Has anyone ever recolored pyro milk bottles?

[tigerbeetle69]

Where I live, there are pyro milk bottles worth thousands. However, by the time I dig them up, the enamel coloring is either gone or quickly fades once hit by the light of day. Interestingly, there is always what seems to be an acid-etched after-image. It would seem this ghostly template could be used for reapplying pyro-glaze color, though I once read the process has been lost to time. The question arises: Is the afterimage retained by milk bottles upon losing their color the result of enamel effecting/etching the glass or does the pyro-glazing process involve first etching the glass so the enamel only sticks to that area? Any thoughts. The fist person come up with re-glazing process could have one heck of a pyro milk bottle collection.

 

[Csa]

I’ve thought about that exact same thing, if the ghost image is strong enough, must be a process to re-adhere new paint to those areas. Btw, love the hy vita bottle, is that yours. I own a house 1 mile from Old Barney. Hope to obtain one some day.

 

[tigerbeetle69]

I'm a lifelong LBI resident. I have half a dozen let's say eroded Hy-Vita milks. One I was given is maybe 80 percent pyro-ed. This one sold for half a mint -- so it can't have been mine.

 

[CanadianBottles]

I don't think it's possible to re-apply the ACL in any practical way. It's definitely not a process lost to time since there are plenty of manufacturers still making ACL bottles - Corona beer is probably the most universally recognizable one - but I don't think it's something you can do without some industrial-grade equipment. If someone were to very carefully take the time they might be able to replicate the process using household items though. I wonder how well nail polish sticks to glass? You could get a finish that looks pretty much identical to an ACL label but I'm not sure how easily it would scratch off.

 

[Len]

Tigerbeetle69 et al,

Sorry, tech wise probably we're not there yet that I know of. Put me down for some stock in your company on it's IPO.