Renz and Von Humboldts Bitters

These two early bitters share some unique characteristics that give some clues to when and where they were made.

The variant 1 Dr. Renz's Herb Bitters has 4 key features in common with the Alex Von Humboldts Stomach Bitters
which suggests that both bottles were made by the same moldmaker which probably was associated with the same glassworks. (Renz variants 2 & 3 have different mould features and are probably made and blown by a different glassworks)

The Renz bitters was first introduced to the California public on August 31st, 1867, the Von Humboldts bitters was a product of Charles V. Fleishmann, and first advertised in early 1868.

Both bottles have the same style & size of lettering, both bottles were made with a 7/16th wide bevel edge (uncomon on squares), both have a particular circular inset in the base with a rather large center dot and both have a unique mold line running parallel along two adjacent panels on the base. These two western squares share features with two other western figural bitters which are associated with SFGW. At the 1868 S. F. Mechanics Fair, the San Francisco Daily Times reported in their article about SFGW's display that among their varied display of glassware were bitters bottles with names stamped into the glass.

In my research of western bitters, those particularly made or marketed during the 1860's the evidence suggests that San Francisco Glass Works most likely was responsible for these two bottles and their respective moulds.