P E A C H R I D G E

Mack’s Orange Tonic Bitters – a sweet bitters from Orlando

Fine Aromatic Orange Stomach Bitters – Berry, Demoville & Co. – Nashville

Mamma’s Recipes for Keeping Papa Home – Herdrich’s Bitters

Posted in Advertising, Ales & Ciders, Article Publications, Bitters, Cordial, History, Liqueurs, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Tax Stamps | Tagged Amontillado, Angostura, Australia, Benjamin, Birmingham, bitters, Butement, cider, Curacao, David, Dixon, dutch, England, Franklin, French, Hawaii, Lacour, Maracaibo, Melbourne, Orange, Pierre, Polynesian, Prevot, Sachem, Seville, Spalding, tariff, Venezuela, Viguerie, Wadsworth, wormwood | Leave a comment

Rees’ Orange Tonica – The Best Bitters in the World

Posted on 19 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Rees’ Orange Tonica

The Best Bitters in the World

Risley Co. Sole Proprietors and Manufacturers – New York

PART OF THE ORANGE BITTERS SERIES

19 February 2014 (R•082519)

Well, this is the last advertising trade card from authority Joe Gourd in the Orange bitters series. I thought that maybe this would be one of the more difficult bitters to identify but that is really not the case. All of the clues are on the front of the card and represented on the illustrated bottle label, including “Risley & Company”, “New York” and “151 Chamber Street”. The calendar on the reverse of the trade card, actually dates the product with “1882”.

Rees’ Orange Tonica, “The Best Bitters in the World”, was put out by Charles F. Risley & Co. in New York City. Charles was the son of nationally known druggist, Hubbell W. Risley. Their most successful product seemed the be THE PHILOTOKEN or FEMALES FRIEND which was a “cure for painful menstruation” (see label proof below).

The Philotoken or Females Friend label proof from a woodcut signed by Hubbell W. Risley – Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

The Risley name was huge in the drug world starting with Hubbell W. Risley who was born in New York City near Pearl Street and Cherry in 1807. At the ripe young age of 15, he worked at Ayer’s Drug Store in Bridgeport, Connecticut and by his 18th birthday was hired in Middletown, Connecticut by Haviland, Keyes & Co., Druggists, to go to Augusta, Georgia to represent the firm there.

Risley thrived in Augusta with the business now renamed, Haviland, Harral & Risley. They had four large drug houses including one in New York City, one in Augusta, one in Charleston and one in Mobile. For several years, the firm did the most drug business in the country.

Rees’ Orange Tonica trade card front – Joe Gourd Collection

Around 1858, James Harrral and Hubbell Risley sold their southern branches and focused their business operations in New York City. Haviland retired and a new co-partnership was formed between Harral, Risley & Kitchen (William K. Kitchen). They operated two large stores at the corner of Reade and Church Streets where they conducted business for two or three years. When Kitchen retired, Charles F. Risley, James Harral, Jr. and Charles H. Thompson became members of the firm and continued business at 140 Chambers Street until about 187o when the business was dissolved and Charles F. Risley & Co. was formed. This is when Rees’ Orange Tonica first makes an appearance, with alcohol. The product had a long run and eventually ended up as a vegetable tonic, probably because of prohibition.

Rees’ Orange Tonica is also unlisted in Bitters Bottles and Bitters Bottles Supplement. Please make note that the word “Bitters” is only used in marketing phrases and advertising. I do not believe a bottle exists with the word ‘Bitters” on it.

The new listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Trade card
R 29.3 REES’ ORANGE TONICA, The Best Bitters in the World. Illustration of round, lady’s leg bottle embossed Orange Tonica on shoulder. Label reading Rees’ Orange Tonica is Purely Vegetable. Neck label reading Caution, Only Genuine When Each Capsule Bears Our Signature, Risley & Co., Sole Proprietors and Manufacturers, New York. Risley & Co. 151 Chambers Street, New York. Presented By _, Reverse 1882 Calendar and Interest Table.
The bitters was put out by Charles F. Risley & Co. in New York City. Charles was the son of nationally known druggist, Hubbell W. Risley.

Risley’s Extract Buchu New York bottle

Select Risley Timeline Events

1807: Hubbell W. Risley, born New York City.

abt 1822 – 1825: Risley works at Ayer’s Drug store for 3 years in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

abt 1825: In Middletown, Connecticut, Risley engaged by large drug firm there, Haviland Keyes & Co. to go to Augusta, Georgia to represent the firm there.

abt 1825 – 1855: Risley thrives in Augusta, Georgia with Haviland, Harral & Risley. They have four large drug houses, one in New York City, one in Augusta, one in Charleston and one in Mobile.

abt 1858: James Harrral and Hubbell Risley sell their southern branches and focus on New York City. Haviland retires and co-partnership formed between Harral, Risley & Kitchen (William K. Kitchen). Had two large stores at the corner of Reade and Church Streets. Did business for two or three years. When Kitchen retires, Charles F. Risley, James Harrall, Jr. and Charles H. Thompson become members of the firm and continued business at 140 Chambers Street until about 187o when the business is dissolved.

1865: Harral, Risley & Tompkins advertisement, 141 Chambers and 1 Hudson Streets, New York City

1867: Advertisement “Beauty, Health, Physical Comfort” use Philotoken (see bottle below), Sold by Druggists. Harral, Risley & Co. Wholesale Druggists, 141 Chamber Street, New York – National Freemason, 1867 also advertisements below from the Sacramento Daily Union

Advertisement “Beauty, Health, Physical Comfort” use Philotoken – National Freemason, 1867

Risley’s Extract Buchu advertisement – Sacramento Daily Union, 28 August 1867

The Philotoken or Females Friend advertisement, Harral, Risley & Co. – Sacramento Daily Union, 28 August 1867

1870: Charles F. Risley & Co. No. 64 Courtland Street.

1870: Book: Glass with Care from Risley & Co., 151 Chambers St., New York, Rees’ Orange Tonica … To Jobbers Only. – Risley & Co., 1870

1872: The advertisement below was run in the 1875 John F. Henry, Curran & Co.’s Catalogue. – HairRaisingStories.com Notice Morgan & Risley. There must have been other drug co-partnerships.

