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All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> What is it? BEFORE 1900 >> Giant mystery ink?

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Giant mystery ink? - 6/27/2004 11:01:28 AM    amblypygi Posts: 605 Joined: 4/6/2004 From: Western Massachusetts Status: offline Hi, I recently found this while working in a river in New Hampshire. The other junk it was consorting with was from about 1880 or so. It looks like a very large square-based ink, but Covill doesn't have anything like it listed. It would be huge for an ink, that's a "normal sized" Hutchinson it's next to in the picture. The really tantalizing thing is that the mold had embossing but was peened out before this bottle was blown. The only thing I can decipher for certain is U.S.A. at the bottom and the company abbreviation (CO.) in the second line. My best guess is "Carter's Ink Co. Made in U.S.A." but I'd be more confident if I could see one with the embossing! There seems to be a period after the third line, and the base is faintly embossed with an "H" Any clues are appreciated! Ambly Attachment (1) < Message edited by amblypygi -- 6/27/2004 5:26:07 PM > Post #: 1

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 6/28/2004 4:43:22 AM    bigkitty53   Posts: 286 Joined: 3/28/2004 From: Bermuda Status: offline Hi Ambly, Have you tried making a rubbing of the peened-out embossing?That MIGHT give you something to decipher. KAT (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 2

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 6/28/2004 6:53:49 AM    amblypygi Posts: 605 Joined: 4/6/2004 From: Western Massachusetts Status: offline Hi Kat, I did try that initially, but I was using a piece of mechanical pencil lead and it didn't work very well. I'll try that again tonight and post a scan of the result. Thanks for your suggestion! Sean (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 3

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 6/28/2004 3:54:15 PM    Dawny   Posts: 31 Joined: 5/21/2004 Status: offline a tricked i was taught a while ago was to take some silly putty, flatten it out and press it into the letters/markings, then roll some ink on it and press it to paper.. worked a few times for me. Hope that doesnt go against any bottle care rules (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 4

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 6/28/2004 5:38:56 PM    Oldtimer Posts: 1931 Joined: 5/13/2004 From: Effingham NH. Where else? Status: offline Don't take it as pure truth, but I'd quicker say it was a whiskey or Gin or Brandy....Only because it looks like a full quart size and was found in a river..Maybe tossed there by a passerby? And one more thing. It would have a pour spout if it were an ink. _____________________________ STOP THE CAR !! I think I see a cellarhole !!! (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 5

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 6/29/2004 8:31:49 AM    amblypygi Posts: 605 Joined: 4/6/2004 From: Western Massachusetts Status: offline OK, I tried to make a rubbing and it just isn't working out for me. I think I'm just too ham-handed to pull it off. The process of trying though, has been rewarding because I've figured out some more of the embossing (see below). It's definitely a Philly bottle. I changed the shape of my cartoon a bit too, it was too tall which made it look more like a liquor. The silly putty idea is great, but if you think I can make a mess of making a rubbing.... Oldtimer's gut instinct makes sense to me too, in fact that's exactly what I thought when I first found this. I really almost left it on the bottom, I had no idea there was any peened-out embossing, and the people paying me way too much money to look for other things are sometimes less than appreciative of the fact that I've discovered a pile of useless junk instead (One man's trash...) Anyway, something about the shape made me hang onto it. The style of the embossing doesn't fit a liquor though, it's something utilitarian. Embalming fluid maybe? The shape and style would fit that. I dunno. Maybe if I stare at it some more new letters will reveal themselves Thanks for all the help so far, this mystery shall not survive long! Sean Attachment (1) (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 6

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 6/30/2004 9:13:12 PM    amblypygi Posts: 605 Joined: 4/6/2004 From: Western Massachusetts Status: offline Couple of things to add: 1. I think the second line reads "DIP CO." Does that make any sense? Did sheep dip come in bottles like this? What the heck is sheep dip anyway? 2. There is a series of regularly spaced, teardrop-shaped bumps on the shoulders, 6 on either side of the seam (see picture below). Again, thanks for any ideas you all might have. I'm hoping someone who has seen the original embossed version will see this. Sean Attachment (1) (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 7

