass found on the shore of the Potomac river just south of the Glass Works site. Notice the window glass piece in which diamond score cutting marks are clearly seen.

Pieces of glass found on the shore of the Potomac river just south of the Glass Works site

Pieces of glass found on the shore of the Potomac river just south of the Glass Works site

Pieces of glass found on the shore of the Potomac river just south of the Glass Works site

The Glass Works were advertised for sale in 1819.

Window Glass Manufactory and other valuable Property for Sale notice – 1819.

Apparently no buyers were found because Way & Company continued to own the works up until 1828 when they finally found a buyer in Cornelius McLean who would operate the works until the early spring of 1831 when he was forced to lose the works at auction. The following advertisement was placed in various newspapers around the country.

VALUABLE PROPERTY & GLASS WORKS FOR SALE AT AUCTION notice – 1831

No buyers were found in 1831 or the following three years as the works were dormant. A buyer was eventually found and the Glass Works changed hands again as Lewis Johnson and Company bought the factory in 1835. Lewis was related to the Governor Johnson who owned the Glass Factory in Frederick Maryland 1n 1800.

WASHINGTON GLASS WORKS notice. Lewis Johnson and Company bought the factory in 1835.

Lewis Johnson would maintain the ownership right up until 1838 as evidenced by the advertisement placed below by Francis Stenger (Stinger in ad).

FOR RENT notice by Francis Stenger.

The works would continue on and off until 1851 when they finally closed.The works began in 1807 and lasted until 1851. There were some time periods where the the works were idle. A best guess was the works operated for about 37 years.

Fredrick Schneider

Below is a picture of a man Fredrick Schneider who lived near and worked at the glass factory for a few years making iron Blow pipe rods and any other needed metal products. He was very helpful to the Columbia Historical Society in gathering these records.It is not to often we can look into the eyes of someone who was part of such an early glass works.

Fredrick Schneider Sr. who lived near and worked at the glass factory. Born 1811 at Lauffen Am Neckar, Wurttemburg. Died 1893 at Washington, D. C.

Posted in Article Publications, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Early American Glass, Glass Companies & Works, Glass Makers, History, Utility Bottles, Windows | Tagged Abraham, Ass, Columbia, Commissioners, Curts, Edwards, Glass, house, jar, Johnson, Lincoln, mclean, memorial, Old, Potomac, Schneider, slag, Stanger, Washington, Way, Wharf, window, Works | 1 Comment

Dr. Green’s Poleish Bitters; yes it is spelled wrong.

Posted on 14 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. Green’s Poleish Bitters; yes it is spelled wrong (on the bottle).

14 March 2014

I suppose I could make some sort of ethnic joke here with the way “Polish” is spelled on the Dr. Green’s Poleish Bitters, but I won’t. That would be in poor taste. That might get me in some hot water, maybe entangled with the law? Maybe not…

Did you know that in 1983, Anne Pawelek filed a class action lawsuit against Paramount Pictures over Polish jokes told by characters in the movie “Flashdance“, including the classic: “What does a Polack call a pimple on his ass? A brain tumor.”

On September 27, 1983, the court dismissed the action, finding that the jokes, “however distasteful”, were not defamatory toward any individual.

Source: Pawelek v. Paramount Pictures, 571 F. Supp. 1082.

Dr. Green’s Poleish (Polish) Bitters in olive green – Glass Works Auctions

Anyway, Glass Works Auctions has a pretty nice looking, olive green, iron pontil (see bottom photo to left), applied double collar mouth Dr. Green’s, in their current auction. These shoulder embossed bottles are pretty tough to find. Not much is known about them except what is listed in Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham.

G 107 DR GREEN’S POLEISH BITTERS

DR GREEN’S POLEISH // BITTERS //
11 x 3 1/4 (6)
Round, Dark amber, Dark puce and Dark green, Metallic pontil mark, LTC
Applied mouth, Rare
Note spelling of Polish.

Dr. Green’s Poleish (Polish) Bitters in amber – Meyer Collection

Apparently, and I kind of remember this, a cranberry puce colored, Dr. Green’s Poleish Bitters sold on ebay in May 2011. The listing stated that it was dug in the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey Area. It had an iron pontil, a lip chip and a minor crack.

What is interesting is that Ring and Ham say that Dr. Green’s Poleish Bitters examples can be found in dark amber, dark puce and dark green. This post has that covered. Hmmm, I suppose one might have a color run if they had examples of each. Anybody around her kollect kolor?

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs | Tagged auction, bitters, Glass, green, joke, Polack, Poleish, Polish, pontil, Works | Leave a comment

Where is the Jones’ Tonic Bitters from?

Posted on 14 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Where is the Jones’ Tonic Bitters from?

14 March 2014

I have not thought about my extremely rare, Jones’ Tonic Bitters (pictured at the top of post) for some time until I saw that Glass Works Auctions has an outstanding example (see picture below) in its parade of fine bitters in their current auction.

The bottle is somewhat of an enigma as there is not much available information except that one was dug in Mobile, Alabama. Is that my example? Is this current auction bottle the second known example? There is a possible clue in the form of an embossed “1865” date on the bottle. The apostrophe at the end of Jones’ may also be a clue.