Risley’s Preparations advertisement, 1875 John F. Henry, Curran & Co.’s Catalogue. Notice all of the Risley products.- HairRaisingStories.com

1880: “When ordering a cocktail, see that the bartender uses Rees’ Orange Tonica“ advertisement (see below) – The Sun (New York City, New York), September 05, 1880

When ordering a cocktail, see that the bartender uses Rees Orange Tonica – The Sun (New York City, New York), September 05, 1880

1882: Rees’ Orange Tonica trade card (post feature)

1911: Rees’ Orange Tonica 22.73 Alcohol per cent, Risley & Co., New York – Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts, 1911

Rees’ Orange Tonica trade card back – Joe Gourd Collection

Hubbell W. Risley Obituary – New York Times, August 31, 1882

Grandfather’s Perfect Orange Bitters

Bernard’s Orange Bitters and a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland

Mack’s Orange Tonic Bitters – a sweet bitters from Orlando

Fine Aromatic Orange Stomach Bitters – Berry, Demoville & Co. – Nashville

Grandfather’s Perfect Orange Bitters

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, History, Medicines & Cures, Remedy, Tonics, Trade Cards | Tagged advertising, Augusta, bitters, Chamber, Charles, Charleston, Druggist & Drugstore, Georgia, Gourd, Harral, Haviland, Hubbell, Keyes, Kitchen, Mobile, New York, Orange, Philotoken, Rees, Risley, Series, Tonic, tonica, trade | Leave a comment

Mamma’s Recipes for Keeping Papa Home – Herdrich’s Bitters

Posted on 18 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Mamma’s Recipes for Keeping Papa Home – Herdrich’s Bitters

PART OF THE ORANGE BITTERS SERIES

18 February 2014 R-062921

“Find out what drink is his favorite and supply him with the very thing that he goes to the club for…”

Mamma’s Recipes for Keeping Papa Home

We wrote about Grandfather’s Perfect Orange Bitters the other day. Now we will look at “Papa” and some of “Momma’s Herdrich’s” recipes for keeping men home. The Herdrich family was quite large as you will see and they were operating three saloons at once while producing and selling alcohol. I think the men were busy most of the time with their businesses and spent their ‘free’ time hunting, fishing, drinking, and playing the tuba. Things German men do. The ‘mammas’ definitely needed to supply the papa’s with something as the menu book says.

We will be looking specifically at four bitters, three unlisted, from Chicago and represented by Frederick Harry Herdrich, importer from Germany. Within the “Recipe Book”, various spirits were advertised, such as Orange Tonic, Old ye Whiskey, Tippecanoe Kentucky Whiskey, Burgundy Wine Bitters, Holland Herb Bitters, Maryland Peach Brandy, and more. Unfortunately, only the cover is available online with descriptions of what is within.

What prompted this post was yet another very odd trade card from the Joe Gourd collection. Joe, himself lives in the Chicago area. The folding card is pictured below and notes the following bitters:

Here is to you Health

Herdrich’s Holland Herb Bitters – Cleans the Blood, Invigorates and Tones up the system. | Unlisted

Herdrich’s Alpenkrauter Magenstarkender Bitters – Will make the Bowels move. *I believe this might be H 97.5 L … Herdrich’s Alpine Pure Herb Bitters, Fred H. Herdrich, 127 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, 3 1/2″, Square, Amber, LTC, Tooled Lip in Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham’s Bitters Bottles Supplement.

Herdrich’s Orange Tonic Bitters – Gives appetite and new life and strength to the body. *F. H. HERDRICH’S / ORANGE TONIC / CHICAGO, Amber, square, 9 ¼” tall referenced in HistoricBottles.com | Unlisted

Herdrich’s Burgundy Wine Bitters – Makes new Blood and Invigorates the system. | Unlisted

Joe Gourd Trade Card

Frederick Herdrich Family Gatherings

This has to be the only advertising trade card where the family is pictured both at a meal table setting and gathered outside. Frederick Henry Herdrich was a proud German and a true family man. In the trade card picture above and below, Frederick is most likely seated with close family members like his father Landolin Herdrich, and mother Barbara Weber Herdrich. His many brothers and sisters could have been there such as Charles, Anton, Josephine, Bertha, Landolin W., Heinrich, and Stella. Some of the others pictured might be children, such as Ophella E., Harry Frederick, Martha R., and Frederick C. Herdrich. His first wife, Anna Boos Hendrich may be missing and children from his second marriage may be present. This includes Ruth L., Harold E., Margaret A., Alan, and Ralph Cooley Herdrich. His new young wife Stella Mae, may be featured on the exterior setting posing upfront with the little ones.

I bet the bottles on the tables are Herdrich products such as Herdrich’s Holland Herb Bitters, Herdrich’s Alpenkrauter Magenstarkender Bitters, Herdrich’s Orange Tonic Bitters and Herdrich’s Burgundy Wine Bitters. I wish I could enlarge and make out the labels.

The exterior pose, presumably of the Herdrich family is a man’s picture. It looks like something that you might see within Field and Stream which was founded in 1895. Every male in the picture is holding something including, what I believe are shotguns, rifles, fly fishing rods, and a tuba! One of the stern women has a broom. The pretty lass in front might be Fredericks’s new, very young wife, Stella Mae. She was 28 and he was 55 at one point. I bet she knew how to keep ‘Papa’ home.

Looking at the illustration on the front of the card is interesting. You have to look close but you can see that there is three fly fisherman in a boat. Probably the three Herdrich saloon owners. One is holding up a bottle of bitters presenting it to an angry farmer with a pitchfork. Quite odd. I have enlarged and strengthened the art below.

Another fun bitters to look at and learn about. Every bottle has a story. Here, I wonder why Frederich and Stella sold their new 10-room house and Chicago and why Stella went to Alabama. Did Fred go with her? He died in Chicago. Maybe the recipe didn’t work here.

Select Frederick H. Herdrich Listings

1856: Frederick H. Herdrich born 18 October 1856 in Baden, Germany, father Landolin Herdrich, mother Barbara Weber. Spouses Anna Boos and later Stella Mae Cooley.

1869: Immigration to United States.

1881: Established Herdrich brand in 1881.

1883 – 1884: Frederick H. Herdrich, liquor, 169 Chicago av – City of Chicago Directory

1884: F. H. Hedrich (Herdrich), three-story dwelling, 127 Chicago Ave, Cost $5,500 –American Architect and Architecture

1885: Frederick Herdrich marries Anna Boos on 30 June 1885. Children: Ophella E., Harry Frederick, Martha R. and Frederick C. Herdrich *He later marries a very young Stella Mae and has children: Ruth L., Harold E., Margaret A., Alan and Ralph Cooley Herdrich.

1886 – 1908: Wines & Liquors, F. H. Herdrich, 127 E. Chicago ave. *also L. W. Herdrich & Bro. 169 Chicago av.- A. N. Marquis & Co.’s Handy Business Directory of Chicago & other City of Chicago Directories

1897: House built for F. H. Herdrich (see below). This house later sold in 1914 after Herdrich retires in Alabama.

House built for F. H. Herdrich – The Economist: A Weekly Financial, Commercial, and Real-estate Newspaper, 1897

1900: Frederick H. Herdrich, living Chicago, wife: Anna Boos Herdrich, children: Ophella, Harry, Martha, Frederick – 1900 United States Federal Census

1905 – 1908: Frederick H. Herdrich, saloon, 127 Chicago av – City of Chicago Directory

1905-1909: Harry A. Herdrich (Frederick’s son), saloon, 169 Chicago av – City of Chicago Directory

1905-1909: Landolin W. Herdrich (Frederick’s father), saloon, 48 Chicago av – City of Chicago Directory

1908: “Herdrich’s Bitters or Tonic should always be used when drinking whiskey” or Always use a little of Herdrich’s tonic or bitters, in your whiskey. – Antioch News, August 27, 1908 and August 20, 1908.

