Back from the cleaners

[sandchip]

A friend brought this by a few years ago, asking if I knew anything about it. He picked it up at a yard sale for 5 bucks. Couldn't tell him much other than it looked 1890-1900 and that I thought he did fine at that price. Maybe a year later, I ran into him at an estate sale. He commented on some prints by a local artist that were for sale. I told him I had one that he could have if he wanted it. When he came by to pick it up a couple of days later, he handed me the bottle in trade. Wasn't expecting anything but was grateful. A couple of knowledgeable Kentucky collectors said they never had heard of it. It was mint except for a milky inside haze, so finally I sent it out west to have it cleaned last month. He also told me that in 50 years of collecting, he had never seen one. What a difference the cleaning made. It really pops on the shelf now. Of course, they'll probably be coming out of the woodwork now, but who cares? I still like it!

Before cleaning:



And after:

 

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[islamoradamark]

Wow that is ornate good trade

 

[RustyRelics]

Kenton County is a great location, nice!

 

[redbeardrelics]

That is a cool piece Sandchip ! One of the more interesting barrel/bucket whiskies I've seen, and it looks great after the cleaning.

 

[RustyRelics]

I'd think that is 1910-1920 pre prohibition era. That bottle looks distinctively banjo shaped - not a wild theory given the location. The embossing and perfection in that bottle leads me to believe that this is a post 1900 product.

 

[jgas]

That’s a beauty. Wow. Love it. Nice score. Jgas

 

[sandchip]

I'd think that is 1910-1920 pre prohibition era. That bottle looks distinctively banjo shaped - not a wild theory given the location. The embossing and perfection in that bottle leads me to believe that this is a post 1900 product.

Cowseatmaize on ABnet found an ad in a 1900 LA newpaper for a liquor distributor that listed it in the products he sold, assuming it's the same brand. I agree that it could've been produced as late as 1918, even though it has a tooled top since the feds only allowed 20% of all beer and liquor bottles to be blown by Owen's new machine.

 

[RustyRelics]

I didn't notice the top much, but the embossing and style reminds me of later manufacture. No doubt it's old though.

 

[PikesPeakCharlie]

Great flask !!!! Congrats !!!!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Beautiful bottle!

 

[sandchip]

...That bottle looks distinctively banjo shaped...

That's a shape that I hadn't thought about, but it does have that look, sorta like a Dingen's Napoleon Bitters. I've also heard it called a canteen, but since it has staves, hoops and two ends, I'm going with barrel...even though it says bucket. Thanks much for everybody's comments.