Old Rounded bottom bottle? What is it?

[gatewaywa]

Hi there, I hope someone can help us with this.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/newbury/ebay/RBWhole.JPG
http://users.bigpond.net.au/newbury/ebay/RBNeck.JPG
http://users.bigpond.net.au/newbury/ebay/RBBottom.JPG
http://users.bigpond.net.au/newbury/ebay/RBLightedBottom.JPG
http://users.bigpond.net.au/newbury/ebay/RBLightedMiddle.JPG


I have looked through a bit of your site but haven't found this type of flask? bottle? or whatever. it is. It is very grotty, not the lovely clear glass that I have seen from your other readers' questions.
We used to prospect for gold out Kalgoorlie and Sandstone way and would find this sort of wear and discolouration in bottles found left behind on the goldfields.
We found this in a garage sale recently and were attracted to it for it's unusual shape. Can anyone identify this and give us some idea of its value.
What a great site! and it has restirred our memories of digging in the field never knowing what one may find. Our digging days are over but it is fun to search at garage sales as well.
This glass is about 1 foot (30cm) long and 1&1/2 inches (3-4cm) thick. Any help would be greatly appreciated. It has no markings of any kind except for the lines right down both sides and across the bottom, with the neck added, I believe. Also the bubbles, of course.
I took note of the suggestion of shining a light through from behind to give a clearer view.
Thank you!

 

[capsoda]

Hey Roy, Welcome to the forum. Where I live they are called torpedos and ballast bottles. I have recently learned that they also go by Belfasts and round bottoms so you can pretty much take your pick.

They were generally used for ginger ale, ginger beer and mineral water but were also used for other liquid too.

 

[TROG]

Hi gatewaywa,
These bottles are commonly called maughams, round enders, sausage bottles and were used for mineral waters, soda water, lemonade etc. This bottle is from the late 1890,s and were most commonly used in South Australia, Broken Hill and Kalgoorlie and to a lesser extent in Perth.These bottles are long and narrow in diameter which are quite different to the common type used in the U K which are much shorter and of a larger diameter but would still have held roughly the same amount of contents.

Hope this helps

 

[gatewaywa]

Hi Warren and "Trogg",
Thank you for you explanations and the various names.
I shall now search for these names to get an idea of value, or are they very common? I wonder is it worthwhile listing on eBay?
Could you say why it is so cloudy? Is it exposure to the minerals, salt or their original contents? Would it be worth trying to clean up or does the messy look appeal to collectors?
I love to ask questions and hope you like answering.
Very much appreciate you taking the time. Every bit of added knowledge helps to make me feel clever![8|]
Ok, I thought I'd search BEFORE sending these questions and I get an idea of price. Is the fact that the blobby lip is different make it rare?
Right that is my last question unless your answers throw up some more. We really are grateful that you have so much info to share.
Regards
Anna and Roy

 

[TROG]

THESE BOTTLES ARE VERY COMMON ESPECIALLY HERE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND IN THAT CONDITION I WOULD SELL FOR ABOUT $ 5.00 AND IF IN MINT CONDITION ABOUT DOUBLE THAT. THE SCALE OR SICKNESS IS CAUSED FROM ALKALINE SOILS AND IS ACTUALLY THE OUTER LAYERS OF THE GLASS BREAKING DOWN AND RETURNING TO ITS NATURAL STATE WHICH IS SAND.

 

[capsoda]

They sell for about $1 to $3 here unless they have embossing. yours seems to be a little longer than the ones I've seem.

 

[gatewaywa]

Thank you both very much for the information. Obviously we shan't retire on this find. But it is fun to have such an old relic nevertheless.
Regards Roy