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All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> What is it? AFTER 1900 >> Fish Bottle

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Fish Bottle - 1/8/2005 10:24:46 PM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline Hello I am new here. I do not have a photo yet but am curious about a bottle I have had for 3 yrs (found in the woods). It is dark brown, 7" long, 2 inches wide and its a rectangular shape (except for the neck...which is round). It has a fish on it running lengthwise. The fish is about 3 inches long, has 3 fins on top, 2 on the botton and the entire fish (except head) is scaled. Kind of looks like a carp. The rest of the bottle has a design that is suppose to look like scales. Its a very interesting bottle and I have it displayed on a shelf. Will try to get a picture posted asap. Until then, it anyone has a clue, please let me know. Thank you for you time. _____________________________ Cheryl Post #: 1

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/8/2005 10:46:51 PM    TheDiggerBoy91   Posts: 609 Joined: 10/11/2004 Status: offline You have a castor or codd oil bottle from the 30's. (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 2

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/9/2005 1:21:39 AM    S.C. Warner   Posts: 126 Joined: 1/2/2005 From: it happens out in Vegas, and it happens in Moline. Status: offline Yep, Diggerboy91 is right about that! It's always been one of my favorite bottles as appearance goes. kind of looks like a carp, maybe more prehistoric and great detail! The artist did a great job on the design. You've found a really nice treasure! Have you checked out the rest of the area where you found it? And please post the picture when you can! best, sc (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 3

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/9/2005 9:54:19 AM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline Cod Liver Oil huh? How appropriate. Appreciate the replies. It really is a beautiful bottle. I will get a picture posted as soon as I can. Is the bottle itself worth anything? (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 4

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/9/2005 12:06:40 PM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline Forgot to answer your question SC. I did find 3 other bottles in that area. Will try to describe. Bottle 1: A little over 9 inches tall (the neck being about 3 1/2 inches) It is a medium green and the base is almost a tear drop shape. On the front of the base (from top to bottom) appears to be some sort of ribbon or bandana. Under this is the profile of a full length bird. He has another ribbon of sorts in his mouth which flows underneath him and crosses over a rectangular object that has a leaf attached to it. On the back there is a coat of arms with vines on the outside of it (left and right sides only). Above the coat of arms there are 13 tiny stars . In the of the coat of arms (at the top) there looks to be 2 fists touching knuckle to knuckle...altough you can only make out the fingers of one of the hands. At the bottom of the coat of arms it says UNION. There are 3 small stars (top to bottom) on the left side and 2 small stars on the right. These stars are a liitle bit bigger than the stars on the outside of the coat of arms. The bottle neck has no threads and I assume it hasd a stopper in it a one time. I have placed a cork in it. Bottle 2: 7 inches tall, with the neck taking up 1 inch. Dark brown (same as the cod bottle) round like a pepsi can, with a seam on either side. At the top and bottom there are 3 grooves circling it. No other distinguishing marks on the surface itself. The cap is metal and threaded and it is still intack and rusted on. Under the bottle it says " ABBOTT LABORATORIES " (in a horseshoe shape) Inside the horseshoe it says "MADE IN U.S.A." and there is a 2 under that. Bottle 3: about 11" tall, with the neck taking up about 3 1/2 inches. Again Dark Brown. Top is not threaded and there is a circular ring around it bout 3/4 of an inch down. Must have had a stopper in it at one time as well. On the front it says "Philadelphia (underneath this it says) FAMOUS SINCE 1894" Directly above this (just before the bottle narrows into the neck) it says (in smaller type and in two rows) "FEDERAL LAW FORBIDS SALE OR RE-USE OF THIS BOTTLE" On the back (at the bottom) it reads: 4/5 QUART Underneath the bottle there is a symbol that looks like a capital T with other lines on either side of the base of the T. Then it says: D-90 4-49 2691 2 Hope these descriptions give you some idea as to what I found. We have a digital camera at work and I will try to remember to take the bottles with me and photograph them tomorrow. _____________________________ Cheryl (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 5

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/10/2005 11:16:34 AM    medbottle   Posts: 112 Joined: 7/13/2004 Status: offline Hello dcheryl3, and welcome to the forum. The bottle you mentioned with the eagle on one side and clasped hands on the other is, if genuine, an historical flask. There are several with embossing similar to yours. They were usually used for whiskey. From your descriptions, this sounds like the earliest piece of the group, and probably dates to the 1870's or earlier. A picture would really help us identify it further. Also, is the base smooth, or does it have a rough glass or metallic deposit ? (known as pontil marks) (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 6

