Caspar Wistar and The Red Rose Rent

CasparWistar

Caspar Wistar and “The Red Rose Rent”

by Stephen Atkinson

26 September 2013

Read: The United Glass Company located at Wistarburgh

RedRoseCasparArtCaspar Wistar was the first American immigrant to establish the “red rose rent” that Baron von Stiegel followed over 30 years later. Since 1892, Manheim. Pennsylvania has enjoyed a quaint ceremony, called the annual “Feast of the Roses,” on the first Sunday in June. Each year, a descendant of Henry William “Baron von” Stiegel was to be honored, and receive a single red rose. The red rose was stipulated in the original deed to the land granted to what is now the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church located in Manheim.

The Red Rose Rent, was a Feudal Custom which was practiced at Germantown in Pennsylvania and had originated in the German state of Palatinate. Early in the 18th century the first Red Rose Rent was held by by Caspar Wistar. The rose was actually the rental fee set by the proprietor of the land. Feudal English practice of setting quit-rents was commonly used throughout the lower counties of Pennsylvania. The payment of a quit-rent freed the tenant from all obligations save for realty to the proprietor of the land, which was usually the Crown or his assigns such as, in Pennsylvania, William Penn and, thereafter, to such parties to whom the rights to the acreage had transferred.

In Manheim, Pennsylvania, deep in the heart of the German settlements, Baron von Stiegel, who was not a true Baron, but amassed a fortune in colonial Pennsylvania by operating an iron furnace in the late 1750s, and later, one of the most important early American glassworks in 1765, the American Flint Glass Manufactory was originally and quite incorrectly thought by historians to have founded the Red Rose Quit Rent. Baron von Stiegel however, was not the first person to use the Red Rose Rent. It was first implemented by a fellow German named Caspar Wistar.

Caspar Wistar is best remembered for the Glass Factory but, outside of William Penn, who was the largest private owner of acreage in the world, Caspar Wistar became the largest landowner in the region. Wistar had become one of America’s first real estate tycoons, buying large tracts from the Penns and others, and then subletting them into smaller tracts, and selling them to German immigrants who were settling into the vicinity of Berks, Bucks, Lancaster and York Counties.

Over a generation prior, Caspar Wistar, Wilhelm Henry Stiegel’s fellow German emigrant, began the industrial modes of his entrepreneurship with the purchase of the Abbington Iron furnace in New Castle, Delaware. From there, while on a fox hunting expedition to Southern New Jersey in 1737, he stumbled upon enormous amounts of high grade silica on the surface of the ground near Alloway, Salem County, New Jersey. Being a successful merchant in Philadelphia and a large land owner second only to the Penn family in Pennsylvania, diversifying into glass making was an easy task for Caspar as in his youth in the Palatinate region of Germany, as the son of a forester, he saw first hand the mystery of glass making at numerous Wald glass factories. The Wistarburgh glass operations predated Stiegel’s American Flint Glass by 30 years.

These were sound business decisions made Wistar, a rather wealthy man, which certainly made it easier to be as charitable as he was. In Germany, the Wistars, spelled Wusters family, had been most recently tied to both a Lutheran Church in Neckargemund, and a Reformed Sister of the Roses of Sharon.

ephrata_sister

Sisters of the Roses of Sharon at Ephrata Cloister

When John Wister (notice the “i” instead of an “a”) Caspar’s brother, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1727, he was, at least briefly, associated with the Moravians and Pietists in Germantown. John Wister married one of the sisters of the Roses of Sharon at Ephrata Cloister, Anna Thoman, known at the commune as Sister Anastasia. However Caspar Wistar was more pragmatic than his brother John when it came to religion and marriage. As Rosalind Beiler notes in her novel about Caspar Wistar, “just as his father and grandfather used their confessional identities to secure their government positions and enhance their social standings, so Wistar realized the benefits of religious membership for establishing his reputation in Pennsylvania”. As early as 1721, he indicated his Quaker sympathies. By the year 1726, Wistar had become a member of the Philadelphia Friends Society and thereby gained entrance into the dominant network of merchants and political leaders in the province. Caspar also married a Quaker, Catherine Jansen which furthered his cause into society.

Although he had “indicated his Quaker sympathies” in writing, having signed a declaration of allegiance to the King, rather than swearing an oath, which was, as Beiler points out, anathema to Quakers, Caspar Wistar’s status as a “card carrying” Quaker did not totally overcome his sympathies for the other Protestant sects with which he’d become familiar in Germany, and which dominated the Germantown area.

As proof, Caspar not only sold, but also granted acreage to those who were not Quakers, or who could otherwise not afford to purchase real estate . One such grant was made to the Reformed congregation in Tulpehocken. The Tulpehocken church received 100 acres from Wistar in 1738, upon which they built a church, cemetery, and a schoolhouse. Wistar carved the church parcel out of his total Tulpehocken Valley holdings, sales of which were enormously profitable. The transaction specified a quit-rent the church was required to pay annually: one red rose. Other Berks County families received similar deals from Wistar. Shortly after the original grant, Caspar ceased to insist on even the token tribute of thanks for his generosity. In 1910, the New York Times quoted a Berks County historian who claimed that “at least 20,000” acres in the vicinity of Reading and Germantown were deeded on similar terms. Only two men were cited as responsible for the deeds: the British merchant John Page, and Caspar Wistar.

The Lutheran Church in Manheim, whose grounds were deeded by Baron von Stiegel, may receive more press coverage today for its annual Feast of Roses, but Caspar Wistar’s donation to the Reformed Church and many poor German peasants set the American precedent for Stiegel to follow. Red Rose Rents are still paid to this day annually to the descendent’s of the Wistars. The roses are considered priceless heirlooms. The most lavish of the rose rent ceremonies involving the Wistar family was in 1902, when 30 Philadelphia Wistars gathered to receive their due: 157 red roses, representing rent in arrears. Shortly after the original grant, Caspar ceased to insist on even the token tribute of thanks for his generosity. Caspar’s grant to Tulpehocken was notarized by Conrad Weiser, a Justice of the Peace who, even while busy negotiating on behalf of William Penn or closing agreements with the Native Americans, was a resident of Ephrata Cloister, toward which we’ll look next.

Posted in Article Publications, Early American Glass, Glass Companies & Works, Glass Makers, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Human Extermination Bitters

PuckQuackMinstrels

Puck Magazine Back Cover; Vol. VI No. 141, November 19, 1879

HUMAN EXTERMINATION BITTERS

Quackery – Medical Minstrels Performing for the Benefit of their Former Patients – No Other Dead-Heads Admitted.

25 September 2013

Hi Ferdinand,

I found this print hanging in an antique shop yesterday and it is a pretty neat bottle go-with. It is a centerfold from an 1879 issue of Puck magazine and it deals with medicinal quackery apparently. The duck is holding a “Human Extermination Bitters”. Kind of odd and neat at the same time.

Cody Zeleny

Apple-Touch-IconACody: Love this art. I found a print online and added the image to the top of the post as I realize photographing through glass is difficult with the reflections. I also added a little about Puck magazine on the bottom of this post.

So many neat things happening like the Human Extermination Bitters you mention and the well dressed skeletons in the audience. The front of the stage even says “Pathological Entertainment to a Post Mortem Audience”! Also notice that the stage bottles turn into grave stones in the center. So much to look at. Satirical art at its best! Interesting to note that in 1879 it was so open and obvious with all the types of medical quackery. “Death Guaranteed or No Pay!”

HUMAN EXTERMINATION BITTERS

QuackMinstrels1QuackMinstrels2QuackMinstrels3QuackMinstrels4Puck was America’s first successful humor magazine of colorful cartoons, caricatures and political satire of the issues of the day. It was published from 1871 until 1918.

427px-Puck_cover2The weekly magazine was founded by Joseph Ferdinand Keppler in St. Louis. It began publishing English and German language editions in March 1871. Five years later, the German edition of Puck moved to New York City, where the first magazine was published on September 27, 1876. The English language edition soon followed on March 14, 1877. [Wikipedia]

Posted in Art & Architecture, Bitters, Ephemera, Humor - Lighter Side, Medicines & Cures, Publications | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The United Glass Company located at Wistarburgh

WistarburghBottles_AtkinsonThe United Glass Company located at Wistarburgh

PART 1

by Stephen Atkinson

24 September 2013

In 1739, the United Glass Company, located at Wistarburgh, was America’s first successful glass factory and the first cooperative manufacturing business venture in the Colonies.

