Mystery Sure Cure bottle

[RIBottleguy]

I finally got out to dig today. I hit some old haunts I used to go to as a kid. The first one was a bust, but the second was exciting! I have to admit there was not much there. I found a spot I (and the diggers from the 60-70s) missed. Besides a slick and a clay marble, I found two SWH Sure Cure Antiseptic bottles. One was missing one side, but they look like nice early (1870-80s) bottles. The glass is wavy and the bottom bulges out slightly.

One side is embossed "Sure Cure" and the other side "Antiseptic"

Has anyone seen this cure before? I really want to find out what the SWH (or WHS, HWS etc.) stands for!

 

[tangomango]

Congrats on your find . . . looks to be in great condition. Just out of curiosity, what was the site in years past?

 

[epackage]

This is gonna drive me nuts, I should have had an answer for you by now. Sunday's always give me trouble when searching, usually don't do well when it comes to researching on sunday's for some reason....too relaxed is my guess[8D]

 

[RIBottleguy]

Dan,
The site was a cellar hole built in the early-mid 1800s, abandoned around 1940. About 200 feet away along a stone wall is a shallow dump.

Jim,
I have search a LOT on this particular bottle, desperate to link it to RI. Thanks for your efforts!

 

[RIBottleguy]

Ok, so my only lead from RI is Dr. William H. Stowe. Unfortunately there is not really any info on him besides the fact that he existed.

 

[JOETHECROW]

Neat little cure bottle, Never saw one before...Cool that you dug it at one of your old haunts...

 

[edndlm]

Hi Taylor , the information I could find is the initials are not SWH , but listed as ASWW // ANTISEPTIC // SURE CURE // approx . 4 5/8" Aqua . It is unknown as to the origin . There are at least 2 others examples known . Ed

 

[RIBottleguy]

Well, I'm pretty sure the mystery is solved!!! Matt (aka Guntherhess) found an ad from 1878 that pretty much IDs the bottle! William H. Sheldon's Antiseptic Sure Cure was sold by Oliver Johnson & Co. of Providence, RI. Oliver Johnson & Co. were big in the proprietary business. One of their best known products was Barber's Indian Vegetable Jaundice Bitters.

So we have another new RI cure!

 

[jays emporium]

So that monogram is WHS for William H. Sheldon?

 

[edndlm]

Great research & mystery solving guys ! I will let the other people who have examples know what the initials are so they can adjust their lists and what the ad says . Congratulations on another RI Cure !