The Color Orange in Antique Bottles & Glass

Posted on 8 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Orange Insulators

The Color Orange in Antique Bottles & Glass

08 February 2014

4 R

Apple-Touch-IconAWe sometimes, unfortunately, classify orange-tone bottles as amber. In the bitters world, we have orange amber but never pure orange. With fruit, the orange is as honest as you get. We do not eat a red, yellow or purple though we try to eat some ‘greens’ each day. My logo for Peachridge Glass is orange with red tones. This image and coloration was selected for a reason.

OrangeSpectrum

Orange is a color located between red and yellow on the spectrum of light, and in the traditional color wheel used by painters. Its name is derived from the orange fruit. In Europe and America, orange is commonly associated with amusement, the unconventional, extroverts, fire, activity, danger, taste and aroma, the autumn season, and Protestantism. In Asia, it is an important symbolic color of Buddhism and Hinduism [Wikipedia].

OrangeWaves

Orange is so optimistic and uplifting that we should all find ways to use it in our everyday life, even if it is just an orange colored pen that we use.

The color orange radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow. Orange relates to ‘gut reaction’ or our gut instincts, as opposed to the physical reaction of red or the mental reaction of yellow. Orange offers emotional strength in difficult times. It helps us to bounce back from disappointments and despair, assisting in recovery from grief. The color psychology of orange is optimistic and uplifting, rejuvenating our spirit. In fact orange is so optimistic and uplifting that we should all find ways to use it in our everyday life, even if it is just an orange colored pen that we use.

Bakers_RunAs with anything I write, some spark came before to make me think in a new direction. In this case, it was adding a new “Bakers Orange Grove Bitters” to my collection (see above). No, it was not an orange bottle, but the Baker’s in Boston obviously wanted to capitalize on the orange fruit to sell their product.

MacksOrangeBitters

OrangeBittersSeriesArtThis new series will deal with bitters with ‘Orange‘ in the name just like the Bakers. We are going to look at the Fine Aromatic Orange Stomach Bitters, Rose’s Orange Bitters, Mack’s Orange Tonic Bitters (pictured above) and some rare examples from the Joe Gourd Collection such as Bernard’s Orange Bitters, California Aromatic Orange Bitters, De Kuyper’s Orange Bitters, Grandfather’s Perfect Orange Bitters, Herdrich’s Orange Tonic Bitters, Pale Orange Bitters, Ree’s Orange Tonica (pictured below) etc. Many of these are unlisted in Ring & Ham.

(other: Julius Marcus Orange Bitters, Orange Bitters, Orange Blossom Bitters, Orange Wine Stomach Bitters, Orange Bitters Tonic, Palais Royal Orange Bitters)

Note: If you have any material to suit this or future orange posts please send to my attention)

Ree's front

O R A N G E   G A L L E R Y

OrangeIndianQueenTop

Orange amber Brown’s Celebrated Indian Herb Bitters

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Detail of orange amber 6-log Drakes Plantation Bitters – Meyer Collection

PlainRound4.5Orange

Plain Round orange Lightning Rod Ball – Meyer Collection

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Orange milk glass Diddle Blitzen Lightning Rod Ball – Meyer Collection

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Pyrex 233 in Carnival – Meyer Collection

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Orange marble – Morphy Auctions

Sandwich Amber Lily Stopper

Six-sided. Orange-Amber Blown Molded Cologne Bottle with Oval Paneled Frames and Lily Stopper. The Boston and Sandwich Glass Company began making this model cologne circa 1840. – American Perfume Bottle Collectors Association

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Orange Carnival Glass Bowl

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Three what I would call orange-amber Kreinbrook Bitters – Meyer Collection

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Kickapoo Sagwa Indian Medicine

CanadaDrySparklingOrange

Canada Dry Sparkling Orangeade with Label – ebay

OrangeCrushWhite

Contemporary Orange Crush Soda

Read More about Colors on PRG:

The Color Yellow – A wide range of shades

The Color Purple or Amethyst in Antique Glass

What is Puce or ‘Pooce’ as some call it?

Not Brown – A “chocolate” Brown’s Celebrated Indian Herb Bitters

More on the Color Orange in Antique Glass

Note: The incredible, top insulator image needs tag identification as I have misplaced.

Posted in Bitters, Carnival Glass, Collectors & Collections, Color, News | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Honorable Stephen Buhrer and his Gentian Bitters

Posted on 7 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V
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Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters trade card from the extraordinary collection of John Kemler – image Joe Gourd. The man in the chair is most likely the Honorable Stephen Buhrer.

The Honorable Stephen Buhrer and his Gentian Bitters

07 February 2014

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As the trade card above and his advertising depicts, Stephen Buhrer was truly and honorable man, he worked hard and was blessed from above. He also put out Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters. I have three of his bottles in my collection that tell a story.

Stephen Buhrer was born on Christmas day, December 25th, 1825 on the Zoar farm in Tuscarawas County, Ohio to Johann Casper Buhrer who was from a province of Baden, Germany and Anna Maria Miller from Stockach, Germany. Johann and Anna Maria arrived in Philadelphia, with many other Germans, in 1817, and settled in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. They were married in short order and had one daughter, Catherine. Knowing of many other Germans and Anna Maria having friends in Ohio, the Buhrer’s moved to the rich farmlands of Zoar, Ohio.

Zoar was formed by a group of German Separatists who left southeastern Germany to escape persecution for their religious beliefs. The Separatists thought that the church should be simple and bereft of all ceremony and they emphasized a mystical and direct relationship with God. Zoar was one of the most notable experiments in communal living in our nation’s history.

ZoarFarming

Farming in Zoar, Ohio

Unfortunately, Buhrer’s father died in 1829 and Buhrer was entrusted to this strict German society of separatists. At a very early age, and without a wage, Buhrer was put to work on the communal farm and at the age of nine was given the task to manage the sheep in the vast pasture ranges of Zoar where he labored for three years. When he was twelve years old, he was placed in a cooper shop in the society. A cooper was someone who made wooden staved vessels, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads.

Buhrer did not attend traditional school and was educated mainly in Sunday school and by any education he could pick up after a long days work. Buhrer not only learned the trade of coopering, but at different times did almost any kind of work including brewing and slaughtering. He also was a hostler at the Zoar Tavern and drove horses on the Ohio canal. Buhrer finally left the society and farm life and traveled to Cleveland in 1842 and continued work as a cooper. He accepted a position as a traveling salesman in 1846 with his territory at first covering Ohio and later Indiana and Michigan.

