Robert Turlington's Balsam Of Life

[deepbluedigger]

I only have one US pontiled Turlingtons, but I think it's a great little bottle. The one on the left in this photo. The one on the right is another US bottle, post mould, no pontil, with a really nice rainbow patina in the right light. Probably just post-pontil, maybe 1860s -70s?

 

[deepbluedigger]

Three of the most common type of Daffy's bottle: Dicey & Co, London. On the left is sand pontil, probably about 1830 - 40. Middle is solid pontil, but very difficult to date. Possibly very early, maybe as late as the 1850s. The aqua one on the right is 1860s-ish, glass chip pontil.

 

[deepbluedigger]

Generic Daffy's of unusual and possibly early form (all side panels concave: common on small British flint glass meds and perfumes bottles, but rare on larger bottles). Circular solid pontil. Generic Daffy's are very varied. Dozens (probably hundreds in total) of different types known in all colours from clear flint via green and amber to darkest black, and even pale blue.

 

[Road Dog]

Found this transcript online fron the Salisbury and Winchester Journal Feb 28th 1785

By the King's Patent.
TURLINGTON's Original BALSAM of LIFE,
​

PREPARED and sold by MARTHA WRAY, neice, the patentee, at their Wholesale Warehouse, No.14, Birchin-lane, London. This valuable medicine is strongly recommended by many persons of the first rank, as a sovereign remedy for the gravel, cholic, gout, rheumatism, asthmatical complaints, pleurelic disorders, coughs, agues, decays of nature, inward weaknesses, broken constitutions, and all inward bleedings of whatsoever nature. If outwardly applied, it is a sovereign remedy for cuts and green wounds.- The great demand for this balsam hath caused a number of counterfeits; and to prevent as much as possible a base and spurious sort, that is sold under the name of Turlington's Balsam, the public are most earnestly requested to observe, that the directions are signed by Hilton Wray only, in writing ink; the arms on the margin of the directions is the same as the bottles are sealed with. Price 3s. 6d. and 1s. 9d.
Of whom may be had, HAMILTON's TINCTURE for the TOOTH-ACH, which in a few minutes will cure the most violent pain, without drawing. This Tincture gives immediate ease, and cures all disorders in the mouth and gums; in a few days using will fasten the teeth, if ever so loose, and with a little continuance will perfectly cure the scurvy in the gums; it also prevents the teeth from rotting; keeping those that are decayed from becoming worse, and takes off all disagreeable smells from the breath. Price 2s. 6d.
Also to be had at the above place, his CINNAMON DROPS, which are a sovereign cure for all disorders affecting the stomach and bowels, cold chills, pleuretic pains, numbness, of the flesh, and the most violent rheumatic pains, even from a contraction of the limbs. Price 3s. 6d.
Likewise his ASTHMATIC EFFLUVIA, which given immediate ease in all asthmas, or difficulty in breathing, or all other disorders affecting the breath or lungs, without taking any thing inwardly. Price 5s. 6d.- 10s. 6d. and £1. 1s. per bottle.
The above articles are sold by B.C. Collins, on the Canal, Salisbury; the booksellers as mentioned at the foot of this page, and the newsmen

 

[Road Dog]

ORIGINAL: deepbluedigger

My 4 flint glass Turlingtons (the damaged one on the left is the one Chris posted a picture of earlier in this thread)

I'd be interested to hear what people think about likely dates for these, or even which date order is most likely. I have some ideas, but no real confidence in them.

(apologies for marking it: I've started doing that recently because a few of my photos turned up in for-profit hard copy publications here in the UK late last year without so much as an acknowledgement or by-your-leave).

That's a tough one. Those 3 on the right could all be within 30 years of each other. I feel pretty comfortable with 1780's to 1810 on those. Of course, earlier on the left one. Maybe 1760's or 70's. With all the glasshouses and molds it would be hard to place an order on the last 3.

On a side note, What was the progression of Turlington bottles in Britain. I only see very old examples. I'm assuming that it continued to exist in Britain as it did in America. Atleast to 1906 or so?

 

[Road Dog]

ORIGINAL: deepbluedigger

Three of the most common type of Daffy's bottle: Dicey & Co, London. On the left is sand pontil, probably about 1830 - 40. Middle is solid pontil, but very difficult to date. Possibly very early, maybe as late as the 1850s. The aqua one on the right is 1860s-ish, glass chip pontil.

Daffy's rule! That center bottle with that lip and all sure looks atleast 1830's. Atleast when compared to American standards of that time.

 

[Road Dog]

This is an interesting read. Has mention of both Daffy's and Turlingtons
http://www.quackwatch.com/13Hx/TM/01.html

 

[JOETHECROW]

Daffy's rule! That center bottle with that lip and all sure looks atleast 1830's. Atleast when compared to American standards of that time

I'm with Rory on that thought...I'd love to have any one of those.[]

 

[JustGlass]

This is one I posted earlier. Just thought that I would add that this bottle is the variation that has a o instead of an a in the embossed word Balsom. Also the date on the side is JAN with the Y above the N.

 

[JustGlass]

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