Torpedo Bottle

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casmalia

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Enclosed are pictures of a English torpedo bottle I picked up at a local flea market. I have often wondered why they were shaped like this. Someone mentioned it was for easier storage when transporting them which makes sense to me if true.
 

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Robby Raccoon

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The Greeks made amphora containers-- I think that's what they called them-- to transport liquids like wine or oils. It's harder to stack at first, but once you start it's like building a tower--in a sense, they interlock in their own right and handle transport much better. In a few deep wrecks that are preserved by the Ocean, they have found some still how they were loaded. As for the contents, I wouldn't consume it.
 

cowseatmaize

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I doubt that theory myself. Standing up or laying down they will occupy the same space. The bottles like that I guess could be laid out 3 or 4 overlapped but I don't think that was an intentional decision.More likely is that it seamed that the "egg" shape would be better to contain pressure but it sold so long after it was found not to true, it was still used.
 

UncleBruce

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Having a round bottom meant the bottle would be on the side thus preventing the cork from drying out and spoiling the contents.
 

botlguy

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UncleBruce said:
Having a round bottom meant the bottle would be on the side thus preventing the cork from drying out and spoiling the contents.

That's the theory I've always heard and believe. Wine is definitely stored in a similar fashion for the same reason. Jim
 

jaroadshow

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I believe the cork was still "wired" in place, thus preventing the cork from "popping" out.I believe they were still stored upright.
 

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