With ill health and the prevailing malarial fevers of this era, he cut short his work as a traveling salesman and returned by rail to Detroit. With his funds exhausted, he sold much of his valuables including clothes and purchased deck passage on a steamboat bound for Cleveland, which he regarded his new home. Continued ill health then sent him almost to the poorhouse until a friend revived his spirits and supported him financially until he recovered. With a renewed vigor, Buhrer then returned to coopering and briefly worked at a shipyard in 1847.

In 1848, Buhrer married Eva Maria Schneider and had three children: John, Mary Jane, and Lois Catherine. Eva died in 1889 and after her death, Buhrer married Marguerite Paterson. With a family and responsibilities, Buhrer put his strong work ethic to task and went into the coopering business for three years. He then sold his interest to his partner in 1853, at which time he turned his attention to the business of rectifying and purifying spirits. During this period, he was associated with the Masons and Cleveland City Lodge No. 15. He was also First Junior Deacon of Bigelow Lodge No. 243.

Buhrer eventually became a well-known wholesale distributor of alcoholic beverages and ran Eagle Distilleries. He had only been a resident of Cleveland for eleven years, and was only 29 years old when he was elected a member of the City Council in 1855. He also ran and served on the City Council in 1863 and 1865. He served on the council during the Civil War, as he could not be drafted because of his health, and was a stalwart champion of the Union and Federal government. After his three-terms with the city council, Buhrer was elected mayor of Cleveland in 1867. He served as the Democratic Mayor until 1870.

Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters first appeared around 1865 and remained one of his strongest brands well into the 1880’s. Along with foreign and domestic liquors, he also sold and bottled mineral and other natural table waters. Buhrer was one of the prominent business men of his day and as Mayor, brought forth the project of building a viaduct to connect the east and west sides of Cleveland. The Cleveland House of Correction & Workhouse was also built under his term. After serving two terms, he returned to serve another term on the city council before he died in Cleveland on December 8, 1907.

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To me, it is truly amazing that this self made man, with no father or older brothers, no money to borrow from relatives, became so successful in America as such a young age. He truly must have had some type of divine intervention as his trade mark depicts.

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S. Buhrer receipt for Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters – Bitters Bottles Supplement

The Carloyn Ring and W.C. Ham listings in Bitters Bottles is noted below and may want to be updated in the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2.

B 252  BUHRER’S GENTIAN BITTERS
BUHRER’S / GENTIAN BITTERS // f // S. BUHRER / PROPRIETOR // f //
L…Buhrer’s Gentian (picture of a man in an easy chair by a table) Bitters,
64 and 66 Merwin Street, Cleveland, O.
8 9/16 x 3 (6 3/8) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 2 sp, Rare
Cleveland Directory 1870 – 1909: Stephen Buhrer was a dealer in mineral waters, wines and liquors and sewer gas traps.
B252_Buhrers

B 252: Two different examples in amber of the Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters – Meyer Collection

B 251  BUHRER’S GENTIAN BITTERS
BUHRER’S. GENTIAN BITTERS // f // S. BUHRER. PROPRIETOR // f //
8  3/4 x 2 3/4 x 1 3/4 (6 1/8) 1/4
Rectangular, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 2 sp, Extremely rare
S. Buhrer Eagle Distillery Cleveland
Cleveland Directory, 1864-5
BuhrersGWA_Amber

B 251: “S. BUHRER. PROPRIETOR – BUHRER’S. GENTIAN. BITTERS”, (B-251), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1875, golden yellow amber, 8 3/8”h, “C&I” on smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Ex Carlyn Ring Collection. – Glass Works Auctions

B 252.5  BUHRER’S GENTIAN BITTERS
BUHRER’S / GENTIAN BITTERS // sp // sp // sp
9 3/8 x 3 3/4 x 2 3/8 (6 1/4) 1/4
Rectangular, Aqua and Amber, LTC, 4 sp, Applied mouth, Smooth base and Pontil mark, Extremely rare
BuhrersGentianBitters_Wicker

B 252.5: Extremely rare and unlisted dark amber Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters – Wicker Collection

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B 252.5: Extremely rare aqua Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters – Meyer Collection

B 252.3  BUHRER’S GENTIAN BITTERS
BUHRER’S / GENTIAN BITTERS // f // S BUHRER / PROPRIETOR // f //
64 and 66 Merwin Street, Cleveland
8 1 5/16 x 3 (6 3/4) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 2 sp, Rare
BAR P25, UMB 395, WAT 402
Cleveland Directory 1870-1909. Stephen Buhrer was a dealer in mineral waters, wines and liquors. He also was a dealer in sewer gas traps.
Note: There are no periods after S and Buhrer.
B 252.5  BUHRER’S GENTIAN BITTERS
BUHRER’S / GENTIAN BITTERS
9 3/8 x 3 ¾ x 2 3/8 (6 ¼) 1/4
Rectangular, Aqua and Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 2sp, Extremely rare
S. Buhler, Eagle Distillery, Cleveland.
Cleveland Directories 1864-5
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Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters trade card backs from the extraordinary collection of John Kemler – image Joe Gourd. See trade card front at top of post.

Select Buhrer Timeline Listings:

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Stephen Buhrer – A History of Cleveland, Ohio – 
By Samuel Peter Orth

1825: born, Zoar, Ohio, father and mother born in Germany. United States Federal Censuses.

1855-1856: Stephen Buhrer, Representative 11th Ward, City Council, Cleveland, Ohio – History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio

1858-1859: Stephen Buhrer listed as Worshipful Master of Bigelow Lodge – History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio

1863-1865: Stephen Buhrer, Representative 11th Ward, City Council, Cleveland, Ohio – History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio

1865BuhreradCleveland

Eagle Distillery, S. Buhrer lists Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters – 1865 Cleveland City Directory

1865-1868: Stephen Buhrer, distillers and rectifiers (see 1865 advertisement above), 64 and 66 Merwin – Cleveland City Directory

1867-1870: Stephen Buhrer, City Mayor, wife Eva Mary, son John S. Buhrer, daughters Mary J. and Elizabeth I. Buhrer – 1870 United States Federal Census and – History of Cuyahoga County, Cleveland, Ohio

1873: Stephen Buhrer, wines and liquors, 64 and 66 Merwin Street – Cleveland City Directory

