Hi Lou- I think we have all had an expert tell us that something just ain't so when we know it is. Oh well. Just when I think I've seen all the ginger ales- something pops up like your Fritz. One question- is it embossed ginger ale? Round bottom bottles were used for lots of flavors besides ginger ale, I have seen RBs without ginger ale embossed with paper labels for sarsaprilla, lemon, birch beer, etc. For me to count it as a ginger ale "proper" it has to be embossed or have a ginger ale paper label. Please do post the ones that are embossed ginger ale. Maybe another one I am unaware of!
I have a bit of trouble displaying my round bottom ginger ales on a shelf- and came up with another method- see what you think!
I have three different Ginger Ale bottles and have pictured them below in three posts GAC, not sure of I have anymore someplace or not, took me a while to find these three ! As for the Fritz Ginger Ale , you can count it , it is embossed Ginger Ale on the back side . The complete embossing ; Front Embossed - FELIX FRITZ COVINGTON, KY. ; THIS BOTTLE NEVER SOLD . Embossed on the back - GINGER ALE - The letter F embossed on the bottom. I dug a few round bottoms that had a triangle shaped label still intact, only in poor condition. I could see enough of it to see ginger ale on it but not who the maker was, always though that a shame.
As for the way you have your round bottoms displayed, I see nothing wrong with it at all, looks alright ! That is better than what I have came up with ( which is absolutely nothing!).
This one is embossed - GRATTAN & Co. Ltd. BELFAST IRELAND. Other side embossed ESTD 1825; G & C interlocked ; ORIGINAL MAKERS OF GINGER ALE. Large G embossed on bottom. I have always liked this one really well, it has some very nice embossing, wish it could have been from the states. I have seen three of these over the years, and they all looked like this one. They came out of the ground with not a speck of stain on them. I dug this one as well as the other two.
LC- what a great Kentucky ginger ale! Never seen one before. Really nice. The Grattan is an interesting one because their bottles always claimed "Original Makers of Ginger Ale"- but there has never been any proof that they were. Most evidence points to a Dr. Cantrell of Belfast Ireland in 1852. He joined up with Henry Cochrane in the mid 1860s to make the famous C & C brand- which I believe is still in existence today. The Grattan bottles are fairly easy to come across, especially since any steamer coming to America from Ireland was always loaded with ginger ale, whether it was Grattan or C&C, and several others that were imported at the time. The Dows is also interesting, because Gustave Dow of Boston was credited with inventing the marble soda fountain in 1861. The Dow bottle is not as easy to find as the Grattan- but not the rarest of American round bottom ginger ales. However, your Fritz is pretty unusal- in fact- if you ever think of letting it go- I think I know where it would find a good home. . . ;-) Thanks for the pics.
Hey there Bottlenutboy- it's good to be back- however, I'll have to see how much time I can spare to keep going for a while- I noticed in another thread by Jamus about Prince Edward Island pop bottles. It just so happens that I have one from P.E.I- a little older than the ACLs they were talking about- but kinda neat looking-
Thanks for the info GAC, I also have one of the Cochrane and Cantrell bottles somewhere. As you say, I have seen quite a few of them but not many of the Grattan 's. Will keep you in mind concerning the Fritz if I decide to let it go. I would say it would be a good place to go and would fit in more than well in your collection of Ginger Ale bottles.