Monday, April 6, 2015

A Recently Dug Flask

Here's a recently unearthed flask that I have never seen.
 

Interesting sharp embossing that doesn't look western
 
 
It has somewhat of a flat base
 
 
And a short neck with a funky top
I am not sure but from the embossing and the neck and top treatment this looks like a bottle from Canada to me.
Anyone have any info on this flask? - rs -

6 comments:

  1. I believe someone mentioned the "K&D" stood for Kolb and Denhard but I am not sure. Perhaps someone with better researching resources can chime in. DM

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  2. What say our western whiskey guru over at the Western Whiskey Gazette?

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  3. Rick;

    The 419 brand was not registered with the US patent office, and is not attributable to any US distiller or liquor dealer (either wholesale or retail). Kolb & Denhard handled Nonpareil, Old Joe Tracy, and Old Tom Parker. 419 was not one of the brands that was registered to their firm.

    I agree with the observation that the embossing style is not in keeping with anything that we've documented as western. Since the base is sans marking, there's no way to link this particular piece to any glasshouse, either domestic or foreign.

    The closure appears to be distinctly foreign and, after comparing it with some known Canadian whiskey bottles, I too lean toward Canada as the country of origin.

    Sorry I couldn't be of more help~

    Bruce

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  4. I have seen exactly the same form, color and top treatment in some bourbon's from the mid-west ie: Ohio and Minn. There are also some bitters from the mid-west in this bottle. I believe it is American and surely there should be some reference to the brand as it is "trade marked"...this example was dug in California but I realize stuff from every country was imported there. Perhaps the Canadian bottle collectors can be contacted. Thanks DM

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  5. It was suggested that I expand my search. I did. Every major US city was checked for liquor dealers with first initial "K", "&" second initial D. Here are the results.


    Chicago, IL
    Klein & Dubets (1902-1905)

    Kansas City, MO
    Kusel & Dusold Merchantile Co. (1909)

    Pittsburgh, PA
    Kerr & Devlin (1871-1877)

    San Francisco, CA
    Kolb & Denhard (1890-1906)
    Koppel & Dwan (1877-1878)

    We can rule out the following due to ca. in business; Kerr & Devlin, Koppel & Dwan.

    We can rule out Kolb & Denhard as discussed earlier.

    It is quite possible that the brand belonged to either Klein & Dubets (1902-1905) or Kusel & Dusold Merchantile Co. (1909), based on the design of the bottle. The brands sold by these two firms are unknown but they may have been registered, not with the US Patent Office, but at the state level.

    Bruce

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  6. Sorry, but as a Canadian bottle collector and researcher, with over 35 years' experience, I'd say this one isn't Canadian. I base this on the bottle's style not being known up here.and because "sour mash bourbon" just hasn't been part of our whisky tradition, past or present. Rye whisky has been dominant since probably the 1860s or early 1870s, with some hangers-on in the Scotch and Irish styles.

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