JONES’ TONIC BITTERS / 1865, (Ring/Ham, J-52), American, ca. 1865 – 1875, medium strawberry puce color, 9 3/8”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Studio and window shot – Glass Works Auctions

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

J 52 JONES’ TONIC BITTERS

JONES’ TONIC BITTERS / 1865 // f // f // f //
9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7) 1/2
Square, amber, LTC, Extremely rare
Dug in Mobile, Alabama

I have been carrying around, in my digital files, an 1866 St. Louis advertisement below for A. Jones & Co. (Amaziah Jones and George C. Wolff) who were the sole manufacturer of Jones’ Celebrated Stomach Bitters. Could this be the same brand? The 1866 advertisement date is right on target though the name is slightly different (tonic vs. stomach bitters). The apostrophe at the end of Jones’ is the same treatment though. Is St. Louis, Missouri and Mobile, Alabama connected?

A. Jones & Company selling Jones’ Celebrated Stomach Bitters. Could this be the same brand? The date is certainly right in line – St. Louis newspaper, 1866

Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham indicate the Jones’ Celebrated Stomach Bitters (no bottle examples have been documented) as a separate listing in Bitters Bottles and have cataloged it as:

J 50 JONES’ CELEBRATED STOMACH BITTERS
A. Jones & Co., Sole manufacturers, 4 South Levee, St. Louis, Missouri
N&Q
St. Louis Directory 1865-67: Amaziah Jones, Geo. C. Wolff
In 1868, Wolff and Hynes listed for same address for A. Jones & Co. Geo. Wolff named as partner. Later, Wolff & Hynes bought out A. Jones & Co.

A. Jones & Company (Amaziah Jones and George C. Wolff) – St. Louis

St. Louis in 1860

1838: Amaziah Jones, birth New Jersey, abt 1838.

1860: Amaziah Jones, saloon, 113 s. 7th, r. – 1860 Kennedy’s St. Louis Directory

1860: Amaziah Jones, distiller, United States Federal Census

1865: A. Jones & Co., (Amaziah Jones and William C. Henry), wines and liquors, 4 S. Levee – St. Louis, Missouri City Directory

1861 – 1873: Wolff & Hynes (George C. Wolff and Goerge A. Hynes), wholesale liquor dealers, office 4 S. Levee – St. Louis, Missouri City Directory

1866 – 1867: A. Jones & Co., (Amaziah Jones), wholesale liquors, 4 s. Levee – St. Louis, Missouri City Directory

1866: A. Jones & Company selling Jone’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. (see advertisement above) – St. Louis newspaper, 1866

1866: Amaziah Jones and George C. Wolff of A. Jones & Co., liquor merchants, successful bidders for the bars of fourteen steamers.

A Major Clue?

In the 1860s, Mississippi steamers were departing St. Louis daily for growing American cities both north and south. In 1861, George C. Wolff formed a co partnership with George A. Hynes, of St. Louis, under the firm name of Wolff & Hynes, liquor dealers. This house transacted an enormous business at one time, owning the “bars” on thirty boats, including all those of the celebrated Atlantic and Mississippi Steamship Co.’s line.

Atlantic and Mississippi Steamship Company broadside. Note the listing of the Olive Branch from Missouri. This was one the the steamers that Amaziah Jones had a bar contract with. – Duke University Library

Steamer loading cotton aboard the Hard Cash in Mobile, Alabama, from the Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views

in 1866, Amaziah Jones and George C. Wolff of A. Jones & Co., liquor merchants, were the successful bidders (see notice below) for supplying and operating the bars on fourteen steamers out of St. Louis. The bars were rented for one year, and six months rent was to be paid in advance. One of the steamers was the Mobile, Alabama. Remember, the Jones’ Tonic Bitters was dug in Mobile, Alabama. These dates fit together nicely and might mean that the Jones’ Tonic Bitters and Jones’ Celeberated Stomach Bitters are related. At this point, more research is required.

Amaziah Jones and George C. Wolff of A. Jones & Co., liquor merchants, successful bidders for the bars of fourteen steamers. – New Orleans Daily Crescent, July 23, 1866

Posted in Advertising, Auction News, Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Tonics | Tagged 1865, alabama, Amaziah, apostrophe, Atlantic, bar, bitters, branch, Henry, Hynes, Jones', liquor, Mississippi, Missouri, Mobile, olive, Saloon, St. Louis, Steamship, Stomach, Tonic, Wolff | Comments Off

My Purdy’s Bitters Mystery Solved!

Posted on 14 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

My Purdy’s Bitters Mystery Solved!

14 March 2014 (R•082818) (R•042219)

Hiram Purdy was engaged for many years in the wholesale liquor trade. He was the inventor of the metal showcase and was the projector of the first horse street railway in New York, named the Bowery and Third avenue line which was built in 1854.

A month ago, I did a fun little post on My “Purdy” new bitters – Purdy’s Cottage Bitters where I ended up saying that not much is known about the bottle. Well, let me tell you, I set myself up with that statement because I opened my electronic mail this morning and was delighted to find the following from Mark Wiseman and Jimmy the Pup up in Iowa:

Hi Ferdinand, I was browsing your fine Peach Ridge site tonight and read your “Funny” “Purdy” Cottage Bitters posting. Congratulations on a fine bottle. However, in your article you implied not much is known about the bottle. I have to take exception to this.

Up here in Iowa (We don’t want to be in your map of Texas), we have known a lot about the Purdy’s Cottage Bitters for a long time. As good bottle historians, we read our city directories carefully and especially look hard at the advertising in these tomes.

I have attached two advertisements I used in our Iowa Antique Bottleers Newsletter, the first was reprinted in 2006 (from the 1866 Burlington City Directory), and the second was reprinted in 2012 (from the 1868 Burlington City Directory).