1909-1918: Frederick H. Herdrich, 348 W Chicago Ave – City of Chicago Directory

1914: Mr. & Mrs. Fred H. Herdrich – Chicago Blue Book *House put up for sale because they have moved to Alabama (see listing below)

F. H. Herdrich puts Chicago house up for sale because he has moved to Fairhope, Alabama – Chicago Daily Tribune, 15 May 1914

1916: Mrs F. H. Herdrich (Stella Mae) dies in Alabama at only 36 years old.

1928: Frederick Herdrich died on 5 January, 1928 in DuPage, Illinois.

Bernard’s Orange Bitters and a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland

Mack’s Orange Tonic Bitters – a sweet bitters from Orlando

Fine Aromatic Orange Stomach Bitters – Berry, Demoville & Co. – Nashville

Bernard’s Orange Bitters and a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Spirits, Tonics, Trade Cards, Wine & Champagne | Tagged Alpenkrauter, Alpine, Anna, bitters, Burgundy, chicago, Farmer, Fishing, fly, Frederick, Germany, Gourd, Harry, Herb, Herdrich, Holland, illinois, Landolin, Magenstarkender, Mamma, Orange, Papa, pitchfork, Recipe, Series, Stella, Tonic, Wine | Leave a comment

The rest of the story of Lorenzo D. Youngblood and his Tonic Bitters

Posted on 17 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The rest of the story of Lorenzo D. Youngblood and his Tonic Bitters

by James Viguerie

17 February 2014 (R•111315 – Youngblood Shard) (092119 – BBs2 listing)

I am looking into four patents on Texas bitters. They were patented by Texans living in the following cities: Columbia, Fort Worth, Gatesville and San Antonio. All date from the 1870s and 1880s. Hopefully I will have a write up on each soon. These are all patented recipes so it is a little harder to associate with the actual brand of a bitters. As I have quite a few other patents to research, I might just turn them over to you, being you might have an extra interest in Texas bitters.

Lorenzo D. Youngblood of New York, who tragically committed suicide by morphine overdose in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory in 1879. One good thing Lorenzo did the year he died….he left us with an unlisted bitters from Montana!

In the meantime, I came across some information that can be added to a posting you did earlier on Youngblood’s Tonic Bitters – Galveston, Texas.

Initially, I had found some advertisements for Youngblood’s Tonic Bitters in Texas newspapers. I then searched in vain for anything more about the elusive Dr. L. D. Youngblood. There just was not much in Texas about him. I was just about to give up when I had one more hit on a Google search. Google can be funny that way. One has to try just the right combination of search words. This last web site led me to uncover much more about the sad tale of Lorenzo D. Youngblood of New York, who tragically committed suicide by morphine overdose in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory in 1879. One good thing Lorenzo did the year he died….he left us with an unlisted bitters from Montana!

The new listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Newspaper Advertisement
Y 7.5 YOUNGBLOOD’S MONTANA BITTERS, H. H. H. Youngblood’s Montana Bitters, Y Health For The People trade mark. My famous Bitters it is confessed O’er all the Land it is the best; It has no rival far or near, In all our spacious hemisphere. L. D. Youngblood, Pharmacist. Alderman & Youngblood, Manufacturers. Butte City, Montana, The Benton Record (Benton, Montana Territory), June 6, 1879

Here are the advertisements I found while searching for other Texas bitters. The largest ad is from the Henderson, Texas, July 25, 1874 issue of “The Henderson Times”. It mentions Youngblood’s Tonic Bitters and Youngblood’s Liver Tonic. In the section on the bitters was a little verse:

“My famous Bitters ‘tis confessed, O’er all the land they are the best, They have no rival far or near, In all our spacious hemisphere, I’m sure the fortunate concoctor, Has saved more lives than any doctor, So keep them, friends, a prize deposit, To stand at all times in your closet.”

In the Liver Tonic section is another one:

“The sparkling eye – the blooming cheek, The ruddy glow of perfect health, These are the riches all should seek, These are, indeed, the truest wealth.”

Youngblood’s Tonic Bitters and Youngblood’s Liver Tonic advertisement – The Henderson Times, July 25, 1874

A similar, but smaller, advertisement (see below) was found in the January 24, 1874 issue of the Dallas Weekly Herald.

Youngblood’s Tonic Bitters and Youngblood’s Liver Tonic advertisement – Dallas Weekly Herald, January 24, 1874

I also was able to track down mention of Youngblood’s Tonics in a couple of other newspapers. In this October 12, 1873, Houston Daily Mercury newspaper advertisement, Youngblood’s Bitters is compared to a potion whipped up by the Roman God Bacchus (see below).

Youngblood’s Tonic advertisement – Houston Daily Mercury (Houston, Tex.), Sunday, October 12, 1873

A few weeks later his claims were less bold, and it was simply referred to as “A Good Tonic” in the Houston Daily Mercury (see below) on Thursday, October 23, 1873.

“A Good Tonic” advertisement for Youngblood’s Bitters in the Houston Daily Mercury on Thursday, October 23, 1873.

These advertisements led me to wonder just who was Dr. L. D. Youngblood? I found where he visited Houston to peddle his tonic in the August of 1873 issue of the Houston Daily Mercury (see below) on Saturday, August 23, 1873.

Dr. L. D. Youngblood visited Houston to peddle his tonic in August of 1873 – Houston Daily Mercury, Saturday, August 23, 1873

The June 14, 1874 Galveston Daily News mentioned “L. D. Youngblood was fined yesterday $3 and costs for disorderly conduct.” I did not know at the time but this was a foreshadowing of what was to come.

I tried varying the searches I was doing and finally struck gold…. in Deadwood, Dakota Territory

I had searched a while in Texas records and newspapers without having much luck. I tried varying the searches I was doing and finally struck gold…. in Deadwood, Dakota Territory!

“In August 1875, gold was discovered in the gulch that would later become the location of the infamous city of Deadwood, South Dakota. The entire Black Hills area was off-limits to whites at that time, having been designated as Sioux land in the Treaty of 1868. Nevertheless, by the following spring, thousands of miners had swarmed into the forbidden land and Deadwood became the center of the 1876 rush. Founded almost simultaneously with the town was the newspaper, the Black Hills Pioneer, which provides a revealing record of that turbulent first year. Deadwood is one of the few mining boom towns that has survived to the present day. Although the original city was destroyed in the fire of 1879, many buildings dating from the 1890s have survived and are still clinging to the sides of the hills along Whitewood and Deadwood creeks.”

