Robby Raccoon
Trash Digger
After going back to a 1950s/1960s dump I'd been digging--this time the only good items I brought back were a 1950s Cottage Cheese bottle from Sanitary Dairy (local) and a tall Drewery's can that, albeit rusty, is in better condition than the last beers I brought back which are really wrecked 1940s Carling's (I think, can't quite recall) cans. Apparently, my great grandfather used to drink Carling's.
Anyway, back on topic... Afterwards, I set out for Mona Lake, where I had yesterday found a couple bottles in the woods and three bricks I wanted (debbossed; they go in the garden.) As I had the Carling's cans, a few bottles, some young pines for the wooded front yard we want to see in 25 years, and two of three bricks (one was more like two, so...) I couldn't risk carrying yet another brick, so I decided I'd come back the next day to get it ("STREATOR PAVER" is says.) But, on my way there, I stopped on a whim at a yard-sale. It was just about to rain (and rain it did later!) but I looked in there, and admired some well over-priced kerosene lamps, an early early electric sewing machine, and then suddenly found myself looking at a display of jars and bottles. The lady had overpriced all things vintage in there, and the only items of interest (she also knew little on what she had...) were this bottle, and a few aqua Mason Jars. Picking it up, I looked at the price tag and saw it was overpriced. Coming up to me, she asked if I knew anything on it. Noticing it wasn't a crown top, I told her I knew nothing on non-local bottles and also told her I didn't have ten bucks. I offered to make a trade, but she shook her head and smiled. She told me they had a street named Wacker where it was bottled, and that's all she knew other than that she brought it with her from Chicago.
Unable to be 100% sure on what it was (it had a covering of wax on it, as it was used as a candle holder! It also had two small leaves stuck to the inside, making me thing it was a vase,) I left and obtained ten bucks. Returning via vehicle with my mom as it was raining lightly (I'm only a minor still,) I walked in and looked at the display again, picking up a few items before going to the thank-God-it's-still-there bottle, and finally grabbed this one and offered her five. She wouldn't take it, claiming it's because she brought it back from Chicago. I offered six, she still said no. Again, I offered her cash--this time eight bucks, and she paused, looked over the bottle, and said, "Alright." I thanked her and left, in which my mom took hold of it at a stoplight then continued driving, peeling wax off of it! I'm like, "Mom. The light is green. Are you really gonna drive and clean a bottle?" Yup. Lol. We stop at another yard-sale, then go home. So, I get it home, let it soak, clean it up and photograph it. It has a chip on the seam near the heel, and is embossed as follows:
Front: "THE WACKER & BIRK / BREWING CO. / CHICAGO"
Back: "THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO / BE SOLD"
Base: "2"
The company was in business from the early 1880s-1918. They had blob tops, like mine, and tooled/applied crowns on their bottles. I had initially thought 1890-1900 on it. Anyone care to chime in? There are bubbles in the glass, and the glass kind of swirls to the right until the tooling on the neck. It's a neat piece. But I think I overpaid, even before I bought it. I just have been looking for a good beer bottle that is 1900 or earlier. Found it (still would rather it be local, but beggers cannot be choosers!) This brings my collection of antique embossed beers to three. [
] Might I also add this was in the top ten largest breweries in Chicago until it began to die away in the early 1900s. Here is Bruce's site, which has one similar to mine as variation three, but is not my identical bottle. As they made many bottles over a long period, it is not surprising it isn't the same one.
I am 99% certain this one was dug.
Anyway, back on topic... Afterwards, I set out for Mona Lake, where I had yesterday found a couple bottles in the woods and three bricks I wanted (debbossed; they go in the garden.) As I had the Carling's cans, a few bottles, some young pines for the wooded front yard we want to see in 25 years, and two of three bricks (one was more like two, so...) I couldn't risk carrying yet another brick, so I decided I'd come back the next day to get it ("STREATOR PAVER" is says.) But, on my way there, I stopped on a whim at a yard-sale. It was just about to rain (and rain it did later!) but I looked in there, and admired some well over-priced kerosene lamps, an early early electric sewing machine, and then suddenly found myself looking at a display of jars and bottles. The lady had overpriced all things vintage in there, and the only items of interest (she also knew little on what she had...) were this bottle, and a few aqua Mason Jars. Picking it up, I looked at the price tag and saw it was overpriced. Coming up to me, she asked if I knew anything on it. Noticing it wasn't a crown top, I told her I knew nothing on non-local bottles and also told her I didn't have ten bucks. I offered to make a trade, but she shook her head and smiled. She told me they had a street named Wacker where it was bottled, and that's all she knew other than that she brought it with her from Chicago.
Unable to be 100% sure on what it was (it had a covering of wax on it, as it was used as a candle holder! It also had two small leaves stuck to the inside, making me thing it was a vase,) I left and obtained ten bucks. Returning via vehicle with my mom as it was raining lightly (I'm only a minor still,) I walked in and looked at the display again, picking up a few items before going to the thank-God-it's-still-there bottle, and finally grabbed this one and offered her five. She wouldn't take it, claiming it's because she brought it back from Chicago. I offered six, she still said no. Again, I offered her cash--this time eight bucks, and she paused, looked over the bottle, and said, "Alright." I thanked her and left, in which my mom took hold of it at a stoplight then continued driving, peeling wax off of it! I'm like, "Mom. The light is green. Are you really gonna drive and clean a bottle?" Yup. Lol. We stop at another yard-sale, then go home. So, I get it home, let it soak, clean it up and photograph it. It has a chip on the seam near the heel, and is embossed as follows:
Front: "THE WACKER & BIRK / BREWING CO. / CHICAGO"
Back: "THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO / BE SOLD"
Base: "2"
The company was in business from the early 1880s-1918. They had blob tops, like mine, and tooled/applied crowns on their bottles. I had initially thought 1890-1900 on it. Anyone care to chime in? There are bubbles in the glass, and the glass kind of swirls to the right until the tooling on the neck. It's a neat piece. But I think I overpaid, even before I bought it. I just have been looking for a good beer bottle that is 1900 or earlier. Found it (still would rather it be local, but beggers cannot be choosers!) This brings my collection of antique embossed beers to three. [
] Might I also add this was in the top ten largest breweries in Chicago until it began to die away in the early 1900s. Here is Bruce's site, which has one similar to mine as variation three, but is not my identical bottle. As they made many bottles over a long period, it is not surprising it isn't the same one. I am 99% certain this one was dug.
