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All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> Cleaning and Repairing >> medicine bottles - to dump or not?

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medicine bottles - to dump or not? - 10/5/2003 3:18:10 PM    chrissie   Posts: 2 Joined: 10/5/2003 Status: offline Hello! I recently inherited some old medication bottles (and other types of medication) and am not sure what to do with the contents of these bottles and boxes. Most have been opened but one or two have not. Should I dump the contents? Does this affect value in any way? I'm quite new at this and would also like to know if there is a reference book that would help me out. I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me. Thanks in advance!! Chrissie Post #: 1

RE: medicine bottles - to dump or not? - 10/5/2003 9:56:52 PM    Pontiled   Posts: 411 Joined: 8/27/2003 Status: offline Chrissie, If you could post a few pictures and tell us more about the bottles, we could let you know about what to do. Generally, if they are OLD bottles (pre-1910 hand-made or pre-1930 machine made, they have good value, especially if they still have the original label intact. The packing box has additional value. Mike (in reply to chrissie) Post #: 2

RE: medicine bottles - to dump or not? - 10/6/2003 9:33:04 AM    Guest Hi Chrissie. In short, yes, the original contents do add to the value of a bottle. In my opinion they don't add as much as the original box and label. An empty bottle with a nice looking label has much more eye appeal (and historical info) than the same bottle without the label but filled with brown gunk. The contents add to the "aura" of the piece, as its more rare to find an unopened bottle. An important thing to consider, though, is are there any children in the house? If there are, and the bottles cannot be placed well beyond reach or in a locked display, I would recommend dumping the contents. Please send us some pictures if you can. (in reply to chrissie)   Post #: 3

RE: medicine bottles - to dump or not? - 10/7/2003 5:52:38 AM    IRISH   Posts: 1238 Joined: 11/23/2002 From: cockatoo Australia Status: offline I don't think it's going to make any difference if they have already been opened, it may not even be the original contents. I would NOT open the ones with the original seal that are unopend though, it sort of seems a pity to open them when they have lasted all these years still full. If you do tip the contents be carefull of fumes and contacting it without gloves (just in case ). < Message edited by IRISH -- 10/7/2003 5:53:48 AM > (in reply to chrissie) Post #: 4

RE: medicine bottles - to dump or not? - 10/7/2003 5:50:49 PM    Guest I prefer bottles with content, unopened or not; I have several old medicine bottles I wouldn't have bought if they had been emptied. It adds to the value; and I find it quite interresting. (Especially if filled with pills, tablets, powders or chemicals. Hair oils, syrups etc. tend to look a bit gooey; but if you are selling them please leave it to the buyer to decide.) (in reply to chrissie)   Post #: 5

RE: medicine bottles - to dump or not? - 10/17/2003 1:20:55 PM    chrissie   Posts: 2 Joined: 10/5/2003 Status: offline Thank you, everyone for your input. I scoped out the collection and got a little more information. I have several unopened bottles with pills and solutions/liquids. some are medications/tonics and some of the liquids are just what appear to be chemical compounds. Most have a opaque brown wrapping over the bottle, obscuring the label, etc. I have not taken the brown paper off yet - I expect I'll need to in order to examine the bottles better. I also have suppositiories (very yucky ) in their original boxes. I think I only have one or two bottles without labels and containing some liquid. Are the dates for the bottles on the bottom? I wasn't able to find dates on the labels I could see clearly. I'm afraid I don't have a scanner or digital camera so no pictures at this point. As i'm in the process of packing for a move, I won't have time to check into this more thoroughly but I sure know where to come with questions!! Thanks! Chrissie (in reply to chrissie) Post #: 6

RE: medicine bottles - to dump or not? - 10/17/2003 1:39:20 PM    Pontiled   Posts: 411 Joined: 8/27/2003 Status: offline Chrissie, if you could post a few pictures, we might be able to tell you more from a collectors viewpoint. Be very careful removing the brown paper from over the labels. It can be done, but very carefully and very slowly, otherwise the label itself may come loose or get damaged. By the way, even old suppository boxes have collector value. Don't rush it! _____________________________ Mike Russell Author of: The Collector's Guide to Civil War Period Bottles and Jars -- Third Edition (in reply to chrissie) Post #: 7

All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> Cleaning and Repairing >> medicine bottles - to dump or not?

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