Good Golly Miss Molly!

Been a busy day here at "tool top central".

You guys are awesome! Here's another fresh batch, some of which I've never been fortunate enough to even handle.

Please, don't forget me when you make out your will...

                          

Belle of Mason

Chesleys Jockey Club - (Clubs)

Notice the nearly identical engraving on the Half Dollar (or visa versa). Coincidence? I think not.

And yet another "full face" Columbian.

Who said that "13" was unlucky. Wished I was lucky enough to have this 13 base Eagle Glen on my shelf!

Gold Dust Rye

Well now. It really does exist~ Looks like a nominee for the top shelf to me!

 Log Cabin            WOW!

Pacific Club

Another offering from the Pacific North West.

Phoenix - large bird / right face

"Green Tea"

But wait, there's more!

Not a picture, but tough to beat for downright rarity.

Top 20 Update

Thanks for the positive and upbeat emails. Looks like we're on to something good here!

I'll continue to post new photos and nominees in the coming days.

Here's a killer tool top and a definite contender for the list~

Nabob

Got a call a little while ago. Guess I've been caught~ I only included California tool tops. Must be because "I left my heart in San Francisco"... OK, so here's a couple more; one from Spokane WT., the others from Portland Ogn.

Red Stork

The Jorgensen "gang"

A Novel Idea

I've always found it interesting, bordering on ludicrous, that there is no Top Ten (or twenty or whatever) for the much maligned tool top whiskies. I know, I've heard it before, the "Thomas mindset". But really... stop and think about it; many of the rare tool tops survive in vastly smaller numbers than the glop top "hitters". I'll go so far as to limit the list only to tool tops produced in dedicated toolie molds; not the crossovers that were transitioning from glop to tooled, and blown in the same mold.

I'd love to work up a Top #10 or #20 with everyone's help. Your input is needed, so let's hear it.

Here are some of my favorites off the shelves here, in no particular order.

1) Laurel Crown

2) Golden Bourbon

       3) OPS

4) Tea Cup

 

5) Rothenberg Gamecock

6) Royal Stag

         7) Non-Pariel
     (Pareil - huh?)

8) Atlas

9) Ahrens Bullwinkle

 10) Columbian

11) Spears

12) Gold Dust

13) Boulevard - Buneman Merc.

14) Choice Old Cabinet

15) Copper Distilled

16) Pepper (circle)

17) Samuel Bros. - OK

18) Golden Eagle

19) Eagle Glen

20) Tom Parker - E.A. Kolb

As long as we're tossing things against the wall... How about the "13 base" series. Most are tooled, but there's a couple of applied top anomalies that were blown in the mold. I say, let's toss them into this mix as well~

Yep, I know, there's a bunch more that are infinitely rarer. So... send me a picture (pictures) along with your opinions for say, the Top 20, and let's get the ball rolling!

JUST A QUICK REMINDER~

Hi All.

Reno is this coming weekend.

Reno Antique Bottle & Collectibles Club
47th Annual Show & Sale

Early Buyers Friday July 22 10am-6pm
Saturday Show and Sale 9am - 3pm
Reno/Sparks Convention Center
4590 South Virginia St., North Entrance, Reno, NV.

Info: WILLY YOUNG, PH: (775) 746-0922.

The Silver Pick Strikes~

Every once in a while, I receive news of a good find. However, it seems that good finds are fewer and further apart these days.

The defeat of Senate Bill 870 will continue to make Oregon finds all but non-existent, since it will remain illegal to dig for bottles on either "public" (spelled government owned) or private (even with written permission) property. Yep, the State lays claim to everything, even on private property. Big Brother has a real stranglehold on us up here.

California diggers are either keeping a low profile and not talking, or the ground has already gotten too hard and digging has slowed to a crawl. Not even the die hard pick and shovel guys are bragging these days.

Back in January of 2010, you will recall an article on this site about the F. W. Bradley amber cylinder from San Diego. http://www.westernwhiskeytooltopgazette.com/2010/01/fm-bradley-san-diego.html

According to those in the know at that time, "This is a very rare San Diego tool top short fifth, dating 1900 (turn of the century). There is this one and it is damaged with stone bruises on the body. There is a mint one in the old Kallis Collection. That makes 2, if there is anymore I haven't heard of them. The flask are tough, as with many of the San Diego bottles, especially the embossed whiskey stuff, but, this flask is one of the more common of what we have. The company that put this out was F.W. Bradley here in Dago on the border." Since then, I was made aware of the existence of a couple more mint examples of the cylinder. Still, this is one tough bottle.