Read and see more bottle pictures: My ‘Purdy’ new bitters

L. Delahaye & Co. (L. Delahaye and H. Purdy), Distillers, Rectifiers advertisement noting Depot of Purdy’s Celebrated Cottage Bitters – 1866 Burlington City (Iowa) Directory

Advertisement: Use Purdy’s Celebrated Cottage Bitters, Stewart and Haas – The Council Bluffs Weekly Non Pareil, April 1867

L. Delahaye & Co., Distillers, Rectifiers advertisement noting Depot of Purdy’s Celebrated Cottage Bitters – 1868 Burlington City (Iowa) Directory

Delahaye, Purdy & Co., Distillers, Rectifiers advertisement noting Purdy’s Celebrated Cottage Bitters – Council Bluffs Weekly Non Pareil, January 4, 1868

That is not all, Mike Burggraaf, in his 2010 Update Volume 3 to the Antique Bottles of Iowa, has a nice write up on the history and specifications. I will quote “Purdy’s Bitters”

“Rect. Bitters w/sunkenfront panel, amber. One example reported with an iron pontil mark, but this is questionable until documented.”

“Hiram Purdy was born in White Plains, New York in 1814. He became partners with Adolphus Delahaye in 1860 in the wholesale liquor business under the firm name of L. Delahaye & Company. From the 1840s to the 1870s, Mr. Purdy registered no less than a dozen different patents, ranging from two different fruit jar patents to an indoor heating device called the “Cyclone Heater”. He also held several patents involving the distilling processes for liquors. With his inventive mind set, it was of no surprise that Mr. Purdy developed and marketed his own brand of bitters beginning in the mid-1860s.

Purdy’s Cottage Bitters was marketed and sold on a wide regional basis and as far west as Nebraska. Individual advertisements for his bitters stated that they sold for $6.50 a case. The July 8, 1875 issue of the Burlington Weekly Hawk Eye had the following information:

“4th of July Parade, Delahaye & Purdy were represented by a wagon on which was labeled the names of their favorite brands, prominent among which was “Purdy’s Cottage Bitters,” very popular among those who indulge in bitters, as something of a very superior order.”

Mike’s two volumes (3 & 4) of the 2010-Update are a wonderful source of information on other Iowa bitters also (Volumes 1 and 2 pictured above). I suggest you contact him to see if he has any copies left.

My good friend Jeff Springer dug a broken one in Iowa in 2012 (pictured below).

Good Luck, Your Friends, Mark Wiseman and Jimmy the Pup of the Iowa Antique Bottleers.

HIRAM PURDY – PATENT FOR IMPROVEMENT IN AGING ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS

[21April 2019] Hi Ferdinand, I found reference to a patent dated October 18, 1870 for Aging Alcoholic Liquors by Hiram Purdy, Burlington, Iowa in the Sioux City Daily Times, of October 25, 1870. Since Mr. Purdy’s Cottage Bitters is still at the top of my searching list, I went through the patents for the October 18th 1870 date, 259 to go through and finally found it about 190 patents into the list. Maybe only slightly bottle related but interesting to find out Hiram Purdy was a Patent Holder. – Your Friends, Mark and Jimmy the Pup

Select Listings:

1854: New York: Hiram Purdy was the projector of the first horse car street railway in New York, named the Bowery and Third avenue line which was built in 1854.

1857: Hiram Purdy moves to Burlington, Iowa

1862-65: L. Delahaye & Co. – U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918

1866: Advertisement (above): L. Delahaye & Co. (L. Delahaye and H. Purdy), Distillers, Rectifiers advertisement noting Depot of Purdy’s Celebrated Cottage Bitters – 1866 Burlington City (Iowa) Directory

1867 – Hiram J. Purdy, medical student, Third ns 2 W. Brady, boards Brady ws 4 n Eighth – Davenport Iowa City Directory

1868: Advertisement (above): Delahaye, Purdy & Co., Distillers, Rectifiers advertisement noting Purdy’s Celebrated Cottage Bitters – Council Bluffs Weekly Non Pareil, January 4, 1868

1870: Hiram Purdy, Liquor Dealer, Age in 1870: 56, Birth Year: abt 1814, Birthplace: New York, Home in 1870: Burlington Ward 6, Des Moines, Iowa, Personal Estate Value: $45,000, Real Estate Value: $25,000, Inferred Spouse: Ellen Purdy, Household Members: Hiram Purdy 56, Ellen Purdy 39, Sarah Purdy 7, George Purdy 5 – United States Federal Census

1880: Hiram Purdy, Liquor Merchant, Age: 65, Birth Date: Abt 1815, Birthplace: New York
Home in 1880: Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa, Street: 513 Washington Street, Married Ellen Purdy, Father’s Birthplace: New York, Mother’s Birthplace: New York, Household Members: Hiram Purdy 65, Ellen Purdy 39, Sara A. Purdy 16, James B. Purdy 10, Horace Purdy 6 – United States Federal Census

1890: Hiram Purdy (Delahaye & Purdy), r 513 Washington – Burlington Iowa City Directory

1891-93: Hiram Purdy, retired, r 513 Washington – Burlington Iowa City Directory

1897: Death Hiram Purdy, Married, Age: 83, Birth Date: 1814, Birth Place: N.Y., Death Date: 12 Feb 1897, Death Place: Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa, Burial Place: White Plains, N.Y. – Iowa Deaths and Burials

