"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".

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon picture shot glasses~

 Oregon picture shot glasses~

 

Oregon acid etched pre-pro picture glasses are all but non-existent. There's only a couple that come to mind, this critter picture glass and the western themed glass associated with the Remington Liquor company.

Here's a favorite of mine, produced for the firm of Brunn & Co. of Portland. They were in business from 1905 - 1915, and were located at 1st SE cor. of Alder (1906-1910), 140-142 1 st (1911-1915).

They only marketed two brands; "Beaver Brand", and "O. W. P.." The Beaver Brand critter glass has everything going for it; in addition to the picture, it has internal fluted panels.

 

Group of three pre-pro ACL Oregon Shots.

ROTHCHILD BROS. were located in Portland. They were in business from 1899-1915 and were located at 20-26 1 st N. Their flagship brands included "Lily Bud", "Magnolia", "Maryland Monogram", and "Old Standard"; three of which are pictured here.

The colorful applied colored labels (ACL's) were the exception, rather than the norm and were expensive to produce compared to the more often seen "acid etched" glasses of the era.

These examples rate very scarce to downright rare.

 

 

Z as in Zythum

 

Z as in Zythum

 

 

Somehow, I wasn't terribly surprised when I pawed through a couple of hundred embossed, labeled and embossed, and label only western whiskies on my shelves, when searching for anything that started with a "Z" only to come up empty.

I was, however, rewarded when I thought to take a peek at the western pre-pro glasses in one of my display cabinets.

Sure enough, Z for Zythum.

John Sroufe tossed his hat into the western whiskey wholesale ring, going solo in 1893. His least successful brand was Zythum.

No, this is not a Nazi emblem! In Hinduism, the right-facing symbol (clockwise) (卐) is called swastika, symbolizing surya ('sun'), prosperity and good luck.

Zythum was originally a malt beer made in ancient Egypt. Since whiskey is often made using malt as the base, the name seemed to be a natural.

Unlike his somewhat successful Slaters Premium Bourbon, the Zythum brand flopped, undoubtedly being paper labeled only since no embossed examples have ever surfaced.

There are less than a scant handful of these pre-pro shots documented to exist; best count is four in any condition. This one is dead mint.

Zythum

Tak ----- Al ------ Ong

 Tak ----- Al ------ Ong ----- Whiskey

 

Here's a San Francisco flask with a fun play on words.

It's a label only tooled top flask. It measures 6 1/16" tall, has a tooled long tapered collar over single ring cork closure, and is a "half pint".

Sold by A. A. Bulotti who was located at the corner of 6th Ave. and California St. (in the northwest part of SF). Attached is a photo of the building today. It's a tasteful Victorian now housing a liquor store (how fortuitous...). 

Only problem is... the SF City directories never listed an A. A. Bulotti as being in either the wholesale or retail liquor business. What they do show is an A. A. Bulotti as being a grocer around the TOC, located at the address on the label.

Odds are, he bottled substandard whiskey from hogsheads, that he bought on the cheap from one of the big dogs, and bottled it in the back room.

I can see it now; Bulotti is offering a free flask of it (on the QT) to any husband who persuaded the Misses to shop at his store.

 

 West Coast Show Schedule

As per the FOHBC website; here's the upcoming shows for the next few months. We strongly suggest that you check in with the show chairs listed, prior to making the trip, to make sure the info is correct!

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24 & 25 January 2025 (Friday & Saturday) Anderson, California – 48th Annual Antique Bottle & Collectible Show & Sale. Open to the public from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. FREE ADMISSION. Dealer set-up Friday afternoon from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Early lookers same time for $10. Shasta District Fairgrounds, Fusaro Hall, Anderson, California. Contact Ralph Hollibaugh (Sales & Information) 530.306.5872 or Mike Rouse (Information Only) 530.249.1708,  

A footnote. The show was this past weekend. Enjoyed looking over the goods and spending the afternoon visiting with old friends and fellow collectors. A big thank you to those who were involved with putting on the show!

