It is lunchtime in the early oil fields of Pa. and shortly after, one might likely have heard a single "pop" or maybe several more soon after. If you guessed these guys were opening their soda bottles you'd be right. In 1864 a Mr. Matthew's patented a glass stopper with a band of rubber held in place by the carbonated drink. Sometimes they were pulled out from the neck, but at other times the palm of the hand tapped quickly and firmly down on top of the stopper creating a pop as the gas escaped. The stopper would remain in the wide part of the bottle and the beverage could be consumed. Now you know where the term "pop bottle" originated. I've found several of these but the one pictured is embossed with the name Matthews, pat. applied for, and 1864. One picture shows this stopper in place but due to time the rubber seal has crystalized and disintegrated. I'm enclosing a copy of a research paper (no copy write) for additional information. My prayer goes out to those in need during this trying time for all of us, panic is not the answer and worsens this critical time, but being a bottle hunter, which you are if you're reading this, chances are you're pretty well self sufficient.
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