RICKS BOTTLE ROOM.COM

THE ANTIQUE BOTTLE COLLECTING BUG !!!                                                                                       #1

 WELCOME TO MY WEBSITE, EVERYTHING IN MY SITE IS DESIGNED & MAINTAINED BY ME & I AM WORKING ON MY HTML CODING TO GET IT CORRECT,BEAR WITH ME .. I HAVE ADDED THE "CONTACT" TABS ON LEFT SIDE OF EACH PAGE, THEY WORK WELL AND ARE EASY AND QUICK. I RECIEVE ALERTS ON MY BLACKBERRY THE MINUTE THEY ARE POSTED AND ANSWER ALL RIGHT AWAY {USALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS}, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING OUT GREAT AS I AM AVERAGING 115-125 QUESTIONS A MONTH AND CLIMBING.....LOVE RESEARCH,SO KEEP THEM COMING, THANKS

I AM ALWAYS LOOKING TO BUY QUALITY ANTIQUE BOTTLES, SEND ME INFORMATION & PICTURES!!

        I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN A SMALL TOWN IN THE ADIRONDACKS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. I STARTED DIGGING BOTTLES WHEN I WAS 12 YRS OLD MY STEPFATHER GARY GOT ME HOOKED ON THEM. US LOCAL KIDS USED TO DIG AND SELL THEM TO A GUY WHO TOOK THEM TO FLEA MARKETS.I REMEMBER SOME OF THE STUFF WE USED TO DIG AND RECALL ONE DUMP THAT PRODUCED 16 BUFFALO LITHIA WATERS. I SOLD THEM FOR 6.00 EACH,AND WAS OK WITH THAT (AT 12).THE ONE I DO WISH I STILL HAD WAS THE COLOR OF GASOLINE AND I GOT 25.00 FOR THAT ONE,PROBABLY WORTH MUCH MORE TODAY.

NEVER REALLY STOPPED SINCE THEN AS FAR AS COLLECTING,THEN ABOUT 9 YEARS AGO OR SO I FELL INTO A DEAL WITH A LONG TIME DEALER IN BOTTLES AND ALL ANTIQUES. I STRUCK A DEAL AND FOR BOXING UP 3 FULL STORIES OF ANTIQUES I GOT TO KEEP ALL THE BOTTLES AND STONEWARE.(65 PIECES) AND 6500 BOTTLES....I PULLED SOME GREAT STUFF OUT OF THE BUNCH AND REMEMBER HAVING CASES ALL OVER THE PLACE,6500 BOTTLES TAKES UP ALOT OF ROOM.ONE MORNING WENT OUT TO THE BOXES PILED IN YARD AND PULLED OUT A BINNEGERS CANNON AND A GW HOXIE THAT WAS THE FINEST IVE EVER SEEN,ALSO LOG CABIN BITTERS AND TONS OF BLOBS AND HUTCHS AND PANEL MEDICINES.I DECIDED TO START KEEPING POISONS AND ALOT OF THE STONE WARE AND TRADED/SOLD THE REST.I NOW HAVE A DEDICATED ROOM FOR MY OLD ADVERTISING AND BOTTLES  

 I ALSO LIKE INKS AND BLOBS.WHISKEYS ARE ALSO SOMETHING I HAVE SOME OF, I REACHED 250 ENGLISH AND U.S. POISONS {INCLUDING 17 W.T.CO. LATTICES} AND THEN DECIDED TO MOVE INTO INKS LOCAL MEDICINES ECT. & BLOBS. I TRADED ALOT OF THE POISONS AND SOLD SOME TO ADD TO MY BLOBS. I NOW HAVE WELL OVER 350 BLOBS AND AM GETTING MORE ALL THE TIME. OVER THE  YEARS I'VE BEEN IN ON SOME MASSIVE DIGS,COVERING HUGE AREAS AND DIGGING DOWN UP TO 18 FEET AND BROUGHT SOME GREAT STUFF HOME. SOME OF THE PEOPLE I DIG WITH HAVE GOTTEN GREAT STUFF AS WELL AND IT'S ALWAYS A TREASURE HUNT FOR ME. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE NEXT ONE COME OUT AND GET IT CLEANED UP,NOT ALWAYS WHOLE......BUT  I NEVER SEEM TO GROW TIRED OF TRYING THAT NEXT DUMP.I SEARCH AUCTIONS,SALES,INTERNET AS WELL FOR NEW ADDITIONS AND HAVE OVER THE YEARS GOT SOME REAL NICE STUFF,  EITHER FOR MY COLLECTION OR TO TRADE/SELL FOR A DIFFERENT PIECE FOR MY COLLECTION.

