The Hutchinson stopper

[blobbottlebob]

Here is another company that produced Hutchinson style stoppers. This one reads, C. E. MFG. CO.

 

[blobbottlebob]

Another interesting stopper. This one reads simply LIQUID. I suppose one could argue that this is an instruction of sorts.The word LIQUID is facing downwards towards the contents. However, I have seen the name liquid on hutchinson soda bottles (although rarely) in places where it looks like a manufacturer's marking. (For example on the hub or bottom).

 

[blobbottlebob]

I have no information about this company. The stamping says SCHRANK.

 

[GuntherHess]

You are making me go look at my stoppers[]

 

[blobbottlebob]

I saved the coolest variation for last. This one has a stamping that reads JOHN GRAF. John Graf was a Milwaukee bottler that produced many many many hutchinson bottles over the years. (There are at least 20 variants on hutch bottles). It might be that he ordered so many of them that the Hutchinson company stamped them for Graf? I could see where Graf would want them printed with the company name. Local rivals would be less likely to remove a stopper for their own use if it was stamped Graf right on it. It is also possible that Graf did it as a marketing ploy - one more chance to get the name out there. (THE BEST WHAT GIVES!). Graf was a marketing genius. He used more unique bottles than any other Wisconsin bottler - (the eight sided weiss beer, an embossed Zeppelin bottle, factory scenes etched on a seltzer, embossed drinking glasses, clays, quarts, etc . . ). So, maybe he was getting the word out on a stopper as well.
When I talked to Ron Fowler about this, he was surprised. He had never heard of any other example like that. I wonder if there are stamped examples from different bottlers? Here's a Graf's.

 

[blobbottlebob]

Hey GuntherHess,
Let me know if you find something unique!

 

[RED Matthews]

Hi blobbottlebob, This has turned into a neat coverage of the Hutchison stoppers. I wondered how you determined the plating on the brass ones was silver. When I worked in carburetor development we did a lot of cadmium plating on the butterfly valves and the levers on the throttle bases. The government made us stop doing that due to toxicity. I am sure that wouldn't have been good in soda either. Nice coverage. Thanks RED M.

 

[blobbottlebob]

Thanks Red. If the government stopped you - it must have been really dangerous. Do you have any guesses as to why the finish comes off of brass? (Most of my stuff is recovered from the water).

By the way, when I say silver, I mean silver in color. Ron Fowler shared advertising with me from the Hutchinson company that call it a non-poisonous tin alloy. I'm sure that they wanted to guard the exact composition of the stopper as a trade secret.

 

[cobaltbot]

This has been a very imformative thread, thanks for the knowledge!

 

[GuntherHess]

I have several hutches with stoppers in them that still have the rubber on them. Now that its dry and hard they dont come out of the bottle. Is there a good way to get them out?