Dr. Thompson's Eye Water

[digginfool]

Found these at the jobsite in Florence, Mass today. (what a great job for bottles!!!)

DR. THOMPSON'S EYE WATER
About 3-3/4" tall
Seam ends at bottom of neck

and

MELLIN'S FOOD FREE SAMPLE
About 3-3/4" Tall
Seam ends at bottom of neck

Could these be pre-1900?

 

[KentOhio]

Yes, they're pre-1900, probaly 1890 or so. Both companies lasted a very long time.

 

[digginfool]

Have you ever heard of "EYE WATER?" What is it? Some sort of Visine?

 

[whiskeyman]

Back in the Patent Medicine hey-days,everyone & their brother was making something: eye water included....the Pure Food & Drugs Act of June 3oth 1906 put a stop to a lot of this and also made many companies change the wording Eye Water to Eye Wash....as the term Eye Water seemed a bit too close to the "real thing"....and it was only spring water...
Thompson's was just an Eye Wash, like we still use today...

 

[GuntherHess]

The Thompson's Eyewater was originally out of New London Conn. They go back as early as the 1820s. There are a lot of different versions, the earliest I have seen is open pontil with a flared lip. Even the pontil ones are relatively common and sell for $30-40. It must of been a very successful product.