1874-1875: Stephen Buhrer, Representative 10th and 11th Wards Clevelend – History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio

BuhrersAd1876Clev

Stephen Buhrer, distiller and rectifier, Manufacturer of Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters, 64 and 66 Merwin Street (see ad above) – 1876 Cleveland City Directory

1876: Stephen Buhrer, distiller and rectifier, Manufacturer of Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters, 64 and 66 Merwin Street (see ad above) – Cleveland City Directory

1876: Stephen Buhrer, distiller, 64 and 66 Merwin Street – Cleveland City Directory

1880: Stephen Buhrer, Rectifier of Spirits, wife Eva Mary, son John S. Buhrer, daughters Mary J. and Elizabeth I. Buhrer – 1880 United States Federal Census

Buhrers_1894ClevDir

A later Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters advertisement. See telephone listing – 1894 Cleveland City Directory

1894: Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters advertisement – Cleveland City Directory

1900: Stephen Buhrer, Proprietor of Mineral Waters, wife now Margueretta – 1900 United States Federal Census

1902-1907: Stephen Buhrer, wholesale liquors, bitters, Manufacturer of Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters, 64 and 66 Merwin Street, 1907 only residence listed – Cleveland City Directory

Resources: A History of Cleveland, Ohio: By Samuel Peter Orth, Wikipedia and other online sources.
Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Ephemera, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Mineral Water, Spirits, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hungarian Blackberry Juice and Wild Cherry Bitters – Tucumcari or Six-Shooter Siding

Posted on 6 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

TucumcariPC

Hungarian Blackberry Juice and Wild Cherry Bitters

Tucumcari or Six-Shooter Siding

by James Viguerie

06 February 2014
Tucumcari, New Mexico

Tucumcari or or Six-Shooter Siding, New Mexico – P. Clinton Bortell, 1913

I thought I would try to find some unlisted western bitters today.

but wow, what a great name, ‘Hungarian Blackberry Juice and Wild Cherry Bitters!’

I’m not quite sure what I found in a New Mexican newspaper. The December 15, 1906 Tucumcari News (Tucumcari, New Mexico) had an advertisement (see below) for a bitters on page 11. There is no evidence they bottled it, but wow, what a great name, ‘Hungarian Blackberry Juice and Wild Cherry Bitters!’

OK, maybe they were selling a juice and a bitters. Not really sure. If this was someone else’s bitters, I would think they would state the brand. They often referred to brands of whiskey or beer in other advertisements.

KC_Saloon_HungarianBlackberyBittersAd

Hungarian Blackberry Juice and Wild Cherry Bitters advertisement – Tucumcari News, December 15, 1906

I believe this is a picture of the K.C. Saloon with the Legal Tender Saloon next door (see below). The web site I found the picture on thought it was a different town in New Mexico.

An early nickname for the town was “Six Shooter Siding” due to it being next to a railroad and having numerous gunfights.

KC Saloon

Possibly La Luz, New Mexico: Photograph of men out front of the Legal Tender and K.C. Saloon. Most are in hats and jackets. – Vinegar Collection

However, I found both saloons listed as Tucumcari businesses in the June 23, 1906 Tucumcari News. Interestingly, there was both a Legal Tender Saloon and a Legal Tender Barbershop. Tucumcari was founded in 1901 and is in Quay County, New Mexico. An early nickname for the town was “Six Shooter Siding” due to it being next to a railroad and having numerous gunfights.

The December 28, 1907 issue of Tucumcari News had advertisements for both saloons on page six (see below).

KC Saloon AD 12-28-1907

The K.C. Saloon advertisement – Tucumcari News, December 28, 1907

Legal Tender Bar 12-28-1907

The Legal Tender Bar advertisement – Tucumcari News, December 28, 1907

There were many advertisements for, and references to, the K.C. Saloon over the years. The bitters was listed for about a year. They seemed to have had to make a lot of improvements. Perhaps they had rowdy clientele. The first newspaper that I saw the K.C. Saloon in was from April 14, 1906. It was announced they were ‘open for business’ (see below).

First mention 4-14-06

K.C. Saloon ‘Open for Business’ – Tucumcari News, April 14, 1906

In the June 30, 1906 issue, I saw where someone lost their gold ring at the saloon (see below). I wonder what Ruby was up to? I suspect too much Hungarian Blackberry Juice and Wild Cherry Bitters were had the night it was lost!

LostRing

Lost gold ring “From Curt to Ruby” at the K.C. Saloon, Tucumcari News, June 30, 1906

Around that time there was a prostitute named Ruby that killed another prostitute with scissors.

I did try to look for a “Curt and Ruby” but found nothing definitive. Around that time there was a prostitute named Ruby that killed another prostitute with scissors. This all happened a week after the ring was reported missing. It happened over at the Red Light Saloon where the girls worked (read below). However, the murdering Ruby, was married to someone named Joe Estes. I suppose the missing ring may not have been a wedding ring as I first assumed.

A_BloodyTragedyKCSaloon

“A Bloody Tragedy at the Red Light” – Tucumcari News, July 7, 1906

Despite eye-witnesses to the murder, Ruby admitting to stabbing the woman, and her own testimony “Well I was intoxicated; I was dazed and crazy and everything”. She somehow was acquitted (read below).

RubyEstesAcq

Ruby Estes Acquitted – Tucumcari News, November 2, 1907

“Well boys, we’re thinking of adding us some walls real soon.”

Anyway, back to the K.C. Saloon. The December 29, 1906 newspaper indicated that a T. A. Wayne bought both the K.C. and Legal Tender Saloon buildings (read below). He had plans for a future building on the spot. It said he intends to erect a “good building”. So that brings to question… what type of building was there when he bought it? These often mentioned improvements make more sense. I can see him saying “Well boys, we’re thinking of adding us some walls real soon.”

T A Wayne 12-29-06

T. A. Wayne bought both the K.C. and Legal Tender Saloon buildings – Tucumcari News, December 29, 1906

I could not find out a lot on Mr. Wayne. He had moved to New Mexico from Crosby County Texas in 1903. He was quoted as saying when he moved from Texas that there were “very few inhabitants and no towns of any size”.

I guess the big city of ‘Six Shooter Siding’ was a step up. I did see where T. A. Wayne served on the board of county commissioners. He had the job of making sure saloons were closed on the day of voting for ratification of the state constitution in 1911. Seems a conflict of interest to me.