Read: Black Hills Pioneer: First Newspaper of Deadwood, Dakota Territory, 1876-1877 by Nancy Niethammer Kovats

Deadwood, Dakota Territory

With the gold rush, Dr. Lorenzo D. Youngblood knew an opportunity when he saw it and headed north. And perhaps things were getting a little too hot for him in Texas. The website I found with Google that opened up this search, and provided me his first name, is deadwoodcharacters.com.

This webpage, somehow connected with the Deadwood Genealogy Forum, lists short summaries of newspaper stories of residents of Deadwood and the surrounding area. Finally having a first name I was able to put together the following chronology of Dr. Youngblood:

Dr. Youngblood Timeline

1847: Montgomery (Orange Co.), New York. Christened Feb 4, 1847 at the Dutch Reformed Church. – familysearch.org

1855: Crawford (Orange Co.), New York. New York census (see below). Lorenzo age 8, born in New York. Father Hanson Youngblood, mother Sarah J. Youngblood. – New York State Census 1855

Crawford (Orange Co.), New York census. Lorenzo age 8, born in New York. Father Hanson Youngblood, mother Sarah J. Youngblood. – New York State Census 1855

1860: Crawford (Orange Co.), New York. U.S. Census. Lorenzo D. Youngblood age 14. – familysearch.org

1870: U. S. Census. Two L. D. Youngbloods were found around the right age and born in New York. One was a clerk in a Dry Goods store in Omaha, the other a druggist in Crawford, New York. My bet is on the second one.

1870: L. D. Youngblood (see below), age 23, Sept 16, 1870 Druggist, Crawford (Orange Co.) New York

Sep 16 1870 L D Youngblood Druggist Crawford NY

L. D. Youngblood, age 23, Sept 16, 1870, Druggist, Crawford (Orange Co.) New York

1873-74: Texas. Advertisements in Texas newspapers showing a Youngblood’s Tonic Bitters and a Youngblood’s Liver Tonic. Dr. L. D. Youngblood was in Tyler Texas. One mention of disorderly conduct (see further above).

1876-78: Dakota & Montana Territories. Advertisements and articles related to Dr. Lorenzo D. Youngblood. Unfortunately, I do not have access to the actual newspapers, only the index on the deadwoodcharacters.com website.

September 23, 1876: Dr. L. D. develops a rejuvenizer.

October 14, 1876: Youngblood rejuvenizer advertisement, McKinney, Philips agent.

June 5, 1877: Lorenzo D. Youngblood in court.

June 9, 1877: Lorenzo D. Youngblood found not guilty.

June 25, 1877: Prof. Youngblood preserving philanthropists.

July 6, 1878: Prof. Youngblood in Fort Benton [Montana] manufacturing his bitters.

1879: Denver, Colorado. In April, his wife committed suicide. In the write-up of Lorenzo’s own suicide was this:

“The Dispatch’ says of Youngblood that he has had a great deal of domestic trouble, his wife having committed suicide in Denver last April, leaving a little girl, whom, it seems is now being cared for by friends in that city.”

1879: Butte, Montana Territory. In June he apparently married another woman. L. D. Youngblood married Lottie Blair in Butte, Deer Lodge Co., Montana on June 6, 1879. Did Lorenzo know Lottie earlier? Was this why his first wife committed suicide? Either way, 2 months is an incredibly short morning period.

L. D. Youngblood married Lottie Blair in Butte, Deer Lodge Co., Montana on June 6, 1879.

In the write-up of Lorenzo’s suicide was this:

“Youngblood’s marriage with a Park street woman, was a matter of town talk some weeks before his departure.”

On the same day as his marriage was an advertisement in “The Benton Record” on June 06, 1879 for a Youngblood’s Montana Bitters! (Someone better get digging A.S.A.P.). The layout of this advertisement conclusively connects to the earlier Texas advertisements. Note, I still do not know what the “H. H. H.” stands for. (PRG: Hearty, Healthy & Happy) I did find out “sic itur Ad astra” is a Latin phrase meaning “thus you shall go to the stars”. What this has to do with bitters, I have no idea. Well if we were talking about Asteroid Tonic Bitters I could see a connection. At the bottom is a reference that Alderman & Youngblood are the manufactures of the bitters.

Advertisement in “The Benton Record” on June 06, 1879 for a Youngblood’s Montana Bitters!

1879: E. M. Alderman moves his laboratory for Youngblood’s Montana Bitters (see below)

Alderman_The_Montana_Standard_Sat__Aug_23__1879_

Notice: E. M. Alderman moves his laboratory for Youngblood’s Montana Bitters – The Montana Standard, Saturday, August 23, 1879

1879: Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. In October, The Daily Miner in Butte, Montana printed an article that originally was in the Salt Lake Tribune. It tells the sad story of L. D. Youngblood. Due to a “love for strong drink” he had lost his business, second wife and eventually his life. The article does indicate he originally came from New York. His partner in the manufacture of a Montana Bitters was E. M. Alderman. It sounds like he had drifted to Ogden and worked as a waiter before making it to Salt Lake City.

Suicide of L. D. Youngblood – Butte Daily Miner, Oct 7, 1879

He went into a barber shop, announced his suicidal purposes and in the presence of the Inmates, swallowed ten grains of morphine.

THE DAILY MINER. Butte, Montana, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 1879 SUICIDE OF L. D. YOUNGBLOOD

THE SALT LAKE ‘TRIBUNE’ of the 3d. instant, gives the following account of the suicide of L. D. YOUNGBLOOD, formerly of this place. Youngblood while here was connected with Mr. E. M. Alderman in the manufacture of bitters, syrups, flavoring extracts, etc., an occupation in which he might have done well if he had let liquor alone and had attended closely to business. But it seems this was impossible. The love of strong drink had gained so great an ascendancy over him that the unfortunate man was utterly unreliable, not only towards his business associate but even to himself. Work begun in good faith and with the evident purpose of being finished out of hand, would be dropped when half completed, while the slave of the cup would abandon himself, to drink even though he knew that the half-finished preparation would thereby prove a total loss. Youngblood’s marriage with a Park street woman, was a matter of town talk some weeks before his departure. Upon the failure of repeated efforts to induce Youngblood to reform, Mr. Alderman brought a dissolution of the partnership, when Mr. Y. drifted off southward to meet the fate here described. He was originally from New York, and was over 40 years of age.

L. D. YOUNGBLOOD, a former waiter at the Union Depot Hotel, Ogden, shuffled off this mortal coil this afternoon. He went into a barber shop, announced his suicidal purposes and in the presence of the Inmates, swallowed ten grains of morphine. Youngblood’s intoxicated condition deceived the lookers-on, who supposed his talk drunken jargon. He bade them good-bye and passed on to Beardsley’s Hotel. From there he was taken to the Globe Hotel by the police, muttering on his way expressions to the effect that he had taken poison. At the Globe his symptoms became alarming and near 11 o’clock in the evening he passed away.

