Blue Gum Bitters (B.G.B.)

My brother was pretty excited to dig his first Western Bitters! Pretty cool since he really likes Gin bottles too.... What do you get when you mix a BITTERS & a GIN? A "Blue Gum" Grin :)

One must wonder what this Eucalyptus Tree inspired Bitters concoction would have tasted like, right?

What's in the Fridge

Jerry Forbes and I were talking bottles after the Baltimore Show and as usual, we visit in our hotel rooms after the show to pull out our finds. This improvised light box is not a great as Ken's or Bills light boxes but it will do in a fix. Unfortunately Jerry's booty must share space with one of the wives martinis and a slab of steak. PS...don't keep the bottles in the icebox a long time.

F

Lewis Packing Co.

I will likely get booted from this blog, but I am curious about a food bottle I dug awhile back. This one is embossed "Lewis Packing Co. ( monogram) San Francisco" The top is very delicate, and tooled into a very thin "wax seal" type, and what intrigues me is not only that I have never seen this bottle before ( maybe I just don't hang out where there are millions of them), but the absolutely hammer whittled glass. For a 1890 era bottle, it is extremely whittled. Anyone out there seen one like it? This really is not an "April Fools" post. It is just one of those oddball bottles that I just could not toss back. Thanks, Dale M.

THIS WEEKEND !

San Luis Obisbo Bottle Society's 43rd Annual Show & Sale
FRIDAY AFTERNOON 3PM to 7PM
SATURDAY 9 AM to 3 PM
VETERANS HALL
209 SURF STREET MORRO BAY CA.
Support your local show!

Chico Eye Candy

Saturday afternoon a few collectors got together at the closing of the Chico Show to admire a beautiful gathering of Western Squares.

Rosenbaum's, Cundurango's and Renz's. The who's who of Western Squares!

I also heard today that a couple of the sellers at the Chico show hit a heartbreaking shallow trash pit in the foothils after the show.

Broken Wistar's Clubhouse, broken W.S.C. Clubhouse and the final insult... a broken Jockey Clubhouse Gin in a wild off color.

Chico Show Report 2011

One of the best aspects of the Chico, Ca. show is the Spring type feeling in the air. Usually this show produces a multitude of freshly dug items, however this year was particularly sparse in the "fresh dug" department. There were some nice bottles this year, and while most of the higher end quality Western bitters were in locked briefcases, and not for sale, they made for some great eye candy.

There were two amber Wonser's Indian Root Bitters being showed around, one of which was very whittled and crude. The other amber example was also very nice. There was a pretty and whittled Chalmer's Catawba Wine Bitters which made a brief appearance and promptly put back in it's case.

It appeared as though most tables had been sold, and there was quite a selection of nice bottles including a pretty green Catawba Bitters with an iron pontil, a pretty red whittled Lash's, a red whittled peruvian, two IXL's, and some rare square Dr. Mott's Wild Cherry Tonics, in both the A.H. Powers, and Spruance Stanley versions. There were some nice western distributed squares including a pontiled Charles' London Cordial Gin, and a gorgeous and mint olive green Jockey Clubhouse Gin which had been dug in Sacramento. There were also some nice Hostetters available. Once again, an early S.F. beer showed up and was immediately snapped up! This Postel was undamaged, and sold for a record price for this bottle.

There were some nice whiskeys available from the usual collectors/dealers, and a mint Pride of Kentucky glob top, changed hands, as well as a very strongly embossed and crude "One Name bear" in a reddish amber. I saw a few Nabobs, Livingston's Blackberry, and Cutters on tables, and I do not know if they found new homes. There was also a beautiful "Open Embossed" Portland, Hotaling glob...

The early Western sodas continue to be "hot" right now, and a few were available. There were only a few early Western medicines which seems to be the case at most shows. Not sure why, but mose collectors are holding on to their better meds.

Thanks to Randy Taylor who provided a great Italian feast for dealers, and a killer breakfast on Saturday morning! This show continues to be one where almost anything can happen, and I look forward to next year!

Coming This Weekend!