The January 19, 1907 Tucumcari News (read below) showed Patty and May as new proprietors.

Patty and May 1-19-07

Patty and May as new proprietors – Tucumcari News, January 19, 1907

Did Mr. Wayne give up on his plans after only one month? They actually refer to a Wm. Patty being proprietor before. Perhaps Mr. Wayne owned the building and they ran the business? The first “May” appears to have been a William May and the second was Silas Richman May Sr. The “Patty” might be William Patty. Is the man in this advertisement one of them? (see below) Or maybe it is Curt still looking for that ring?

KC Saloon 5-25-1907

KC Saloon, The Best of Everything, Patty & May, Proprietors – Tucumcari News, May 25, 1907

A year later Patty and May had a run in with the law. They decided to test a new gambling law by having slot machines. It looks like Patty and May were both arrested (read below).

Gambling 1-18-08

Patty and May Arrested for use of Slot Machines – Tucumcari News, January 18, 1908

Allen Highfil bought an interest in the K.C. Saloon around February 1, 1908. (read below) It was claimed he “is now measuring the goods to the boys who occasionally are affected with a dryness”.

Allen Highfil 2-1-08

Allen Highfil bought an interest in the K. C. Saloon – Tucumcari News, February 1, 1908

The March 14, 1908 Tucumcari News advertisement below listed May and Highfil as proprietors. Perhaps it was Patty’s bright idea earlier on the slot machines, and he was ousted.

KC Saloon May Highfil 3-14-08

May and Highfil as proprietors – Tucumcari News, March 14, 1908

Silas May had a lengthy article + (rest of article) “Anti-Prohibition League Makes an Appeal to Citizens” October 7, 2010.

Criminals seem to have a good track record in this town from the articles I have read.

Silas sold the saloon to Billie Loman on April 1, 1911. In 1919, Silas was found guilty of letting a game of chance on his premises. He must have had a new place. In November 12, 1920, prohibition officers raided Silas May’s house and 9 cases of whiskey were seized. He took them to court and was able to get his whiskey back. Criminals seem to have a good track record in this town from the articles I have read.

Last mention 12-24-14

K.C. Saloon Robbed – December 24, 1914

The last reference I have to the K.C. Saloon (see above) was that it was robbed on December 24, 1914. I just hope the burglars took some back bar bottles labeled “Hungarian Blackberry Juice and Wild Cherry Bitters – Tucumcari, New Mexico Territory” and buried them somewhere safe for future diggers.

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant, Questions, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Manville New Jersey Bottle Show

Posted on 5 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Manville14_6Manville New Jersey Bottle Show

by Jim Bender | FOHBC Membership Director

05 February 2014

NJABC_LogoThe New Jersey Antique Bottle Collectors Club held its 18th annual bottle show on February 2, 2014 in Manville, New Jersey. For years, this show was known as The South River Show. Due to the sale of the Knights of Columbus Hall, the show was moved this year.

Enter Bob Strickhart, who stepped up and took over the show. Bob is a life member of the FOHBC and supports our hobby to the fullest. Bob understands that bottle shows are the back-bone of the hobby and wanted to save the show.

Bob found a great location at the VFW located at 600 Washington Avenue Manville, New Jersey. The VFW hall was large enough to support the sell-out of 75 dealer tables. This still left room for seating to eat and rest your legs. The food was the best I have ever had at a show. All you can eat for $10, what a deal! Parking at the old show was always a problem and that problem was solved for sure at the VFW. Plenty of parking and the dealers had no issues at all loading and unloading. There was a line waiting at the door at 9:00 am which was a great sign. The sales floor seemed busy all day and all the dealers I spoke to said they had a good time and had sold some things. I sold several cups and go withes myself along with a few bottles. They held a 50/50 raffle as well as giving away a Flask and early New Jersey soda bottle as a raffle.

All three of the big east coast auction houses were there looking for commissions and visiting with all the folks. I was able to purchase a great early repro flask from John Pastor for my collection. It will be making the trip to the FOHBC Lexington National Antique Bottle Show in August as part of the display on reproductions I will be doing for the club members and show attendees.

I was also able to get three new members to join the FOHBC. If you are not a member you are really missing out. Join the FOHBC.

Overall, I think Bob did a great job with the show. He covered location, parking, show room and food which is all a good show needs. Thanks Bob for a fun day and saving the show!

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

Posted on 4 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

WHEATCOLORartHe had a new variety of bitters known as Red Jacket Bitters

04 January 2014 (R•051518)

Apple-Touch-IconAAs a continuance to: Red Jacket Bitters – Another Chicago ‘Indian’, I add today, an interesting reference to Red Jacket Bitters being used out west, submitted by James Viguerie. James adds, “I am just glad they knocked off the top to the champaigne and not the bitters!”

RedJacketAmendedArt

He told me all about his recent trip to “La Belle France”; and he had a new variety of bitters known as Red Jacket Bitters, of which he was partaking freely.

Eugene Ware in his 1911 Indian War of 1864 described Bordeaux’s residence on the North Platte and its owner:

It was a large, rambling log building with sod end to it, and additions and outbuildings attached to it, so that it was a sort of wandering, straggling caravansary and store combined. He got to showing me what he had, and then he went into the front of the store-building, where he had some cigars. The doors were all bolted and barred. He got to telling me about his visit to France. The floor in this part of the building was made out of pine logs brought down to a grade with an adz. It happened that I could read his French language, and I expressed myself very much interested, and he told me all about his recent trip to “La Belle France”; and he had a new variety of bitters known as Red Jacket Bitters, of which he was partaking freely. We talked about Indians and Indian matters and Indian habits and Indian customs, and he said that the Indians that had been back of his house had gone off. But I was very much interested in his description of Indian manners and his adventures among them, until it got to be along about one o’clock in the morning.

Thereupon he got two tin cups, and with a hatchet knocked off the head. There in the stillness of night in that country we drank to the health of “La Belle France.”

And Mr. Bordeaux again got off onto the subject of his visit to “La Belle France,” and he seemed to be very much pleased with the bitters he had and the attention with which I listened to his story. He was a much older man than I, and I was, indeed, very much delighted to hear him talk. All at once he disappeared through the floor, by turning up a plank or puncheon, and the first thing I knew he came back from down below somewhere with two large, musty quart bottles of champagne, and sticking one down in front of me said, “We will drink to La Belle France.” I was as much surprised as if the man had dug up a statue of Daniel Webster. The idea of a quart bottle of champagne in that dry, arid, heathen country almost paralyzed me, but I finally said to him that a quart bottle was more than my size, and that I would drink half of one of the bottles with him. I suggested that we split, and each drink half of the same bottle. Thereupon he got two tin cups, and with a hatchet knocked off the head. There in the stillness of night in that country we drank to the health of “La Belle France.” I have never seen Mr. Bordeaux since then, but have retained a delicious memory of him and the occasion.

