Digiacomo Blob from Philly

[kwalker]

Dug this one up a few months ago and have had little luck trying to figure out anything about it. It was unlisted on The Sodas and Beers Database until I submitted it and apparently was only circulated for one year (1911) which I'm surprised. I thought blobs were scarcely used around this time. I looked up the address and a building is standing there, but it's been abandoned and old fire insurance maps marked it as a slaughter house around 1910-1915. The name Michael DiGiacomo seems nonexistent anywhere. He's listed as living with a large Italian family in some censuses but is stated as being a day-laborer, not a bottler. This makes me think that he was not in business for very long at all. I'm wondering if anyone could help me out with this one as far as who Michael DiGiacomo was, when he was in business and why this bottle was only circulated for a year. Also, because this was apparently only around for a year does this add to any value? This load of questions comes after hours of chasing dead-end leads through censuses, maps and business listings.

Jim (epackage) thoughtfully sent me a nice bail for the stopper and really completed the bottle.

 

[kwalker]

The stopper & bail

 

[kwalker]

The crisp embossing. I think a tumble would take the roughness out of it. I think I'll keep it the way it is though.

 

[surfaceone]

Hey Kenneth,

This just in:

"MICHAEL DIGIACOMO
Philadelphia, PA.
1914

Business name timeline:
Michael DiGiacomo

Address timeline:
240 N 57 th

Business category timeline (abbreviations decoded below):
W= Whiskey (Wholesale)

Appearance in directories:
1914

Directories consulted:
1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918" From Pre-Pro.

Sorry, it's just a nugget. But, again, a single year nugget.

 

[kwalker]

I'll surely book mark that page. That'll be really useful for sure later on. Pardon my ignorance but what's being a nugget mean? []

 

[surfaceone]

Hey Kenneth,

Just a small bit of (information) of value... I always considered it an old mining term.

 

[kwalker]

Ah right right thanks for clarifying that. I've got the basics down. Seems I still have a lot more I need to find out. But I suppose you can only go so far when it comes to certain bottlers. I'm not sure. I sure could use more information though.

 

[surfaceone]

Seems I still have a lot more I need to find out. But I suppose you can only go so far when it comes to certain bottlers. I'm not sure. I sure could use more information though.

Hey Kenneth,

Given the vagaries of the internet, and it's ever increasing content, I think it pays to vary your searching techniques. Different ways of inputting the information, street address, or not. Company or Co., take a guess at names. Play word roulette. Change-up your search platforms, and cross your fingers.

 

[Ratzilla]

No question it's a rare bottle, but value is another story - there are literally thousands of different Philly blobs out there, so even a one of a kind example isn't worth much, maybe $10 - $20 on a good day, unless it's got something unusual (good color, interesting embossing or pictures, super crude, or you happen to find a family member desperately searching for one). Unknown blobs from small towns can bring hundreds, but Philly seems to have an endless supply of them so the value just isn't there. Still, it's neat to say you have the only one known! As for the date, there are many small bottlers that still used hand finished blobs into the late teens / early 20's, I've seen blobs from South Jersey bottlers who didn't start bottling until 1918 or later. Many glassworks still made hand finished bottles into the 20's, something people often don't realize. By the way, your bottle was probably made in or near Salem - it's the same mold used by Thomas Harkins from Salem and several other area bottlers.

 

[kwalker]

No kidding it may have been made in Salem? I was looking around at some old maps and saw there was a glass company that also had a steamer to ship their products to Philadelphia. I'm pretty sure it was the Gayner Glassworks but I'm sure the other city works used them as well. That's my favorite part about living around here; the history that goes into the hobby is so closely tied in around here. I go through Salem so many times itching to get out and explore those old buildings around there.

As for the blob, that's rather interesting they'd still use old techniques during the industrial height of the turn of the century. You'd think they'd be prying at getting their hands on a few Owens Machines...

I had to work around the web for a few hours just to find out the different wards of Philadelphia in 1910 for the census records and Sanborn Maps. After that I got to look down Westminster Avenue for an hour or so before I saw there wasn't a bottler identified on there (there was however an orphans asylum...) So I then went to the address number. 4712 would've been located around 57th street in that area. I went over to there on the map and, sure enough. No dice... Seems the mystery goes on until I manage to find a bit more []

The Salem & Philadelphia Steamship company used to sail the route between the cities and also to Maryland and Delaware. Here's a picture of one of the steamers I'd imagine they may have owned.