Pikes Peak, Robacks Bitters, Citron Ink and More, 130 Years Old time to see the light

jgas

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Apr 23, 2008
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Hello all, Here's my story......

It's been quite awhile since we were able to finally dig some glass that made us both say "WOW." :headbang: But today is that day. You see, for all of us diggers out there we occasionally get tired of seeing the same things. The same medicines, beer bottles etc. :BangHead: But we just keep doing what we do and nearly break our backs doing it. Don and I have been counting the pits we have done and we were on a streak of bad ones. :icon_scratch: Couldn't figure out why we were not hitting any "Use Layers" and were just coming away empty. We were up to 7 now and nothing. ??? All ash pits, trash pits with post 1900 stuff. Couldn't turn the century at all. And we are digging in spots that were dated to 1875-80. But like I say and Don agrees, we have to pay our dues every now and again. Sometimes that makes the current finds just that much sweeter. :thumbsup:

So onto another house dating to 1875. A smaller skinny type yard but longer and deeper that most. So I had to probe a bit to find the first pit. Well as you know by now, the dues were still being paid. :thumb_down: Nothing but bricks, broken meat pots! That was a 6 footer. Nothing to show so fill her in and move on. I probed an ash pit that had all wood ash which is normally a good sign for "Oldness." But after chopping through a root the size of a telephone pole, we discovered nothing again. Ugh, so I moved about 25 feet closer to the house and found another privy. Our hopes were up of course but reality is what it is. The very first thing to pop out was a skirted Coke bottle! Pretty cool but not really what were were looking for. So we kept digging passing the 6 foot mark with not much action.

Then at around 6 and 1/2 feet down I broke into the Use Layer. The next two things were awesome and told us the date of the pit. A stoneware ink and the beautiful Citron cone ink. WOW what a color! :headbang: So now it was Don's turn. As soon as he got in the pit he pulls out a great looking Bell Top Ink in perfect shape. Never seen or dug one of these before but it was cool and crude. :icon_thumright: After he dug a ton of broken plates, glasses and the usual household stuff he was burnt out and needed a rest. So I jumped in and continued to go for China! :tongue3: I started in and immediately saw a pile of glass towards the back of the pit so I used my rake and pulled some out. Then more glass fell onto the rake from above. Low and Behold out pops the 1/2 pint Pikes Peak Eagle Flask WooHoooo! :headbang: We were both stoked now. And new we were in for some special finds. I no more than handed Don the flask and bent over to use my light and saw the base of what I thought was a common glass cup. So I reached in and grabbed it and pulled it out. It just kept coming and as it hit the light I saw that it was a Barrel shaped bottle. Then I saw the top was intact and then the light hit the embossing just right. Bammo, CW Robacks, Stomach Bitters, Cincinnati O. :headbang: :thumbsup: Holy Cow Wow!!!!! What a day. I have only seen a piece or two of one but now to have a whole one in my hands is just crazy. After that Don was back in. He pulled out numerous plates and broken pieces of medicines, including a Lindseys Blood Searcher :BangHead: But what the heck we were back in the game finally! A nice pile of great glass after a skunking for so long feels great.

I took some photo's along the way and then did some light cleaning for the after pictures. Hope you enjoy. I know we did while it lasted. Hope to get back and possibly find another pit, maybe older, but that's up to the bottle Gods and after we pay our dues again! :tongue3: But we are up to the challenge! Be safe out there and good luck on all of your treasure hunting.
 

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epackage

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Sep 16, 2010
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WHAT A GOOD DAY!! BUT (deleted for rule language violation) is that Coke doing in there?!?!?!? :laughing7:
 

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digging440yrs

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Man , that is an awesome pit !!! :occasion14:
 

Bass

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Super dig gas! I'm with epackage, the coke in the top blows my mind! Where do we start, ah yes, the inks. I don't have a stoneware so I'm jealous of yours. The citron is just plain eye candy. Great find. That pp flask is very cool, thanks for the thumbs up on that one. I know you where stoked when you pulled that one out. Can't decide which I like best, the flask or the barrel bitter's. Glad to see you break the dry spell. Awesome dig, post, pictures ...game, set and match.
 