From: Wheatland Photos, From Wyoming Tales and Trails – Wheatland, the coming of irrigation and the railroad, G. B. Dobson

[Writer Dobson’s notes: Red Jacket Bitters was a form of patent medicine advertised as “prepared in pure Bourbon Whiskey, from a combination of over twenty different kinds of roots, barks and herbs, from the originia formula given by the great CHIEF RED JACKET, to Dr. CHAPIN.” Red Jacket (1756-1830) was a loyalist Seneca Indian taking his name from a red jacket presented to him by the British.]

“RED JACKET / BITTERS – MONHEIMER & Co” (with original colorful, graphic labels), America, 1890 – 1900. Golden amber, square with beveled corners, tooled sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 9 ¾”; (bottle is perfect; 90% complete front and back labels). R/H #R20. A very scarce Chicago bitters, and certainly rare with original colorful and graphic labels depicting a full-length Indian chief holding a rifle. – American Glass Gallery Auction #20

“RED JACKET / BITTERS – MONHEIMER & Co” (with original colorful, graphic labels), America, 1890 – 1900. Golden amber, square with beveled corners, tooled sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 9 ¾”; (bottle is perfect; 90% complete front and back labels). R/H #R20. A very scarce Chicago bitters, and certainly rare with original colorful and graphic labels depicting a full-length Indian chief holding a rifle. – American Glass Gallery Auction #20

Posted in Article Publications, Bitters, History, Humor - Lighter Side, Medicines & Cures, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking at some Landsberg bottles…

Posted on 4 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

PRG_MBR_W4Looking at some Landsberg bottles

04 February 2014

Apple-Touch-IconATo accompany the ‘Another Patended Landsberg Bottle‘ post, I thought I would show you a few examples of Landsberg bottles in my collection. The bottles are incredibly ornate and look gorgeous paired with my Professor Byrnes bottles which are very similar, yet different.

Landsbergtrio_Meyer

The first image below is a L 15 – M. G. Landsberg | Chicago, the second example is a L 13 – Landsberg Century Bitters | The Adler Company St. Louis and the third example is a Landsberg Pure Blackberry Brandy | A. Heller & Co. New York.

Read More: Professor Byrne and Landsberg – Some Highly Decorative Bottles

Read More: Another Patended Landsberg Bottle

Read More: Ladies and Gentlemen… the Landsberg Sphinx Bottles

L15_Landsberg_MeyerL13_LandsbergCentury_Meyer

LandsbergBrandy_Meyer

PRG_MBR_W4detail1

LandsbergDetail

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Display, Photography, Spirits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Another Patended Landsberg Bottle

Posted on 4 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Landsbergtrio_Meyer

Another Patended Landsberg Bottle 

by James Viguerie

04 February 2014 (R•021214) (R•121318 -New Example)
LandsbergPatent12861

Fig: 1 – Moses G. Landsberg Patent 12861, Design for a Bottle, dated April 11, 1882

LandsbergPatentApr11_1882_12861

Fig: 2 – Moses G. Landsberg Patent 12861, Design, dated April 11, 1882

While going through my copies of bitters patents today I thought I had accidentally made two copies of the Landsberg’s patent (see Figs: 1 & 2 above) for the Century Bitters bottle (patent 12,861 – L13, L14 L15 in Bitters Bottles). They are incredible bottles so I could see where I might have wanted two copies, in case I lost one. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that one patent was submitted a year later. At first I thought it was for a subtitle design variation. I know there are Landsberg bottles from Chicago, New York and St. Louis. However, this patent was for a very different bottle design (see Figs: 3 & 4 below).

LandsbergPatent13699

Fig: 3 – Moses G. Landsberg Patent 13699, Design for a Bottle, dated March 6, 1883

LandsbergSphinxPatent_13699

Fig: 4 – Moses G. Landsberg Patent 13699, Design, dated March 6, 1883

The design on this bottle is incredible. I would very much like to get my hands on one. OK, I would love to own any Landsberg bottle! But this one having a mortar and pestle would make it a good fit for my druggist bottle collection. I do not know what this bottle held. However, it being very similar to the other Landsberg bottles, I would guess bitters.

I like how he refers to the bottle as the “Sphinx”. Being he referred to the earlier patented bottle as the “Century”, and it held “Landsberg’s Century Bitters”, I am unofficially calling this bottle the “Landsberg’s Sphinx Bitters”.

The earlier bottle, patent 12,861, has a spread eagle, rayed sun, shield, “1876”, beautiful corrugated corners and hexagons at the base (see Figs: 5 & 6 below). The neck of this bottle was meant to represent a handle and the shoulder a bell with stars on it. Truly an exceptional bottle design.

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Fig: 5 – Detail L 15 – M. G. Landsberg. Representing patent 12,861, has a spread eagle, rayed sun, shield, “1876”, beautiful corrugated corners and hexagons at the base

L15_1A_CD1

Fig: 6 – Detail L 15 – M. G. Landsberg. Representing patent 12,861, has a spread eagle, rayed sun, shield, “1876”, beautiful corrugated corners and hexagons at the base

This newer bottle (patent 13,699) equally, was quite ornate, perhaps even more so. The bottle not only has a Sphinx and a mortar and pestle, it has the figure of a griffin, a human headed lion, corrugated columns at the corners, birds, animals, hieroglyphics and the “M.G.L.” monogram. The neck of the bottle is shaped into a base and obelisk. Perhaps he told the craftsman who designed the first bottle to just let his imagination run wild on the second bottle.

Quite a few of the bitters patents I have were for label only bottles. While those can be exciting bottles to have, and very rare, nothing beats a well embossed bottle. It is exciting to think that this bottle was actually made. Nothing in the design looks too hard to have made, considering the other Landsberg bottles. I hope some lucky collector has one sitting on a shelf right now. They can call be when they get bored with it.