WistarburghMapART[Click for Google Earth]

Tucked away on a top of a hill on Commissioners Pike in Salem County near the center of the small town of Alloway, New Jersey, is a working farm which once housed America’s oldest successful glass factory. Here in 1739, Caspar Wistar founded the United Glass Company. He first named the hamlet Glass House and then through the success of the factory, the site and town became known as Wistarburgh. Caspar was a brass button manufacturer in Philadelphia in the early 1730s along with being a very successful land owner in the State of Pennsylvania. The United Glass Company was the first manufacturing business of any kind on a large scale that was set up similar to modern day corporations such as General Motors.

Wistarburgh_roadsideGPS[Click for Google Maps]

I will begin with a little history about the Glass works Caspar founded. The forming of the joint venture between Caspar Wistar, the German immigrant living in Philadelphia, and four glass workers he contacted back in his home country of Germany in the Palitinate region of that country, was the first of its kind here in the early colonies. The four glass makers arrived in Philadelphia in the fall of 1738. The glass makers names were Johann Wilhelm Wentzel, Caspar Halter, Johann Martin Halter and Simeon Griessmeyer. Wistar set up the first of its kind, on the shores of the British colony, a glass works which was owned as a joint venture in its inception between five investors.

The company as a whole was simply called the United Glass Company but in reality it was three separate companies within a company, again, sort of like General Motors. Caspar Wistar was the principal owner in all three companies holding a 2/3 majority ownership as the major investor in each of them. The four glass makers were entitled to 1/3 of ownership and profit from their respective companies. The first company formed was between Caspar Wistar, the investor and Johann William Wentzel the glass artisan. The second company was owned by Caspar Wistar, the investor and Caspar Halter the artisan. The third company was a little different as once again Caspar is the investor but this time two men, Johann Martin Halter and Simeon Griesmeyer share the roles as artisans. In all three companies, Caspar Wistar and the artisans shared expenses, assets and profits. These arrangements survived until Wistar’s death in 1752 of Dropsy.

In the financial ledger Catherine Wistar kept after her fathers death, the glass works are simply called the Glass House when mentioned in the pages of this journal (see below) which is in my personal collection. When Wistarburgh attained its name is still a mystery to me as the people responsible for the founding and the maintaining of the glass works simply called it Glass House.

In the financial ledger Catherine Wistar kept after her fathers death, the glass works are simply called the Glass House when mentioned in the pages of this journal

WistarDoc1WistarDoc2WistarDoc3WistarDoc4WistarDoc5WistarDoc6WistarDoc7WistarDoc8WistarDoc9WistarDoc10WistarDoc11WistarDoc12WistarDoc13WistarDoc14WistarDoc15WistarDoc16WistarDoc17WistarDoc18WistarDoc19WistarDoc20This is a 1738 land vellum in my personal collection (see below) which is in remarkable condition for an item that is 275 years old.

This land transaction between Caspar Wistar and Valentine Felty Herrgeroder was for 249 acres in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It was right after this large land transaction that Caspar began the construction of his Glass factory in Salem County, New Jersey.

WistarFelty1WistarFelty2WistarFelty3WistarFelty4WistarFelty5The signatures of Caspar and his wife Catherine below.

WistarFelty6Caspar to Valentine Hergellruder 249 acres.

WistarFelty7Below is the signature of Sheriff John Wright.

WistarFelty8WistarFelty9WistarFelty10gWistorFelty11
Some of the names that appear as witnesses are: David Deshler, a prominent Philadelphian, Christian Zimmerman, a twenty-one year old law student from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He came from Germany at age 15 from the Palatinate region. Also as witnesses was Edward Shippen Jr., John Wright and William Parsons.

It was land deals such as this one that allowed Caspar to attain enough financial capitol to begin the construction of the Glass Factory at Alloway. Caspar was the largest land holder in the state of Pennsylvania next to the Penn family. His land ventures were in what is now the county’s of Berks, Lancaster and York in Pennsylvania. These ventures encouraged the mass amount of German refugees from the Palatinate region in Northern Germany. When the Glass Factory property was completely purchased, Caspar was then the largest single tract land holder in the colony of Western Jersey.

Posted in Article Publications, Blown Glass, Early American Glass, Glass Companies & Works, Glass Makers, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Norman C. Heckler & Company’s Auction #106

heckler-auctioneersFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Norman Heckler, (860) 974-1634, info@hecklerauction.com

Norman C. Heckler & Company’s Auction #106 – “A Premier Absentee Auction of Early Glass, Bottles & Flasks” – will be held November 4th-13th

152 rare antique bottles will be sold in what will be one of the firm’s most important sales ever.

(WOODSTOCK, Conn.) – What could well be one of Norman C. Heckler & Company’s most important absentee sales ever held will open for bidding on Monday, Nov. 4th at 9 a.m. (EST) and end Wednesday, Nov. 13th at 10 p.m. Offered will be 152 lots of early glass, historical flasks, fancy colognes, hat whimsies, bitters, medicines, inks, a fruit jar, black glass and more.

It’s Auction #106 and Norman C. Heckler & Company is billing it as “a premier absentee auction of early glass, bottles, flasks and more.” Company president Norman C. Heckler called the selection of bottles “unbelievable,” adding, “It’s a very diversified sale, with great examples from virtually every category of bottle collecting. The quality is equal to any we’ve ever sold.”

Mr. Heckler said, “We are pleased to be presenting a diverse group of exciting objects from several important collections. It took two years to put this auction together, and we anticipate a knockout event.” A full posting of all the lots will be up soon at www.hecklerauction.com. Color catalogs will be available soon, too.

Figured flask

Cornucopia-Pinwheel American figured flask, half pint, made circa 1820-1840, in a unique deep blood red color (est. $25,000-$50,000).

Two lots expected to attract keen bidder interest are a Cornucopia-Pinwheel American figured flask, half pint, made circa 1820-1840, probably in the Midwest, and unique in its deep blood red color (est. $25,000-$50,000); and a pale citron striated Baltimore And Monument – “Corn For The World” quart historical flask manufactured by the Baltimore Glass Works, made circa 1840-1860 (est. $5,000-$10,000).

Historical flask

Pale citron striated Baltimore And Monument (“Corn For The World”) quart historical flask, circa 1840-1860 (est. $5,000-$10,000).

From the American blown tableware category is a rare freeblown pitcher, probably made by the Willington (Conn.) Glass Works 1815-1850, having a large bulbous body with applied glass handle, 6 5/8 inches tall (est. $10,000-$20,000); and a freeblown vase probably made in southern New Jersey 1820-1850, in a bright crisp bluish aquamarine (est. $6,000-$12,000).

Rare freeblown pitcher, probably made by the Willington (Conn.) Glass Works circa 1815-1850, 6 5/8 inches tall (est. $10,000-$20,000).

Rare freeblown pitcher, probably made by the Willington (Conn.) Glass Works circa 1815-1850, 6 5/8 inches tall (est. $10,000-$20,000).

The only fruit jar in the auction is a cylindrical, deep cobalt blue example (the only known one in this color), embossed “Patented Oct. 19, 1858” (on the lid top), made in America sometime between 1858 and 1880 (est. $5,000-$10,000). Also, a blown three mold inkwell, probably made by Mt. Vernon (N.Y.) Glass Works circa 1820-1840 in a sapphire blue, should hit $4,000-$8,000.

The only fruit jar in the auction is this cylindrical, deep cobalt blue example, the only one known in this color, circa 1858-1880 (est. $5,000-$10,000).

The only fruit jar in the auction is this cylindrical, deep cobalt blue example, the only one known in this color, circa 1858-1880 (est. $5,000-$10,000).

Bottles in a variety of forms will be offered. These will feature a “Welden Spring, St. Albans, Vt.” – “Alterative / Chalybeate” quart mineral water bottle, made circa 1860-1880 in a deep reddish amber color, cylindrical in shape (est. $4,000-$8,000); and an “A. M. Bininger & Co.” figural whiskey bottle in the form of a vase, yellow amber, circa 1860-1870 (est. $1,000-$2,000).

Welden Spring (St. Albans, Vt. - “Alterative / Chalybeate”) quart mineral water bottle, made circa 1860-1880 (est. $4,000-$8,000).

Welden Spring (St. Albans, Vt. – “Alterative / Chalybeate” quart mineral water bottle, made circa 1860-1880 (est. $4,000-$8,000).

