Didnt find what we were looking for, but didnt get skunked either

[Mark Todd]

Didn't find what we were looking for, but didn't get skunked either

Took my son in law down to walk the banks of the Illinois river for a few hours, we were hunting for Indian artifacts. We'd been walking for a couple of hours and had only a couple of hundred yards to go before we were going to have to head back to the truck. We were in a spot where the current had uncovered all kinds of old mussel shells. I saw what I thought was a very smooth black stone mostly buried in the sand and said this might have some possibilities. It didn't move when I budged it, so I gave it a push with the toe of my boot. When I did, I saw something move inside of the "presumed" rock, it was dirty river water of course. Turned out to be a nice (blob top soda?), with the stopper thing still in it, just one little nick in the blob. Then 15 feet further I saw another old one half buried . An old pickle? bottle, I think, with the applied top a bit canted. Not what we were looking for but we were happy to find a couple of nice keepers!

 

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[Mark Todd]

The soda bottle reads: IBW McMaster& Derges Peoria ILL

 

[Kevlardini]

I think that soda bottle is what's called a "Hutch" or "Hutchinson bottle".
The other bottle is cool too, how it has a hand applied top.
Nice finds!

 

[GaRebel1861]

I think I would visit that area often. Nice finds.

 

[digging440yrs]

Very nice finds !

 

[kingskid1611]

Go back and get under that water...I bet there is an old dump there. So cool

 

[sunrunner]

yes you found a 1900s Hutchison soda and a pickle . YOU WIN!

 

[Bass]

Didn't find what we were looking for, but didn't get skunked either

Nice finds. You are in a great area. There are a few variations of the IBW hutch. 1 is rare and I think there are a couple that are scarce. Maybe Plumbata will see your post and chime in. He's done some digging in your neck of the woods. Oh, and thanks for the photos!

 

[Mark Todd]

Thanks for all the replies and info. i.e., Hutch/Hutchinson for the soda. I do have a couple questions; the pickle jar has no markings on it, does that mean it had a paper label? Also what's the common method for cleaning the inside of old bottles? Thanks for any replies!
I will be going back if the river continues to go down, this was a landing area for settlers in the 1830's-50s and a fishing/recreation area popular through the early 1900's.
Thanks again.

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Please, please go back! I've been going nuts all Summer and now Fall searching for any decent sites,
to no avail, and yours looks to be a possible killer one.
I'd be staring at the ground, walking back and forth for days if I lived in your area.
Good hunting!
Carl

 

[Plumbata]

Looks like a great spot with minimal modern trash, metal detecting that stretch of the beach might be rather productive. Definitely worth revisiting and wading around in the water for more bottles. The IBW hutchinson soda is a pretty common one, circa 1900-1910, same as the pickle which would have had a paper label. Seems like picnic trash. I clean the inside of bottles by filling halfway with water then adding some sand and fine gravel and shaking it vigorously, though there are many ways to clean glass. If there is calcium crust then soaking in vinegar or diluted hydrochloric acid works. Rust stains are removed by soaking in oxalic acid solution.

 

[Mark Todd]

Looks like a great spot with minimal modern trash, metal detecting that stretch of the beach might be rather productive. Definitely worth revisiting and wading around in the water for more bottles. The IBW hutchinson soda is a pretty common one, circa 1900-1910, same as the pickle which would have had a paper label. Seems like picnic trash. I clean the inside of bottles by filling halfway with water then adding some sand and fine gravel and shaking it vigorously, though there are many ways to clean glass. If there is calcium crust then soaking in vinegar or diluted hydrochloric acid works. Rust stains are removed by soaking in oxalic acid solution.

Thanks for the info., l appreciate it.

 

[MuckyBottles]

I bet if you bring a pitchfork and a potato rake, not a shovel next time you go, I bet you can fill a few 5 gallon buckets full.

 

[MuckyBottles]

Looks like a great spot with minimal modern trash, metal detecting that stretch of the beach might be rather productive. Definitely worth revisiting and wading around in the water for more bottles. The IBW hutchinson soda is a pretty common one, circa 1900-1910, same as the pickle which would have had a paper label. Seems like picnic trash. I clean the inside of bottles by filling halfway with water then adding some sand and fine gravel and shaking it vigorously, though there are many ways to clean glass. If there is calcium crust then soaking in vinegar or diluted hydrochloric acid works. Rust stains are removed by soaking in oxalic acid solution.

No need to wade, just a pitchfork would do

 

[Mark Todd]

Yes, I might have to give it a go, I like those old bottles, they've got a lot of character, regardless of value. I've also considered metal detecting the area but contrary to the pictures there's a whole lot of old iron laying everywhere and of course, modern trash, but hey, if one is not willing to wade through the trash one may never find the treasure,right! Right now the river's dropping fast and no rain in the forecast for a week so I just might have to pick up a potato fork and try my luck, beats doing odd jobs around the house, just don't ask my wife's opinion[emoji12].

 

[MuckyBottles]

Bottles can be big $$$, even the most common bottle can go for 2-5 bucks, coins last a long time, bottles especially in the north, do not.