*** UPDATE *** Ladies and Gentlemen… the Landsberg Sphinx Bottles

(Mortar and Pestle) / “M.G.L.” (monogram) – (Griffin) / (Front view of the Sphinx) / (Human Headed Lion). The neck in the form of an Egyptian Obelisk is covered with hieroglyphics as is other areas of the bottle. (unlisted), Illinois, ca. 1883 – 1885, yellow amber, 12 1/4”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #126

Read: Looking at some Landsberg bottles…

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Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters

Posted on 3 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Good Housekeeping1935

Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters

Keeping House & Selling Bitters

03 February 2014 (R•031815) (R•030519)

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James Viguerie mentioned in a recent e-mail, “For example for B 25 (Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters), I have the full patent record (132,233) and see that S. M. Barnes was actually Sarah M. Barnes. I thought it was interesting that a woman had put a bitters out in 1872 (maybe Ferd will do a story on her at Peachridge Glass). 

SarahBarnesPatent

Now this real is interesting as James suggests. What is the story here? Was Sarah Barnes keeping house or selling bitters? Here is the subject patent again:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SARAH M. BARNES, OF LAFAYETTE, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MEDICAL COMPOUNDS OR ANTI-DYSPEPTIC BITTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 132,233, dated October 15, 1872; antedated October 12, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SARAH M. BARNES, of LaFayette, in the county of Montgomery and State of Virginia, have invented or produced a new Medical Compound, which I denominate “Anti-Dyspeptic and Family Bitters;” and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the ingredients composing and the manner of compounding the same.

To make, for instance, five gallons of the bitters I use the following-named ingredients in the proportionate quantities designated: Socotrinia aloes, pulverized, one and one-fourth pound; rhubarb, pulverized, one and one-fourth pound anise-seed, ten ounces; cardamom-seed, ten ounces; ground gentian, ten ounces; jalap, pulverized, four ounces; white mustard-seed, four ounces; alcohol, two and one-half gallons water, two and one-half gallons.

In compounding the bitters I place the alcohol in a keg or barrel, and add the aloes, rhubarb, anise-seed, cardamom-seed, ground gentian, jalap, and mustard-seed. Then the compound is allowed to stand for twenty-four hours, when the water is added, after which it is thoroughly shaken every day for the next ten days, and again allowed to stand five days to settle, when it is fit for use.

The compound hereby produced is a valuable tonic, as it agrees with the most delicate stomach, removing nausea, pain, and debility from that organ, and through it giving tone and vigor to the entire system. As an anti-dyspeptic it not only neutralizes and prevents the formation of acids, but checks fermentation, and prevents the accumulation of gases from food in the stomach, while the ingredients, having a purgative property, cause the bowels to be freely and naturally evacuated without pain, local or general debility.

Having described my invention, I claim – The bitters, compounded from the ingredients in or in about the proportions named, as herein described.

SARAH M. BARNES.

Witnesses:

J. A. RAYBURN,

E. H. TAYLOR.

First of all, Sarah M. Barnes was Thomas H. Barnes‘ (b. 1816) wife. They lived in LaFayette, Virginia which is between the cities of Roanoke and Christiansburg in eastern Montgomery County, southwest Virginia. In an 1860 United States Federal Census, Thomas, age 44, was listed as a physician while his wife Sarah, age 36, had no occupation noted. Usually you see something like keeping house as the occupation which was fairly common. Their children were listed as Madora A. (14), Ella C. (12), William M. (8), and Franklin E. Barnes (2). There is a similar listing, as far as their occupations, in the 1850 Federal Census. In the 1880 Census, at 55 years old, Sarah is listed as keeping house.

On 20 June 1862, Thomas Barnes died in LaFayette County, Virginia. I think this might explain why his wife obtained the patent and continued in the bitters business. I used a picture of Good Housekeeping magazine above to illustrate the power and broad appeal of the word ‘housekeeping’ during this period, and even now. The magazine was founded on May 2, 1885 by Clark W. Bryan in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Been around a long time.

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

B 25  Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic Family Bitters
DR. THOS. H. BARNES / ANTI-DYSPEPTIC / & FAMILY BITTERS // sp // f // sp //
7 1/2 x 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 (5 1/2) 1/4
Rectangular, Aqua, LTC, 3 sp. Extremely rare
Patented 1872 by Dr. S. M. Barnes, LaFayette, Virginia

Above: This is as-found, other than highlighting letters for photographing. Note that the embossing seems somewhat crude and sloppy and not carefully aligned. A bit on the weak side, too. Found about four feet down in sand, a real accidental find. The spirit moved me to poke into the sand of the drainage trench. No dump, no sign of debris, just one really neat bottle waiting to be pulled from the sand. One of my favorite finds. – Tony Pagano

B 25 Thos. A Barnes front

Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters advertising trade card – Joe Gourd Collection

B 25 Thos. A Barnes back

Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters advertising trade card – Joe Gourd Collection

Posted in Bitters, Digging and Finding, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Publications, Questions, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking forward to Bitters Bottles Supplement 2

Posted on 2 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

BBS2

Looking forward to Bitters Bottles Supplement 2

02 February 2014 (Updated 09 February 2014 with Bill Ham Response)

Apple-Touch-IconAThe following e-mail came in from James Viguerie that poses some questions that some of you may be wondering yourselves. Bill will be responding and I will add to this post. The book cover art above is for illustrative purposes only.

Read More: Cataloging of Bitters Bottles – Bill Ham

Bill & Ferd

Hello to you both! I wanted to find out the best way to contribute information to the next version of the Bitters Bottles Supplement book. Currently I have been sending my research, individual bitters by bitters, to Ferd to go with articles on Peachridge Glass. I enjoy doing research and this has been fun to do as my time permitted.

However, I know that another bitters book is in the works and most likely has a deadline before it needs to go to press. I have quite a bit of research on bottles including bitters. Twenty years ago I did quite a bit of research in archives, libraries and anywhere else I could find information. This included searching through records at the local patent office when I lived in Springfield, Illinois. I was trying to find out more of the square HORSE SHOE BITTERS / PATENTED bottle that I had (and since had auctioned off at the FOHBC 2007 Collinsville, Illinois show – and Ferd now has). Read: The wonderful Horse Shoe Bitters from Collinsville, Illinois

I was fascinated at all the patent records on bottles and ended up making a copy of  every single one. Unfortunately, these are hard copies. Technology has changed quite a bit since then. At the time I did the research, Carlyn Ring’s was the most recent bitters book. I saw I had hundreds of bitters that she did not include. I figured they would be good for a future book. Little did I know that two new bitters books were the works. It was too late to contribute to them by the time I bought copies (great books by the way!). Since then I had moved and much of my research has been boxed up.

