Robby Raccoon
Trash Digger
Our friend Antlerman23 and I made a business-transaction for two bottles, but as a kind gift he sent me a third as well. So..... thanks, Spencer! []
The first one I'll talk about is Battle Creek Lithia Water Co.:L. W. Macomber-- born October 8th, 1865-- was originally a machinist responsible for a few patents, but in 1898 he discovered a Spring outside of Battle Creek and was finally able to obtain the land in the Fall of 1902 according to this helpful page. As my bottle was made by S. B. & G. Co., which went out in 1905, my bottle is likely 1903 - 1905. It has a 4 on the heel, and that is likely a mold-number, but it is possible that that is the year made (not likely.) I cannot find another one online even though the business was still around in 1912 directories, so it is likely a rare tooled-crown. Another note: Lithia Water is a type of mineral-water with lithium-salts in it.
The second one: The Battle Creek Brewing Co:Somewhere, something is wrong here. I had thought that the 'Registered Pure and Without Drugs or Poison' statement was mandatory on all alcohol bottles starting in 1899-- and indeed, I have one that was S. B. & G. Co.-made with that statement-- so.... Is my memory failing me, or is the information on The Battle Creek Brewing Co. found here incorrect, or is there something else amiss? Here's what I know:Battle Creek, part of Calhoun County, voted in 1909 to go dry by 1912. And indeed they did, thus severely impairing the Brewery prior to National Prohibition (The Brewery began attempting to move to Kalamazoo in 1909 and began thinking about converting to an ice-factory instead of sitting idle or doing non-alcoholic drinks in 1915.) So then I wonder: Is Battle Creek Brewing Co. different than The Battle Creek Brewing Co.? My memory's information puts my bottle at pre-1899 when the site says that they started in 1901. If they are indeed the same, it appears that they didn't start brewing until 1902-- the year they elect officers-- or had limited operation in 1901. My bottle is also S. B. & G. Co.-made and is a nice Baltimore Loop-Seal with nice reddish-amber color. Here is a plate from them.Here is a tray.
Here is a very interesting gift from Spencer:Warner's White Wine of Tar Syrup from Coldwater, Michigan. An interesting feature of the bottle is that the majority of the vent-holes are on 2 corners. According to this helpful site, Collatinus D. Warner-- born in 1839-1840-- began manufacturing his products and became "Dr. Warner" in 1872-- first located in Reading, Michigan. By 1887, he had relocated to Coldwater and continued until 1909 with manufacturing Warner's White Wine of Tar Syrup in which his son, Hiram Warner, changed the name to the delightful Warner's White Wine and Tar. Collatinus was a Civil War veteran and was injured and honorably discharged.
Mouth.Another pic of the tooled bottle. All 3. Again: Thank you, Antlerman. []