MARCH 11th & 12th CHICO CALIFORNIA U.S.A
THE 45th ANNUAL BOTTLE SHOW and SALE
FRIDAY SHOW OPENS TO DEALERS / EARLY LOOKERS at 10am Admission $5.00
SATURDAY SHOW and SALE 9am to 4pm FREE ADMISSION
SILVER DOLLAR FAIRGROUNDS CHICO
Contact Randy Taylor 530 518-7369
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BOTTLE SHOW
Some of the smallest shows contain the biggest surprises!
Hope to see everyone there
rs

Charles' London Cordial Gin

I have really been impressed with the beautiful 1850s and 60s squares which have been posted on this site as of late. It appears that there is a renewed interest in these bottles, and they sure do provide alot of color and crudity along with great history of the old west.

After the recent posting describing the various ingredients contained in these various types of "beverages", I thought I could add some additional detail for at least one early square.

The advertising for Charles' London Cordial Gin stated it was "A most pleasant Stimulant, Unequaled and Agreeable Beverage Made from the Juniper Berry" Dr. Valentine Recommends it as well as many other Physicians" Sounds pretty tasty to me!

Here is an early example with a sand chip pontil, which looks like an open pontil. This example is 9 5/8" tall and loaded with frothy champagne bubbles. This mold looks like the Catawba Wine Bitters mold to me, but i know many of you know much more than I when it comes to these beautiful squares.

BOLEY & AVALINE

Lafayatte and Addison Boley are believed to have established the first soda water factory in Sacramento in late 1849 or early 1850. The first mention of Boley and Company, in my research, is in the Sacramento Daily Union’s edition of August 1, 1852 and the firm is mentioned as Boley & Avaline.
The first advertisement for Boley & Avaline , in the August 11, 1852 Sacramento Daily Union, informs the public that Boley & Avaline have placed large sign cards in establishments that sell their soda water product and the bottoms of their bottles are painted with Venetian red paint.
March of 1853 saw Boley & Avaline on the delinquent tax list and by November of that year the firm of Boley & Co. are selling all of their soda water machinery.

A. McBoyle & Co

Thought you might have an interest to add this to the A. McBoyle & Co. thread. This is a pretty rare chamfered-corner druggist I picked up a few years ago. It might well be rarer than the SF-blown patent medicines from the same firm. Obviously available at a fraction of the price of a "puce-amber" example. This is the only example I've seen personally and I won it on ebay a few years ago when Ken Werner sold off his druggist collection.

Cheers, Jason P.

Pratt's New Life

Another of the western medicines with a great name is the Pratt's New Life, A. McBoyle, San Francisco. These early medicines have a unique shape with an unusually long neck, and crudely applied top. In the late 1970s I saw my first example in aqua, and was not even aware at the time that they were made in colors. In 1998, about 25 were found in one cache in colors from aqua, to yellow amber, and even a puce amber! Prior to these examples being dug, I know of few collectors who had even seen a colored specimen.

James Pratt was a San Francisco druggist starting in the 1850s. After retiring in the later 1860s he apparently gave the business, and some of his "secret" formulas to his son Perry. He must not have taken to the medicine business as Perry gave sole agency to Alexander McBoyle. McBoyle must have figured out the biz because 3 years later Perry made him a full partner and retired as well. The Pratt's brand was very successful and different varieties of medicines were manufactured including the popular Abolition Oil which is fairly commonly found in the West. The Pratts formulas were sold until about 1900.

Since the grouping of New Life's were discovered in 1998, a completely new version of this medicine was found...a large cobalt blue specimen which remains the only example known to my knowledge. I have also seen an aqua example in the larger 8" size. The New Life pictured here was found in Nevada and was not part of the original grouping found in San Francisco. For an early bottle, these are seldome crude but this example is extremely whittled, and full of black striations, and overall character. I would be curious to know if any other colored examples have been dug in any locations other than San Francisco. For some reason the vast majority of these have damage, mostly in the form of flashes in the top.

The name "New Life" was yet another attempt to depict the promise of health and vitality. As rare as these bottles are, it must not have caught on.

Anyone have a report on the Las Vegas Show?