Druggist bottles are now my main interest, and the main focus of my research today. I have a future website and book in mind to share what I have found with collectors. As part of that effort I have started to dig through my old research and came across some of what I had on bitters. I never had checked these against the Bitters Bottles and Bitters Bottles Supplement books. Last night I went though some and found 30 bitters that either were not listed, or provided more information than what was in the books. For example for B 25 (Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters) I have the full patent record (132,233) and see that S. M. Barnes was actually Sarah M. Barnes. I thought it was interesting that a woman had put a bitters out in 1872 (maybe Ferd will do a story on her at Peachridge Glass).

PRG: Working on Dr. Thos. H. Barnes Anti-Dyspeptic & Family Bitters post.

Anyway, all this made me wonder what the best way to get information into any new books. I have a number of questions:

1) Will paper label only bitters continue to be listed? I am sure 80% of the bitters I have come across must be paper label only of none have been found so far. Do you want pictures of label only bitters? I use to have a few unlisted ones. I sold some off but I know I still have at least 3 that are not pictured in any bitters books.

2) How should I communicate research? Should I just continue to send then one at a time to Ferd? Should I also forward information to Bill too? My time becomes limited at times and would hate to miss the boat of getting this information into a third book.

4) Have one of you searched the patent records already? I know there is now a way to search online. I will hold off scanning and typing all mine up if you already have this information.

Here are a few I did not see listed at all:

“Beck’s Medicinal Bitters” – Theodore Beck – Omaha Nebraska – patent 110,423 December 27, 1870

“The Oregon Chittum Bitters” – George W. Brown – Portland Oregon – patent 130,409 August 13, 1872.

PRG from upcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

O 76.2 OREGON CHITTUM / BITTERS // f // DR. G. W. BROWN’S // f //
App 9 ½
Square. Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
G. W. Brown was a druggist in Portland Oregon.
Example dug in Portland Oregon area

“The Unk-weed Remedy” – Abram M. Loryea – Portland Oregon – patent 116,846 July 11, 1871 for a “Improvement in Medical Compounds or Bitters”.

Some of the patents I have are for the actual recipes for bitters. They do not always mention the brand. They many only indicate it is for a new “Tonic Bitters”. I tried to match up the patentees name to bitters in the books but this is very manual – hard copy patents to a hard copy bitters books. I only looked at the names being at the start of a brand. I am sure I may have missed some. For example I had a patent, 116,310, by Moritz Holst for a “Improvement in Medical Compounds or Bitters. I only looked for a bitters in the book under “H” for Holst. If there were a listing for some MEMPHIS TURNIP BITTERS // MORITZ HOLST I would have missed it. Hopefully, you can do a search electronically against anything I send. (and yes I made up that brand name).

I also have some trade cards and other bitters go-withs that are not in any books. Unfortunately, a physical book does have a size limitation so was not sure how much content you were looking for.

PRG: We need to involve Bitters Trade Card authority Joe Gourd here.

Sorry for the long email. I look forward to reading the new Bitters book when it comes out. I will also continue to look forward to reading about new Bitters when people write about them on Peachridge Glass.

Take care,

James Viguerie

James:

I’ll let Bill chime in first but will add here that Bill and I work pretty closely together on all new bitters and update existing information brought forth by new research and information. I have a digital copy of  Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 (or whatever Bill wants to call it) and reference and update it constantly with Bill.

Ferdinand

What is happening with a Second Bitters Bottles Supplement?

09 February 2014

BillHamTallbwCataloging of bitters by the various authors has been an ongoing and evolving process. Each new publication has added and increased the information. Each new publication is also somewhat reflective of the changes in collector interest, and the interests of the author. The first bitters bottles books listed only bottles with the word “BITTERS” embossed in the glass. In FOR BITTERS ONLY, Carlyn Ring listed many brands found in advertisements and directories. With time, many bitters bottles that at first were only known from advertisements were found.

With Carolyn Rings permission, I updated the cataloging and published BITTERS BOTTLES, in 1998. In that publication, the color description were updated, and mouth finish was added, along with new additions, and updated and revisions of some listings. Additional information was included where available to indicate where a bitters was from, and in cases of some of the more rare brands where examples were found. Many previously uncataloged brands were added. The cover design for this book was influenced by the “look” of the early Stephen Van Rensselear book and using a strip of the bottle silhouettes from FOR BITTERS ONLY.

The information that was available at the time was used. Since that time, vast amounts of additional information has become available through contemporary research techniques, the Internet, and auction price guide summaries. Bottles with the word BITTERS, as well as paper labeled bitters, and bitters advertisements in magazines, and trade cards and listings in business directories are listed.

When publishing the BITTERS BOTTLES SUPPLEMENT in 2004, more than 450 more previously unlisted bottles were added, as well as correcting data and adding additional information on many previously recorded brands.

The overall goal of the listings is include the many brands of bitters, which were put up and sold in embossed and/or labeled containers, and to accurately describe those containers that have the word BITTERS embossed. The bottle listings are illustrated with schematic drawings in approximately one-fourth scale, with the exact embossing shown as close as possible, and the listings indicate bottle dimensions. This is so that different sizes and variants of a brand can be identified, and also one could possibly identify a bottle from a broken piece with only partial embossing. Brief information on manufacturer, proprietor and where a product was made and or distributed are included.

Although there are color plates showing many bottles, showing photographs of all bottles would make an extremely large and cumbersome publication. There are so many attractive and interesting bottles, that it is always difficult to choose those for the limited space that is available for color plates.

The cataloging of bitters bottles, and brands and collecting information on bitters has continued since the 2004 publication. The current draft has way more than 450 new, revised or updated listings. Information has been gathered for new listings and updating existing listings from Auction Catalogs, Ebay, Ferdinand and his Peachridge Glass site, bottles observed at bottle shows, and from information found or given to me.

I am positive that there are still examples of uncataloged bitters bottles brands out there that are unknown to collectors and more and more of them keep showing up.

I have been working closely with Ferdinand and expect that we will eventually publish a Second SUPPLEMENT. No target date for publication has been set at this time, and there is a lot of work still needed before an additional SUPPLEMENT will be ready to publish.

