to include:- - oldshopstuff.com · steve haselgrove’s ale story continues ... it is with sadness...
TRANSCRIPT
ABC - Issue 432 ABC - Issue 43 3
STALLS 6’x 3’ £26 08:00EARLY ENTRY £5 08:45
PUBLIC ENTRY £2 10:00FREE ENTRY 12 NOON
TO INCLUDE:-BOTTLES, FLAGONS, POT LIDS,DOULTON WARES, SALT GLAZE,
POSTCARDS, POISONS, INKS,ENAMEL SIGNS, EPHEMERA,
BREWERY ITEMS, BLACK GLASS,STONEWARE & MUCH MORE...
NSCF & Co PRESENT
WINTERNATIONAL 2011Sunday 20th February
BERKHAMSTED LEISURECENTRE, HP4 3QQ
Just off the A41
ABC - Issue 432 ABC - Issue 43 3
Welcome to ABC Issue 43. Thanks to all those who have sent in details of their finds and made
suggestions as to future articles. We have not been able to publish all of the received information we would like to but will be catching up in our next issue.
Condolances from all at ABC to the family and friends of collector Dennis Hall who passed away
last October: please see the note from his children at the bottom of this page.
If no-one from ABC is able to attend a show which you organise please will you send us a short report
and some photographs taken at the show for us to include in our “Around the Shows” regular feature.
We welcome Oxford Club member, skilled photographer and keen collector Simon Somerscales onto the ABC Team.
It is good to see more show organisers taking advantage of our BOGOF offer introduced in Issue 37.
Please read Paul Taylor’s report of the forthcoming potlid book on page 28 and let Bob Houghton know if you think you may have an unusual lid
(including button lids or broken examples). Total confidence is assured.
As always - Happy collecting - Russ Smith
COnTenTSebay Spotlight 4By the ABC Team
early Glass Terminology 8More lip from Mark nightingale
Kent Ramblings 10John Ault strikes lucky
Stoneware Fragments 12Steve Haselgrove’s ale story continues
Wickham’s World 2 14Cyril shares his collection
The Good, the Odd... 18More oddities from Brian Thatcher
The elusive Tapp 20Tapp trapped by Mark Potten
The Border Maid 22Whisky galore from Bavid Burton
Target Balls from France 26By John Hargreaves
northern news 26Dug Wydell tells of the Viking
6,000 and counting 28Paul Taylor reports progress
Bottles to die for 30Brian Thatcher’s labels
Potted History 2 32Rex eagle visits Southport
Around the Shows 34 Four reports by the Team
Clubs 38Useful Contacts.
Shows 39Dates for your Diary.
ABC ContactsLance Mytton 01938 810772 [email protected] Parkin 07870 644414 [email protected] Smith 01503 230323 [email protected] Somerscales 01869 331464 Paul Taylor 01494 874124 [email protected] Thatcher 02088 573069 [email protected]
A n t i q u e B o t t l e C o l l e c t o r
LOG On TO www.abc-ukmag.co.uk and keep in touch through our website
email [email protected], Telephone 01503 230323 or write to The Editor, ABC Office, Denham, Crafthole, Cornwall, PL11 3BW
It is with sadness we have to inform you of the death on 24th October 2010 of our father Dennis Hall aged 80.
Dennis was an avid collector of Victorian bottles and memorabilia for around 25 years and made many friends in the business. He enjoyed long chats to whoever would listen about anything to do with collections. He attended many antique fairs and had a fabulous way of displaying his items for all to see.
He will be sorely missed by all who knew him, an absolutely remarkable man. Sandra and Garry.
ABC - Issue 434 ABC - Issue 43 5
SPOTLIGHT by The ABC TeamBae y
This is our first eBay article since Issue 40 so we have some catching up to do. Some of these items appeared on the cyber salesroom a while ago but all are well worthy of illustrating here. More recent items are shown on page 6. Once again we must comment that would-be buyers find it useful to have a clear picture of items they are being encouraged to bid for but this rather obvious fact seems to be lost on some sellers (see Issues 30 and 38).
Sale prices on eBay are instructive but lots that don’t sell are just as informative. Pics 1, 2 & 3 show respectively a dated onion, a fine local brewery ad and an exceptionally rare fox head flask. All of these are normally very sought-after but none of them got a single bid. Their starting prices were £2000, £500 & £499 respectively: there’s no doubt that bidders are always put off by a substantial starting price.
4. A star performer was this small American flask - strongly contested to £7,900.
5. Good inks are usually few and far between on eBay but West Country dealer piskey1 did a fine job selling off Roger Pellow’s superb ink collection. We have only seen one other example of this reg diamond oval tent so the £730 winning bid was not surprising.
6. Impressed Sunderland stoneware bottle zoomed away to £780 - it must be exceptionally rare.
7. This half gallon flagon achieved a surprising £560 but the bold James Stiff print makes it historically interesting.
8. Amongst the best of the bottle-related enamels was this east Grinstead brewery example £622.
9. early, plain continental wine bottles don’t usually fetch much but this very attractive French example was strongly contested to £284.
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SPOTLIGHT by The ABC Team
10 & 11. A couple of rattlers acquired by your editor and included to show that you do not need to part with a great deal of cash to obtain unusual and rare items. On the left is a 6oz Acme Bulb patent, the like of which ed and his fellow Coddite friends did not even know existed (£53) and on the right is a Shaw’s patent with an additional strengthening bar on the lug side of the bottle, clearly seen in the photograph (£16).
12. Scarce Scottish (green print) pot lid flew to £321.
13. The poor photograph could have put some punters off this Aussie Hygenic patent as it went to one of seven bidders for a bargain £84.
14. Good condition submarine dug in the 1970s went to a single bid of £930.
15. Despite some lip damage this exceptionally rare green dumpy Acme Reliance was chased by 14 bidders up to £1397.
16. Genuine early blue bears grease Victorian potlid: napoleon Price of the Royal College of Chemistry - £1760.
17. Scarce ceramic stopper Froggart of nottingham was sent up to £475 by nine keen collectors.
18. After spending 40 years “lovingly wrapped in newspaper and relegated to a garden shed” this Sarel of Brighton found a home at £1019.
19. This large Hobnail poison was sought by seven collectors via 15 bids and went for £599.
20. Superbly printed Tomato Tooth Paste from Liverpool: £192.
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Bae y
21. Green top GB “London Super-Aeration” - £49.
22. Quite a surprise for Coddites: this seemingly innocent aqua niagara type Codd “J J MCLAUGHLIn CAnADA DRY” reached the dizzy height of £479.
23. A trio of enamels - The Post Office Telephone went for £60, the ediswan for £361 and the Brauhaus all the way to £1220.
24, GB from Schilling of Brighton - £75.
25. A superb small Bellarmine with three cartouches - £594.
26. An unusual and scarce Plate Powder pot lid - £109.
27. Mumby’s match striker - £62.
28. Clear glass globe ink - £90.
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ABC - Issue 436 ABC - Issue 43 7
Bi-monthly USA publication. The official magazine of the
Federation of Historical Bottle CollectorsSubscription $65 USD.
Bottles and extras, 401 Johnston Ct, Raymore, MO 64083 USA.
email: [email protected]. website: www.FOHBC.com
A & P Promotions Present the 11th Stanley Antique
BOTTLE SHOW& Collectors Fair
Saturday 12th February 2011Stanley Masonic Hall, Stanley, Co Durham, DH9 8AD
Disabled Access Free Parking NearbyFor Info ( (01207) 231004 or (01207) 283421
early entry 9:30am - £2Public entry 10:30am - £1
To view last year’s show log on tohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?V=XK2JDH8EWB8
Access A693 from A1
June 25 - 26, 2011Early Admission: Saturday, June 25 ~ 1:00 to 5:00 PM
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Information Contact: R. Wayne Lowry, 401 Johnston Ct., Raymore, MO 64083 816-318-0161 ~ [email protected]
Memphis Cook Convention Center 255 N Main St
Memphis, TN 38103
June 25 - 26, 2011Early Admission: Saturday, June 25 ~ 1:00 to 5:00 PM
Banquet: Friday, June 24 ~ 7:00 PMPublic: Sunday, June 26 ~ 9:00 AM to 3:00 PMAuction: Saturday, June 25 ~ 7:00 PM
Information Contact: R. Wayne Lowry, 401 Johnston Ct., Raymore, MO 64083 816-318-0161 ~ [email protected]
Memphis Cook Convention Center 255 N Main St
Memphis, TN 38103
INVICTAOLD BOTTLE &
COLLECTORS FAIRBOTTLeS POTLIDS POSTCARDS ADVeRTISInG
SUNDAY 15th MAY 201110am - 1pm
DITTON COMMUNITY CENTRE Nr MAIDSTONE, KENT (Junction 5 M20)
EARLY ENTRY AT 8.30am - £2.50: ENTRY FREE FROM 10am50 STALLS AVAILABLE at £15 EACH
ENQUIRIES - Paul Maitland, 3 Ripton Cottages,Teston,Maidstone, Kent, ME18 5AF. ( 01622 814241
ABC - Issue 438 ABC - Issue 43 9
Early GlassTerminology 5
www.earlyglass.com
By Mark Nightingale
Following our last article covering the lips and stringrims of the range of classic english wine and other bottles, we now finish with a view of the neck finishes of the range of later utilitarian freeblown and pontilled bottles.
