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Featured Soda
Some prior months Featured Sodas are shown below . . .
The NEW Featured Soda Section is HERE
 The
January and February pontiled sodas are represented by not one,
but two "W. H. BUCK" Norfolk, Virginia
sodas in different molds. The blue one to the left, may be the
rarest--taken from Chris Rowell's site. The one on the right
specifies the Talbot St. address for Buck. Also, the applied
flared top on this one is absolutely identical to some of the
tops found on the earlier 1840's Baltimore torpedos like the
Keach or Gardner & Brown's. Two Virginia pontiled sodas here
for your inspection . . . |
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 I
feel certain that both are a product of the Federal Hill
(Baltimore) Glass Works, circa mid 1840's, but the Talbot St.
example is earlier. I also feel that the blue example is proof
that a particular Charleston, S.C. soda (can you
guess which one ?) in the exact same form, color and
embossing style identifies it as being blown at the Federal Hill
Glass Works as well (to be continued) . .
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Undoubtedly,
the December pontiled soda must go to the unlisted, rare and
desirable cobalt ten pin, embossed "DR. PAOLIS / SPARKLING PERSIAN
/ SHERBET -- F.W. SIMONDS / CHICAGO / ILL." This is a pontil era
soda that went for over $1200 on Ebay with some lip bruising.
Just when you thought "Sarsaparilla & Lemon Soda", or "Root
Porter" or even "Nectarian" was the living end, along comes
"Sparkling Persian Sherbet" --ever seen another one of these ? |
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The
November pontiled soda was dug by Steve Bouwma, of Wisconsin, and is
embossed "C. F. BLISS / RACINE / WISS - CELEBRATED
/ MINERAL / WATER" in a nice sapphire blue. Steve has dug
aqua Bliss's, but this is a rare color, and it appears to be
lightly pontiled. This one had substantial neck and lip damage
which was repaired by Chris Rowell. Note the mis-abbreviation of
Wisc. as "Wiss"--possibly to match "Bliss".
It is always great to hear from regional diggers who have dug
bottles that are relatively unknown. I had never even heard of a
Bliss soda in aqua until now, and yet here is a blue one. I have
seen a few Madison pontils that were previously unrecorded and a
few Milwaukees are known, but usually these are later aqua
pontils. Like this beauty, they seem to be the product of a
Pittsburg glass house. THANKS STEVE ! |
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October's
featured pontiled soda comes from Ebay, and is
embossed "S & C / ELKTON / M.D." in a
green, squat slug plated porter form, with a single tapered top
and iron pontil. This one went for $575.00--the bottle is
previously unlisted in any source I have access to.
Though Elkton
is much closer to the Bridgeton, NJ glassworks than
Baltimore, the piece looks more like a
Baltimore Glass House product, because of the single tapered top
-- similar to certain Coughlan and Clarke
Baltimore pontiled squats (as
opposed to the double ringed "Saratoga" style lip).
Interesting to
note: a similar argument can be made for the squat Borgman,
featured on the rare examples
page. Though Cumberland is way out in Northwest Maryland, much
closer to the PA glasshouses than Baltimore--the similarity of
the Borgman porter to the Baltimore
COLE porter
is just way too convincing.
In fact, speaking of
Cumberland--does this "Corts
& Wickard" [2nd
pic] look like it was produced by the same mold
maker as the "S&C" ?
So this begs the question--was there an interstate taxation or
other surcharge that made it more economical for Maryland
bottlers to buy bottles from Baltimore glass houses, as
opposed to nearby houses across the state line ? Hmmmm .
. . if anyone has any info. about that,
let us know.
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The
September
featured pontiled soda comes from Dave Erickson, and is
embossed "Bebington.&.Co" in an arch that
runs from seam to seam. The bottle is 7.5" tall, sports an
iron pontil, and is a medium cobalt blob top.
Edward K. Bebbington was a Chicago Bottler in the mid to late
1850's. Attributed to Bebbington is the "E.K.B. /
Aerated Soda Water" I.P. cobalt blob--fairly
available in good condition. Less Common is the blue, I.P.
"E & B / Aerated Soda Water" which was a product
of the partnership between Bebbington and Joseph Entwistle,
another Chicago Bottler.
There is a blue "J. Entwistle /
Chicago / ILL." as well as a smooth based blue straight
letter "Bebbington" and a scarce, blue I.P.
"Oerated / Soda. Water / E.K.B." I have never come
across this particular mold though, and believe it to be a
good one. Thanks, Dave !
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