Out of the blue, I got an email yesterday that goes to show that even if picks and shovels aren't digging up good glass, the old silver pick (cash) still works. A California poison and pot-lid collector stumbled across a real gem at an estate sale down in Hemet. Yep, an about mint example of the F. W. Bradley!

He was good enough to share a bunch of photos. Take a peek!

The collector went on to say "The only small "issue" (if indeed it is an issue) is a small elongated surface bubble on the shoulder, which is not burst through, but shows two tiny pin prick rough points, on top of the surface bubble...otherwise I would rate it as v.good condition".

They also said that the bottle is available and that they would consider a fair offer on it. As you all know, I do not discuss values or provide recommendations on this site. However, if you are interested, as a service to the collecting community, I'll be happy to forward your emails on to the owner and let you work out the details.

Congratulations on a great find! Thanks for sharing.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

According to Hemingway, in his now famous novel of the aforementioned title, it tolled for a guy named Robert Jordan .

But not according to Morris Newman. Seems that for Newman the bell tolled for something more useful than a book. Like Whiskey. And Newman's claim to fame was the Liberty Bell brand of whiskey.

Newman arrived late on the scene; setting up shop in 1902 at 256 3rd St. A look at a map of San Francisco shows the address to be 2 1/2 blocks off of Market and just a few blocks off the waterfront and the Ferry Building; a can't fail location. He must have had a few nickels to rub together because he had a phone installed in his saloon right off the bat (Green 464 was the number). He stayed there until 1904. The phone number changed that year to Black 4632 (although the reason escapes me). I'm guessing that Liberty Bell may have been the name of this saloon and the bottle was blown when he was at this address.

The "Liberty Bell" is one rare picture whiskey. I've had one; and only seen one other one~. It's a bit unconventional in shape, being smaller in diameter, but with a taller cylinder than a "normal" fifth. It may be a fifth, but I'd lean more toward a "short fifth".

In 1905, "M. Newman" pulled up stakes, for reasons unknown, and relocated to new digs. Not sure if it was divine providence that convinced him to move, or just dumb luck, but the new location at 3150 "24th" St., out in the Mission District, survived the Great Earthquake and fire in April of the following year. The new location was on the outer fringes of the "burned area" whereas his old location on 3rd Street was reduced to rubble and ashes on April 18th, the first day of the fire...

The new location apparently fared well. Records indicate that the saloon doors remained open on 24th Street until 1908.

Although no embossed bottles are known to exist attributable to that location, three label only cylinders remain. One, the Bohemian Club, is an exceptional piece of artwork. It is also significant because it has the "Pure Food and Drug Act" declaration on the label, thus positively linking it to the new location based on the date.

Another, "Extract of Ginger" is multi colored debossed litho with gilding.

Just plain fancy!

A third contained Brair (sp?) Ridge. It is a pint cylinder with the Riley Patent inside thread closure commonly used in the mid to late teens. The label pictures a distillery. Inquiring minds want to know and I was curious to see where the distillery was located and whether this was a true old Ky. bourbon or a west coast distillery posing as one of the good ol' boys. Hmm, I found no record of a Brair (possibly mis-spelled) or Briar Ridge distillery anywhere in the country. Still, it looks impressive on the label...

After 1908, there is no mention whatsoever of M. Newman's saloon or liquor endeavors at the 24th Street address. However, he is listed on the 1910 census. It states that he was born in 1865, was a native of Hungary, and married to a Charlotte "Lottie" Newman and resided in the 32nd district in San Francisco. The 1915 directory does still list Morris and Lottie; residing at 2424 Howard Street. There is also a reference to M Newman & Co. but no address for the business was listed. The mystery gets cleared up by the 1917 directory which states that the business was being run out of their residence on Howard St. It also lists a new name; "M & A Newman Wholesale Liquors". In 1918 the business name reverted to M. Newman & Co, and the residence address moves to 2835 Howard St. Why the short move? In 1919 Morris and Lottie remain at the 2835 address, although the listing simply states "liquors".

