Early 1880's soda??

[Newtoit]

I believe this bottle is from the early 1880's but not sure. Does anyone know a value or rarity on this one. It's embossed KNOX BROS PETERBORO ONT.
Thanks
Debbie

 

[Newtoit]

Embossing

 

[Newtoit]

Base

 

[Newtoit]

Top. Too crappy out to take pics in natural light.

 

[blobbottlebob]

Hey Debbie,
Just my two cents. I know nothing specific about your bottle. Just looking at it, my guess is around the turn of the century. That is, about 1900. Would I be surprised if it was 1880? I guess not but it doesn't looks that early to me.

 

[cowseatmaize]

I'm not familiar with Canadian glass but as a general rule I think most styles post dated the US by at least a few years. I'm not saying we were better or that we got copied, just that we were better.[][]
Kidding, just kidding. I'm in trouble now.
I think Bob is about right though. The shape reminds me a a few blobs from here that were in the same age range. 1895-1910?
I'd be interested to know if the Knox Bros were the same family as Henry. There would be some interesting lineage.
Well, off to the web and see, if surf doesn't beat me to it.

 

[epackage]

They are in the 1888-89 city directory, 1880's is very possible...


Knox, David 26 Queen St.

Knox, John 627 George St.

 

[Bixel]

I actually believe this bottle to be late 1880s- mid 1890s. Knox Brothers are listed in the book at 1887-1892.

That bottle style, and in aqua was widely used in Ontario around that time period, and even earlier.

"Canadian glass but as a general rule I think most styles post dated the US by at least a few years"

Its funny you say that, because I am always amazed at how late blobs and hutchs were made in the US, and used by companies. In Canada, by just after TOC, blobs were being phased out, as well as hutches. Canada seemed to be early in to the crown top game. There are blobs from Ontario that were made after 1900s, but I always thought Canada produced more of their bottles in the updated style before the States.

 

[143Tallboy]

Wow, great bottle and very hard to find. I collect Peterborough and area bottles exclusively. The Knox brothers embossing was only used from 1888 - 1892. I have one in my collection. After that the embossing changed to D. Knox (David Knox) with an embossed lion, from about 1892 - 1920. This company adopted the crown top bottles very early on, probably around the turn of the century - they are very crudely made with hand finished tops. There was a blob top D. Knox with the lion logo produced for a short time but they are very tough to find.

Great bottle, as for value that's a tough question. I only know of a couple of other collectors that specifically collect Peterborough (Ontario) soda bottles and I know when I found mine it was at a flea market where they had no idea what it was. I ended up getting it for 20 or 25 dollars. I would say scarcity-wise it's worth definitely more than that, but the demand is not great for small town bottles, at least that I'm aware of. If you were thinking of selling it or trading for it send me a PM and we can talk about it.

Edit: Very interesting, I just noticed you are located in Tweed. My great grandfather owned and ran a grocery/fruit business in Tweed during the late 1800's up until about 1935, it was located on Victoria St. He could very well have sold that bottle as he had his main grocery store located in Peterborough and would ship goods from Peterborough via the CP railway to Tweed. My grandfather worked at and ran the store into the later 1920's and 1930's and actually met my grandmother (from Stoco) there. They closed the store in the mid 1930's and moved back to Peterborough. Small world.

 

[143Tallboy]

One other interesting note about David Knox seeing as I can't edit my original post. He was originally located in Campbellford, Ontario. There are a handful of gravitating stopper bottles embossed "David Knox / Campbellford Ontario"

He was in business in Campbellford at least as early as 1880, I have a copy of his marriage certificate and it lists his occupation as Soda Water Manufacturer and he was 25 years old at the time. He was likely in Campbellford until he moved the business to Peterborough in 1888.