CROSKEY'S COLUMBIAN GIN

[theblaze22]

I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this bottle CROSKEY'S COLUMBIAN GIN CHICAGO ILLS ITS 9.25 TALL 3" SQUARE THE NECK ALONE IS 1.5" TALL

 

[epackage]

John Bermingham, Pres., Thomas Hutchinson, Sec. (1879-1881) John Birmingham, Pres., Thomas Hutchinson, sec. (1882). In 1892, they were drawing spirits from the Latonia Distillery in Milldale, KY (RD #2, 6th District).

The company used the brand names:
"Bermingham's", "Columbian Gin", "Hill House", "Peach Blossom", "River Mills", "Tulip Gin", "White City", and "White Line."


Business name timeline:
Chicago Distilling Co.

Address timeline:
260-262 S Water (office, 1879-1886), & Elston Ave cor Blackhawk (1885-1888), 233-235 Kinzie (1887, 1889-1908), 135 E Kinzie (1888), 6 W Kinzie (1909-1917)


Business category timeline (abbreviations decoded below):
D R


Years that company appeared in directories
Years directories were consulted
Chicago directory notes











Appearance in directories:
1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917


Directories consulted:
1860, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918


Chicago directory notes:
V= Wine & Liquor (Wholesale), V-R = Wine & Liquor (Retail), W = Whiskey (Wholesale), L = Liquors (Wholesale) D = Distiller, DA = distiller’s agent

1860 - distillers page v difficult to read, 1872 unreadable, 1873 much missing, 1875 partial no DR, 1900 missing, 1903 no Wine & Liquor, 1904 J-S is unreadable, 1909: Major street renumbering with relocation of the E/W divide, 1911: minimal listing, another street renumbering, 1912 is missing, 1914: half distillers missing, 1915 no street addresses for distillers, 1917 no distillers in the business database, but includes the Telephone directory listings, 1918 no distillers and based on telephone directory only. There is some confusion on the dates of the directory - there were 4 sets variously labeled 1916-1919 but there were multiple xing out and inaccuracies. 1917 is a good bet, 1918 could be later. 1918: 5 th Ave becomes Wells

 

[theblaze22]

How old is it, How rare is it and What is it worth? I dug it up 5 years ago and I still can not find anything out about it.......I'm starting to think its rarer than rare (one of a kind)I have also dug up bottles from the 1880's along with it so that would be my guess on its age. going to put this on ebay when i find out a little more about it..thanks for any anwers I get




CAN'T WAIT FOR THE GROUND TO THAW GOT SOME NEW DUMP SITES TO DIG UP THAT MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME ABOUT THEY WERE HIS DADS AND GRANDFATHERS

 

[theblaze22]

[] does anyone know anything about this bottle as in the value

 

[epackage]

I would say list it on e-bay and find out, set a high reserve, it'll cost you a few dollars but you'll find out...Jim

 

[wolffbp]

Nice research efforts Jim[]

 

[tigue710]

I'll give you a dollar fifty for it... That would make it's current value 1.50, probably get 150 for it on eBay, send it to heckler and get 400...

 

[surfaceone]

Hello Richard,

Welcome to A-BN & thanks for bringing the Croskey. Could'ya put up some additional photos, please. I'd like to see the shield emblem and the base as well. Don't forget to check the Embed Button.

Chicago was host to the 1893 Columbian Exhibition and there was considerable hoopla about Senor Columbus around that time. I believe your Croskey predates the Exhibition.

I think Jim has found information on another Columbian Gin. Hope I'm not stepping on yer Search sneakers, Jim.[8D]

Croskey is listed as, "GIN, COLUMBIAN, PURE SPIRITS.

Croskey A. F., 51 and 53 S. Water," in the "Illinois state gazetteer and business directory, for the years 1864-5 .."

"GEO. A. SHUFELT, JR.
LIQUORS^
^/ # T. SHUFELDT,
KRAEFFT & CO.,
SUCCESSORS TO
A. F. CROSKEY,
DISTILLERS OF
ALCOHOL, PURE SPIRITS,
WHISKIES, and
COLUMBIAN GrIN.
OFFICE, u South WaUr street, Chicago. Ill" in this semi jumbled, inartfully scanned THE CHICAGO TIMES, MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1865.

"Great improvements have been introduced into the modern stills. Continued scien-
tific investigation has resulted in producing an apparatus for the production of fine
spirits and whisky, superior to anything hitherto made. Mr. A. F. CBOSKEY, one of
the most enterprising Distillers, has, after long experience and great expense, succeed-
ed in constructing a still which is the most efficient in its results of any in the United
States. It is too complicated for any intelligent description to. be given of it without
drawings. It collects the condensed fluid of all degrees of strength, and of the utmost
purity. By this new apparatus he is producing a superior quality of Alcohol Cologne
Spirits, for the use of Druggists, Perfumers and wholesale Liquor Dealers. It is
the highest proof ever produced in this country, and not excelled, perhaps, by any



164 DISTILLING AND RECTIFYING.

manufacture in the world. It more than accomplishes the highest expectations of its
enterprising owner, to whom it will give the control of this market, for fine Cologne
and high proof Spirits.

The consumption of Spirituous Liquors, both as a luxury and in the arts, is so vast
that their manufacture necessarily involves considerations of great commercial import-
ance. This is comparatively a new branch of business in Chicago ; the demand for
Alcohol and Spirits having been, until within the last few years, supplied from Cincin-
nati, St. Louis and Buffalo. The home demand has become so great as to induce men
of capital to invest large amounts in perfecting machinery with all the modern im-
provements, for producing not only a superior quality, but an abundant supply; having
all the raw materials ready at hand, in greater abundance and at less cost than any
other point or great commercial centre in the great valley of the "West. Therefore this
city is becoming the centre of manufacture for Whisky and High Wines. In 1.862,
there we're distilled in this city and vicinity, about one hundred thousand gallons of
Proof Whisky, consuming, if we allow one bushel of corn to every three gallons of
spirits, 33,000 bushels of corn. There are but eight concerns engaged in distilling
Whisky from rye, corn, etc.

The leading business connected with the manufacture of Spiritiious Liquors in Chi-
cago is Rectifying Whisky. There are at least eight or ten firms engaged in this
pursuit. The leading and most extensive one is that of A. S. Croskey. This house,
which was formerly W. S. Shufeldt & Co., was among the first to open this business
in this city, having commenced here in 1856. Mr. Croskey has a large capital employed
in this business, and in the manufacture of his f well-known Fine Rye and Monongahela
Whiskies, which is said to be ecjual in flavor and quality to the celebrated Whiskies of
Ohio and Pennsylvania, and which, on account of its purity and freedom from any
disagreeable smell, is preferred and much used by perfumers and druggists. Mr.
Croskey, controlling a large capital, can keep his liquors in store until time imparts
that flavor which it is said age alone can give. In addition to 'articles manufactured
by this hoiTse, their stock consists in Campheiie, Burning Fluid, Scotch Whiskies,
Cherry Brandy, also the finest Imported Liquors, Wines and Segars ; the imported
articles always kept in the United States Bonded Warehouse in this city, which he
offers to the trade at the lowest rates and most favorable terms.

' Alcohol, it is generally known, is distilled from Whisky nine gallons of the latter
making five gallons of the former. Alcohol for Burning Fluid is ninety-five per cent.,
while Druggists' Alcohol is but eighty-four per cent., being reduced to that standard
after distillation. Burning Fluid, which this firm deals in quite extensively, is made
by the admixture of one gallon of Pine Oil to four gallons of Alcohol." History of Chicago by I. D. (Isaac D.) Guyer.

 

[cowseatmaize]

Richard, try not to use angry faces, I personally would like them removed. Many (maybe most) people don't try to guess at value and the angry face just makes things worse. There are way to many factors involved to even guess value or origin with just a picture. As far as one of a kind, that's highly unlikely. Only the very wealthy would spend the money to make a mold to blow one bottle.
The building on one side may be a key to IDing the bottle. The best I can guess is in the 1880-1910 range. It may be Colombian expo as stated or even a worlds fair St Louis bottle.
Condition is about as much a key as rarity in a late mold common form bottle.
If you post some more picture and add details, maybe we can help with ID.

 

[epackage]

ORIGINAL: cowseatmaize

Richard, try not to use angry faces, I personally would like them removed. Many (maybe most) people don't try to guess at value and the angry face just makes things worse. There are way to many factors involved to even guess value or origin with just a picture. As far as one of a kind, that's highly unlikely. Only the very wealthy would spend the money to make a mold to blow one bottle.
The building on one side may be a key to IDing the bottle. The best I can guess is in the 1880-1910 range. It may be Colombian expo as stated or even a worlds fair St Louis bottle.
Condition is about as much a key as rarity in a late mold common form bottle.
If you post some more picture and add details, maybe we can help with ID.

Croskey's Columbian Gin has been around since at least 1866 and had no direct connection to the expo in 1893, here it is in a newspaper from 1866. The shield on the side of the bottle is very similar to the one in the newspaper ad, can we see a good pic of the shield Mike? I'm still trying to find something on value but there seems to be nothing...Jim[]

As you can see, Croskey wasn't the maker at this point since it shows the ad was for his succesor....

http://fultonhistory.com/newspapers%20Disk3/Syracuse%20NY%20Daily%20Journal/Syracuse%20NY%20Daily%20Journal%201866.pdf/Syracuse%20NY%20Daily%20Journal%201866%20-%200127.PDF