Also in this issue...
Ashes to Ashes – A Tragic Story
Weaponized Witch Bottles
ACL #16 Magnolia State
Finding D. Dodge Tomlinson
You Just Never Know and so much more!
Featuring Ha ndmade Germ an Marbles
Coming next issue or down the road:•Canyontell–An Odd Small Town Medicinal•The Saltsburg Glass Works•ACL #17 Local Pride•Privy Digger’s Dream•What Do You Collect?•Another Adventure of the Bottle Thief: Dead Chickens & Barking Dog•A Clinton Physician Dr. Carl Gruber•M. A. Rue of Cranbury, New Jersey•Early Pittsburgh Glasshouses•Keystone Coffee Jar•Soda City’s Only Two Earliest Colored Sodas: H. Deming & Co. and C.C. Habenicht•Probst & Hilbs German Bitters Little Rock, Ark.•Whites Prairie Flower•Caswell Hazard Druggists•Canyontell – An Odd Small Town Medicinal•Peter Bisso Soda Water Manufacturer in Corsicana, Texas•Steamboat Arabia Museum•Williams & Severance – Gold Rush Bottlers•The History of Bottles: Examined through One Retailer over Many Decades in Ten Steps•Chasing Dr. Parker•W. H. Bovee –Coffee and Spice Maker•ACL #18 Foreigners• Dr. Adolphus and his Anti-Rheumatic Cordial•Rick Carney & Maine Antique Glass•and so much more! On the Cover: German Handmade Marbles
So you don’t miss an issue of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, please check your labels for expiration information.
To Advertise, Subscribe or Renew a subscription, see pages 63 and 64 for details.
To submit an article or send a letter to the editor, please contact:
Ferdinand Meyer V Peachridge Collections (AB&GC) P.O. 1825 Brookshire, Texas 77423 email: fmeyer@fmgdesign.com
For comments or concerns please contact:
Michael Seeliger, FOHBC President N8211 Smith Road Brooklyn, WI 53521 phone: 608.575.2922
email: mwseeliger@gmail.com
Fair use notice: Some material in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector has been submitted for publication in this magazine and/or was originally published by the authors and is copyrighted. We, as a non-profit organization, offer it here as an educational tool to increase further understanding and discussion of bottle collecting and related history. We believe this constitutes “fair use” of the copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this material for purposes of your own that go beyond “fair use,” you must obtain permission from the copyright owner(s).
Antique Bottle & Glass Collector © (ISSN 10505598) is published bi-monthly (6 issues per year) by the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc. (a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization) at N8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521-9789; phone: 608-575-2922; website: FOHBC.org, postage paid at Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521 and additional mailing offices, Pub.#005062.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Michael Seeliger, FOHBC President, N8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521, phone: 608.575.2922, email: mwseeliger@gmail.com
Annual subscription rate is: $40 for Standard Mail or $55 for First Class, $85 to Canada, $120 other countries, $25 Digital Membership [in U.S. funds]. Life Membership: Level 1: $1,000, Level 2: $500. The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Inc. (FOHBC) assumes no responsibility for products and services advertised in this publication. See page 64 for details.
The names Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors Inc. (FOHBC), and Antique Bottle & Glass Collector ©, are registered ® names of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors Inc., and no use of either other than as references, is permitted without expressed written consent from the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors Inc. Certain material contained in this publication is copyrighted by, and remains the sole property of, the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors Inc. while others remain property of the submitting authors. Detailed information concerning a particular article may be obtained from the Editor. Printed by Modern Litho, Jefferson City, Missouri.
FOHBC Board of Directors
The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors is a non-profit organization for collectors of historical bottles, glass and related collectible items. Our primary goal is educational as it relates to the history and manufacture of historical bottles and related artifacts.
FOHBC Officers 2024–2026
President: Michael Seeliger, N8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521, phone: 608.575.2922, email: mwseeliger@gmail.com
Vice-President: Position Open
Secretary: Alice Seeliger, N8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521, phone: 608.575.1128, email: AliceSecretaryFOHBC@gmail.com
Treasurer: Kathie Craig, 1037 Hazelwood Avenue, Campbell, California 95008, phone: 408.591.6511, email: kathie.fohbc@gmail.com
Business Manager: Position Open
Membership Director: Position Open. (Interim) Michael Seeliger, N8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521, phone: 608-575-2922, email: mwseeliger@gmail.com
Marketing Director: Craig Cassetta, 12 Marlin Court, Chico, California 95973, phone: 530.680.5226, email: ccassettafohbc@gmail.com
Special Projects Director: Doug Simms, 1317 Tullahoma Drive, Prattville, Alabama 36066, phone: 334.318.1965, dsimms@dnscs.com
Director-at-Large: Stephen R. Jackson, P.O. Box 3137, Suffolk, Virginia 23439, phone: 757.675.5642, email: sjackson@srjacksonlaw.com
Director-at-Large: John O’Neill, 1805 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, California 94002, phone: 650.619.8209, email: Joneill@risk-strategies.com
Director-at-Large: Richard Siri, PO Box 3818,
Santa Rosa, California 95402, phone: 707.542.6438, email: rtsiri@sbcglobal.net
Northeast Region Director: Charles Martin Jr., 5 John Hall Cartway, Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts 02675, phone: 781.248.8620, email: cemartinjr@comcast.net
Midwest Region Director: Henry Hecker, W298 S10655 Phantom Woods Road, Mukwonago, Wisconsin 53149, phone: 262.844.5751, email: phantomhah@gmail.com
Southern Region Director: Tom Lines, 1647 Olivia Way, Auburn, Alabama 36830, phone: 205.410.2191, email: Bluecrab1949@hotmail.com
Western Region Director: Eric McGuire, 1732 Inverness Drive, Petaluma, California 94954, phone: 707.481.9145, email: etmcguire@comcast.net
FOHBC Virtual Museum
Alan DeMaison, 1605 Clipper Cove, Painesville, Ohio 44077, phone: 440.358.1223, email: a.demaison@sbcglobal.net
Joe Gourd, 27W058 Fleming Drive, Winfield, Illinois 60190, phone: 630.653.7088, email: joegourd@aol.com
Ferdinand Meyer V, P.O. Box 1825, Brookshire, Texas 77423, phone: 713.222.7979 x115, email: fmeyer@fmgdesign.com
Miguel Ruiz, FMG Design, Inc., 101 Crawford Street, Studio 1A, Houston, Texas 77002, phone: 713.222.7979, email: mruiz@fmgdesign.com
Richard Siri, PO Box 3818, Santa Rosa, California 95402, phone: 707.542.6438, email: rtsiri@sbcglobal.net
Antique Bottle & Glass Collector
Publication: Peachridge Collections, LLC, Ferdinand Meyer V and Elizabeth Meyer, P.O. Box 1825, Brookshire, Texas 77423, email: fmeyer@fmgdesign.com
Proofreader: Alice Seeliger
Featured Writers: Mike Dickman, Ralph Finch and Andy Rapoza
FOHBC ADDRESS CHANGE: Mail should no longer be addressed to the Post Office Box in Brookshire, Texas. Address all mail to:
FOHBC c/o Michael Seeliger N8211 Smith Road Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521-9789
Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors
President’s Message
Michael Seeliger
N8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521
608.575.2922
mwseeliger@gmail.com
As I write this, I am crisscrossing the country with Michael Craig attending bottle shows and seeing some magnificent personal bottle collections. I’m sure many of you have met me at shows where I’m displaying the Federation banner and encouraging membership and renewals. It is my great pleasure to get the word out about the Federation and meet so many interesting bottle and glass collectors.
After many years of service to the Federation as board members and business manager, Ferdinand and Elizabeth Meyer have retired from their board positions. Ferdinand will continue with his contract with Peachridge Collections as Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine editor, webmaster, and social media coordinator. He will also stay active with the Virtual Museum project. Elizabeth is taking a well-deserved rest from her many responsibilities as business manager to concentrate on her health. We wish her a speedy recovery.
Ferdinand and Elizabeth have been instrumental in making the Federation what it is today. His years of service as President brought the Federation to new heights in the bottle-collecting world. As editor of the Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine, he continually puts out an outstanding publication. As a creator of the Virtual Museum, he has led it to be the gold standard in the collecting world. Though he will be stepping away from the Auction Price Report, he leaves his mark on this much-appreciated collection of auction sales.
Elizabeth has worked tirelessly at keeping the day-to-day operations of the Federation in order and has been Ferdinand’s right hand. Her many duties are being taken on by several others and there will certainly be an adjustment period, but she is graciously helping in the transition. She will be impossible to replace, but we appreciate others who are willing to step in to help.
Ferdinand and Elizabeth, their daughter, granddaughters, and grandson, through Peachridge Collections, produced the never-to-be-repeated Houston 24 National Antique Bottle & Glass Exposition which will go down in history as the bottle event of the century. As you can imagine, the monumental effort left them exhausted and in need of some respite from Federation management. I know you will all join me in expressing our gratitude for their tremendous contributions to the Federation.
coordinate the Associate Club Federation insurance coverage and will submit applications from clubs to our insurance carrier. Clubs should request an application form from John, complete it, and send it back to him with the facility agreement for their show or other event. A Certificate of Insurance will be sent to clubs very quickly but a month to two-month notice is recommended. Note that club dues including insurance have been increased to $130 ($80 without insurance) and it remains a significant benefit of club membership.
Alice Seeliger, Federation Secretary, has taken on the task of Advertising Coordinator and is learning the ropes with this issue of AB&GC. She is also the liaison for Associate Clubs and will be keeping track of renewals and insurance coverage. She has been overseeing many of the Federal, State, and postal registrations and taxation and reporting requirements and will continue to do so. Kathie Craig has taken on additional responsibilities complementary to the treasurer position and will handle all income, payments, record keeping, and tax preparation oversight. We are streamlining bank deposits, payments, and record-keeping to make it a more efficient system.
Newly appointed, Doug Simms has agreed to assume the Special Projects Director position. Doug has vast knowledge and experience in website development and design and will be a great asset as we continue to update the Auction Price Report (photos are on the horizon) as well as our Federation website. He is excited to get started so please welcome him to the Federation board.
On the Associate Club front, I attended one of the zoom meetings of the Ohio Bottle Club. What a great activity…it is nice to get together every month or so. Everyone in attendance was pleased to learn that a generous donation was given in the name of recently passed, long-time member Adam Koch. Adam was a great contributor to the hobby and is greatly missed.
With Spring on its way, I am getting a bit nostalgic about past digs, sleeping in the back of the truck to be first at an outdoor event, that great Federation convention in St. Louis ’76—complete with dancing on the paddle boat and sliding down the escalators; and meeting other bottle collectors from around the country at so many Federation shows throughout the years. I hope you made some great new memories at Houston 24 that you’ll look back on years from now—especially you young collectors. I’ve been taking note at shows that there are increasing numbers of younger collectors… and that’s a really good thing for our hobby! I challenge you to introduce a young person you know to the wonderful world of bottle collecting where there’s something for everyone. Until next time, Happy Collecting!
To carry on the mission of the Federation, I have appointed myself Interim Membership Director (a position I will gladly turn over to someone else when anyone steps forward). John O’Neill will
Please take note of changes of responsibilities and mailing addresses throughout the magazine and website. Federation mail should no longer be sent to the Post Office Box in Brookshire, Texas.
President Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors
Shards of Wisdom
“Heard it Through the Grapevine”
The $8.5 Million Astolat Dollhouse Castle: World’s Most Expensive Dollhouse
Appraised at $8.5 million, the Astolat Dollhouse Castle costs more than a fully furnished condo in New York City. But then, this is no ordinary dollhouse. It’s nine feet tall, has 29 rooms, weighs 800 pounds and is furnished with 10,000 miniature pieces including extravagant furnishings, working fireplaces, stained glass panels, oil paintings, mirrors, gold miniature jewelry, fine rugs and fabric, and even rare mini books more than 100 years old. All of these were meticulously handcrafted by artisans from all over the world.
The dollhouse was created primarily by Colorado-based miniaturist Elaine Diehl, after she got inspired by Alfred Tennyson’s poetry about the Lady of the Lake. Over a thirteen year period, between 1974 and 1987, Elaine Diehl built the castle taking help of experts and miniature artists from around the world.
Consisting of seven levels, stairways, and hallways, Astolat Dollhouse Castle was created for 360 degree viewing. As with the Colleen Moore dollhouse, certain exterior walls are fixed to create a 3-D viewing experience. The basement level consists of the Knights of Columbus room, wine cellar, kitchens, and the armory. The main floor contains the entrance foyer, main stairway, and butler’s closet. Next level up contains the formal living room, dining room, and music room and its audience balcony. The fourth level contains the private library containing dueling pistols, a library of miniature books, fireplace, miniature daguerreotypes, and the oil painting display area. Fifth level contains the sleeping quarters. Sixth floor contains the grand ballroom, musician’s alcove, bar area and sitting rooms. Wizard’s tower is on the top level and contains hand-painted zodiac signs, telescope, observatory and astronomical depictions.
Shards of Wisdom
“Heard it Through the Grapevine”
A young man’s brain turned to glass during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Scientists say they have figured out how. Glass rarely forms naturally from organic materials. However, in 2020, researchers discovered a black, glassy substance inside the skull of a person killed during the eruption of Italy’s Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Now, the scientists say they have worked out the sequence of events that likely killed the victim and led to the formation of the unique and puzzling glass, thought essentially to constitute fossilized brain tissue.
Recovered from the coastal town of Herculaneum, which along with Pompeii was wiped out by the eruption, the remains belonged to an individual, thought to be a young man, who was found lying face down on a bed buried by volcanic ash. A new analysis of glass samples found inside the skull and spinal cord suggests that the person’s body tissue must have been heated to above 510 degrees Celsius (950 degrees Fahrenheit) before cooling rapidly to allow the glass to form in a process known as vitrification. “The process of transformation of anything liquid into glass is the fast cooling, not the fast heating,” said Guido Giordano, a volcanologist at Roma Tre University in Rome and lead author of the study published recently in the journal Scientific Reports. “Obsidian glass, that is a volcanic glass, forms when lava is very quickly cooled, for example, where it enters into water,” Giordano added. However, the pyroclastic flows, composed of fast-moving volcanic material and toxic gas, that charged out of Vesuvius and buried Herculaneum could not have caused the brain tissues of this young man to turn into glass, he said. The study noted that the temperatures of these flows did not reach higher than 465 C (869 F). Plus, they would have cooled slowly.
Instead, based on observations of more recent eruptions, the study concluded that an extremely hot ash cloud that dissipated quickly could have created the conditions necessary for the vitrification of human brain tissue to occur. However, the specific set of circumstances needed to vitrify soft tissue has raised some skepticism in the scientific community. The young man’s skull and spine likely protected the brain from “complete thermal breakdown,” allowing fragments of the unique organic glass to form.
Unlike pyroclastic flows, which hug the ground, an ash cloud is
airborne. However, the two are linked, Giordano said. “What is an ash cloud? It’s a dilute part of the pyroclastic flow. It’s usually formed at the edges, above and laterally, where most of the material is like an avalanche or landslide. Still, the peripheral part is of finer particle ash,” he explained. “These clouds can be hot enough to kill you.”
To reach the findings, Giordano and his colleagues systematically cooled and heated fragments of the glass sampled from inside the skull and spine to understand what degree of heat and subsequent cooling was necessary. They found that the brain tissue transformed into glass at a temperature of at least 510 C (950 F). “The ash cloud basically instantly killed the people because they were engulfed in a cloud that was probably about 510, maybe 600 degrees (Celsius),” he added. Giordano said that at the bottom of the layers of ash and rubble that buried Herculaneum is a layer of fine volcanic ash that the ash cloud may have deposited.
Sharing Some Bottle Photos
Hi Ferdinand: I’m a FOHBC member from Colorado and I always enjoy your articles and insights in the magazine and on your Peachtree Glass website. My wife (Therese) and I set up at the National Show in Reno in 2022 (and did well!) but unfortunately won’t be able to make it this year. I’m attaching photos of a few bot tles that I haven’t seen elsewhere in my years of collecting—thought they might be of interest to you or other FOHBC members (they’re not for sale but thought you might not have seen them before). The photos should provide the info you need. I’ve seen a couple unlabeled Dr. Burgoon’s System Renovator bottles through the years but never one with a complete label and graphic original box. Likewise with the Dr. Beard’s Bitters bottle—I’ve seen a few but not in the larger size with the portrait label (bottle is label only). Lastly, the Columbia Exterminator bottle is the only one I’ve seen and the fairly crude yet detailed Victorian household scene on the label is one of my favorites. Thanks for your time and interest! Best Regards, Jay Thompson. Lakewood, Colorado.
Editor: See Lost and Found, this issue for the other two bottle pictures.
FOHBC News
From & For Our Members
Bunker Hill Pickle Lighthouse Picture
Actually, Ferd, there is a bit more to the pain story: In a month or two they MIGHT insert wires to my spine and...yuck. Still, in two months I may turn 85, and...life has been great; I am very fortunate. Much of it due to:
1. Blind luck. (The title of a chapter in my diary).
2. A great hobby: With wonderful glass and—better—wonderful friends.
3. (And the best part of all) The most wonderful wife any man could ever hope for ...
Hello Ferdinand, I am a bottle collector in Cape May County, New Jersey, and have been collecting bottles locally in my area for 30 years. I published a 262-page book “Milk Bottles and Memories of Cape May County, NJ” last year detailing the history of every known milk bottle from here and had great feedback. I’m finishing up another book on all other Cape May County bottles, including the Seaworth Bitters bottle. I believe you have a picture of seven Skilton Foote & Co. Bunker Hill Pickle bottles blown in the Seaworth mold. I have an aqua Bunker Hill with an amber swirl from the base to the lighthouse lens I picked up a few years ago. I would like to use your picture in my book when I describe the connection between the Seaworth and Skilton Foote companies and credit you for the photo. I still need to add a few more pictures of the Seaworth bottles and to proofread everything, but it is almost finished. Please let me know if it is acceptable to use your photo.
Ed Runyon Cape May County, New Jersey
A couple of comments from Ralph Finch
Sadly. I have sent this message to a few people over the last two weeks.
1: It has been a great 55-plus years of collecting, but...all good things come to an end. Some 64 years ago I “sprained” my back, and every decade or so it would cause a problem. Now, I can’t even ride in a car (or even GET in a car) without serious pain (as a passenger; the minor stroke a dozen years ago, ended my driving). But, I can still sit at my computer and search auction houses around the world, but not going to a show—a few I have attended for 50 years—or seeing old friends is a big loss to me.
2: I enjoyed the current issue (in part, for selfish reasons): The Penistone/Buddy Holly story. Every February, for decades now, I think of Buddy (and Penistone). Ferd, your page layout was well done. Thanks for that.
4. I’ve got a bit of *fluff (or two) still in the computer, so you may not be free of me yet.
*Right now, I am trying to figure out why I have a gigantic antique ship’s wheel in our garage. (With my back, and Janet’s knees, we can’t lift it...as if we would want to lift it.)
I like glass, but I especially like the....fun parts and the *strange parts of collecting. Stay well... (Your Petaluma agent was interested in the time (40? years ago) I ended up, while attending a glass show in the East, sleeping on a couch in a strange women’s home, wearing only a pink nightie. Do you remember seeing it? Every decade or so it gets resurrected—by request), and I think it even came with a cartoon drawn by Bob Villamagna, famous for great illustrations. (I have two or three framed examples of his work in our home.) Interested? *And showing myself in a pink nightie? I have no shame.
