Friday, November 27, 2015

The Great American Cordial





Here is a western blown bottle I believe held a sample size of the Great American Cordial put up by H.A. Chalvin on San Francisco in 1877-78. This bottle was dug in Northern California in a late 1870s privy. A little bit of research has revealed that H.A. Chalvin produced a product called the Great American Cordial that was exhibited at the 1877 state agricultural fair where samples were present.

Has anyone ever seen one ?

1878 Directory:



1877 Agricultural Fair:





5 comments:

  1. Nope, can't say I have. However your time period for this product would make the San Francisco and Pacific Glass Works as the manufacturer of it.

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  2. Interesting bottle. I cannot really tell the actual size though...can you post a pic next to another bottle? Thanks.

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  3. Yes, due to the size I feel this was one of the samples from the fair. Furthermore, the pit that produced this bottle belonged to a painter from 1876-1884 who may have picked up this sample when he visited the fair ?

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  4. I think you may be right on Andrew. I cannot recall seeing this bottle before, and it may have been a one time blow for the fair specifically. I am curious as to whether any larger size non samples exist. Pretty cool find!

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