Although utilities must have encompassed easily the largest proportion of the total bottle output,
new collectors would be forgiven for thinking that wine bottles were the major portion. This is due to the essential survivability factor of the average wine bottle as its very design and nature means that it is “laid down” in cellars carefully and left for long periods of time. When they were used they were then re-filled and re-used. Utilities on the other hand were used and thrown away, and only sometimes re-used, but far more often literally re-cycled.
Although utilitarian forms had different requirements than wine bottles for sealing and corking, the earlier forms differed little in stringrim and lip design, essentially because closures were probably
all cork based. However, we have already covered most early (pre 1800) utilities and we now move onto the later periods (1800+) when utilities become more content specialised, shaped and finished.
Amongst the largest surviving group of later utilities are the snuffs and related bottles, and in the case of the American versions which are most often found they are simply finished without stringrims but have a straight sheared off mouth then turned out and down slightly (Figure 1). Surviving corks are hammered flush and occasionally tied down and around, very easily with this format. Most other widemouth utilities
and particularly the octagonals such as the coffee/chocolate/truffles/tobacco types adopt either a similar format without stringrim (Figure 2). Although english versions of slightly earlier periods do have a range of dropped angled stringrims or often quite crudely applied flush loosely squared lips, there are also American looking lip finishes equally available (Figures 3 and 4). The well known ultra large widemouth “bocals” commonly found from French origins c1790-1860+ equally rarely seem to adopt any form of string rim but rely solely on a sheared off re-anealed lip (Figure6). There are however some specific widemouth forms, one particularly well known being the tapering trouffle.
early forms had classic v-section stringrims but later examples have either dropped rounded off strings or squared off flush lips that help strengthen the mouth (Figure 5). These bottles continue right through this century looking like this, whether 1820’s freeblown and pontilled or late 1800’s turnmolded. Most standard cylindrical widemouth utilities show the flush rounded lips applied and continuing through to 1860’s and onwards. (Figure5a). Other standard small utilities
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ABC - Issue 438 ABC - Issue 43 9
2010 Mark Nightingale (egc)
This article has only covered briefly the main lip variants of post 1800 but hopefully gives a ready identification to help with some dating of this somewhat confusing area.
c1800+ of varying shapes, many cylindrical but also flat or octagonal, moved gradually from the pre 1800 dropped v-section stringrim to the applied rounded off flush lip or tapered topped, skirt based lower section (Figures7, 7a, 8, 9 and 10). Figure 8 shows particularly well an evolution from what could be pre1800 right through to an 1850 option.
From around 1820 we see a large variety of molded dark aqua utilitarian forms specifically produced for medicines, foodstuffs and other utilitarian contents, including plain round, oval, rectangular, rectangle octagonal and round octagonal. Usually very crude
and attractive with many bubbles the two main forms of lip commonly found on all these are either the simple squared off flush lip, or the conical topped, bottom skirted combined lip, all to varying limits of crudity. This latterly often dropped the
lower skirted section leaving just the tapered top, and ultimately often just the squared off or rolled back down rolled lip (Figures 12 and 13).
Other specific utility forms worth mentioning include the apothecary glass stoppered round shouldered forms, found in both blackglass and aqua. Although usually sand pontilled these come in freeblown or three piece mold versions, both can overlap considerably in age and both have very similar applied bullbous topped skirt waisted lip, usually ground internally for a glass stopper (Figure 11).
Finally, many medicines and perfumes c1800-1850 which although not essentially “utility” came in specifically lead glass heavily embossed forms, traditionally with flat flared lips. Many shapes are available, particularly in perfumes but lips are nearly always classic (Figure 14).
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ABC - Issue 4310 ABC - Issue 43 11
Alton Bottle Collectors’ FayreSunday 20th March 2011
10.30am - 1.30pmThe Community Centre, Alton, Hants, GU34 1HNAdmission:- Adults - 75p Accompanied Children - Free
early entry from 9.30am - £2.50Refreshments ... Parking 40p per day
59 stalls available at £15 (Cheques to ABCC)Bookings with SAE to
Mick Wells, 1 Ings Close, Alton Hants, GU34 1TBEnquiries 01420 88773 www.altonbottleclub.co.uk
Australian Bottle & Collectables Review
Published quarterly by Travis & June Dunn84 Black Flat Road,
Whittlesea, Vic 3757, AustraliaUK Annual Subscription $54Email: [email protected]
Web: abcreview.com.au
WANTED
All Whitworth’s Beer Mats and other itemsYour price paid
Phone Dug on 01226-747044and leave your message
Happy Hunting and CARRY a CAMeRA
PRELIMINARY NOTICEABC SHOW
Our 12th Antique Bottle Collector Show will be held at the
Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse
on Sunday 24th July 2011
ABC - Issue 4310 ABC - Issue 43 11
Recently I had a bit of luck by spotting an advert in a Kent freepaper stating that a charity auction was taking place in a village hall. Having nothing better to do (the decorating can
wait !) I decided to take a look. Sitting in the middle of all the general household items were boxes of tools etc, that had obviously come from a garage or shed clearance. Amongst this lot was a large container of bottles that included those featured in this report, the others being plain inks plus some common printed ware. Well, on the day of the auction they were strongly contested up to £18(!), so yours truly went home a contented bunny (or “elephant” as Mary said). The happiness mentioned in the title was obviously caused by the rare octagonal Codd from Mills of Bermondsey (plus others) but the sadness was triggered by the little 6oz black lip black marble from the same company. Why
is it that in these situations the most desirable piece is always found to be damaged? This bottle is one of only two known in this size, the other is in a well-established collection of coloured lips and last changed hands for £2500. Unfortunately my example has a crack in the neck, but at least it’s old and the damage is original and very stable.
Also in the auction lot were a coloured marble R Whites
Reliance and a “Protected By Letters” patent 10oz bulb neck that was produced during the final partnership that Hiram Codd formed with Sykes Macvay of Castleford. It’s embossed “London Bottling Stores Manager P. Thomas” and is a very rare
Southern bottle. Under the base is a fake diamond registration mark which only has the number “38” embossed in the upper quadrant - all the rest are zeros.
Kentish Ramblings -
Happy and Sad By John Ault
Well, it’s nice to have a bit of luck sometimes: what with virtually all land based auction house catalogues being online these days and many collectors using the “Invaluable” and “ATG” search engines it makes a change to find a sale that no-one else knew about!
ABC - Issue 4312
STONEWAREFRAGMEN TS By Steve Haselgrove,
seen here with eric Knowles of Antiques
Roadshow fame.
Hallo folks! Following on from my last article we now reach the period circa 1550 – 1700 in the evolution of the stoneware drinking vessel.
Vessel I, circa 1550, height: 5”As can be seen from the photograph what a transformation
from its predecessors, gone are the lateral body lines, tiny handles and of course the quaint hand-moulded “pie-crust”
base. Regarding the base of this piece note the incised cordon decoration above the “ring” base. This type of decoration
was to be utilised on salt glazed stoneware drinking mugs for centuries to come as was the rotund body shape. The
low bellied form of this piece is typical of circa. 1550 German manufacturing techniques, apply a face mask and some body
decoration and you have a typical bartmannkrug of the period.
