Monday, August 24, 2015

Another "Close but no Cigar"

Here is a photo of a recently dug shard sent to me by a western digger. All I can disclose is that this one was found in California. Most of the bottle was in the hole and it is in the process of being glued back together. Pretty exciting find! (Click on pic to enlarge). DM

Thursday, August 20, 2015

C.P. Pollard "Maysville"

Hi Rick,
Here is my related Marysville medicine from your previous post. Note Marysville is mis-spelled "Maysville. It is an early smooth base and must be a little later than the Kelly. C.P. Pollard is shown as the druggist at the bottom of your ad.



Pretty rare and historic family of bottles. DM

Just in From Eric Costa

Hi Rick,
I came across an old issue of Treasure Magazine from 1976 with a story about a western medicine that was dug in Marysville. According to the article, at the time, only one example was known. I 've attached a copy of the article and an add from an 1861 edition of the Marysville Daily Appeal. Just wondering if you, or your blog contributors, knew if anymore examples have turned up during the ensuing years. Might be a good topic for a post. Love to hear what you might know.
Thanks
Eric Costa
 
 
 
Anyone out there have anything they would like to add to the H.T. Kelly or C.P. Pollard bottles and their Marysville connection. I had a C.P. Pollard that I sold to the 49er Club for their club raffle a while back. Stupid me - rs -

Chattanooga National Acquisitions




Here's a nice grouping of bottles acquired by collector Jerry Forbes from Big Sur California at the Chattanooga National  Bottle Show. This group of outstanding glass shows Jerry's diverse collecting interest in color and form. Congrats Jerry on your new "keepers".

Although I am not familiar with all of these bottles in this picture I sure like the logs, roped corners  and cabin shapes.
Thanks to Peachridge Glass for the picture - rs -

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

"Color Run"

Here are six Gun Wa's Chinese Remedy's and each one is a different color. Guess uniformity, and quality control were not the priority! Lots of "restored manhood" in this line up! ( As always, click on the pic to enlarge).

Next on the Radar: Downieville Antique Bottle Show

 

DownievilleART
NEXT ON THE RADAR: Downieville Bottle Show by plane or horse – 12 September 2015 (Saturday) Downieville, California – 24th Downieville Antique Bottles and Collectibles Show and Sale at the Downieville School Gym, Main and School Street, Downieville California 95936, Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Early admission: Saturday 8:00 am to 10:00 am, Dealers can drop off their wares on Friday September 11th from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the school gym, Early lookers $10, show admission after 10:00 am FREE, Downieville Bottle Group, westernbitters.com, Contact: Rick & Cherry Simi, Show Chairman, PO Box 115 433 Main Street, Downieville California 95936, 530.289.3659, ricksimi@att.net FOHBC Member Club. Rick & Cherry Simi, Show Chairs, presented me with the cap above last year in honor of our (Coco and moi) visit to this cool show and locale.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

From Eric McGuire

Rick,

The FOHB Southern Region Show has come and gone and I thought I would give you a Westerner's view, with the mind that next year's Expo will be held in Sacramento. I will give you captions for the attached photos - listed by the last three digits:
 
 
The show was very well attend and held in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. The venue was downright massive with a more than ample and well lighted exposition hall. This is a photo of the crowd comprised of early lookers and dealers as the doors first opened
 
There were a good number of displays with most showcasing a variety of Southern bottles. This joint effort display was an assemblage of some of Tennessee's most desirable bottles
 
 
Included in the Tennessee bottle display was a pint size D.KIRKPATRICK & CO. / CHATTANOOGA / TENN. flask, one of my favorites, with a "road kill" eagle embossed on the front. This is truly a rare bird, and there was actually a quart version in another display
 
 
This display included one of the best collections of Charleston eagle soda bottles I have ever seen. The photo speaks for itself
 
 
 
As in nearly all regions of the country, older colored soda bottles are always a desirable collectible. This display included only Southern soda bottles
 
 
 
Something that is not well represented in the West compared to most parts of the country is pottery. A number of sales tables had examples of early Southern pottery for sale
 
 
Midwestern bottles were also for sale, as noted by this sales table
 
 
The birthplace of Coca Cola was the Southeast and Southerners do like to collect painted label sodas. It is extremely popular there just as it is gaining momentum in the West as the supply of older bottles has slowed down
 
 
A sales table of just pretty and different liquor flasks
 
 
The bottle auction associated with the show was a lively event and well attended
 
Overall, this show was a great experience and just a little taste of what will happen in Sacramento next year. I saw no more than half dozen Western bottles for sale, with the best being, perhaps, a cobalt blue Bay City soda. This is in stark contrast of what will happen at the Sacramento Expo which is already in great demand for sales tables, hotel rooms and dinner reservations. Please keep that in mind.
 
Eric M
 
Thanks to Eric for this great report on the Show - rs -

Sunday, August 9, 2015

W.C. Peacock Shot Glass

Interesting post over at Bruce Silva's Western Whiskey Gazette on a W.C. Peacock shot glass.
Take a look http://www.westernwhiskeytooltopgazette.com/ at a new discovery.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Name Those Shards

I received an interesting email the other day from a digger way north of us here in northern California, it follows:

Hi Rick,
 I've been enjoying westernbitters.com since I discovered it a few months ago.  I must of spent hours on it scrolling though every post.  I find we diggers share a common bond, an appreciation for history and uncovering artifacts.

I live in Vancouver and have been digging in several old gold rush camps in British Columbia this (hot and dry) summer.  Its been great.  Not much is too be found but the odd shard of a good bottle keeps my hope going.  

I've attached a pic of a few shards I've found this summer.  Maybe you might know what the aqua shard is from?  I think it may have said Celery or Celebrated.  Can't find any info on it. 

I'll keep in touch when the good stuff comes out of the ground.

-Mike in BC
 
Yep...these are gold rush era shards...Can any of you out there name all three..........
 
Thanks Mike for the email and picture of your recently found shards. Good luck on your dig. - rs -