Dr CA Shackleton's Atomizing Inhaler

[robertk]

Bottle Vitals​

	Date	Color	Shape	Size (Height x Width x Depth)	Value*
CA Shackleton's Atomizing Inhaler Grand Rapids Mich	1881	Clear	Rectangular	4.25" x 1.5" x 1.5"	$25.00

Bottle Views (click to enlarge):

Front	Back	Side	Side	Bottom

This one was surprisingly hard to find much detail about. It was a product of the Shackleton Inhaler Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Depending on which source you believe, it was either started in 1881, or in 1871. Since the other bottles found near this one are in the 1880's and 1890's, I'm going with 1881 for this one. It was a general remedy for breathing issues, including asthma, hay fever, catarrh, and similar. According to some, it was a boon to mankind.

It was advertised mostly in Michigan and Ohio, and was in business for many years and was well regarded. Here are a couple of later advertisements from the early 1900s (click to enlarge):



The company remained in business well into the 1900s, and survived a challenge by the Postal Service, who accused them of mail fraud in 1965. Shackleton sued the Postal Service and eventually came out on top, with the judge saying that the postal service's opinion about the medicine's effectiveness was not sufficient to call it fraud. Click to enlarge:



The postal service appealed, but the judgement held on appeal, and the postal service was compelled to continue delivering mail to the company. Unfortunately I couldn't find much more after that. I do know there were two versions of the inhaler -- the atomizing inhaler, and the "improved inhaler". The Improved Inhaler came later, with this example being the earlier original version.

Here is the before and after. Cleaned with soap and water , brushes, and a wood scraper.



* Value is based on sold eBay listings as of the date of posting, and varies considerably with condition.

 

[Crow]

Credit where credits due. some amazing research there. thumbs up!

Crow

 

[Limitool]

This one slipped by me Robert. But again another amazing job. The last 2 you've done are "local" medicine bottles to where I found them (Grand Rapids - Sturgis). I agree with Crow you do a great job on the research Robert.