Vessel II, circa 1560 – 1590, height 5”This time a less drastic change in shape. The main difference to vessel I is the “body lift” and the newly designed straight “collar” neck which includes a shoulder cordon instead of a lip cordon as seen on vessel I. Both mugs retain an incised ring below the lip. I have included a rear view photograph of this piece as the shape of the handle terminal is a reliable way to date German mugs and bottles from the period circa 1550 – 1600. This mug was found in england, no clues to how I know! To be more precise, it was found in the city of nottingham. From what I can decipher of the pen written text on the mug it reads, dug in nottingham 1884 and restored. Restored? Mein Gott! A semi-skilled chimpanzee munching on a banana could achieve a better result than this, but this is typical 19th century “museum” restoration. The practice was to fill the missing area with a brown clay concoction and that was it - job done. Hardly attractive but necessary (a) to help keep what remains of the mug intact and (b) to preserve it for posterity, which it proves to have done.
ABC - Issue 43 13
Vessel V, circa 1700, height 7”This Westawald gorge is a far cry from its rather rustic predecessors. It
emphasises the skill and perfection attained by the German potters of the period. In fact looking at this piece it could have been made yesterday, even the printed “Made in Hong Kong” logo on the base
is clearly visible – only joking! The body of this gorge has a number of moulded panels which, once applied by hand to the leather-hard
body, are hand-painted prior to firing in the kiln. After 1714 the inscription GR for “George Rex” is found on many Westawald mugs
imported into england. As with vessel IV John Dwight attempted to manufacture the Westawald gorge but it would seem to no avail as
difficulties with firing the volatile cobalt and manganese evidently led to the abandoning of this type after only a few experiments.
Vessel III, circa 1600 – 1650, height 8¼”I have seen examples of this type of vessel described as an ale mug, ale jug, ale bottle etc. Confusing eh? They do vary in size so possibly the smaller ones could be classed as mugs by collectors. It is certainly similar in form to vessel II. It has the straight “collar” neck complete with incised neck ring and shoulder cordon and the same incised ring decoration above the now narrower ring base which again is typical of bottles of this period. With reference to the handle terminal as a dating guide this circa 1600 – 1650 piece has progressed to the “rats tail” terminal which was to be employed on mugs and bottles for centuries to come.
next time I shall cover the period circa. 1700 – 1830, this time with mugs of english manufacture.
Wishing you all a Happy new Year.
Vessel IV, circa 1650 – 1675, height 5½”This German drinking mug or gorge still retains the globular body shape but now has a shorter neck with obligatory ring decoration. This piece has the
added bonus of an applied body medallion of the type utilised on Bellarmine bottles of the period. Again the base decoration is the same as vessels I, II and III. John Dwight of the Fulham Pottery in London must have admired the workmanship of his German counterparts, for in 1675 Dwight manufactured exact copies of this gorge for the english market, with and without the addition of a body medallion. Few examples of both German and english gorges of this period remain.
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What is so addictive about bottle collecting? From that fateful day in the 1970s when I climbed out of the machine (I used to be a machine driver) and picked up a curious shaped bottle lying by the track, I was hooked! It took me a year to find it was a Hamilton! Since then and up to the present (now retired and in my 70s) I’ve never lost my interest. I’ve gone off on many tangents, climbed, dived, travelled, surfed, hiked, played banjo, guitar, fiddle and like Salomi (a rather infamous army song!) wheeled a barrow and driven a truck, but here I am again collecting bottles. On that collecting journey I’ve had excitement, discovery, gained knowledge of bygone eras and practices, made many friends, been chased by dogs, farmers, police, stuck in the mud off Cardiff foreshore, fallen through the attic floor of an old ‘pop’ factory, buried in an old cellar, and last but not least (amongst many other things) as a claim to fame at the age of 72 dug a 6 foot hole in the hallowed ground of the ninian Park football pitch!! (after they had moved to the new stadium of course: still took a bit of wangling though). Anyway, here’s another eclectic selection from my Frankenstein collection: I hope you enjoy it.
Wickham’s World (2)Once again it was a case of crossing Offa’s Dyke and searching out
fellow Welshman Cyril Wickham for another splendid day out (see ABC Issue 38 page19). What you will see here is another fascinating group of items from the mini museum that Cyril calls home - ed
1. Light amber fourway pourer Codd from the “Cardiff Aerated Water Company”, Roath with intertwined initials and shield as registered trade mark. This company (1888 - 1902) used amber Codds and Hamiltons in a variety of different embossings and were registered at 14 Spring Gardens, Roath (a suburb of Cardiff): now a block of flats.
2. To prove a point! A trio of amber Codds all with different embossings from left to right “Cardiff Aerated Water Co”, the “Cardiff Aerated Water Co Spring Gardens Cardiff” and the “Watson’s Aerated Water Works Cardiff” with soda syphon trade mark. As can be seen, they range from light to dark amber and they also come with dark amber marbles but in this instance with aqua marbles and all from the Spring Gardens works!
3. Tredegar was in the heartland of Welsh coal and iron production so what better trade mark than a pick and shovel! In 1901 Harvard Bros were registered as mineral water and clay pipe manufacturers (Cambrian Works, Tredegar). Hop bitters and Jamaican ginger were classed as “reform” drinks, supposedly non alcoholic (2% ABV* allowance) and made popular mixers with the strong draught ales and porters of the period. You could end up with a 7% shandy! When the contents of these bottles were consumed it was in the red glow of iron furnaces, the turning of pithead wheels, the hustle and bustle of canal systems and railroads. Drunkenness, temperance, poverty and wealth all went hand in hand. Welsh coal fuelled the Imperial navy and Welsh iron clad the hulls of merchant ships. It’s no wonder the english Parliament passed the “Welsh Sunday Closing Act” in 1881: the empire could not afford the downtime on Monday mornings!* Alcohol by Volume
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4. This is just a classic example of an early Codd in nice deep aqua: “M.W. Frost Penarth”. The reverse is embossed “Codds Pat 24 Barnett & Foster London”.
5. Another nice early Codd “Swansea Aerated Water Company” with rearing horse trade mark, embossed on back “Codd Pat 4 Rylands and Codd Stairfoot Barnsley”.
6. A magnificent showcard for Suttons extra Stout, featuring the Brittania Brewery trade mark and three corked and labelled bottles. now I know it’s not Welsh but I did live in Brigg for a few years and surely I’m allowed one momento!
7. A superb advertising mirror incorporating a Vesta holder/striker and a cigar cutter. This no doubt would have graced the cloakroom of a gentlemen’s club in Victorian times. While checking the trim of your sideburns and moustache, you would cut your fine Cuban cigar and light up before sauntering back into the reading room to order your Usher’s whisky.
8.. early Chapman’s patent ball stopper “The Imperial Water Works Cardiff”. nice early rolled lip and most of the original stopper is intact: this is a ceramic ball within a composition casing. This is a bottle which wears its age with pride!
9. now here’s two jolly Toby jug characters (Little and Large), of one pint and three pint capacities: maybe serving jugs? The slogan “Home brewed ale” could be associated with the “Beer House Act” of 1830 which for a fee of £2 allowed any householder to brew beer and cider on his premises (this was passed by the Wellington Government under King William IV to combat the growing wine trade from europe!) As can be envisaged, home brew beer houses sprung up everywhere. Two of the most popular pub names that date from this act are the “Duke of Wellington” and the “King William the Fourth” still much in evidence today!
That’s all for now folks but I’ll be back next issue. - Iechyd da!
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Richard Jacklin and Gaz Booth have been busy again and have come up with a very nice GB from the Diamond Brewery, Mansfield and an extremely
rare London ointment that guru Bob Houghton tells us is only the second ever recorded. Meanwhile, Richard’s son William (Chief Spoil Watcher) is holding a couple of the day’s finds. Well done William - we need you youngsters to take over from us wrinkleys when the time comes.
West Country collectors Alan Austin and Garth Morrison showed us these exciting items recently. Garth’s Duke of Wellington flagon is a biggie, being 9” tall, and is thought to have held cider. Alan gave us the following details about his two bottles. On the far left is a bottle from Jenkins & Co, Truro and is a flat-based Hamilton (or ‘skittle’) c1870. Typical West Country shape but this one comes in a beautiful deep olive colour (sometimes referred to as ‘black glass’). Alan picked it up in 1989, hundreds of miles away at one of the Wath shows for the princely sum of £65 - at the time it was the only example known but now there are four examples recorded in this colour. This bottle is also recorded in amber (a broken one was dug in St Austell), aqua (probably half a dozen whole ones recorded) and dark green (Truro Museum have a broken example). Alan would be happy to part with
a considerable amount of cash for a green or amber example. The second bottle is earlier and is another skittle, this time from G.e.Oram, Taunton with the earlier c1870 Mary Street address - in a deep golden amber - much rarer than the more familiar Oram with the barrel trade mark.