Premier cologne bottles from the Ralph Finch Collection will include a brilliant yellow green paneled bottle, probably made by Boston & Sandwich (Mass.) Glass Works, circa 1840-1860, in tall tapered 12-sided form (est. $800-$1,600); and a figural example in square monument form, probably by the same maker, circa 1860-1888 (est. $1,200-$2,400).

Brilliant yellow green paneled cologne bottle from the Ralph Finch Collection, made circa 1840-1860 (est. $800-$1,600).

Brilliant yellow green paneled cologne bottle from the Ralph Finch Collection, made circa 1840-1860 (est. $800-$1,600).

A pair of American historical flasks bound to command attention are a Sheaf Of Grain historical quart calabash flask made circa 1845-1860 by Baltimore Glass Works, in a rare cobalt blue (est. $10,000-$20,000); and a Jenny Lind “Glass Works / S. Huffsey” historical quart calabash flask, bluish green, made circa 1850-1860 by Isabella Glass Works of Brooklyn, N.J. (est. $1,500-$3,000).

Early American figured flasks will feature an Eagle-Cornucopia flask, probably from the early Pittsburgh (Pa.) district, made circa1820-1840, in an outstanding medium sapphire blue color (est. $8,000-$16,000); and a rare Isabella Glass Works flask (Brooklyn, N.J.), in a beautiful blue green color, made between 1840 and 1860 (est. $5,000-$10,000).

A pair of hat whimsies bound to get attention are a blown three mold glass hat whimsey made circa 1820-1840 by the Keene (N.H.) Marlboro Street Glassworks, cylindrical form, medium yellow olive in color (est. $5,000-$10,000); and a freeblown hat whimsey on a stem most likely made by Coventry (Conn.) Glass Works, circa 1813-1848, medium yellow olive (est. $2,000-$4,000).

Collectors of rare American medicine bottles will be delighted by a “Pike & Osgood / Boston, Mass.” – “Alterative Syrup” medicine bottle, manufactured by a Stoddard glasshouse (N.H.), circa 1840-1860, olive amber (est. $6,000-$12,000); and a “Dr. Stephen Jewett’s / Celebrated Health / Restoring Bitters” bottle, also from Stoddard and made circa 1840-1860 (est. $2,500-$5,000).

Last, but certainly not least, a sampling of two half-pint flasks from the Carl Sturm collection: a “Not For Joe” pictorial flask with a girl on a bicycle, made in America circa 1860-1870 and the only known example in this size, amber (est. $3,000-$6,000); and an eagle flask made by Louisville (Ky.) Glass Works, circa 1860-1865, yellow olive (est. 2,000-$4,000).

Previews will be held from Oct. 15-Nov. 12 at Norman C. Heckler & Company’s gallery facility, located at 79 Bradford Corner Road in Woodstock Valley, Conn. There, bidders will be able to inspect the bottles being offered, during regular business hours of 9-4, Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, please call (860) 974-1634.

Norman C. Heckler & Company was founded in 1987 as a full-service auction and appraisal firm. Today it is the foremost auction house in the U.S. for antique glass. In Oct. 2010, the firm set a record for an antique glass bottle at auction when a General Jackson eagle portrait flask went for $176,670. In addition to glass, the firm also offers early American antique items.

Norman C. Heckler & Company is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To inquire about consigning a single piece or an entire collection, you may call them at (860) 974-1634; or, you can e-mail them at info@hecklerauction.com. To learn more about the upcoming Auction #106 slated for Nov. 4th-13th, please visit www.hecklerauction.com

Posted in Auction News, Cologne, Early American Glass, Fruit Jars, Historical Flasks, Mineral Water, News, Pitchers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Pole Top Discoveries | Auction #69 Stand-outs

poletop_insulPole Top Discoveries

Auction #69 Stand-outs

Apple-Touch-IconAI really enjoy looking at the wonderful photography and descriptions that Ray Klingensmith puts together for some of his auction pieces. Today we are looking at thirteen extraordinary insulators from Pole Top Discoveries Auction #69 that closed last night. If every bottle has a story, these insulators sure do too. Thanks to Ray for such nice write-ups.

PT_69Lo_301Final

#301 CD 1000 Unembossed Glass Block, Bright green – The attractive, rich green glass makes these early insulators quite desirable. One of several blocks which were found during the 1960’s, stored within an old wooden box in a railroad depot in Gallatin, Tennessee. The insulators showed no sign of usage, and were probably placed in storage to be used on a nearby line. A telegraph line built through the area in the 1840’s was constructed with blocks, suggesting the Gallatin blocks may possibly have been extras from that project. Several different glass colors were discovered in the Gallatin find. Although this particular color was found in the greatest quantity, it is one of the brightest, most attractive colors. Since the discovery more than four decades ago, these historical relics have settled into collections and are seldom offered for sale. – Pole Top Discoveries | Auction #69

#303 .... U-970. .... Porcelain Threadless Egg. .... Unmarked. .... Grey-tan. .... Possibly made at Parr’s Pottery in Richmond, Virginia. Found at a Richmond, Virginia construction site in 1990. Local relic collectors discovered the site which was reported to be at the location of a Confederate supply depot during the Civil War.  With the hasty departure of citizens and military personnel from Richmond in April, 1865, as Union forces approached, these examples were abandoned in a building which was destroyed by fire. Only a limited number of this smaller porcelain egg were recovered in comparison to larger, glass CD 701.6, also found at the site in larger quantity. Two shallow wire ridge flakes, and two on the base. Nicer condition than most.

#303 U-970 Porcelain Threadless Egg, Unmarked, Grey-tanPossibly made at Parr’s Pottery in Richmond, Virginia. Found at a Richmond, Virginia construction site in 1990. Local relic collectors discovered the site which was reported to be at the location of a Confederate supply depot during the Civil War. With the hasty departure of citizens and military personnel from Richmond in April, 1865, as Union forces approached, these examples were abandoned in a building which was destroyed by fire. Only a limited number of this smaller porcelain egg were recovered in comparison to larger, glass CD 701.6, also found at the site in larger quantity. Two shallow wire ridge flakes, and two on the base. Nicer condition than most. – Pole Top Discoveries | Auction #69

#305 .... CD 701.6 .... Unmarked. .... Deep opaque green. .... Known as the “Confederate egg.” Discovered at a Richmond, Virginia construction site in 1990. The site reportedly was the location of a Confederate warehouse during the Civil War.  As a result of the burning of Richmond in April, 1865, most examples located within a crumbled brick building were melted or destroyed. Luckily, a sizable number survived and were recovered by eager diggers.  Historical significance makes these crude relics one of the most desirable insulators in the hobby today.  Crudely made with an extremely textured and pebbly surface! Much nicer than most. Free of the typical internal fractures and has only a half pinkie nail dome flake. A great example!

#305 CD 701.6 Unmarked Deep opaque greenKnown as the “Confederate egg.” Discovered at a Richmond, Virginia construction site in 1990. The site reportedly was the location of a Confederate warehouse during the Civil War. As a result of the burning of Richmond in April, 1865, most examples located within a crumbled brick building were melted or destroyed. Luckily, a sizable number survived and were recovered by eager diggers. Historical significance makes these crude relics one of the most desirable insulators in the hobby today. Crudely made with an extremely textured and pebbly surface! Much nicer than most. Free of the typical internal fractures and has only a half pinkie nail dome flake. A great example! – Pole Top Discoveries | Auction #69

69Lo_308Final

#308 CD 737 LEFFERTS Rich blue aqua – Bright sparkling glass. Overall, one of the very best Lefferts in the insulator hobby! The glass has great clarity and richness, and the condition is phenomenal, remaining very, very near mint. Most CD 737 Lefferts have been dug, with varying degrees of damage. An exception to the rule, this is a prime candidate for anyone who has waited for the ultimate example! – Pole Top Discoveries | Auction #69

PT_69Lo_309Final

#309 CD 723 Unmarked “Wood Covered Wade.” Wood/aqua glassAn incredible example from the Pat & Shirley Patocka collection! The entire unit remains in a fabulous state of preservation! The wood has the original thin coating of black coal tar, with well pronounced concentric lathe turnings on the wood surface. Complete with the original iron tie wire. The very near mint glass CD 723 “dot dash Wade” type insulator is firmly cemented with coal tar within the wood covering. In all respects, a museum quality example! Although no written history came with this item, it would appear the insulator was likely found in a building to remain in such wonderful condition. Few examples exist in such a wonderful state of preservation! – Pole Top Discoveries | Auction #69

Milford&Biddle

#312 CD 735 U.P.R.R MULFORD & BIDDLE Green, Rare Color! Mulford & Biddle was a company which operated in New York during the 1860’s. They advertised the sale of telegraph wire, and apparently supplied other telegraph related materials as well. The insulators with additional “U.P.R.R.” embossing were produced for use on the historic, first transcontinental railroad in America. Aqua examples have been discovered on the Wyoming and Utah segments of the 1860’s line. The much rarer green examples have been found in limited numbers on short stretches of track in Wyoming. Shallow base chip and two short fractures up from the base. Of the few green units known, this one has nice depth of color and remains in better condition than most. – Pole Top Discoveries | Auction #69

#313 .... CD 735 .... U.P.R.R. .... MULFORD & BIDDLE .... Rich, dark blue. .... Great depth of color and great condition!  Various shades and tints of blue colored glass can be found in the CD 735 U.P.R.R. This is among the richer, darker examples.  Even more important is the excellent overall condition! A beauty with only a little minor flaking, this gem ranks among the top two or three blue Mulfords that Pole Top has offered for sale in the past 43 years!  This high demand item surfaces on a regular basis with varying degrees of damage, but excellent examples are rarely encountered!