That just caused me to remember, only recently, Alan Blakeman commented on one of his favorite stories: “Did I room well in Wombwell?” Wombwell was a little town near where his summernational shows were held—and excerpt that my room —over a noisy bar—was across the street from a bank, and its alarm went off several times through the night. And each time the police would come and...BUT THERE WAS A PLUS side to the story—with the ride to Wombwell, I met a great guy from Australia. Actually, he was from Michigan, but he sounded like an Australian because...
Hey, you have to pay 10 cents if you want the whole story. Stay well.
Ruby Red Drake’s
Ferd, I don’t know if you could somehow tie this letter into the commemorative Drake’s Plantation Bitters for Reno 25 for a magazine article, or maybe just a member photo but this is a cool piece about the ruby red color being used in bottles. Of course this is Michael’s family and this is how Michael got started collecting bottles. Michael’s mom “Norrie” and dad, Bill, were antique collectors and visited antique stores where they began seeing ruby red Schlitz beer bottles for sale. Realizing that Mi-
chael, a hunter, would likely come across these in dumps hidden in the woods, they told him to keep an eye out for them so they could use them as trades for antiques. They could get about $6 each in trade value. It was a challenge for Michael since he is red/green color blind and had great difficulty distinguishing the ruby red from the regular brown, but he was quite successful over the years and even found many of the larger size. He also ran into a few snakes along the way, and discovered that the dead ends of lovers’ lanes yielded these castoffs without any digging... and then he graduated to the better, older dumps, and the Warner’s craze began.
Alice Seeliger
Brooklyn, Wisconsin
Bottle dug up in the backyard of a neighbor in Newton, Mass.
My son Charlie’s wife, Molly, is good friends with a woman whose property abuts the famous Mary Baker Eddy House. I’m not sure if this landmark is in Chestnut Hill or Newton, Massachusetts. Mary Baker Eddy was a co-founder of the Christian Science movement back in the 19th century. The fact of the matter is that this woman (one of my son’s wife’s close friends), whose property abuts this famous dwelling (Google the name Mary Baker Eddy House!) has come across a whole bunch of bottles while gardening, one of which I’ve shared with you. Unfortunately, I’m returning to Canada in a couple of days, so I will not travel over to see this woman and her collection, but she has, I understand, quite a collection of old “torpedo” bottles that she has dug up in her yard or in her garden or whatever. One thing is for sure—she is not a collector! I asked my son’s wife how many bottles this woman has, and it looks like she has at least a dozen or so dumped into boxes. I’m a major collector, Ferdinand, of 18th-century furniture. So, like you, I understand the world of collecting Big Time! Of course, I’ve been told that my cigar box collection of over 700 boxes (which is secondary to my overall collection) rivals the Smithsonian collection. When I return to Boston sometime in the summer, I will make an effort to investigate more. But, to tell you the truth, I think that this woman has a fortune tied up in these bottles and does not know it...but may suspect something. I’ll get my son’s wife to take some more photos. If you are ever in this area, perhaps I could link you up. Believe me, it would be worth the effort. I read the article you sent me, top to bottom (Round Bottom Bottles, AB&GC, May–June 2022). This Cantrell guy is a most interesting discovery—the founder or co-founder of ginger ale! Wow! Cheers
Charlie Humber
Mississauga, Ontario
FOHBC Regional News
Please visit FOHBC.org for expanded coverage.
Northeast Region [Charlie Martin, Jr., Director]
On Sunday, April 6, 2025, the Little Rhody Antique Bottle Club held its long-awaited bottle show. As you may recall, their show was always held in January. They dodged bad weather for many years. However, in January of 2023, they could not avoid a bad winter storm. As a direct result of that storm, club membership made the decision to establish a new date in April for their annual show and sale. In celebration of this new date, the author set up the show to do two things, sell bottles and represent the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (FOHBC). My day was spent greeting and meeting old and new friends to talk about bottles and to encourage those not already Federation members to consider investing a few dollars to become active members. Hopefully, there will be an uptick of new members as a result of all the upcoming bottle shows in our Northeast Region. No bottle collector should go it alone; bottle clubs are an excellent resource for collectors just getting into the hobby. The Federation offers a wealth of valuable information to make your collecting more enjoyable and help you gain knowledge about your collection.
Help Solve a 166-year-old Mystery! Federation member Eliot Hudson (EliotHudsonTheWriter@gmail.com or EliotHudson. com) is in need of factual information that one of you may possess, or you may have knowledge that will further help him obtain vital data for the book he is writing about Frederick Douglass. Let’s help him make historic bottle history! Eliot needs any information you might have about Scottish-born brick and “clay ale beer bottle” maker Andrew Johnston of Hoboken, New Jersey, circa 1859. Andrew saved Frederick Douglass’ life after the Harper’s Ferry Raid. Eliot believes that Andrew Johnston was practicing his skills in New York at this time. He made “clay, earthenware, stoneware, crockery, pottery, or possibly transitioned to glassware” products. Please get in touch with Eliot directly if you are able to provide him with any facts about Andrew Johnston. I love a good mystery, especially if it reveals new knowledge. All the best, Eliot!
Roy Topka with the National Bottle Museum sent two update notices. The first is that the museum is updating to new backlit display cases for the Ralph and Eleanor Work collection of Saratoga-type bottles. Roy will send photos when the work is complete. We will post the images on our website, as well.
Secondly, Alex Prizgintas, president of the Woodbury Historical Society and Town Historian of Woodbury in Orange County, New York, has put together a unique collection and display of milk bottles from this area, thus helping to preserve New York’s lost dairy farming empire. He plans to set up his display at the
Saratoga Antique Bottle Show and Sale on June 1, 2025. Afterward, Alex intends to “take his show on the road.” If you would like more information, reach out to Roy Topka at the National Bottle Museum, Balston Spa, New York. Until next time, happy bottle collecting!
Western Region [Eric McGuire, Director]
I love to give a plug to the 49’er Historical Bottle Club whenever possible. It is an interesting “hybrid” club that no longer has monthly meetings or even a newsletter. Perhaps best known for its yearly show and sale in Auburn, California, it will host one of its grand picnics in May. Hopefully, you will receive this before the event. It will be held May 17 at 7551 Mountain Avenue, in Orangevale, California, hosted by Kim and Judy Bakke. It will be outside at their family vineyard, which is a simply beautiful location. Check it out on Google Maps.
Michael Doyle admirably documented the recent Golden Gate Bottle Club show/sale at Antioch, California, on April 13, 2025. This show is an important ‘mainstay’ to collectors throughout the Western states and beyond, and this year it lived up to its reputation. One important perspective that has brought new life to recent shows is the greater interest and demand for bottles of a newer vintage. Without this injection, it is apparent that the interest in bottles would drastically wither away. This is simply a fact of life, primarily driven by our life span as well as the availability of collectible items. You can see the pictures at FOHBC.org.
Show chair, Gary Antone, provided some interesting statistics on the heartbeat of the show. A total of 72 sales tables filled the hall with no room to spare. Early buyers equaled 111 who attended the show opener on Friday at Noon. That was virtually the same as last year, which was down by only six attendees. The hall is blessed with a great kitchen, and some of the club members, notably Jackie Lindgren and Darla Antone, “cheffed” their way into the hearts of numerous attendees. A raffle was stocked with several early coins and some bottles. The three coins were won by Manuel Cunha and Richard Siri. A “Tippecanoe” bottle was won by Mike Doyle, and Arpana Vaniya won a “Dr. Soule’s Hop Bitters” bottle. Thanks to the Golden Gate Club for hosting another fine show.
Midwest Region [Henry Hecker, Director]
A recent auction house in Wisconsin created spirited bidding for a previously unknown (by most stoneware aficionados) three-gallon ovoid jug. Stamped “A. W. Bunster Wholesale Liquor
Dealer, Janesville, Wis” and manufactured by the Milwaukee Stoneware Factory about 1857, the jug hammered down for $4,000. The characteristic cobalt lily decoration can attribute this advertising jug’s origin. These historical type pieces rarely show up anymore.
The Metropolitan Detroit Antique Bottle Club likes to create some intrigue by asking for show-and-tell items beginning with a different letter of the alphabet at each meeting. March was the letter “X” and members still found items to bring! Also reported was a recent Mt. Clemens estate sale, which produced an open pontil cornucopia and eagle flask for $2. The Glass Chatter newsletter from the Midwest Antique Fruit Jar & Bottle Club reports the iconic Malcolm “Pete” Peterson fruit jar collection auction.
Some extra excitement occurred at the February meeting of the Ohio Bottle Club. Items brought in made it feel like you were visiting the Corning Museum of Glass, according to one comment. An ultra-rare Callahan’s Whiskey from Pittsburgh showed up. Note the similarity to an American Life Bitters from Tiffin, Ohio. On a sadder note, their Ohio Swirl newsletter reports the passing of two of its beloved members. Ohio Bottle Club and longtime Federation member Adam Koch voluntarily served the Federation, particularly as the Convention Director, for many years, and many current senior members have befriended and worked with Adam to promote our hobby and the Federation’s goals. Adam was the Show Chairman for the 1992 Federation Expo held in Toledo, Ohio, which was the largest bottle show ever held to date. With Adam’s leadership and Ohio Bottle Club volunteers, the show boasted 550 sales tables, 60 displays, and numerous specialty group meetings and seminars. As a prominent participant at dozens and dozens of shows over 60 years, Adam was a premier promoter for the bottle hobby. A “Celebration of Life” for Adam Koch, will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 2 to 4:00 pm at Newcomer Funeral Home, 131 N. Canton Rd., Akron, Ohio. Edna DeCroo’s passing was also noted. Edna was married to Pittsburgh Antique Bottle Club and Ohio Bottle Club member Bob DcCroo. Bob and Edna were chairpersons of the famous Pittsburgh Bottle Show. Edna always worked the front door selling tickets and greeting all who attended. I suspect that Edna did a lot behind the scenes of the OBC, and we extend our deepest condolences.
Southern
Region [Tom Lines, Director]
From Brad Weber. The 8th Annual Central Texas Bottle, Jar, Insulator, Pottery/Stoneware, Breweriana, Advertising and Collectibles Show held at the Old Settlers Hall in Round Rock, Texas on February 21st and 22nd was the largest show since its inception.
With over 60 tables and 35 dealers, it has become one of the largest shows of its kind in Texas. Dealers came from across the Lone Star State. From Amarillo to Corpus Christi, San Antonio to Dallas/Ft. Worth, the best of the best assembled to buy, sell, and trade a fine assortment of bottles, insulators, Texas stoneware, jars, marbles, Texas breweriana, and advertising. Pizza was provided to dealers Friday evening, and the world-famous Round Rock Donuts were provided for breakfast the following morning. The show drew in over 400 people despite the cold and drizzle. There was a visible increase in younger collectors who attended the show, proving that the hobby is alive and well here in Texas. Much like an ice cream parlor, the show was full of smiling people. It was not an uncommon sight to see people leaving with their hands full of new treasures and coming back in for more!
From Bob Morgan. I attended the 3rd Annual Carolina Antique Bottle and Collectible Show last weekend. Johnny McAulay puts on the show, which has grown steadily over the years. The show was held in the Charles Mack Center in historic downtown Mooresville, North Carolina, about 30 miles north of Charlotte. It is spacious, well-lit, and comfortable. Attendance was strong, and sales seemed to be brisk throughout the floor. Like most regional bottle shows, there was a heavy dose of local bottles and historical collectibles available. However, a good variety of “national” bottles were also available, covering most categories and interests. All in all, it was a good day at the bottle show.
Jason Herron and Buddy Lasater pulled off another great event this year. The 4th Annual Chattanooga | North Georgia Antique Bottles & Advertising Show at the Dalton Convention Center had nearly 200 tables, with dealers from six states participating. With an eight-hour-long dealer setup day on Friday, most of the action was then with many early buyers. The public turnout on Saturday was moderate. The potential for severe weather dampened the spirits of many dealers and the public alike. Buddy and Jason announced that the show date for 2026 was being moved to June, which made this writer very happy!
At the end of last month, Rod Vining chaired another jam-up Mobile Bottle Collectors Club’s 52nd Annual Antique Bottle & Collectibles Show & Sale in Daphne, Alabama, with 100+ tables of bottles, advertising, and stoneware. Daphne is always a good show with great local turnout. Dealers experienced brisk business on Friday afternoon and Saturday. Six states were represented. Among things changing hands were two extra large case gins—18 inches tall! The show is also the annual reunion for four long-term friends. They celebrate their friendship at Gambino’s Italian Grill in nearby Fairhope, Alabama, where the food is always good.
Henry Hecker (left) and FOHBC president, Michael Seeliger, at the Houston 2024 Dinosaurs Banquet.
Virtual Museum News
By Richard T. Siri, Santa Rosa, California
Announcing the FOHBC Virtual Museum “25 from 25 in 25” ($25 monthly from 25 members in 2025) Fundraising Campaign
$25
from 25 in 25
An important notice to FOHBC members.
Please don’t skip this note, as we are starting 2025 and we need your help. Think how often you’ve visited the Virtual Museum and how valuable this Museum is to the future of our hobby. We are asking if you will donate at any level Immediately to help us get out of the cash bind we’re presently in. We rely solely on donations and have never taken any FOHBC bank account or membership money. We’re looking for grassroots donations, and we have a special campaign called “25 from 25 in 25” ($25 monthly from 25 members in 2025). We also have a donor who has put up $5,000 if we can find a matching $5,000 donation—so please help us continue moving forward with the greatest project in the hobby world!
FOHBC VIRTUAL MUSEUM OF HISTORICAL BOTTLES AND GLASS
FOHBC Virtual Museum .org
For gift information: Alan DeMaison, FOHBC Virtual Museum Treasurer, 1605 Clipper Cove, Painesville, Ohio 44077, a.demaison@sbcglobal.net
The FOHBC Virtual Museum was established to display, inform, educate, and enhance the enjoyment of historical bottle and glass collecting by providing an online virtual museum experience for significant historical bottles and other items related to early glass.
Please help us fill our PHASE 4 “Wishart’s Pine Tree Tar Cordial” bottle.
Phase 4
Please help us with our Phase 4 fundraising capital campaign to continue development of the FOHBC Virtual Museum. The FOHBC and the Virtual Museum team thank our many donors who have helped us raise over $118,558 to date.
We have $2,973 in available funds to continue development to build our galleries, exhibition hall, research library and gift shop. Donations are tax deductible. All donors are listed on our Virtual Museum Recognition Wall With one salaried website technician averaging $1,200 a month, we need help. We are continually traveling to collections, so more costs are incurred. All other time is donated by the Virtual Museum team out of our love and passion for the hobby and the FOHBC. Thank you!
Donations to the Museum are always needed to ensure we continue. We are a 501(c)(3) educational organization, so your donation is tax deductible. Please confirm with your tax attorney.
ACL CORNER #16
[Mike Dickman]
Soda pop has always been popular in the American South, with its long, hot, humid summers. Many national brands were born in the South, including Dr. Pepper (Texas, 1885), Coca-Cola (Georgia, 1886), Pepsi-Cola (North Carolina, 1893), and Mountain Dew (Tennessee, 1940). Southern mom-andpop soda brands flourished during the era of applied color label (ACL) bottles, although most didn’t last long. Mississippi, in particular, had an astonishing variety of rare, colorful, and interesting mom-andpop ACL soda bottles. Let’s look at a few of them.
Magnolia State
of the Mississippi Delta and long a center of cotton cultivation. Back in the day, steamboats on the adjacent Deer Creek transported hundreds of tons of bales of cotton to market and cotton is still an important part of the economy. With a population of just 4,735 people in 1950, Leland was home to Cotton Picker Beverages, put up by the Leland Bottling Company in 1948 [Fig. 1] as well as King Cotton Fine Flavors, bottled in 1959 by the Seven-Up Bottling Company of Leland, Mississippi [Fig. 2]
Mississippi is nicknamed the “Magnolia State” for its ubiquitous tree and flower of the same name and has been inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years. Europeans first entered the area in 1540, when the Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto searched unsuccessfully for gold. England eventually acquired the territory and ceded it to the United States in 1783, and Mississippi was admitted into the Union as the twentieth state in 1817. Mississippi declared its secession from the Union in 1861 but was readmitted after the Civil War, in which over 80,000 white Mississippians fought for the Confederacy. Interestingly, 545 white Mississippians joined the Union Army to fight, as did 17,000 black Mississippians. African American slaves made up 55% of the state’s population in 1860, and Mississippi today has the highest percentage of African American citizens of any state.
Throughout its history, cotton has been Mississippi’s economic engine due to the fertile soil and free slave labor (or cheap sharecropper labor after emancipation). Not surprisingly, cotton was the focus of several Mississippi soda brands. Two rare and desirable ACL sodas come from Leland, a small city in the heart
The former bottle depicts a vignette of a female sharecropper picking cotton in the fields, framed within a boll of cotton, while the latter portrays a cartoon “King Cotton” perched happily atop a large bale of his cotton. Both bottles are quintessential Americana.
Another cotton-themed ACL soda bottle is Dixieland from Jackson, Mississippi, the capital and most populous city. The city is named after General Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. President, and the city today is home to over a fifth of the state’s
[Above] State of Mississippi Treasury Note, 1862, $100. The note was used to finance the Civil War but became worthless after hostilities ended. The note is a popular collectible today, however, bringing between $200 and $600+ depending on condition.
Photo courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
[Fig. 2 Left] King Cotton Fine Flavors, Leland, Mississippi, 1959.
[Background] Beautiful magnolia flower, the official state flower (and state tree) of Mississippi. It is an ancient genus whose fossilized remains date back tens of millions of years.
[Fig. 1] Cotton Picker Beverages, Leland, Mississippi, 1948.
population. The seven-ounce green and white soda from 1952 depicts a cotton boll on the upper left and a factory (probably a cotton textile mill) on the lower right, with the slogan, “When you pick Dixieland, you get the finest fruit flavors.” [Figs. 3 & 4] The backs of most ACL soda bottles typically are not very interesting, but the Dixieland is an exception. It shows a map of seven named Mississippi cities connected to Jackson in the middle, proclaimed “The Crossroads of the South.” Some other cities are rather obscure, like Utica, which had only 824 people living there when the bottle was made, according to the U.S. Census.
Steamships dominated commercial trade in America from the 1800s through the early 1900s, until cheaper forms of transportation such as railroads and motor vehicles made them obsolete. Mississippi’s navigable waterways, including the Mississippi River along its western border, once bustled with steamship traffic. Riverside Flavors, a ten-ounce bottle put up in 1953 by the Columbia Bottling Co of Columbia, Mississippi, pays homage to that aspect of the state’s past with an all-white ACL of a moving paddle wheel steamboat. [Fig. 5] Perhaps to reassure the 6,000 or so potential consumers who resided in Columbia in the 1950s, the rear of the bottle asserts that the soda pop was “made in a modern sanitary plant” and that its “uniformity and purity [were] guaranteed.” The bottle, like most of those discussed in this article, is tough to find today.
