Message in a a bottle ... ?

[SAbottles]

I bought a nice "black glass" bottle at our flea market - Cape Town's 'Spa Aerated Waters & Cordial Co" - a fairly sought after bottle:

 

[SAbottles]

Normally this bottle would have an internal screw stopper made of ebonite :

 

[SAbottles]

However, this one had some rolled-up paper inside, just sticking out of the lip. Imagine my surprise when, after buying the bottle, I took out the paper, unrolled it and found this:

 

[SAbottles]

A slightly worn "Harlene for the Hair" advertisement - probably Edwardian in age ! Will definitely smooth this out as best as I can and either frame or laminate it !

Just shows, you never know what you might find in a bottle !

 

[RICKJJ59W]

wow that is wild. Very cool looking bottle. What is the age on the bottle.

 

[SAbottles]

Hi, Rick ~ the company was in the Directories from 1904 to 1905. Bottle made by L Lumley & Co of London.

 

[surfaceone]

ORIGINAL: SAbottles

However, this one had some rolled-up paper inside, just sticking out of the lip. Imagine my surprise when, after buying the bottle, I took out the paper, unrolled it and found this:

Hello Dale,

It may be National Play-doh Day over here, don't know if they are celebrating Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week in Chicago, but I think it high time to make this 'Spa Aerated Waters & Cordial Co.' Awareness Day. [8D]

Great bottle with a wonderfully graphic surprise inside, sir. Thanks for showing us.

From.

The Edwards folk borrowed concepts from Mucha:

From.

And seemed to advertise copiously:

Hair Raising Stories.

From.

 

[SAbottles]

Great ads, Surface; they certainly seemed to like them "Rubenesque" ! Guess you got more er 'bang for your buck' or something like that ... !

 

[botlguy]

This is a neat thread. I like the story, I like the bottle, I like the advertisements, I like the "plump" ladies. Thanks for sharing.

 

[surfaceone]

ORIGINAL: SAbottles

I bought a nice "black glass" bottle at our flea market - Cape Town's 'Spa Aerated Waters & Cordial Co" - a fairly sought after bottle:

L Lumley & Co of London

Hey Dale,

I think you're being modest on the scarcity factor:

"PA Aerated Water Works / Cape Town
———————
L. Lumley & Co LTD
———————
One of the scarcest South African black glass Seltzer Bottles known
(courtesy Ken Gibbon)" From.

"ENGLISH VICTORIAN LUMLEY COPPER PINT HARVEST/MEASURING JUG

Louis Lumley & Co. (London, 19th century)
Stamped: L. Lumley & Co. / 1 / America Square / London. This charming, small measure was hand crafted in traditional, haystack form with a deep lip and pouring spout, small neck and broad base. It displays a curved pistol handle and dovetailed construction.
c. 1870 " From.