The Dispatch’ says of Youngblood that he has had a great deal of domestic trouble, his wife having committed suicide in Denver last April, leaving a little girl, whom, it seems is now being cared for by friends in that city. Youngblood was a handsome, fine-appearing man about 30 years of age; he was pleasing in deportment and when not under the influence of liquor, had an affable, gentlemanly manner, which could have made him friends wherever he would have gone. He had no doubt experienced a great deal of trouble and disappointment and his sad death is probably but the termination of a very unhappy career.

Read: Youngblood Article

I doubt we will ever learn the full story, but I imagine it would have been interesting. To go from getting married to dying by your own hand just three months later is quite a turn around. But then I did not know his second wife.

It looks like the Dr. Youngblood shot during the train robbery of 1892 was a different man. Here is another story that mentions him. Perhaps this was the Nebraska store clerk of 1870. I just hope that he too got into the bitters business. Read: Train Robbery Again

I plan to track down the two Trade Marks referenced in Youngblood’s advertisements. Interestingly one shows an 1860 date. As he was only 13 in 1860, did Dr. Youngblood get the bitters recipe from someone else? His father, Hanson, was always shown as a farmer in the census records. Perhaps it was something he picked up as a druggist in New York? Maybe, when he got to Texas he ran into someone with a bitters that needed better marketing.

[11-13-15]

Ferdinand, Dug a broken Youngblood’s Tonic Bitters in Galveston the other day. Honestly didn’t have a clue what it was so only saved the front panel and the lip. When I go back to the site, I am going to re-excavate the pit (it is just a tiny trash pit) and see if I can find enough to glue together a good part of the bottle. Pit was full of broken Hostetters, Wolfe’s Schnapps, etc…looked to be late 1860’s or maybe early 1870’s.

Thought you might be interested…it is a beautiful light amber color.

Best Regards,

Brandon DeWolfe, P.E.

Posted in Advertising, Article Publications, Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Medicines & Cures, Tonics | Tagged Alderman, Bacchus, bitters, Dakota, Deadwood, Deer, DeWolfe, drink, Galveston, Liver, Lodge, Lorenzo, Montana, Morphine, New York, Ogden, Territory, texas, Tonic, Utal, Viguerie, Youngblood | Leave a comment

A Train Load of Health – Dr. Harter’s Family Medicines

Posted on 16 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

A Train Load of Health – Dr. Harter’s Family Medicines

16 February 2014

Joe Gourd sent in this outstanding Dr. Harter’s Wild Cherry Bitters advertising trade card (above) from the John Kemler collection. As the card says, the “Train Load of Health” is historically correct, and is the largest shipment of its character ever made in the United States. The special train was removing the main office and laboratory of the Dr. Harter Medicine Company from St. Louis, Missouri to Dayton, Ohio in August and September 1895. Look at the great illustration below showing a bottle of Dr. Harter’s on top of the roof. The top illustration is Dr. S. K. Harter.

Dr. Harter’s Family Medicines new home in Dayton, Ohio, 1895

I’ve written about Dr. Harter’s before with Dr. Harter’s Wild Cherry Bitters and the Bottle Gods and even noted this train. To see an image on this trade card is quite amazing. Look at this full page article in The Coffeyville Weekly Journal on 06 September 1895.

DR. HARTER’S IRON TONIC WAS AN ELIXIR OF LIFE FOR DAYTON

Aug. 5, 1895, a train carrying the first of the manufacturing equipment and the officers of the company left St. Louis for Dayton. Newspaper reporters from Dayton and every town on the route between St. Louis and Dayton went to St. Louis to accompany the train.

Local businesses declared a holiday, and when the train arrived at Union Station, the whistles of every Dayton manufacturing plant blew, and the huge bell at the Central Fire Station rang. At the signal, thousands of Daytonians hurried downtown, some to inspect the 18-car train, and others to crowd along the curbs to watch the parade. At 7:40 p.m. Col. Torrence Huffman, grand marshall, gave the signal and led by the Springfield Cadet Band and a platoon of mounted police, the parade began. All the houses along the route were decorated and lighted with Japanese lanterns. Dayton businesses were represented by company express wagons. The Harter company express wagons followed, and at the last of the parade were 200 carriages filled with Dayton citizens. All occupants of the wagons and carriages had been given red flares and Roman candles to shoot, and the entire parade was a ribbon of colorful explosions as it countermarched along Main Street to the Atlas Hotel.

This article appeared in the Dayton Daily News

A Train Load of Health – Dr. Harter’s Wild Cherry Bitters trade card reverse – John Kemler collection

Two labeled examples of Dr. Harter’s Wild Cherry Bitters – Meyer Collection

Posted in Advertising, Article Publications, Ephemera, History, Medicines & Cures, Miniatures, Tonics, Trade Cards | Tagged Coffeyville, company, dayton, Elixir, family, Gourd, health, Kemler, life, load, Medicine, Meyer, Missouri, ohio, St. Louis, Tonic, train | Leave a comment

Grandfather’s Perfect Orange Bitters

Posted on 16 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Grandfather’s Perfect Orange Bitters

PART OF THE ORANGE BITTERS SERIES

16 February 2014

Now here is a really tough brand to identify. Grandfather’s Perfect Orange Bitters is yet another, unlisted orange bitters, represented on the extremely rare, Joe Gourd collection label depicted at the top of the post.

So let us look at what we have to work with. We have the name ‘grandfather’, a portrait of grandfather, the phrases “A Compound American Product”, “Established 1885”, “Guaranteed Under the Food and Drugs Act June 30, 1906” and “Serial No. 18290”. Those are our only clues.

Searching online, reveals no direct or even remote hits for Grandfather’s Perfect Orange Bitters. Lots of hits referring to a “bitter grandfather” which, I guess, was pretty common back then, even now I suppose. Hey, I’ve been a grandfather for 18 years now and I’ve been there before. There is also no proprietor name listed so that closes many search door options. I did find a drink called “The Grandfather” using Angostura Bitters (made by the wizard and his family in Wizard of Oz) and Peychaud’s Bitters.

Lots of hits referring to a “bitter grandfather” which, I guess, was pretty common back then, even now I suppose.

I did find one advertisement for Hostetter’s Bitters directed to “Old Folks” with an endorsement from a grandfather (see below). Hostetter’s had all of the marketing angles covered.

Hostetter’s Bitters directed to “Old Folks” – The San Francisco Call, January 05, 1902

I tell you what. I am going to roll my Peachridge Dice and tell you what I believe this bitters might be. I have a hunch that is not really backed up with any true support. I think I can do this and not get everyone mad at me. Heck, I been wrong lots of times before, just ask Elizabeth. So here we go…

I wonder if it was a ‘Medicinal Whiskey’ product or related to the history of Old Grand-Dad Bourbon Whiskey from the Jim Beam plant in Kentucky? Look at the bottle image below. An orange label and a picture of a grandfather, albeit not the same grandfather image but a ‘grand dad’ image. The label even says since 1882. Yes, I know, I’m really stretching it. But read the history below. There are some clues like grandfather Basil Hayden, the American Medicinal Spirits Company, Harry E. Wilken, the National Distillers Group and R. E. Wathen, that at a minimum, is some interesting reading about the lengths some individuals and companies went to circumvent Prohibition.

