Numa G's posting about the unknown stove polish bottle inspired me to drag this one out. I dug it from an early Sacramento privy some years ago. It is exactly as dug and only rinsed out. Strangely shaped and smooth based, it has to date from the early 1860s. Bottles in that pit were a mix of OP and IP, with a handful of very early SBs in the mix. The embossing, although weak, reads Tallman $ Collins/ Perfumer. Research has told me that both persons were in the perfumery business, but to date cannot be put together, or even in the same city. It is my belief that this bottle is Western. C'mon, help me out here.
An eastern product from Janesville,WI. Tallman & Collins formed a partnership and this product was most likely produced from 1860 thru approximately 1869. Definitely not Western manufactured.
ReplyDeleteWow, quick response. Still a great looking bottle though.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I already was told that. Most of the bottles in that hole were not Western, except for several sodas, a couple large Boston Drug Stores and a green Rowell's. All long gone except the oddity. Since it definitely isn't from the West I'll dump it.
ReplyDeleteDespite what we would like to believe, most bottles we dig in 1850-60s pits are of Eastern origin.
I dug one of these from a 70s pit on the Russian River recently. It's intresting to note that the inside of the neck opening was so tiny barely allowing any liquid to pass. We also dug a round cylinder a few years back with the same embossing and it sure looked Western.
ReplyDeletewww.oldwestbottles.com
Mikes comment makes sense about most 50's and 60's bottles being of eastern origin and considering calif's beginning years not much time to establish a glassworks and market a product as well.
ReplyDeleteThere was a Tallman and a Collins in Placerville, Ca. at that time. The Fountain & Tallman Soda Works and Collins & Co. general store. Could it be possible the two joined together?
ReplyDeleteThat was my "consideration" at one time, but could not find anything definitive. Finally being told that the bottle is of Eastern origin actually came as no surprise.
ReplyDelete