FINDS and FACTSOur readers tell their tales
ABC - Issue 4316 ABC - Issue 43 17
The 14th ShropshireBottle and Collectors Fair
Sunday April 2011(Last Ad before show, make a note in your diary now!)
The Silvester Horne Institute, High St, Church Stretton. SY6 6BY
(Just south of Shrewsbury, signed from A49. easy parking)
Shrewsbury Bottle Club’s successful annual show will see a wide variety of Bottles, GBs, Pot Lids and related collectables (Advertising/Breweriana) for sale
9:00 am until 2:00 pm £2 entry before 10:00 am, £1 after
Hot and cold refreshments
Stalls from £12 - For bookings and information call:John Thompson on 01686 668079 or 07706 950725
10th
CIRENCESTERBOTTLE & COLLECTORS FAIRBOTTLES * POTLIDS * FLAGONS * POSTCARDS * ADVERTISING * BRIC-A-BRAC
BINGHAM HALL, KING STREET, CIRENCESTER
SUNDAY 17th APRIL 201111:00am - 3:00pm
Refreshments all day - RaffleEarly Entry 09:00am - £3
100 STALLS @ £14 EACHFor further information contact
nigel WaitMobile: 07889 542587
Keith Wait, 9 Purley RoadCirencester, Glos. GL7 1eP
Tel: (01285) 652142
Stallholders set up from 08.45Early entry at 09.15 £2
Entry from 10.30-14.30 50p, accompanied children free.Free parking at rear of building
Refreshments & good food availableSignposted from Junction 1 M27
Stalls avilable at a cost of £12 for a 6ft x 2ft tableContact Mike Squires (01202) 522047
THE SCOTTISH OLD BOTTLE AND COLLECTORS’ FAIR
At the Community Hall, Bridge of Earn, Nr Perth
SATURDAY 7th MAY 2011Early entry 8.30am - £2.00, Public entry 10.00am to 3.00pm - 50p
A truly unique and friendly eventFor further details ( 01343 830512 or 01224 319864
Old bottles, pot lids, Advertiques and a large variety of Collectables....
Massive car boot sale opposite, in aid of the
Bridge of Earn Pavillion
Antique Bottle & Collectors’ FairMinstead, Nr Lyndhurst
Sunday 29th May 2011
TIPPLEFAIR 2011SUnDAY 15th MAY
(Beer, Spirits and Drink Related Collectables)Buckingham Community Centre
Cornwalls Meadow, Buckingham, MK18 1RP75+ Stalls
early Admission 9am - £4; General Admission 10.30am - £1.50For Booking Details ( 07818 810896/01908 262039
visit us at www.tipples.net
All items on sale will be connected to the Manufacture, Distribution or Promotion of Drink
related products. Come and join like minded Collectors for a Social Gathering
ABC - Issue 4318 ABC - Issue 43 19
The Good, the Odd and the Lovely by Brian Thatcher
The Good
The china shaving mug marked as a present from Margate was dug on the same day as the little
Ramsgate egg timer and being geographically fairly close to Ramsgate as well as emerging from the same
hole, could mean they were originally thrown away together. It’s in surprisingly good condition despite
the rigours of being discarded. I did find several more shaving mugs over a period of time from the tip, but
they were all either cracked or badly chipped.
The final item in this section is another boot, clearly intended to be an ornament similar to the roller-skate
boot that I showed in ABC 42.
I am going to begin by clearing up a little puzzle from my previous article in ABC 42. In the “Odd” section
I showed a little girl figurine souvenir from Ramsgate and whatever she had been holding up in her hand had
clearly become detached when I found her in the tip. My mate Ken Smith came up with the answer: the little
figurine was in fact an egg timer ‘simples’. So with a little bit of digital photographic magic she is now restored to
her original condition.
Ken has built up a sizeable collection of these little egg timers, he has around 40 of them. They often turn up at boot fairs and the like and he told me that rarely pays much more than a couple of pounds for them. Very few have a base mark and those that do are simply marked foreign. Apart from human form he has found them as bears, fish, sailing boats and even a horseshoe. He has now given me his collection to photograph and they may appear in a future edition of ABC. A select little group is shown here.
ABC - Issue 4318 ABC - Issue 43 19
The Odd
Once again I have a mystery item for our readers to hopefully solve for me. This
caricature dog stands 6 inches tall to his ears and the base is 2½ inches in width. His head is secured to the neck by a metal pin, which
also allows his head to wobble. His tongue is protruding and the base front states “Dry? not Half”. The base also has 14 small holes on one
side only and clearly visible in the photos.
The dog is quite cute but for me raises a few questions. Is he just an ornament? Is he a drink
related advertising piece? Is he meant to be functional in some way with his movable head?
Finally what are the base pinholes for? Do they relate to a card game in some way? Your
answers on a postcard please!
The Lovely
I paid £2-50 for a box of oddments at
a boot fair a couple of years ago as it
contained a rare little poison bottle. When I arrived home I had a look through the
remaining items and most of it was junk. However wrapped in some grimy old
newspaper was a little jug. What
attracted me to it are its strong and
vibrant colours portraying the hunting scene. It stands 3 inches tall, has two spouts
and the base has several markings. There is a shield coat of arms with crowned lions and what appears to be a soldier’s helmet surrounded by “Royal Bawreot Bavaria” and various
other lettering all in blue and “27 n” in gold.I recently researched the base marks and discovered that they are for Royal Bavarian China and these particular
marks were used between 1887 to 1902 for plates, figurines, tea cups, pitchers and other china collectables.
As ever, your comments and assistance on any of the above would be appreciated.
ABC - Issue 4320 ABC - Issue 43 21
My last article covered the rare Rose’s patent “bullet type” stopper with probably only a handful of examples known. I have decided to continue with another equally rare patent bottle of which, to my knowledge, no examples are known with their original stopper. The patentee was also one
of the first to take another so-called inventor to court for copying his idea and, coincidentally, patented his stopper the day after Hiram Codd patented his “globe-stoppered” bottle.
Charles Tapp, of Mexbrough, Manufacturing Chemist, patented an invention of “Improvements in Stoppers for Bottles” on the 4th September 1872 (see diagram Photo 1) and part of this patent states….. I am aware that stoppers have been heretofore used with an indian-rubber ring thereon, but they have always been inserted in the bottle neck with the small end of the stopper downwards, so that if used with aerated liquids the internal pressure would be liable to push out the stopper. Now my invention is the reverse of this ….Figure 4 shows a stopper that consists of a conical or taper plug of glass, earthenware, cork, or other impervious material of such diameter at the base that it will just pass through the neck of the bottle. On the plug or stopper is placed an indian-rubber ring, which is free to be rolled along the conical plug, and serves to effect an air-tight closure and prevent the stopper being forced out of the bottle after it has been inserted. The stopper is passed into the bottle base first, the ring being at the smallest part of the stopper to allow of its insertion, and the bottle may then be filled with liquid. The pressure of the gases in the liquid will thrust the stopper outwards until a tight closure is effected. …. the stopper is attached to a cord (d) connected to the mouth of the bottle, which will prevent the
The ELUSIVE
TAPP’S PATENTBy Mark POTTEN
2. Advert dating March 1873
1. Diagram of Charles Tapp’s 1872 patent
ABC - Issue 4320 ABC - Issue 43 21
stopper falling too far into the bottle, and will serve to automatically tighten the stopper and close the bottle.Figure 5 shows a modified form of plug and ring. In this case the plug is ellipsoidal or globular in form. This stopper is suspended in the bottle before filling, as before, and forced or drawn up the neck as shown.
Comparing the adverts in Photo 2 (March 1873) and Photo 3 (October 1875) it would suggest that he first supplied his “wedge stopper” (Figure 4 – photo.1) and afterwards changed to his “ellipsoidal and globular stopper” (Figure 5 – photo.1). In October 1874 he moved to no.1 Clifton-terrace, Doncaster and it would appear ceased trading as a chemist. The advert in photo 3 shows that he then supplied engines, boilers and soda water machinery and aptly warned “infringers beware”.
In February the following year (1876) Thomas Sutcliffe of Barnsley, glass bottle manufacturer, and John Fewings of Bridport, mineral water manufacturer, were taken to court by Charles Tapp and Barrett & elers of London for copying their previously patented stoppers.Photo 4 shows part of Sutcliffe and Fewings (October 1875) patent diagram of their stopper and Photo.1(fig.5) shows Tapp’s patent for comparison (also see ABC27 for a more detailed account of Sutcliffe & Fewings patent) . The following is part of how the press of the time reported the case ….Messrs. Barretts’ counsel argued that the stopper sought to be patented was the same in principal as theirs, at which the Attorney-General, after examining them both, gave a very significant shake of his head.