#313 CD 735 U.P.R.R MULFORD & BIDDLE Rich, dark blue, Great depth of color and great condition! – Various shades and tints of blue colored glass can be found in the CD 735 U.P.R.R. This is among the richer, darker examples. Even more important is the excellent overall condition! A beauty with only a little minor flaking, this gem ranks among the top two or three blue Mulfords that Pole Top has offered for sale in the past 43 years! This high demand item surfaces on a regular basis with varying degrees of damage, but excellent examples are rarely encountered! – Pole Top Discoveries | Auction #69

PT_69Lo_316b

#316 CD 740.7 “High Dome Canadian Hat” Unmarked, Light green, Circa 1857-1859 – A seldom encountered hat style threadless from Canada. The CD 740.7 has a base and skirt similar to that of the CD 740, but from the wire groove upward, there are some dramatic differences. The wire ridge on these units is sharply pronounced, and the dome is quite high with a flat top. This design has been found in limited numbers. Some were used on the Port Hope, Lindsay & Beaverton Railway which opened in 1857. A section of the main line Grand Trunk Railway in Southwestern Ontario also used this type. A lighter green tint, opposed to the medium green colouration sometimes seen in this style. Neat tilt to one side adds character! Bruise affects one fourth of the base. Remainder of insulator is very nice and free of any distractions or damage. – Pole Top Discoveries | Auction #69

PT_69Lo_321

#321 CD 743.1 Unmarked vivid yellow greenThe CD 743.1 threadless “beehive” has been found primarily along Canadian railway right of ways. Some of those railways were constructed in the 1869-1872 time period, indicating this threadless style may have been produced into the 1870’s, perhaps as late as about 1875. Threadless beehives produced with aquamarine coloured glass are somewhat scarce, but can be located within the hobby without great difficulty. Locating one in vivid yellow green, however, is extremely difficult! Only three or four whole examples, and two or three broken units have been confirmed to exist. Threadless of any design in this color are rarely seen. Previously sold in Pole Top Discoveries’ March, 1992 and May, 1999 auctions. One b-b ding on the dome and a fair sized skirt chip that does not go all the way through the glass. No cracks or other damage. An ultra rare, colourful beauty! How many decades will pass before another is available? – Pole Top Discoveries | Auction #69

#331 .... CD 740 .... TILLOTSON & CO .... 16 BROADWAY N.Y. .... Dark olive. .... A late 1960’s discovery, in a northeast Ohio bottle dump adjacent to a railroad controlled by the Erie Railway. The same color as the olive CD 735 Tillotson. A rarely encountered item! Perhaps less than a dozen CD 740 Tillotson are known, taking into account all known colors! Boldly embossed with “chiselled” prismatic style marking. All of the Tillotson insulators with “16 Broadway” marking exhibit great class! It is obvious L. G. Tillotson took great pride in his telegraph supply company and offered only the best of materials. Despite Tillotson’s domination in the telegraph supply industry during the 1860’s, very few of these marked threadless have surfaced. Skirt chip to the right, skirt fracture and other flakes and surface blemishes. Displays decent presently, or apply repair to have a fabulous appearing gem! The only example seen in this color!

#331 CD 740 TILLOTSON & CO. 16 BROADWAY N.Y. Dark oliveA late 1960’s discovery, in a northeast Ohio bottle dump adjacent to a railroad controlled by the Erie Railway. The same color as the olive CD 735 Tillotson. A rarely encountered item! Perhaps less than a dozen CD 740 Tillotson are known, taking into account all known colors! Boldly embossed with “chiselled” prismatic style marking. All of the Tillotson insulators with “16 Broadway” marking exhibit great class! It is obvious L. G. Tillotson took great pride in his telegraph supply company and offered only the best of materials. Despite Tillotson’s domination in the telegraph supply industry during the 1860’s, very few of these marked threadless have surfaced. Skirt chip to the right, skirt fracture and other flakes and surface blemishes. Displays decent presently, or apply repair to have a fabulous appearing gem! The only example seen in this color! – Pole Top Discoveries | Auction #69

#341 .... CD 127 .... W.U.P. .... 2 .... Rich, dark cobalt blue. .... Believed to have been produced by the same manufacturer as the embossed CD 132.2 S.T. Paisley, possibly in the Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania area. Exotic blue CD 127 are rarely offered for sale! Of the three or four known to have changed hands in the past 12 or 15 years, all we have seen are the lighter, sapphire toned examples. A dark cobalt, very near mint example would likely have several takers in the five figure price range. Flat chip on the front base and another on the reverse base/skirt were repaired many years ago. The resin has discolored. Although it still displays decent, a better looking repair could be made. Not a perfect example, but how many opportunities to make a purchase for one of these rarities will arise in a lifetime?

#341 CD 127 W.U.P 2 Rich, dark cobalt blue – Believed to have been produced by the same manufacturer as the embossed CD 132.2 S.T. Paisley, possibly in the Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania area. Exotic blue CD 127 are rarely offered for sale! Of the three or four known to have changed hands in the past 12 or 15 years, all we have seen are the lighter, sapphire toned examples. A dark cobalt, very near mint example would likely have several takers in the five figure price range. Flat chip on the front base and another on the reverse base/skirt were repaired many years ago. The resin has discolored. Although it still displays decent, a better looking repair could be made. Not a perfect example, but how many opportunities to make a purchase for one of these rarities will arise in a lifetime?

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#350 CD 123 E.C & M CO S.F. Chartreuse-olive with impurities “B” mold variant. 4-1/4” height  An incredible color, enhanced even further with olive amber streaking! Base/skirt chipping on the reverse. Flat base chip. Associated fracture which extends upward from the base, and through the dome. We were not aware this color existed in an EC&M until this beauty came to light! Pat & Shirley Patocka collection.

#393 .... CD 181 .... Unmarked “Pluto” .... Aqua. .... Perhaps the best condition example in the insulator hobby! This insulator was originally designed by R.H Pierce for use in subways on the grounds of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Numerous crossarms were placed one over the other with several insulators mounted on each crossarm. One contemporary article referred to them as the “butterfly” type. The special design allowed for two wires to be held in place on each insulator. After the fair was over, demolition crews were sent in, and in all likelihood the Plutos were salvaged and re-sold to other customers. Some were installed in the 1890’s on two power lines near Silverton, Colorado, which has been the source of most of them in the hobby. In 44 years of collecting, this is by far the absolute best condition example seen! Most would call it perfect mint! Noted is an uneven spot on the base mold line, a minuscule 1/4 the size of a pinhead. Might be “in the making,” and may be a tissue thin blemish. Regardless all the technicalities, this could well be the best Pluto in existence! You see damaged examples for sale, but you don’t see them this nice!

#393 CD 181 Unmarked “Pluto” AquaPerhaps the best condition example in the insulator hobby!
This insulator was originally designed by R.H Pierce for use in subways on the grounds of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Numerous crossarms were placed one over the other with several insulators mounted on each crossarm. One contemporary article referred to them as the “butterfly” type. The special design allowed for two wires to be held in place on each insulator. After the fair was over, demolition crews were sent in, and in all likelihood the Plutos were salvaged and re-sold to other customers. Some were installed in the 1890’s on two power lines near Silverton, Colorado, which has been the source of most of them in the hobby. In 44 years of collecting, this is by far the absolute best condition example seen! Most would call it perfect mint! Noted is an uneven spot on the base mold line, a minuscule 1/4 the size of a pinhead. Might be “in the making,” and may be a tissue thin blemish. Regardless all the technicalities, this could well be the best Pluto in existence! You see damaged examples for sale, but you don’t see them this nice!