THERE ARE FOR NEW COLLECTORS A LOT OF PLACES TO GET A COLLECTION GOING,YARD SALES,ANTIQUE SHOPS AND DIGGING.AS YOUR COLLECTION PROGRESSES AUCTIONS CARRY THE MID TO BETTER RANGE GLASS AND OF COURSE THERE IS ONLINE AUCTIONS,WHERE YOU CAN GET ABOUT ANYTHING. BOTTLE SHOWS ARE STILL ONE OF THE MOST INEXPENSIVE PLACES TO GET A NEW ADDITION AND YOU GET TO CHECK IT OUT IN PERSON,WHICH TO ME IS A HUGE PLUS. BARTERING AND PARTIAL TRADES ARE ALSO A POSSIBILITY AT SHOWS,UNLIKE AUCTIONS ECT. THE KEY HERE IS RESEARCH IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT,THERE ARE REPRODUCTION /DECORATIVE BOTTLES OUT THERE THAT ARE VERY EASY TO MISTAKE EVEN WHEN A SEASONED COLLECTOR. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REPRODUCTION AND WHAT I CLASSIFY AS DECORATIVE IS A REPRODUCTION IS A COPY/FACSIMILE OF AN ACTUAL OLD BOTTLE. A DECORATIVE IS LIKE THE WEATON COFFINS,THEY WERE NEVER PRODUCED TO ACTUALLY BE USED,STRICTLY DECORATIVE.

THERE ARE GREAT RESOURCES OUT THERE FOR BOTTLE COLLECTORS IF YOU SEARCH THEM OUT.SOME ARE OUTDATED BUT GREAT FOR REFERENCE AND IF YOU USE MANY SOURCES YOU CAN COME TO YOUR OWN DECISION. AUCTION HOUSES, EBAY, LIBRARIES, TOWN HALLS AND OTHERS ARE GREAT PLACES TO FIND INFORMATION. LOCAL AUCTIONS AND SALES ARE GOOD PLACES TO FIND AN ADDITION,. I HAVE A FAIRLY LARGE LIBRARY OF COLLECTABLES BOOKS, AND MY E~LIBRARY SO FEEL FREE TO ASK, I WILL BE GLAD TO HELP RESEARCH YOUR LATEST FIND.THE BOTTOM LINE IS ADDING TO YOUR COLLECTION THE BEST EXAMPLE YOU CAN AFFORD TO GET.  I TRY TO POST SOME OF THE STUFF DIGGERS & COLLECTORS NEWER TO THIS GREAT HOBBY WILL FIND. SITES WITH 5,000 DOLLAR BOTTLES ARE GREAT TO LOOK AT TOO, BUT NOT MANY OF US ARE GOING TO DIG OR FIND SOMETHING OF THAT CALIBER .

I TRY AND ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS MOST TIMES WITHIN 48 HOURS AND ENJOY HELPING OUT IN THE RESEARCH. GOOD LUCK THANKS FOR STOPPING AND BE SURE TO STOP BACK OFTEN AS I WILL BE CHANGING AND ADDING ON A REGULAR BASIS AS MY COLLECTION PROGRESSES & CHANGES.THE MAJORITY OF MY INK COLLECTION CAME FROM MY FATHER GARY.I REALLY ENJOY MY SITE ALOT AND ALWAYS WANT IT BETTER!! ENJOY!!  EVERYTHING ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES PLUS SOME IS IN MY BOTTLEROOM, I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A DESIGNATED  BOTTLEROOM. I HAVE AROUND 55 INKS YET TO GET ON HERE AS WELL AS THE 150 + BLOBS ECT. SO CHECK BACK OFTEN.