Dr. Lepper's Oil of Gladness

The early Dr. Lepper's Oil of Gladness is a fascinating bottle to me for several reasons, not the least of which is the great name. These bottles are usually quite crude and are fairly early by most western medicine standards, later 1860s or so. Another interesting aspect of these medicines is that they are one of the few which are embossed on all four panels leaving no room for a label. I assume then, that the box and wrapper were quite ornate and attractive. Does anyone have a box for one of these?

According to Wilson, Doctor Andrew Lepper was a practicing physician in Sacramento, and traveled out to the mining camps around the Sierra foothills. In 1865 he gave sole agency to his "Oil of Gladness" to Justin Gates who operated a wholesale drug business with his brother James. Dr. Lepper also sent wagonloads of medicines up to the mines as sort of a traveling medicine show. Can you imagine the "dog and pony show" this must have been to the miners at the time who were enduring so much hardship, and likely had more aches and pains than one can imagine?

The bottle comes in two sizes- the large "economy size" at 5 1/2" and the regular 5" size. The larger bottle holds more than twice the capacity of the smaller version. The small size is one of the West's smallest early patent meds. It must have packed quite a whallop!

In my experience the larger size is much more scarce than the small size, although all would be considered very scarce. I would like to hear from some Sacramento diggers, and Gold Country diggers as to your impression of which size is the toughest to find, and the ratio.

Early Western medicines are so colorful in their names, and claims to cure anything that ails you. The Oil of Gladness boldly embossed "Sacramento" is one of the most flamboyant, and interesting of all!

Canadian Jars

Here are a few pictures of the jar collection of fellow collector and digging buddy George Koolery of Parksville British Columbia. George is active in the British Columbia bottle collecting community and helps with a couple of different shows in the Vancouver and Nanaimo area. Here's a few of George's (and my) favorites:

Amber Beaver Jar

Aqua Beaver Jar

Aqua Bee Hive Jar

Almost every jar in the collection is complete with the original closure

Hamilton Glass Works Jars

Royal Club Celebrated Schnapps

Green! My favorite color and this one is a beauty. Any info. on this one? Not p0ntilled. I sure like the squares! I collect Wolfe's Schnapps, Hostetter's and more.. Thanks for any info. James

Here is an odd ball Renz for you western collectors. Its a slugged out Renz. I have had this square for some time now and I have not seen another one yet. This Renz was dug in the Chico area a few years ago. I have compared this square to a dozen other Renz's and its dead on. The S.F. & Pacific Glass Works must of hung on to the Renz mold for a short time after his business closed. I not sure how many are out there... I threw in a 1871 add from the Sacramento Daily.

How about this Phoenix!

Embossed Phoenix Brewery Victoria B.C.

This is in the collection of a friend of mine in British Columbia.

More on my trip to British Columbia and the bottles I photographed coming soon.......

rs

Dr. S.P.P. Vandenbergh's Sr.

Here is a Western bottle that I have not been able to find any information on. It is 5 1/4" tall and though tooled, it appears fairly early circa mid 1870s. The embossing reads; " Dr. S.P.P. Vandenberg's Sr. Worm Syrup" I am not sure if this is for livestock, or humans...maybe both? I know it is shown in Tim Higgin's book, but with the top knocked off. I believe it is extremely rare, and would like to know any information possible, Thanks.

A recent "find"

Although not a particularly "old" bottle, this squatty little "J H Cutter" decanter was just added to my small collection of containers and advertising of the famous product. It is 5" tall and 3 1/2" in diameter and the first of it's type that I have been able to obtain.

It was soaked overnight in LimeAway to remove content stains from the interior and has just been rinsed out. That is why the beads of water are remaining inside the bottle.

A GOOD GOAT

And a good goat it is indeed. I've handled a few of the early Western beers and this one is top dog in my book. It's definitely not a dug bottle and just whittled to death. Not only that but the color killer, the strike superb and the condition is unbelievable, it's soooo mint. The original wire bail doesn't even have any rust. The new owner can be quite proud of this spectacular bottle as it comes full circle after being away from home for more than 40 years.