Posted in Auction News, Collectors & Collections, History, Insulators, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2013 Downieville Antique Bottle Show

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Downieville Antique Bottle Show 

Photo Gallery | Part 4

21 September 2013 

Apple-Touch-IconAThis fourth and conclusion post from Downieville is a grouping of some show photography from Scott Selenak (FOHBC Photographer) and myself from the 2013 Downieville Antique Bottle Show. Always lots of fun and great glass.

Read Part 1: 2013 Downieville Sabbatical – “just us two dogs”

Read Part 2: Downieville – Goodyears Bar Excursion

Read Part 3: Downieville Antique Bottle Show Dinner Party

G A L L E R Y

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Rick Simi – Downieville Show Chair and Event Host

“I want to thank ALL the folks that attended our bottle show and wine tasting/BBQ event. We had right at 100 guests for our Friday night event and plenty of traffic all day Saturday during the bottle show.

Once again thanks to all of you that support our annual Downieville bottle show and hope to see all of you next year”

Rick & Cherry Simi

T H E   S H O W

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Show Check-In – Jackie Lindgren (left) Cherry Simi (right).

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Downieville Show Floor

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Looking at some old coins.

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Spectacular Catawba Wine Bitters

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Many tough decisions to make.

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Killer whiskey bottle display

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A very-used Doctor’s bag

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Ken Edward table

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Jerry Forbes bottles on Ken Edward light box.

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Gorgeous green Lacours

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Rick Lindgren and Jeff Wichmann working a marble deal.

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Randolph Haumann holding an Old Cabin Bitters

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Some later painted label bottles.

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Randolph Haumann looking over his table.

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Tons of applied top sodas.

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Striking stained glass – Carleton Straight Whiskey

S H O W   P E O P L E

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Dean Wright

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Dennis Fox

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Holabird-Kagin Americana Auctions

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Jackie Lindgren

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Mike Henness

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The Meyers arrive in style.

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Randy Taylor

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Rick Lindgren

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Richard Siri

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Vicky Kramer

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Coco waits outside.

T H E   R A F F L E

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From what I understand, Jeff Wichmann with American Bottle Auctions and now American Marble Auctions came through again and heavily supported the raffle.

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Leisa Lambert awarding a raffle bottle to Lou Lambert…hmmmm 🙂

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Leisa Lambert and Dean Wright

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A nice detail shot of one of the raffle considerations.

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Sierra Nevada Pale Ale neon sign raffle choice

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Pam Selenak and Leisa Lambert. I heard that Pam, Randy and Scott Selenak each won at the raffle. According to Scott, “It helps if you buy dozens of tickets”.

Posted in Bitters, Bottle Shows, Club News, Collectors & Collections, News, Photography, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What about this New Orleans Malakoff Bitters?

MalakofTC_F

What about this New Orleans Malakoff Bitters?

Malakoff Russian Stomach Bitters

21 September 2013 (updated 22 Sept 2013) (updated 25 September 2013) (R•060614) (R•o72314) (R•022219) (R•030419)

An ebony and aged Ganymede, however, appeared with coffee, and told me “the Captn wants ask weder you take some bitters, Sar;” and, indeed, “the Captain” did compound some amazing preparation for the judges and colonel present on deck and below that met the approval of them all, and was recommending it for its fortifying qualities in making a Redan and Malakoff of the stomach.

AFFAIRS AT FORT PICKENS.; Interesting Details of the Condition of Both Camps. Letter from Mr. W.H. Russell, Special Correspondent of the London Times., MOBILE, Thursday, May 16, 1861.

Apple-Touch-IconAYesterday I posted on Dr. Leon Hershberg’s Celebrated Russian Balsamic Bitters and even referenced the Russian Imperial Tonic Bitters in Friday’s Daily Dose. I guess it is a RED day as I am reminded of a rather outrageous trade card in my collection for a *Malakoff Russian Stomach Bitters. I hope I do not offend anyone. It is what it is. The illustration does get the point across though.

*Malakof misspelled on Trade Card

14. “N. KIEFFER – MALAKOFF BITTERS (five pointed star) – PATENTED SEPT. 18TH 1866”, (Ring/Ham, M-15), Louisiana, ca. 1965 – 1875, deep reddish amber, 11 5/8”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. A 1/4” chip/bruise is off the edge of the base, also a 1” area of roughness. Extremely rare, having only one auction record. Purchased from a construction worker who brought it to a New Orleans Bottle Show. Sidney Genius Collection. – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #128

The Malakoff (sometimes spelled incorrectly with one ‘f’) brand spans 10-15 years or so and I do not have a bottle. Very strange, as I have been looking since I obtained the trade card a number of years ago.

I believe ‘Malakoff’ in this case comes from the Battle of Malakoff which was a major battle during the Crimean War, fought between French-British forces against Russia on 7 September 1855 as a part of the Siege of Sevastopol.

Most information about the owner of this brand leads us to a Nicholas Kieffer (parents Nicholas Kieffer and Elizabeth Fual) who was born in 1796 in Alsace, France. Nicholas eventually came to the United States and settled in New Orleans, Louisiana. Kieffer may have served as a Private 2nd Company in the 4th Regiment French Brigade, Louisiana Militia and was reported in business in 1866 as a manufacturer of wholesale liquors. That same year, on 18 September 1866, he received a patent for Malakoff Bitters. In the mid to late 1870s, after Kieffer’s death, the brand was represented by Alphonse Walz of New Orleans and A. E. Neuberg of Chicago, which I find odd. The brand also moved into Texas and was marketed out of San Antonio in 1882.

MolakofTC_R

There are three listing in Bitters Bottles and Bitters Bottles Supplement that reference this New Orleans bitters. This trade card will be referenced in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2.

M.14  MALAKOFF BITTERS / N. KIEFFER ( au ) / N. O. // PATENTED SEPT. 18TH 1866 //
11 1/2 x 3 (7 1/2)
Round, Amber, LTC and LTCR, Applied mouth. Extremely rare
(New Number) M.14.5  // MALAKOFF BITTERS (motif of star) // PATENTED SEPT. 18TH 1866 //
11 3/8 x 3 (7 1/2)
Round, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth. Extremely rare, Embossed vertically bottom to shoulder.
M.15  MALAKOFF BITTERS / N. KIEFFER ( au ) // PATENTED SEPT. 18TH 1866 //
11 1/2 x 3 (7 1/4)
Round, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Rare
Chicago Directory 1876, A. E. Neuberg Co., Sole agent in the U.S.
Trade Mark No. 5,936, dated April, 1878 by Alphonse Walz, New Orleans
M.15.5  MALAKOFF BITTERS (star) // c // s //  N. KIEFFER // PATENTED SEPT. 18TH 1866 //
11 1/2 x 3 (7 1/4)
Round, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Metallic pontil mark, Very rare
MalakoffStar

M 14.5 Malakoff Bitters (Star) / Patented Sept. 18th 1866 (Notice that this example is not either of the three bottles listed in Ring in Ham noted above) From Wayne Loschen – Just saw your article about the Malakoff Bitters and thought you might like to see one dug by my sons and me in Shreveport, La. It was uncovered at the site of the new Millenium movie studios during the early construction stages. Unfortunately the excavator separated the top from the bottom of the bottle. We managed to find the top a few days later and glued it back on.

United States Patent Office

N. KIEFFER, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVED MEDICINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 5,806, dated September 18, 1866.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, N. KIEFFER, of New Orleans, in the Parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Medical Compound; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a new and improved medical compound or bitters which is in the form of a liquid.

This compound or bitters is composed of the following ingredients mixed together in or about the porportions named, and in a manner to be hereinafter explained four ounces lemon-peel, four ounces cinnamon, two ounces orange, two ounces galanga root, two ounces calamus-root, two ounces angelica-root, two ounces zedoary, four ounces cloves, five ounces anise-green, two ounces anise-star, one pound coriander, one-half pound chamomile-flowers, one-fourth pound cassia buds or flowers, one pound juniper-berries, one-half pound gentian root, one pound licorice root, one fourth pound laurel or bay berries, one pound caraway seeds, one-half pound peppermint herb, two pounds burnt coffee, three pounds sugar, cooked or boiled to syrup, and twenty-five gallons of whisky.