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 FATHER ~ DIGGING PARTNER ~ FRIEND

MY STEPFATHER GARY WAS THE ONE THAT GOT ME HOOKED ON BOTTLES AT AGE 12 IN THE ADIRONDACKS ,HE HAD A PASSION US FELLOW DIGGER/COLLECTORS MAY BE THE ONLY ONES WHO UNDERSTAND.WORKING HARDER AT DIGGING THAN AT MOST OF OUR JOBS....AND ALWAYS READY TOO DO IT AGAIN. HE WAS A RETIRED & VERY PROUD NYS FOREST RANGER OF 36 YEARS. HE LOVED LIFE AND ALL IT HAD TO OFFER RUNNING PULLING TRACTORS, MOTORCYCLES, HIT & MISS ENGINES, BOTTLES AND ABOUT ANYTHING ANTIQUE. HE HAD AN ABILITY TO FIGURE OUT ANYTHING MECHANICAL AND USUALLY IMPROVE ON IT.  HE PASSED ON 7~6~2010 , I WILL MISS HIM TERRIBLE HE WAS MY FRIEND

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  ~ SUBMIT YOUR FAVORITE FOR BOTTLE OF THE WEEK ~ SEE BOTTLE OF THE WEEK PAGE FOR DETAILS ~ THANKS FOR STOPPING BY. 

A RECENT ADDITION EMBOSSED "STAFFORD INK" DOWN THE SIDE,GETTING IT TOO SHOW IN A PICTURE IS NOT WORKING. RARE COLOR PINT SIZE IN A BRIGHT GREEN FROM 1880'S RANGE.

AN ICE BLUE L.H. THOMAS INK CO. WELL FROM 1880'S AS WELL, BOTH ARE PRETTY HARD TO FIND AND BOTH CAME FROM THE ALBANY BOTTLE SHOW.

 (L.H.THOMAS INK CO.) The manufacture of paper bottles is said to be becoming an important industry at Chicago, and the process adopted is that invented by Mr L. H. Thomas. These paper bottles, which can.be made of all shapes and sizes, are cheaper than those made of glass or other material, although, from the published description of the process, this would hardly seem to be possible. A sheet of paper cemented on one side is rolled on a mandrel, after which the neck is fashioned, and a bottom of paper or wood inserted into the cylindrical vessel An outer glazed-paper covering is next added; and the interior of the bottle is lined with a fluid composition, which speedily becomes hard, and resists alkalies, acids, spirits, and everything else. The bottles are unbreakable, and require no packing in transit. For various purposes, such as the carriage of ink, blacking, varnishes, and paints, these bottles will doubtless be found useful; but for wines, spirits, medicines, &c., glass, which has the advantages of transparency and great cleanliness, is likely to hold its own..  "We have had several inquiries relative to the possibility of obtaining paper bottles in this country, similar to those mentioned in European journals. W e have just seen a statement in The American Stationer that Mr. L. H. Thomas, maker of ink, at 59 Michigan Avenue, Chicago, has commenced the manufacture of these bottles. They are about two-thirds as heavy as glass, and can hardly be broken by usual accidents."

