ULYSSES S. GRANT and the KELLY'S and THE OLD CABIN BITTERS

[Steve/sewell]

20.

 

[Steve/sewell]

21.

 

[Steve/sewell]

22.

 

[Steve/sewell]

The Kellys Old Cabin Bitters bottles I have now determined were made in at least 3 different molds.There are two 1863 versions and one 1870 version now deffinatley accounted for.The embossing on the roofs of the two 1863 versions are completley different,with one version having large sharp somwwhat straight lettering while the other has various sized letters and they are layed out very crooked.It can also be easily seen when comparing the two bottles that one of the Kellys molds has larger logs and is taller to the roof line.The roof is another area that the two Kellys molds differ.One is wider, one is steeper,and one is pointier at the highest point across the ridge of the roof.More then likley the 1870 version had it's own mold also.Here is something to think about,I think the Kellys mold was plagerised and that is why John Garnhart applied for and recieved a patent on the cabin Design in 1870.It is very likely that some of the Kellys were being copied back east were they were made before being shipped to St. Louis.A skilled mold maker could easily copy this bottle.

The Old Cabin Bitters on the other hand used an identicle mold as there are no diffrences between the two bottles.On these bottles better attention to detail was paid because everything about the bottle is a cut above the Kellys.The Embossing is neat and Symetricle,The applied tops are neatly laid on,and the glass in general is heavier then the Kellys.both the Kellys Old Cabin Bitters and the Old Cabin Bitters were made using a tredle mold.Although much Rarer then the Kellys in total numbers accounted for the Old Cabin Bitters were only available in Various shades of amber.The Kellys was made in more vibrant colors making it a an attractive bottle to collect.All in all these are great bottles and I wish others would post their bottles if they are members here.I would love to see them. I will post pictures later this week or during the weekend showing the differences between the two molds.

 

[bottlekid76]

Steve,
Here's something to make your mouth water this morning. I seen this absolutely amazing bottle at another collectors house and took a photo of it. I wish I could say it was mine and would love to have a chance at one of these one day. I've never seen the bottle until that day and what a color! I would imagine it was also in amber but who knows. This thing is rarer than an honest politician. I know you've done alot of research with Garnhart & Kelly, and love reading what you post.

~Tim

 

[epackage]

Beautiful stuff, and as always very informative Steve...

 

[andy volkerts]

[] That Garnhart and Kelley is what old glass is really all about, beautiful colors and designs, crudity, and rareness, that bottle has it all. Thanks for posting it.........

 

[Steve/sewell]

Tim that is an extremely rare bottle,thanks for posting it. It was probably from the 1859 to 1862 time period before the bitters bottles were made by the two of them. Ill see what I can find out about it.

 

[bottlekid76]

Steve,

I did some digging and ABA sold one of these back in December of 2003 in amber. Here is the description, although Jeff accidently misspelled Garnhart.

~Tim

The picture is small but its the only one I could find or have ever seen.

Lot 57

CARNHART & KELLY ST. LOUIS Mo. 9" Applied top, smooth base. A nice example with some decent overall crudity, this is the first example we've seen or sold. Found in a Midwestern fort, we're told this is a rare St. Louis bottle. An interesting one it is, it has arched panels with embossing on the two ends. For the St. Louis collector, this has most of it's crudity around the shoulder. About Mint, here's a rare and pretty bottle. $ 2,000

 

[Steve/sewell]

ABA sold one of these back in December of 2003

Hi Tim,
I had that sale saved in a PDF format here are the pictures.