Each herb above mentioned is first soaked or steeped for about forty-eight hours in natural spirit or alcohol, and then severally distilled in a copper alembic, after which the several products of distillation thus obtained are mixed together, and, being diluted with a sufficient quantity of water to render the compound palatable and potable, the three pounds of sugar previously cooked or reduced to a syrup is then added, by which the desired color is produced, and a compound or bitters obtained which, as a beverage, is most healthy, invigorating, and beneficial.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The medical compound composed of the ingredients herein named and mixed togetherin or about the proportions named.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 30th day of May, 1866.

N. KIEFFER.

Witnesses JOHN HENRY GROTE, J. GRAEFF.

MalakoffTower

Malakoff Tower, Crimea – Jean-Charles Langlois

Battle of Malakoff

The Battle of Malakoff was a major battle during the Crimean War, fought between French-British forces against Russia on 7 September 1855 as a part of the Siege of Sevastopol. The French army under General MacMahon successfully stormed the Malakoff redoubt, whereas a simultaneous British attack on the Redan to the south of the Malakoff was repulsed. In one of the war’s defining moments, the French zouave Eugène Libaut raised the French flag on the top of the Russian redoubt. The Battle of Malakoff resulted in the fall of Sevastopol on 9 September, bringing the 11-month siege to an end. [Wikipedia]

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1855 Sevastopol Malakhoff Tower

Read about another bitters related to Crimea: “In Hoc Vinces” – Romaine’s Crimean Bitters

The Duke of Malakoff

OBITUARY; The Duke of Malakoff. Published: June 7, 1864, New York Times

By the European arrivals yesterday, we have intelligence of the death of the Duke of Malakoff, more widely known as General and Marshai PELLISSIER, the Commander-in-Chief of the French army in the siege of Sebastopol. Marshal PELISSIER was in his 70th year at the time of his death, having been born near Rouen, in 1794. After completing his military studies at St. Cyr, he was gazetted a Sal-Lieutenant in 1815. Subsequently he saw service in Spain in 1823, achieved the rank of Captain in 1828, served in Greece and afterward in Algeria up to 1832, when he returned to France for the recruitment of his health. In 1839 he returned to Algeria, where he remained in active service for a period of 16 years, and it was during this period of his career that his name was first given to the world, and in a character which was long regarded as infamous. A viciously hostile tribe of Arabs made themselves conspicuous in their resistance to French authority during the insurrection of 1845. Occupying mountain fastnesses almost impenetrable to the foreign soldier, these tribes were enabled for a long time to harrass the French troops, and to openly defy effective chastisement in return. An expedient — of which it is not known whether PILLISSIER was the actual author — was devised to smoke the Arabs out of their caves, or burn them alive in their retreats if they refused to surrender. Defiance was the only answer of the mountain chiefs to the threat of the French commanding officer, although it is said a large portion of the mountain warriors were willing to surrender. Be this as it may, their delay in listening to the summons determined their fate. PELLESSIER ordered the faggots to be applied to the mouths of the Cauerus, and 600 of the wretched Arabs were thus consigned to a horrible and barbarous death. Various have been the palliations offered for the act, and it may be hoped there were reasons for it sufficient to relieve the perpetrators, at least, of the charge of wanton murder. The act was condemned by the French Minister of War. PELISSIER, however, was not removed from his post in Algeria, but remained there till after the outbreak of the Crimean war, when he was appointed second in command to Gen. CANROBERT. On the 19th of May, 1855, he became Commander-in-Chief of the French force in the Crimea, and his successful storming of the Malakoff, led to the evacuation of the main Sebastopol forts be the Russians, and ultimately to negotiations which ended in peace. Gen. PELESSIER became a Marshal of France and Duke of Malakoff, with a high pension, as the reward of his services, by his own government. At the hands of her Britanic Majesty he received the decoration of a Knight’s Grand Cross; and was subsequently for a short time Minister to England in 1858.

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Super dark Malakoff Bitters – Courtney Frioux Collection

Select Listings:

Kieffer, N., Pvt. 2nd Co. 4th Regt. French Brig. La. Mil. On Roll not dated, ordered into the service of the State of Louisiana. (no date)
1861: (see top of post) AFFAIRS AT FORT PICKENS.; Interesting Details of the Condition of Both Camps. Letter from Mr. W.H. Russell – Special Correspondent of the London Times., Mobile, Thursday, May 16, 1861.
An ebony and aged Ganymede, however, appeared with coffee, and told me “the Captn wants ask weder you take some bitters, Sar;” and, indeed, “the Captain” did compound some amazing preparation for the judges and colonel present on deck and below that met the approval of them all, and was recommending it for its fortifying qualities in making a Redan and Malakoff of the stomach.
1866: N. Kieffer & Co. and Nicolas Kieffer, wholesale liquors, manufacturer, 255 Poydras –  Special IRS Tax Assessment, 1866

1867: Kieffer, N. (Nicholas), wines and liquors, Poydras, b Rampart and Basin –  New Orleans City Directory
1867: Newspaper advertisement (below) The Malakoff Bitters testimonials to Messrs. N. Kieffer & Hollander, No. 255 Poydras Street, Manufacturers of “Malakoff Bitters” – New Orleans Commercial Bulletin , November 30, 1867

1868: Kieffer N. & Co., (F. Hollander), liquor dealers, 255 Poydras – New Orleans City Directory
1870: Kieffer N. mnfr. of Patent Malakof Bitters, importer and dealer of Wines, Liquors, Ale and Lager Beer, 11 Rampart, 1st dist. res. same – New Orleans City Directory
1871: Kieffer & Hollander, (N. Kieffer and F. Hollander), mnfrs. Malakoff bitters, Western lager beer, ale and porter, 196 Canal, and 11 Rampart, 1st dist. – New Orleans City Directory
1872: Kieffer N. mnfr. of Malakoff Bitters, 72 Chartres, r. 11 Rampart, 1st dist.-New Orleans City Directory
1874-1876: A. E NEUBERG & CO., Chicago, IL. (1874-1876) “Sole agents in the US for Malakoff bitters” (1876). Business continues as Ferdinand Neuberger. Business name timeline: A. E. Neuberg & Co.
1878: Trademark (see below): The word ‘Malakof‘ (note spelling) and the engraving representing the Malakof tower. patent 5,936 by Alphonse Walz, February 18, 1878

1878: Newspaper advertisement (below) Malakoff Bitters, The Best Stomachic and Tonic, Alf. Walz, Sole Manufacturer – The Morning Star and Catholic Messenger (New Orleans), November 24, 1878

1880: Nicholas Keeffer [Kieffer], Retail Grocer, Age: 57, Birth Date: Abt 1823, Birthplace: Germany, Home in 1880: New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, Street: Bunville Street, House Number: 42, Dwelling Number: 148, Marital status: Married, Spouse’s name: Rachel Keeffer, Father’s Birthplace: Germany, Mother’s Birthplace: Germany, Household Members: Nicholas Keeffer 57, Rachel Keeffer 57, August Keeffer 16, Charles Keeffer 14 – 1880 United States Federal Census
1882: Newspaper advertisement (below) Malakoff Bitters, Alph. Walz, Sole Proprietor & Manufacturer, New Orleans – The Times Picayune, Tuesday, April 4, 1882

1882: Newspaper advertisement (below) Malakoff Bitters Under the direct management of N. Kiefer advertisement. F. Krisch & Bro. selling Malakoff and Universal Bitters – The San Antonio Light, Saturday, June 3, 1882 (see below)

1883: The Stamp Tax on Bitters, A Decision of Interest to Proprietors Made Two Years Ago mentions Malakoff BittersThe New York Times, August 21st, 1883

1893: Advertisement (below) A. Walz Co., Limited Wholesale Dealers in Cordials, Sole Proprietors and Manufacturers of the Celebrated Orleans Aromatic Bitters and Malakoff, Malakoff Bitters, 91 Decatur Street, New Orleans – Minutes of the … Annual Meeting of the Louisiana State Pharmaceutical Association, Volume 11, 1893

1894: Directory listing (below) for A. Walz & Co., 415 Decatur Street, Orleans ReDistilled Aromatic and Malakoff Bitters and Cordials – New Orleans City Directory

Posted in Ales & Ciders, Bitters, History, Humor - Lighter Side, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Tax Stamps, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Downieville Antique Bottle Show Dinner Party

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Rick and Cherry Simi’s historic house and patio, location for the dinner and wine tasting event.