1897: Hiram Purdy Dead (below) – Boston Post, Monday, February 15, 1897

Posted in Advice, Article Publications, Bitters, Club News, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant, Publications, Questions | Tagged Adolphus, Alcoholic, bitters, Burggraaf, Burlington, cottage, Delahaye, Distiller, Hiram, Iowa, Jimmy, liquor, mystery, Patent, Pup, Purdy, rectifier, Springer, Stewart and Haas, Wiseman | Leave a comment

The Isabella Glass Works of Thomas Stanger – 1841 to 1856

Posted on 13 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The Isabella Glass Works of Thomas Stanger – 1841 to 1856

Part 3 by Stephen Atkinson

13 March 2014

Part 1: Frederick Stanger and John Marshall 1831-1832

Part 2: Thomas Wriggins Stanger and John Marshall 1832-1839

Thomas Stanger began building a new glass works containing 7 pots about a mile from the Brooklyn Glass Works in 1841 along present day Williamstown-New Brooklyn Road approximately one mile west of the Old Brooklyn Glass Works. Thomas and Elizabeth Marshall Stanger had three daughters; Isabella, Frances and Elizabeth, who died as a infant. Thomas Stanger named the glass works “The Isabella Glass Works” after his daughter Isabella. Another name of the factory was the New Brooklyn Glass Works, lending its name to the entire settlement.

In the year 1852, the glass works were called the New Brooklyn Glass Works to distinguish it from the original factory called “The Old Brooklyn Glass Works.” Glass blowing commenced at the New Brooklyn Glass Works on September 9, 1842. Below on this mid 1850s map of the Village of New Brooklyn, Thomas W. Stanger’s glass works are shown located along a small canal dug by Stanger. A sawmill, owned by George Marshall in 1828, is also shown along a large lake created on Four Mile Branch. Later in 1850, a company store opened by the lake. By 1854, over 100 people were employed at the glass works.

Company store money redeemable only at the store was issued to the workers of the glass factory and residents living in the village. Shown below are two quite rare Shin-Plasters from the mid 1850s.

Below are three historical flasks from my collection bearing the name Isabella that were made at the works between 1842 and 1865.

The oldest of the three flasks is the half pint pocket flask (below) charted by McKearin as the GXIII-57 and is listed as rare by them. This flask was blown between 1852 and 1855. On one side of the flask is a picture of a glass factory and on the reverse side is the lettered embossing ISABELLA GLASS WORKS in two banners and an anchor.

The next flask (below) made at the works was the GXIII-56. This flask was the pint sized variant and had a picture of a sheaf of wheat on one side and on the other the lettered embossing in two banners ISABELLA GLASS WORKS. This flask is also listed as rare by McKearin.

The last flask (below) bearing the name of the works is the quart sized McKearin charted GXIII-55. This is a large flask but thin walled. On one side of the flask again is a picture of a glass factory and on the reverse side the lettered embossing ISABELLA GLASS WORKS in two banners. This flask is listed as scarce by McKearin.

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Currency, Early American Glass, Flasks, Glass Companies & Works, Glass Makers, Historical Flasks, History | Tagged Anchor, Atkinson, banner, Brooklyn, factory, Glass, GXIII-56, GXIII-57, Isabella, Marshall, McKearin, Shin-Plaster, Stanger, Stephen, Wheat, Works | Leave a comment

The unusual Mede’s Mexican Fluid – New York

Posted on 12 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The unusual Mede’s Mexican Fluid – New York

12 March 2014

In case you haven’t noticed, Norman Heckler has this incredible, oddly shaped medicine in their upcoming Auction 108. The Mede’s Mexican Fluid is six sided, flaring from the base to the mid-section, then tapering from the mid-section to the shoulder. So what is the deal here with Mede and this bottle shape?

“Unlisted, an unheard of form, an unheard of name, an extremely rare, colored, pontiled medicine bottle.”

The Heckler listing:

Lot: 6 “Mede’s / Mexican / Fluid / New York” Medicine Bottle, America, 1850-1860. Most unusual six sided form flaring from the base to the mid-section then tapering from the mid-section to the shoulder, yellow amber, applied sloping collared mouth with ring – pontil scar, ht. 5 1/16 inches, greatest dia. 3 1/16 inches; (light exterior stain, 1/4 inch crack in one base corner). Unlisted, an unheard of form, an unheard of name, an extremely rare, colored, pontiled medicine bottle.
Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000 Minimum bid: $500

Mede’s Mexican Fluid New York – Heckler Auction 108

Mede’s Mexican Fluid New York – Heckler Auction 108

The bottle kind of reminds me of an Oriental Herb Bitters. That unlisted bitters is unembossed and rather weird too. The Mede’s bottle however, is a killer. I can find absolutely nothing on this bottle though Heckler has sold one before in his Auction 83 (see picture to the left). A few of the possible hits include John Mede (13), Charles Mede (11) sons of Margaret Mede (45), retail grocer. Margaret was born in Germany. – 1875 New York, State Census.

A second possibility might be George Henry de Mede who was a merchant, born in 1794 in Germany. I see his name on a New York passenger list arriving from Vera Cruz, Mexico to New York City on the ship Paragon on May 5, 1834.

That’s all she wrote. Anybody else have any information on this bottle?

