Wanted! (alive not dead)

A friend of mine is looking to purchase a scarce western tool top fifth.

It is embossed, Copper Distilled / Cedar Valley / Ky Bourbon /  Crane Hastings & Co. / Sole Agents / San Francisco . 

It is the bottle on the right in the photo~

 

 

The bottle supposedly dates ca. 1890 - 1895. I strongly doubt that this dating is correct. Instead, I'd suggest that it was blown in 1894 or 1895, after Crane Hastings & Co. relocated to their new address at 321 Commercial SF and before Arthur Crane sold out to CW Craig in late 1895. 

 

Feel free to reach out if you have an example that you'd like to move along. My email is at the top of the page.

 

Thanks! 

. 

IT (or inside thread stoppers)

 

Most east coast collectors are not familiar with this "thing", but it played a significant roll in the sales of western whiskey for a couple of decades.

From the day that Barry and Patton bottled their first in the early eighteen fifties, until nearly the turn of the century, cork had been the only method used to seal a bottle of whiskey out west.

Around the turn of the century, a new type of closure gained popularity west of the Rockies. It was called the Riley Patent Inside Thread Closure. It was basically a hard black vulcanized rubber screw with a soft red / orange rubber gasket that sealed against the lip of the bottle. 

 

 

The stopper proper, was often referred to as Ebonite and the firm that originally produced them was called Ryder's Ebonite Co.. They were located in London England. Later on, the American Screw Stopper Company of New York produced them domestically.

 

This new closure was met with acceptance due to the fact that no ice-pick was required to pry a cork out of the bottle, and a partially consumed bottle of whiskey could easily be re-sealed. The closure first appeared on the German Connection fifths, blown for the western trade, around 1890. It appears that Lilienthal was the first to use the stopper, followed closely by Crown Distilleries (also a product of Lilienthal).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They were commonly seen with either a crosshatched pattern or a star on top. If a liquor dealer wanted to splurge, the stoppers could be molded with the brand or company name stamped into the top instead.

Following are a few photos of western Riley IT stoppers. The first photo is of a couple of generic pieces. Next up is one that I've only seen a single example of (McDonald & Cohn). The next is a random batch, including an advertising stopper for the firm that initially produced them. The two on the right - Black Crest and Belle of Lancaster - were both products of Warren Watson (located in Oakland Ca.).

 

Next time you're out digging, or scratching the surface in a TOC era dump, make sure to save the stopper instead of chucking it back. They are an important part of Western Whiskeyana!

 

 

It's official!

One Million!!!!!

A Milestone for the Western Whiskey Gazette.

Thanks to all that have read, learned from, and enjoyed the articles!

Latter's Sacramento Cal.(inside rounded border) Home Brewed Ginger Beer

 Here's something a little different from our normal western whiskey fare.

 

"Latter's / Sacramento Cal.(inside rounded border) / Home / Brewed / Ginger / Beer (inside border)"

 

Antique Stoneware Ginger Beer from Sacramento Cal.

 

Research has revealed that Latter was originally located in Sacramento, before moving north to Seattle Wa. in or about 1906.

 

These are a scarce and sought after west coast stoneware piece.  

7 7/8" tall. It is clean and the crown top lip (typically damaged while being opened) is problem free. Unusual tricolor pattern with upper third being light brown, a band just below the shoulder a darker tan and the lower body being light tan with black transfer lettering.

There is an area of glaze transfer located on the reverse shoulder; a result of being in contact with an adjoining piece after being loaded for the kiln, but prior to being fired. It is in manufacture and not damage. Condition issue is limited to a flake off the heel / base, which is clearly shown in one photo. The margins are smooth and it may be production related (clay sticking to the plate the "bottle" was fired on), as other areas on the base also show signs of poor mixing of the clay.

 

This offering is part of a large "closet collection" that was dug in the 1960's in the Sacramento and Stockton areas of California.

 

It is offered as is. $50~ or best offer. Postage via USPS Ground Advantage is extra and based on USPS rate chart and the buyers mailing address at the 2 lb. rate.

   

 

Consignment

 

Commodores / Royal / OK / Bourbon K.y. / (all in ornate banner beneath picture of crown) / Marx & Jorgenson / Portland, Ogn.