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 7/1/2004 4:08:51 AM    David E Posts: 1001 Joined: 5/24/2004 Status: offline Hi Ambly I have some stand alone "H" that would be bottle makers Trade Mark on bottom of bottle. H (Excpt this one had numerals whch varied under the H 1893 to 1906 Holt, Berkeley Calif. H Fletcher Hart 1879 to 1882 Muring Hart 1889 to 1918 Div of Armstrong Cork and Kerr H Heinz, when little space on the item, embosed, after 1888 H Heye 1880 to 1936 Germany Thes are interesting as there was peening on them also and both Co. from N.H. but this would be on the bottom. HS 1815 to 1817 Twitchell & Schoolcraft H (S is peaned out) 1815 to 1817 Schoolcraft & Sprgue HP (P is joined to H) and some peaning after that 1872 to 1822. My errors did not note company after this one, but may be the same as the other two. Also show another HP joined together 1817 to 1822 Keene(SP) N.H. Probally just confusing things, but thought u may want it. Will look some more on your side engraving. Dave (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 8

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 7/1/2004 4:33:01 AM    bigkitty53   Posts: 286 Joined: 3/28/2004 From: Bermuda Status: offline Ambly, A picture in Mysecret88's post gave me an idea;Try 'painting' a dilute ink into the peening with the bottle peened-side up on a white surface.The ink will settle in the hollows and HOPEFULLY be legible. Hope this works! KAT (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 9

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 7/2/2004 7:51:48 AM    amblypygi Posts: 605 Joined: 4/6/2004 From: Western Massachusetts Status: offline Kat and David, Thanks for the good information! I tried the ink idea, which is a really good one, but it doesn't bring anything new to light because they were just too thorough about peening this mold. I also tried spray-painting it to see if I could get a better picture, which sort of worked... It's still really hard to decipher though, I think this one is destined for the "Unanswered questions" category Attachment (1) (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 10

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 7/2/2004 11:01:06 AM    David E Posts: 1001 Joined: 5/24/2004 Status: offline This would (might) be a good try from a member who has worked with Acid. Don't know if this would work on glass, but would be good info if it did. Some years back I worked with the State Patrol (WA) in recovery of stolen Motor Cycles. The serial numbers on these bikes were ground so far down you could not see it with the naked eye. They poured some kind of acid (Unknown what kind) on the shaved serial number and it poped right out. Better be a throw a way and someone who knows acid, but would be a good try for a brave person. (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 11

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 7/3/2004 5:48:07 AM    bigkitty53   Posts: 286 Joined: 3/28/2004 From: Bermuda Status: offline Ambly, I think you've got it!Halfway,at least.Now that you've painted it,carefully scratch away the paint with a plastic scaper!(NOT a scouring pad,that might clean the depressions as well)Something that will stay FLAT on the surface of the glass should leave paint in the peening. Hope THIS works!I'm going nuts wondering what the hell your bottle is-and we all know what they say about curiousity and kats! KAT P.S.David,Most acids don't react with glass like that,and the one used (over here at least,) on suspect vehicles is plain ol' muriatic.Good thought,though. < Message edited by bigkitty53 -- 7/3/2004 5:53:53 AM > (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 12

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 7/3/2004 8:16:47 AM    amblypygi Posts: 605 Joined: 4/6/2004 From: Western Massachusetts Status: offline Hi Kat, Another good idea, but it didn't really work out. There was an amorphous pattern of something, but it was even less decipherable than the plain glass. I'm almost ready to try David's acid idea, but I don't think it would work with glass. Besides, I've decided this one's a keeper; I'll figure it out someday, and till then it will be good for tormenting dinner party guests :) Thanks for everyone's help with this! Sean (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 13

RE: Giant mystery ink? - 12/25/2004 7:05:30 AM    idigjars Posts: 1469 Joined: 12/24/2004 From: Michigan Status: offline All great ideas (in reply to amblypygi) Post #: 14

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