Read: Mexican Bitters – Henry C. Weaver – Lancaster, O

Read: Mexican Mustang Liniment – For Man & Beast

Posted in Auction News, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged Fluid, Heckler, Mede, Medicine, Mexican, New York, Norman, shape | Leave a comment

The unlisted Yaupon Bitters – Norfolk, Virginia

Posted on 11 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The unlisted Yaupon Bitters – Norfolk, Virginia

or Vegetable Elixir of Life

11 March 2014 (R•031615) (R•092019)

Bitters trade card authority Joe Gourd (Chicago, Illinois) sent me the pictured advertising trade cards below for Yaupon Bitters put out by John R. Ludlow in Norfolk, Virginia. We have spent the last week or so looking at extremely rare bitters from Chester and Petersburg, Virginia. Let’s move a little more southeast, to the mouth of the Chesapeake, and look at Norfolk and this unlisted bitters.

The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Trade card
Y 1.5 YAUPON BITTERS, Humorous illustration “Her bright smile haunts me still. Reverse: Yaupon Bitters or Elixir of Life. The Great Remedy of the Age. No Family Should Be Without It. Sold and Prepared by John R. Ludlow, Norfolk, Va.
Malaria! “Yaupon Bitters,” The Daily Journal (New Bern, North Carolina), October 28, 1882.
John R. Ludlow was a druggist and was twice elected Mayor of Norfolk.

Captain John R. Ludlow

Captain John R. Ludlow (1827 – 1896) had a long and very interesting life in Norfolk, Virginia. The earliest records I could find list him as a druggist from about 1850 to 1883. He had various partners, worked at various locations and must have gathered a following as he was twice elected Mayor of Norfolk. He served briefly when first elected in 1866, but was “removed by military authorities”, presumably occupying Federal troops. He was elected again in 1872 and served his full term to 1874. He was also elected City Collector and was active in Confederate Veteran and Masonic groups.

Ludlow entered Confederate service at the start of the Civil War as Captain of the Norfolk Light Infantry, which became Company D of the 6th Virginia regiment. In the Antietam Campaign, Ludlow was in command of the depleted Regiment as senior officer present at Crampton’s Gap and Sharpsburg. He is listed as Major in his newspaper obituary, but it is not clear when or if he attained that rank during the war.

In 1872, Ludlow expanded his business reach and services and is listed solely, and with various partners, in the auctioneer and real estate fields. These listings occur up to 1892 or so. Ludlow died on February 9, 1896 in Norfolk, Virginia and is buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Yaupon_The_Daily_Journal_Sat__Oct_28__1882_

Yaupon Bitters advertisement – The Daily Journal (New Bern, North Carolina), Saturday, October 28, 1882

The Yaupon bitters must have been a relatively short run as I can only find listings in 1882 and 1883. The bitters is unlisted in Ring and Ham. I am unaware of any bottles in collections.

Read about another Mayor who produced a bitters: The Honorable Stephen Buhrer and his Gentian Bitters

Yaupon

Ilex vomitoria, commonly known as yaupon or yaupon holly, is a species of holly that is native to southeastern North America. The word yaupon was derived from its Catawban name, yopún, which is a diminutive form of the word yop, meaning “tree”. Native Americans used the leaves and stems to brew a tea, commonly thought to be called asi or black drink for male-only purification and unity rituals. The ceremony included vomiting, and Europeans incorrectly believed that it was Ilex vomitoria that caused it (hence the Latin name).

Yaupon, “The Black Drink of the Carolinas” – Reading Times, Thursday, August 19, 1886

Select John R. Ludlow Timeline Events

1827: John R. Ludlow born in Virginia, 27 Jul 1827. Father Richard Ludlow (1788 – 1827), mother Elizabeth Brooke)

1849: Marriage to Marie M. Jamison

1850: John R. Ludlow, druggist – United States Federal Census

1852: Ludlow & Wing, dispensary, 4 W. Main, next to Farmers’ Bank.
Ludlow J. R. druggist, boards at Mrs. Emerson’s. – The Norfolk Directory

1855: Dr. Richard Tunstall, of the firm of Ludlow & Tunstall, Druggists (various medical reports) – Doctors, Nurses & Volunteers, Ministers, African Americans, Prisoners: Yellow Fever Epidemic, 1855, Norfolk/Portsmouth area, VA

1861: John R. Ludlow, druggist, enlists Captain, Commissioned an officer in Company D, Virginia 6th Infantry Regiment on 06 May 1861. Height: 5 ft. 9 in., light complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair.

1866: John R. Ludlow, Mayor of Norfolk, 24 June 1866, removed by military authorities. (see 1872 – 1874)

1866: Ludlow & Wilson (John R. Ludlow and W. M. Dr.), druggists, 69 E. Main, h 66 W Freemason – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1867: VIRGINIA.; Destructive Fire at Norfolk-Burning of the Atlantic Hotel, – A terrible fire broke out a 1 o’clock this morning at the Atlantic Hotel…stores consumed, Ludlow & Wilson, druggists – January 9, 1867, New York Times

1869: John R. Ludlow, bds (boarding) at Mrs. Henserson’s, 12 West Freemason – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1870: John R. Ludlow, h Dunmore – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1872 – 1874: John R. Ludlow, Mayor, Norfolk Office, City Hall, h 42 Dunmore – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1872: Griffith & Ludlow (E. J. Griffith and J. R. Ludlow) auctioneers, 12 Commercial row – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1875: Ludlow & Byrd (John R. Ludlow and R. W. Byrd), auctioneers and real estate agents, 49 and 51 Commerce – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1877: John R. Ludlow & Co. (John R. Ludlow), auctioneers, 184 Main – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1880 – 1883: John R. Ludlow & Co. (John R. Ludlow), real estate brokers and auctioneers, 207 Main – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1882: Yaupon Bitters advertisement (see below) – The Daily Journal (New Bern, North Carolina), 27 August 1882

