EARLIEST "CROWN TOP" SODA BOTTLES 1892 - 1900

[Lordbud]

"I'd say that any blown-in-a-mold crown top bottle was "most likely" made prior to 1906, but no earlier than about 1896."

Well, none of the other more Advanced Collectors out here in California posted. So a little information: the PCGW (Pacific Coast Glass Works of San Francisco) didn't switch over to machine made bottles until 1923-24. We have a wealth of tooled crowntop sodas made by PCGW from cities all over California but perhaps moreso in the Bay Area. Most Advanced Western collectors would eschew the very thought of digging a tooled crowntop but I have added a good number to my collection over the past few decades. Many of these tooled crowns are reeduckulously common (for example Williams Bros, S&E Golden West, Oakland Pioneer, Hayward, etc.) however some are perhaps less common than others. See my thread here for a trip South from San Francisco on the railroad stopping in various cities to sample their crowntop offerings...https://www.antique-bottles.net/forum/m-214059/mpage-1/key-train/tm.htm#214062

Paid $25.00 for this at the recent Golden Gate show, Mayfield Soda Works. I'm personally aware of about ten known examples, but I would be surprised if there weren't at least several more sitting in boxes in some bottle collectors' garages. These always are clean, and are almost certainly products of the PCGW.

 

[Lordbud]

Mayfield was annexed to Palo Alto in 1925. The hutch is one of the rarest from Cali.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Lordbud ~

Thanks for the info. It's good to here from another California collecter. I'm interested in checking out your website, but the link didn't post properly. Maybe you could try it again.

Thanks,

SPB

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I was surfing the internet today researching something else bottle related, when I accidentally stumbled onto this bottle that was described as follows ...

Description :

"Round Bottom Soda Bottle Applied Crown Top ca.1890s. Also known as a Cucumber.This bottle was blown in a mold, and has what is known as an applied crown finish closure.The lip, a crown top, was fashioned after the bottle was removed from the mold in which it was blown. It is 8-1/4 inches long. Nice shade of aqua. Probably held Gingerale, though other soft drinks were bottled in round bottom bottles as well. Mouth-blown, true applied crown finish closure soda bottles are very uncommon. Mouth-blown, tooled crown finish soda bottles date from possibly as early as 1894, but more likely from about 1897."

Unfortunately there is no embossing or other marks on this particular bottle for identification, but I can't help but wonder if this may be an example of our mysterious "First of the Crowns?" Besides the photo shown here, I also have a closeup of the base which shows it is indeed a fully rounded bottom with no hint of a flat surface. Typically a pure rounded bottom is only found on Hutchison and similar early bottles. So, once again, I can't say for sure.

SPB

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Just for the record, here's the closeup of the fully rounded bottom.

 

[Lordbud]

This is a thread right here on the forum:

https://www.antique-bottles.net/forum/m-214059/mpage-1/key-train/tm.htm#214062

 

[ruccello]

Sodapopbob, are you sodabottlebob from TN? You ID'd an imposter coke hobbleskirt for me recently - "handy hold bottle" BIM. I was just reading this post and noticed the round bottom applied crown top pictured. I have the exact same bottle, found at the same dump as the imposter coke. Very crude top, very heavy, mold seam goes around the entire base. I also have a similar one with a partially flat bottom from same dump. I'm glad I saw it on this thread, as there doesn't seem to be much info on it anywhere.

Richard

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

ruccello ~

Welcome aboard. I'm fairly new to Antique-Bottles.net myself.

That pirate from TN and I be the same scoundrel. I've set my sails here lately. More bottles equal more rum, er ... I mean "fun."

I recall the "Handy Hold" bottle topic, but when I went back to check it out again I couldn't find it. I can't remember the title.

Stick around. The folks here are the best of the best, and if they don't have the answers I do! Lol []

SODAPOPBOB ... a.k.a. SPB ... a.k.a. SBB ... a.k.a. Bob ... a.k.a. Dad ... a.k.a. Grandpa []

 

[ruccello]

Bob, it's nice to hear from you - I had a feeling you were one and the same! I enjoy reading your posts, always extremely informative. I pop on this site every now and then to see what's new. I've been really interested in sodas lately, as I've been finding many early crown tops, and some very interesting ones. I'll have to post some new finds here. I'm digging tomorrow, so I should have even more. I'll try to post some next week.

Richard

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I hope this update will interest those of you who have been following this thread. I have been in contact with two of the nations leading experts involved with bottling history, and although most of you would immediately recognize their names, I will refrain from mentioning them just yet until I get their permission, as both are published researchers and I want to respect their privacy.

Both of these individuals have expressed a genuine interest regarding the "When" and, by "Who" of the first crown closure soda bottles. As it turns out there appears to be very little, if any, published information specifically dealing with this topic. My inquiry was forwarded to what was referred to as "The Bottle Research Group," (Which I'm sure many of you have heard of). As far as I know they are the leaders in this field.

What I am discovering most interesting of all is the possibility that this little thread of ours may be the first of it's kind to fully address this subject. The two researchers I've been referring to have both said they are surprised by the lack of readily available information there is on this time period of the early bottling history. And it also appears they are going to look into it with renewed interest, and have promised to get back to me when they find something. Who knows, this might even be the beginning of a new book. Of course, this is just wishful thinking on my part, but one never knows what might develop. In any event, my personal research continues, and I am holding my breath in anticipation of hearing back from the two experts.

In closing, I wish to add it "appears" that Hires Rootbeer may be the place to focus our attention. And for anyone wishing to do additional research, another place to look might be with the history of "The Crystal Bottling Company," who supposedly were the first company to bottle Hires in 1893. So far I haven't found out much on this company, and would appreciate your help if you are so inclined.

Thanks again for everyone's interest in this subject, and I will keep you posted as the information develops. And hopefully I will hear back from some of you as well.

Sincerely,

Bob

P.S. Here's an image that may also lead to more clues and/or information. (Date unknown, but no earlier than 1892-93).