BOB'S BOTTLE HUNTING SEASON / FINDS

[SODAPOPBOB]

Here's another sampling of Mike Bryant's amazing museum. These are part of his embossed bottles, every one of which is from the San Diego area and cover a wide range of years. That goofy looking guy reflected in the mirror is me. []

Later this week (if it stops raining) I plan to go on a true hunt into the back country and hopefully will have a bottle or two to post when I return.

SPBOB

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Help!

I forgot to ask Mike Bryant about the date on the Gazosa bottle, and am attempting to do it on my own. But the problem is I am not familiar how to read the codes for the bottle maker below. In the accompanying photo of the base it reads ...

G C ... 3357 ... 4

If you are familiar with this code I sure could use some help decoding it.

Thanks

SPBOB


[*]G C (entertwined angularly designed letters, vertically arranged) ... Glass Containers, Inc. (1933-1983),later Glass Containers Corporation, main office in Fullerton, CA, with several glass plant locations. Bought up the Knox Glass Company plants in 1968. This particular mark is stated to have first been used in 1945 according to Toulouse, but may in fact date from somewhat earlier. Peterson (1968:49) indicates at least one variation of the GC trademark was used beginning in 1933. Several variations of the "G C" mark exist, including one with the letters rounded (not angular), and another one with the letters touching, or nearly so.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

P.S. ~

The apparent options for the date are as follows ...

1957 = Most Likely
1937 = Possible
1935 = Very Unlikely
1933 = No Way

 

[sdmike]

Hi Bob. It was a pleasure to have you and Mike over to take a look at my collection. Now, the Gazosa ACL has always been thought of as being from the 30's. In searching the San Diego City Directories, the first listing I find for them is 1933, the last listing for Gazosa was 1943, so I am pretty sure the 30's figure is correct.. Was it 33 or 37? I would say 1937. Gazosa moved from University Ave to 313 5th Ave. in the early 1940's. The president was Frank Alessio a well known businessman here who's family ran the Caliente Race Track in TJ. Some of the products they bottled were: Soda Water, Lime Rickey, Ginger Ale & Pepsi. Hope this helps......Mike

 

[JOETHECROW]

Mike and Bob,...great photo's and info as always...Thank you,...and if I could recirocate with an opinion of my own....As a former glass man (glazier) with a lot of years in the field,.....The glass shelf looks overloaded to me....Normally I'd keep my two cents to myself,...but if those are your treasured bottles,...[perhaps it would be worthwhile to increase the thickness of the shelf] I've seen 1/4" glass fail with no warning. Not trying to be a "buttinski"...just honest concern.

 

[sdmike]

I kind have felt that way too. I do need to put in a thicker glass. Thanks for the reminder.....Mike

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Mike ~

Thanks for the info on the Gazosa bottle. The 1937 date is like frosting on the cake for me. I'm going to try that two-outer-numbers formula on a couple of other G C bottles I have and see what I come up with.

Guess where my brother and I went today? The photo below should be familiar to you by now. I will send you a PM tomorrow to let you know exactly where it is located. We also poked around the site of the old Buckman gas station/cafe, but it was getting late so we didn't have time to really find anything.

However, earlier in the day we did some exploring to the east and discovered the ruins of a 1920s thru 40s facility that looked real promising. We haven't located the dump yet, but I know there is one around there somewhere. And I am about 99% sure no one has touched it yet (I hope). I'm going back out there in a couple of weeks and will let you know what I find, if anything.

Thanks again for sharing your museum with my brother and I. For me it was more fun than going to Disneyland. And the bottles you gave me are already displayed prominently among my other collectibles.

SPBOB


Amos Buckman Grave Stone 1898 ... Founder of Buckman Springs Lithia Water Bottling Plant.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Oops! I forgot to click the post-it box.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Here's a photo of the old ruins we found. I realize it may not look like much. But to die-hard bottle hunters, an old foundation like this with sage brush growing in it, is like a shining beacon to a gold mine. []

SPBOB

 

[Anthonicia]

ORIGINAL: SODAPOPBOB

                                                  
It was in Oatman where I picked up a few old soda bottles. The photo below is of the old Glory Hole building which used to house several doctor and dentist offices, but today is an antique shop and museum.

This same building was shown in the 1961 movie "How The West Was Won." It is only a brief seen, and appears towards the end of the movie when Debbie Reynolds has grown older and settles down.

Harold's 'Customized' Beverages. Parker, Phoenix & Los Angeles. 1942 Owens-Illinois. I have never heard of this brand, and was unable to find out anything about it. But I do know that Parker is a small town on the Colorado river about 60 miles south of Oatman. I am not exactly sure what they mean by "Customized" on the label. Notice the Saguaro cactus on the label.

{Front}

I'm sorry Bob, I just have to ask you if Debbie Reynolds is still working at the gloryhole? That would be worth the price of admission by itself! Haha