Here's one you don't see every day~ Fresh from the wilds of Oregon; this example is a recent find. It is clear with a touch of light sun colored amethyst. Tooled top with Riley patent inside thread closure. The base mark of 680H inidactes that it was blown at the Abramson Heunisch glass factory in San Francisco, just prior to the 1906 Earthquake and Fire.

The good news; no chips cracks or major post production damage. There is stain / haze, both inside and out. A light scrape is present at the base as shown in the photo closeup with the arrows. A pro-cleaning would likely remedy both issues. Bold and crisp strike, overall decent character. Full face embossing. A decent piece with room for improvement.

This is a consignment from the finder. No IT stopper was included with the bottle. I have never seen or heard of an embossed Jorgensen stopper. I will provide the choice of either a plain or star stopper.

I am posting the photos of the bottle as received. It is currently in an ammonia water bath at tepid temps. If the bath improves the appearance notably, I will re-shoot and post updated photos.

 As stated, this is a consignment. If anyone has an interest, please feel free to place an offer via email (address at the top of the website front page) and I will relay it for consideration. 

Lemme know.        jstateglass@gmail.com 

 

Sold 

 

 

 

 

Two Western Slug Plate Whiskey 5ths. A post from friend Andrew: owner of Golden Gate Bottle Auctions~

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Henry C Kirk opened a drug store in downtown Sacramento in 1854. He continued his business until 1871 when he took on a partner, Joseph Hahn, and transitioned to H.C. Kirk & Co. Throughout the 1870s Kirk advertised drugs, dental wares, and in occasionally liquor. In 1877 he began to heavily advertise Simmonds Nabob Whisky for which he was the Sole Agent of Sacramento. Although there is no direct evidence what was in his embossed slug plate whiskey 5th was used for, it is possible that he was bottling Nabob Whisky in his own private mold bottles. Henry died in 1881 and in 1882 the firm transitioned to Kirk, Geary, & Co. Due to the characteristics of the bottle, it was likely made and used in the 1877 to 1881 timeframe. There are currently five examples of the Kirk bottles known.

1870 H.C. Kirk Advertisement

1872 Advertisement

1879 Nabob Advertisement

John Franetta was a Croatian immigrant who began his foray into business with a small coffee stand in the 1860s that later became the famous San Francisco restaurant, The Tadich Grill. By the early 1870s he had entered the wholesale tobacco business which he continued into the 1880s. He maintained a summer home in San Rafael, CA and in May of 1883, while battling pneumonia, decided to go into the wholesale liquor business in that town. Based on his newspaper advertisements, John Franetta dabbled in the wine, beer, and whiskey trade throughout the 1880s. In May of 1884 it was noted that Mr. Franetta had imported 200 barrels of Deer Lodge whiskey “for which he is sole agent on this coast.” It is likely the embossed slug plate whiskey 5th he put out was likely used for this product. Based on the manufacturing characteristics and the early attempt at venting the mold (along with its rarity) an 1883-1885 production date for the bottle is likely. John Franetta exited the business in 1891 when his son George Franetta partnered with George Nowell. Their partnership was short lived and in August of 1891 the Lang Brothers bought out Franetta’s interest and the firm became Nowell, Lang Bros. & Co. There are currently about four examples of the J. Franetta whiskey known.

Franetta Opens His Business In May 1883

Franetta Receiving Deer Lodge Whiskey in 1884

It is interesting to note that with both the Kirk and Franetta bottles, nearly all of the examples known were not found in their respective hometowns. The same goes for the Goldtree Brothers 5th from San Luis Obispo. Likely, these merchants sent their embossed bottles out  of town and used generic unembossed bottles locally.

 

https://goldengatebottles.com/

 

"Pairings"

Some things just naturally go together. For instance a fine wine and gourmet aged cheese. Or, to a western whiskey collector, rare shot glasses and a matching embossed cylinder fifth.

 

Pre-pro "Shots". 

I've collected western whiskies since the mid 60's. Never paid much attention to shots and go-withs earlier on though. Then, about 20 years ago, I spotted a western picture shot advertising Davy Crockett whiskey. The hook was set. The die was cast...

I've really enjoyed matching the glasses with their fifth counterparts. Best part of all is their size. They just don't take up much real estate.

Here are a few "pairings".