The other shot is of the LP that was visiting here and recently. It went to the finest Western whiskey museum in the world where it rightly belongs. Many thanks to Ken S for allowing all of us to once again view his incredible collection during the Anderson show.

It was great seeing everyone there, I was amazed at the amount of good glass that showed up at this years show.

http://www.oldwestbottles.com/

Picture Time

The Politics of Disposition

Dale’s post and report on this year’s Anderson bottle show gave the annual event a big thumbs up. Anderson has also always been on my list of shows to attend and I was really bummed that I couldn’t make this year’s festivities. I have had several reports of what a great show it was for both the buying and selling of bottles. Sometimes it doesn’t take a large venue to make a memorable show.

Old Cutters comment on Dale’s Anderson post: “Sadly, "my" labeled Rickity Rackety has now gone into a black hole. We talked of the trade before it happened and I said that it looked like a good deal for both of you. “ got me to thinking about how hard it is for bottle collectors to let things go.

I presume by OC’s comment that Dale acquired the “rickety rackety” from Old Cutters in a transaction for some consideration - be it cash, trade, Winchester’s or a player to be named at a later date. If indeed the transaction was completed then the “rickety rackety” was the property of Dale not Old Cutters. I also presume, from Old Cutters comment, that , "my" labeled Rickity Rackety was part of a trade for the black glass Cassin’s (I guess I am presuming a lot.. but if I didn’t I wouldn’t be writing this post) and Old Cutters approved the trade.

I just have to laugh at the way collectors (and myself) continue to hang on to stuff even after they sell it to someone else. How many times has someone looked at your bottle collection and commented “Oh, you still have “my” bottle”. Your bottle? Didn’t I pay for that years ago. How about the “Hey where’s “my” blue soda, when did you sell that?..... Oh, about three years after I paid for it! Or, my favorite, “Wow, my bitters, sure makes that run of bottles look good”

And the really funny part of all this is it works both ways. Just the other day a buddy from Benicia called to let me know that he was selling off some bottles and asked me “What do you want to do with your Hostetter’s?” My Hostetter’s? I asked. ” Yep” ,he replied “the green one you dug in Downieville” I thought I sold that to you years ago, was my come back. “Yah, yah, you did so do you want to buy it back?” I’m a little short of cash right now can we work something out if I throw in your Drakes Plantation and a couple western meds, I offered.

Hey, Old Cutters, I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing with you. Oh, by the way, do you still have my Cundurango, or was that Warren’s?

And about those black holes……..

The black glass Cassins shown was dug by Jim McKenny at Benica Cal in the 1960's .While all the bottles being dug there were always 4+ feet down this bottle was less than 2 feet below the surface . Jim wasn't expecting any bottles at that depth and probed a bruise on it . But still a great bottle and only one of two black glass ones known.

Anderson Show

The 2011 Anderson show was once again packed full of quality bottles. I think the time of year this show is held contributes to it's success, and surprisingly great glass! We are in the dead of winter, and collectors are itching to get out digging, and of course attend a show.This year the weather was sunny, and in the 70s, which NEVER happens at this show.

This year, I was able to handle one of the nicest pieces I have ever seen...the famous( but seldom seen) M. Kreiss, Redwood City beer with the embossed goat. What a bottle! Light amber, whittled, and crude...simply spectacular! It changed hands for an undisclosed amount.

I was impressed with the nice Western bitters this year. I was able to add the black Cassin's to my collection which made the show for me. This bottle is well known, and while not mint, is just amazing! I am very grateful to have it on the shelf. I also picked up a very nice, and crude Hierapicra Bitters, in a deeper than usual color, and mint condition. You rarely see these available these days. There was a beautiful "TM" square in light yellow green which went home with a lucky California collector. I saw a pretty Lacour's, ( there were two more making the rounds in a box, but not on a table), Two Wonser's, a nice IXL, an early Renz's Bitters with nice character, TWO green, iron pontil Jockey Club Gins, and a pretty ice blue Walker's VB, some great colored Hostetters rounded out the bitters offerings. The whiskeys available are very noteworthy, and will be posted on the whiskey blog. If you could not make it to Anderson this year, you missed some great glass. This is one show I never miss, and I look forward to next year!