And then, the trail goes cold. Obviously Prohibition forced a career change and Newman, like everyone else in the wholesale liquor scene, was forced to reinvent the wheel when their livelihood was taken away. Still, he made a pretty respectable showing, having been in the wholesale and retail liquor business for 17 years~

Subsequent to 1919, no further record is found of Moris and or Lottie Newman in San Francisco. After grabbing at straws for a couple of days, I ran a search of Mortuary records as a last ditch effort to locate Newman. At last, a hit. Records show that Morris Newman died at his home in Los Gatos, California on October 22, 1932. At that time he was still married to Lottie. His funeral service was held at Halsted Mortuary, located at 1132 Sutter St., in San Francisco. Morris Newman was 67 years old.

Justin Liquor Co. - Bad Whiskey or Bad Timing?

No record of the Justin Liquor Company exists prior to 1905. In that year, Justin Taravellier and Louis Cames partnered up and the Justin Liquor Company embarked on it's short career into the wholesale and retail liquor trade. Taravellier had prior experience in the form of retail liquor sales, tending the bar at his hole in the wall saloon located at 23 6th St. in "The City". Cames, on the other hand had been a mail carrier for the post office prior to entering the liquor business. How he and Taravellier came to be partners was at first a mystery. Cames residence was half way across town, too far to become acquainted in the saloon and too far from Taravelliers home to have been neighborly. Regardless, as 1905 dawned, they became co-owners of the upstart Justin Liquor Company and set up shop at 317 O'Farrell at the corner of Mason St.

After what seemed like hours of sleuthing, an obituary in the San Francisco Call dated April 13, 1902 appeared and the mystery was solved; Taravellier and Cames were related; their lineage traced back to France. Other than that nugget, and a delinquency notice filed against Taravellier for $50~ (late payments on shares of stock) by the Kilauea Sugar Plantation Company, both managed for the most part to avoid the press. In fact, the Justin Liquor Company never placed an ad. However, they did have two variants blown of an amber quart cylinder and had one order filled for two different etched shot glasses with the company name emblazoned on the front.

The Justin Liquor cylinders are big gutsy bottles. The turn of the century was an exciting time full of prosperity and more was better. Gone were the days of the cylinder sixth of the 60's and the fifth of the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Full Measure / Full Quart was the order of the day. But the bottles were, frankly, ugly and awkward in appearance. And so, petaled and swirled shoulders were added to the lineup of molds offered by the glass works. A definite improvement in my book, although the cost must have been prohibitive since few wholesalers stepped up to the plate for the fancy molds... However, putting their best foot forward, at least one order for two different Justin fancy shoulder bottles were filled at the glassworks; Both are embossed "The / Justin / Liquor / Co. / S.F. Cal."; within a circular slug plate ; one embossed "Full Quart" above "The", the other embossed "Net Contents 32 oz." at the base on the obverse. Me, I like the Full Quart; it sounds like you've getting more...

The bottles are rare. We've had a total of three over the years, two with net contents (one was damaged) and only one of the Full Quarts. I don't recall seeing more than a couple of others. The glasses are also exceptionally rare. There are two different styles in existence; one is simply lettered, the other is a "picture" glass. I've had one of the less ornate of the two, and have seen one other and one of the picture glass.

The Justin Liquor Company disappeared just as fast as it surfaced. There is no record or mention of the company after 1905. So what happened? 

It appears that the company managed to hang on by a shoestring into 1906. Oddly enough, there is no mention of the Justin Liquor Company in 1906, only reference to a saloon at the 317 O'Farrell address. On April 4, 1906, the bartender in the saloon at that location reported a burglary whereby someone entered the premises and stole the cash register. No cash was taken since it was empty (obviously business was booming..) and the sum total of the loss was the register itself. It was later recovered in a yard at 357 O'Farrell St.; just a few doors down. A couple of weeks later, the Great 1906 Earthquake and Fire sounded their swan song. Both the Taravellier and Cames residence, and the business address for the Justin Liquor Company (actually again just a saloon proper), were smack dab in the middle of the burned district.

San Francisco was dry (no liquor sales permitted) from April 18, 1906 onward into the summer. As normalcy slowly returned to the city, so did the flow of liquor. On August 14, 1906, a saloon license was granted to Taravellier and Cames to be located at 2768 Mission. The post earthquake 1906 Crocker Langley states simply, Taravellier and Cames, liquors, 2778 Mission (I verified both addresses and am guessing that the discrepancy is a typo error). No mention of the Justin Liquor Company at all.

Bad liquor or bad timing? As they say, timing is everything. The Justin Liquor Company's was simply the worst~

Many thanks to Ken S. for the shot photos~