Blodgett, J. The bill in this case seeks an injunction against thedefendant Ailing, restraining him from entering into the employment of the other defendant, the L. H. Thomas Company, and for other relief. The material allegations of the bill, so far as necessary for the disposition of the case, are: That on the 2d day of January, 1888, and for many years prior thereto, complainants were and had been copartners doing business under the firm name and style of Carter, Dinsinore & Co., engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling inks and mucilage, having their manufactory and principal office in the city of Boston, in the state of Massachusetts, with depots or warehouses in the city of New York and the city of Chicago; that in the conduct of their business they had employed, and still employ, traveling agents, canvassers, and salesmen, to introduce and sell the products of their manufacture throughout the United States and Canada; that the inks so manufactured and sold by complainants have always been known to the trade and to the public under the name of "Carter's Inks;" and that under said name such inks, and the mucilage manufactured by the firm, have, by reason of their excellence, and through the means of such traveling men, canvassers, and salesmen, as well as by extensive advertising at large expense to complainants, become widely and favorably known throughout the United States and Canada, as well as in various foreign countries, whereby complainants have established a large and profitable business in the manufacture and sale of said products throughout the United States and Canada; that about the year 1881 the defendant Edward H. Ailing entered into the employment of said firm as a general salesman, involving the duties of canvassing, and introducing samples 'to and soliciting the trade of customers, and in part of selling to the trade, and to the advertising departments of such business. It is further alleged that on the 2d day of January, 1888, the said Ailing entered into a certain written agreement with complainants for a further employment by them, by which agreement Ailing agreed to wrfrk for complainants in the traveling, canvassing, and advertising departments of their business, and to do work in such other departments as they might request, from January 1, 1888, to July 1, 1890, for which service complainants were to pay him as salary $200 per month during said two and a half years, and at the expiration of said two and a half years a further sum, calculated upon a percentage of the net profits of the firm for the entire period of such employment, over and above the amount of said monthly payments, complainants also to pay all of Alling's traveling expenses. It was also provided by the contract that either party might terminate the same by giving one month's notice in writing, provided the other failed to comply with all the terms and provisions therein expressed. Ailing, in and by the contract, further covenanted that he would not, within three years from the termination of his employment by complainants, whenever that might be, travel, canvass, or advertise for, or otherwise assist any one engaged in, nor himself engage directly or indirectly in, any line of business carried on or contemplated at the time of the termination of his employment by the complainant, nor furnish information directly or indirectly to any one engaged or interested in any such line of business. He further agreed not to communicate during the continuance of said agreement, or at any time subsequently, any information relating to the secrets of the traveling, advertising, and canvassing departments, nor any knowledge or secrets which he then had or might from time to time acquire pertaining to the other departments of the business of said complainants, to any person not a member of complainants' firm, except as requested in writing by complainants; and in case of violation of said covenant the defendant Ailing agreed to pay complainants or their legal successors the sum of $5,000 as liquidated damages, but such payment was not to release him from the obligations undertaken, or from liability for further breach thereof. And it was further provided that, in case of any termination whatever of said contract, the obligations of the defendant Ailing, as expressed in the covenant just recited, should remain in full force. The bill further charges that the defendant Ailing left the employment of complainants in the month of January, 1889, and that he soon thereafter entered into the employment of the defendant the L. H. Thomas Company, which is a corporation organized under the laws of the state of Illinois, for the purpose, among other things, of manufacturing and selling inks and mucilage; that its manufactory is located in the vicinity of the city of Chicago, and its principal office is in the city of Chicago; and that the business of the said L. H. Thomas Company is of the same nature with that of complainants, and is conducted in substantially the same manner,—by the employment of canvassers and traveling salesmen, and by advertising and selling its products throughout the country,—and that it is a competitor with complainant in such business. The bill also' charges that the defendant the L. H. Thomas Company was fully advised at the time of employing Ailing of his obligation to complainants under the agreement of January 2, 1888, and that complainants fear that in the course of his employment with said L. H. Thomas Company, Ailing is communicating to and using for the benefit of said company the information which he has obtained as an employe of complainants' concern, and the methods of complainants' business, and will communicate to said company the trade secrets pertaining to complainants' business so acquired by him while in complainants' employ, and will avail himself of such trade secrets to promote the business and further the interests of said company as a competitor of complainants, to the great and irreparable injury of complainants. The bill prays an injunction restraining Ailing, for a period of three years from the termination of his employment with complainants, from traveling, canvassing for. and otherwise assisting the L. H. Thomas Company, or any other corporations or persons engaged in, or from himself engaging directly or indirectly in, the business of manufacturing or selling inks, writing fluids, and mucilage, and ^rom furnishing any information, directly or indirectly, to the L. H. Thomas Company, and to any other person or corporation engaged in or interested iu such business, or from communicating directly or indirectly to any such person or corporation any information relating to the secrets of the traveling, advertising, or canvassing departments of complainants' fiTm. And that the L. H. Thomas Company, its officers, agents, and employes, may also be enjoined and restrained for a like period from employing Ailing to travel, canvass, or advertise for, and otherwise assist said company in the business of manufacturing and selling inks, writing fluids, and mucilage.

There is no dispute as to the facts in the case. It is conceded that complainants were manufacturers and sellers of inks, etc., as charged in their bill; that Ailing entered into complainants' employ under this contract, and continued in their service, as a traveling salesman and canvasser and advertiser of their inks, up to about the 20th of January, 1889, at or about Which time difficulties arose between said parties touching the manner in which Ailing should conduct the business for complainants, and he was notified that complainants had discharged him; and that within a very short time after such discharge defendant Ailing became connected with the said L. H. Thomas Company as its president, taking the general charge and management of its affairs, including the selling of its inks, mucilage, bluing, and writing fluids; and that the other officers of the L. H. Thomas Company were duly notified, at or before the time when Ailing went into their employ-in the capacity aforesaid, of his obligations under said contract to complainants"

The language of the contract implies that when the plaintiffs joined the defendant in his new business they had confidence in his mechanical skill and ingenuity, and intended to avail themselves of it for the benefit of the business in which he induced them to embark, and that it was a material part of the consideration for which they paid him so considerable a sum and invested their capital. It was not in restraint of trade nor contrary to public policy that the defendant should contract to render to the plaintiffs his exclusive services in this respect. This part of the contract he is alleged to have violated

 HERE IS THE EVER FAMOUS CARTERS INK CATHEDRAL MASTER INK. THESE CAME IN A FEW SIZES AND ARE ALWAYS A POPULAR BOTTLE. RARITY.......NOT SUPER RARE BUT AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE DISPLAY APPEAL THEY ALWAYS DO WELL IN GOOD CONDITION. DATING TO THE 1900'S WITH THE CLOVERLEAF INKWELL BEING THE MOLD BLOWN ONE.ONLY EVER SEEN THEM IN COBALT BLUE.