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14 & 15 February 2025 (Friday & Saturday) Aurora, Oregon – Oregon Bottle Collectors Assoc. Bottle, Antique & Collectibles Show & Sale, Friday 12 to 5:00 pm dealer set-up and early bird admission $5, Saturday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm regular public admission by donation, Show Address, American Legion Hall, 21510 Main St. N.E., Aurora, Oregon, Contact Info: Wayne Herring, Show Chairman, 503.864.2009, Bill Bogynska, 503.657.1726, billbogy7@gmail.com, 

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21 & 22 February 2025 (Friday & Saturday) Phoenix, Arizona – The Phoenix Antiques, Bottles and Collectibles Club 42nd Annual Show and Sale held at the North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85012. Friday 2:00 to 6:00 pm ($10 admission) and Saturday and 8:30 am to 3:30 pm ($3 admission). For more information contact Betty Hartnett, Show Chair, 602.317.4438, bettchem@cox.net. Visit the club website at phoenixantiquesclub.org, FOHBC Member Club

 

 

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22 February 2025 (Saturday) Kent, Washington – Washington Bottle & Collectors Association Annual Show and Sale, Kent Commons Community Center, 525 Fourth Avenue N., Kent, Washington 98032. General Public Admission is Free, Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; Early Admission is $10, 8:00 am to to 10:00 am. Washington Bottle & Collectors Association (WBCA), Website: wabottleclub.org, Contact: Lisa Conners, lisa.g.conners@gmail.com, FOHBC Member Club

 

 

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11 & 12 April 2025 (Friday & Saturday) Antioch, California – The Golden Gate Historical Bottle Society’s 57th Annual Bottles, Antiques & Collectibles Show & Sale, Early Buyers: Friday 12 pm to 5 pm, $10 Admission; General Admission: Saturday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Free. Contra Costa Event Park (Fairgrounds), Sunset Hall, 1201 West 10th Street, Antioch, California 94509. Info: Gary and Darla Antone, 925.373.6758, packrat49er@netscape.net, FOHBC Member Club

 

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31 July – 03 August 2025 (Thursday through Sunday) Reno, Nevada – FOHBC Reno 2025 National Antique Bottle and Glass Convention at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. For information contact Craig Cassetta or Richard Siri, Direct Link to Hotel Reservations, FOHBC National Event

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PIPIFAX

 PIPIFAX

 

Not a whiskey, but marketed in the end by a well known Western Whiskey distributor. And in all probability, concocted using sub-standard whiskey deemed unsuitable for bottling as bourbon. 

 

The brand was first trade marked on Nov. 15, 1870 by Max Walter. The label pictures the devil, a jester or a muse holding bottles of the elixir. The bottles he is holding appear to be black glass labeled slicks.

 

Later, on September 9, 1873, J. M. Goewey trade marked it once again. The label is substantially different and much more "floral", depicting a cherub hovering above a flower arrangement. It is now referred to as a "MAGIC Bitters".

 

According to Wilson, John Sroufe (of Slaters Bourbon fame), bought out Goewey in 1876, and commissioned a mold for a square bottle. They controlled the brand until dropping it in the mid 1880's.

 

The bottles are somewhat hard to acquire and most have a weak strike due to mold "burn out". This example is one of the better ones that I've seen over the years and has a decent strike and some crudity in the applied top.

 

 

Consign

 Consign

"deliver (something) to a person's custody, typically in order for it to be sold"

 

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I've been an avid collector, researcher, writer and dealer in western whiskies since the mid 1960's.

We've recently been approached by a number of non-collectors who have ended up with, through one situation or another, Western Whiskies. The initial conversation is always something on the order of; "I've got these old bottles, don't know anything about them, but was wondering if you could help me sell them". 

My response is always the same; let's take a look at them and see what I can do for you. Most of these initial contacts are via email. Just as well, as emailed photos help set the stage for the owners consigning the bottles to me.

 

Our services are priced reasonably; 10% of the final selling price of the item. That's it; Plain and Simple. We recently placed an amber picture cylinder for a client; it sold less than a week after receiving it. The consignor was sent certified funds for the proceeds once the sale was funded and was more than pleased with the entire process. They did ask, "why only 10% sellers fee and no buyers premium when compared to the big auction houses"?

The answer was simple; this is a labor of love, not a profit motivated business. I am well connected and have several avenues with which to merchandise western whiskies.

 

 If you, a relative, or even just an acquaintance of yours is interested in consigning to me, please don't hesitate to touch base. My email address is JSGLASS@Q.COM. Single items or large collections both receive the same attention to detail.

Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to explore consigning or an outright sale for cash.

Many thanks in advance, Bruce Silva

Western Whiskey Gazette