For the New England Historical flask collectors a 1 of a kind.

[Steve/sewell]

3.

 

[Steve/sewell]

4.

 

[Steve/sewell]

5. On this picture you can make out the horse to the right pulling the two wheeled cart to the left very similar to the GV-11 LOWELL/RAILROAD flask except this one says BOSTON.

 

[Steve/sewell]

On this picture you can make out the Eagles wings and the branch he is resting on.

 

[Steve/sewell]

Red this flask might be a nominee for the cold mold whittle effect of the year bottle.

 

[earlyglass]

Hey Steve,

Hope you are doing well!

First, I commend you for "taking a chance" on such a piece. I purchased a couple items in that sale and saw this flask, but assumed it was a reproduction. Honestly, I didn't look very hard at it. I remember seeing an example on Ebay a couple years ago that was made the exact same way, but was in aqua. I stayed away from that one as well, although it raised some concern with New England flask collectors.

I still think this is a reproduction, but do not have any proof. It looks like it was made to look like the GV-10 Lowell Railroad flask, but the mold may have been a very rudimentary execution. This is not a known mold by any means. The original molds were well-defined even after years of use. The glass is "pretty and bubbly", but not really natural for even the primitive glass factories. The color is a bit off as well. There is no base wear and the luster is of a recently blown object, in my opinion.

The 1/2 pint grapes flask was probably worth the purchase price, so you are safe even if it is proven to be a reproduction. If it is found to be original, well then your doing really good.

Mike

 

[cyberdigger]

[8|]

Happy New Year everyone!! []

 

[Steve/sewell]

Thanks Mike,I have some of the same concerns.The flask does have base wear but it sits crooked and teeters on two small spots.Is it possible someone made a mold impression with plaster using an original and made this. Could this be the flask that is spoken about in Mckearins book the GV-11 which has what appears to be a ghost image on it.If this is the flask then it was around in the 1930s when these were first charted by Stephen Van Rensalaer.I spoke to Lewis Bechtold the cataloger from Conestoga Auctions and he stated the New Jersey collector they had acquired them from got most of his collection from a museum in Philadelphia.The collection was amassed over a 50 year period. Yes the main reason I purchased this lot was to get the rare Coffin and Hay flask.I now have all of the charted Coffin and Hays.This flask was and still may be a bonus.I am going to take it over to Dick Watson and get his thoughts also.Thanks for checking in.

 

[cowseatmaize]

Whether it's an authentic American flask is important to know but the quest to find out is REALLY the fun thing to me. Now it's in your capable hands and I hope you'll keep us posted.
If it's a repro it's got to be worth something just for the attempt to make it and the limited quantities they must have made.
Well worth the chance IMO.

 

[cobaltbot]

Just got back from a night-time cart ride on our railroad with the oldest and her new boyfriend and it was fast as there was ice on the rails so I clicked on your post and thought it was ironic because of that and earlier tonight I was looking at these in Mckearins. I have always wanted one of them. It sure has the seed bubbles! Hope it works out in the best way, either way we all get to learn something.