Have some old bottles need help

[Jolat]

Hello,
I have a few old bottles and was hoping someone could help me with history, rarity, value, etc..... I am from the Los Angeles area. My Father was a termite inspector and most of these were found under houses over the years.
This bottle says "Jos Melczer & Co 141-147 So. Main St. LA" It's about 14" tall and the base is about 4" diameter. There are lots of bubbles in the glass, and the top piece is riddled with tiny bubbles.

 

[blobbottlebob]

Welcome Jolat!
It's nice to have you here. Great story about your dad finding the old bottles. Most bottles like this will have value that depends on the rarity (which I do not know). Having said that, your bottle looks to be in excellent condition and at least 110 years old - probably a bit older. It likely contained soda but it could have been a mineral water. Very neat. Hopefully somone wil know more.

 

[Jolat]

Thanks Bob. I found on the Internet that this was a brandy making company in Los Angeles, but haven't really found any pics/info on their bottles/ history. Was hoping someone here can shed some light for me.

 

[blobbottlebob]

It sure doesn't seem like a typical brandy bottle. I could be convinced that it was a beer, but it does not seem like a liquor bottle. I could be wrong (I often am).[]

 

[epackage]

This dates your bottle to between 1902-18, I'd say very close to the 02' date...


"Successors to Steinike & Bruning, Importers and Exporters, Growers and Shippers of California Wines and Brandies and Wholesale Dealers in Straight Kentucky Whiskies. Largest Shippers of Southern California Sweet Wines to the East and Europe" (1897)

The company used the brand names:
"Belle of Jefferson", and "Harvey's Old Bourbon."


Business name timeline:
Jos Melczer & Co.

Address timeline:
237-239 S Main (1897-1899), 141-147 S Main (1902-1918) and 323 W 4 th (1906-1909) and 128-130 N Spring (1910)

 

[epackage]

From the 1895 directory...

http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sanfranciscodirectory/1895/1895_1047.pdf

 

[epackage]

Melczer also went on to sell beer, I'm guessing this is his version of a "Picnic Beer"...Sorry, I forgot to say Welcome to the Forum in my first post....Jim

 

[surfaceone]

Welcome John,

That's looking like a picnic beer to me. Melczer was a Schlitz Dealer in 1905.

 

[cyberdigger]

Awesome bottle! Is that a rain stick behind it?

 

[Jolat]

It's a broom! Lol

Thanks for the info everybody. If it's a beer bottle, it sure is big!

I remember my Dad saying this bottle was old because the seam in the glass stopped at the top, and that the top of the bottle was hand blown. Is this true?