Noel’s Cola, “A Real Treat,” is a super rare ACL soda bottle that was made in 1938, during the early days of commercial usage of the ACL printing process. Bottled by the Noel Bottling Works of Corinth, Mississippi, the bottle held seven ounces of soda and was made with aqua glass. [Fig. 6] FOHBC Hall of Famer, Bill Baab, wrote about the bottle in the July-August 2007 issue of FOHBC’s magazine Bottles and Extras. The company was founded by Herman E. Noel, who initially purchased local chickens and shipped them live to Chicago and New York. After that business failed, Noel distributed bottled beer until the voters of Alcorn County, Mississippi, outlawed alcohol in the county. Not a man to be discouraged, Noel started a non-alcoholic soda bottling business in 1938. To introduce his new product to the market, he organized a parade through downtown Corinth. Mary Sue Morrison, daughter of the company’s accountant and 11 years old at the time, was crowned “Noel’s Soda Queen” and rode atop a delivery truck at the head of the parade. The Corinth High School band
[Figs. 3 & 4] Dixieland, Jackson, Mississippi, front and back labels, “When you pick Dixieland, you get the finest fruit flavors,” 1952. Photos courtesy of Barry Graham.
[Left] 9,226 cotton bales from Natchez, Mississippi arriving by steamship at the Port of New Orleans in 1881, claimed at the time to be the largest cargo of cotton ever floated down the Mississippi River.
Illustration from a photograph by E. M. Bidwell in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper.
proudly marched behind her. Mary Sue was eighty years old when Bill Baab interviewed her in 2007, and she was probably the model for the girl pictured on the ACL. Noel Bottling Works went bust during World War II, and only a handful of its bottles are known today. All the existing bottles are seven ounces in size except for one 12-ounce bottle, which is unique. A mint example of the small-sized bottle sold for $1,500 in 2023, which is quite pricey for an ACL soda bottle.
Mississippi’s Native American heritage is reflected on Big Chief Fine Flavor Beverages, put up by the Granada Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Grenada, Mississippi, undated but most likely mid-1940s. The ACL depicts the profile of a generic Indian brave within the outline of a map of Mississippi. [Fig. 7] Tribes of Indians, including the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Natchez, once occupied every part of the state, but the notorious Indian Removal Act of 1830 ordered federal troops to transport them out of Mississippi and other southern states. 60,000+ Na-
tive Americans were relocated to Indian Territory (now the state of Oklahoma) in an involuntary exodus appropriately known as the Trail of Tears in which thousands of men, women, and children perished. Today, there is only one federally recognized indigenous tribe left in the state, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw, consisting of about 11,000 people living in several small reservations in the central part of Mississippi. The tribe owns a successful casino. The Grenada Big Chief soda bottle is one Mississippi ACL that is not too hard to find.
The little city of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, was the home of Hazle Beverages, a local company that produced four different variants of its ACL soda bottle. [Figs. 8 & 9] Hazlehurst is known for its commercial crops of tomatoes and cabbage, as
[Fig. 5] Riverside Flavors, Columbia, Mississippi, 1953.
[Fig. 6] Noel’s Cola, Corinth, Mississippi, 1938.
[Fig. 7] Big Chief Beverages, Grenada, Mississippi, circa 1945.
[Fig. 8] Hazle Beverages, Hazlehurst, Mississippi, 1953.
[Left] Big Chief crown cap. Big Chief was a franchise offered by the Coca-Cola Company to its local bottlers in the South and West, and over a hundred different Big Chief bottles and dozens of different caps exist.
[Right] Grocery store in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in the Mississippi Delta. Ultimately, mom-and-pop sodas could not compete against the financial might and marketing resources of national brands like Coca-Cola. Photo courtesy of Keith Dobson.
[Fig. 10] Bux, “Better Buy Bux Honest Quality,” Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 1964.
well as Delta Blues music. Only 3,000 or so people populated mid-century Hazlehurst, so it’s hard to fathom why the company went to the time, trouble, and expense to design and manufacture four different soda bottles. Three of the four types are extremely rare and are seldom, if ever, seen on the market, with my allwhite example [Fig. 8] being the only bottle of the four that is readily obtainable. That particular bottle cost $75 in 2024. It’s interesting to see the hairstyle on the lady depicted on the red and orange ACLs, which is quite contemporary.
Finally, Bux, produced by the Southeast Mississippi Bottling Company of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1964, is a bottle with a dramatically designed blue-and-white ACL depicting a crown cap. [Fig. 10] The label proclaims that it is a “Better Buy” with “Honest Quality” and the rear label promises consumers to refund their money if they don’t “enjoy” the soda. I wonder if anybody ever took them up on their guarantee? If so, he or she made a mistake: the empty bottle today is worth considerably more than the nickel purchase price!
The author welcomes comments, questions, and suggestions at mikedickman@yahoo.com
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Baab, Bill, Noel’s Cola History in FOHBC Bottles and Extras, July-August 2007.
The Painted Soda Bottle Collectors Association (PSBCA) website contains a wealth of information about ACL soda bottles including hundreds of photos, recent prices and an archive of all ACL Corner articles. PSBCA.org
Sweeney, Rick, Collecting Applied Color Label Soda Bottles (3d ed. 2002, PSBCA).
VintageSodaCollector.com by FOHBC member Tom Pettit. A great resource containing hundreds of color photographs as well as interesting, useful articles about all things ACL.
Weide’s Soda Page (ca-yd.com) by FOHBC members Chris and Catherine Weide, is another outstanding, useful resource for ACL bottles.
Wikipedia entries for cities of Hazlehurst, Jackson and Leland; Indian Removal Act; magnolia; and State of Mississippi.
[Fig. 9] Rare varieties of Hazle Beverages, 1940s. Photo courtesy of Tim Miller, from his collection.
[Above] Magnolia flower. Photo courtesy of William (Ned) Friedman.
Thursday, July 31 - Sunday, August 3, 2025
Antique Bottle Show & Sales, Bottle Competition, Early Admission, Seminars, Displays, Awards Banquet, Membership Breakfast, Raffle, Children’s Events and more…
$5 General Admission Saturday and Sunday half day
Early Admission $100 – Friday Afternoon
Richard Siri (Show Co-Chair) rtsiri@sbcglobal.net
DeAnna Jordt (Show Treasurer) dljordt@yahoo.com
Craig Cassetta (Show Co-Chair) craig.cassetta@gmail.com
Gina Pellegrini-Ott (Event Photographer) angelina.pellegrini@gmail.com
Weaponized Witch Bottles
Fighting Witches & Demons with bottles and other things ever since the 1600s
Theyear is 1644. You left your home in a bustling town in England and now find yourself living in a small house—not much more than a cabin in the woods of the Massachusetts Bay Colony not far from Salem. All you can see beyond the land you’ve cleared is woods— on all sides. Your nearest European neighbor is a quarter mile away, but you and your family catch glimpses of the people you call Indians in the shadows of the trees, or even brazenly coming out in the open, walking up to one of your farm animals, or looking in a window, or even an open door. You sometimes refer to them as “savages” because their clothes, language, homes, and lifestyles are so different from yours; your minister has preached that they are servants of the Devil.
There’s much more to fear in the wilds of original Lynn, like bears, cougars, bobcats, moose, rattlesnakes, and wolves. Any day can become a nightmare. But nighttime makes it still worse.
[Fig. 2] Diseases Caused by Witchcraft. “Unnatural” illnesses that were unknown and/or incurable by doctors must therefore have been caused by witchcraft. William Drage, Daimonomageia: A Small Treatise of Sickness and Diseases from Witchcraft (1665)
Your house provides some safety from the wild animals and Indians at night, but evil can still find its way inside. In spirit form, witches and their familiars (animals like cats, rats, squirrels, and mice) can get into the house through the smallest openings: under the door, a hole in the wall, or even the keyhole, and most easily, down the chimney. [Fig. 1] Then, nothing can stop them from cursing your child or spouse with sickness, pain, and even death.
[Fig. 1 Left] Witch Attack. A witch in spirit form preparing to fly through an opening into the house. Joseph Glanvill, Saducismus Triumphatus: Or, Full and Plain Evidence Concerning Witches and Apparitions (1681)
The Bible Told Me So
Colonists had no doubt that witches and the Devil were real because the Bible told them so. Exodus 22:18 reads, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” It was a clear statement that witches existed. And the Bible also stated many times that the Devil was very real and dangerous: “Be sober; be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
[Fig. 3] Two Hexafoils. It was a solar symbol, believed to invoke the light of the sun in the dark spirit world, thus keeping witches and other evil demons (who thrived in darkness) away from the house. Photograph by the author.
[Fig. 3a] Compass-drawn Hexafoil or “Daisy Wheel” designs from English medieval churches. Images courtesy Matthew Champion and Ebury Press
When a sickness seemed unusual or didn’t yield to available medicines, it was called “unnatural” and suspected to have been caused by a witch’s curse. The doctor who authored this book [Fig. 2] had no doubt about the source of several unusual and uncommon sicknesses and diseases; they couldn’t be explained or cured and thus, he stated without any doubt, they were the work of witchcraft.
The fear of witchcraft was not simply a phenomenon of 1692—it was widespread throughout New England and the limited existing records document over 200 cases starting as early as 1647 and there are 33 known executions (of which Salem accounts for only 19). The records for the fate of 69 others have not yet been found, so those put to death could be a higher number. 59 confessed to being witches, largely the result of fear, interrogation techniques, and the miseries of incarceration.
Their ministers preached that faith, obedience, and prayer were the proper defense against witchcraft, but terrible, unexplainable things were still happening to the faithful, and some felt the need to do more than just pray. You might pray that a fox wouldn’t attack your chickens, but you were still going to get your gun and shoot if it tried. So, how could they better defend their loved ones? And how could they protect their families at bedtime when the candles were all blown out?
One option was to turn to the Bible for God’s clues for protection. The Bible was considered to be full of symbolic messages like the power of certain numbers. For example:
• Three for the Holy Trinity (the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), Five for the wounds of Christ, Twelve for the apostles, and more.
• Bushes of mountain ash were often planted around the outside of the house because the five-pointed pentagram pattern on each berry was believed to be a sign that God would protect the house against evil.
• A braid of 12 garlic bulbs hung behind an outside door was hoped to ward off witches and thieves.
Colonists also turned to the secret practices of family and friends. Some used methods of ritualized protection to keep their family and farm animals safe. When they had lived in Great Britain, they and their relatives and friends had folklore traditions for generations—of carving or drawing special protection symbols and hiding ritual objects in their homes and barns—all to keep their families and animals safe from witches. The protective marks and objects were designed to either trap or repel evil spirits.
But ministers like Increase and Cotton Mather called it counter-magic and white magic. They warned that using white magic to fight a witch’s black magic was playing into the Devil’s hands because ALL magic was of the Devil...but the fearful were desperate.
BY ANDY RAPOZA
[Fig. 5] Close-up of a Bartmann Bottle with “Fear” face, about 1650. Collection of the author.
Ritual Protection Marks
The hexafoil is just one example of protective marks that have been found in homes still standing in what was Massachusetts Bay Colony. [Fig. 3] Also known as the “daisy wheel,” it is a solar symbol that has been traced back to Roman antiquity (the petals representing the sun’s rays). [Hexafoil stems from the German word hexen, which means witches.]
Protective marks like the hexafoil were placed near doors, windows, and around fireplaces, the openings where evil could easily enter the home. Protective objects were hidden behind walls and under floors, the fireplace hearth, or the threshold of doors.
Protecting one’s home or barn from witches required no expense or special skills. The marks were easily made with the sharp point of a knife, scissors, compass, or nail, and ritual objects were items around the house and barn that were being repurposed instead of discarded. It was believed that these simple marks and ordinary objects magically transformed in the spirit world into weapons and traps to catch, repel, and even kill witches.
The early colonists believed broken items in this world were whole in the spirit world; weak things became strong; what was dark here was light there; “dead” (or nonfunctioning) here became “alive” in the world of spirits, just like the crucified Jesus Christ was resurrected from death and became alive again. Thus, a hexafoil solar symbol carved into the wall around your fireplace was glowing like the sun in the spirit world, keeping witches and other demons (Satan’s minions loved darkness but hated light) away from the house and your family.
The protective marks are rarely dated, but the protective objects often can be. Many ritual protection marks have been found in the few 17th-century New England homes still standing, but objects have been found in them that date as late as the 1890s. Other New England homes built after the 1720s have also been found to have ritual protection marks and objects. After 1692, the church and the law backed away from accusing and convicting suspected witches. Without the church and the courts protecting them, some people continued to protect themselves from evil and “bad luck” throughout the 1700s and 1800s and even into the early 20th century. Here are a few examples.
In 1846 the Salem Register described supernatural events occurring in the 1600s very near the Corning family’s home in Beverly.
One story was of a large number of black cats that tormented a man with their caterwauling “for some deed of darkness he had done”—he was only able to pacify them by psalm singing. When the man died, “these supposed agents of the other world... completely covered his coffin; and upon being dis-
[Fig. 4] Bartmann Bottle with “Angry” face, about 1650. At its base is a modern recreation of typical “witch bottle” contents: nails, a fabric heart pierced by bent pins, and human hair with fingernail clippings. Collection of the author.
[Fig. 4a] Seminar #1 at the Houston 24 Expo, Andy presented Weaponized Bottles – Fighting Witches & Demons in Colonial America.
turbed, all made their exit up the chimney, bearing, as was supposed, the spirit of their victim with them” [an example of evil using the chimney as an entrance and exit from the house].
Another “eccentric” individual on the same street was also described; he practiced “witchcraft and superstition... Among other things, he kept by him the hand taken from the corpse of a first-born male child, in which he contended he could place a light of the most brilliant character and carry it anywhere, unperceived by anyone except himself” [another example of light in the dark spirit world].
Ritual Protection Objects: Weaponized Bottles
Bottles had a key role in ritual protection from witches and evil. The first bottles the colonists used were the ones they carried with them from Europe – sturdy salt-glazed stoneware that contained beer or wine, or sometimes mercury. Once empty, the bottles were repurposed, just like the colonist’s other few possessions in this new world.
These old bottles were called Bartmann (meaning “bearded man”) in the area of Cologne, Germany, where they were made, and Bellarmine in Great Britain and the colonies, where over 100,000 were used. Bartmanns were anthropomorphic, with its face on the neck and bulbous belly, and there was something else that made them perfect for the task: those produced in the mid17th century most often had either an angry or fearful expression.
I believe the sinister facial expressions were a graphic reflection of the public’s terror during the intensive persecution and eradication of suspected witches from among family members and friends during those decades (over 2,000 were burned at the stake as witches in the area of Cologne, which had a population of just 40,000; so about 5 of every 100 people were executed for witchcraft), as well as showing anger towards their enemies whom they suspected were witches. The early Bartmanns (made in the 1500s) were crafted with faces that were jolly and smiling or no expression at all, but by the mid-1600s, during the witchcraft persecutions, the expression had changed to angry or fearful [Figs. 4 & 5].
A household in the American colonies that was troubled by witchcraft would repurpose the bottle by adding the urine of the sick person and sometimes their hair, nail clippings, and a piece of fabric cut into the shape of a heart. The bottle thus filled with body parts and fluids of the family member who was believed to be bewitched with some unnatural illness was designed to trick the spirit of the witch into attacking the decoy bottle instead of the actual person. The iron nails and pins (usually in multiples of three) it contained would then impale the witch’s spirit that had dove into the bottle, causing the actual witch pain, either killing her or getting her to stop her bewitchment of the sick family member. X-rays have shown such bottles found that have been with contents that included nails, hair, and pins floating in liquid that was subsequently analyzed to be urine [Figs. 6 & 7].
[Fig. 6] Bartmann X-ray, showing nails and fingernails floating in a liquid. Photo: Alan Massey / R. J. Bostock.
[Fig. 7] Bartmann bottle with dry contents removed, including nine nails, one pin, and a fabric heart. Museum of London
Continued Use of Witch Bottles: 19th-21st Centuries
The idea of putting counter-curses or charms in bottles has continued ever since the days when people had intense fear of witches and their demons. They’re still being found buried and hidden in old buildings and washing up on beaches. Just a few examples are included here from Virginia, Louisiana, and Texas.
Figure 8 shows an aqua squat soda embossed “CHAS GROVE COLA PA’ that was found near an old brick hearth at the site of an old fort (“Redoubt 9”) in York County, Virginia. Archaeologists have dated the find to 1862-1863 and the bottle was “full of broken nails”; its contents and location near the old hearth made them speculate that it was used to repel evil—a possible Civil War-era witch bottle.
Suspected of being an instrument of voodoo, the bottle in Figure 9 may have been constructed to fight evil or to cast a spell. It was found in a house site dated to the mid-1800s at Algiers Point in New Orleans, Louisiana. A news report explained, “[It] may have been used as a protection spell for the property. It also may have been used in voodoo to cast a different spell. [It was] said to have been found in an area formerly populated by a Catholic church, Afro-Caribbean voodoo practices, and “witchy-type fortune teller people.” Its contents included an unknown (and not yet analyzed) liquid, hair, a tooth, and an earwig. Public reaction to the possible voodoo find has been to put the unsettling bottle back where it was found, apparently to avoid the possibility of bad mojo. (Are we really so different from our superstitious colonial ancestors?)
The final witch bottle shown in this article was found rolling in with the waves onto a Texas beach (Figure 10). It is a mid-tolate 20th-century light aqua whiskey bottle covered in barnacles and mollusks that have attached to the surface, but inside is a lot of unidentified plant matter and liquid, deliberately placed and sealed. Multiple bottles have been found on beaches from North Padre Island to Matagorda Island. The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi believes these bottles that have been washed ashore likely originated in the Caribbean or South America. The plant matter and liquids have not yet been analyzed by the university. A mysterious message from another place.
What did YOU find?
I would like to document all possible finds of witch bottles in the United States and my bottle hunting friends are in the best position to find such bottles. If you find a bottle with any combination of liquid, nails, pins, hair, teeth, bones, thorns, heart shapes, and finger or toenail clippings inside, please let me know about your find! What was found, where, by whom, and when. Was it found behind a wall or under where a fireplace, door, or window was located? Maybe YOU have found America’s next “witch bottle”!! I will post all finds on promisingcures.com!
Write to me at promising.cures@gmail.com and send me pictures of your possible witch bottle find!
[Fig. 8] Civil War era Witch Bottle; Virginia, ca. 1862-1863. Blog post, “Possible Civil War witch bottle found in Virginia,” The History Blog, 24 Jan 2020.
[Fig. 9] Mid-19th Century Voodoo (?) Bottle; found in New Orleans, Louisiana. Article, “Eerie ‘witch bottle’ dug up on west bank. Worried observers tell finder to ‘Put it back!’“ Doug MacCash, Times Picayune, 10 July 2020
[Fig. 10] Ocean Witch Bottle; Texas coast. Mid-late 20th century. Article, “Eerie witch bottles found along Gulf of Mexico, and even researchers are creeped out,” Christina Coulter, Fox News, 26 Nov 2023.
One final point of interest: The first U.S. souvenir spoon ever made was the Salem spoon in 1891 pictured in Figure 11. It features a witch with just her broom—no cat, crescent moon, or bats. She seems agitated, aggressively pointing either to the name Salem or further down the stem to three round-headed pins. Two centuries had passed since the Salem Witch Trials, but those who designed the spoon still remembered that the pins were put in bottles to fight witches—perhaps it was a little reminder, just in case Salem had another witch scare!
Postscript
While the silversmith in the U.S. was perpetuating the symbolism of ritual protection against witches in his spoon design, another entrepreneur in Great Britain had designed a “Witch Door Knocker,” complete with the Devil riding on the back of the witch whom he controlled to do his bidding against people. Perhaps the symbolic message of the homeowner was meant to be, “We know who you are; you can knock, but you can’t come in!”