Downieville Antique Bottle Show Dinner Party

Downieville Trip | Part 3

20 September 2013 

Apple-Touch-IconAThis third post from Downieville is a grouping of some nice photography from Scott Selenak (FOHBC Photographer) at Rick and Cherry Simi’s house this past Friday night prior to the Downieville Antique Bottle Show. This event is held each year by the Downieville show hosts and includes appetizers, a wine tasting, the barbecue, tons of side dishes, a bottle cake, a real saloon and a mine shaft. The weather was great and the turn-out was as big as expected. Coco had a super time too working the crowd. The fourth and final post will be some of Scotts show photography.

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Scott Selenak transferring images to my laptop.

Read Part 1: 2013 Downieville Sabbatical – “just us two dogs”

Read Part 2: Downieville – Goodyears Bar Excursion

G A L L E R Y

“I want to thank you and ALL the folks that attended our bottle show and wine tasting/BBQ event. We had right at 100 guests for our Friday night event and plenty of traffic all day Saturday during the bottle show.

Once again thanks to all of you that support our annual Downieville bottle show and hope to see all of you next year”

Rick & Cherry Simi

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One of the many patio tables earlier in the evening.

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Ken Edward and Jerry Forbes converse.

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Looking down on the patio as the crowd gathers.

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Dinner serving.

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Charlie Holt, Coco and moi.

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Ice cold Buds

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Chilled white wine to go along with the various reds.

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Will Clark, the wine (and ice-cream) town merchant and bottle friend held the wine tasting.

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Rick Simi carving.

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Friends eating as darkness sets.

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Another of host, Rick Simi carving his slow cooked meat.

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Nice looking down shot.

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Soooo much great food.

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Food serving.

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The line forms.

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Lou Lambert (left) probably talking about digging.

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Warm candle lit tables add to the charm.

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Bottle cake

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Waiting in line next to the Simi’s mine shaft. Left to right, Henry Guillen, Bob Franconi, Doug Hansen. Seated, Randy Taylor.

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Rick Simi (left) keeping an eye on the crowd. Doug Hansen, Henry Guillen standing. Dwayne Anthony and Randy Taylor seated.

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Mine shaft winds through to the Simi house.

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Opening of the Simi mine shaft.

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Bad bottle person

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Mid shaft to the Simi house

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Real saloon out building at the Simi house.

Posted in Bottle Shows, Club News, News, Photography | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Leon Hershberg’s Celebrated Russian Balsamic Bitters

RussianBalsamicBittersCrest

Celebrated Russian Balsamic Bitters

Leon Hershberg & Company

20 September 2013 (R•082519)

DR. LEON HERSHBERG, Of MOSCOW, RUSSIA, begs to inform the inhabitants of Oakland and vicinity, that he has established himself at the CORNER OF EIGHTH AND WASHINGTON STREETS, In this city, where he will keep a constant supply of the Celebrated Russian Balsamic Bitters.

RussianBalsamicBillheadDetail

Apple-Touch-IconAThere is an interesting letterhead for Russian Black Balsam and Celebrated Russian Balsamic Bitters on ebay that caught my attention. The listing reads for the most part:

You are bidding on an old and authentic 1882 dated RUSSIAN BALSAMIC BITTERS and RUSSIAN BLACK BALSAM fancy advertising billhead, from LEON HERSHBERG & CO., dealer in WINES LIQUORS etc, from OAKLAND (CALIFORNIA). This rare and desirable billhead measures 8 1/2″ by 7″ in size. A great go-with to any Bitters bottle collection. (thebottlevault/100%) See Listing

RussianBalsamicBittersBillhead

A quick look-see in Bitters Bottles shows a listing for:

R 132  RUSSIAN BLACK BALSAM BITTERS
Leon Hershberg & Company, Proprietor, Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma City Directory, 1885

The Oakland, California address may want to replace the sole Tacoma address above which came in the mis 1880s. Dr. Leon Hershberg and Isaac D. Ryttenberg partners. 1877 – 1887

We also need a full update in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 based on two distinct bitters products being noted.

Billhead
R 131.5 RUSSIAN BALSAMIC BITTERS, Bought of Leon Hershberg & Co. Importers and Jobbers of Foreign and Native Wines and Liquors, Proprietors and Manufacturers of the Celebrated Russian Balsamic Bitters and Russian Black Balsam. Leon Hershberg, I. D. Ryttenberg, 851 and 853 Washington Street, Near Seventh, Oakland (California), Nov. 30, 1881. See s R 132.
Advertisement
R 132 RUSSIAN BLACK BALSAM BITTERS, Trade Mark Russian Yellow Balsam and Russian Balsamic Bitters, Leon Hershberg & Co., Foreign and Native Wines and Liquors. 851 & 854 Washington Street, Near Seventh, Oakland. Proprietors and Manufacturer of the Celebrated Russian Balsamic and Russian Black Balsamic Bitters. Oakland, California City Directory, 1887.
See R 132 and s2R 131.5

HershbergBillhead2

Few Equal, none Excel ! Try it ! Try it ! Try it ! As we stake our reputation on this Bitters.

It looks as though no bottle has surfaced either embossed, labeled or both. The information on Leon Hershberg & Company is as follows:

Leon Hershberg & Co., Oakland, (California), Celebrated Russian Balsamic Bitters18811882 (Billheads above) *Also 1877, 1880, 1884, 1887
Dr. Leon Hershberg, 1877 Oakland Directory (see advertisement below)
Hershberg Leon & Co (Leon Hershberg and Isaac D. Ryttenberg), wholesale liquors, 853 Washington, 1877 Oakland Directory
HershbergListing1877

Listing Oakland Directory, 1877

Leon Hershberg & Company, Proprietor, Tacoma, Washington, Tacoma City Directory, 1885 (Ring & Ham)
Leon Hershberg & Co., NE cor 2nd & Yamhill, Portland, OR., 1885 (Directory note Pre-Pro.com)
Leon Hershberg & Co., Oakland, (California), Celebrated Russian Balsamic Bitters and Russian Black Balsam Bitters, Oakland City Directory, 1887 (see advertisement below)
RussianBalsamicBittersAd_1877Oakland

Listing here as a Dr. Leon Hershberg promoting his Russian Balsamic Bitters, Oakland Directory, 1877

RussianBalsamicBittersAd

Russian Yellow Balsam and Russian Balsamic Bitters advertisement, Oakland Directory, 1887 (Notice mention of Russian Black Balsam Bitters)

DR. LEON HERSHBERG,

Of MOSCOW, RUSSIA, begs to inform the inhabitants of Oakland and vicinity, that he has established himself at the CORNER OF EIGHTH AND WASHINGTON STREETS, In this city, where he will keep a constant supply of the Celebrated Russian Balsamic Bitters.

This Bitters is a pure compound of herbs, roots and flowers, that grow in the great
steppes in the Russian Empire and in Italy. It has gained a vast renown for its merits and good qiialities through the whole empire; and is the best remedy fof Headache, Biliousness, Loss of Appetite, Dyspepsia, General Debility, Liver Complaint, Purities the Blood, produces a Tender and Smooth Skin, instantly relieves all kinds of Colics, Cramps of the Stomach or Bowels, will stop Diarrhoea or Dysentery immediately. Costiveness will be regulated by it in a natural way. Will stop all kinds of Fevers, as Fever and Ague, Intermittent, etc., and will restore rest to those who are sleepless and nervous. No Family should be without it. Few Equal, none Excel ! Try it ! Try it ! Try it ! As we stake our reputation on this Bitters. Call and sample the same. Also we keep a full line of Pure Choice Imported and Native AVines, Liquors, Ales, etc., for Medicinal aud Family Use, to which we cordially invite the attention of the public. We guarantee our goods all we claim for them, and ask only a trial to prove the same. Respectfully,

Oakland, Cal., May, 1877. LEON HERSHBERG & CO.,

Sole Proprietors of the Russian Balsamic Bitters.

P. S.- All goods delivered to any part of the city Free. Druggists and the Trade supplied at reasonable rates.

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, eBay, History, Medicines & Cures, Spirits, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Downieville – Goodyears Bar Excursion

GoodyearSchoolhouseBell

Goodyears Bar Excursion

Downieville Trip | Part 2

18 September 2013 

Apple-Touch-IconAThe first post from Downieville centered around my trip up here with my running companion Coco (Read: 2013 Downieville Sabbatical – “just us two dogs”) (See: Downieville Antique Bottle Show Dinner Party). This second post deals with a side trip that Jerry Forbes, Steve Bird, Coco and myself took this past Sunday to Goodyears Bar.