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/10/2005 11:26:18 AM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline The base is not smooth. I guess you could call it rough. I forgot to bring the bottles with me to work so I'm gonna see if bossman will let me take the digital cameral home this evening to take the pictures. Will post them as soon as I can. Thanks for your interst. Are these bottles worth anything? I'm not really a collector...I just found them when I use to live in the country and thought they were nice. They are all in excellant condition. It appears someone just dumped them in the woods. They weren't buried, nor did they look like they had been outside for a very long time before I found them. We owned 34 acres at the time and I now wish I done some more searching. (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 7

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/10/2005 4:36:21 PM    medbottle   Posts: 112 Joined: 7/13/2004 Status: offline Hello again. If genuine and without damage or stain, the eagle / union bottle starts around $40 and goes up from there, depending on the particular embossing and the color. Some may disagree with the $40 starting price, but I see a lot of these at shows, and when I see an historical flask in a shop its usually one of these or one of the many George Washington / Taylor flasks. If its a true medium green and not aqua, its definitely worth more than $40. I took a closer look at your description, and the size sounds like a quart, which is worth more. However, the part about being tear drop shaped bothers me. It may be a reproduction. A picture should solve that question easily. Your cod liver oil bottle, while nice looking, doesn't have a high value. Its fairly common, and most collectors are looking for older specimins. Still looks good in a window though, especially with other interestingly shaped bottles. The same can be said for bottles number 2 and 4. Abbott Labs produced chemicals and/or medicines...I don't know the time period, but I'm sure someone here does. On the fourth bottle, the line "FEDERAL LAW FORBIDS RESALE..." etc. was used on spirits bottles between 1933(4?) and 1966. I need more details (or a picture) of bottle 3 to determine what it is. All in all, it sounds like you have a nice start on a bottle collection. Keep lookin', and send us those pictures when you can. (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 8

Pictures - 1/10/2005 7:03:54 PM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline I had no idea how hard it was to take pictures of bottles. The digital camera I borrowed is old (uses a floppy) and the lighting isn't all that great. Tried using the flash and it made the pictures worse. I am posting the 4 best ones I was able to get. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Cheryl (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 9

Fish Bottle Picture - 1/10/2005 7:05:26 PM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline Here is the one with the fish Attachment (1) _____________________________ Cheryl (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 10

Union Bottle - 1/10/2005 7:06:39 PM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline Front Attachment (1) _____________________________ Cheryl (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 11

Union Bottle - 1/10/2005 7:07:45 PM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline Back Attachment (1) _____________________________ Cheryl (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 12

Union Bottle - 1/10/2005 7:08:56 PM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline Bottom Attachment (1) _____________________________ Cheryl (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 13

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/10/2005 8:26:33 PM    diggerjeff Posts: 555 Joined: 7/4/2004 From: central illinois Status: offline the fish bottle is for sure a codd liver oil bottle. the other looks like a repro flask from wheaton co. would like a clear close pic of the bottom to be sure. _____________________________ diggerjeff I DIG, THEREFORE I AM. (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 14

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/10/2005 8:44:10 PM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline This is the best I could do. Is it any better? Not exactly sure what you are looking for but that circular blob is in the center and along the edges there are uneven slashes. The outer oval of the botton has a seam that is very irregular...almost looks like the bottom had been attached separately or something except the seam is uneven. I took 3 or 4 pics but can't get a clear shot. It might be best if I try and take one outside during the day. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Cheryl (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 15

By the way... - 1/10/2005 8:45:38 PM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline What is a repro flask? _____________________________ Cheryl (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 16

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/10/2005 9:30:30 PM    diggerjeff Posts: 555 Joined: 7/4/2004 From: central illinois Status: offline reproduction of an older popular flask _____________________________ diggerjeff I DIG, THEREFORE I AM. (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 17

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/10/2005 9:34:58 PM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline Is that what I got? _____________________________ Cheryl (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 18

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/11/2005 1:41:18 PM    medbottle   Posts: 112 Joined: 7/13/2004 Status: offline Hello again. Yes, I'm afraid your eagle / union flask is a reproduction. That irregular indentation is a classic Wheaton characteristic. The shape is called a calabash, after the gourd of the same name and shape. Its worth $4-$5 as a decorator piece, unless the Wheaton collectors are after it. There are some Wheaton collectors out there, but I don't know what they are looking for or how much they would pay. (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 19

RE: Fish Bottle - 1/11/2005 1:57:47 PM    dcheryl83   Posts: 13 Joined: 1/8/2005 Status: offline Hey, I appreciate your time. I really do. I kept the bottles becauce they look really neat. I actually display them in my living room on shelves. I just happened to find this website over the weekend and thought I'd see if I had anything. I really do love my fish bottle....I know, I know....its cod liver oil, but I've been calling it the fish bottle for so long its hard to change! Thanks again for those of you that responded. I have a feeling I'll be out bottle hunting very soon. Not sure what it is about bottles, but I sure do like them. _____________________________ Cheryl (in reply to dcheryl83) Post #: 20

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