HELP very simple question to be answered

ecam1495 · Nov 28, 2013

When was the "screw cap" started being used on bottles? I'm talking about common household bottles like bleach and medicine. Im trying to date some of my bottles and this would help out A LOT. Thanks!!!!!

cooper1841 · Nov 28, 2013

I belive, 1930's approx. as far as mass produced

webatch · Nov 28, 2013

Ecam that is a very good question... I unfortunately am not one who can answer that. I think it probably covers a range, changing at different times for different products and brands. When I was a kid I found an old Cloreox bottle that had the stopper top. My grand mother sold it... I knew right then I was a treasure hunter... I could find things that others would buy and sell...

smokeythecat · Nov 28, 2013

Very good question. Mason Patent of 1858 introduced the first screw cap (metal) on Mason jars. The crown cap, again in metal, (like on older beer bottles was invented in 1892), The period 1919-1924 introduced the screw cap (metal) like we see today on bottles, wine bottles did not adopt the screw cap widely until 1964! The biggest widespread use of the plastic screw cap came later, I believe 1960's to 1970's. The Clorox Company on their website says they adopted the plastic screw top in 1960.

cti4sw · Nov 28, 2013

Can't help you with screw caps, but I did this post shortly after I signed on here

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...vention-pull-tab-guy-we-d-all-love-stomp.html

ecam1495 · Nov 28, 2013

Thanks for all of the information! I have a hole that I am digging at now and most of the bottles coming out of it are screw cap bottles, and if they are not that old they I may move onto another spot. Either way I have found some really cool bottles. Thank you for the information your guys provided.

ecam1495 · Nov 28, 2013

Pictures

Here are some pictures for you guys to help you understand what mind of bottles i am talking about, and to show you what i have been digging up :hello:

ecam1495 · Nov 28, 2013

Msbeepbeep · Nov 28, 2013

Nice collection

ecam1495 · Nov 28, 2013

bottlehunterofcoscob · Nov 28, 2013

Early 1900's. I love the "do not touch anything" signs.

ecam1495 · Nov 28, 2013

Haha I had to add those after someone knocked one over trying to see it

I am hoping they are from somewhere around the 30's, 60-70's would still be cool but thats not really old for me

smokeythecat · Nov 28, 2013

Even though they're early 1900's they're still 100 years old now! Nice bottles.

bottlehunterofcoscob · Nov 28, 2013

smokeythecat said:
Even though they're early 1900's they're still 100 years old now! Nice bottles.

Not quite, but still old. Probably 20s to 40s.

carcusrex · Nov 29, 2013

Nice finds. Put some LED strip lighting under the top shelvings to light up to bottles. I think that would look cool.

bottlehunterofcoscob · Nov 29, 2013

carcusrex said:
Nice finds. Put some LED strip lighting under the top shelvings to light up to bottles. I think that would look cool.

That's what I have in my bottle shelf.

ecam1495 · Nov 29, 2013

I may just have to do that

surf · Nov 29, 2013

"By about 1920, machines dominated the production of bottles (Barnett 1926). The higher levels of precision attainable with automatic bottle machines and the adoption of industry-wide standards for external thread finishes and metal screw cap closures between 1919 and 1924 spelled the end of cork as the dominant closure type (Lief 1965). Externally threaded bottles probably dominated the market by the late 1920s with cork sealed bottles becoming increasing more uncommon after that date with the exception of wine bottles, many liquor bottles, and bottles sealed with the revolutionary crown caps (Lief 1965)." Closure Types

Digger Odell has a useful finish chart, here: DATING BOTTLES BY THEIR TOPS AND BASES

Interestingly, Clorox converted from the rubber cork to screw caps in 1940.

CAL FIRE Archaeology Program: Clorox Bottles

ecam1495 · Nov 30, 2013

Wow, Thank you very much Surf for all of this information. It was EXACTLY the answer I was looking for! :angel3:

Thank you very much for providing me with that link for dating bottles, it has soo much useful information and it will help me put more of an exact date to many of my bottles. Thank you again for putting this reply together for me, it is much appreciated.