Fear of evil in the form of witches and devils continues on today, mixed into our psyche, making us still nervous about things that go bump in the night. Uh-oh, I’ve gotta go: I think I just heard a strange sound in that dark corner over there...
[Fig. 11] Witch Bottle Reminder. The country’s first souvenir spoon was created two centuries after their famous witch trials and executions; a tribute to Salem, Massachusetts. It showed a witch pointing to three pins that were symbolic of those that had been put in “witch bottles” to destroy her or at least force her to remove her curse of an afflicted family member. Collection of the author.
[Fig. 12] Advertising trade card, ca. 1895. The witch door knocker is to the left; to the right is the Lincoln Imp door knocker, based on the stone carving of it found in the Lincoln Cathedral, England. The imp was sent by the Devil to cause havoc in the church but was soon turned into stone by an angel, or so the story goes. Knock on that for a minute. Collection of the author.
19th century Pittsburgh canister filled with large “German Handmades.”
Antique Bottle & Glass
M A R B L E S
By Patrick Mahon
My Introduction to Marbles
Many of us have had run-ins with marbles, whether it was some modern cat eyes thrown into an early creamer or maybe a fruit jar filled with vintage marbles...we’ve seen them, and many of us have ignored them. I was one of those people.
Though my introduction to marbles is like many others (bleak and emotionless), I lacked understanding of the antiquity and quality of certain types of marbles. It would take a visit to an antique shop to break into this new world, where my interests were already preoccupied with stoneware and antique bottles… the usual hunt.
My friend was starting to collect marbles, which was evidently triggered by a recent fruit jar find—that I was throwing away. Their pursuit of marbles was vague and circumstantial; whatever round sphere caught their eye was the prize! This particular antique shop had some older marbles for sale, including one around 1.5” in diameter (a big size, for reference). I was intrigued, but at this point, I still was not interested. Striking a conversation with the owner revealed that there was a Mason jar lid with more of them. Inside were these intricate and odd-looking swirls, which he said were “German Handmades.” My friend had picked out what they wanted from the lid and left this odd green opaque glass one behind. I asked “You don’t want this one?” The answer was simply no. “Well, out of all the marbles, this seems to be the most unusual one, and green opaque glass is generally rare.” Still, there was a stubborn “no.” So, I decided to claim it as my own and proceeded to finish negotiating the package deal on marbles, bottles, and a piece of stoneware.
Later that night, my friend decided to post it on social media groups, trying to identify it. It was revealed rather quickly that the marble was a rare color Banded Opaque, a German handmade marble. While intrigued by the valuations I garnered from the marble, I decided not to sell it until we arrived at the marble show in Indianapolis. Most of these shows are done with roomto-room selling, while the finale is the actual show...days later. It was there the marble was looked at and handed around, where it brought quite a bit of interest in the form of offers and trades.
At that time, I had no interest in marbles, no interest in buying any, and I absolutely had my heart set on selling it. As I began to bounce from room to room, suddenly, I started seeing more and more types of marbles! A large blue sponged two-inch stoneware marble, different types and colors of “German Handmades,” and even dug pieces and shards from the factories in Thuringia, Germany. A new world opened, and I began seeing interest and value in these professionally made antique creations! I ended up leaving the show with about 25 new German handmade marbles
of various types, having previously vowed for years never to get involved with marbles!
When I think back to why I didn’t care about marbles, I erroneously lumped modern and vintage machine mades as the universe for marbles. The “German Handmades” are everything I look for in antique glass: character, color, unique qualities, craftsmanship, age, and form. It is extremely difficult to find two of the same marble because of how different they all are, which can keep collecting interests nearly limitless.
So, for those who have read my accidental exposure to the world of marbles, I urge all who share a passion for antique glass to enjoy looking at and learning about “German Handmades!”
Antique German handmade marbles were amongst the earliest made and imported to the United States, starting around the 1850s and mostly ceasing production in the 1920s. The handmades are divided into two main categories: glass and non-glass. The glass marbles were made by gathering glass and pre-made rods or frit and layering them in a manner to produce beautiful patterns and designs. They would pull the gathered glob into a cane and then create multiple marbles from that cane. Exceptions to this may include the production of Clouds (single-pontil), sulphides, and some oddity end-of-day pieces. The non-glass category of German handmade marbles were made of agate, clay, and china. The popularity of creating agate-like marbles continued to set the stage even into the 20th century when marble manufacturers worldwide tried to emulate their glass to appear as agate.
While there seems to be an endless variety of “German Handmades,” they typically fall into a handful of categories. These categories can often grow more complex as there is a need to
German Handmade Marbles
German Handmade Marbles
describe the construction of the marble. Still, it is relatively easy to discuss and understand the fundamentals of each category. One of the key elements in German handmade marbles is the presence of pontils. It is typically accepted that the earliest handmades were faceted pontils (1850-1870s), which are usually seen as several flat facets at one of the rougher poles meant to smooth the marble better into a sphere. It is assumed that when the production of marbles began to increase exponentially, the faceting process may have fallen out of fashion. Many of the marble types will have faceted or rough pontils, in which the appearance of the designs may differ or show new approaches to construction. One of the more notable types is called “English Colors,” which were frequently sold to the English market and sport brighter colors and unusual constructions not previously seen.
Onionskins
This is one of the most popular and exciting of the “German Handmades.” They come in so many different colors and types (ribbon, cloud, lobed, end-of-day, paneled, shrunken, Lutz, etc.), but they typically follow a very simple set of classification rules.
Onionskin construction starts as a clear glass base, followed by an opaque layer of glass that has pulled colored rods or frit (endof-day pattern) over the top. It is then cased in another layer of clear glass. There are unusual exceptions to this construction, but this is the easiest way to describe them. Additional features such as Lutz and mica are more common with Onionskins than other types of marbles. End-of-day patterns are typically characterized by the spots (from frit) and threads of glass that do not completely reach either pontil. Clouds are single-pontil and are typically in an end-of-day pattern.
In this picture alone (above), there are eleven different types of Onionskins represented, and there’s no shortage of other, more unique types out there!
Divided Cores
The Divided Cores are one of the most frequent types of German handmade marbles, but they can be variable and colorful, making them one of the better groups to collect without spending a fortune. Their construction simply considers that the core of the marble is divided. From there, they can be naked (nothing but the core), swirled (outer bands), and even multi-staged (several layers of bands and swirls). Included for simplicity in this discussion are ribbon cores, which can sometimes be classified as a divided core if they are in pairs, while some may cross over into a solid core construction. They are simply a flat ribbon, usually singular, and may be twisted or flat in appearance.
Solid Cores
Another frequently found group of handmades, the Solid Cores, have an immense supply of interesting appearances and types. As the name suggests, the construction of the marble consists of a solid core; there are no divided ribbons or lattice, but rather a solid tubular appearance. Some frequent types encountered are the “Wax” cores, which were considered English colors and seem to come in a wild array of colors. “Jelly” cores are comprised of more translucent bands of glass used for the core. “Jelly” bands can also be found on the outer swirls. Multi-stage Solid Core swirls may have a rather plain core, surrounded by colored bands (sometimes “jelly bands” if transparent), followed by outer swirled bands. The “naked” moniker is used when describing a certain type of construction without the swirls or other
Onionskins
Divided Cores
Solid Cores
features. Typically, with Naked Solid Cores, the core is enlarged more than its Solid Core Swirl counterparts. Rarity in these may include Lutz and mica.
Latticino Swirls
One of the four most commonly encountered types, these are simply characterized by the presence of a Latticino core. It is described as threads of glass evenly spaced and usually in a twisted manner. In rarer examples, they may be found inline (like a razor core shape) or in tandem. These marbles were widely produced, and as such, good examples of Latticino Swirls are based on how well the marble was constructed, the color of Latticino threads, the base glass color (anything besides clear or tinted is rare), or other unusual factors (like mica).
The color of the Latticino threads can make a simple marble look absolutely incredible. The most common colors are white, yellow, and orange, while the most common alternating colors are white and yellow. Latticino cores other than these colors may be considered rarer, with blue, red, and lime green being the most prominent. In theory, there can be a multitude of Latticino color possibilities, but they seem to be quite scarce.
Joseph’s Coat
Of the many handmade marble types, the Joseph's Coat remains one of the most colorful. The deliberate construction of different threads or ribbons of glass from pontil to pontil allows a myriad of color combinations. Examples with the same/similar color threads and alternate colors in panels are called "Beach Balls."
The easiest way to tell a Joseph's Coat from an Onionskin is that there is no opaque layer of glass beneath the colored threads. Often, many examples will have gaps between threads to expose the clear base glass. Joseph's Coats are rarely any other base color than clear or tinted, but examples in any other color would be considered rare. Paneled Joseph's Coats are interesting because they can sometimes resemble a Coreless Swirl, which takes experience to determine which type the marble belongs to. Endof-day patterns may have partially spanned threads of colored glass, where they do not meet the pontils. Joseph's Coat Swirls has been used to describe the examples that are mainly colored threads of glass, which are less precise in their arrangement and instead take on wild swirling patterns in and just shy of the outer edge of the marble. English-colored examples, with bright and showy colors, seem to be the most common. Lutz or mica in Joseph's Coats would be considered quite rare.
Clambroths
One of the least popular marbles for children at the time were Clambroths. These are characterized by an opaque or semi-translucent base glass, with several threads of colored glass pulled to the outside of the surface. These marbles are found in a wide array of colored threads and combinations, including alternating colors, double alternating colors, three-color, or irregular banding. Some examples will have a single off-colored band, usually referred to as the “signature band.” Some Clambroths were made from a seemingly chalky type of glass that was brittle and would break apart easily. While it’s unclear whether changes to the glass composition were made to avoid this, semi-translucent glass bases seemed more sturdy and could take damage better. A rarer type of Clambroth are ones that are cased, where essentially the marble’s outer layer had an additional layer of clear glass applied, seemingly to protect the marble better or create a slightly new appearance. Rarity in these marbles first stems from condition, then colored base glass and the colored threads. Well-made examples with evenly spaced lines also seem to be a factor to be considered, as many are not as symmetrical as one would hope.
Banded Opaques & Banded Transparents
Banded Opaques & Banded Transparents
Both of these categories share similar construction approaches but differ in one aspect: whether or not the base glass is opaque or transparent. The banding that exists is upon the surface of the marble, rather than being underneath the glass. It is important
Latticino Swirls
Clambroths
Joseph’s Coat
to make the distinction and separation of these two types from Indians, which have an opaque black glass appearance.
Banded Opaques have an opaque or semi-translucent base glass, with stretched bands on top of the marble. They were made of a similarly brittle glass as Clambroths, and as such broke and flaked. They were not popular with children, so Banded Opaques were comparatively short-lived and thus a rarer type of marble. Some examples have precise bands (precision), and some may sport broken lines, chevrons, loops, and spots (endof-day). A rarer pattern example would be an Electric Banded, where the colors are intense and contrastive between the base glass and banding. If an opaque marble has no banding at all, it is instead referred to as a Melonball.
Banded Transparents are similar in construction, with a transparent base glass. Base glass colors come in many colors, and bands are typically uniform in color, or if two-panel the opposing panel may be another color (i.e., white and yellow). It is less common to see multiple colored banding, much like an Indian.
Indians
Like the Banded Opaques, the Indian is a marble comprised of an opaque (or opaque-appearing) base glass with surface banding. Typically, the bands are several colors, and are most commonly found in two-panels. Examples with a different colored darker transparent base glass are called “Maglite Indians.” In those instances, they would need a strong backlighting to show the true base color; typically purple, green, or blue. Examples with three or more panels are scarce, while some examples have banding entirely around the marble, known as a 360° Indian. End -of-day patterns are frequently encountered, but a nice-looking example may be harder to encounter! Precision Band Indians are amongst the most desirable, and odd colored banding can really catch the eye against the black background. Lutz Indians are overall very rare, and exist in several types: Precision Banded, or Lutz mixed into the banding. Usually, in only that instance, will Indians ever be cased in clear glass.
Another distinct type is referred to as the “Submarine,” or Submarine Indian. These follow most of the guidelines of an Indian, but will have a visibly transparent base glass. The surface bands will be as prescribed, usually in two opposing panels. In the base glass underneath, stretched bands of (usually white) glass will be beneath the glass surface. This is one of the more intricate and desirable constructed handmades, and should not be confused with haphazardly random submerged bands (which can happen in many marble types). Base glass for Submarines are most com-
monly green and blues, but also include semi-translucent blue, purple, and yellow.
Lutzes
While many of the various types of discussed handmade marble types may have Lutz, it is still worth mentioning that there are also Lutz Swirl Types that don’t fit into those categories. These will all share the same component: the use of goldstone or copper flakes. They are widely unique, and charted into different types determined by base color and opacity, and construction.
Type I – Clear Base Banded Lutz, which will consist of two opposing bands of Lutz, and two pairs of colored or white bands, cased in clear.
Type II – Colored Base Banded Lutz, same construction except that the base glass is a transparent color.
Type III – Opaque Banded Lutz, which as implied has the same construction as the Type I, except the base is opaque glass or maglite. The opaque glass can be of colors besides black, such as white, yellow, green, or blue.
Type IV - Ribbon Lutz, which is a fairly unique construction. The ribbon core is decorated with Lutz on the sides, and the ribbon can be of several colors. Base glass can also be of a color other than clear, where the ribbon color is usually white.
Type V – Onionskin Lutz, which was already covered. Essentially, an Onionskin construction that may have Lutz incorporated onto the bands, or in globs above the surface of the bands.
Type VI – Mist Lutz, where most common example are the ones found in green. Mists are described later on.
Type VII – Indian Lutz, these can be amongst the most desirable of the types. Different varieties exist, where Lutz is mixed with bands or are precision made in their own bands.
The Sulphide group with inserted figures, Sulphides are extreme-
Sulphides
Indians
Sulphides
Lutzes
ly variable and can easily entertain diversity in one’s collection. Most Sulphides encountered are over 1” in diameter, and are single-pontil examples, almost always at the insertion point for the figurine. The pontils are almost always well-faceted, and are sometimes difficult to see. If a pontil is not found, it is almost certain the marble has been polished in modern times. The figures were pre-made from a white clay or porcelain material, despite the initial thought they were made from sulphur. Farm animals, squirrels, and dogs are the most commonly encountered examples, while other animals may be more uncommon or scarce. Numbers, busts, children, and inanimate objects (like a coin) are rarer figurines. Any colored base glass than clear (including SCA) would be immensely rare.
Various Swirls and Other Types
The swirls are typically to denote the outer swirls, which aren’t a part of the core. There are numerous types that are fairly uniform in production method and technique that have gotten their own designations.
Coreless Swirl – Simply noted, these are bands that are fairly uniform and lack a constructed core. These can be found in many base glass colors, and can range from one to several outer swirls.
Gooseberry – This swirl is a fairly unusual marble, in that it resembles the namesake fruit. The construction on these typically should at least have six outer bands, equidistantly spaced. Most examples are a color of amber, with white bands. There are examples in other base colors, or different colored bands which make them quite rare.
Cornhusk – As the name implies, the swirl on this one resembles the husk of a corn cob. While some examples are better constructed, they are quite uniform in construction. A multitude of white or yellow bands stretch from pole to pole beneath an amber glass. Rarer versions exist, where the base glass is a different color.
Peppermint – One of the more popular of the swirl types, these are red, white, and blue. The construction begins with the opaque white layer, with the blue and red bands laid on top of the white layer. They are cased in clear glass, and look nothing like a peppermint you would eat! They more likely represent the American flag, and examples with mica in the larger blue bands exemplify this theory (appearing as the stars). Several types of constructions are known, and so there is no shortage in types of Peppermint Swirls to find!
Custard/Butterscotch Swirl – These more represent the look of an actual candy, with a semi-opaque brown to orange-colored base. Swirling bands of yellow, white, or brown may appear prominent or blend in with the base glass.
Caramel Swirl – Similar in appearance to the Custard/Butterscotch Swirls, these will have more transparent glass of a dark amber color, and have white swirls within the marble. In some examples, the bands seem to lose shape and may fade outwards, while other examples begin to loop and zigzag around.
Micas – These are colored or non-colored glass that are solely constructed with mica flakes. There are several variants, including a Cased Mica (mica is laid upon the inner colored core, with an outer glass layer in usually clear glass), and Blizzard (where another layer of mica is in an outer layer, usually in high amounts).
Mist – It’s not terribly easy to describe these as a one-size-fitsall moniker. The simple explanation for these is that the interior construction consists of transparent bands or frit. The interior of the marble should be transparent, and it can appear that the ‘mist’ color is the actual color of the base glass. In most examples, mists are a single or two similar colors (i.e., a light blue and a darker blue as striations). They sometimes have mica in them, and scarcer examples will have Lutz (most common being a green Mist Lutz). Not often are examples that have more than two colors.
Slag – This is a group that can sometimes have examples resemble Indians. The premise of Slag marbles is that the glass cane comprised of black (or maglite purple) and white (sometimes gray) glass.
Confetti – These are a very fun marble, made as a single pontil gather, similar to a cloud. In these marbles, pieces of frit make up the core. The most prominent examples have the frit in a crossed form, which can help differentiate from the more common Chinese-made counterpart.
Millefiori – An unusual and overall very rare group, these combine the elements of the paperweight components and marbles making. All examples are single pontil, and most all have millefiori set upon a small end-of-day Onionskin Cloud core. From the known examples, they all seem to be unique in appearance. They can be easily differentiated from Chinese-made examples, and modern Millefiori marbles by the construction of the marble and the Thuringian canes.
There are many other variations, constructions, and just odds and ends within German handmade marbles that can keep learning and collecting very engaging.
While people may gawk at a bottle costing several thousands of dollars, a certain type of marble under an inch could also fetch that amount!
One of the greatest parts of the marble hobby is that you can easily pack sales stock and a personal collection into a couple boxes and cases, and not worry about breakage or damage.
Various Swirls and Other Types
$1,000 June 2021 Glass Works Auctions #167
Lot 141: June 2021 · Glass Works Auctions “ST / DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS - PATENTED / 1862”, (Ring/Ham, D-108), New York, ca. 1862 - 1875, black olive amber color 6-log cabin, 10”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Perfect condition, extremely bold impression, no wear or scratches. A very rare color and as dark as any we’ve sold! Also four heavy ‘beads’ are embossed on the base, something we have not seen in any other Drake’s! Dan Catherino Collection.
$2,400 November 2020 American Glass Gallery #121
$180 May 2012 American Glass Gallery #8 “ST / DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS - PATENTED / 1862”, (Ring/ Ham, D-105), New York, ca. 1862 - 1875, medium salmon pinkish puce 6-log cabin, 10”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. A 1/2” in diameter in-making chip extends from beneath the applied collar down into the neck. Pure puce color that looks great in any lightning.
$14,000 September 2020 Glass Works Auctions
Lot 185: ““S T / DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS - PATENTED / 1862”, 1862 - 1880. Medium-to-deep pinkish raspberry, cabin form with 6 logs above the label panel, applied sloping collar - smooth base, ht. 9 7/8”, near mint; (just the slightest trace of minor wear, and the embossing is a little weak in the upper shoulders as is not uncommon with this mold, otherwise perfect). R/H #D106. A gorgeous, rare, eye-appealing color that passes plenty of light, and having plenty of pink!
$15,690 September 2020 Glass Works Auctions #121 251: “General Washington” And Bust – “E Pluribus Unum / T.W.D.” And Eagle Portrait Flask, Kensington Glass Works, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 1820-1830. “Firecracker” Medium amber with a strong olive tone, sheared mouth – pontil scar, pint; (light exterior high point wear). GI-14. Tremont Labeth collection.