Yaupon Bitters advertisement – The Daily Journal (New Bern, North Carolina), 27 August 1882

1883: Yaupon Bitters testimonial (see below) to Captain John R. Ludlow – The Daily Journal (New Bern, North Carolina), 7 October 1883

Yaupon Bitters testimonial to Captain John R. Ludlow – The Daily Journal (New Bern, North Carolina), 7 October 1883

1885: John R. Ludlow & Co., auctioneer and real estate, 207 and 209 Main – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1886: John R. Ludlow and John H. Hogwood, (Hogwood & Co.), oyster pkrs, Ludlow’s Wharf 42 Dunmore – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1888 – 1890: Ludlow, Townsend & Joynes (John R. Ludlow, Thomas Townsend and Ernest R. Joynes), real estate agents and auctioneers, 95 Main (up stairs) – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1892: John R. Ludlow, real estate, h 42 Dunmore – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1894 – 1895: John R. Ludlow, h 42 Dunmore – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1896: John R. Ludlow, death, 9 February 1896

More Virginia Bitters

Read: Two bitters that W. E. French was selling in Petersburg, Virginia

Read: Burwell’s Virginia Bitters – Richmond

Read: Hartman’s Old Virginia Bitters – Tonic, Appetizer and Man Restorer

Read: Milburn’s Kola Bitters – Winchester Virginia

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

Read: Is the Magic Bitters related to the Penn’s Pony Bitters?

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Civil War, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, History, Medicines & Cures, Tea, Trade Cards | Tagged Antietam, auctioneer, bitters, Captain, Carolinas, Druggist & Drugstore, estate, Gourd, John R. Ludlow, mayor, Norfolk, real, tea, Virginia, Yaupon | Leave a comment

Is the Magic Bitters related to the Penn’s Pony Bitters?

Posted on 10 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Is the Magic Bitters related to the Penn’s Pony Bitters?

10 March 2014 (R•031214)

At the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show the weekend before last, I was able to add a Magic Bitters, put out by Minetree & Jackson, Petersburg, Virginia, to my collection. This bottle has a very unusual shape and is similar to the larger, Penn’s Pony Bitters put out by H. W. Long, M.D. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I thought I would take a moment and compare the bottles and see if they are related.

First, let’s look at some information, pictures and listings in Bitters Bottles.

Penn’s Pony Bitters (left) and the smaller Magic Bitters – Meyer Collection

Penn’s Pony Bitters

Penn’s Pony Bitters is embossed “H. W. Long M. D. & Co., Philadelphia. “The lettering runs from base to shoulder which is opposed to the Magic Bitters lettering which runs from shoulder to base. Searching online in Philadelphia, reveals two H. W. Longs in the later part of the 19th century. The first is a clerk and the second is a physician. Trailing the physician listing reveals Howard W. Long who was born in Pennsylvania around 1856. His father was George W. Long and his mother was Sarah A. His father ran a tobacco store according to United Stated Federal Census records.

In 1874, Howard was 18 years old and was listed as a salesman, probably hawking medicines. In 1877, he was a student presumably getting his medical degree. From 1878 to 1921, Dr. Howard W. Long is listed as a physician at various addresses in Philadelphia. The fact that there are few examples of the Penn’s Pony Bitters bottles suggest that Dr. Long had a short relationship with making and selling his bitters.

Crawford Long was honored in the “Famous American Series” of postage stamps in 1940.

It is interesting to note that Crawford Williamson Long (November 1, 1815 – June 16, 1878) was an American surgeon and pharmacist best known for his first use of inhaled diethyl ether as an anesthetic. He received his M.D. degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1839. Although his work was unknown outside a small circle of colleagues for several years, he is now recognized as the first physician to have administered ether anesthesia for surgery. One of the large Emory Hospitals in downtown Atlanta is named after Crawford Long. I can find no family genetic relationship but I have a hunch there is one.

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

P 40 PENN’S PONY BITTERS

PENN’S PONY BITTERS ( au ) / H. W. LONG M.D. & CO. / PHILADELPHIA
9 x 3 x 1 3/4 (5 7/8)
Oval, Amber, LTC, Tooled lip, 1 sp, Extremely rare
Lettering Base to shoulder
Drug Catalog: 1901-2 JP&K Co.

Penn’s Pony Bitters (Philadelphia) – Meyer Collection

Select Howard W. Long, M.D. Listings

1874: Howard W. Long, salesman, h. 443 N. 6th – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1877: Howard W. Long, student, h. 443 N. 6th – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1878 – 1880: Howard W. Long, physician, 532 Franklin – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1882 – 1884: Howard W. Long, physician, 810 N. 8th – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1885 – 1900: Howard W. Long, physician, 941 N. 12th – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1900: Howard W. Long, Homeopathic Physician, 941 N. 12th – Boyd’s Co-partnership and Residence Business Directory of Philadelphia City

1910: Howard W. Long, Physician, wife: Clara E., children: Edith M., Walter G., Herbert W.- 1910 United States Federal Census

1917: Howard W. Long, physician, 1226 Allegheny Avenue – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

1920: Howard W. Long, Doctor, Medical, wife: Clara E., children: Edith M., Walter G., Herbert W., Annie – 1920 United States Federal Census

1921: Howard W. Long, physician, 1226 Allegheny Avenue – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Directory

Magic Bitters

My new and smaller Magic Bitters is also embossed, “Prepared by Minetree & Jackson, Petersburg, Va.” George A. Minetree and Hugh D. Jackson were listed as druggists in the 1886-92 Petersburg, Virginia City Directories. Interestingly enough, George Minetree was at the same address as William E. French of French’s Cockade Bitters and French’s Virginia Tonic Bitters. Read: Two bitters that W. E. French was selling in Petersburg, Virginia.

