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 stopper 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!