Chamberlains Cough Remedy

[robertk]

Bottle Vitals​

	Date	Color	Shape	Size (Height x Diameter)	Value*
Chamberlain's Cough Remedy	1880s	Aqua	Rectangular	6" x 2" x 1"	$10.00

Bottle Views (click to enlarge):

Front	Back	Side	Side	Bottom
Chamberlain's Cough Remedy		Chamberlain Med Co	Des Moines IA USA

Chamberlain's Cough Remedy was produced by the Chamberlain Medical Company, of Des Moines, Iowa. The company was founded in 1872, though back then it was known as Owen and Chamberlain -- a partnership between an Iowa doctor and Lowell Chamberlain. The cough remedy was first produced and sold by Owen & Chamberlain and was known as O &.C Cough Remedy. Advertising for it started appearing nationwide in 1879 and 1880.


But ten years later, in 1882, Lowell Chamberlain's brother, Davis Chamberlain, bought out Dr Owen's share and the company became Chamberlain Medical Company. At that time the product became Chamberlain's Cough Remedy, so this bottle is no older than 1882.

Supposedly it was a cure for the common cold, the flu, croup, and various other respiratory infections. It was distributed and advertised nationwide. They used newspapers, trade cards, direct mail marketing to promote their products and get them into (or onto) your head. They even published their own free books to promote their products. (Books were a form of entertainment that were popular before television, radio, and pocket-sized electronic devices.) Click to enlarge any of these examples.



Back in the day, the bottle would have had a paper label with instructions in several different languages (some sources say six, some say eight). Here is an example of what it would have looked like:


And finally, here is the bottle before and after cleaning. Soap and water and brushes were used.



*Value is based on sold eBay listing at the time of posting and varies with condition.

 

[Limitool]

Great info Robert. You probably have quite a database or process to gather info for each new bottle. But I'm sure each one takes its own path. Good job again.... what's next...?

 

[robertk]

Great info Robert. You probably have quite a database or process to gather info for each new bottle. But I'm sure each one takes its own path. Good job again.... what's next...?

Well you said I should go for one with 5 or more duplicates, and it just so happens that there are five of the next one on my list. Hopefully I can get time later today to write it up.

 

[Limitool]

Good. My suggestion was just to clear off the one's needing done by the handful. I hope they have something on them to help point the way...!