Old Grand Dad Bourbon Whiskey

Old Grand-Dad is a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled at the Jim Beam Plant in Clermont, Kentucky. The brand was created by Raymond B. Hayden and named after his grandfather, Basil Hayden, Sr., a well known distiller during his lifetime who is depicted on the front of each bottle. Today, it is owned and produced by Beam Inc. Currently Old Grand-Dad, Old Crow, and Old Overholt are marketed together as The Olds.

The brand was created by Raymond B. Hayden and named after his grandfather, Basil Hayden, Sr., a well known distiller during his lifetime

The Hayden family’s first commercial distillery was created in 1840, and the whiskey has been in production since that time despite several changes of ownership. In 1899, Old Grand-Dad was sold to the Wathen family, whose broad interests in the whiskey business later formed the American Medicinal Spirits Company and the foundations of National Distillers Group.

During prohibition, the company produced “medicinal whiskey” for sick, blind, and lame patients.

During prohibition, the company produced “medicinal whiskey” for sick, blind, and lame patients. In 1987, National Distillers Group sold the spirits business to the Fortune Brands holding company, which became Beam Inc.

Today, Old Grand-Dad is one of the ten best-selling straight whiskeys. It comes in three different bottling proofs: 80 proof, 100 proof Bottled In Bond, and 114 Barrel Proof in a short-height bottle gift box package. In 2013, the lower proof offering went from 86 proof to 80 proof. Beam now also markets another brand of Kentucky bourbon, Basil Hayden’s, that is named after the same person. [Wikipedia]

Basil Hayden

Basil Hayden’s is the lightest bodied bourbon whiskey in the family of Jim Beam small batch bourbons produced by Beam Inc.. It is 80 proof, in contrast with its three sibling brands of higher alcohol concentration (Knob Creek, Booker’s, and Baker’s).

The Basil Hayden’s bourbon brand is named in honor of Basil Hayden, Sr., who was a Maryland Catholic that led a group of twenty-five Catholic families from Maryland into what is now Nelson County, Kentucky (near Bardstown) in 1785. This area is home to many of the famous bourbon brands, including Jim Beam. There Hayden donated the land for the first Catholic church west of the Alleghenies and the first Catholic church in what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Read: 2014 Lexington National Banquet Speaker “Mr. Bourbon”

Hayden was also a distiller, and he used a larger amount of rye in his mash than in some other bourbons. Later, Hayden’s grandson Raymond B. Hayden founded a distillery in Nelson County and named his label “Old Grand-Dad” in honor of his grandfather. The picture on the bottle was copied from a rendering of Basil Sr.’s likeness. When Beam Industries introduced their “small batch” collection, among the four was “Basil Hayden’s”, which the company says uses a mash similar to that originally utilized by Hayden in 1792.

Hayden’s family can be traced back to England (Norfolk) to the period shortly after the Norman Conquest. One ancestor, Simon de Heydon, was knighted by Richard the Lionheart in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade in the 1190s. His son, Thomas de Heydon, was made Justice Itinerant of Norfolk by Henry III. Around 1400, another ancestor, John Heydon, appears to have been associated with “The Grove” – a large estate in Watford (Hertfordshire), located about twenty miles northwest of London. Some researchers have speculated that John Heydon was given the estate for his father Sir Richard de Heydon’s services in the French Wars, where Sir Richard perished. Others are less sure. But Heydons definitely lived in Watford from the fourteenth through seventeenth centuries.

The Heydons emigrated to the Virginia Colony in the 1660s, when much of Britain became inhospitable to Catholics. Francis Hayden, Basil’s great-grandfather and the first Heydon (then switching to Hayden), moved from Virginia to Maryland in 1678, settling in St. Mary’s County on St. Clement’s Bay, where the family remained until Basil led his band of Catholic families into present-day Nelson County, Kentucky. During the American Revolution, Basil supplied provisions to the Colonial Army. [Wikipedia]

American Medicinal Spirits Company

The American Medicinal Spirits Company appears to have been formed around 1920 to meet the need of providing medicinal whiskey to the lame and blind during Prohibition after the passage of the Volstead Act in 1919. The process of consolidation in the liquor industry had started prior to the passage of the Volstead Act. The smaller companies resisted take-over and often managed to undercut the big companies prices and stay in favor with their local patrons. Prohibition would deal the death blow to most.

Among those was the the American Medicinal Spirits Company – one distilling family’s answer to the crushing Federal Legislation.

The number of distilling establishments in the United States started to decline after hitting a peak number of 965 establishments in 1899. By 1914, the number had dropped to 434 establishments and throughout the Prohibition years it ranged from only 27-33 distillers. Among those was the The American Medicinal Spirits Company – one distilling family’s answer to the crushing Federal Legislation. There would be only handful of companies ready when the ban was lifted to consolidate and dominate the liquor market. The American Medicinal Spirits Company would be one of them and was one of the few distillers legally selling booze during the prohibited years. [Digger Odell]

Old reserve “Bourbon Whiskey” made in fall 1917 that was bottled in the fall of 1932 by The American Medicinal Spirits Company produced by Harry E. Wilken.

Old Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

Old reserve “Bourbon Whiskey” made in fall 1917 that was bottled in the fall of 1932 by The American Medicinal Spirits Company produced by Harry E. Wilken.

This bottle has all labels that say “Special old reserve-fine old Bourbon Whiskey made in Kentucky before Prohibition, stored in the finest Oak barrels for over 15 years and bottled in bond under Government Supervision especially for the stockholders of the National Distillers Products Corporation. The American Medicinal Spirits Company incorporated R. E. Wathen, Pres.” The back label is in four parts. The first says “Bottled by the American Medicinal Spirits Company incorporated at distillery bonded warehouse no. 368 5th Dist. of Ky. Permit no. Ky. P-18 100 proof 1 pint.” The second part says “For medicinal purposes only. Sale or use for other purposes will cause heavy penalties to be inflicted.” Part three says, “produced by Harry E. Wilken Distillery No. 368. 5th district of Ky.” The fourth part says “Caution notice, this bottle has been filled and stamped under the provisions of the act of congress. Approved March 3, 1897. Entitled an act to allow the bottling of Distilled spirits in bond. Any person who shall re-use this bottle for the purpose of containing distilled spirits without removing and destroying the stamp affixed to this bottle, or who shall re-use the stamp affixed to this bottle will be liable for each such offense to a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars and to imprisonment for not more than two years.” [i-offer]

Harry E. Wilken

Seeking a companion blended whiskey to popularize, Schenley consulted Harry E. Wilken, chief distiller for Joseph S. Finch & Co., a Schenley subsidiary at Schenley, Pa. Distiller Wilken produced a formula for a blend of four-year-old whiskey, 16-month whiskey, and neutral spirits (alcohol and water). Last week it was launched as The Wilken Family Blended Whiskey, along with an advertising campaign designed to endear Distiller Wilken & family to the whiskey-drinking public.

