sjs for the blood

[rexmiller]

does anyone know anything about this bottle it says on one side L. Gerstle & C0 and the other side it says Chattanooca Tenn on the front it says SJS for the Blood its about 10 in high and brown
Thanks
Rex

 

[Harry Pristis]

I don't know anything about this bottle, either. I found this example on the bank of the Suwannee River years ago, and have never seen another.

My bottle is in rough shape, so I never did put it on my shelf. But, I couldn't bring myself to through it away.

The bottle is 8.8" tall. It has four indented panels, tooled lip, smooth base. 1880s-90s, I'd say.

--------Harry Pristis

 

[BRIAN S.]

Rex does your bottle look like Harry's bottle ?
I was wondering if yours was a size variant of that mold or a different mold all together.....Because yours seems to be taller than the one Harry has ?
I know this Tenn. Company...... I'm not familiar with your bottle though....I have seen them before but I have no info on it . This Chattanooga Co. also made GFP for Women
Gerstle Medicine Company Chattanooga , Tenn . in Amber .

 

[rexmiller]

it's the same bottle i was guesting on size you know how us men are we all lie about sizes the bottle i have is in good shape.
thanks
rex

 

[Flaschenjager]

When I first looked at this on Rex's CD that he mailed to me (great idea by the way Rex), I thought that it may be a bitters. "For the blood" was what sparked this idea. I looked through several books and also came up empty. Could it be a lost example of a bitters? Or is it just a local medicine? Who knows.

I know some Tenn. collectors who may know and will drop them a line in the near future.
Until then Rex, good luck.

 

[BRIAN S.]

It is not a bitters.......It is most likely a Med !
It is not listed as a label only Bitters in Ring & Ham's.
If it was a label only Bitters ..... Then NO examples have been found with a label stating so. Brian

 

[BRIAN S.]

Rex and Harry ..... Your bottle was a Sarsaparilla !

An amber, rectangular bottle, 8 1/4 inches tall, embossed G.F.P. / For / Women // Gerstle Medicine Co. // Chattanooga, Tenn. G.F.P. stands for Gerstle's Female Panacea. Leopold Gerstle started small in Union Tenn., in 1871. By 1889 the town was called Bluff City when Gerstle and the town council had a “falling out†over increases in tax and water rates, and Gerstle moved his growing business to Chattanooga. An 1895 ad lists L. Gerstle & Co., Manufacturing Druggists, Office and Laboratory on Electric Street Halloway, Highland Park. St. Joseph's Sarsaparilla and St. Joseph's Liver Regulator were advertised as well as G.E.P.The Sarsaparilla came in an 8 3/4 inch tall amber rectangular bottle embossed S.J.S. / For The / Blood // Gerstle Medicine Co. // Chattanooga, Tenn. St. Joseph's Family Medicines, L. Gerstle & Co. Continued to be listed in the Chattanooga City Directories through 1920, and the company continues to the present as the St. Joseph's Medicine Co.

 

[Harry Pristis]

Cool! What's the source of your info, Brian S?

This is a good size and shape for a sarsaparilla, though it is not listed in John DeGrafft's 1980 book, AMERICAN SARSAPARILLA BOTTLES.

Thanks for the research!

------------Harry Pristis

 

[BRIAN S.]

Dr. Richard Cannon is the source !
Here's a link to the page on the Glass Works website. http://glswrk-auction.com/mc15.htm
Hope this helps Harry ! Brian

 

[rexmiller]

Thanks for the help does any have a ideal the value
Thanks
Rex