Tonic bottle Question for Bill

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texasdigger

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Hello Bill my name is Brad. You helped me a while back with information on a bottle I dug. It was a red amber "Mull's Grape Tonic Rock Island Illinois" in a bitters bottle size and shape. thanks for your help!

Now I have two more questions for you about a couple more bottles. First the PHILLIPS’ / LIVER HUSTLER / OR LIVER TONIC / GAINESVILLE, TEX. Amber, rectangular, 6 ¾†tall.

I only collect Texas meds now, and have never heard of or seen this bottle. I have asked all the old time collectors around here, and none of them has either. Have you actually seen one before? If so how early did the bottle appear? If you saw it sell about how much did it bring?

The next one is the
TONIQUE / SAN ANTONIO / TONIC, amber & reportedly aqua, square “brandy†shape, 11 ½†tal. With the same set of questions as the other bottle.

These are two bottles I would love to add to my collection. I know it is a long shot, but if anyone has one of these or any other Texas meds they would part with please drop me a line. Thanks for your help!

Brad
 

jfcutter

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Hi Brad...cool named bottles, eh? They are for real but alas I don't own them.

The Phillips' Liver Hustler was on eBay a few years ago (forgot to write down the date) and sold for $120. It is what I would call a "prescription druggist" shape....below is an image:

The San Antonio Tonic was also on eBay in 2004. It had a small chip on the lip and sold for $113. It is indeed a "brandy shaped" bottle...or my name for it. Image will be in the next posting.

Bill

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jfcutter

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Here's the other bottle....I don't know that it is a Texas bottle, but that is likely. I have no history on either product...besides examples were sold on eBay.

Bill



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jfcutter

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As far as the dating of them...given the look of both, I would say they are early 1900s, mouth-blown (tooled finish) items. The Liver Hustler (great name!) could be 1890s, but I think both are from the 1900 to 1915 era.

Bill



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texasdigger

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Thanks for your help as always. I love the Philips bottle. I know to you guys who get to dig super old stuff that is not very interesting, but when it comes to rarity Texas meds are tough tough tough to find. I have been hunting them for 4 years now, and only managed to wrangle about 50 different bottles. The largest collection known of Texas meds is about 60 bottles. This is only the second or third amber med I have seen embossed with Texas. Many of the known bottles have less than a couple examples known to exist. I have some that are thought by the most knowledgeable Texas collectors to be unique. Of course are some examples waiting top be dug or sitting on someone who knows nothing about bottles shelves because it looks cool. Now drug store bottles are plentiful like the other states, but not the patent meds.

Here is a Tonic bottle that is not in your list. I am sure you have seen it, but just in case you have not here you go. Prices Patent Texas Tonic / Republic of Texas. The only known open pontil bottle with Texas embossed. There is a iron pontiled Robertsons bitters from Austin, and a iron pontiled soda from Conat New Orleans on the front then Galveston, Texas on the back. I have seen one of the two examples of the soda, but I have not found anyone who has even seen the Bitters. It is my belief that this bottle is not actually a Texas bottle. The only info I can find on the company is one killer add (circa 1864 New Orleans paper) that lists the company, and all it's distributors to be in New Orleans at the time. Which makes since because of the commerce between that town, and the state of Texas. The Republic of Texas did give a patent to this medicine, but it predates all adds and this bottle by about 20-25 years. The add also says "Prices Patent Texas Tonic or Bitters". the bottle was dug in New Orleans, and sold for over 14,000 dollars. It is my ultimate goal as a digger to find one of these one day. Or become so over loaded with cash that I can talk the present owner out of it! Neither sounds to likely!

Thanks again,

Brad

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texasdigger

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Here is the link to the Texas add.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2480&dat=18641127&id=ZhI0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=hSMIAAAAIBAJ&pg=2715,5639548


When I talked to you before we also spoke about the Admirine tasteless tonic from Dallas. Here are two bottles that actually are the earlier parent company to that bottle plus two others. left to right

Morley's Wonderful 8 Austin
Cohen's Brittish Cough Balsam Waxahachie, Texas (thought to be unique 1870's)
Cascarine/ Cascarine Medicine Company/ Dallas Texas (aqua scarace to rare)
Cascarine/ Cascarine Medicine Company/ Dallas Texas (red amber very rare again none of the old timers have seen another like it)

Thanks again, and have a great day!

Brad



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texasdigger

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Sorry it is actually embossed. Cohen's British Cough Balsam Hyam Cohen Waxahachie, TEX with a british crown.
 

jfcutter

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Thanks for the information Brad!

I've never heard of the Texas Tonic....what a cool bottle! So it is embossed with REPUBLIC OF TEXAS on the reverse (non-pictured) side in a similar indented panel? Wow!!

I will add it to my master list of tonics...it won't show up online until I do an update in the future (and I'm way behind on that). That has to be the best tonic bottle by most standards (not beauty) and about as "historic" as bottles get, regardless of where it really came from.

Bill


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texasdigger

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Yes sir it is embossed Republic of Texas vertically down the center of the back panel, and the back panel is totally flat. Super crude lettering. I am no expert on early glass, but this bottle does not look like N.E. glass to me. The top especially. Do you have any gues as to where it was made, and a appx date? I would say 1850-1855, and maybe Pittsburgh or Ohio. I have a pic of the pontil, and the back on my work computer. I will post it when I am there on monday. Also The origional patent was given to Jon Price, and this company was ran by a different Price. Same medicine name though. Maybe his son or other relative.


Matt I agree with you on the rip off from England possibly, but boy does it amaze that a early Texas pioneer knew about meds from England. The world still seems large now, but when everything traveled by wagon or ship it was truly gigantic. Things still made their way around though. All be it a little slower!

I need to order the newest version of your book soon. It is still the best bottle reference I use. I know it is not a big deal to some, but seeing bottles I dug show up in the listing feels good. Thanks for adding it!

My newest hobo medicine I got off craigslist for 15.00. It is in great shape. The girl who had it found it under the floor boards of her house when they were remodeling along with some other 1890-1915 bottles.

Brad



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