Treasure_Hunter

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WHAT A GOOD DAY!! BUT (deleted for rule language violation) is that Coke doing in there?!?!?!? :laughing7:

Abbreviations for foul language STILL violates our rules./
 

Tnmountains

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You guys are the king on digging bottles. One thing to know about them it is another to dig the hole. Great dig Jgas.I would be interested to see your probe. I have had one I made for about for about 15 years. Nice inks as well.
 

Bass

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Is the roback's a pontil?
 

OP
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jgas

jgas

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The Robacks is smooth base. Probably an early 1880's I would think. None of the bottles were pontiled in this pit. In fact there were only a couple that were hinge mold. Which I found kinda interesting. I hope that there may be another pit there close by and just a touch older. The next time I dig I will take a photo of the probes we use and post them for ya. Just a typical spring steel probe that is six feet tall. I sure love to find the flasks, they are always a thrill, but the barrel bitters tops it all. Never thought we would get one of those. And of course the trifecta inks was great with that citron one. Thanks for all the replies guys, I appreciate it. Now lets go dig two!!!!! jgas
 

Bass

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It may be a futile effort but I'm voting this dig as a banner. With the Roback's barrel bitter's, the pikes peak flask and the citron ink, in my opinion you should get the nod. The Roback's Bitter's (big boy) is a great find. Congratulations on a great day and I vote banner
 

unclemac

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awesome post, great write up and pix...homerun!
 

Bass

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Pikes Peak, Robacks Bitters, Citron Ink and More, 130 Years Old time to see t...

Lot 119
Current Bid: Not opened

"Dr C.W. Robacks / Stomach Bitters / Cincinnati.O" Figural Bitters Bottle, R/H #R-74
View: Main (Large) View 2 (Large)
Lot: 119 "Dr C.W. Robacks / Stomach Bitters / Cincinnati.O" Figural Bitters Bottle, America, 1860-1880. Barrel form, medium amber with an olive tone, applied sloping collared mouth - smooth base, ht. 9 1/8 inches. R/H #R-74 Unusual and scarce color. Fine condition. Property of The Strong, sold to benefit the museum's collections fund.
Estimate: $300 - $600 Minimum bid: $150
Current Bid: Not opened
[emoji767] 2015 Norman C. Heckler & Company

Jgas' bottle is the more common Amber color but still a great find
 

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OP
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jgas

jgas

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Thanks for the info Bass. Who knows if we will ever find another. But we shall keep up the fight and keep digging! Oh yeah, the skirted coke in the picture came at the 1 to 2 foot depth. That was crazy, and to think what was below that. WOW. It was fun for sure. Thanks again Buddy. ! Jgas
 

Goldenplug

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Jgas, im curious how you guys are going to split the treasure. Do you put them all together and take turns picking? Or do you keep whatever you dig? When my dig partner and i work a shared pit we usually do a big pile and then split them up at the end. The person with the best pull gets first pick. If there are duplicate bottles its an auto split. My favorite bottle you guys got is the flask bottle but the bitters bottle is a close second. Also love the stonewear and any citron glass is special too. Way to go!
 

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jgas

jgas

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Hey Golden thanks for the question. Well it goes way back to the very early 70s when Don and I became friends in second grade. As kids we played in the dirt and now we still do at over 50 years old. We have never been in fights over bottles. We just love the history and research. Don in fact doesn't collect any bottles really. So I get them cleaned up and display them. Some day of course we will most likely sell them and them split the money. But for now we just are in awe of the beauty and hard work that went into making these little glass pieces of treasure. We always give back to the local museums as well as donating any sales of the doubles to the homeowner or a charity that we dig for. Such as the local churches or The Wounded Warrior Project and our Police Honor Guards. There is always something to give to and we dig to do our part in those endeavors. So in a nutshell we share our finds with as many people as we can. Thanks for asking. Jgas.
 

john glassman

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Nice dig guys I like the bitter .ps its time for me to digging too!
 

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