Above you will see an advertisement that was placed in the San Francisco Daily Alta California paper on February 9th, 1865, this ad ran for 1 month. Now here is a good example where the business concern and manufacturing of this bitters product are located in the East, specifically in Pittsburg, PA, however the business concern does have a wholesale/retail import business in San Francisco, CA., and who was involved with a San Francisco glass works.
The examples shown above are the three variants in size. Far right is the 31 oz size with the larger lettering, very reminescent of the illustrated drawing shown of this product advertised by the earliest west coast agency, Park & White in an ad of 1859. The middle is the 27 oz size. The far left is the 20 oz size. All 3 examples are quite crude in condition and were dug in Nevada County in Orleans Flat, Nevada and Grass Valley (Centreville).
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ReplyDeleteIs the smallest variant the newest ?
ReplyDeleteFor the western market, I believe that to be correct.
ReplyDeleteOk, so then do you think any were blown in S.F.? A blackglass example w a star on the base was purchased online by Richard last yr. Could it be from the Pacific Glass Works??
ReplyDeleteAP
The only reason I dont think any were blown in the west are the tops. Most tops on the black glass Hostetters just don't resemble western square tops. Othere than that it makes perfect sense that some could have been blown out here. All they had to do was ship a mold out here.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the exact count on the black glass variants/base markings ??
aphotaling,
ReplyDeleteI researched that aspect of western blown Hostetter's but found some advertising from Hostetter, Smith & Dean that shows arrival of cases of Hostetter's Bitters from the ships themselves into San Francisco. I think this evidence pretty much rules out the possibility that the firm was manufacturing or bottling their bitters here in S.F.
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI have had an interest in those big, old black beauties for some time, however I've not kept track of the various base markings, although I was fascinated by the different styles of those large size Hostetters. I personally know of 6 or so large size in different mould variants found here in the west.
It seems that the hope, and conjecture of at least some of the black Hostetters being blown in the West continues. I know there are some who still believe, and I must admit that I am one of them. There are thousands upon thousands of Hostetters out there, and certainly many different glasshouses making them at different times over the decades of production. The big blacks, and a few of the little blacks that are dug out here so closely resemble the glass quality of the other "blacks" dug in the West though. That is why I still believe some black Hostetters were blown in S.F. We dig so many black bottles out here and I know that some were blown in S.F. I am talking about the little round blacks, squatty, champagne, and every other shape you can think of. They are so common, that some diggers on this site toss them back in the hole. Every one is different and unique. Each top is applied, and finished differently. It just makes sense that with the huge demand for Hostetters, that this company with an obvious eye on marketing, and costs, would blow bottles in one of their local markets rather than shipping tens of thousands of cases around the horn, for so many years. Especially while there were facilities in the West that could make the bottles in the area, during some of those early years when some of the black examples were blown. I am not saying all...but certainly some. Anyway, they either were or were not. Since none of us were alive back then, we can only conduct research, and keep digging. I just have an open mind in light of the evidence, and lack thereof.I am no expert researcher to be sure, but I have this feeling...
ReplyDeleteA large number of early Hostetter's, of all three known sizes, have been dug in Sacramento during the past 50 odd years. Lately, though, mint examples have eluded our shovels. At least a half dozen broken "Black" Hostetter's have come from recent digs. I have not personally seen or dug a pontiled one, although many of the fat large ones come from totally OP pits.
ReplyDeleteME
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Good points you make. I'm also still open to some being blown here and feel even further research is needed, as the time span is too long for one newspaper article to be indicative of the entire run during the 1860s and 70s.
AP
Also, since Hostetter/Redington had jamaica ginger bottles blown in SF, it sure opens the door to the possibility of at least one of the bitters varients being blown there as well. If I was asked which molds I would research, they would be the black star-base and the small very dark amber w. I think one slash-line on the base and are found approx 1868-71 (oh, and it looks just like a non-crwn Cutter and fatboy JF Cutter color and glass, and comes out of the ground way clean for an amber Hostetter.
ReplyDeleteAP