Above are all three variants of this bottle. The center example is considered the earliest embossed bottle. This example is most likely made around 1868,'69 and is R36 in the Bitters Bottles book. This particular mold shares some interesting characteristics with another early western square, the ALEX VON HUMBOLDTs STOMACH BITTERS also marketed briefly in 1868.
The variant on the right is R37, this example comes in several shades of amber, and also in a pure green color occassionaly. The example on the left is R38 and this variant is found in amber shades ranging from light yellow to orangish red and occassionally in a yellow olive. R37 & R38 use a lettering style for the embossing that is seen on 1870 and later bottles.
Dr. Renz's Herb Bitters was a success for John Renz who began marketing this bitters product in August of 1867. This bitters won a silver medal at the 1869 State Agricultural Fair and won the First Premium Award at the 1870 Fair. Renz became so busy trying to fill the orders for this product that he put up his Paints, Oil, Glass business that he had operated for many years for sale. Two ads appeared in October 1870, essentially stating that he is so busy filling orders for Renz's Herb Bitters that he is willing to sell all stock in trade, along with a lease of the premises for a discounted price. He was determined to sell his going concern and relocate to San Francisco.
Residing in the center of "Renzville" has definitely paid off, on occasion. I have been fortunate enough to have dug several nice examples of Renz'z, in all three mold variations. One of the best, a very light grass green R36, came from a privy in Davis. That one resides in a prominent N. California collection. Another yellow green specimen, along with a sweet olive R37, now shines in San Berdoo. One or two others are in "Gold Country" collections.
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, that one on the right has a familiar look about it. Maybe it came from the site of the Residence Inn, at 15th & L.
The one on the right I bought from you at the 2008 Downieville Show - Thanks!
ReplyDeleteg.o.
You are most welcome, G.O. I haven't had any luck with squares so far this year, but you never know. Hopefully, we will be making our way to "Squareville" a very High Sierra mining site that has those things piled high. So far, no westerns, but plenty of schnappers and genericals. Why do all the spices survive, but the "good ones" don't? LOL
ReplyDeleteOldCutters;
ReplyDeleteInteresting that the Renz is found in the "High Sierra's. I only know of 1 broken Renz dug in Sierra County in the Alleghany area. Truckee, a lumber town on the railroad, on the other hand was holding Renz's and Cundurango's. The yellow olive Cunderango that you own was dug by Warren & me on High Street in Truckee. Nevada City has produced a green Cunder and broken Renz's in all three variants.
Have you found any Renz whole or broken in Sierra County?
g.o.
No, only in El Dorado and Placer counties. Most of the whole "Renzicals" that I have dug have come from valley locations. The gold camps we play in are below Sierra County. The only digging I have done in that direction have been in Brandy City, Chipps Flat, Monte Cristo, Port Wine, St. Louis, and a few others that can't be mentioned to protect the innocent. Not many western bitters in any of those places; at least not in my limited experience, anway.
ReplyDeleteOldCutters,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. I have been keeping track of western bitters dug in Sierra County. Few & far between.....
g.o.
You, of all people, should know, G.O. I seldom venturt your way, for fear of the omnipresent USFS Nazis. As you well know, we diggers are "persona non grata" in the known camps of the northern Sierra. We venture into these areas with fear in our hearts and eyes behind us. LOL
ReplyDeleteA fresh dark green small letter Renz was just yesterday released from it's privilous confines. I would post photos, but cannot do so on this site. Not my find, but that of "Chalmers", a persistent digger who does not let empty fields and 1950s house slabs deter him. Call it intuition, or call it "blind pig", but it worked.
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