Bottles found on the Isthmus of Panama

[perdidogringo]

Hi all, I just returned from a trip to Panama where I came across a cache of old bottles in the middle of the jungle. I've managed to identify 3 of the bottles, pictured below:

1. Walkers whiskey kilmarnock bottle 2360 (produced sometime between 1870 to 1908) - Original Johnnie Walker's whiskey bottle

2. Bay Rum H. Michelson St. Tomas (approx. 1880s to the early 1900s)

3. Brockway bottle (1935 to 1980)

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[perdidogringo]

Another 4 bottles I found are unidentified due to no marks of any kind on the bottles. I was wondering if anyone has any idea on the origin or age of the last 4 bottles in the photos below? Thanks in advance!

Bottle #1

 

[perdidogringo]

Bottle #2

 

[Bass]

The kilmarnock whisky is nice. Love that color

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[perdidogringo]

Bottle #3

 

[perdidogringo]

Bottle #4

 

[Bass]

Bottles 1 and 4 are crown top so they are post 1894. No so sure about 2 and 3

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[Bass]

See if the bottles have seams and where do the end? Do they stop at the neck or run all the way through the lip. The experts will need to know

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[RelicDude]

Cool finds the sixth bottle pic looks like it might be abm.

Sent from my iPod touch using TreasureNet

 

[Bass]

Bottles 1 and 4 are crown top so they are post 1894. No so sure about 2 and 3 Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

sorry, crown cap was invented in 1891 but not widely used until mid 1890's

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[perdidogringo]

Bottle #1 seems like the seam disappears before it gets to the lip. But the bottle is in bad condition so it is kind of hard to tell. Two others have a seam that goes up to the lip. Another I can't tell.

I'm guessing that bottle #1 was for some sort of pop? The other 3 maybe wine?

Since at least 3 of the bottles differ widely in terms of when they were produced and since I'm pretty sure the place I found the bottles wasn't a bottle dump or remotely convenient for an outhouse, etc., I am thinking that these bottles were perhaps found/dug by another bottle hunter somewhere else in the area sometime in the last 70 years. He then stashed them where I found them. Perhaps he either planned on coming back for the bottles some day or more likely, decided that these particular bottles weren't worth much and thus, not worth carrying out of the jungle.

 

[surf]

Hola perdido,

I'd call the whole lot transitional bottles. I'd date them to the Canal construction era. The latest addition is made on an early bottle machine, which created much change in the bottle making world, as did the Canal for shipping, trade and travel.

The British were a bit behind the Americans in the adoption of the new technology in bottle making. Some of yours are likely hand finished. The Bay Rum is my favorite amongst em. SJHS | Bay Rum: A Niche of Distinction in VI History

History of St Johns Bay Rum Island Fragrance | St Johns Bay Rum

​

 

[surf]

Sorry, double posted.

 

[unclemac]

2, 3 and 4 have a nice deep punt which suggest wine bottles.

 

[perdidogringo]

Thanks for the feedback. guys! Really appreciated. There's so much history on the isthmus that you often find things all the way from Pre-Hispanic Native Americans, through Spanish Colonial, Gold Rush 49'er and then the canal construction. Very interesting place to hunt.