A document like this cannot be produced without you the collectors helping and contributing. You can send information on uncataloged bitters and supporting information of listed brands to me at billham9@gmail.com or to Ferdinand at fmeyer@fmgdesign.com. We appreciate your help and patience as the next SUPPLEMENT is assembled and gotten ready for publication.

Bill Ham

Posted in Advice, Bitters, History, News, Peachridge Glass, Publications, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The only (as of now) Harz Mountain Herb Bitters

Posted on 2 February 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

HartzMountainHerbBitters_GWA

The only (as of now) Harz Mountain Herb Bitters

02 February 2014

Apple-Touch-IconAMaking an appearance at the Glass Works “Cabin Fever” Potpourri Auction is the ‘one and only’ (at least as far as bitters collectors are aware) Harz Mountain Herb Bitters. This bottle is from the great John Feldmann collection and though it has a replaced epoxy mouth, is highly desirable.

HartzReplacedTopI remember the last time this dug, Cleveland, Ohio bottle came up for auction and questioned John when he purchased this years ago, as I was hesitant bidding on it with the replaced mouth (picture above). I remember John being ‘tickled pink’ with his extremely rare addition. Something to learn here. All of these rarities do not need to be perfect. It must be assumed that this bitters was produced for a extremely short period of time. I also want to point out the rather odd base marking (see below) on the bottle.

HartzMountainbase

 The Glass Works Auctions write-up is as follows:

19. “W. TROMMLITZ – HARZ / MOUNTAIN / HERB / BITTERS – CLEVELAND, O.”, (Ring/Ham H-67.5), Ohio, ca. 1860 – 1875, yellow olive semi-cabin, 9 7/8”h, smooth base, replaced epoxy mouth. Dug in Cleveland, Ohio and found without the mouth. William Trommlitz was a wholesale liquor dealer in Cleveland, Ohio from 1861 to 1867. An attractive bottle, and currently the only known example!

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

H 67.5  HARZ MOUNTAIN HERB BITTERS

// W/ TROMMLITZ. // HARZ (au) / MOUNTAIN / HERB / BITTERS. (ad) // CLEVELAND. O. // sp //
Approximately 10 1/4* x 4 x 2 1/4
Rectangular semi-cabin, Yellow-amber, Top missing, 4 sp, Extremely rare
*The only known specimen was dug in Cleveland, Ohio and measures 9 1/4 inches to top of the broken neck.
William Trommlitz was a wholesale liquor dealer in Cleveland from 1861 until at least 1867.

HarzMountainRH

Harz Mountain Herb Bitters illustration – Bitters Bottles Supplement

Wilhelm Godfrey Trommlitz, was born in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany in 1821. He was a wholesale liquor dealer in Cleveland, Ohio from about 1861 to 1882. Wilhelm was married to Louisa Astzschner and had three children:

Paul Trommlitz (B: 1848): – Paul was born in Germany and moved to Cleveland, Ohio and worked at a saloon in 1869. Paul served in the Civil War with the Ohio Volunteers. The Trommlitz family, as noted above, had a liquor distribution business in Cleveland. Paul Trommlitz was for so many years connected with Koliler & Frohling and afterwards with the California Wine Association and then Italian Swiss Colony Wines after the war. He was also the proprietor of Potrero Soap Works in San Francisco in 1879. He married Henretta Lang in 1881 in Alameda, California. The marriage resulted in 3 children: Will, Florence and Louise. Paul died in 1901 in Alameda. He was cremated and the remains scattered in the San Francisco Bay.)

“Paul Trommlitz, of the Italian-Swiss Colony, has gone East again after a short stay in San Francisco. He came from Chicago with an excursion of Christian Endeavorers, in spite of the fact that he scarcely belongs to that clan himself. He will be away about five months in the interest of the Colony’s business.” – Pacific Spirit & Wine Review 1896

Helena Bertha Louisa Trommlitz (B: 1849) – Helene Bertha Lousie (Lena) Trommlitz was born in Desau Germany on November 29th 1849. She had two brothers Paul and George. Her Father remarried when their Mother passed away 9 days after getting birth of her brother George. Wilhelm had two sons from this union Oscar and Oliver. Lena married Karl Kritch in Cleveland Ohio on December 16, 1869.

George William Trommlitz (B: 1858) was born in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. George lived and worked in Denver, Colorado. He is listed as having a number of patents with Gripping connection for inflation-valves. He died on 18 May 1927 in San Antonio, Texas.

Neuruppin1852

Harz 1852

The Harz Mountain Herb Bitters brand was named after The Harz (also spelled Hartz) which is the highest mountain range in Northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhaltand Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart (mountain forest), Latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz with a height of 1,141.1 metres (3,744 ft) above sea level. The Wurmberg (971 metres (3,186 ft)) is the highest peak located entirely within Lower Saxony. – Wikipedia

You may also be aware of Hartz Mountain Industries. Max and Gustav Stern emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1926 with five thousand singing canaries (Harz Roller), and began manufacturing bird food under the Hartz Mountain brand in 1932. They later sold pets such as canaries, parakeets, hamsters, tropical fish, and associated supplies throughout the U.S. and Canada, and eventually introduced pet supply departments into more than 30,000 supermarkets in North America and the United Kingdom. – Wikipedia

Wilhelm Godfrey Trommlitz

1821: Wilhelm Godfrey Trommlitz, birth 27 September 1821 in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

1861: William Trommlitz, wholesale liquor dealer, 36 Pittsburg, r 214 Ontario – Cleveland City Directory

1863: William Trommlitz, liquors, Pittsburgs near Market – Cleveland City Directory

1866: William Trommlitz, liquor dealer, Pittsburgs near Market – Cleveland City Directory

1868: Wm Trommlitz, importer liquors, 197 Ontario, h. 125 Broadway – Cleveland City Directory (Paul Trommlitz listed as bookkeeper at 125 Broadway. Probably help brother with business.

1869: William Trommlitz, dealer in wines & liquors, Champlain n cor S. Water – Cleveland City Directory

1869: Paul Trommlitz, saloon, 115 Detroit – Cleveland City Directory

1870: William Trommlitz, wines & liquor dealer, 1870 United States Federal Census

1874: William Trommlitz, dealer in wines & liquors, 9 and 11 Champlain – Cleveland City Directory

1876: Mrs. W. Trommlitz, wines and liquors, 9 and 11 Champlain – Robison & Savage & Co., Cleveland Directory, 1876

1880: William Trommlitz, wines and liquors, 9 Champlain, Cleveland City Directory

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment