Help to ID Bitters Bottle

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Mudbug

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Hello,My name is Steve and I have been digging and collecting bottles for 30+ years.I dug a bottle here in my hometown of New Orleans 30 years ago and have been trying to find information on it ever since.Here is a description of the bottle:Gilka shaped.One side panel is embossed UNIVERSAL BITTERSOn another side panel is embossed N.- K. PATENTThe 2 front and back panels have no embossing on them at all.It is a BIMAL and is amber in color.I appreciate any information on it or any links to information you can share with me as to finding more out about it.Thank you most graciously,Steve[attachment=Universal Bitters side.jpg] [attachment=Universal N-K Patent.jpg] [attachment=Universal Bitters bottom.jpg] .
 

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cowseatmaize

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There are a few Universal Bitters but I can't find an NK-Patent connection. The closest I see in my old book might be Nonpareil Kraeuter in Rings book.N-37. Maybe the new books have more.I guess your knees lock tight though or there might be some sorrow for the loss of an unknown or unlisted bitters. [:D]
 

Mudbug

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Thank you very much Eric, That's about like the blanks I've drawn over the years, nothing conclusive.I appreciate any and all help in clarity of the bottles origin, manufacturer and worth.All the bottle shows I've been to over the ages and no one has any iota of any information on it.It's not really an eye opener as far as bitters go,but if it is unique or very rare,well,then I want to keep it in my collection...Yep, I've got this bottle in my clutches and I won't drop it.I've never dropped a bottle while viewing it and sure don't intend to do it now.Thanks again,Steve
 

cowseatmaize

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Since it is so similar to the Gilka, maybe a European forum would know. I only know of a UK site myself but there may be others in countries with languages I don't know.It being embossed in English would seam to make it either US or an export, I'm guessing the latter.Did I not say hello yet? Hello!
 

Mudbug

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Eric,Hello to you too :)Now, that's something I never even thought about,,,, checking on a European Forum, maybe even an Aussie Forum too. Uh duh.........I might have to give that a try, if for nothing else,to see if they've got any ideas of who made it, when they made it, where they made it and/or what was in it.This is quite becoming a "who dunnit" novel for me.30+ years the bottle had been sitting, hidden behind some others, then I go and pull it out and *wham*, I'm in it for the haunting mission of finding out about it. Thank goodness for the internet, now I may have a chance.Guess I better put on my Sherlock Holmes hat and pipe... and get to typing..... L O LIf and when I find out anything I'll be sure to share it with the Forum.Cheers,Steve
 

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Hi Steve. Welcome to these forums. As a former BITTERS specialist I have to say I've never seen your bottle. I looked at my Ring & Ham Bitters book, the latest I know about, and do not see your bottle listed. I may not be looking at the proper listing. On the other hand, you may have an extreme rarity. Hang on to it! Rarity is only one value variant. Desirability is another. Please stay in contact and perhaps we can add to your data base.
 

Mudbug

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Thanks Jim,Appreciate you doing some detective work for me.One of the reasons I hung on to it all these years is because I've never heard or seen another one and because of the spot and people that dug with me at that spot.(memories)I find it hard to believe that it's such a rarity,but,I've seen other pieces that you'd never think were rare and are.Yes, it's desirability in a bitters category isn't an A+,but, if it's a "one of" bottle,that could make up for it.Thanks again Jim and happy digging,Steve
 

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Mudbug

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For anyone else who stumbles upon this thread like I did, the bottle ended up being identified as a rare New Orleans bitters with interesting background and even a possible link to the Alamo. Great article at Peachridge Glass: https://www.peachridgeglass.com/2014/06/the-missing-link-universal-bitters-by-nicholas-kieffer/
Yes willong, Peachridge Glass was the big reveal on this one, my thanks to Ferdinand Meyer of Peachridge Glass.
As fate would have it and my loss of memory, I forgot to follow up on the reveal with the forum, my bad.
Information in our hobby is so very important and no information is very hard to overcome. Our hobby is a sort of a "behind the scenes one" unto our own, so a lot of folks don't understand why we do what we do and share what we share.
Thanks for bringing up the insight and my apologies to the forum. :)
 

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