It is quite possible that Minetree and Jackson had their bottle made at D’Alton & Bain, who were bottlers in Petersburg, Virginia. These guys probably made the bottles for the Winfree’s Bitters from Petersburg and Chester. Read: The Winfree’s Bitters Family

Select Minetree and Jackson Listings

1882: George A. Minetree, druggist clerk, 202 N. Sycamore (same address as William E. French of French’s Cockade Bitters and French’s Virginia Tonic Bitters) – Petersburg, Virginia City Directory

Hugh D. Jackson, drug clerk, bds 24 Lombard, Petersburg, Virginia City Directory

1886 – 1892: Minetree & Jackson, (George A. Minetree and Hugh D. Jackson) druggists 225 N. sycamore (see listing below) – Petersburg, Virginia City Directory

Minetree & Jackson, druggists listing – Petersburg, Virginia City Directory

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

M 8 MAGIC BITTERS

MAGIC BITTERS / PREPARED BY / MINETREE & JACKSON / PETERSBURG, VA. // c //
7 7/8 x 2 1/4 (4 3/4)
Round, Amber, LTC, Tooled Lip, Extremely rare
Unusual shape, Similar to Penn’s Pony Bitters
City Directory (Petersburg, Virginia) 1886-92, George A. Minetree & Hugh Jackson, druggists.

Magic Bitters (Petersburg) – Meyer Collection

Conclusion

These bottles were made during the same time period. Petersburg, Virginia is 470 miles from Philadelphia which is quite a distance but in other respects, not so far. The bottles are different sizes but so unusual that one must have been copied from the other. Note the coloration which is very similar. As noted before, the Penn’s Pony Bitters lettering runs from base to shoulder which is opposed to the Magic Bitters lettering which runs from shoulder to base. The typography is basically the same though there are slight differences with the characters. The letterspacing is more open on the Penn’s Pony Bitters.

I must say that I was never very enamored with the Penn’s Pony Bitters shape until I paired it with the Magic Bitters. They now sit proudly together begging for someone to complete the story.

Update from Marianne Dow:

Perhaps the Jackson-Long-Minetree connection was that they, or family members met in the military, exchanged ideas, and thus used the same bottle maker.

Read: Paroles of the Army of northern Virginia R.E. Lee, gen., /C.S.A. commanding surrendered at Appomattox C.H., Va. April 9, 1865, to Lieutenant Genral U.S. Grant, comaning armies of the U.S (1887)

Read: Southern Historical Society papers (1876)

G A L L E R Y

Magic Bitters (left) and the larger Penn’s Pony Bitters – Meyer Collection

Magic Bitters (left) and the larger Penn’s Pony Bitters – Meyer Collection

Penn’s Pony Bitters (left) and the smaller Magic Bitters – Meyer Collection

Penn’s Pony Bitters (left) and the smaller Magic Bitters – Meyer Collection

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged bitters, Dow, Druggist & Drugstore, H. W. Long, Jackson, Magic, Marianne, Minetree, Penn's, Pennsylvania, Petersburg, Philadelphia, physician, pony, Virginia | Leave a comment

Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters – Pittsburgh

16 March 2014 (R•031714)

Anyway, I thought I would pull out my Dr. Allen’s example and see if I can find out who Dr. Allen was and if there was a relationship with Dr. Henley.

Bottle Similarities

PIRATES SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS!

Dr. Allen’s Stomach Bitters

Who is Dr. Allen?

Jarred Fragments

15 March 2014

Beneath Lincoln’s ass they used to load a lot of Glass

Washington City Glass Works – ‘Old Glass House’

by Stephen Atkinson

14 March 2014

Glass House – Glass Works Advertisements

Jar manufactured at the ‘Old Glass House’

Pieces of Glass from the Glass Works site

The Glass Works were advertised for sale in 1819.

Fredrick Schneider

Dr. Green’s Poleish Bitters; yes it is spelled wrong (on the bottle).

14 March 2014

G 107 DR GREEN’S POLEISH BITTERS

DR GREEN’S POLEISH // BITTERS // 11 x 3 1/4 (6) Round, Dark amber, Dark puce and Dark green, Metallic pontil mark, LTC Applied mouth, Rare Note spelling of Polish.

Where is the Jones’ Tonic Bitters from?

14 March 2014

A. Jones & Company (Amaziah Jones and George C. Wolff) – St. Louis

A Major Clue?

My Purdy’s Bitters Mystery Solved!

14 March 2014 (R•082818) (R•042219)

Hiram Purdy was engaged for many years in the wholesale liquor trade. He was the inventor of the metal showcase and was the projector of the first horse street railway in New York, named the Bowery and Third avenue line which was built in 1854.

HIRAM PURDY – PATENT FOR IMPROVEMENT IN AGING ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS

Select Listings:

1854: New York: Hiram Purdy was the projector of the first horse car street railway in New York, named the Bowery and Third avenue line which was built in 1854.

