Prohibition Bottles SPIDERS & WEBS

[Old man digger]

I normally don't collect bottles before 1860's with a few exceptions. This particular part of our history as a country has peaked my interest for awhile now. I do not know all the types of bottles produced during that era, (1920-1933) but the Spiders have captured my attention. The only way to tell for sure that a bottle was made during the Prohibition era is that the label will say "FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES ONLY SALE OR USE FOR OTHER PURPOSES WILL CAUSE HEAVY PENIALTIES TO BE INFLICTED" These bottles were used before and after Prohibition. So the label is an important piece of that time frame. Here are some that I have collected, some just for the different Spiders and the placement of the Web. If you have any questions I will do my best to answer it correctly, according to what I have researched.

 

[East_Tn_Bottle_Guy]

Cool, is there a reason for the spider web design or is it just what they chose? Also, what would be the average price? Thanks

 

[Old man digger]

Cool, is there a reason for the spider web design or is it just what they chose? Also, what would be the average price? Thanks

I have not been able to find the reason for the Spider and Web design. The average price varies, but they run from $1.99 to $80.00 depending who is selling them and what treasure they think they have. If the label is in tact and has the quotation as I described with the cap I'd go as high as $30.00. But then again I like to find variations from what I already have and they seem few and far between.

 

[East_Tn_Bottle_Guy]

Alright, thanks

 

[Old man digger]

Alright, thanks

I just got the info on the Spider and Web bottles. It was an advertising idea for the company that made "ANTIQUE WHISKEY" The distillery at Frankfort liked the idea so they had glass houses put the Spiders and Webs on the bottles. The idea being that if a guy walked into a doctors office to get a script for medicinal alcohol, if he couldn't remember the name he could just ask for a script for a bottle with spiders and webs on it. I think if I had been a doctor at that time, I would have turned him down. A pharmacy was the only place you could buy medicinal alcohol and you had to have a scrip to get it. I do think there could have been a little extra in that transaction for an underhanded doctor. Hippocratic Oath out the window you might say!!!