1850s "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

tinpan · Dec 12, 2009

1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

Hi all, Been digging most of the week at a demo site.Numerous old buildings and a few built in the 1960's use stand on this site.I found what remained of an early cellar and mostly just got junk and broken bottle and shards. Nearly gave up on the site for several reasons. No-one in the world could md this site as far to much junk. After 4 evenings of looking and hand digging i got this English black beer bottle with a horse on it. Saving grace Very thankful

The area in the early days was were the Irish gold diggers camped and later the Chiness traders had their shops.Around 1880 became part of the local brewery Cohn brothers.When some of the latter buildings were demo-ed between to walls a old hand painted sign was found .This was painted in the early 1960's and coveredd up until this week. Kind of cool but not that old.Well here a KIller bottle and few site pics.

tinpan

tinpan · Dec 12, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

Cal_Cobra said:
Nice English bottle. The diamond on the top is the British RD (registered design) designation, which should lead you to the date made as well as the maker.

Congrats

thanks for the replies, The bottle dates 1853, still searching for maker. As far as i can make out from local historical records. The bottle was made for a british brewery called "Tooth" or the first local goldrush brewery called "Ancor" which little is known about.

tinpan

Rusted_Iron · Dec 12, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

That's a great bottle, Tinpan.

I also like the lemonade ad. Too bad you don't see much of that anymore. The good old days.

Felinepeachy · Dec 12, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

I love it Tinny, congrats!!! It looks like you worked hard to get it from the pics of the ground you had to dig in.

pepperj · Dec 13, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

Really nice bottle, different that's what counts also. :icon_thumright:

Mackaydon · Dec 13, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

I believe this is what you are looking for:

"This attractively embossed black glass bottle has always been much sought after prize with collectors, commonly referred to as the black horse ale bottle it is from Tooth's Brewery in Kent England. The center motif is a rearing horse representing the ‘White Horse of Kent’, the significance of which dates back as far as the fifth century.
The Saxon chiefs Hengist and Horsa used this emblem on their battle standards when they lead their invading hordes across the channel to conquer Cantwarra Land or Kent.
Surrounding the horse on the front of the bottle is a frame of hop vines and barley heads and on the shoulder is the familiar British Registration Mark. In most examples the indicated date of registration at the patent office is the 9th of November 1855. Other marks exist with different dates of registration as do some bottles with the mark omitted.

The design registered in 1855 is listed as No.102519 at the Patent Office and was submitted by Alfred Tooth of 14 Mincing Lane, City of London. At this address, Alfred Tooth and his brother Robert are recorded as partners of the firm Tooth & Co., Merchants, in the London directories from 1853 to 1858.
In 1857 and 1858 they are further listed as principles in another firm, Tooth Bros., Ale stores, at the same Mincing Lane address and also at 76 Freeschool Street, Horselydowns, which is one of Robert Tooth's former addresses.

The Tooth family originally came from Cranbrook, which is the center of a Hops and grain growing district in Kent, and as early as 1841, Robert Tooth is recorded in business as a hop merchant at 12 Little Tower Street, London.
It is interesting to note that another brother, John Tooth , emigrated to Australia in the early 1830’s and was the co-founder of Tooth’s Kent Brewery in Sydney in 1835. Hence the identical trade mark motif, the ‘White Horse of Kent’.

Robert Tooth’s three sons, Robert, Edwin, Frederick, are also recorded as hop merchants and general merchants with other London companies at various periods between 1848 and 1868. They could not have been to actively engaged with these companies, at this time they were each busily carving a niche for themselves in Australian History.
With the retirement of their uncle John Tooth, Robert and Edwin and later Frederick, leased the Kent Brewery in Sydney. Apart from their brewing interests, the Tooth’s were also closely involved in political affairs and pastoral interests in New South Wales. The Black Horse Bottle is therefore a relic more closely associated with the pioneering days of Australia than is generally thought."

Don........

Source: http://www.aussiebottledigger.com.au/college.HTML

DigginThePast · Dec 13, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

Awesome bottle! :icon_thumright:

Came out the ground great. Congrats.

Mackaydon - Nice going on the info. :thumbsup:

The Patriot · Dec 13, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

That is a beautiful bottle..

tinpan · Dec 15, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

hi all, and big thanks for the info and replies. I,m stuck at work with heeps of over-time and best of all its going to be over 105 for the next 2 days. YUCK @#*&&&@#@@# >:(

tinpan

Tommi · Dec 15, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

nice find

kane23 · Dec 15, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

SWEET! and then some, kane 23

TXPIRATE · Dec 15, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

Now that bottle is very sweet if the true value is $450 that is banner worthy.

JerV3 · Dec 15, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

That is a really nice bottle TP. You have some nice old sites man.

HH Jer

Mackaydon · Dec 15, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

I'll offer a Banner vote--notwithstanding it's monetary value.
The bottle's beauty, pristine condition and history are worthy of the vote.
Don.......

tinpan · Dec 16, 2009

Re: 1850's "Black Beauty" Wins the race by a country mile

hi all, thanks for the comments and replies. Been a few days since i found the bottle. When back this evening. Started working along the back fence and found a chiness dump. its still over 100 degrees out side so i had a quick dig. Yes this tip is untouched. Lots of sea food shells and a few shards so far.Fresh seafood was not brought to this area until 1863 when the first train ran.Brought up in ice.I do live about 100 miles from the coast.Will go back on the weekend if the weather cools.

tinpan