Lot 172: “ST / DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS - PATENTED / 1862”, (Ring/Ham, D-105), New York, ca. 1862 - 1875, medium moss green cabin, 9 7/8”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Recently ‘picked’ at the ‘Elephant Trunk’ flea market in Connecticut (a favored venue of the ‘Flea Market Flip’ reality television show), and possibly only the second known example in this very unusual moss green color. In 1993 we auctioned the collection of Elmer Smith of Shelton, Washington. Lot 20 in that collection was at that time the only moss green Drake’s Plantation Bitters known to exist, it sold for $10,000!
Drake’s Plantation Bitters
Available to FOHBC Members Only!
Online Auction Price Report. Search on your smartphone, tablet or desktop computer. Includes 10 years of results from American Bottle Auctions, American Glass Gallery, Glass Works Auctions and Heckler in Phase 1. The Auction Price Report is only be available to FOHBC members. Being a FOHBC member will give you 24/7/365 access. What a great tool this is for the collectors, diggers, pickers, researchers and the generally curious! Phase 2 updater will include images!
Visit the FOHBC.org Members Portal for instructions.
Ashes to Ashes
Tom Paskiewicz, Wannalancet Indian Bitters, Quincy Chamberlain, and Lowell, Massachusetts
An edited excerpt from AB&GC May-June 2024, Vol. 35, No. 3, pgs 16-18.
“My name is Tom Paskiewicz, and I am an antique bottle collector from Billerica, Massachusetts, 25 miles north of Boston and eight miles South of New Hampshire. I have been collecting for about 47 years, plus or minus—who keeps track of time? My wife Nancy and I are 82 years old and have been married going on 53 years. When I heard about the Houston 24 Expo, I thought you might like to borrow my cobalt blue Wannalancet Indian Bitters bottle for display and to tell its story.
“My wife and I became close friends with Quincy Chamberlain ‘the Dean of bottle collectors in the Lowell Mass. area.’ I used to visit Quincy once a week to admire and talk about his Lowell bottles. One of those bottles was a Wannalancet Bitters (W 27). I believe he dug the bottle on Maple Street in Lowell at a very old dump site. At the time, the odd thing was that no one seemed to know how rare the bottle was or if it was the only one known.
“In 1988, Quincy called me to his house to tell me he wanted me to have the Wannalancet Bitters. That night I went home with it and not long after Quincy passed away. That is how I became the keeper of the bottle. I am the third owner, and who knows who the original owner was who put it in the old Lowell dump.”
And now we must tell the rest of the story.
AB&GC May-June 2024, Vol. 35, No. 3, pgs 16-18
Epilogue – Ashes to Ashes
By Alice J. Seeliger and the Federation Board of Directors
This story does not have a happy ending, but the end of the Wannalancet Indian Bitters bottle needs to be told and we know you will all share in the sadness it has brought all of us and its owner, Tom Paskiewicz.
As you read in the original article about the Wannalancet Indian Bitters bottle (excerpted on previous page), Tom Paskiewicz thought his beautiful, only-one-known cobalt blue Wannalancet Indian Bitters would fit right in with the displays at the FOHBC Houston 24 National Antique Bottle & Glass Exhibition last July/August. He offered to send it to Expo Chair, Ferdinand Meyer V, who was also collecting all of the hundreds of items to be included in the Bayou City Sunset Auction. A special display was arranged to allow all to see and admire the bottle along with 17 other displays at Hotel ZaZa.
When Ferdinand received the bottle, he carefully unpacked it, gave it a bit of a clean up, took many pictures for the original magazine article, and carefully replaced it in the box awaiting transfer to Houston 24 a few months later.
Then the storms came to Ferdinand and Elizabeth Meyer’s house…three unprecedented storms—the East Texas Floods, a Derecho, and Hurricane Beryl with its eye passing right over their property. The threat of flooding forced them to move all of the auction items, and the Wannalancet Indian Bitters bottle, to the second floor. The Brazos River had flooded their home three previous times, and though there had been extensive mitigation to the river banks, these storms were going to test the success of that mitigation.
Daughter Edie, granddaughters Bella and Addy, grandson Nicolas, and Ferdinand carefully carried each item upstairs placing them in every corner and closet they could find to keep them out of harm’s way.
When the storms were all over, they were beyond relieved that there was no flooding. Everything went into reverse and all the boxes were brought downstairs again. Except no one could locate the Wannalancet Indian Bitters! Searching continued for weeks until one day Ferdinand was tending the huge firepit of fallen branches, trees, and cardboard boxes. There, he caught the glimpse of broken pieces of cobalt blue glass. Horrified, he realized he had found the missing Wannalancet Indian Bitters, no longer in the shape of a bottle. Crest-fallen, he carried the burden for days before telling Elizabeth. When Houston 24 began, he was faced with telling several board members and those in charge of the displays. Tears and shock filled the room; but Houston 24 obviously had to go on.
Putting aside the tragedy temporarily, we all enjoyed Houston 24, thanks to the Herculean efforts of Ferdinand, the Meyer family, and Team Houston. Four days later Houston 24 came to a successful conclusion.
Now it was time to explain to Tom what had happened. Ferdinand’s call was a somber one and Tom was devastated, but gracious in understanding that these things happen. The Board assured Tom they would seek insurance coverage and try to compensate him as best they could, knowing all Tom really wanted was his prized bottle back.
Appraisals were sought, an insurance claim was filed, and the board met many times to reach an agreement on a fair settlement. When that was decided upon, the insurance claim paid for less than half of the settlement, the Federation paid the balance, and Tom accepted with an understandable amount of sadness, bringing the Wannalancet Indian Bitters bottle story to a sad conclusion.
What was left to be told was the apology, a promise, and forgiveness from Tom.
Ferdinand and all of the members of the Federation Board of Directors offered their sincere apologies to Tom. We promised to write this article hoping someone out there has another Wannalancet Indian Bitters and will help us get it to Tom. Compensation, a specially blown, one-of-a-kind commemorative bottle, and this Epilogue to complete the provenance of the only known “ Wannalancet,” will not bring the bottle back, but Tom graciously offered forgiveness and we all have had to move on… without a cobalt blue Wannalancet Indian Bitters bottle.
A sad ending for Tom, Ferdinand and his family, each and every member of the Federation Board, and all those who cherish their bottle collections...and that one special bottle.
As-found shards of the Wannalancet Indian Bitters
Please consider telling us about your collection or someone else’s. Tell us about your latest digging or picking adventure. Write a fictional bottle story. Tell us about an area or component of antique bottle and glass collecting that you find interesting. Every bottle has a story. Tell us about your favorite medicine man, merchant, or proprietor who is related to our bottles or about a glasshouse. Write an auction or show report. Tell us about a club outing, or maybe a visit to a glass museum. Maybe it is something you have learned in the hobby or have concerns with. Really, the sky is the limit. Don’t be shy. Young or old, new to the hobby or a veteran, please unmask that author that is hiding inside!
Thank You!
Reno 25 Drake’s
The FOHBC has commissioned a limited edition (150++) commemorative Drake’s Plantation Bitters bottle in “Reno Red” (center left). The Drake’s is from the same mold as the cobalt blue Drake’s produced for Houston 24. Two one-of-a-kind bottles will be entered into a Raffle during the Convention (reddish puce) and the Auction (light purple grape) to be held during the Banquet on Friday evening. Raffle tickets are available in advance at shows or by mail from Michael Seeliger for $5 each or 6 for $20. (Make check out to FOHBC-Raffle and send to N8211 Smith Rd, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521, or catch him at an upcoming show.) Auction bids may be submitted in advance by calling Michael at 608.575.2922. You will need to guarantee your bid with a credit card. You do not need to be present to win the raffle or auction bottle. Contact Michael Seeliger, mwseeliger@gmail.com, with any questions. More info at FOHBC.org
You Just Never Know
With the now numerous online videos of bottle digging at dumps and privies and the ease of watching these videos online, writing a lengthy digging story is not so appealing to most people these days. I have therefore been writing very brief digging articles and getting them published in the award-winning Swirl (the newsletter of the Ohio Bottle Club, edited by Todd Knisley). We have been very active in digging over the last several months, and these articles provide a really good snapshot of what is happening in my world of digging. But after our most recent dig, it seemed like time to write an article (a bit brief) to share with you all.
As typical, our digging adventures these last several months have had mixed results, with two pits being pontiled, two having historical flasks and good age, five being empty, one ABD (already been dug), and two being 1930 ish—but one of those produced over 50 milks!
Some funny happenings. At one pit, I started to test digging to see if it was even worth digging, then soon found a pontil bottle along one of the walls. I immediately called Rick, told him I was in a pontil pit (which he didn’t initially believe), and asked when he could get here (here being Ohio, Rick being in Pennsylvania). Forty minutes later, he arrived and helped with that dig. Some good bottles were dug, but almost all the pontil bottles were busted up (including several free-blown porters and open-pontil canning jars).
by Jeff Mihalik
At another dig, I already had permission and knew where one pit was, but we could never work out a good time for the property owner and us to dig. So, one nicer day this winter, we decided to go over there and see if we could firm up a day to dig, maybe probe some more, and, if possible, do a quick test into the pit to see its age. Rick and I had a couple of probes, one shovel, a spud bar, and a couple of buckets in our vehicles. The owner was coming back home and gave us the go-ahead to dig! But we didn’t have our usual digging equipment—no trash cans, rope, typical tool set, or change of clothes! All I can say is that we “borrowed” about 10 garbage cans in the nearby alley (we knew most of the people due to other digs), then found a wheelbarrow, tarp, couple of shovels, and even a smaller one I like to use, a rope for pulling buckets, and a saw for cutting roots, most of these items the landowner had in his shed. It all came together in what we called our “Ad Hoc dig!” This pit also went pontil with historical flasks to boot!
The pineapple we dug is amber with an arched space for a label. The base is embossed “J K & Co. Pitts Pa.” It is not listed and has no auction record, but we hear that one recently traded hands after the passing of a major collector.
[Editor: Dick Watson]
At another dig site, we had permission on a historical 1820s long house, and found a sinking spot over a blacktop-cement area where a garage had been for over 50 years (according to the neighbor). We were extremely excited about the potential here. Breaking through the cement, we found brick walls (older and likely made of onsite bricks), and our hearts were pounding with anticipation; then the first bottles started to come out, lol, all 1930-era milk, wines, meds, and a lot with partial labels. What the heck, we ended up with over 50 local milks! Odd coincidences.
What’s going on with all the Lamps? In three consecutive digs, we found discarded lamps, two of which were very likely used while using the privies!
What are the odds of finding a Pikes Peak flask in two digs, two weeks apart? What are the odds that both flasks are within 2.5 feet of the surface? Then, what are the odds that since they are so high up, you chip both lips just digging, not thinking that you need to worry about breaking anything? Well, it’s a bummer, but that happened these last few weeks. The only good thing is that with the first chipped Piker, we found a quart “Clasped Hands–Eagle” flask just next to it in an icy blue aqua, and with the other chipped Piker, which was the second bottle in the hole after a “Pitcher’s Castoria,” we found a super rare figural pineapple bitters from Pittsburgh! This pit was loaded with artifacts, with many intact, but three times as many were being busted up by rocks thrown into the hole to smash the trash down (a common practice in our area). The pineapple we dug is amber with an arched space for a label. The base is embossed “J K & Co. Pitts Pa.” It is not listed and has no auction record, but we hear that one recently traded hands after the passing of a major collector.
You never know what is going to happen when you head out to dig a privy; you never know what you are going to find, and you never know until you dig—but one thing I do know is that no matter what happens, we always have fun and good times to remember!
Some good bottles were dug, but almost all the pontil bottles were busted up including several free-blown porters and open-pontil canning jars.
Over 50 local milks were found in one hole.
We found a quart “Clasped Hands–Eagle” flask in an icy blue aqua.
In three consecutive digs, we found discarded lamps, two of which were very likely used while using the privies!
Ralph is stuck on an old product
It’s something that “will not dry up or grow sour,” a claim that, sadly, he can’t make.
By Ralph Finch
Isaw an old trade card for Te-Nex-Ine, showing a woman holding a large but broken vase. Another woman calmly replies: “Use Te-Nex-Ine, my dear.”
L 77 DR. LERIEMONDIE’S SOUTHERN BITTERS
DR. LERIEMONDIE’S (arch) / SOUTHERN / BITTERS // c //
9 7/8 x 4 x 2 3/4 (7)
Oval, Green and Cobalt, NSC, Applied mouth, Extremely Rare
I read that and thought, “If it works, I could use a pint of it. Or a jug.” With a houseful of glass and pottery, one never knows.
So far, Janet has cleaned every piece of glass we own—some twice—and moved it all around (sometimes twice). And except for an occasional “clink,” we haven’t filed one claim with the insurance company. So far.
The cleaning woman once dropped something—and one step above clink—more like crash—and she started to sob. I not only immediately told her that it was no problem and of minor value (phew), but then, to soothe her sadness, I went into another room, came back, and said: “See? I’ve got two more of these. No problemo.” (She’s Albanian, and I didn’t know the matching phrase in her home language.)
Once, however, in a previous life, I had a cabinet of fine china and glassware. One afternoon, the top shelf gave way, falling down and causing the second shelf to fall, and the whole thing fell onto the third and bottom shelf...and that wasn’t the end of it. The piling up of smashed cullet forced the cabinet door to open and the flotsam and jetsam to pour out into the living room! I was downstairs at the time and thought for a moment that a car had left the road and crashed into our house.
No barrel of Te-Nex-Ine could have repaired that mess.
And how many of us would wish there was a magic solution to make things perfect, not just covered up?
Now, old collectors will remember the days of Don Spangler in Ohio, who could do repairs that only a black light and a keen eye could spot.
And one old memory, and since it was 50 years ago, the subject of this short story is probably dead, so it won’t embarrass him.
It was when, for a coming meeting of the Detroit Bottle Club, we announced that a Greenfield Village–Henry Ford Museum staffer would give a talk, including how to repair glass!!! We were confused by the concept but excited to see if a professional museum expert had some secret that they would share with us “amateur” glass collectors.
The man came to the meeting and gave a generally pleasing talk, but what was his secret about how to repair glass?
A: It wasn’t a “repair” but “a cover-up.”
B: And it was simple. He said you could take a bit of milk and pour it on the crack, and the crack wouldn’t be seen when it dried.
Honest. And I know what your expression is right now.
TE-NEX-INE advertising trade card. “I wish I could find some cement that would stand hot water.”
Reverse of advertising trade card “A Lost Art Restored. Egyptian TEX-NEX-INE. The most powerful adhesive known. Manufactured by the Tenexine Company, Boston, Mass. For Sale Everywhere. Try It”
Got Milk?
Editors’ choice of this most magnificent, badly cracked and repaired “Dr. Leriemondie’s Southern Bitters.” Was milk used?
Read: “Dr. Leriemondie’s Southern Bitters” by Justin McClure in the September–October 2016 issue of Bottles and Extras.
Was he serious?
When his talk was done, the club members were silent. Huh? Was he serious? It is now 50 years later, and I still think: Was he serious?
FYI: The Te-Nex-Ine company, from Boston, claimed that its product was “the most powerful adhesive known.” It did come in a nice-shape “glue jar” with the word “Egyptian,” and could “Mend Crockery, Glassware, Furniture and Household Ornaments,” and “will not dry up or grow sour,” a claim that, sadly, I can’t make.
TEN-EX-INE advertising trade card.
DFINDING D. DODGE TOMLINSON
By Eric McGuire
uring the latter decades of the 19th century, nearly every American was familiar with the initials DDT, and it had nothing to do with a chemical “insecticide” that has since been banned. Anyone who could read knew the letters were associated with the heavily advertised Horseman’s Hope Horse Liniment. Though cryptic in nature, the ads were used countless times in newspaper advertisements and embossed on bottles of the liniment—along with the letters “H.H.H.” and a date of “1868.” This sketch attempts to look at the history of the man who started it, along with some of the twists and turns that developed over time. It is not a straightforward journey, and some of the story is still shrouded in mystery. I am sure future chapters will be needed to fully expose the complete story.
Keep in mind a simple, two-word adage that is often difficult to believe, “Advertising Pays.” When you are relaxing at home and watching the television, which is constantly interrupted by commercials you have long known may cost millions of dollars to produce, you wonder why someone would spend so much on those silly things. You also note that they haven’t gone away.
The reason is that they actually work! It is one of the mysteries of human nature. Before the age of radio and television, nearly all advertising was accomplished in printed form, and newspapers were the best media for reaching the majority of the public. The success and failure of many products were often balanced with the amount and inventiveness of newspaper advertisements.
From the 1850 U.S. Census information for Washington Twp, Harrison County, Ohio, taken on September 18, 1850, we find the following:
D. D. Tomlinson, 34, Tavern keeper, born PA
Lydia Tomlinson, 25, born Ohio
Joseph Tomlinson, 95, farmer, born PA
[Fig. 10]
[Fig. 13]
His residence was noted as “hotel.” Therefore, he may have been a tavern keeper within or near the hotel he was living in. His father, Joseph Johnson Tomlinson, died the following year near Freeport, Harrison County, Ohio, on May 21, 1851. (The Cadiz Sentinel, Cadiz, Ohio, June 11, 1851)
Tomlinson first married Miss Lydia Roberts on February 18, 1846, in Belmont County, Ohio. This marriage apparently ended in divorce, or perhaps something more sinister may have happened. The first note of concern was located in the New York Times when a small query was printed on May 5, 1870. “Mrs. Lydia R. Tomlinson can hear of something of importance by address or calling on John Lefferts, attorney at law, Ledger Buildings, 6th st., Philadelphia, Penn.” About a week later, a somewhat better description of the missing person was printed in the newspaper. “$200 Reward – Lost – A Woman supposed to be insane. She left Ohio for New York, March 8, 1869; arrived at the Western Railroad House, 148 Greenwich street, on her way to California; supposed to have left next day for Washington City, since which time nothing has been seen or heard of her. She is 5 feet 2 inches high, black hair, blind in left eye, neat carriage, walks quick; age, 44 years; front teeth gone; name Lydia R. Tomlinson; uses a great deal of morphine, buying it by the drachm. Any one (sic) who can give information as to her whereabouts to George S. Prince, northwest corner of Washington and Mason streets, San Francisco, will receive the above reward.” (The San Francisco Chronicle, May 15, 1870) A final notice was printed on February 10, 1873. This information does not prove to be that of the first wife of D. D. Tomlinson but is included here only as a possibility. Tomlinson then married Carrie B. Armington in Philadelphia on November 19, 1874.
Perhaps the most enticing lead into Tomlinson’s early life is a series of advertisements beginning in 1854 for “Cochran’s Celebrated Liniment.” Prepared by D. D. Tomlinson in Lloydsville, Belmont County, Ohio. [Fig. 1] The advertisement pictured is for a liniment which is the earliest documentation for D. D. Tomlinson to break into the medicine business. Also, take note of the word “Celebrated,” which became important in Tomlinson’s later advertising for all his products. Ads for this liniment ran in local Belmont County, Ohio, newspapers for about one year. U.S. tax records document D. D. Tomlinson living in adjacent Monroe County, Ohio, as early as 1838.