1857: Hiram Purdy moves to Burlington, Iowa

1862-65: L. Delahaye & Co. – U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918

1866: Advertisement (above): L. Delahaye & Co. (L. Delahaye and H. Purdy), Distillers, Rectifiers advertisement noting Depot of Purdy’s Celebrated Cottage Bitters – 1866 Burlington City (Iowa) Directory

1867 – Hiram J. Purdy, medical student, Third ns 2 W. Brady, boards Brady ws 4 n Eighth – Davenport Iowa City Directory

1868: Advertisement (above): Delahaye, Purdy & Co., Distillers, Rectifiers advertisement noting Purdy’s Celebrated Cottage Bitters – Council Bluffs Weekly Non Pareil, January 4, 1868

1890: Hiram Purdy (Delahaye & Purdy), r 513 Washington – Burlington Iowa City Directory

1891-93: Hiram Purdy, retired, r 513 Washington – Burlington Iowa City Directory

1897: Death Hiram Purdy, Married, Age: 83, Birth Date: 1814, Birth Place: N.Y., Death Date: 12 Feb 1897, Death Place: Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa, Burial Place: White Plains, N.Y. – Iowa Deaths and Burials

1897: Hiram Purdy Dead (below) – Boston Post, Monday, February 15, 1897

The Isabella Glass Works of Thomas Stanger – 1841 to 1856

Part 3

by Stephen Atkinson

13 March 2014

The unusual Mede’s Mexican Fluid – New York

12 March 2014

“Unlisted, an unheard of form, an unheard of name, an extremely rare, colored, pontiled medicine bottle.”

The unlisted Yaupon Bitters – Norfolk, Virginia

or Vegetable Elixir of Life

11 March 2014 (R•031615) (R•092019)

Captain John R. Ludlow

Yaupon

Select John R. Ludlow Timeline Events

1827: John R. Ludlow born in Virginia, 27 Jul 1827. Father Richard Ludlow (1788 – 1827), mother Elizabeth Brooke)

1849: Marriage to Marie M. Jamison

1850: John R. Ludlow, druggist – United States Federal Census

1852: Ludlow & Wing, dispensary, 4 W. Main, next to Farmers’ Bank. Ludlow J. R. druggist, boards at Mrs. Emerson’s. – The Norfolk Directory

1855: Dr. Richard Tunstall, of the firm of Ludlow & Tunstall, Druggists (various medical reports) – Doctors, Nurses & Volunteers, Ministers, African Americans, Prisoners: Yellow Fever Epidemic, 1855, Norfolk/Portsmouth area, VA

1861: John R. Ludlow, druggist, enlists Captain, Commissioned an officer in Company D, Virginia 6th Infantry Regiment on 06 May 1861. Height: 5 ft. 9 in., light complexion, hazel eyes, dark hair.

1866: John R. Ludlow, Mayor of Norfolk, 24 June 1866, removed by military authorities. (see 1872 – 1874)

1866: Ludlow & Wilson (John R. Ludlow and W. M. Dr.), druggists, 69 E. Main, h 66 W Freemason – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1867: VIRGINIA.; Destructive Fire at Norfolk-Burning of the Atlantic Hotel, – A terrible fire broke out a 1 o’clock this morning at the Atlantic Hotel…stores consumed, Ludlow & Wilson, druggists – January 9, 1867, New York Times

1869: John R. Ludlow, bds (boarding) at Mrs. Henserson’s, 12 West Freemason – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1870: John R. Ludlow, h Dunmore – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1872 – 1874: John R. Ludlow, Mayor, Norfolk Office, City Hall, h 42 Dunmore – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1872: Griffith & Ludlow (E. J. Griffith and J. R. Ludlow) auctioneers, 12 Commercial row – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1875: Ludlow & Byrd (John R. Ludlow and R. W. Byrd), auctioneers and real estate agents, 49 and 51 Commerce – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1877: John R. Ludlow & Co. (John R. Ludlow), auctioneers, 184 Main – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1880 – 1883: John R. Ludlow & Co. (John R. Ludlow), real estate brokers and auctioneers, 207 Main – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1882: Yaupon Bitters advertisement (see below) – The Daily Journal (New Bern, North Carolina), 27 August 1882

1885: John R. Ludlow & Co., auctioneer and real estate, 207 and 209 Main – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1886: John R. Ludlow and John H. Hogwood, (Hogwood & Co.), oyster pkrs, Ludlow’s Wharf 42 Dunmore – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1888 – 1890: Ludlow, Townsend & Joynes (John R. Ludlow, Thomas Townsend and Ernest R. Joynes), real estate agents and auctioneers, 95 Main (up stairs) – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1892: John R. Ludlow, real estate, h 42 Dunmore – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1894 – 1895: John R. Ludlow, h 42 Dunmore – Norfolk, Virginia City Directory

1896: John R. Ludlow, death, 9 February 1896

More Virginia Bitters

Is the Magic Bitters related to the Penn’s Pony Bitters?

10 March 2014 (R•031214)

DR GREEN’S POLEISH // BITTERS //
11 x 3 1/4 (6)
Round, Dark amber, Dark puce and Dark green, Metallic pontil mark, LTC
Applied mouth, Rare
Note spelling of Polish.

1852: Ludlow & Wing, dispensary, 4 W. Main, next to Farmers’ Bank.
Ludlow J. R. druggist, boards at Mrs. Emerson’s. – The Norfolk Directory