Mr.Tapp next argued the question, showing the Attorney-General his patent specification and the drawings, especially that of Fig.5, where he argued for practical purposes it was an exact copy; but to make a difference so as to call or pretend it new, one more button head had been put on, namely, one at each end. Mr.Tapp argued that this was a direct contradiction to the Act of Parliament of 1852, pointing out the Act says that no person or persons shall add to or subtract from a previous patent, so as to pretend themselves to be inventors or devisors of the same.
At this stage the petitioner’s counsel intimated that he would withdraw the stopper, the patent being taken for the bottle shape only.
The Attorney-General asked Mr.Tapp to make out his bill of costs, which he would revise.
Mr.Sutcliffe’s counsel raised objection.
The Attorney-General replied: You bring people here from a distance, then you withdraw. You must pay the costs.
Coincidentally we all call the “glass bobbin” or “doubled ended glass stopper”, a Sutcliffe’s patent, but strictly speaking it was never his to patent in the first place!
Tapp’s new business venture could not have been very successful because in november of the same year (1876) he
The ELUSIVE
TAPP’S PATENT
3. Advert dating October 1875
4. Part Diagram of Sutcliffe & Fewings 1875 patent, did
they copy Tapp’s idea?
ABC - Issue 4322
sold all his patent rights to two bottle manufacturers; Samuel Redfearn of Barnsley and Thomas Turner of Dewsbury. On the 12th May 1877 he declared himself bankrupt but interestingly stated his profession as “Manufacturing Chemist”. I have been unable to find any information about what happened to him after this, can anyone help?
The following photographs show the different styles of Tapp’s patents known (to me) and are all 10-oz in size. I have tried to list them in date order with a brief explanation of my reasoning.
The oldest is shown in Photo 5 and is embossed: “BOWRInG / WeYMOUTH” and on the rear: TAPP’S / PATenT”. This is an example made whilst he was still living in Mexbrough (the next two examples below have the same neck shape but have Doncaster embossed on them). Although this is not its original stopper I believe this did have a similar tapered stopper known as the earlier “wedge stopper”!
Photo 6 shows two variations - a Hamilton shape and a round base, both have the same embossing: “TAPP’S / PATenT / DOnCASTeR”. I would suggest that these date between him moving to Doncaster in October 1874 and when he sold his patent rights in november 1876 and could have had either stopper.
Photo 7 is a later Tapp’s patent embossed: “JOHn HOLDen / BLACKBURn / ReGISTeReD 1876”, rear within band: “TAPP’S / nO.4 / PATenT”. This is one made by either Redfearn Brothers or Thomas Turner & Co. after they bought the patent rights in 1876. What the number 4 stands for I have no idea, perhaps the stoppers came in different sizes. Does anyone have an example with a different number on?
I would like to thank Andy Lane for allowing me to use a photo of one of his bottles.
Are there any known chemist bottles embossed: “Charles Tapp” out there?
If anybody has any questions, queries or unknown patents relating to the mineral water trade or a particular patent that they would like more information about please contact me via email at [email protected] or see me at most bottle shows.
Codd Greetings ... Mark Potten
5. The earlier Tapp’s patent probably from the
Mexbrough address
6. A pair of Tapp’s patents from the Doncaster address
7. Later Tapp’s patent made by Redfearn Brothers or
Thomas Turner & Co.
ABC - Issue 43 23
Border Maid was thought to have been a brand of Scotch whisky, the date representing a particular vintage. Indeed, the basal embossing with W. SHIeLS & Co. LeITH provides
the name of the Scottish retailer or wine merchant who bottled and sold the whisky. However, London wine merchants Berry Bros. & Rudd have an example in their extensive collection of wine-related antiques which has a paper label attached to the base of the bottle with a brief informative history of the bottle. The Border Maid was a schooner of 130 tonnes, built at Berwick in 1869 by the firm of Gowan for its owner, Andrew Thompson of Berwick (northumberland Record Office: Sources for the maritime history of northumberland, a list compiled by the late Denis nicholson). The label confirms that these bottles were ordered and sealed for a particular journey to the east Indies on a specific vessel, the Border Maid, in 1877, a year representing the 40th anniversary of the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne of Britain and her colonies. But 1877 was of even greater importance to Her Majesty. On 1st January 1877 she was proclaimed empress of India, and the Border Maid transported these sealed bottles, probably in late 1876, which almost certainly held Scotch whisky, in celebration of this momentous occasion.
Border Maid By David BurtonOn the face of it, this 19th century sealed bottle would seem to be a fairly mundane example of a very late date, nothing for the serious collector to get too excited about. However, therein lies a story.
My forthcoming book on sealed bottles will include the entry below along with the above provenance.
BORDER MAID 1877 encircling the seal, within a lined border Three-part moulded, narrow-bodied Cylinder: Ht 286mm. neck: 104mm. seal diameter: 36mm. capacity: 760ml. dark olive-green, almost black, glass with a long slightly bulbous neck, double collar lip and string rim, rounded shoulders, the base embossed W. SHIELS & Co. LEITH encircling a central pimple, but with no pontil scar. There is a label attached to the base with “Received / April 1914 / Chas Muirhead & Sn / Shipped by Misa / Bottled by Shiels, Leith / having been sent to the / East Indies in the / Border Maid / 1877”. (2+ examples). Detached seal, diameter: 36mm. iridescent olive-green glass. (2 examples).Reference. Kovel’s Bottle Price List, R. and T. Kovel 1999, 11th Edition, page 260, US$360. Antique Glass Bottles, Their History and Evolution (1500-1850), W. Van
den Bossche 2001 page 84 Plate 28(3). Examples sold at a BBR Auction, 7th October 1990, hammer price not known, and at a BBR Auction, October 2002, hammer price £180. UK Dealer Private sale 2000, £380. Berry Bros. & Rudd, London collection (1 example). UK Private collections (1 example + 2 detached seals).
The Border Maid was lost off Anglesey on 4th June 1885. There was no loss of life. There may have been some loss of whisky but this is not recorded - ed
ABC - Issue 4324 ABC - Issue 43 25
I will start with France and I think it would be useful to state that most French balls were produced in a three part mould and tend to have a tapered blowpipe neck. We will assume that this is the case, unless I mention otherwise. Cobalt blue is almost invariably the colour but there also are several exceptions to this rule. French balls are generally of a more refined quality glass than both British and German balls.
Probably the best known French ball is marked “Van Cutsem, St. Quentin” around a centre band with a typical diamond quilt pattern above and below (1). We do not know who Van
Gutsem was but it is a Flemish name and St. Quentin is indeed near the Belgium border. It is a very striking ball and was unknown until 1994 when
a large hoard turned-up. Reputedly several barrelfuls were discovered in the cellar of a large French chateau. The first few balls made quite a stir, but the price plummeted when the quantity involved was realized. There were two other variants found in this hoard, but only in small quantities. These look very similar to the Van Gutsem ball and I think it is likely these were made in the same glasshouse. They differ in that they do not have lettering around the centre band. Instead, they either have a series of vertical lines (2), or a completely vacant centre band (3).
As of last year, there is now another variant to add to this family. A small number of balls surfaced with the name Gevelot, Paris in the centre band (4), with an interesting wavy line
EUROPEAN TARGET BALLS (Part 1 - FRANCE)
by John M Hargreaves
In my last article we looked at British target balls, so we can now turn our attention to the rest of europe. Germany produced a similar variety and quantity of glass targets to those of Great Britain. France produced a dozen or so but examples were also made in
Sweden, norway and Holland. There are also a couple of balls that cannot be identified and must fall into a category of “Unknown european”. This is further complicated by the fact that many european borders have changed since these target balls were produced. The opening up of the east has resulted in many new balls finding their way to the UK.
1
4
3
2
ABC - Issue 4324 ABC - Issue 43 25
separating the words. This ball differs slightly in that the neck is parallel, which makes me think it was probably made by a different glasshouse. The Gevelot firm is well know and still exists today. They have been producing ammunition for over a century, so further information may be possible.