Beginning in 1859, there is an approximate eight-year period that Tomlinson’s location could not be documented. He was last known selling his Cochran’s Liniment in 1859, along with a medicine described as a “pain extractor” and a “horse medicine.” These products were given to an inhome patient he was treating. (see “Scatterday Diary” on the Internet, pg 65)
About 1867 is the approximate time that Tomlinson made initial contact with the Stockton, California druggists Williams & Moore. It is known for certain that he arrived in Stockton, California, by August 1867, when an advertisement was printed in a Stockton newspaper for “Horseman’s Hope,” with local druggists Williams & Moore as agents for Stockton and vicinity. While residing in Stockton, on August 14, 1867, Tomlinson received California trademark No. 80 for the words “Horseman’s Hope” for his new medicine, with the intention of protecting it from competitors. [Fig. 2] Tomlinson’s initial California trademark registration was relatively simple and did not represent what was later used in advertisements and embossed on his bottles. [Fig. 3] In conjunction with Williams & Moore, the earliest advertisements simply note the horse medicine as “Horseman’s Hope,” strictly following the wording in Tomlinson’s first trademark registration. [Figs. 2 & 3]
[Fig. 1] Advertisement for “Cochran’s Celebrated Liniment.” Prepared by D. D. Tomlinson in Lloydsville, Belmont County, Ohio. (The Belmont Chronicle, March 24, 1854)
[Fig. 3] Tomlinson’s initial California trademark registration was relatively simple and doesn’t represent what was later used in advertisements and embossed on his bottles.
[Fig. 2] While residing in Stockton, Tomlinson received California trademark No. 80 for the words “Horseman’s Hope” for his new medicine, with the intention of protecting it from competitors. Local druggists, Williams & Moore were noted as sole agents for Stockton and vicinity as agents for Stockton and vicinity. (Stockton Independent, August 8, 1867)
[Fig. 4] The earliest newspaper advertisement for “Celebrated H. H. H. Horse Medicine” notes that Williams & Moore are the “supplying agents” for the product. (Stockton Independent, May 16, 1868)
By September 18, 1867, Tomlinson registered to vote at Stockton, with his occupation given as Patent Medicines. It appears that Tomlinson then briefly moved to San Francisco, as noted in the Great Register of voters there, noted as “Daniel Dodge Tomlinson, age 52, born in Pennsylvania, with a business as Manufacturer, corner of Bush & Stockton Streets, San Francisco, on October 12, 1868.” It is unknown how long he stayed in San Francisco; however, by 1873, Tomlinson had moved to San Jose, California, where he registered his federal trademark for “H.H.H. Horse Medicine – DDT 1868.” Speculation can be made that Tomlinson was considering his move outside California, thus providing nationwide protection to his medicine by registering at the federal level.
[Fig. 5] Of the “H H H” bottles known, this example is probably the first blown. A rare larger size also exists. Embossed on all sides is “H H H The Celebrated Horse Medicine DDT 1868.” All of the “R” letters have the unusual curved leg that is characteristic of a mold maker who worked in San Francisco from about 1868 to 1884. Applied top and five inches in height.
The earliest newspaper advertisement for his H.H.H. Horse Medicine notes that Williams & Moore are the “supplying agents” for the product. [Fig. 4]
Of the “H H H” bottles known, the applied top example on the left is probably the first blown. At five inches in height, a rare larger size also exists. Embossed on all sides is “H H H The Celebrated Horse Medicine DDT 1868.” All of the “R” letters have the unusual, curved leg characteristic of a mold maker who worked in San Francisco from about 1868 to 1884. [Fig. 5]
It has not been determined if the old applied top San Francisco-made variant of this bottle was initially produced under the ownership of Tomlinson or after he sold his right to produce the product to Williams & Moore in the Western states of California, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah. In February 1880, Williams & Moore ended their partnership with H. H. Moore, retaining full ownership of the rights to the H.H.H Horse Medicine in the West. Moore kept their original store but, per agreement, also kept the original partnership name of Williams & Moore on the store at 220 Main Street in Stockton.
The manufactory of Henry H. Moore & Son after the dissolution of the partnership of Williams & Moore is pictured on the next page. This structure was directly behind and connected to Moore’s drugstore located at 248 Main Street in Stockton, California. It was the West Coast manufactory for their highly successful “H.H.H. Horse Medicine.” J. R. Williams kept the old store less than a block away at 220 Main Street. [Fig. 6]
This rather clumsy arrangement of keeping the name of Williams & Moore on the old store seems to have vanished by the end of 1880. While the store name of Williams & Moore remained the same, nearly all the newspaper ads for a variety of products simply noted, “J.R. Williams, successor to Williams & Moore.” The “Williams & Moore” moniker in newspapers continued until April 1882.
(
After Tomlinson left California, he settled in Philadelphia, and his dealings with his HHH medicine became quite complicated. Just as he did in California, Tomlinson was inclined to involve other entrepreneurs in the sale of his medicines through franchises and partnerships, and existing records are not clear enough to follow these dealings. He first took on Edward E. Eldridge as a partner, which is reflected in a copy of the label for the HHH Horse medicine that was deposited as part of the federal trademark he filed on April 11, 1873. The label notes Tomlinson, Eldridge & Co. as proprietors. Another example is the advertisement on the left, printed a few months later, stating it was being manufactured in Philadelphia by Francis & Eldridge. [Fig. 7]
[Fig. 7] The Francis & Eldridge ads ran until September 1873.
Lancaster Examiner and The Semi-Weekly New Era, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1873)
The 1875 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania city directory notes Gifford & Tomlinson at 920 North Front Street. His partner is most definitely William Gifford, a long-time patent medicine dealer previously from Chicago, Illinois, who later returned there and sold the HHH product even into the early 20th century by agreement with Tomlinson.
We find a note in a Pittsfield, Massachusetts newspaper: “Our townsman, Jas. M. Francis, has purchased the interest of D. D. Tomlinson, of Philadelphia, in the manufacture of a celebrated Horse Medicine, and will leave for that city in a few days. Mr. Francis is confident that his undertaking will prove a great success and we hope that he will not be disappointed. The firm name will be Francis & Eldridge” (The Berkshire County Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, July 20, 1871). A few years later, another note brought closure to this short-lived firm. “J. M. Francis, of Howard street, has dissolved partnership with the Philadelphia proprietor of the H.H.H. horse medicine and will begin the manufacture of an improved lotion for the market, to be called “Sun Liniment.” (The Berkshire County Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, November 26, 1874). It is unclear how this partnership fits into the overall dealings with D. D. Tomlinson. As an aside, it is known that J. M. Francis went on to develop and sell his “Sun Liniment,” with his Philadelphia agent being his own son, Walter J. Francis.
Advertisements for the H.H.H. Horse Medicine appeared in various towns of the Eastern seaboard, under the partnership of Francis & Eldridge, and with the address of 920 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, ran from November 1871 to the end of 1873.
The territorial sales boundary for the HHH medicine given to Francis & Eldridge did not include the area outside of New England, and Tomlinson continued his sales for the eastern seaboard into the south. Ads such as the one on the following column could regularly be found throughout the East and as far west as Kansas.
[Fig. 8] Ads such as the one on the following column could regularly be found throughout the East and as far west as Kansas. Bucks County Gazette, Bristol, Pennsylvania, Sept. 2, 1875
As the story of James M. Francis and his involvement with the H.H.H. Liniment is told, he was apparently indebted to Tomlinson with the sum of $20,000 for his part of the purchase price for the liniment. After four years of work, Francis could no longer make the required payments to Tomlinson and lost the business to Tomlinson, which resulted in a $6,000 debt. Francis then returned to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and began making his Sun Liniment, which Tomlinson complained was an outright copy of his H.H.H. Liniment. (The Berkshire County Eagle, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, March 4, 1880). The truth may never be known. The Sun Liniment continued on, with moderate success, until the death of Francis on March 14, 1904. (The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, March 17, 1904) It was picked up by other proprietors and finally faded away about 1914.
As would be expected, Tomlinson excoriated Francis in a lengthy tirade published in The Berkshire County Eagle, titled “To the Public,” which includes... “And when I received the business back all was gone, and I had to pay them back what they had paid me for their good will, and then to be imposed on by James M. Francis. In justice to Mr. E. E. Eldridge, I will say, I do not know of his doing any act of infringement toward me. It is well known that James M. Francis made threats against my life, when I took the business back from them, which I did because I could neither get payment from them for the business nor satisfaction of any kind, as I offered to; settle with them for one half that was due me, and allow them to continue with the business, which they did not comply with.” (The Berkshire County Eagle, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, March 25, 1880)
[Fig. 6] A photo of the manufactory of Henry H. Moore & Son after the dissolution of the partnership of Williams & Moore.
Directly below Tomlinson’s tirade is a statement from Francis. “The above is a false, malicious and garbled misrepresentation of facts. If he has any case against us, our courts are open to him; and we are here busy filling orders for our famous SUN LINIMENT. We are not making his Horse Medicine but tending to our legitimate business, manufacturing the famous Sun Liniment, which is a far superior article for family use.” (The Berkshire County Eagle, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, March 25, 1880) And further nasty comments continued.
Tomlinson soon gave up on the head-to-head tirade and unleashed a barrage of advertisements in the eastern newspapers, thoughtfully using the assumed true statement that the H.H.H. Liniment had taken the “First Premium at the State Agricultural Fair, held in Philadelphia in 1880, and the Society awarded the proprietor, D. Dodge Tomlinson, a diploma of Merit for the best preparation.”
While Tomlinson was still living in Philadelphia, the West Coast operation of Williams & Moore was experiencing some changes. They decided to end their partnership with H. H. Moore, maintaining sole rights to sell horse medicine and a few other products they had in common. [Fig. 9]
During this time period, most of Tomlinson’s HHH medicine bottles are relatively common. The example pictured on the opening page of this article is an exception. It is nearly impossible to determine who may have produced it, but it was probably Tomlinson’s product when he was in Philadelphia. It is five inches in height. [Fig. 10]
Tomlinson began an unrelenting advertising campaign, beginning in early 1880, in eastern PA, Pittsfield, MA; Harrisburg, PA; Lancaster, PA; Altoona, PA; Reading, PA; Chester, PA; and Mt Holly, NJ. He focused his advertising blitz on New Jersey and Delaware until September 1883. A short burst of ads occurred in Wilmington, Delaware papers in 1886.
Aschenbach & Miller, a Philadelphia corporation, eventually owned the H.H.H. Medicine, and due to the passage of the 1906 Food & Drugs Act, the product was rigorously tested and failed to meet the standard necessary to be sustained in the market. Among its issues, it was heavily laced with alcohol—at least 65 percent at one point.
As early as 1871, Tomlinson gave a Chicago entrepreneur territorial sales rights. The earliest noted was John Atwater. (The Chicago Evening Mail, January 6, 1871)
Tomlinson also gave Midwest territorial rights for the sale of H.H.H. Liniment to William Gifford of Chicago, Illinois, about 1886. Gifford had been a long-time member of a patent medicine company in Chicago. While in Philadelphia, dealing with Tomlinson, he put his wife, Lydia Ladd Gifford, in charge. Making the business partners even more confusing, Tomlinson took Gifford as a partner in Philadelphia when both lived there. The 1875 Philadelphia directory notes “Gifford & Tomlinson (Robert P. Gifford & Daniel D. Tomlinson), patent medicines, at 920 N. Front St.”
The last advertisement found under the ownership of Wm. Gifford & Co., of Chicago, was on June 7, 1900. (Wairus, Winona, Minnesota, October 10, 1901)
Tomlinson’s efforts never reached his expectations for the H.H.H. medicine in the East and Midwest. He decided to return to California, arrived at his old hometown of San Jose in March 1887, and purchased a home there the following October.
In April 1888, Tomlinson started selling a product he called “H.H.H. Medicine,” and H.H. Moore immediately filed suit against Tomlinson for breach of contract in its sale of the H.H.H. brand, to which Tomlinson sold his Western territory rights back in 1868. (Daily Alta California, May 4, 1888) Tomlinson lost the suit and decided to develop and market a new “cureall” medicine brand. After all, he had done it once before in the West. Settling in his previous hometown of San Jose, California, Tomlinson created his Balm of Mecca, vaguely copying a cryptic name style similar to his HHH medicine.
Tomlinson lost his ability to peddle the H.H.H. Horse Medicine in the West since he gave up that right to Williams & Moore back in 1868, just prior to moving East to Philadelphia. He averred that Williams & Moore had not adhered to the original agreement, but the judge didn’t agree with that story. Meanwhile, H. H. Moore & Son continued the advertising and selling
[Fig. 9] Notice of Dissolution of Co-Partnership, February 4, 1880.
[Fig. 11] Evening News, San Jose, California, January 5, 1889
“HHH Liniment” as late as 1904. (The Stockton Evening Mail, June 25, 1904)
Tomlinson was forced into concocting an entirely new medicinal product if he wanted to with the patent medicine game he knew so well. He created a new item again using cryptic letters and numbers, just as he did with his H.H.H. This time, it was called “95 F. F. F. 95 Balm of Mecca.”
Tomlinson trademarked his Balm of Mecca 95 FFF 95, with the U.S. Patent Office on April 8, 1890 (No. 17740), claiming use since 1889. Described as a “Medicinal Wash,” his advertisements called it an “embrocation liniment,” which are virtually redundant words. This advertisement soon peppered newspaper advertisements throughout the West from about 1892. (The Weekly Calistogian, Calistoga, California, July 13, 1892)
The Balm of Mecca initially enjoyed some mild success. In typical patent medicine style, Tomlinson even had a fancy Balm of Mecca advertisement wagon painted by the local California Carriage Works in San Jose.
By June 1891, Tomlinson advertised one-half of his Balm of Mecca business for sale with a price of $20,000, along with undisclosed royalties based on sales, for a period of twenty years—and he was willing to sell the full interest in his eastern U.S. business of sales for his H.H.H Horse Medicine, also for twenty years, at a price of $15,000. (San Jose Mercury-News, 29 June 29, 1891)
By January 1893 Tomlinson placed a newspaper advertisement of surprising content, part of which notes, “The proprietor of the F.F.F. Balm Mecca Embrocation Liniment, which is a valuable preparation, also the Celebrated Indian Vegetable Pain Extractor, wishes to sell a one-half interest in the patent right for the manufacture of the same in the coast States, or if desired, would sell the whole interest in the same stock of bottles and printing and fixings, molds and prints appertaining to a well established business; and any one taking the management of the same will have a fine advertising wagon and a splendid twohorse wagon, and double harness, worth $500 given free for the use of the business; can be put up here or in any other part of the State to suit convenience of party; also the right to manufacture H.H.H. Medicine and supply Arizona Territory for the use of that territory where it is selling well in good size orders; also the same horse powder under the same trademark, which the proprietor has, a good stock of printing on hand to commence on; will sell in part or in whole, at a great bargain to a good man or party, and give the whole control for part cash and long time payments in part, on account of the advanced age of the owner,
who desires to retire from active business.” (San Jose Mercury-News, January 7, 1893) Advertisements for Balm of Mecca terminated in May 1893, and no additional ads of any kind were noted for Tomlinson. His final advertisement for Balm of Mecca was found in May 1893 (San Jose Herald, May 27, 1893)
Among the several notations of Tomlinson’s death on September 22, 1897, is this, “The death near this city day before yesterday of D. D. Tomlinson will attract the attention throughout the country of thousands who have during past years owned and used horses. He was the proprietor of the famous H. H. H. Horse Liniment and was at one time one of the largest advertisers in the United States.” (San Jose Herald, September 24, 1897)
Tomlinson was not able to sell his Balm of Mecca business, and it became part of his estate assets, which he included in his will. The will, dated December 11, 1896, notes he has two daughters as heirs, Elvina B. Tomlinson, aged 18 years, and Lucretia G. Tomlinson, aged 14. The will states “That my present property consists principally (sic) of the patent right of making and vending the F.F.F. Balm of Mecca Embrocation Liniment, so-called, and an insurance policy on my life in the Provident Life and Trust Company of Philadelphia for ($2,000), also the income of sales of eastern business as per contract and articles of sale to Achenbach and Miller. Said articles of sale and other papers of value now in my possession to be carefully kept and preserved.”
Perhaps the least recognized of the bottled products produced by Tomlinson is his Indian Vegetable Pain Extractor. [Fig. 13] Embossed as “The Celebrated Indian Vegetable Pain Extractor” on its three sides, the name dates back to when he first began practicing medicine in Ohio. Poorly documented in various records, it was first noted in 1880 as a medicine that James M. Francis was given the right to sell by assignment from Tomlinson in 1874, and who lost that right in 1880. It is unknown if he ever exercised that right, if it was produced and sold by Williams & Moore in Stockton, California, or if it was only produced by Tomlinson himself. Based on the bottle’s characteristics, it would have been produced between the mid-1870s and the mid-1880s.
[Fig. 14] The cemetery stone of D.D. Tomlinson is located in the Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.
[Fig. 12] Evening News, San Jose, California, January 5, 1889
GLASS WORKS AUCTIONS
ESTABLISHED 1986
Meet Glass Works Auctions “J” Team
When it comes to getting the most money for your valued flasks, bottles and glass. The “J” team is as tough as they look!
Marshal Jim and his posse are constantly hunting down and rounding up quality material for their expanding auction services.
Thinking about consigning or making an outright sale? Talk with Marshal Jim about consigning to Glass Works Auctions.
Upcoming shows we will be attending:
May 9th & 10th, 46th Mansfield Antique Bottle Show, Mansfield, OH
May 16th & 17th, Shupp’s Grove 25th Annual Bottle Festival, Reinholds, PA
May 18th, 2025 Spring Bottle Show at Batsto Village, Hammonton, N.J.
June 1st, The 45th Annual Saratoga Antique Bottle Show And Sale, Ballston Spa, N.Y.
July 5th & 6th, British Summer National, England
Glass Works Auctions
P.O. Box 180, East Greenille, PA 18041
Phone: (215) 679-5849 l E-mail: glswrk@enter.net Website: http://www.glassworksauctions.com
Josh Janice
Marshal Jim Jesse
The FOHBC is conducting monthly 1-hour online Zoom webinars with presentations and imagery on a broad range of topics relating to antique bottle and glass collecting. Join us for an exciting series by leading authorities in their fields discussing antique bottle and glass collecting, history, digging and finding, ephemera, photography and displaying, and so much more.
Webinars occur on Tuesday evenings during the first or second week of each month at 7:00 pm Central. Time will be left for questions and answers. FOHBC president Michael Seeliger moderates all webinars, which are recorded and available in the FOHBC Members Portal within a week after the event. Webinars are FREE for FOHBC Members and *$15 for non-members. *For a short time only, all webinars are free to all!
When you RSVP at FOHBCseminars@gmail.com you will receive a Zoom email invitation with a link for each event. Simply join us at the noted time, sit back, relax, and enjoy. Attend via desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone if you prefer. Attend them all or a la carte.