The Wilken family is shown, usually in shirtsleeves, sitting on barrels in their warehouse, gazing reverently at a picture of Grandfather Wilken, fishing on a riverbank near Schenley.

First advertisement introduced Distiller Wilken, his two sons, Harry Jr. and William, his son-in-law, Thomas McConville. Subsequent advertisements will add to the family Mr. Wilken’s late, whiskeymaking father. They could bring in Mrs. Wilken, Daughters Mary and Adeline (Mrs. McConville), Grandson Billy McConviilc. The Wilken family is shown, usually in shirtsleeves, sitting on barrels in their warehouse, gazing reverently at a picture of Grandfather Wilken, fishing on a riverbank near Schenley.

Keynote of the campaign: One time, it must have been two years ago, when we were all sitting around after supper I said to myself and the boys: “You know, boys, I sort of have a feeling that people would sure love just to get a taste of our own family’s whiskey.” So we set about making it. And now you’ve got it. And I bet it tastes as good to you as it does to us!

Distiller Wilken was presented last week as “the man who has actually made more whiskey than any living person.” At ? he was put in one of his father’s distilleries as manager. Few years later he was put out when his father sold the distillery. Thereafter Son Harry manufactured Bourbon for various companies, alcohol for the Government during the War, medicinal whiskey for Schenley during Prohibition. Stocky, round-faced, white-haired, he bustles around his plant with his hat pushed back on his head, continually begging the pardon of girl packers with whom he collides. The company baseball team knows that it is in for a stern reprimand from him if it ever loses a game. To keep fit he drinks a jigger of whiskey before every meal and at bedtime.

Wilken Family Whiskey is made by The Wilken Family, Inc. in the Schenley plant and Schenley owns a controlling interest. But by basing his campaign on his own family, Schenley’s Wilken has assured his descendants of jobs. Son Harry Jr. assists in the distilling, Son William manages the blending, while Son-in-Law Tom, an engineer, keeps the machinery in order.” [Time magazine, Monday, Aug. 26, 1935]

Conclusion:

This is all just a wild goose chase that was fun putting together. The mystery and story of this Grandfather’s Orange Bitters remains to be solved and told. I was hoping to find that Basil Hayden, Sr. made this concoction in 1885 and sold it with his whiskey label to the Wathen family who resurrected the brand as either a non-alcoholic bitters or who added their whiskey to it and sold it as “medicinal whiskey” with the American Medicinal Spirits Company. I can almost imagine that bottle pictured above with Grandfather’s Perfect Orange Bitters on it.

If Jack Sullivan is reading this, Jack I bet you could solve this one. Jack has the web site Pre-Pro.com and is the ‘grandfather’ of this type of research. Help this grandfather out.

Mack’s Orange Tonic Bitters – a sweet bitters from Orlando

Fine Aromatic Orange Stomach Bitters – Berry, Demoville & Co. – Nashville

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Bourbon, Ephemera, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Regulations, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged Basil, bitters, Distillery, Gourd, grand-dad, Grandfather's, Hayden, Kentucky, label, medicinal, Orange, perfect, Prohibition, spirits, Volstead, Wathen, Whiskey, Wilken | Leave a comment

Possibly the Earliest Photograph of People Drinking Beer

Posted on 15 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Edinburgh Ale: James Ballantine, Dr George William Bell (1813-1889) and David Octavius Hill
The skills involved in producing calotypes were not only of a technical nature. Hill’s sociability, humour and his capacity to gauge the sitters’ characters all played a crucial part in his photography. He is shown here on the right, apparently sharing a drink and a joke with James Ballantine and Dr George Bell. Bell, in the middle, was one of the commissioners of the Poor Law of 1845, which reformed poor relief in Scotland, and author of Day and night in the wynds of Edinburgh[2]. Ballantine was a writer and stained-glass artist, and the son of an Edinburgh brewer. On the table are three glasses of ale. One contemporary account describes a popular Edinburgh ale (Younger’s) as “a potent fluid, which almost glued the lips of the drinker together, and of which few, therefore, could dispatch more than a bottle.”

Possibly the Earliest Photograph of People Drinking Beer

15 February 2014

While working on the Bernard’s Orange Bitters from Edinburgh post, I came across this image above which is possibly the earliest photograph of people drinking beer. It is a salt print showing James Ballantine, George Bell and David Octavius Hill sharing an Edinburgh ale. The photograph dates from circa 1844.

People | Drinking Gallery VII

Presenting the Seventh Gallery of vintage pictures of “People Drinking”. This is a continuation of:

Photographs of People Drinking – Part I

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part II

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part III

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part IV (Brewing)

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part V

Photographs and Images of People Drinking – Part VI

Why men drink

Dawson City Gambling

Goofy Singing Pub Scene – University of Buffalo Alma mater

Happy Hour 24 oz beer in Top Hat

Nice, sexy 1940’s photography of Drinking Beer from a Glass Boot. I like the eyes.

A Syrian mercenary drinking beer in the company of his Egyptian wife and child, c. 1350 BC. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

Bowery philosophe drinking beer – 1949

On this day in 1923, in Munich, Hitler wanted to take control of the German goverment (with the aid of Alfred Rosenberg and Max Erwin von Scheubner-Richter). Hitler and company planned to kidnap the triumverate of Generalkommissar Gustav von Kahr, General Otto von Lossow (commander of the army in Bavaria), and Colonel Hans Ritter von Seisser (commander of the state police), in a Buergerbräukeller (a beer hall). The event was later named “The Beer Hall Putsch.”

Photograph, c. 1933, illustrating various classic beer glass shapes. Prohibition caused a lack of public knowledge of how to serve alcoholic beverages, an issue addressed in this nationally syndicated photograph.

Alerted by the smell of a broken bottle of liquor, Federal Agents inspect a “lumber truck”. Los Angeles, 1926

Cow shoes used by Moonshiners in the Prohibition days to disguise their footprints, 1922

An 1876 photo showing Christoph Kusterer’s brewery employees celebrating a spring lager release at the company’s building at Michigan Street and Ottawa Avenue in Grand Rapids. – Courtesy Photo | Grand Rapids Public Library

Sean Connery, who first played James Bond from 1962 to 1971, fixes himself a drink

Posted in Ales & Ciders, History, Humor - Lighter Side, Photography | Tagged Ale, Beer, Drinking, Edinburgh, gallery, Hitler, photograph | Leave a comment

My ‘Purdy’ new bitters

Posted on 15 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

My ‘Purdy’ new bitters

P U R D Y ‘S C O T T A G E B I T T E R S

15 February 2014 (R•031414)

I would like to introduce you to my ‘Purdy‘ new bitters. Yeh, I know with the old TV show Dallas, the Travolta movie Urban Cowboy, Davy Crockett, the Alamo and now Duck Dynasty, I suspect some of you northerners perceive us southerners, as a bit weird, especially if we are from or live in the great, United States of TEXAS. You guys speak funny too.