The next most commonly encountered ball has a large square quilt pattern and a plain centre band (5). This ball is usually a slightly lighter shade of cobalt, but has also been found in a bright green colour (6). There is also a light amber version, with a short neck, but on close inspection, it has been made from a two part mould. Two part moulds are more common in German balls, so perhaps this was made near the border? There is one other version that is very rare. It is the only one to
have lettering and has only been found in dark amber (7). It has the words, MOLenAT A CORBeIL, around the centre, but I have been unable to discover
who Molenat was, just that Corbeil is a town just east of Paris.
Another ball that has recently been discovered has an overall quilt pattern and at first glance, would appear to be conventional. However, it has a most unusual mould configuration (8). The three parts of the mould are arranged like segments of an orange. Although this comes in a typical cobalt blue, some are somewhat lighter and look more like “cupric-iron” blue. There are other balls with the overall quilt pattern. There is one that is of a conventional three part mould but slightly over sized and has a small mark on the base. There are others with a tighter quilt pattern, that have been found in green and a yellow-amber glass, but these are quite rare.
The final ball I must mention is unique in more than one respect. It is the only one known, but it is also rather unconventional (9). It is embossed
CAMBReT, RUe De LA CHARITe 13, LYOn around the centre. It is also divided into quadrants, with two different embossings in a chequer pattern. It is difficult to describe and the only picture available does not really show this. I have yet to discover who or what Cambret was.
I must leave the rest of europe for the second part of this article, but before I close, I would point out that clay pigeon shooting in France is still known as “La Ball trap”. The significance of this is lost on many clay shooters today.
If anyone has further information or other queries, or is just interested in this subject, I would be pleased to hear from them. Contact John 07753 673923
5
6
9
8
7
ILLUSTRATIOnS.
1. Van Gutsem.2. VG lookalike- Plain band.3. VG lookalike- Vertical lines. 4. Gevelot.5. SQ. quilt- Blue.6. SQ. quilt- Green. 7. SQ. quilt- Amber - Molenat. 8. Overall quilt - 3 segment-Blue.9. Blue- Cambet/Lyon.
ABC - Issue 4326
NORTHERN NEWS
By Dug Wydell
news and some great finds from The north
This issue I shall be mainly featuring some of the
exploits and finds of my good mate and fellow digger Keith “The Viking” Stringer from Doncaster, seen on the left looking the part with a couple of recently dug deer antlers. Keith has the knack of digging, sniffing out, and generally coming up with far more interesting artefacts than the rest of us and on the right he is seen holding a trophy awarded by ABC readers and engraved “Awarded to Keith Stringer the Bottle Bloodhound of Yorkshire”. He was unimpressed as it was not solid silver!
Yet another unrecorded find by Keith: a very early flagon from William Popplewell of Doncaster. Bains Trade
Directories of 1822 includes the entry - William Popplewell, Fishergate, Porter Dealer, Doncaster. A very rare survivor and deservedly holds pride of place in Keith’s fantastic collection. As we all like to say “It’s still out there!”
ABC - Issue 43 27
A one only
Hayes of Doncaster crown cap GB. This was dug by Keith and now sits among his large collection of glass GBs which I intend to feature in a future edition.
As for me, I have had some luck lately. You may remember the piece of a broken one pint amber pictorial beer from Whitworth
of Wath-on-Dearne (dug by Keith: see ABC Issue 36, page 27), something I had never realised existed despite my 30+ years of collecting Whitworth items. I now have a complete example! On my way to visit a fellow collector in Gainsborough I called in at a car boot sale and, on the 47th stall out of 52 I saw (after rubbing my eyes) the bottle on the left of the photograph. The asking price was £1 and, contrary to my nature, I did not haggle. I have heard of (but not seen) a one pint aqua pictorial beer and a half pint green threaded beer, both from Whitworth so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Another Viking
find is this very desirable pontilled black glass utility jar dug in the east Riding of Yorkshire. (Also - see Mark nightingale’s article on black glass utility jars on page 8 of this issue - ed)
I am very sorry to tell you that Keith’s hard-working and stalwart supporter wife Helen has been is hospital for breast cancer checks. We all wish her a speedy recovery and will be looking out for her at the shows. Helen
is seen helping Keith at many collectors’ gatherings and rarely misses the ABC Stratford Show. On a happier note, Helen and Keith are now grandparents through their daughter emma. I don’t expect it will be long before young Lilly will be introduced to the joys of joining grandad on his digging exploits.
ABC - Issue 4328 ABC - Issue 43 29
Dave Williams (the Man with the Golden Spade) has done it yet again and shocked the Manchester pot lid collectors when he dug a
previously unrecorded sepia print pictorial lid. Other similar designs were known to exist either without an address reference or with a London address printed to the underside of the lid. However, following some detailed research it has been possible to unravel the mystery of this lid as well as the other pot lids bearing the Pierrepont name.
evelyn Henry Pierrepont (b.1847 Manchester) and Claude Pierrepont (b.1851 Burnage, Lancs.) were the sons of John and Sarah Catherine Pierrepont, who had a dental practice at 18 Oldham Street, Manchester. It is not clear if the brothers had American ancestry but both spent time in the United States during the 1870s; Claude in Brooklyn, new York whilst evelyn was trained at Michigan University.
evelyn returned to Britain first and established two practices and a consulting room in Manchester. The 1877
Slater’s Directory for Manchester lists his practices at 190 Hyde Road, Ardwick, Manchester and 359 Oxford Street, Manchester. His consulting rooms were located at 25 Piccadilly, Manchester. Two years later, Slater’s Directory shows evelyn was just operating from 359 Oxford Street, Manchester but he had also opened a new practice at 125 St Georges Road, Bolton. The opening of the new Bolton practice appears to have coincided with the return of his brother Claude from America. Claude moved into these premises and operated there until at least 1901 and died in the town in 1919. In ABC Issue 42 we featured one of the two lids known to have been used by C. Pierrepont (shown on the right).
evelyn relocated to London in 1880, closing the practice in Oxford Street, Manchester. He travelled back to Manchester on the first Monday of each month to maintain a consultation room at Clarendon Chambers, 14 St. Anne’s Square. evelyn opened his practice at 52 Conduit Street, London and remained here during the 1880s. Interestingly, he is listed under ‘American Dentists’ and not ‘Dentists’ in the London P.O. Directories of this period. Sometime around 1890, evelyn moved again to 2 Cockspur Street, London and resided at Thoresby House, Thames Ditton, Surrey. During the edwardian period, evelyn, whose qualifications are also now included in directory listings, ‘D.D.S. L.D.S, R.C.S.I’, opened a second practice at Chestnut Bank, Lower Ham Road, Kingston.
evelyn Pierrepont died in Surrey in 1917. The Dr. Pierrepont Astringent Dentifrice lids are recorded with the Cockspur Street or Conduit Street addresses printed on the underside of the lid. examples are also known without these additional transfers suggesting the variation without any address details could have been sold from both his Manchester and London businesses during the 1880s.
The team working on the new pot lid book have now photographed some 6,000 examples and have recently completed visits to the West Country and Wales. If you think you have any unusual pot lids…including button lids and broken examples, please contact Bob Houghton on [email protected] or call 01628 482383.
6,000 examples and counting… by Paul Taylor
ABC - Issue 4328 ABC - Issue 43 29
Labelled Poisons (Part 1) by Brian Thatcher
I have written many poison articles for ABC and where relevant have occasionally included photos etc of some of my labelled poison bottles. They form a very interesting collecting field in
their own right and this article and the next are going to be devoted to this area.
next we have Cadburn’s Balsam of Herbs. Again the bottle is sealed and complete with contents. The only embossing on this bottle is Cadburn’s on the reverse.
This must be strong stuff as
the label states that it is a cure
for a long list of ailments
including rheumatism,
gout, the piles, asthma etc etc. note
that the word “cure” and not
“remedy” is used on the
label plus there are no poison
warnings of any kind
printed: perhaps that was
mentioned in an
accompanying book of
directions which
unfortunately I do not have.
The main problem with trying to build a collection of them is that very few labelled poison bottles exist. They are very rarely excavated from tips with an intact or even a partial label and, when they are, the labels usually deteriorate very quickly once exposed to air. The only other sources are those which are, cellar / attic finds or have been found at boot fairs and the like. Many of the labels have interesting information about the contents and what to do if the patient accidentally consumes the product. Some of the advice given would be highly frowned upon by today’s medical profession.
Also nowadays you have to watch out for genuine old labels being attached to bottles and then presented and sold as original items. There are always unscrupulous sellers out there prepared to do anything to make a fast buck or two.
So let’s begin with “Forster’s Fenolin Fluid”. The bottle is firmly corked and is complete with label and contents, which permeates a smell somewhat akin to Wrights Coal Tar Soap. This is a 6-ounce rectangular poison bottle with “not To Be Taken” embossed down the front panel. The label states that it is for use with Forester’s vaporiser and is an unexcelled remedy for whooping cough, bronchitis, croup etc etc. note the word “remedy” is used and not “cure”.
It adds that the treatment for accidental consumption is to give olive or castor oil, or white of eggs followed by whisky or brandy. Presumably the idea was to make the patient sick (contrary to the
first aid advice given nowadays) and administering alcohol to adults, let alone children in these circumstances, would also now be considered seriously dangerous practice, as alcohol is now known to mask a patient’s symptoms.
ABC - Issue 4330 ABC - Issue 43 31
now to a Burroughs Welcome triangular wide mouth poison
bottle. This is the moulded corner points version and is
complete with labels, cork and tablet contents. Potassium
Iodide tablets were dissolved in water for cleaning wounds
etc and were also marketed by Burroughs Welcome.
The front label carries the recommended treatment if a tablet was accidentally swallowed. It begins with a slightly odd phrasing, ‘Send for a medical man’! However the advice does state not to
give alcohol but the remaining treatments still seem to be
aimed at making the patient vomit. Both the front and
rear labels are clearly marked ‘Poison’ although neither version of the registered
Burroughs Welcome triangular bottles have been recorded embossed with any ‘Poison’
warnings.
Of the two small poisons shown here, the bottle on the left is the vertically ribbed (no corner points)
Burroughs Welcome poison. Although corked the bottle is empty. The label on this bottle is more
of a historical importance than medical as two of the Bennett and Morris chemist shops listed at the
bottom no longer exist even as buildings and the remaining one is now a charity shop.
The right hand bottle is a rectangular poison with “not To Be Taken” embossed on the front panel. It
still has its Tincture of Iodine contents and the label is clearly marked “Poison’”.
ABC - Issue 4330 ABC - Issue 43 31
That concludes Part 1 of my article on labelled poisons: as ever I would appreciate your comments or any input you wish to make on any of the above.
Finally, carbolic acid was used as a disinfectant during the Victorian and edwardian periods and also a substance recorded as being responsible for more deaths by
accidental consumption in the household than any other. Labelled hexagonal Carbolic Acid poison bottles are very rare perhaps because the use of basic hexagonal containers was discontinued in favour of the rectangular bottles that were clearly embossed Carbolic Acid.
Both of the bottles shown here are labelled, complete with contents and I have made sure that the corks are very firmly sealed. The taller bottle, a 4-ounce hexagonal, does carry a very visual POISOn label although “Carbolic acid” is hand written and not very clear by comparison. It has “not To Be Taken” embossed on the reverse centre panel.However the label on the smaller 1-ounce bottle is clearly printed “Acidum Carbolic B.P.” and distinctly marked “POISOn”. The contents are in powder form (note the use of a wide mouth hexagonal). “Poison” is also embossed on the reverse centre panel.
The cobalt flask poison in photo 6 is of great interest to me because this is the only labelled one that I have seen. The design was registered in 1911 and they are recorded in cobalt and aqua in a range of sizes and embossed on one side,
‘Poisonous / not To Be Taken’. Flanked by rows of diamond points, which extend on to the adjacent sides. The reverse is left blank for the label and the top is always ground flat. I have the full set of the cobalt bottles including a 20-ounce.
This bottle is an 8-ounce capacity and because I know its provenance the labels were genuinely affixed to the
bottle by the chemist shown on the label. The main label is also of historical interest and I would like to thank Keith
Smallwood for his research regarding it. George William newling is recorded as a Dispensing Chemist at Church Road, Farnborough from 1937 onwards for many years.
In more recent times the shop was leased to a dental technician and then it became a sandwich bar. However
the property has now fallen into disuse. The small label is interesting as it asks for the container to be returned after
use, in this instance I am pleased that this one wasn’t.
The green hexagonal is a very late version of the hexagonal poison it has vertical ribbing to the rear with no poison warnings embossed. The label does state for “external Use Only” and I have included this bottle for a
bit of self-indulgence on my part as the Chemist is shown as “Bannister & Thatcher”.
ABC - Issue 4332 ABC - Issue 43 33
A Potted History (Part 2) Continuing a series of articles featuring Transfer Printed Pots for Potted
Meat, Fish Paste, Shrimp & Confectionary from the British Isles.
by Rex Eagle: photography by Jo Symons.
This article focuses on Southport, one of the most prolific meat paste producing areas of north-west england. In 1841 this Merseyside seaside town was a small town of fewer than 8,000 inhabitants but with the development of the canal system and the arrival of rail from Liverpool in 1848 and Manchester in 1853, Southport had a population of over 48,000 by the turn of the 20th Century. Today, Southport meat paste pots are amongst the most prolific found anywhere.
Three examples of pots from F. CRAMPTOn, all with brown/sepia transfers and no base markings.1. 78mm x 40mm. Address: Portland Street. For some reason the contents were considered “Specially suited to invalids and aged persons”.2. 78mm x 40mm. Address: Belmont Street. 3. 60mm x 30mm. no address
1 2 3
Three pots from HORROCKS & WATSOn, all with black transfers, no address and no base markings.1. 79mm x 40mm. To the left of the main transfer we are encouraged to “Try our / Home Made / Lemon Cheese / Finest Honey” and on the right “AnD / Celebrated / Tomato Sauce / Ketchup etc”2. 77mm x 40mm. Similar encouragement but omitting the honey and ketchup and adding extract of meat. 3. 60mm x 32mm. Same wording as number 2.
1 2 3
ABC - Issue 4332 ABC - Issue 43 33
Thos Fisher of Lord Street and Chapel Street. 70mm x 51mm:
black transfer and unusul recessed base: no base markings.
Thanks to Lembit eha, the proud owner of 25 different Scarborough pots, for tellimg me of several variations of the pots featured in my article in ABC Issue 41. Also please note an error where I referred to
the maker URWIn as UnWIn.
If anyone has any more information on Southport pots not listed or variations of those above, I would be most grateful if you could send details and a photograph to me at
A J Mellor of Lord Street. 80mm x 39mm: black transfer and no base markings.
Three pots from Mrs MOOR (“Annie”) of 8 neville Street, all with the same wording and no base markings.1. Red transfer: 82mm x 39mm. 2. Black transfer: 80mm x 39mm. 3. Black transfer: 96mm x 43mm.
1 2 3
Five pots from C. W. PLUMTRee of Railway Street (formerly Railway Terrace) and, later, Portland Street. There are no base markings on any of these.1. 77mm x 40mm: teal transfer: 13 Railway Street. 2. 79mm x 40mm: black transfer: 13 Railway Street.3. 76mm x 39mm: black transfer: 13 Railway Street. (note Plumtree Ltd).4. 59mm x 31mm: black transfer: no address. 5. Black transfer: 164 Portland Street.
1 2
54
3
ABC - Issue 4334 ABC - Issue 43 35
Around the ShowsThe norfolk show, usually held in Dereham, has recently relocated to the Connaught Hall in Attleborough due to refurbishment of the old venue. The new location proved to be a great success, the hall being well lit and airy and also fully
booked. Plenty on the stalls groaning under the weight of quality pieces: something for everyone. Catering was superb as usual (great cake). Well worth attending - a big thanks to Colin and Peter for a great show.
East Anglia
Stallholder and author (of the “east Anglian Pot Lid”) Graham evans, looking rather pleased with his big Ipswich stonie.
Ken Porter behind his well-stocked
stall has been left holding the fort.
An excellent show for buyers, as evidenced by this selection of mouth-watering
items seen on the stalls.
ABC - Issue 4334 ABC - Issue 43 35
Berkhamsted Having experienced all sorts of problems with the Aylesbury Civic Centre management, we must congratulate Alan McConville and his
team on finding such an excellent new venue at such short notice. The Berkhamsted Leisure Centre, just off the A41, can accommodate just over 100 stalls, is easy to find (even ed couldn’t manage to get lost) and has very good parking facilities. The first show here was a little down on the usual attendance but many regular stallholders and collectors were in evidence and we all look forward to future shows, including the Winternational, being held here.
Two little gems recently acquired and shown to us by Alan McConville: on the left is a previously unrecorded GB from
Wicks of Skirmett - a small village between High Wycombe and Henley-on-Thames and, on the right, another very desirable stonie, a spirit flask from T Bryan / Wine &
Spirit, Vaults / Loughborough
no apologies for showing you Keith Bagshaw’s ointment from every
conceivable angle. It may not look very pretty at the moment but no
doubt it will clean up very well. It’s previously unrecorded and Keith has already turned down a large
sum of cash for it.
Mark Duffy looking well pleased with his very impressive Bellarmine,
reckoned to be Belgian and dated around 1600.
We have seen many various Codd openers but this was new to us: a
spring-loaded example owned by High Wycombe collector Alan Hearn.
ABC - Issue 4336
ABC - Issue 0000 ABC - Issue 00 00
A regular biannual event in ABC’s calendar. Well
done Mick Wells and his team on another show with lots of loaded stalls and plenty of buzz.
Richard Tucker
with his 6oz hybrid embossed “CODD’S PATenT / eXPIReD”.
We’ve seen plenty
of Codds embossed
“CODD’s eXPIReD PATenT” but never an
example with this wording.
Thanks to Richard Roberts for bringing his
marble carousel to show us. It may have just
the one marble remaining but WHAT A COLOUR! (See Mark Potten’s article on
page 22 of ABC Issue 41).
Rob Hoare showed us this scarce black glass GB from Mohawk of Bournemouth
- complete with the correct Riley’s patent stopper.
What’s this? Just a boring 10oz Shaw’s patent Codd shown to
us by Ivan Sawyer? Certainly not! It’s
complete with the usual Shaw’s Patent
embossing but look closely and
you’ll see that the strengthening bars are all running the
same way instead of the standard mirror
image arrangement.
Steve Truscott seems well pleased with his Restorine Remedies, reckoned to date to
about the 1890s.
ABC - Issue 43 37
Kidlington
Thanks again to the
Oxford Club Team for a most enjoyable day. A good turn out despite the very bad weather conditions. All the booked stall holders turned up and there was very busy trading early on.
An excellent display of cream pots laid on by Club members
Thanks to Mark Simmonds for this very impressive display of part of
his ink collection.
Alan McConville has been busy as
usual and came up with this recently
found rare Banbury GB
Simon Somerscales showed us these photographs of two detached seals. They were found some time ago in
Tackley, Oxfordshire and are presently on loan to Tackley History Society where Simon was lucky enough to photograph them. The seal on the
left is from “St John’s Common Rooms 1759” and Oxford Wine Bottle expert Fay Banks tells us that this is the first dated seal ever seen from St Johns.
The seal on the right is from “Magdalen College Common Room 1768”.
ABC - Issue 4338
Bottle and Collectors ClubsAlton Bottle Club, 01420 88773, Alton Community Centre: 2nd Wednesday 7:30pm.
Avon Collectors Club, 0117 9673279, Bristol Divers Club: 2nd Sunday.
Berkshire BC, Greg Huntley / Steve Walker 01344 773448 / 01189 691446, The Swan, Arborfield: 1st Monday.
Bolton BDCC, Joe Clarke 07747 380102, The edge Tavern, Astley Bridge: 1st Thursday
Brigg ABCC, Brian Ashwell 01472 350653, Brigg Town FC grounds, Hawthorn Ave, Brigg: 2nd Wednesday 7:30pm.
Bury BC,Lembit eha 01422 249914,The Trafalgar Pub, Bury:1st Thursday.
Chesterfield Old Bottle & Collectors Club,Wade 01246 472733,The Staveley Miners Welfare, Staveley: 2nd Monday 7:15pm.
Colchester Bottle & Collectors Club, Lee Bloomfield 01206 760163, Stanway Rovers Football Club, new Farm Road, Stanway, Colchester: last Thurs (except Aug & Dec) 7:15pm. [email protected]
Cornwall Bottle and Collectors Club, 01637 877456, Church Hall, Kea,Truro: 1st Saturday 2pm.Cornwall Antique Bottle Collectors Club, Rob Lawrance 07989 508922, County Arms Pub, Truro: 1st Tuesday 6:30pm.
Cumbria Antique Bottle Club, M nicholl 01697 371208, Joiners Arms, newbiggin.
Dorset Antique Bottle and Collectors Club, Mike Squires 01202 522047, Liberal Hall, Hamworthy, Poole: 1st Monday.
east Anglia Bottle Club, Colin neale 01362691070 / 07810711603, Woodman Pub, Old Catton, norwich: meetings quarterly.
Gloucester and Wiltshire Antique Bottle Club, 01793 643986, Beaufort Arms, Hawkesbury, Upton: last Sunday 7:30pm
Invicta / Kent Bottle Club, 01622 814241, Hollingbourne Village Hall, near Maidstone: 2nd Monday.
Leeds Antique Bottle Club, 0113 579790,Fox & Grapes, Smalewell Rd, Pudsey, Leeds: last Thursday.
northants Bottle Club, 01933 272683, Bell Inn, Finedon: 1st Tuesday.
northumberland and Durham Bottle Collectors Club, 01912 366736, The Garden House, Durham or The Cricket Club, Swallwell, newcastle, Tuesdays 7pm.
Oxfordshire Antique Bottle Club, Keith Wait 01285 652142, Sturdys Castle PH, Tackley, OX5 3eP: 3rd Sunday.
Portsmouth Bottle & Collectors Club, Charlie Hayter 01243 371440. Contact Charlie for details of new venue. 3rd Wednesday 7:30pm.
Shrewsbury Bottle Club, John Thompson 01686 688079, The Hare and Hounds Pub, Withington, between Shrewsbury and Wellington: last Wednesday 8pm.
Somerset and Devon ABC, Robin Foureacre 01884 242393, Dartmoor Lodge Hotel, Ashburton, TQ13 7JW: last Friday. www.southwestbottles.btck.co.uk
South Yorkshire Antique BC, Alan Blakeman 01226 745156, The Market, elsecar: 1st Tuesday.
Surrey BCC, Kae Wicks 01306 882278: last Saturday 7pm.
Trent Valley Bottle Club, Diana Snowden 01623 824167, Rose and Crown, Derby Road, Lenton, nottingham: last Thursday 7:30pm.
Warwickshire Bottle Club, Albert Wilson / Fern Park 01926 400734 / 01788 578756, Racing Club, Hampton Road, Warwick: 2nd Thursday.
West Sussex Bottle Collectors Club, Charlie Hayter 01243 371440, The Bassil Shippam Centre, Tozer Way, St Pancras, Chichester: 1st Friday 7:30pm.
Worcester Collectors Club, 01905 27663, The Brunswick, Worcester: 1st Thursday.
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ABC Bottle Fair Calendar 2011
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advertise it here for free.
12 Feb20 Feb20 Mar27 Mar10 Apr17 Apr 7 May15 May29 May24 July21 Aug
StanleyWinternationalAltonelsecarShrewsburyCirencesterPerthDittonMinsteadStratfordexeter
SaturdaySundaySundaySundaySundaySundaySaturdaySundaySundaySundaySunday
STRATFORD
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BOLTON
CIRENCESTER
SURREY
EXETER
ALTON
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PERTH
ELSECAR
DURHAM (Bowburn, Stanley)
EAST ANGLIA.
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. KIDLINGTON
SHREWSBURY
DITTON
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CHRISTOPHER CURTIS - Tel. 020 8747 4658 Mob: 07818 215 470Email: [email protected]
Large and varied stock always available at my shop:Chelsea Galleries, 69 Portobello Road, London W11 2QB
Open Saturdays 7.00 am - 3.30 pm and Fridays by appointment.Always exhibiting at Stratford, all Elsecar events and most bottle shows.
ALSO STILLWANTED FOR
MY COLLECTIONSTEVENAGE, HITCHIN &HERTFORDSHIRE ITEMS
Large number of swaps available
single items and whole collections
PICTORIAL POT LIDS - hairdressing/bears grease, ointment and town-named lidsDAIRY ITEMS - cream pots, dairy crocks, butter slabs, milk pails
GINGER BEERS - pictorial and miniaturesENAMEL SIGNS - MATCH STRIKERS - EARLY STONEWARE FLASKSOINTMENT POTS - PRATTWARE PLAQUES (damage acceptable)
MINIATURE FOOTWARMERS AND MUFFWARMERS - PUB JUGS - PICTORIAL ADVERTISING PLATESANTIQUE GLASS - CORKSCREWS - DOULTON - LAMBETH
BLACK GLASS - MEDICAL - IN FACT ANYTHING INTERESTING OR UNUSUAL
WANTEDFOR CASH