Webinar #7: Classic & Zany Trade Cards
Webinar #17: The Feldmann Collection
Webinar #5: Collecting ACL Sodas
Webinar #2: Foreign Bottles in America
Webinar #18: Display Cases
Webinar #4: Show & Tell
Webinar #3: Warner’s Patent Medicine Empire
[Left] Stunning Gold Coins Reveal Glimpse of a Turbulent Age Life on the troubled frontier between Athens and Persia is reflected in a rare coin haul. Who buried the coins, and why were they never retrieved? What was it like to be sandwiched between two clashing powers during some of the most consequential wars in classical antiquity? A sensational stash of coins found in Turkey is furnishing some answers. Led by Christopher Ratté, professor of ancient Mediterranean archaeology at the University of Michigan, a team was excavating a house on the site of the harbor city of Notion, in western Turkey, when they struck gold: They found a pot containing Persian coins, all depicting a kneeling archer, buried years before the house was built. Artifacts found near the hoard create a picture of daily life in the city. Objects in the same layer as the hoard date the coins to the late fifth century b.c., when Notion lay in the buffer zone between Athens and Persia. Although full-scale Greco-Persian wars had ended by then, both continued to be enemies. – National Geographic
[Left] Any idea where from and who used this bottle? The only embossing is “Taylor” on one panel and “Best” on another panel. I was initially thinking it might be a San Francisco, California bottle. I’m getting some more feedback and learning that it’s a New York bottle 1840s, from Asher Taylor who later went to San Francisco where he held a patent for an improvement on a bottle machine. Looks like it might tie in with Taylor & co out west.
– David Kyle Rakes
[Below] A crew exploring the USS Yorktown at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean recently came across the unexpected sight of a Ford automobile in the ship’s hangar. The discovery was first made April 19 during an ongoing month-long expedition led by NOAA Ocean Exploration when the crew sent a remotely-operated vehicle to explore the iconic Navy warship in the depths of the ocean. USS Yorktown, which Japanese forces hit with torpedoes following the pivotal Battle of Midway in June 1942, has been explored several times since its final resting place was discovered in 1998. But the most recent operation was the first to delve into the ship’s hangar. That’s what allowed the explorers to identify the car as a black 1940-41 Ford Super Deluxe, colloquially known as a “Woody.” On the front license plate were the words “SHIP SERVICE ___ NAVY,” according to NOAA. That feature is what prompted the team of researchers to theorize that the car could have been reserved for Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, as the Yorktown served as his flagship during World War II. Ship Captain Elliott Buckmaster or other ship crew could even have used it while Yorktown was docked at foreign ports, NOAA’s team guessed. – NOAA
[Left] This extraordinary “Barkhouse Bros & Co Gold Dust Kentucky Bourbon John Van Bergan & Co Sole Agents” bottle surprised Jeff Wichmann when it came into the office as the Gold Dust whiskey bottles are a very popular western fifth. The example was especially nice as it was loaded with whittle, had a great strike and was blown in a light to medium amber. The bottle was found near a mine entrance in Utah years ago. The Gold Dust was partially buried and there was a faint level line where it lay with partial contents. It was ultimately purchased for a few bucks at an antique mall. The bottle sold for $22k with the commission. – American Bottle Auctions
[Above] Brown gemstones are skyrocketing in popularity, with Mocha Mousse being named the Pantone “Color of the Year.” – Rock & Gem
This image shows the car’s body shape, canvas top, chrome bumper and a spare tire on the back.
Lost & Found
Read and see more in the FOHBC Virtual Museum.
Editor: See Shards of Wisdom, this issue for another bottle picture from Jay.
[Below] The Dr. Beard’s Bitters bottle—I’ve seen a few but not in the larger size with the portrait label (bottle is label only). The Columbia Exterminator bottle is the only one I’ve seen and the fairly crude yet detailed Victorian household scene on the label is one of my favorites. Thanks for your time and interest! – Jay Thompson
[Left] The Antikythera mechanism is an Ancient Greek hand-powered orrery (model of the Solar System). It is the oldest known example of an analogue computer. It could be used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance. It could also be used to track the four-year cycle of athletic games similar to an Olympiad, the cycle of the ancient Olympic Games. Captain Dimitrios Kontos and a crew of sponge divers from Symi island discovered the Antikythera wreck in early 1900, and recovered artifacts during the first expedition with the Hellenic Royal Navy, in 1900–01. This wreck of a Roman cargo ship was found at a depth of 45 metres off Point Glyphadia on the Greek island of Antikythera. The team retrieved numerous large objects, including bronze and marble statues, pottery, unique glassware, jewelry, coins, and the mechanism. In 1902, it was identified by archaeologist Valerios Stais as containing a gear. The device, housed in the remains of a wooden-framed case of (uncertain) overall size was found as one lump, later separated into three main fragments which are now divided into 82 separate fragments after conservation efforts. Four of these fragments contain gears, while inscriptions are found on many others. –Wikipedia
[Above] Scott #19 Mint 1857-61 1c Franklin, Blue, Type Ia, Perf. 15.5 selling for $17,500. Used examples from $6 to $10,000. – Mystic Stamp Company
[Right] We will be selling a very rare Australian bottle in the upcoming ABCR Auction which is very closely linked to the US. Marked as follows:
“A. P. Hotaling & Cos Old Bourbon Whisky (Kangaroo) Trade Mark Barron, Moxham & Co Sydney Sole Agents for Australasia.” No base mark. Can you please let it be known in the US collecting community that this will be in our online sale ending on May 10th. I did have a keen US collector make contact years ago wanting one, but I cannot recall who it was all these years down the track. –Travis Dunn, ABCR Auctions
New Jersey Antique Bottle Club is hosting their 5th Annual Outdoor Antique Bottle Show & Sale
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Rain date Sunday, June 8, 2025
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Dealer set-up 7:00 to 9:00 am Kyle Family Farm 831 Windsor Perrineville Rd. East Windsor, New Jersey 08520
Food and refreshments available. No early buyers – Admission $5 at the entrance
For additional information or to request a contract call Kevin Kyle at (609) 209-4034 or email: bottlediggerkev@aol.com
Spots are $40 each for approximately 10’ wide x 30’deep and $12 for each table rental. Kevin Kyle, 230 Cedarville Rd., East Windsor, NJ 08520 Make check payable to: New Jersey Antique Bottle Club
Bird Admisssion Sept. 5th at 8:00 am $10
Tennessee Bottle Collectors
Member Photos
A collection of spectacular and inspiring photographs from around the world and around the web. Please feel free to submit your images for consideration.
Read and see more in the FOHBC Virtual Museum.
Two J Moore’s on left and the remainder Jesse Moore’s to their right. I like to listen to the song “Jessie’s Girl” when I look at them – Craig Cassetta
Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp Root – McMurray collection
A Bitters cold day! – Lauri Magee
Trio – Tim Gordon
Happy Easter To Everyone – Rich Dotson
An even DOZEN 6-loggers – Jeff Burkhardt Wax sealers –Steve Kehrer
Some colorful bottles – Brian Bingham
Sunny morning –Tom Marshall
Finished case – Michael Seeliger
Virtual Museum: Mount Vernon decanter. I now own this again acquired back from Robert Hilton. It’s home with papa! – Rick Ciralli
Prospector and “For Pike’s Peak”–Eagle Historical Flasks – Matt Lacy
[R] Early crown top California sodas – Steve Bava
Reno 25 Seminar #1
19th Century Ammonia Bottles from the San Francisco Bay Area
This presentation by Stephen Hubbell will review the historical roots of ammonia production in the San Francisco Bay area and the bottles used to sell this product. Special emphasis will be given to the San Francisco Gaslight Company bottles. Bottle mold types, sizes and the colors for the San Francisco Gaslight bottles will be discussed as well as their rarity.
Reno 25 Seminar #2
Western W hiskey & Bourbon Bottles Applied Top Fifths & Flasks from San Francisco
This presentation by Lance Westfall will review the historical roots of the early west coast liquor merchants and their embossed whiskey and bourbon bottles manufactured in the San Francisco Bay Area. Special emphasis will be given to the early applied top cylinders and flasks. Bottle mold types, rarity, sizes, characteristics, colors and pairings (fifths/flasks) will be highlighted as well as noteworthy trivia and myths. There will be a featured “Show & Tell” with a bottle display!
Reno 25 Seminar #3
Reno Red Commemorative Drake’s
This seminar by Treg Silkwood & Michael Craig will explore once again the difficulties and craftsmanship required by glassblowers in the 19th Century. Using those techniques, coupled with advanced technology and equipment available today, Treg and Michael have reproduced the Drake’s in Ruby Red for a commemorative bottle for the FOHBC Reno 25 Convention. The seminar will feature a film of the making of the commemorative Drake’s. Afterwards, Treg and Michael will be available to answer questions about the making of these bottles and the peculiarities of glass manufacturing.
31 July – 03 August 2025
Reno, Nevada
RENO 2025
Classified Ads
ADVERTISE FOR FREE
WANTED
Free advertising in each issue of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector (AB&GC). One free “WANTED” or “FOR SALE” ad in AB&GC per year each renewal. See page 64 for more info. DEALERS: Sell your bottles in the Antique Bottle & Glass Collector. Change the bottles each issue. Include your website in your ad to increase traffic to your site. Send all advertisement info to FOHBC Secretary, Alice Seeliger, N 8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521 or best, email to: AliceSecretaryFOHBC@ gmail.com
MESSAGE
Anybody wanting additional pictures of Glasgow, Montana Bottling Works bottles may request via mail, phone or email from the author. Thanks. Henry Thies. P.O. Box 1363, Cut Bank, Montana 59427, 406.873.2811 or email bottlerx@gmail.com
FOR SALE
FOR SALE: 1) 14-inch-tall Cathedral pickle, medium forest green, six sided. Cathedral window design with four petals above. Rare color for this mold. $575. 2) Drake’s Plantation Bitters. Very light topaz ginger ale. $725. 3) U.S. Mail embossed eagle mail-box-shaped whiskey. Fluted neck whiskey. Large size. $85. 4) “Leon’s Sarsaparilla Belfast Me.” Unusual neck and lip. You’ll see 100 Dana Sarsaparilla’s before you see a Leon’s. $75. 5) Amber straight-sided coke. Giering Bottling Co. in slug plate. Youngstown, Ohio. Two lip chips. $200. 6) “J. Gahm” mug-base beer. Honey amber. $85. No buyers premium or taxes. Postage $15. Don, 978.994.2629 (01/02/25)
FOR SALE: Quality bottles largely from the US, meticulously described and well-priced. Listings with images available on my High Desert Historic Bottle website at historicbottles.com. My email for contact noted on the website. Bill Lindsey, Chiloquin, Oregon. 11/26
FOR SALE: McFarland Bros Meadville Pa Swan Bitters, medium amber square. Nice attic find, very clean with no issues or damage. $2,500. Bill at billheiter59@icloud.com (05.01.25)
FOR SALE: FOHBC logo shirts and hats, Reno 25 Convention shirts, H24 Expo shirts. Contact: Alice at alicesecretaryfohbc@gmail. com
WANTED: Hobble skirt embossed Coca-Cola bottles: 1915s, 1923s, D-Patent’s 6 oz and 6 1/2 oz. Collector will buy or trade. Jim Georges, georges77@twcny.rr.com or 315.662.7729. 11/27
WANTED: Amber, aqua or clear bottles or jars with the logo “N” inside a Keystone symbol on the base. Contact Barry Bernas at phone 717.338.9539 or email barryb6110@aol.com (05/06_24 to 07/08_25)
WANTED: OWL DRUG bottles, tins, boxes, paper, anything from The Owl Drug Company. Marc Lutsko, Unit 6922, 2300 N. Harris Street, Helena, Montana 59604-7347, letsgo@ montanasky.net, 406.291.0861, Box 97, Libby, Montana 59923 TOP DOLLAR paid (01-1-26)
WANTED: Looking for any embossed advertising dose glasses that are unique, interesting or rare, especially druggist or pharmacy medicine cups with pictures, monograms or logos embossed. Also, keenly interested in any from GA, FL or SC. Please contact Tracy at 1gerken@ bellsouth.net or call 912-269-2074 (05-1-25)
WANTED: Hutchinson stoppers: paying $1.50 each for those I can use. Send them to Zang Wood, 1612 Camino Rio, Farmington, New Mexico 87401. I will mail you a check and any bad stoppers, plus your postage cost to me. (05.01.25)
WANTED: New Jersey collectors: Will pay a fair price for N J Hutch, Anchor Bottling Co. Atlantic City, N.J. embossed on Anchor in slug plate. If you have one, please contact Zang Wood, 1612 Camino Rio, Farmington, New Mexico 87401, 505.327.1316 or zapa33-51@msn.com with information and cost. (05.01.25)
WANTED: Madison WI - Cobalt Lindstrom, Stockton & CO, Dr. Bourbon’s Aromatic Forest Bitters or Pumonic Balsam; Dr. W. C. Abaly: J. & A L.; Adolph Wagner - John Rodermund, ACL Lake City Bottling works. Also Fond du Lac, WI Indian Blood Bitters. Dick Boosted, phone 920.520.0064 (05.01.25)
WANTED: Milwaukee Pre-Prohibition back bar bottles and shot glasses. Greg Markovic, 262.408.3616, gcmarko@sbcglobal.net (05.01.25)
WANTED: Lilienthal, Crown Distilleries (Cyrus-Noble), Western liquor advertising, Reno Brewing Co. advertising, Nevada calendars. Russell Umbraco, 510.693.0550, (05.01.25)
WANTED: Any Ford City Pennsylvania bottles and Kittanning, Manorville, Apollo, Dayton, Leechburg and Sagamore Pa Hutches, Bill Oleksak, billoleksak@ gmail.com (05.01.25)
WANTED: Embossed medicinal tonics, roadrunner@centurylink.net or call Marty at 574.575.5297 (05.01.25)
WANTED: Hand painted China plates by the artist Nevada Wilson. Also want paintings by the same artist, please. Steve Williams, 775.747.1166, music4karen@ gmail.com (05.01.25)
VOLUNTEERS
The FOHBC is always looking for help and volunteer work for the many projects and initiatives of the organization.
AVAILABLE NOW
Houston 24 Expo exhibition books. Contact Ferdinand Meyer V at fmeyer@ fmgdesign.com or Michael Seeliger at mwseeliger@gmail.com for special discounted rates for FOHBC members.
Sho-Biz Calendar of Shows
FOHBC Sho-Biz is published in the interest of the hobby. Federation-affiliated clubs are indicated in red. Information on upcoming collecting events is welcome, but space is limited. Please send at least three months in advance, including telephone number to: FOHBC Sho-Biz, c/o Alice Seeliger, Advertising Coordinator, N8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521-9789; email: fohbcmembers@gmail.com; phone: 608.575.1128. Request event insurance and show ribbons two months in advance. Show schedules are subject to change. Please call before traveling long distances. All listings published here will also be published on the FOHBC.org website.
03 May 2025 – New Hartford, New York
The Mohawk Valley Antique Bottle Club will host its 29th Annual Utica Bottle Show & Sale at the Hope Alliance Church, 4291 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, New York, 13413, 9 am to 2:30 pm. Admission $5. Info: Peter Bleiberg at 315.735.5430 or email pmbleiberg@aol.com, Mohawk Valley ABC on Facebook, FOHBC Member Club
03 May 2025 – Gray, Tennessee State of Franklin Antique Bottles & Collectible Assoc. 27th Annual Show, Saturday, May 3rd, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, Appalachian Fairground, 100 Lakeview Street, Gray, Tennessee 37615, Exit 13 on I-216, No Early Admission, sfabca.com, FOHBC Member Club
04 May 2025 – Morgantown, West Virginia
8th Annual Dunkard Valley Antiques and Collectibles Show & Sale, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm; Early buyers 7:30 am, $20. Both inside and outside vendor spaces are available! At Milan Park. Monongalia Center, 270 Mylan Park Lane, Morgantown, WV 26501, Contact: Don Kelley, 724.998.2734, bonzeyekelley@gmail.com
09 & 10 May 2025 – Mansfield, Ohio
46th Mansfield Antique Bottle Show, Hosted by the Ohio Bottle Club, at the Richland County Fairgrounds, 750 N. Home Road, Mansfield, Ohio 44906; Admission $5 Saturday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Early admission is $40, Friday, May 9, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Show Chairs: Matt & Elizabeth Lacy, 440.228.1873 or 440.994.9028 or email info@antiquebottlesales.com, FOHBC Member Club
10 May 2025 – Gardendale, Alabama
5th Annual Alabama Bottle & Advertising Show, Saturday, May 10, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm; Free Admission and Appraisals. Gardendale Civic Center, 857 Main Street, Gardendale, Alabama 35071 (10 minutes north of Birmingham). Info: Keith Quinn: 205.365.1983, klq1812@gmail.com or Steve Holland, 205.492.6864. Visit our Facebook page Alabama Bottle Collectors’ Society FOHBC Member Club
10 May 2025 – Seekonk, Massachusetts
The Little Rhody Bottle Club Tailgate Swap Meet starts at 8:00 am and ends at 2:00 pm. There is no set up fee and no admission fee. Bring as many tables as you want. Buy, sell, trade and keep what you make. Show Address: Leonard’s Antiques, 600 Taunton Avenue, (Rte #44) Seekonk, Massachusetts 02771, Contact Info: William Rose, 508.880.4929, sierramadre@comcast.net, FOHBC Member Club
16-18 May 2025 – Adamstown, Pennsylvania
Shupp’s Grove 25th Annual Bottle Festival, 607 Willow Street, Reinholds, Pennsylvania 17569. Friday, early buyers only from 11 am to 5 pm at a ticket price of $20 per person and running through Sunday, 18 May. Saturday and Sunday hours are from 6 am to dusk; admission is free to all on these two days. Contact Steve Guion, Show Chairman, 1032 English Drive, Lebanon, Pennsylvania 17042, william03301956@gmail.com or call him at 717.371.1259. He has information and dealer contracts for those wishing to set up at the festival.
17 May 2025 – Mandeville, Louisiana
Nouvelle Orleans Third Annual Antique Bottle & Collectibles Show & Sale at the Mandeville Lions Club, 720 Lafitte Street, Mandeville, Louisiana 70448, Dealer set up, Friday, 16 May, 12 noon to 5:00 pm and on Saturday, 17 May, 8:00 to 10:00 am. Early Bird $20 during dealer setup. Free admission is Saturday, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm; contact Peter Taggard, 645 Village Lane South, Mandeville, Louisiana 70471. Call or text: 985.373.6487. Email: petertaggard@yahoo.com
18 May 2025 – Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington County Antique Bottle Club 51st Annual Show and Sale, Alpine Star Lodge, 735 Jefferson Avenue, Washington, Pennsylvania 15301, Admission $3, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, Early admission $25 at 7:30 am. Info: Ed Kuskie, 412.405.9061, 352 Pineview Drive, Elizabeth, Pennsylvania 15037, bottlewizard@comcast. net, FOHBC Member Club
18 May 2025 – Hammonton, New Jersey
2025 Spring Bottle Show at Batsto Village by the Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc., 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, rain or shine! Free admission! Historic Batsto Village, Wharton State Forest, Rt. 542 Pleasant Mills Road, Hammonton, New Jersey. Contact Info: Jim Hammell, 856.217.4945, hammelljm@gmail.com
01 June 2025 – Ballston Spa, New York
The 45th Annual Saratoga Antique Bottle Show And Sale at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds, 162 Prospect Street, Ballston Spa, New York 12020. General Admission Sunday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, $5; Early Admission Sunday, 8:00 to 9:00 am, $2. Show set up Saturday, 31 May from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and Sunday, 6:30 to 8:00 am. Host Club: National Bottle Museum, nationalbottlemuseum. org, 518.885.7589, info@nationalbottlemuseum.org, Show chair: Roy Topka, 518.779.1243, rmt556@yahoo.com; FOHBC Member Club
07 June 2025 – Seekonk, Massachusetts
The Little Rhody Bottle Club Tailgate Swap Meet starts at 8:00 am and ends at 2:00 pm. There is no set up fee and no admission fee. Bring as many tables as you want. Buy, sell, trade and keep what you make. Show Address: Leonard’s Antiques, 600 Taunton Avenue, (Rte #44) Seekonk, Massachusetts 02771, Contact Info: William Rose, 508.880.4929, sierramadre@comcast.net, FOHBC Member Club
07 June 2025 – East Windsor, New Jersey
New Jersey Antique Bottle Club (NJABC) is hosting their 5th Annual Outdoor Antique Bottle Show & Sale, (Rain date Sunday, 08 June 2025) 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Admission is $5; no early buyers. Kyle Family Farms. 831 Windsor Perrineville Road, East Windsor, New Jersey 08520, Contact Kevin Kyle, 230 Cedarville Road, East Windsor, New Jersey 08520, 609.209.4034, bottlediggerkev@ aol.com, FOHBC Member Club
07 June 2025–San Diego, California
San Diego 2025 Antique, Collectibles & Bottles Show & Sale, Saturday, June 07, 2025, Al Bahr Shrine Temple, 5440 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego, California 92111. Dealer Set-up, 6:30 am, “Early Bird” 7:00 am to 9:00 am: $15, Free General Admission 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Kids under 12 free with adult, Info: Jim Walker 858.490.9019, Jfwalker43@gmail.com, sdbottleclub.org, FOHBC Member Club
14 June 2025 – Weyers Cave, Virginia
The Historical Bottle Diggers of Virginia 53rd Antique Bottle and Collectibles Show & Sale, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Weyers Cave Community Center, 682 Weyers Cave Road, (Rt. 256), Weyers Cave, Virginia 24486, Info: Sonny Smiley, Show Chairman, 540.434.1129, lithiaman1@yahoo.com, FOHBC Member Club
14 June 2025 – Cambridge City, Indiana
10th Annual Cambridge City Jar & Antique Show, Creitz Park, 150 North Foote Street, Cambridge City, Indiana, Saturday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Set up at 7:00 am. Contact Marty Troxell, 765.478.3800, doublehead@myfrontiermail.com. Also, contact Marty on Facebook Ball Jar Collectors if you prefer.
FOHBC Member Club
21 June 2025 – Johnston, Iowa
The Iowa Antique Bottleers 55th Annual Antique Bottle & Collectibles Show and Sale at the Johnston Lions Club, 64th Place and Merle Hay Road, Johnston, Iowa; Admission $1, Children Free, For info contact Mark Wiseman, 3505 Sheridan Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50301, 515.344.8333 or Joyce Jessen, 515.979.5216, See Contract, FOHBC Member Club
27 - 29 June 2025 – Marlborough, Massachusetts
The 56th National Insulator Association Convention, Show and Sale at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, 181 Boston Post Road West (Rt. 20) Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752; The Yankee Pole Cat Insulator Club is excited to host the 56th National! For those who remember, the 26th National Show was held in this hotel 30 years ago, with Bill and Jill Meier as two of the co-hosts. Dario DiMare, Bill Meier, and Jill Meier are teaming up for the show this year.
28 June 2025 – Tulsa, Oklahoma
The Tulsa Antiques and Bottle Club presents its 47th Annual Tulsa Antique Advertising and Bottle Show, Saturday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm in the west end of the SageNet Center, Tulsa Fairgrounds, 21st Street and Pittsburgh Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma. A huge 250+ table show with dealers from over 15 states plus the 1,000 table Tulsa Flea Market, all in one building. Dealer setup 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Friday, June 27th and 6:00 am to 8:00 am on Saturday. Dealers may drive right up to their tables into our very well air-conditioned building to unload and load up. This is the National Show for ACL soda bottle collectors. Buyer parking and admission are free with no early admissions. Info: Henry Tankersley 918.663.3218 (land line phone) or henrytankersley3@gmail.com or Dale Peterson 918.341.5475 or 918.693.1918 (cell) or cpeters2@ sbcglobal.net. Much more info and show photos on our website at tulsaantiquesandbottleclub.com FOHBC Member Club
31 July–03 August 2025 – Reno, Nevada
FOHBC Reno 2025 National Antique Bottle and Glass Convention at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. For information contact Craig Cassetta, ccassettafohbc@gmail.com or Richard Siri, rtsiri@sbcglobal.net, Direct Link to Hotel Reservations at FOHBC.org, FOHBC National Event
09 August 2025 – Munford, Alabama
Cheaha Bottles, Antiques and Collectibles Show. Celebrating 10 Years! Previously the Lincoln Bottle Show. Munford Community
Center, 65 Mitchell Street, Munford, Alabama 36268, Doors open at 9:00 am. Contact chairman Jake Smith, 256.267.0446 or syl_bottleguy@yahoo.com. Free public admission, $20 early admission Saturday 8:00 am till 9:00 am, Free appraisals. Info on Facebook.
17 August 2025 – Poughkeepsie, New York
Hudson Valley Bottle Club 38th Annual Mid Hudson Bottle Show & Sale, 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, early buyers 8:30 am, Poughkeepsie Elks Lodge 275, 29 Overocker Road, Poughkeepsie, New York, Contact Info: Mike Stephano, 27 Rogers Road, Hyde Park, New York 12538, 845.233.4340, mjsantique@aol.com, FOHBC Member Club
30 August 2025 – Santa Ana, California
The Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club’s Annual Antique Bottles, Fruit Jars, Insulators, Antiques & Collectibles Show & Sale, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Free, Early Bird $15 at 8:00 am, Club Members All Day Entry, at the Santa Ana California Elks, Lodge, 1751 South Elks Lane, Santa Ana, California 92705. Free Admission, Info: Don Wippert, 818.610.9332; Email: donwippert1@ gmail.com or Dave Hall, 310.710.8118. FOHBC Member Club
06 September 2025 – Castle Rock, Colorado
The 58th Anniversary Antique Bottle Collectors of Colorado Show, Douglas County Fairgrounds at Kirk Hall, 500 Fairgrounds Dr., Castle Rock, Colorado 80104. Early Bird Admission Sept. 5th at 8:00 am $10. General Admission: Saturday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Free. More information: Fred Bjork, 719.310.8388, manfredbjork@ yahoo.com, antiquebottlecollectorsofcolorado.com, FOHBC Member Club
06 September 2025 – Seekonk, Massachusetts
The Little Rhody Bottle Club Tailgate Swap Meet starts at 8:00 am and ends at 2:00 pm. There is no set up fee and no admission fee. Bring as many tables as you want. Buy, sell, trade and keep what you make. Show Address: Leonard’s Antiques, 600 Taunton Avenue, (Rte #44) Seekonk, Massachusetts 02771, Contact Info: William Rose, 508.880.4929, sierramadre@comcast.net, FOHBC Member Club
19 September 2025 – Aurora, Oregon
Oregon Bottle Collectors Associations’ Bottle, Antique & Collectibles Show & Sale, Friday 12 noon to 5:00 pm Dealer set-up and Early Bird admission $5. Saturday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm regular public admission by donation. American Legion Hall, 21510 Main Street N.E., Aurora, Oregon. Contact: Wayne Herring, show chairman, 503.864.2009 or Bill Bogynska, 503.657.1726 billbogy7@gmail.com, FOHBC Member Club
20 September 2025 – Santa Rosa, California Northwestern Bottle Collectors’ Association’s 58th Annual Antique, Bottle & Collectible Show at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Avenue, Santa Rosa, California 95404. General Admission: Saturday Noon to 4:00 pm, FREE, Saturday early admission 10:00 am to Noon, $10. For dealer and show information contact Richard Siri, 707.481.5423, rtsiri@ sbcglobal.net or John Burton, 707.523.1611, johncburton@msn.com, FOHBC Member Club
21 September 2025 – Depew, New York
The Greater Buffalo Bottle Collectors Association’s 26th Annual Show & Sale, Polish Falcons Hall, 445 Columbia Avenue, Depew, New York 14043, General Admission $4: Sunday 9 am to 2 pm. Contact chairman Tom Karapantso, 716.487.9645, tomar@stny. rr.com or Peter Jablonski, 716.440.7985, peterjablonski@roadrunner. com or Joe Guerra, 716.207.9948, jguerra3@roadrunner.com, gbbca. org, FOHBC Member Club
03 & 04 October 2025 – Biloxi, Mississippi
Presented by the Olde Guys Digging Club of Biloxi, Mississippi, the 8th Annual Mississippi Gulf Coast Antique Bottle Show will be held from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday, October 4, 2025 at the Joppa Shrine Temple, 13280 Shriners Blvd., Biloxi, Mississippi 39532 (Exit 41- I-10). Dealer Set Up on Friday, October 3, 2025 from noon to 5:00 pm and Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 8:00 to 9:00 am. Free Admission on Saturday. Early Buyers $20 per person during dealer set up on Friday. Please make your hotel reservations early as a major automotive event takes place the day after the show in the area. For more information or table contracts contact: Peter Taggard, 645 Village Lane South, Mandeville, Louisiana 70471. Phone 985.373.6487 Email: petertaggard@yahoo. com
04 October 2025 –Pickens, South Carolina
3rd Annual Pickens South Carolina Bottle Show & Sale at The Market at the Mill, 225 Pumpkintown Hwy, Pickens, South Carolina 29671, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, Set-up 7:00 to 9:00 am. Show and dealer information Samuel Rhodes, 864.508.6518, samuelrhodes99@gmail.com, FOHBC Member Club
04 October 2025 – Chesterfield, Virginia
The Richmond Area Bottle Collectors Assoc. presents their 53rd Richmond Antique Bottle and Collectibles Show and Sale; General Admission is $3, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm; Early Admission is $10 from 7:30 am, at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds, 10300 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, Virginia 23832. Info: Tony Townsend, 804.379.0902; RichBottleClub@comcast.net, FOHBC Member Club
19 October 2025 – Findlay, Ohio
48th Annual Findlay Antique Bottle Club Antique Bottle & Collectibles Show & Sale, Owens Community College, Education and Wellness Center, 3200 Bright Road, Findlay, Ohio 45840, 9 am to 2 pm $5, Early Bird Sunday 7 am to 9 am $20 (Dealer-only set up Saturday) Contact: Fred Curtis, 419.424.0486, finbotclub@gmail. com, Website: finbotclub.blogspot.com, FOHBC Member Club
24 & 25 October 2025 – Nashville, Tennessee Area
Tennessee Bottle Collectors Presents their Nashville Area Antique Bottle & Advertising Show, Wilson County Fairgrounds, 945 E. Baddour Pkwy, Lebanon, Tennessee 37087, Behind Expo Center, I-40 Exit 239B, Friday 1:30 to 6:00 pm Early Buyer $20 Admission, Saturday 8:00 am to 2:30 pm Free Admission. Dealer Set-up: Friday: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday: 7:00 am. For Show Info or Vendor Contract, Contact Show Chairmen Greg Eaton: at 865.548.3176 or Stanley Word at 615.708.6634, FOHBC Member Club
26 October 2025 – Countryside, Illinois
1st Chicago Bottle Club 56th Annual Show and Sale 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Admission is $5. Holiday Inn Chicago SW-Countryside, 6201 Joliet Road, Countryside, Illinois 60525. Contact Tom Majewski, 630.778.1932, tnsmski@comcast.net, FOHBC Member Club
02 November 2025 – Newark, Delaware
Tri-State Bottle Collectors and Diggers Club 52nd Annual Antique Bottle & Collectibles Show and Sale, Aetna Hose Hook & Ladder Banquet Hall, 410 Ogletown Road (Route 273), 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, No Early Buyers! Free Admission, Set-up same day at 7:00 to 8:30 am. Contact: Dave Porter, president, 100 Jarmon Road, Elkton, Maryland 21921, 717.779.8324, daveelle@msn.com, FOHBC Member Club
09 November 2025 – Pompton Lakes, New Jersey
North Jersey 55th Annual Antique Bottle Show and Sale, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, Pompton Lakes Elks Lodge #1895, 1 Perrin Ave., Pompton Lakes, New Jersey 07442, just off I-287 Exit 57 or Rt. 202., Free Admission, $15 early admission (8:00 am), Featuring all types of antique bottles, glassware, stoneware, advertising, postcards, small antiques, etc., Sponsored by North Jersey Antique Bottle Collectors Ass’n, Vendor info: Call Ed, 201.493.7172 or email metropetro222@gmail.com, All welcome! FOHBC Member Club
09 November 2025 – Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania
The Pittsburgh Antique Bottle Club’s 55th Annual Show & Sale, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, early buyers 7:00 am, $25. Admission is $3. PittsburghAntiqueBottleClub.org, New and improved Location! WTVFC Social Hall, 1314 Axton Street, Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania 15012, Contact Info: Bob DeCroo, 724.326.8741 or Jay Hawkins, 724.872.6013, FOHBC Member Club
22 November 2025 – Clemmons, North Carolina
Clemmons Antique Bottle Show at the Village Inn Hotel & Event Center, 6205 Ramada Drive, Clemmons, North Carolina 27012, Saturday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, No Early admission, Set up: Saturday 7:00 am to 9:00 am. Free to the Public! Contact: David Erickson, 336.247.1928, dave.erickson111@gmail.com
29 - 31 July 2027 – Nashville, Tennessee Area
FOHBC Nashville 2027 National Antique Bottle and Glass Convention FOHBC National Event
FOHBC Logo Shirts & Hats
Reno 25 Convention Shirts H24 Exposition Shirts
Contact: Alice: alicesecretaryfohbc@gmail.com
Membership Benefits & Display Advertising Rates
The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (FOHBC) is a non-profit organization supporting antique bottle and glass collecting. The goal of the FOHBC is to promote the collection, study, preservation and display of historical bottles and related artifacts and to share this information with other collectors and individuals. Membership is open to any individual, club or institution interested in the enjoyment and study of antique bottles and glass. Membership benefits include:
–Antique Bottle & Glass Collector (AB&GC), the official publication of FOHBC and the leading publication for those interested in antique bottle and glass collecting and all associated ephemera. Annual subscription includes 6 issues (bi-monthly) of this all-color, 72-page plus covers publication. (Digital memberships also available.)
–Free classified advertising in AB&GC. Ads may be up to 100 words for items of $25 or greater value; and one free ad of 60 words each year For Sale, Wanted, or For Trade. (Restrictions apply and free ads are limited to the first received for available space.) Ads appear on the FOHBC website also. See page 59.
–FOHBC.org, a comprehensive website dedicated to the organization and hobby, providing access through the Members Portal to the latest news in the collecting world, Membership Directory, archived magazine issues, indexed articles, Federation meeting minutes and announcements, and a vast assortment of research material.
–Virtual Museum of Historical Bottles and Glass, the most comprehensive antique bottle and glass experience on the Internet. Spinning images of museum-quality examples of antique bottles and glass, including well-researched history of the manufacture, distribution, and use of each item.
–Auction Price Report, an online resource which includes the sale price and description of anything auctioned by the top antique bottle and glass auction houses in the past decade. Easy to use. Updates planned. (Password protected)
–National Shows and Conventions, featuring displays, educational seminars, membership meetings, social events, and banquet with interesting speakers, all centered around a first-class sale event. Members are eligible for discounts on “Early Admission” or table rental.
–Newsletter, digital presentation of periodic postings to keep FOHBC members up to date on current issues affecting the hobby.
Affiliated Bottle Club Membership brings these additional benefits to your antique bottle and glass collecting group:
–Federation-sponsored Insurance Program for your show and any other club-sponsored activities. (Application required for each event.) Value of this is many times more than the cost of club membership.
–Club Display Ad in AB&GC at discount of 50%.
–Free Club Show Ad on the Federation website to increase your show’s exposure.
–Free Links to Club Website; Social Media (Facebook) exposure.
–Free Federation Ribbons for Best in Show and Most Educational display at your show. Please order two months in advance of event.
For more information, questions, or to join the FOHBC, please contact: Michael Seeliger, President and Interim Membership Director, N8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, WI 53521-9789; phone 608.575.2922 or email: fohbcmembers@gmail.com
Visit us at FOHBC.org
Where there’s a will there’s a way to leave Donations to the FOHBC
Did you know the FOHBC is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization? How does that affect you? It allows tax deductions for any and all donations to the FOHBC. You might also consider a bequest in your will to the FOHBC. This could be a certain amount of money or part or all of your bottle collection. The appraised value of your collection would be able to be deducted from your taxes. (This is not legal advice, please consult an attorney.) The same-type wording could be used for bequeathing your collection or part of it; however, before donating your collection (or part of it), you would need the collection appraised by a professional appraiser with knowledge of bottles and their market values. This is the amount that would be tax deductible. Thank you for considering the FOHBC in your donation plans.
Membership Application, Classified Advertising & Article Submission
FOHBC Individual Membership Application or Renewal
For Membership, complete the following application or sign up at FOHBC.org
(Please Print)
Name
Address City
Telephone
Email Address
Collecting Interests
Additional Comments
Do you wish to be listed in the online membership directory?(name, address, phone number, email address and what you collect) { } Yes { } No
Would you be interested in serving as an officer? { } Yes { } No
Would you be interested in contributing your bottle knowledge by writing articles for our magazine? { } Yes { } No
Would you be interested in volunteering to help on any FOHBC projects? { } Yes { } No
Membership/Subscription rates for one year (6 issues) (Circle One)
(All First Class sent in a protected mailer)
United States
-
-
-
w/Associate*
- Standard Mail 3 years
Digital Membership (electronic files only)
$25
Canada – First Class $85 Other countries – First Class $120
- Life Membership: Level 1: $1,000, includes all benefits of a Standard 1st Class membership. No promise of a printed magazine for life.
- Level 2: $500, includes all benefits of a regular membership but you will not receive a printed magazine, but rather a digital subscription.
Add an Associate Membership* to any of the above at $5 for each Associate for each year.
Associate Member Name(s)
*Associate Membership is available to members of the immediate family of any adult holding an Individual Membership. Children age 21 or older must have their own individual membership. Associate Members enjoy all of the rights and privileges of an Individual Membership.
Signature Date
Please make checks or money orders payable to FOHBC and mail to:
FOHBC Membership, Michael Seeliger, President and interim Membership Director, N 8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521, 608.575.2922, mwseeliger@gmail.com (if no answer please leave a message)
Affiliated Club Membership is $80 without insurance. $130 includes liability insurance coverage for all club-sponsored events. There is a 50% discount on advertising in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, plus more. Contact: Michael Seeliger, President and interim Membership Director, N 8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521, 608.575.2922, mwseeliger@gmail.com. Visit FOHBC.org to fill out your application online.
Bottle & Glass Collector Free Ads
- 1 ad per issue. (Use extra paper if necessary.)
Magazine Submission Requirements:
We welcome the submission of articles and related pictures pertaining to antique bottle and early glass collecting, our hobby, digging, diving, and finding, as well as other interesting stories.
SUBMISSION POLICY—Articles:
All Antique Bottle & Glass Collector articles or material needs to be submitted via an FTP site, email or hard copy.
Electronic text files should be in Microsoft Word.
Electronic photo files should be in JPEG, TIFF or EPS format.
Resolution of 300 dpi at actual publication size is preferred but as low as 150 dpi (at double publication size) is acceptable.
SUBMISSION POLICY—Classified ads:
All ad copy should be typewritten, clearly & legibly printed, or sent via ewmail.
The FOHBC will not be responsible for errors in an ad due to poor quality, illegible copy.
The FOHBC reserves the right to refuse any advertising.
Please send articles, images and other content to fmeyer@ fmgdesign.com or mail to Ferdinand Meyer V, PO Box 1825, Brookshire, Texas 77423.
