I was looking through a collection of bottles my dad found about 30 years ago, and there are a few with no markings and one other that I need help ID'ing. There's 14 total, but maybe I'll ask about the other later.
The first one (first 2 pictures) is about 11 7/8" tall, 3 1/4" wide at the bottom and the opening is 1/2". The only writing is in an oval and it says Bartlett Spring Mineral Water California.
The next bottle (pictures 3 and 4) is just over 8" tall, just under 3" wide at the bottom with a 3/4" to 1/2" tapered opening. There's no markings and the bottle is pretty heavy and a really dark brownish green.
The third bottle (pictures 5-7) is 10 3/8" tall 3 1/2" wide at the bottom and the opening also goes from 3/4" to 1/2". Again, no markings and this ones a lighter shade of the same color as the last.
The last one (pictures 8-10) is 9" tall, 2 3/4" wide at the bottom and has a 3/4" opening. It feels very light, and halfway up the neck has 3 ribs. The body has 8 (ridges?) down it. This one has no marking either.
If anyone knows anything about these bottles or can help identify/value them that would be very helpful. There are 10 others in the collection, which I might post once I get some info on these 4.
That's interesting...got me researching Bartlett Spring a little bit and I found this http://lakeconews.com/content/view/19174/919/
Specifically, "By 1874, there were 75 cabins and tent units, and the Bartlett water was for sale throughout the state, apparently being transported in barrels, and later in glass bottles that were covered with woven tules for protection against breakage."
The bottle has no marking about Vittel (starting bottle water in 1985 at Bartlett Spring), and I couldn't find any pictures of a Vittel bottles that looked similar, so this one may have been ones sold in the 1870's.
You're right about the Warners. That one of the most interesting ones, along with the WM Pfunder's Blood Purifier. Do you have any other information on the Warners or one of the ones that might be a Pabst?
The two black bottles appear to be english ales or porters, the Warner's doesn't have much value but they display nice, about $10-20 tops. The pepper sauce is nice ....Jim
Currently 35 minutes until the auction I mentioned earlier ends for the Blood Purifier bottle. http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-Bottle-WM-PF...#ht_500wt_1413
The current bid is just over $50. I have two questions, one is that the top of the bottle in the auction is different than the one I have, and another is would trying to clean the bottle raise it's value? If so, how would I go about cleaning it? I read that fine copper wool it OK for glass, and also someone suggested a spoonful of rice mixed with soap and about half the bottle full of water will clean the inside. The inside of mine what looks like a crusty white/light gray material built up a little. I read that bottles that were dug sometimes have this, but I don't think this one was every buried. If I clean it, I don't want to go to a professional cleaner or buy any specialized tools. Anyway, here's a picture of what mine looks like. The writing, from top to bottom is
OREGON
TRADE MARK (across chest of the baby)
OMNES PROSINT (R on top of W between the two words)
COPYRIGHT SECURED
BLOOD
PURIFIER
WM PFUNDER&CO
PORTLAND, OR
And on the bottom, it says 'W.T & Co'
If the bottle has never been buried, you may have dried contents (OR the glass may be eroded by the content residue). Try to remove the stains in the shoulder.
You can use just about any cleaning product (except Whink) to clean a bottle. Hydrochloric (muriatic) acid will not harm the glass. LimeAway is commonly used if you have limey deposits or iron deposits.
What I have found generally useful is laundry bleach.
I fill a bottle with tepid tap-water to which I add a tiny amount of laundry detergent (because it is non-sudsing) and a dollup of laundry bleach. I let it soak for a few hours.
If the glass is "sick," that is, decomposing, no cleaning product will remove the sickness.
“A man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it.”
--Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle) in "The Sign of Four"
Thanks! I might try the hydrochloric acid, we have some in the garage. The neck of the bottle it pretty skinny, so I don't know if I would be able to scrub inside it at all, but I'll see what I can do.
Thanks! I might try the hydrochloric acid, we have some in the garage. The neck of the bottle it pretty skinny, so I don't know if I would be able to scrub inside it at all, but I'll see what I can do.
I was not recommending hydrochloric acid for this job; I was pointing out what a broad range of choices you have for cleaning solutions. HCl is at the extreme of that range. Try the laundry bleach first.
“A man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it.”
--Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle) in "The Sign of Four"
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Originally Posted by gleaner1