The Goodyear boys built a sturdy cabin and before long the rich deposits attracted a number of miners to their camp, which was given the name Goodyears Bar in honor of its founders.

GoodyearsBarHotel

Goodyears Bar Hotel, around 1891

Goodyears Bar in this case, does not mean a bar as in a saloon, nor a bar as in gold bar. It means bar as in a shoal or sandbar. This would be a linear landform within or extending into a body of water, typically composed of sand, silt or small pebbles.

GoodyearsBarIllus

Early Goodyears Bar Illustration

According to Wikipedia, Goodyears Bar, known as Slaughter’s Bar before 1851, is a census-designated place in Sierra County, California. Goodyears Bar is located along the North Yuba River and California State Route 49, 3.25 miles west-southwest of Downieville. The post office opened in 1851. The 2010 United States Census reported that Goodyears Bar had a population of 68.

AckerlyAd

O. F. Ackerly advertisement. Established 1854

GoodyearsBar Advertising Cover

1880s Goodyears Bar advertising cover for National Horse Liniment at O.F. Ackerly – ebay

Goodyears Bar Town History

[from the California Gold Country]

The brothers Miles and Andrew Goodyear, along with a Dr. Vaughan and a Mr. Morrison, prospected here in the summer of 1849 and found gold enough for their liking to settle down at this crossing of the Yuba River. The Goodyear boys built a sturdy cabin and before long the rich deposits attracted a number of miners to their camp, which was given the name Goodyears Bar in honor of its founders.

Miles Goodyear, a native of Connecticut, had come west with a missionary party led by Dr. Marcus Whitman who was on his way to establish a mission along the Columbia River. After a falling out with the good doctor, Miles headed off into the wilderness and eventually settled down in Utah Territory, building a cabin of cottonwood logs in either 1844 or 1845 on the site of the future town of Ogden. When the Mormons arrived a couple of years later, Miles left and joined his brother in California and began prospecting. Shortly after settling down at Goodyears Bar, Miles took ill, and after lingering on for a few months, died on November 12 of 1849. Andrew wrapped his brother in a buffalo robe and buried him in an old rocker on a point opposite the bar, where he remained until his brother took his bones to Benicia, his final resting place.

Goodyears Creek was incredibly rich along its entire length, having been literally fed gold for thousands of years as it chewed through gold-bearing ledges and the beds of ancient rivers and streams.

Goodyears Creek was incredibly rich along its entire length, having been literally fed gold for thousands of years as it chewed through gold-bearing ledges and the beds of ancient rivers and streams. At one spot near the upper end of the bar, a group of men cleaned up $2,000 in gold from a single wheelbarrow of dirt. Finds such as this spurred the miners to prospect every bar on the river, resulting in some of the most interesting named camps in the Gold Country. Cut-Throat Bar, so named because a sick German cut his own throat there. Hoodoo Bar, named for the peculiar manner in which the local Indians said How-dye-do, Nigger Slide, St. Joe’s Bar, and Ranty Doodler Bar were all rich camps in the vicinity.

Cut-Throat Bar, so named because a sick German cut his own throat there. Hoodoo Bar, named for the peculiar manner in which the local Indians said How-dye-do, Nigger Slide, St. Joe’s Bar, and Ranty Doodler Bar were all rich camps in the vicinity.

The camp suffered great hardships during the winter of 1849/50 as snowfalls came earlier and in greater depths than usual. Food became terribly scarce as supply trains could no longer reach the town. When parties from the outlying camps came in with the hopes of purchasing supplies, they found what little there was to buy food, tools, or blankets sold for the same price: $4 a pound. Many left for lower ground to wait out the winter. Some of those who remained were forced to dine on beef bones from a dead animal found lying on the bar before supplies finally arrived.

Good fortune returned to the bar with the arrival of spring. In fact, the area grew so rapidly between the years of 1850 and 1852 that the claims staked along the Yuba, Goodyears Creek, Woodruff and Rock creeks formed an unbroken chain which rivaled Downieville in importance. Goodyears Bar had all the trappings of civilization; express office, saloons, stores, hotels, bakeries, restaurants, churches, and many cabins and dwellings. The post office was established on October 7 of 1851, with Mr. Woodruff as the first Postmaster and by 1852 the camp polled more than six hundred votes. Mining was being carried on extensively, mostly with flumes erected to divert the waters of the Yuba so the rich bed could be worked thoroughly.

The towns first school was a private one begun in 1856 with a Mrs. Massey as the first teacher. The money needed for the erection of the schoolhouse and for the teachers salary came from donations made by the townsfolk. If additional monies were needed for books or furnishings, a fund raiser would be held, generally raising the amount needed.

With a good number of kids in town, it is no wonder there were also a bunch of dogs. In fact, there were apparently too many dogs at one time, for early in the town is history the following notice was posted:

NOTICE TO DOGS

All dogs within the limits of Goodyears Bar will please take notice, that by the laws of said town, you are required to call immediately to the marshalls office and obtain a tag. On and after four days all dogs found within said limits without a tag will be impounded at their own expense, and after imprisonment for three days will be shot until they are dead.

Records fail to show if the dogs heeded the notice.

Nothing much from the mining days remains in Goodyears Bar, but the beautiful setting of this historic gold camp more than makes up for any lack of Gold Rush remains. Situated at an elevation of 2,700 feet, the town rests on a small flat on the south side of the Yuba River, almost upon the abandoned diggings themselves. Towering mountains surround the old river camp Saddle Back, Monte Cristo, Fur Cap, Grizzly Peak, and others cloaked with a thick green mantle of pines, oaks, maple and dogwood, except for spots where the granite rock of the Sierra remains uncovered.

Read More: Sierra County History Goodyears Bar

GOODYEARS BAR

GoodyearBarBridge

Goodyears Bar Bridge at North Fork Yuba River

GoodyearSchoolhouse

Goodyears Bar Schoolhouse

GoodyearSign

Historical sign for Goodyears Bar School and Community Hall – Built in 1862

GoodyearPlaque

Goodyears Bar Schoolhouse Commerative Plaque

GoodyearMuseumYard

Schoolhouse yard is now a museum of mining relics

GoodyearSluce

Another picture of the schoolhouse yard. Look at the bark tee-pee.

GoodyearWaterCanons

Water canons for blasting the mountains to loosen the soil.

GoodyearWheel

Early Pelton Wheel

GoodyearCart

Loaded mining car

GoodyearChimes

Nice wine glass wind chimes on a abandoned house.

GOODYEARS BAR DIG

While we were looking around Goodyears Bar, Jerry and Steve remembered an old town dump that they had discovered during a previous outing. It happens that the dump is over two abandoned and closed off mines, one being a Chinese mine due to the labor used. It seemes that the path far above the mines was a great spot to throw trash. So here you have about 160 years or more of trash.

The claim holder for the area and his black dog (fun for Coco) joined us and helped dig bottles. He seemed to know a lot about the history of the mines. He said most bottles have already been picked over the years. According to this fellow, we are talking tens of thousands of bottles if you can believe him. As we climbed up the hill, you could see a ledge with bottles beneath in the dirt. The rocks and debris field was littered with sharp glass.

After a dangerous climb up the hill, Jerry and the claim fellow were puling a bottle every thirty seconds or so. Unfortunately, most of these bottles were 1930’s era though wee a few corkers. I can only imaging what is beneath or what was pulled before. The amount of broken glass and plates is staggering.

Here are a few pictures I took.

GoodyearChineseMine

The Chinese mine entrance, long since closed off. Jerry Forbes pokes around.

GoodyearWorkingLedge

The dangerous ledge. Dozens of bottles underneath the overhang. The mine entrances are down hill.

GoodyearCloseLedge

Closer-up shot of the ledge. The plastic bin is full of newly uncovered bottles.

GoodyearJerryCave

Searching for bottles beneath the overhang ledge in the dump.

GoodyearJerryHill2

The lower dump debris field had lots of old plates and glass shards. Some looked rather old.

GoodyearRakeBottle

Honing in on a bottle. I kept thinking the ledge would cave in.

GoodyearDirtLedge

Lots and lots of glass pieces. We did not have gloves. Problem!

GoodyearMysteryOwner

Mystery claim holder joins the hunt.

GoodyearBottles

A few of our finds.

GoodyearVial

Jerry found this cool vial, probably worn around the neck with a perfume.

GoodyearCoco

Coco played the whole time. I had to keep her away from all the broken glass.

GoodyearBlackDog

The black dog. Kept Coco occupied.

Posted in Digging and Finding, History, Museums, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments