The Widemann & Chappas Alpine Stomach Bitters – Marysville

Posted on 5 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

WidemannChappaz_ABA1

Bottle examples in this post courtesy American Bottle Auctions

The Widemann & Chappas

Alpine Stomach Bitters

05 September 2013
InsideGoldenEagle

This 1856 photograph shows the interior of the Golden Eagle Hotel and Bar with its beautiful birds and wood-accented décor. – Marysville. Ca. The exterior of the hotel is pictured at the bottom of this post.

Apple-Touch-IconAOne can only imagine this dandy gentleman being served a bottle of Alpine Stomach Bitters at the Golden Eagle Hotel and Bar (pictured above) in 1856. Who knows, maybe this is Widemann and Chappas posing behind the bar? Probably not, as Widemann had his establishment at the Wisconsin House as you will see.

Again I made a trip to the car only to find the fifth and sixth one sitting there next to the hole when I came back. Time to take another trip to the car!

from A Quick Exit for Two Lucky Diggers

Over a year ago we looked at a post on the Alpine Herb Bitters by Thomas Taylor Company from San Francisco in 1888 and followed up recently with the Alpine Bitters put out by Kornemann & Co. in New York in 1869. An then we followed with a unlisted Alpine Stomach Bitters by Gehrmann, Ahrens Co. in Manhattan.

We now will re-look at the Alpine Stomach Bitters by Widemann & Chappas from Marysville, California.

MarysvilleFireLitho

Marysville Town Fire, 1851. This lithograph shows the bucket brigade that assisted in quelling the worst fire ever to hit Marysville. The entire city nearly burned to the ground, and the cost of damages was over one-half million dollars.

Reading up on Marysville is interesting, especially when you find that the city nearly burned to the ground in 1851. They must have reconstructed rather quickly because the Alpine Stomach Bitters was being marketed by E. Widemann and J. Chappas in 1864. Widemann even had a listing for his liquor store in a Marysville directory in 1855, just four years after the fire!

Looking in the Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham Bitters Bottles Supplement there is a listing for:

A 35.5  L…Alpine Celebrated Stomach Bitters
// s // E. WIDEMANN ( au ) / & / J. CHAPPAS
11 5/8 x 2 3/4 (5 7/8)
Round-lady’s leg, ARM, Applied mouth,
Puce, Very rare, Green, Extremely rare
Spelling on advertisement is WIDEMANN. On bottle the embossing is WIDEMAN which is slightly off center with a blank space where a second N could have been embossed.
Assumed identity, no labeled bottle known.
Widemann & Chappas was located at the Wisconsin House Corner B and Third St., Marysville, Calif. from approximaely 1864 to 1868.
Most known examples were dug in Marysville, Ca.

Jeff Wichmann published an excellent article over at American Bottle Auctions:

A Quick Exit for Two Lucky Diggers

by Marty Lucich

It was one of those rare situations back in the 1970s, for us, that day luck was on our side. After walking behind some apartments, probing three holes, we needed permission to dig them. Elmer and I knocked on one of the rear doors and asked permission to dig. The occupant didn’t speak English but said yes anyway. It was obvious this was not the owner so we knew we could get kicked out at anytime. Even though we had “permission” we decided to park down the alley just in case there were any problems. We picked what we thought was the best hole to dig first and starting digging at a pretty fast rate. Elmer was the strongest so he did most of the digging.

As he got close to the bottom out came the first bottle of the hole, an eye opening apricot puce E. Wideman / J. Chappaz! Before I started to take it to the car out came a second. I went to put then in the car and when I came back, there was third one lying there next to the hole and soon a fourth one was pulled out. Again I made a trip to the car only to find the fifth and sixth one sitting there next to the hole when I came back. Time to take another trip to the car!

READ MORE

WidemannEmboss_Green

Gorgeous green, E. WIDEMAN & J. CHAPPAS (reverse Z), Widemann misspelled Wideman – American Bottle Auctions

WidemannEmboss_Puce

The puce E. WIDEMAN & J. CHAPPAS (reverse Z), Widemann misspelled Wideman – American Bottle Auctions

ADVERTISING

Widemann_ImportantNotice

Widemann Important Notice – Marysville Daily Herald, 13 October 1855

widemann1855

Widemann advertisement, Marysville Daily Herald, 22 November 1855

WidemannSmallAd

Widemann advertisement, Marysville Daily Herald, 3 January 1856

Alpine_Stomach_Bitters-WidemannAd

E. Widemann, Celebrated Alpine Stomach Bitters advertisement (probably 1863) Chappas not listed.

AlpineStomachBitters_W&C_ABA

Alpine Celebrated Stomach Bitters by E. Widemann & J. Chappas with a Depot in San Francisco. – 1864

Wideman&ChappasListing1

Wideman & Chappas Alpine Bitters listing – Report of the Fourth Industrial Exhibition of the Mechanics’ Institute of the City of San Francisco – 1864 *Pictures exist of the Fourteenth Exhibition in 1879 but would not show this product.

CaseBittersW&C

Case Bitters, Widemann & Chappas and One hundred and forty-five cases Salutarus Bitters, Byrnes & Castree in Case 3 at the Fourth Industrial Exhibition of the Mechanics’ Institute of the City of San Francisco – Daily Alta California, 8 September 1864

Barthe&PacheSuccessors

E. Barthe & B. Pache, Successors to E. Widemann – Marysville Daily Appeal, March 9, 1872

TIMELINE

1854

Advertisement: Widemann, Importer and Wholesale Dealer in Wines, Liquors, Wisconsin House, Corner of B and 8d street, Marysville *Widemann not listed in 1853 Directory.

1855

Advertisement: Widemann, Importer and Dealer in Wines, Brandies, Liquors, Alcohols &c, Wisconsin House, Corner of B and 8d street, Marysville

1856

Advertisement: Widemann, Importer and Dealer in Wines, Brandies, Liquors, Alcohols &c, Wisconsin House, Corner of B and 8d street, Marysville

1857

Listing: Widemann, E., Wholesale Liquor Store, cor Third and B, Germany, 1857 Marysville Directory

1863

Advertisement: E. Widemann, Wholesale Dealer in Native Wines, Liquors, Cognacs and Provisions. Proprietor of the Celebrated Alpine Stomach Bitters, at the Wisconsin House, Corner of B and Third Street, Maryscille (Probsably 1863 as Chappas not listed) *see advertisement above.

1864

Listing: Wideman & Chappas Alpine Bitters listing – Report of the Fourth Industrial Exhibition of the Mechanics’ Institute of the City of San Francisco – 1864

Advertisement: Newspaper ad, Alpine Celebrated Stomach Bitters, Marysvile, California, 1864, Bitters Bottles

1867

Listing: E. Wideman, B St. & 3rd, Marysville, Yuba, California, liquors, Pacific Coast Directory, 1867

1872

Advertisement: E. Barthe & B. Pache, Successors to E. Widemann – Marysville Daily Appeal, March 9, 1872

Note: What is interesting, is that there are no strong listings for E. Widemann or J. Chappas in ancestry wen sites or forums, nor are there any other references or pictures of the Wisconsin House. It is only assumed that the bottles pictured were labeled and contained the Celebrated Alpine Stomach Bitters.

MARYVILLE FLASKS

MarysvilleFlasks

Mountainbrook Whiskey, John L. Stewart, Marysville, Cal & W.W. Ward Grotto Marysville from Western Flasks by Ralph Van Brocklin

EARLY MARYSVILLE, CALIFORNIA

BirdsEyeMV

In 1842, John Sutter leased part of his Rancho New Helvetia land to Theodore Cordua, a native of Mecklenburg in Germany, who raised livestock and, in 1843, built a home and trading post he called New Mecklenburg.[2] The trading post and home was situated at what would later become the southern end of ‘D’ Street, Marysville’s main street. In 1844, the Mexican government granted Cordua his own land grant, Rancho Honcut.
In 1848, a former employee of Cordua, Charles Covillaud, discovered riches in the gold fields and bought half of the Cordua ranch. Then, in January 1849, Michael C. Nye and William Foster Nye, brothers-in-law to Covillaud’s wife, Mary Murphy, bought the other half of the Cordua ranch. They later sold their interest to Covillaud. In October of the same year, Covillaud sold most of the ranch to Jose Ramirez, John Sampson, and Theodore Sicard. In the days of the Gold Rush, the ranch was a stopping point for riverboats from Sacramento and San Francisco that carried miners on their way to the digging grounds. A sign on the roadside as one enters Marysville carries the slogan: “Gateway to The Gold Fields.” Read More on Wikipedia

Read: THE TOWN OF MARYSVILLE from the Marysville Herald, August 1850

The town of Marysville is geographically speaking, in a position to become one of the most important in the Eureka State. It already numbers three thousand
inhabitants, celebrated for their industry, commercial enterprise, and public spirit.

Tidbits

A small brewery was built in Marysville by John Rueger, in 1852, corner of First and C streets. Its successor is the present California Brewery, owned by Gotlieb Sieber. There are six men employed here and the annual manufacture is over thirty-five thousand gallons. In the great flood of 1875 the brewery sustained a loss of about six thousand dollars, and in April, of the same year, it was destroyed by fire. A new frame building has since been erected. – Yuba County, California History

About 1856, an ale brewery was built on Feather river at the foot of Third street, by an Englishman, but it was not long operated, and was converted in 1859, into a beer brewery by a man named Meyer. This was in operation but a few years. – Yuba County, California History

Wine was made in Marysville, by J.M. Ramirez, as early as 1855, though none was made for the market prior to 1859, when Charles Covillaud, who had been making small quantities for several years, commenced its manufacture on a larger scale. A great deal of wine is now throughout the county, by a number of persons who have vineyards. The largest vineyard and winery near Marysville is that of Grass Bros. They commenced the manufacture as early as 1863, and now have twenty-five acres of vineyard. This, at an average of one thousand vines to the acre, makes a total of twenty-five thousand vines, which are of forty-three varieties. They have made as high as seventeen thousand gallons of seven varieties of wine in one year. Last year their manufacture was, however, but four thousand five hundred gallons. Some of the wine made here is shipped direct to the East, but the larger portion is sold in San Francisco. Two of the finest varieties of grapes, cultivated here, were imported from South America, by J. M. Ramirez; they are the Rose of Peru, and the Chile Rose. – Yuba County, California History

A soda water and sarsaparilla factory was started in 1865. It is located at No. 82, Second street, and two men are employed there; L. Belding is the proprietor. – Yuba County, California History

May 20, 1872, the Johnston Wine and Brandy Manufacturing Co. was formed for the manufacture of those liquors by the Johnston process. The capital stock was $100,000, divided into one thousand shares. Of this, about $27,000 were
subscribed. That year a large quantity of both wine and brandy was made, but on account of the low price, the company became involved in debt, and was finally compelled to discontinue their business. – Yuba County, California History

GoldenEagleHotelMarysville

Golden Eagle Hotel and Bar in Marysville, California, 1856 – Historic Downtown Marysville – The Golden Eagle Hotel, a three-story brick building containing forty rooms, was erected in 1862 by A. Farnham.

MVRain

Marysville D. Street. Although the exact date is uncertain, records indicate that sometime in the 1850s, Marysville received over 1.75 inches of rain in less than 15 minutes. – Historic Downtown Marysville

D&JBuilding

Banking House of Decker & Jewett, 60 D. Street, Marysville

Posted in Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Different bottles same color, same bottles different colors

Posted on 5 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

SteveFilmArt

"Different bottles same color, same bottles different colors…

Steve Mello

05 September 2013

More: Steve Mello with a Window Shade and Bottles

Mello1

Mello3

Mello2

Mello4

Posted in Color, Flasks, Photography, Spirits, Windows | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Our Most Celebrated Alpine Stomach Bitters

Posted on 4 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V
AlpineStomach_GehrmannAd

Advertisement Gehrmann, Ahrens & Co., importers and distillers, Manufacturers of Our Most Celebrated Alpine Stomach Bitters – New York City Directory, 1862 & 1865

“Our Most Celebrated” Alpine Stomach Bitters

GEHRMANN, AHRENS & CO. | NYC

04 September 2013 (R•081919)

Apple-Touch-IconAGood grief, this is a tough one. All I can find is a Ludwig Gehrmann and a John Ahrens in New York City in and around 1865. They represented Gehrmann, Ahrens & Co., who put out “Our Most Celebrated” Alpine Stomach Bitters. They were located on 26 Canal Street in the heart of lower Manhattan. The stories surrounding this neighborhood are amazing.

The new listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Advertisement
A 37.5 ALPINE STOMACH BITTERS, Wines and Liquors. Gehrmann, Ahrens & Co., Importers of Brandies, Rums, Whiskies, Gins, Wines, &c., Manufacturers of Our Most Celebrated Alpine Stomach Bitters, No. 26, Canal Street, Cor. of Rutgers St., New York., New York City Directory, 1862 and 1865.

This is not about the Alpine Herb Bitters represented by Thomas Taylor Company from San Francisco in 1888 nor the Alpine Bitters put out by Kornemann & Co. in New York in 1869. Another Alpine Bitters! And yes, I am aware of the E. Widemann “Alpine Stomach Bitters“. Stay tuned on that one.

HudsonStreet1865

Group street-front pose on Hudson Street – circa 1865

1865 City Mortality in NYC

CITY MORTALITY. — From the City Inspector’s report it appears that 660 deaths occurred in this city during the past week – 106 men, 100 women, 262 boys and 192 girls – being an increase of 106 upon the mortality of the previous week, and of 50 upon that of the corresponding week of 1864. Of the deceased 416 were children under five years of age. The mortality of the principal diseases were as follows Cholera infantum, 148; consumption, 59; infantile marasmus, 56; convulsions, 45; diarrhoea, 32; dysentery. 20; croup, 5; bilious fever, 5; typhus fever, 24; scarlet fever, 8; inflammation of the lungs, 32; small-pox, 8. – New York Times – July 19, 1865

Listings:

Gehrmann, Adolph, 159 First ave., Trow’s New York City Directory, 1865

Gehrmann, Ludwig, distiller, 26 Canal, Trow’s New York City Directory, 1865

Gehrmann, Ludwig, liquors, 26 Canal, New York City Directory, 1868, 1869

Gehrmann, Ahrens & Co., importers and distillers, 26 Canal, Trow’s New York City Directory, 1865

Ahrens, John G. H., distiller, 26 Canal, Trow’s New York City Directory, 1865

Ahrens, Jno G. H., retail, 89 Murray, Bonfort’s Wine and Liquor Trade Directory for the United States, 1875

Ahrens, John G. H., wines, 89 Murray, City Directories of New York City, 1878

Gehrmanns&AhrensListing_1865NY

Various Gehrmann listings – Trow’s New York City Directory, 1865

Rectifying Establishment Explosion:

EXPLOSION IN RUTGERS-STREET. — At about 8 o’clock yesterday morning a copper-still exploded in Mr. LUDWIG GEHRMANN‘s rectifying establishment, at Nos. 2 Rutgers and 26 Canal-streets, and THEODORE HUNGER, of Division-street, and JOHN ENGLER, were severely cut, bruised and scalded. Mr. HUNGER was taken home, and a policeman removed ENGLER to Bellevue Hospital. Mr. GEHRMANN has $6,500 insurance against fire in the New-Amsterdam office. He estimates his loss at $150. – New York Times – July 19, 1865

Disastrous Fire, New York Times, July 14, 1865

BAM-photo

A photograph of Barnum’s American Museum, New York City – 1858

Read: Total Destruction of Barnum’s American Museum. Nine Other Buildings Burned to the Ground. LOSS ESTIMATED AT $1,000,000.

26 Canal Street | Gehrmann, Ahrens & Co:

Canal Street takes its name from a canal that was dug in the early 19th century to drain a contaminated and disease-ridden Collect Pond into the Hudson River. The pond was filled in 1811, and Canal Street was completed in 1820 following the angled path the canal had.

CanalBroadwayCorner

Corner of Canal and Broadway, NYC – circa 1834

Watch: Short Documentary “Forgotten New York, Canal Street”

26 Canal Street today:

Losing some of its charm for sure, 26 Canal Street today.

26 Canal Street

26CanalLong

see 26 Canal Street now

Posted in Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant, Spirits, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Otto Kornemann and his Alpine Bitters Statuette

Posted on 4 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

AlpineBittersStatuette

Otto Kornemann and Julius Jungbluth

Alpine Bitters Statuette & Trademark

04 September 2013

Apple-Touch-IconAFirst of all, we are not talking about the western, Alpine Herb Bitters put out by Thomas Taylor Company in San Francisco. We are however, speaking of the Alpine Bitters manufactured and marketed by Otto Kornemann & Julius Jungbluth in New York City. These two actually had a design patent for a statuette or “ornamental device, intended more especially for bars of drinking-houses, hotels, and saloons where Alpine Bitters is offered for sale.” They also had a “new and original design for a trade-mark for distinguishing and identifying the true Alpine Bitters as manufactured and sold by”…

What prompted this post today was finding this Alpine Bitters advertisement below in the Galveston Bulletin dated Wednesday, March 8, 1871. Why so far away? Why no bottles? Again, every bottle or brand has a story.

These bitters are the pure extracts of herbs and roots, which grew only on the mountains of Switzerland and the Alpine regions..

AlpineBittersKornemannAd

Alpine Bitters, Kornemann & Co., New York advertisement – Flake’s Semi-Weekly Galveston Bulletin. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 99, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 8, 1871

Select Listings:

Kornemann & Co. (Otto Kornemann & Julius Jungbluth) S. Cedar, The Trow City Directory Co.’s, Formerly Wilson’s, Copartnership and Corporation Directory of New York City, 1866
Kornemann & Co., imps. 8 cedar, City Directories of New York, 1866
Design Patent: 3517, Statuette, Otto Kornemann & Julius Jungbluth, New York City, Scientific American, Volume 20, 1869
Trade Mark: 4,005, Otto Kornemann & Julius Jungbluth, New York, NY

No known embossed Alpine Bitters bottles exist to my knowledge though there is a notation in the Bitters Bottles book by Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham for an Alpine Bitters by Kornemann & Co. which is:

A 35 ALPINE BITTERS
For Sale Only By Korenmann & Co., (sp: Kornemann) importers and sole agents. 8 Cedar Street, New York. The popular European tonic and anti-dyspeptic elixir. Made entirely of roots and herbs.

The new listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Advertisement
A 35 ALPINE BITTERS, State Agent for Alpine Bitters, Kornemann & Co., 8 Cedar street, New York. These celebrated Swiss Bitters are a very agreeable stomach Strengthening tonic. The popular European tonic and anti-dyspeptic elixir. Made entirely of roots and herbs., Flake’s Semi-Weekly Galveston Bulletin. (Galveston, Texas.), March 8, 1871
Design Patent 3517: Statuette, Otto Kornemann & Julius Jungbluth, New York City, June 1, 1869.
Trade Mark 4,005: New and original design for a trade-mark for distinguishing and identifying the true Alpine Bitters as manufactured and sold by us, Otto Kornemann and Julius Jungbluth, United States Patent Office 1870

Design Patent 3517

“ornamental device, intended more especially for bars of drinking-houses, hotels, and saloons where Alpine Bitters is offered for sale.”

KornemannPatentCover

Design Patent 3517: Statuette, Otto Kornemann & Julius Jungbluth, New York City

 

KornemannPatent

Design Patent 3517: Statuette, Otto Kornemann & Julius Jungbluth, New York City

Trade Mark 4,005

“new and original design for a trade-mark for distinguishing and identifying the true Alpine Bitters as manufactured and sold by us”

KornemannTrademark

Otto Kornemann and Julius Jungbluth Trademark beneath a Hoffheimer Bavarian Bitters brand trademark. – United States Patent Office 1870

 

AlpineBittersTrademarkKeg

Otto Kornemann and Julius Jungbluth Trademark 4,005

 

KornemannTrademarkDoc

Otto Kornemann and Julius Jungbluth Trademark 4,005 – United States Patent Office, May 3, 1870

KORNEMANN & CO. bottle

The only Kornemann bottle picture (horizontal below) I could find was over at Antique-bottles.net. I believe this might be the bottle with an applied label reading Alpine Bitters. According to jkeeney (bottle lister), the bottle is embossed with “KORNEMANN & CO”. The seam stops at the beginning of the neck. It is 10 1/2″ high  by 2 3/4″ diameter. The bottle is 12 sided that stops at the shoulder.

JuliusJungbluthBottle“Very interesting! Two examples of an amber bottle embossed simply ‘Julius Jungbluth’, same shape as the Kornemann bottle, were found years ago in Alta, Utah. Always wondered where they were from and what they contained.” – Roger Terry

kornemann&cobottle

Above horizontal picture embossed only “KORNEMANN & CO.“. Also depicted above is a “JULIUS JUNGBLUTH” embossed bottle noted by Roger Terry.

Lawsuit

OttoKornemannSuit

Mention of lawsuit by Otto Kornemann and Julius Jungbluth – Michigan Reports Advance Sheets, 1873

Kornemann, O., importer of peat moss 

PRG Note: I have a feeling that this is the same Otto Kornemann but have not made a definitive link.

ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK: THE METROPOLIS OF TO-DAY (1888)

OTTO KORNEMANN, Importer of Peat Moss for Stable Bedding No. 14 Piatt Street. Among the most active and enterprising general importers from Europe is Mr. Otto Komemann of No. 14 Piatt Street. There are few, if any, in the metropolis possessed of his wide range of practical experience, and his sound judgment in introducing goods specially demanded by the American public. A native of Germany, Mr. Kornemann has now been a resident of the United States, for upward of thirty-two years, and since 1877 has been actively engaged in business at his present stand as the leading importer of chemically -pure glycerine and glycerine for high explosives, the excellent standard of which is universally acknowledged. He has developed business of great magnitude with influential connections, both at home and abroad. He is the importer of the famous O. K. brand peat moss stable bedding, as yet a novelty in our country, though it has been in use for years past on the continent. A description of this article and its many virtues will prove highly interesting to all owners of horses, and those who keep themselves well informed upon the improvements of the age. Peat moss bedding is the only perfect article for bedding in the world; the manure is deodorized by it, thereby producing pure air, while horses’ feet undergo a radical change, inasmuch as they become soft, and the universal verdict is that horses’ feet rendered tender and inflamed by the stone pavements of cities are soothed and cooled in the most remarkable maner; horses also require less grooming, owing to the cleansing properties of the moss. From the economical point of view it has no equal, from one to two bales sufficing for one horse per year. Were these alone the only recommendations it would be by far the best bedding in existence, but to them is to be added the important fact that the bedding when removed is the richest manure known, charged full of ammonia, worth from $7.50 to $25 per ton* for the fertilizing material absorbed, while it keeps the soil moist for a longer period, after rain, than any other substance. Peat moss manure is one of the richest fertilizers known, and the demand far exceeds the supply. We recommend all horse owners, as well as managers of large stables, to send to Mr. Kornemann for his circular and testimonials, and test a sample bale of this truly wonderful bedding, now so rapidly replacing straw and all other substances there for. Mr. Kornemann’is a merchant of sterling integrity, and exercises a liberal policy, being worthy of the marked success achieved.

Kornemann on Steamship?

A STEAM-SHIP SUNK AT SEA.; THE POMMERANIA RUN DOWN BY AN IRON BARK. FIFTY-EIGHT LIVES REPORTED LOST. A MIDNIGHT COLLISION OFF FOLKESTONE THE GREAT STEAM-SHIP STRUCK AMIDSHIPS BY A BARK UNDER FULL HEADWAY STRUGGLES OF THE PASSENGERS AND CREW FOR LIFE HEROIC CONDUCT OF CAPT. SCHWENSEN LISTS OF THE SAVED AND LOST THE CARGO AND ITS VALUE.

I am not certain but by looking at the many articles that are available online, it looks like Otto Kornemann survived this historic steamship disaster. This is a possibility that this is the same Otto Kornemann. I am working on the connection.

KornemannSurvivor

Otto Kornemann listed as one of the survivors– Terrible Collision in the Channel, Serious Loss of Life, The Daily Telegraph, November 27th, 1878

Read: The Story of the Disaster

SteamshipKornemann

STEAMSHIPS COLLISION, 1878. Fatal collision between the German steamship ‘Pommerania’ and the Welsh bark ‘Moel Eilian,’ near Dungeness Point, in the British Channel, 26 November 1878. Contemporary wood engraving.

Posted in Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant, Mailbox Letters, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Here are my findings on the Southern Alterative

Posted on 3 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

SouthernAlterativeFragClip

Here are my findings on the Southern Alterative

by James Viguerie

03 September 2013

[read first: Two rare and early ‘Southern’ Bottles]

Here are my findings on the Southern Alterative (pictured above) embossed New Orleans. I am attaching a number of advertisements. The most important one is from The Star State Patriot which is pictured below:

Southern Alterative - The Star State Patriot - Marshall Tex - Mar 27 1852

Southern Alterative – The Star State Patriot – Marshall, Texas – March 27, 1852

Advertisements for the Febrifuge were found in papers from Texas to New York.

This is the only advertisement I have found showing someone making a “Southern Alterative” reference. Dr. A. Kendall was also know for his Electrical Febrifuge. Advertisements for the Febrifuge were found in papers from Texas to New York.

A check of the New Orleans City directory in 1851 found the following people at 72 Magazine Street:

Bisel, Elizabeth Franses, boarding
Kendall, A. & Co., patent medicines
Orton, H. B., (not specified)
Seat, N. W. firm Kendall & Co.

Here are some depictions of New Orleans from that time period:

MagazineStAlgeoNOLA

Magazine Street in the 1850s – New Orleans, Louisiana

CanalSt1850sPhotoNeutral

1850s view Canal Street which 72 Magazine Street (A. Kendall & Co.) was at the intersection

It is interesting that both Kendall and Seat had “electric” products. 

Based on the city directory, I would say the “& Co” was N. W. Seat. I found that an N. W. Seat put out a Negative Electric Fluid in New York in 1853. Kendall & Co. had a depot in New York in 1851 run by an S. E. Kendall. It is interesting that both Kendall and Seat had “electric” products. The web page antiquemedicines.com has pictures of both bottles (pictured below).

nwseat

N W SEAT M.D. NEGATIVE ELECTRIC FLUID NEW YORK
161 Grand St 1853. This medicine’s name comes from some of the early 19th century philosophical ideas on the nature of electric currents. – antiquemedicines.com

See more pictures of N. W. Seat M.D. Negative Electric Fluid bottle at bottom of post.

Kendalls

1852 advertisement (see below) and a A. KENDALL’S ELECTRICAL FEBRIFUGE NEW ORLEANS – antiquemedicines.com

I also checked to see if Dr. Burney James Kendall, of Kendall’s Spavin Cure fame, was related. I could not find any connection there.

Dr. Burney James KENDALL was born on 30 October 1845 in Enosburg Falls, Franklin City, Vermont. He was buried in 1922 in Rochester, Minnesota. He died on 11 January 1922 at the age of 76 in Geneva, Illinois.

Related Kendall Advertising

A Kendall and Co - New York past present and future - comprising a history of the city of New York - 1851

A. Kendall & Co., 72 Magazine-Street, New Orleans – New York past present and future – comprising a history of the city of New York – 1851

A Kindall and Co - De Bow's New Orleans Monthly Review vol 12 - 1852

A. Kendall & Co., 72 Magazine-street, New Orleans – De Bow’s New Orleans Monthly Review vol 12 – 1852

A Kindall and Co - De Bow's New Orleans Monthly Review vol 13 - 1852

A. Kendall & Co., 72 Magazine-Street, New Orleans – De Bow’s New Orleans Monthly Review vol 13 – 1852

Kendall Ad - The Planters' banner - Franklin Attakapas Co LA - Feb 8 1849

Kendall Botanic Medicine advertisement – The Planters’ Banner – Franklin Attakapas Co. Louisiana – February 8, 1849

Kendall on Yellow Fever - Transactions of the National Eclectic Medical Association of the United States of America for the Years - 1877

Kendall on Yellow Fever – Transactions of the National Eclectic Medical Association of the United States of America for the Years – 1877

Kendall Ad - Weekly Journal - Galveston Tex - June 3 1851 - part 1

The Electrical Febrifuge or Speed’s Fever Tonic advertisement (part 1) – Weekly Journal – Galveston, Texas – June 3, 1851 – part 1

Kendall Ad - Weekly Journal - Galveston Tex - June 3 1851 - part 2

The Electrical Febrifuge or Speed’s Fever Tonic advertisement (part 2) – Weekly Journal – Galveston, Texas – June 3, 1851

Kendall Ad - The Star State Patriot - Marshall Tex - Feb 14 1852

Kendall Important to Planters advertisement – The Star State Patriot – Marshall, Texas – February 14, 1852

Post Follow-up

N. W. SEAT MD NEGATIVE ELECTRIC FLUID

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N.W. SEAT, MD | NEGATIVE ELECTRIC FLUID – Jimmy Bray Collection

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N.W. SEAT, MD | NEGATIVE ELECTRIC FLUID – Jimmy Bray Collection

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N.W. SEAT, MD | NEGATIVE ELECTRIC FLUID – Jimmy Bray Collection

Posted in Advertising, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cincinnati Bitters Spotting – A cross reference of directories

Posted on 1 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

WiliamsDirectoryART

Cincinnati Bitters Spotting

A cross reference of directories

02 September 2013 | Ferdinand Meyer V

Apple-Touch-IconAHere on this Labor Day, I have laboriously gone through the William’s Cincinnati Directories, and a few others prior to Williams, to cross-check the bitters listings. You can learn a lot from doing this such as advertising trends, population growth, occupations (I think every 5th person was a cigar-maker) and about bitters brand introduction, growth and demise (sometimes all in one year). Please keep in mind, this list does not include listings for say, Morning Call Bitters by the Mills Bro Co. because a listing using the word ‘Bitters’ never occurred in a directory.

There are some unlisted brands here so I have noted below for cataloging purposes and for you diggers and pickers. Please go find an example!

New Bitters Finds (see more information in body of post):

Superior Wine Bitters, by Israel Wilson, 1836-7

Holland Bitters, Henry VanDyke, 1858

Richardson’s Sherry Wine Bitters, J. N. Harris & Co., 1861-1868

Kempfer’s Stomach Bitters, 1870 (listed at Kempfer’s Bitters much earlier)

Kaufman’s Stomach Bitters (also Kaufman’s Anti-Cholera Bitters), 1869 & 1870

Alaska Bitters, S. Kaufman & Co., 1871 (this does not appear to be the C88.7 Kendallville, Indiana variant by G. H. Lohman)

Catawba Bitters, PH Zimmermann, 1877 (This does not appear to be the Catawba Bitters from St. Louis). Recent Meyer addition.

Monarch Stomach Bitters, Brodie Williams & Co., 1879 – 1882 (does not appear to be M 119.2 (Buffalo) or M 119.3 (Milwaukee).

Fletcher’s Bitters and Ginger Tonic, Wm J. Klein & Co. 1885 (Do not believe this is F 55 L in BBS2)

Home Rules Bitters Co., 1890, 1891, 1892

Paradise Bitters, Fred W. Diederichs, 1892, 1893 (Does not appear to be P 19.5 in Bitters Bottles)

SuperiorWineBitters1837Cinci

Unlisted Superior Wine Bitters on sale by Israel Wilson – 1836-7 Cincinnati Directory Advertiser

HostettersCinci1855

Dr. J. Hostetters Celebrated Stomach Bitters – 1855 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Read: Some Early Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters Shards Dug by Chris Rowell

Kempfer&SonsListing

Kempfer’s Bitters listing (see below) – 1868 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

A. Kempfer, stomach bitters, 403 W. 8th, 1857, 1858, 1861, 1865, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874 (adds Leopold Meyer in 1865), Kempfer’s A. Sons (see above) (Leopold Myer (sp) & George A. Bidenharn) Manufacturer of Kempfer’s Bitters. Referred to as Kempfer’s Stomach Bitters (unlisted) in 1870 listing. Williams Cincinnati Directory

John Lee, agnt. Hostetters bitters, 44 W. Row, 1857 Williams Cincinnati Directory

Herman Snyder, bitters seller, 602 W. Row, 1857 Williams Cincinnati Directory

Henry VanDyke, agent Holland Bitters (possibly listed in Supplement 2 from Milwaukee), 113 W. Canal, 1858 Williams Cincinnati Directory

Charles Frank & Co., (L. Meyer), bitters manufs., 141 W. Pearl, 1860 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Fred Heyker, bitters manuf., 86 Clinton, 1860 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Harris_Richardsons

J. N. Harris & Co., listing for Richardson’s Sherry Wine Bitters – 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1868 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory *It is questionable that this is either R 57 (S. O. Richardson) or R 58 (W. L. Richardson)

Theodore M. Heyker, manuf. stomach bitters, 355 Cutter, 1861 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

John Szotzski, manufac. of bitters, s.s. Liberty b. Clay & Main, 1862, 1863, 1864 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

RobackListing1863Cinci

Listing for Charles W. Roback, Manufacturer of Stomach Bitters (barrel) – 1863 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

F. & M. Heyker (Frederick H. & Mathias H.), stomach bitters, 142 Linn, 1864, 1865 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Graham & Co., J. D. G. & Peter Bohl, Manufacturers of Blood Syrup and Bitters, 137 Sycamore, 1865 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

M_H_Lewis_Bitters

M. H. Lewis, Importer and Dealer, also our own Bitters – 1865, 1867 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (unknown what ‘our own’ biters is)

HoffheimerBrosAd

Advertisement for Hoffheimer Brothers Celebrated Bavarian Bitters – 1866, 1867, 1868 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Read: Bavarian Bitters – Two Examples worth Comparing

HoffheimerBitters2_1869Cinci

This advertisement for Hoffheimer Brothers Celebrated Bavarian Bitters has more prominence than the advertisement above – 1869, (1870 sim) Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

E. B. Cuyler & Co., (E. B. C. & Geo. Koker), bitters, 1 water, 1868 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

KaufmansAntiCholeraBitters

S. Kaufman & Co. Manufacturers and Sole Proprietors of the Anti-Cholera Bitters (unlisted or is this the Kaufman’s Stomach Bitters) – 1869, 1870 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

J. A. Sangston & Co., Brady’s bitters, (J. A. S. & D. C. Brady) 16 E. 2nd, 1870, 1871 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Brady’s Bitters, 16 E. 2nd, J. A. Sangston, Agent, 1872 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Read: Brady’s Family Bitters – “Every Body Takes It!”

RobacksAd1870Building

Advertisement for U.S. Proprietary Medicine Co. and Celebrated Roback’s Stomach Bitters (barrel) – 1870 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (see initial 1863 listing above)

Read: Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the smaller ones)

Read: Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the big boys)

AlaskaBittersAd

Alaska Bitters advertisement with S. Kaufman & Co. – 1871 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (see 1869 & 1870 Kaufman ad above for Anti-Cholera Bitters)

W. B. Wood, Bitters Manufacturer, Wood’s Bitters, 1515 Montgomery, 1872 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (possibly referring to W 153 Woods Tonic Wine Bitter in Bitters Bottles)

Bitters, Geo. Stricker, 31 Vine, 1872 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory, Stricker & Nathan, 62 Main, 1879 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

IXLBittersCinci1874

Philip Wolf & Co., Principal Depot for Dr. Henley’s California IXL Bitters – 1874 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Read: Dr. Henley’s Wild Grape Root IXL Bitters ‘Showdown’

Wm A. Meyer, stomach bitters, 403 W. 8th, (also manuf. of bitters). Works with Kempfer’s Bitters 1875, 1876 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Bitters, B. Ahrnghaus, 331 W. 5th, 1875 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Bitters, Strickland & Co., 311 Vine, 1876 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

WMFuller&CoAd

Wm. Fuller & Co. ‘And Manufacturers of all kinds of Stomach and Cocktail Bitters‘ – 1876 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

CatawbaBitters1877Cinci

PH Zimmermann, manufacturer of Catawba Bitters – 1877 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Bitters, Duby Green, 306 W. 5th, 1877 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Bitters, Leopold Meyer (also Otto G. Meyer), 403 W. 8th., 1877, 1878 (Manufacturer of Kempfer’s Bitters) Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MonarchStomachBittersListingCinci1879

Brodie Williams & Co., (Harry W. & Orrick J. Halstead) (Geo T. Bach, 1882) Manufacturers Monarch Stomach Bitters – 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (see advertisement below)

MonarchBittersAdvertisementCinci1882

Monarch Stomach Bitters advertisement – 1882 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Bitters, Solomon Schertz, 133 W. Court, 1880 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Strauss, Son & Co., (Seligman S., Louis C. S. and Fred D. Strauss), Distillers, Fruit Brandies, Cordials, Bitters & c, 236 Walnut and 33 W. 6th, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886,  1887 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

John Hess, bitters manuf. 86 W. Court, 1884, 1885 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Tonquin Bitters Co., (The), 169 Plum, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (probably T 48 in Bitters Bottles, if so, listing update required in BBS2)

StJacobsBitters1885Cinci

H. Grossman & Co., Sole Agents for St. Jacob’s Bitters – 1885 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Read: Saint Jacob’s Bitters – Cincinnati, Ohio

FletchersBitters1885Cinci

Wm J. Klein & Co., Sole Agents for Fletcher’s Bitters and Ginger Tonic – 1885 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Charles Smith, agent, Albert Harris, Bus. mgr, Ferd. Schulze, agent Dr. Smith’s Colombo Bitters, 289 Vine, 1889 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (looks like S 123 L in Bitters Bottles) (*could be related to S 128 in BBS)

HoffheimersSasafrasHerbBitters

The Hoffheimer Distilling Co., Sole Proprietors and Manufacturers Hoffheimer’s Sasafras Herb Bitters (and Tonic) (2 listings w/Tonic same year) – 1890, 1891 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (see Hoffheimer Bros 1870, above) (H 133 in Bitters Bottles)

Home Rules Bitters Co., whol. liquors, 10 E. 2nd., 1890, 1891, 1892 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Fred W. Diederichs, bitters manuf., Paradise Bitters,  (1892, 1893) manfr. Paradise Bitters (1894), 507 Race 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Boyer’s Sure Cure Bitters Co., Boyer’s Sure Cure Bitters (1894) (Chas. Boyer, propr.) (H.C. Gary, mgr.), 92 E. 2nd. (and 3rd listed) (4!8 E. 2nd 1895), 1893, 1894, 1895 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory (Refer B 184 and B 185 in Bitters Bottles) (See Boyer’s B 184 from Meyer Collection)

Schroeder’s Cocktail Bitters Co., 213 Sycamore, 1895 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Posted in Advertising, Advice, Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Publications, Questions, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Morning Call Bitters Comparison

Posted on 1 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

MorningCallComparisonA Morning Call Bitters Comparison

Is it from Cincinnati or St. Louis?

02 September 2013

Apple-Touch-IconAMany bottle collectors are familiar with the round Lediard’s Morning Call Bitters sold by Charles Lediard in New York and St. Louis. Today we are going to look at two super rare ‘square’ Morning Call Bitters. I am not sure the M 130(top left) should be linked to Lediard in St. Louis as the M 130.5 (top right) is linked to the Mills Brothers in Cincinnati. Could they both be from the Mills Brothers in Cincinnati? The bottles are so similar.

This post was inspired by Gary Beatty and James Viguerie who both sent me pictures of the very rare M 130, Morning Call Bitters (see below) recently.

The Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement for the M 130 Morning Call Bitters is as follows:

M 130  Morning Call Bitters
// MORNING CALL // BITTERS // sp //sp //
9 1/2 x  2 13/16 (7 1/8)
Square, amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Very rare
Franklin Hastings and Charles Lediard were listed in the 1866 St. Louis Business Directory at 28 & 31 Washington Ave., St. Louis as being “Importers and Dealers in Wines and Liquors, and Manufacturers of Lediard’s Mixed Liquors and Bitters.”

MorningCallBittersM130

M 130 – Morning Call Bitters – James Viguerie – Dug in St. Louis. However, the book indicates a size of 9 1/2″ x 2 13/16″ while mine is 9 3/8″ x 2 3/4″.

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M 130 – Morning Call Bitters – Gary Beatty – I got a Morning Call Bitters off eBay ‘Buy It Now’. 35 people were watching it so I had to make a decision fast. It is medium to dark amber. Not as pretty as yours but no damage. Is it from Cincinnati or St. Louis?

Read: Unlisted Morning Call Bitters

The Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham listing in the upcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 for the M 130.5 Morning Call Bitters is as follows:

M 130.5  Morning Call Bitters
// MORNING CALL // BITTERS // MILLS BRO & CO // sp //
9 x  2 3/4
Square with column corners, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Extremely rare
Mold similar to C 20 California Herb Birrers
Listed in Cincinnati Directories for years 1866, 1867, and 1868.
Example dug in Memphis, Tenn.

[Read Article]

M130_5_MorningCallArticle

M130_5_MorningCall

M 130.5 Morning Call Bitters – Meyer Collection (same bottle in article above)

Morning Call Wahoo Bitters - Conaway Jones and Tate - Memphis TN - Memphis Daily Appeal - Feb 27 1866

Morning Call Wahoo Bitters advertisement – Conaway Jones and Tate – Memphis, Tennessee – Memphis Daily Appeal – Feb 27 1866. The M 130.5 was found in Memphis.

Mills Timeline – Cincinnati

The article above lists a span of three years. That is a little bit off as the first listing for the Mills Brothers in the liquor business is 1863 and it progresses from there. Mills Brothers was listed for only four years, 1865-1868.

Charles S. Mills (probably father) listed as Salesman at 18 & 20 Main, (1862)
Mills & Kline, 20 Main, Grocers, David M. Mills, Benneville Kline (1863, 1864)
Mills, Kline & Co., 18 Main (Liquors), David M. Mills, Joseph F. Mills, Benneville Kline (1863, 1864)
MILLS BRO. & CO., Dealers in Foreign and Domestic Liquors, Cincinnati, OH., 18 & 20 Main (1865-1868), David M. Mills, Joseph F. Mills, Charles D. Mills. Address change in 1868 to 104 W. 2nd.
J. F. MILLS & CO., Wholesale Grocers & Commission Merchants, Cincinnati, OH., 18 & 20 Main (1865-1867), Joseph F. Mills, Charles L. Mills, Henry Jacobs
D. Mills & Co., (1869), David M. Mills, William Ward, Wholesale Liquor Dealers, 66 Walnut
Mills, Johnson & Co., (1869), Joseph F. Mills, Charles L. Mills, (W.W.J.) Successors to Samuel N. Pike & Co., Distillers & Rectifiers, 18 & 20 Sycamore

CharlesSMillsSaleman

Charles S. Mills (probably father) listed as Salesman at 18 & 20 Main, 1862 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Mills&Kline1864

Mills & Kline listings Grocers at 20 Main and Liquors at 18 Main St. – 1863, 1864 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MillsBrolisting1865

Mills Bro. & Co. listing | J.F. Mills & Co listing – 1865 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MillsBroListing2

Mills Bro. & Co. listing  | J.F. Mills & Co listing – 1866 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MillsListing1867

Mills Bro. & Co. listing | J.F. Mills & Co listing– 1867 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MillsBro1868

Mills Bro. & Co. listing, address change to 104 W. 2nd – 1868 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

MillsSpins

D. Mills & Co. listing | Mills, Johnson & Co. listing, 1869 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Posted in Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

August 2013 – Antique Bottle & Glass Photo Gallery

Posted on 1 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

GoodPitkinMorningMarshall

Good Pitkin Morning – Tom Marshall

Apple-Touch-IconAI thought I would take a moment to group some of the really remarkable photographs that have been posted on Early American Glass and Bottle Collectors on facebook this past month. The composition, lighting, content and care taken with each picture is evident.

Isn’t it great to see this movement to stage and group bottles in still life settings? This was evident at the Manchester National when a number of these collectors like Noordsy, George, Olson and Marshall set up extraordinary displays. Here below, you will see flasks, utility bottles, fruit jars, inks, pickle bottles, cures, whimsies and so much more. Enjoy. Great job everyone.

See: Manchester Display Photo Gallery

August 2013 – Antique Bottle & Glass 

P H O T O    G A L L E R Y

01 September 2013

BestIHaveEverSeen

The best I have ever seen! – Jeff Noordsy

4InterestingBottles_Dana

4 little bottles (Chestnuts) to make life interesting – Dana Charlton-Zarro

CloudyMorningMarshall

Cloudy Morning – Tom Marshall

GreenHatandBallDouglas

Green hat and ball. Congressville? – Woody Douglas

PitkinMistOlson

Full of little seeds – David Olson

SwampCreaturesGeorge

A few little swamp creatures from the Woodlands… – Michael George

NewYorkSOM_Greig

In a NYS state of mind – Matt Greig

HappyBirthdayInks

Happy Birthday to a couple of bottle comrades, Tom Marshall and Woody Douglas. Two collectors that really stand out in a crowd! – Michael George

HatsInTheAir

It seems that hats are in the air these days – Woody Douglas

KeeneCobb

Keene or…?? Your thoughts? – Jim Cobb

FruitJarsWoody

Here’s a pair that might surprise my fellow swampers but I’ve always admired a nice whittly fruit jar – Woody Douglas

RunnerUpMarshall

Runner up from Ricks award winning bottle at Manchester – Tom Marshall

Ciralli4

The small flared lip resembles your freeblown one ex-Strubel – Rick Ciralli

CathedralPicklesOlson

Where have all the pickles gone. Must be 1 or 2 out there – David Olson

LookingNortheast

Looking Northeast out my window, towards Connecticut! 
a pair of G1-80’s on the ends, and a G1-84 left center, G1-81 right center – Mike Brauser

MorningSunBabb

Morning Sun – Shaun Babb

SantosDemis

Have Demijohns Will Travel – Dale Santos

EarlyBirdGlass

Early bird=Glass! – Justin Alberti

Posted in Chestnut, Collectors & Collections, Demijohns, Flasks, Fruit Jars, Historical Flasks, Inks, Photography, Pickle Jars, Utility Bottles, Whimsies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mailbox Letters – September 2013

Posted on 1 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

www.studiomathewes.com

Apple-Touch-IconAPlease feel free to send any antique bottle or glass questions to ferdinand@peachridgeglass.com. The information will be posted if relevant or of interest to the readers. I will try to answer or wait for another reader to respond. Quality images are very important. Thanks! If you want to see previous questions,go to “Mailbox Letters” in “Categories” on the right column of each page.

Mailbox Letters – September 2013

Old North St. Louis excavation site

DugGreenBottle

Hi Ferdinand,

Hope your week is going well! A lady friend of mine dug the attached green bottle at an excavation site here in a Old North St. Louis excavation site. I haven’t been able to identify it. There’s no embossment, the mold seam stops below the lower neck lip and the neck is a little crooked (perhaps applied?). It’s a pretty dark teal / green color, about 6 7/8 inches tall and 2 3/4 inches wide. Do you have any idea what it is? Thanks,

Randy

PRG: What a nice looking bottle. Bet it is pontiled. Suspect it is a perfume bottle of some sort. Wish it was embossed.

Masonic Flask Question

BlueMasonicQuestion

I recently bought a flask at a auction and I don’t know anything about it. I wanted to see if I sent you a picture if you could tell me about it. It is a darkish blue with egyptian on the back and a eagle holding arrows and something else in its claws. There is a oval underneath it with letters in it it looks like “JP”.

PRG: This looks like a reproduction. If it were genuine, the sky is the limit on price.

Ship in a Bottle

ShipBottle

Hi, just wondering if you have any idea on information on this bottle, it’s my
mother-in-laws and she is wondering what year it may have been from. We can not find
any specific markings in it. Thanks

PRG: This is a later bottle with the screw top. Vert nice art though. Tough to put a price on it.

Cute Dog Bottle

dogperfume

Hi, I love your site!!!

There is a place in Weatherford Texas, that is a treasure trove for old buried bottles. Years ago, when we first discovered it, we found this bottle. I have searched everywhere trying to find out something about it, but cannot. Is it familiar to you? I would appreciate any direction you can give. There are no markings at all. The lid is hinged. I hope the photos are enough to tell something about it. I have several old apothecary bottles we dug up there as well…. Thanks!!!

Megan

PRG: I searched around and found some similar examples, some German. Each was a perfume bottle.

Picked Up Rare Collection

image

Picked up a rare collection. Wondering if you could give me a rough estimate of the value of this bottle in particular. – Me

FoundLafeyette

Posted in Advice, Digging and Finding, Mailbox Letters, Questions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Dose – September 2013

Posted on 1 September 2013 by Ferdinand Meyer V

September   2 0 1 3

Some ramblings and thoughts…

Monday, 30 September 2013

WahooAdTin
On this last day of September, I am going down the road and trying to figure out why a number of proprietors and medicine businesses in United States, in the latter part of the 1800s, chose ‘Wahoo’ to be part of their products name. You know like E. Dexter Loveridge Wahoo Bitters, C. K. Wilson’s Original Compound Wa-Hoo Bitters and Dr. Shepard’s Compound Wahoo Bitters. Wahoo seems to be some type of ‘catch-all’ name to capture the Indian influence in America at that time. When you google Indians and Wahoo you get the obvious from Wikipedia:

Cleveland_Indians_logo

Chief Wahoo is the logo of the Cleveland Indians, a Major League Baseball team. The logo is a cartoon caricature of a Native American face. It has drawn criticism from some sportswriters, religious groups, and Native Americans, but remains popular among fans of the Cleveland Indians. The team considered replacing the logo in 1993, but it was ultimately retained. Although Chief Wahoo is most properly described as a logo, he is sometimes called a mascot.

Sunday, 29 September 2013

CosignGW0913

Received the image above in an email blast from Glass Works Auctions to cosign with them for upcoming auctions. Notice the Duffy Crescent Saloon pig. Must be the Hewitt example bought on ebay using ‘But it Now’. The Baltimore, Wheeler’s Berlin Bitters looks like a nice example too. One of my favorite bottles.

BBB_HotelKeeper

I havent’t seen this example of a Burdock Blood Bitters trade card before. Interesting and a bit humerous with the illustrators attempt to depict a Jewish Hotel Keeper.

Seymour: A Variety of Burdock Blood Bitters Trade Cards

Friday, 27 September 2013

WheatBittersARTJust love old trade cards and the illustrations such as this art for Wheat Bitters. Then you read them and laugh out loud with the silly testimonials and outlandish claims made for the products.

Received a note from Bill Baab that said, “Yes, just wanted you to know that I gave the FOHBC a plug on this weekly radio show promoted by the publisher of American Digger magazine. We talked bottles for 45 minutes.”

Here is an updated grid for the latest issues of Bottles and Extras. If you look at the bottom right corner, you can see the art for the November | December 2013 cover which is in development. The issue will go to the printer in about 10 days.

B&E_LatestGrid

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

OK, I have been keeping this on the low for the past few months, though I did mention in a previous Daily Dose about the tough-to-find American Life Bitters (Omaha variant) showing up in a obscure location. I have new pictures with the bottle against a newspaper to confirm date as there have been so many scams. This is real. Through communications with the owner, I believe she is considering auctioning the bottle. When I was in Sacramento two weeks ago, I confirmed that Jeff has been contacted. According to the lady, she has been told that the last one sold for $25k or so. A bit more than my offer.

Read More: Log Cabin Series – American Life Bitters

Monday, 23 September 2013

A clear, cool morning here in Louisville, Kentucky as this monster front moves west to east. In Houston, we has 5 1/4″ inches of rain at Peach Ridge. Good after a dry summer.

MalakoffStar

Sure, a lot of us like the ‘pretty’ colored bottles but the real beauty sometimes lies in the rawness and honesty of a crudely made American piece of glass. Just look at this example of a Malakoff Bitters from Wayne Loschen who says, “Just saw your article about the Malakoff Bitters and thought you might like to see one dug by my sons and me in Shreveport, Louisiana. 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.”

Another, striking my fancy today, following the same train of thought, is this #305 CD 701.6 Unmarked Deep opaque green insulator pictured below in the Pole Top Discoveries Auction #69 that closes tonight. 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! (text by Ray Klingensmith)

#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!

Sunday, 22 September 2013

Off to Louisville later this morning. Hope I can catch some of the NFL games later. Was finally able to link all of the New York Russ products (Russ’ Stomach Bitters, Russ’ St. Domingo Bitters, Russ’s Aromatic Schnapps) together with two pieces of information linking John A. Russ to Russ & Hinman in NYC in 1857. Read Updated Post: Russ’ St. Domingo Bitters – New York

JohnARussNYC1859

Russ&HinmanLetterhead

Saturday, 21 September 2013

“A Nip Against the Cold” by Erskine Nicol – 1869 (Thanks to Toby Dean for picture)

NipAgainstTheCold

Friday, 20 September 2013

Sorry, been chillin’ out in Downieville. Flew back last night to Houston. Major rain event in Houston today and tomorrow after our drought. Already had about 1 1/2 inches of rain.

Scott Selenak’s Downieville pics are in. Have not looked yet. Look for a post.

RussianBalsamicBittersCrest

Just put up a post on the Celebrated Russian Balsamic Bitters from Dr. Leon Hershberg of Moscow, Russia. Haven’t thought of a Russian bitters since the classy, roped Russian Imperial Tonic Bitters. Maybe I will do a post on the Russian Malakov Russian Stomach Bitters. It has one of the most outrageous trade cards out there.

MalakofTC_F

Tuesday, 17 September 2013

TsaSingDownievilleReporting from Downieville. Sun just coming up over the mountains. Working on the November | December issue of Bottles and Extras, Virtual Museum and some office projects. Just love this picture of a Ta Tsing Bitters. I obtained this bottle from Ed Herrold at the Reno National in 2006. Jerry Forbes has it now. Took this pic on our porch the other night.

Waiting for Scott Selenak pictures for a Downieville Show post and possible B&E article. Look for a post on my first dig (or at least witnessing one 🙂

Sunday, 15 September 2013

CocoDV1

Finished a two hour run with Coco this morning in the chilly mountain air in Tahoe National Forest here at Downieville, California. Last bottle party was our pasta dinner last night on our porch next to the roaring rivers. Working on a post or two. Maybe a story in Bottles and Extras.

red_jacket

Updated Red Jack Bitters post with information provided by Reginald Shoeman.

Thursday, 12 September 2013

Well I’m at the airport in Houston. Dropped Coco off at PetSafe Cargo with United Airlines. We both fly to Sacramento this morning. Pick her up at the same on that end, travel to see Jeff Wichmann at American Bottle Auctions and then off to Downieville, Cal for the Bottle Show and events this weekend. A few of us have rented a house on the river. Going to run the mountain paths of the Sierra Mountains for a week and work on some special projects.

Wednesday, 11 September 2013

DigStory_CT_HughesDon’t you love this picture and story. “The One We Have Waited For, Privy Heaven!!!!“.  C. T. HUGHES & CO fluted/ribbed gothic peppersauce bottle, circa 1840-1860!!! Probably at least 150+ years old.

Coco and I headed to Downieville in the AM.

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

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With the post yesterday on painted bottles from the Carl Sturm collection being auctioned at Heckler ‘Opportunity’ Auction 105, I posted the blue fish image with paint on PRG facebook yesterday. A few people became alarmed, or thought I went crazy. One comment, “How long did it take to do? How long will it take to wash off?”. I responded after a number of comments, “Oh noo… I thought I grabbed the white finger paint out of the shed…grabbed 10-year highway traffic paint by mistake!”. Just havin’ a little fun.

Monday, 09 September 2013

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Hearing some rumors that some nice bitters might be showing up at Downieville this Saturday. So far names like Lacours, Wonser, Catawba & Bakers have crossed my wires…or was I dreaming?

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Also hearing some rumors that Sandor is considering hiring a “really good, museum quality” bottle painter to “spruce up” some of his killer flasks. Wonder how long it will take to get a F Bomb text from him? 10, 9, 8, 7……

Saturday, 07 September 2013

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Man Drank $102,000 of Historic Whiskey Read More

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Come to Papa… Read More

Friday, 06 September 2013

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You have to admit, these pieces of a DR. LERIEMONDIE’S SOUTHERN BITTERS are a piece of art! Actually in Glass Works Auctions The ‘End of Summer’ Potpourri Auction. To see a complete bottle or two…

Read: Some Extremely Rare Mississippi Bitters

Thursday, o5 September 2013

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Pretty cool pic. 110th Street Curve, Ninth Avenue IRT Elevated Line, c. 1889, New-York Historical Society. Had fun yesterday looking at the Lower East Side in Manhattan regarding the Gehrmann & Ahrens Alpine Stomach Bitters. Many times when I am in NYC, I eventually end up in SOHO and Chinatown.

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From EAG authority Michael George: Whimsical Early American Glass at its finest! Here is a UNIQUE flask produced from an extremely rare soda bottle mold! Made from the very decorative LUNDBLAD soda from Quincy, Illinois… this one was removed from the mold, then flattened and formed into a traditional historical flask shape with a sheared and refired lip. The diagonal ribs give it a “patterned glass” look! This is a recently excavated find! If found 50 years ago, this would have surely been photographed for the American Glass book, and pictured right alongside the George Eagle pitcher! An important and unique piece of glass in my opinion.

Wednesday, 04 September 2013

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Thank you to Jimmy Bray who sent in the really nice pictures of the Negative Electric Fluid bottle. Pictures added to the Southern Alterative post. Also to James Viguerie for developing the post.

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What a story with this Otto Kornemann and his Alpine Bitters from New York. Can someone more definitively connect him to the Peat Moss and Steamship Disaster portions of the post?

Tuesday, 03 September 2013

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As most of us know, there is a certain beauty and historical significance with rare bottle shards. As I frequently remind people, a museum does not reject an ancient sculpture because it is missing an arm or a head. The above picture represents an ancient Roman group statue of great importance and beauty – a depiction of the Three Graces of Greek mythology which was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2010. The below shard represents the Southern Alterative which is the topic of today’s post.

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Monday, 02 September 2013 | Labor Day

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Amazing what you can do with some time, Bose earphones, Pandora and city directories. Covered about seven decades in the 1800s in Cincinnati and really had some fun. Read: Cincinnati Bitters Spotting – A cross reference of directories. I’m afraid we have quite a bit more to do with bitters research and finding. No wonder new discoveries keep happening. I am working closely with Bill Ham and he is working hard to keep the draft current with the upcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2 (Two). I keep a PDF copy close at hand.

Typical GREAT U.S. postage stamp art.

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Sunday, 01 September 2013

Finally September! Bottle and football season. Hopefully you have noticed the increase in people willing to share news and stories on Peachridge. I am totally open to this and encourage submissions. Just yesterday it was Jack Stecher and that great Avon Mineral Springs article and the day before Tom Feltman inspiring the work for the Xavier Bazin post. Every day it is a pleasure to sort through all of the incoming emails to see what is going on.

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Mark newton sent me the following, “I had a ‘bitters week’ because two days later in a trade with a friend I got a SARRACENIA LIFE BITTERS – TUCKER – MOBILE ALA and it was the rare version S 34 in mint condition.” This prompted me to go back and look at, and buff up the PRG Sarracenia Bitters post from April 2011. I even found an advertisement for the product this second time around. My point is this, look at the ‘Comment’ column on the right of each page for ‘updates’. This is the beauty of online work. We can always add, revise or correct information.

Read: Sarracenia Life Bitters and the Triskelions

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