PS: I am originally from Baltimore but practically sleep with my boots on since I have been in Houston since the late 1970s.

Purdy’s Cottage Bitters (P 156) is kind of a legendary bottle because it is very rare and we know virtually nothing about it except that three smooth base examples, a broken amber, a metallic pontil marked example and green shards were found in the Denver area some years ago according to Ring & Ham in Bitters Bottles Supplement.

This specific Purdy’s has resided in California (that is that little vertical strip of land on the the Left Coast of the United States that is labeled ‘uninhabitable’ in the top map) for many years in a well known collection, only to cross the country and reside in yet another respected New York (a state inside all those little states that are smushed together beneath “Damed Yankee Land”) collection for another good period of time.

Today the bottle is in transit to Houston. Well, it probably won’t be coming aboard a 747 with a space shuttle, as we used to see in flyovers, nor will it come by mule train as much of our ‘deliverables’ arrive from south of the border, if you know what I mean, but it is coming none-the-less.

Anyway, my Purdy new bitters. The photographs were taken by the New York (near a big waterfall) collector. I photoshopped the snow out so you could not match the depth up with a specific city this week. Oh, I’m such a card. A legend in my own mind. Just having some fun before the sun comes up.

UPDATE: My Purdy’s Bitters Mystery Solved!

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Humor - Lighter Side, Photography | Tagged bitters, california, cottage, Denver, Houston, New York, Purdy, States, texas, United | 1 Comment

Bernard’s Orange Bitters and a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland

Posted on 14 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Bernard’s Orange Bitters and a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland

PART OF THE ORANGE BITTERS SERIES

14 February 2014 R•050919)

Here we have yet another mysterious and unlisted ‘orange bitters‘ trade card from the Joe Gourd collection (see below). At first I thought that there was not much to go on but quickly located Richards and Harrison (William H. Richards and Robert J. Harrison) in San Francisco. On the back of the trade card, they are listed as Agents and Importers of Bernard’s Orange Bitters and Bernard’s Old Tom Gin. They also imported English, Scotch and Irish ales, porters, foreign wines and liquors. The good stuff. A ’boutique’ establishment for sure. So who is Bernard? We probably need to travel.

Two Richards and Harrison trade card fronts. Reverse advertises that they are Agents and Importers for Bernard’s Orange Bitters (see below) – Joe Gourd Collection

Richards and Harrison trade cards reverse (see above). Note Bernard’s Orange Bitters – Joe Gourd Collection

My first hit on Bernard takes us to Quebec where I find an 1865 advertisement (below) for Bernard & Co’s (trade mark) of Leith, Scotland. They actually mention the Old Tom Gin. Looks like we are going to cross the pond to look for this bitters.

Advertisement for Bernard & Co.’s Old Tom Gin – Quebec Morning Chronicle, November 13, 1865

Another search confirms that we are talking about Bernard & Company from Edinburgh, Scotland. This 1862 advertisement below shows that 50 cases of Bernard & Co’s Orange Bitters were ‘Just Received’ by W. H. Richards & Co. at 708 Sansome Street in San Francisco. Note that Old Tom Gin was also included in the shipment.

50 cases of Bernard & Co’s Orange Bitters just received by W.H. Richards & Co. at 708 Sansome Street in San Francisco – Daily Alta California, 28 August 1862

Thomas and James Bernard (Thomas & James Bernard LTD) began brewing at the Edinburgh Brewery, North Back Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1840. Thomas Bernard died in 1874 and was succeeded by his two sons, Daniel and John Mackay Bernard. Thomas Bernard & Co. was then established as maltsters in 1874. The original site became too small and a new Edinburgh Brewery was opened in Slateford Road, on the western edge of the city, in 1888.

Thomas & James Bernard Ltd black backed tray dating from 1900.
The Edinburgh Brewery was based in Slateford Road, Edinburgh – Richard Percivals Breweriana

A dispute arose between Daniel and John Mackay Bernard soon after the opening of the new brewery and in April 1889. Daniel Bernard left the business to set up his own brewery at nearby Gorgie, Edinburgh, Scotland. In March 1895, Thomas & James Bernard & Co. Ltd. was registered as a limited liability company to acquire the business. In 1960 the company was taken over by Scottish Brewers Ltd, Edinburgh, Scotland, and ceased to brew.

The Noted Breweries of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol 3, (London, 1890)

So Bernard’s Orange Bitters will be a new listing in Ring & Ham and I have no bottles or graphics to show you for the brand. The bitters must have been shipped globally, as I find advertisements in far-away places like San Francisco, Quebec and New Zealand.

The new listing for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Trade Cards
B 87.8 BERNARD’S ORANGE BITTERS, (front: nature scenes with deer, reverse: three columns of imported products) Richards & Harrison, Agents & Importers, 314 and 316 Battery Street
Thomas & James Bernard LTD, Edinburgh, Scotland
Richards & Harrison (William H. Richards and Robert J. Harrison), Importers of English, Scotch and Irish Ales and Porters, and foreign Wines and Liquors, San Francisco.

Select Timeline Events

1840: Thomas and James Bernard (Thomas & James Bernard & Co.) began brewing at the Edinburgh Brewery, North Back Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1840. – The Noted Breweries of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol 3, (London, 1890)

1862: W.H. Richards & Company advertisement (see above), 708 Sansome Street, San Francisco. 50 cases of Bernard & Co’s Orange Bitters Just Received – Daily Alta (San Francisco) California, 28 August 1862

1865: Advertisement (see below) for Bernard & Co.’s Old Tom Gin – Quebec Morning Chronicle, November 13, 1865

1870: Listing (see below) – Richards & Harrison, Importers of English, Scotch and Irish Ales and Porters, and foreign Wines and Liquors. Corner Battery and Commercial Streets, San Francisco – 1870 Pacific Coast Railroad Gazetteer

Richards and Harrison listing – 1870 Pacific Coast Railroad Gazetteer

1874: Richards & Harrison advertisement (below), W.H. Richards and R.J. Harrison, 314 and 316 Battery Street – The California Horticulturist and Floral Magazine, 1874

1874: Thomas Bernard & Co. was established as maltsters in 1874 in Scotland.

Richards & Harrison advertisement – The California Horticulturist and Floral Magazine, 1874

1886: Listing (see below) – Richards & Harrison (William H. Richards and Robert J. Harrison) importers and wholesale dealers in English ale, porter, foreign wines, liquors, groceries, etc., 401-403 Sansome – 1884 San Francisco City Directory

Richards & Harrison listing- 1884 San Francisco City Directory

1895: Thomas Bernard & Co. Ltd, became a limited liability company. – The Noted Breweries of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol 3, (London, 1890)

Mack’s Orange Tonic Bitters – a sweet bitters from Orlando

Fine Aromatic Orange Stomach Bitters – Berry, Demoville & Co. – Nashville