 HERE IS YET ANOTHER RARE COLOR MASTER INK IN DEEP TEAL GREEN WITH PINCHED POUR SPOUT. THIS GEM IS ALSO IN UNDAMAGED CONDITION. DATING TO THE 1870 RANGE EMBOSSED STAFFORDS INK SUPER NICE DISPLAY

3 SIZES OF B.I.M. STAFFORDS MASTER INKS, LEFT TOO RIGHT ~ 5 INCH, 10 INCH & 7 INCH

ON MERIT.—Only the few succeed, and only the few deserve success. In all lines of human enterprise a few names stand out higher and brighter than the rest. They have won fame by meriting it.Stafford ink co. has made a world-wide reputation in the manufacture of inks.

Everybody has heard of " Stafford's Ink." Nearly everybody uses ink, and the difference between good and bad ink is so great that those who know the difference will have truly the best.

For forty years Stafford's inks have been the best to date, and for forty years there has been steady progress in improving these well known inks, until now they seem to have reached perfection in " Stafford's special ink." This ink has all the qualifications that are required in any ink. It will not corrode pens, nor offset or smear on books. It cannot fade, writes a brilliant blue tinge to a jet black, gives copies, is best fur use in fountain pens, and remains a deep black as long as the paper lasts

THREE NICE COLOR 1800'S MASTER INKS WITH HAND FORMED POUR SPOUTS,THE TEAL AND DARK GREEN ARE 10 INCH AND THE COBALT ONE IS ONLY 4 + INCHS.

ROBERT KELLER INK MASTER THAT IS TURNING COLOR AND HAS A ROSE TINT, VERY COOL. BLOWN IN MOLD AND NOT REAL COMMON.
KELLER, Robert; born, Switzerland, July 29, 1860; son of John and Bertha (Koch) Keller; educated in Switzerland; came to America, 1881; married, Detroit, 1886, Sarah McConville; 2 sons: George R., Edwin C. Learned drug business in Switzerland and continued in the business after coming to America until 1896; started manufacture of ink, 1889, incorporated, 1899, as the Robert Keller Ink Co., of which has since been president and manager. Member Detroit Board of Commerce. Club: Detroit Motor Boat. Recreations: all water sports. Office: 523-527 Fort St. W. Residence: 91 Prentis Ave.  KELLER, George Robert, secretary Ockford Printing Co.; born, Detroit, Sept. 18, 1886; son of Robert and Sarah Grace (McConville) Keller; educated public schools and Detroit Central High School; married, Sept. 23, 1909, Lillian Ockford, of Detroit; one daughter, Dorothy Grace. Began active career as salesman Robert Keller Ink Co., 1903, continuing 6 years; secretary Ockford Printing Co., railroad and commercial printing, since its incorporation, June 9, 1909. Episcopalian. Member United Typothetae, Detroit Allied Printing Trades' Association. Member Detroit Lodge No. 2, F. & A. M . Recreation: automobiling. Office: 70 Howard St. Residence: 154 Monterey Ave., Highland Park.

2 OF MY PINT SIZE STAFFORDS MASTER INKS ~ 1880'S ~ 1890'S  The Stafford's ink Co., a New York brand, dates back to 1858, when S. S. Stafford, founder of the house, began to produce chemical writing fluids. The output of this firm has been enormous. Many other houses in several American cities make writing fluids, useful for the day's work

VERY HARD TO GET HOLD OF, 1 GALLON SIZE  "CARTERS INK" STONEWARE JUG. DATING TO EARLY 1900,S 2 TONE WITH POUR SPOUT AND PRINTED WITH PICTURE LABEL TO BOOT, A FAVORITE DISPLAY THERE ARE A FEW VARIATIONS OF STONEWARE INK JUGS BY CARTER INKS . THIS IS A 3 CITY VARIANT.NICE!

HERE IS A 1870,S HAND BLOWN 3 PART MOLD CARTERS INK IN A VERY SCARCE TEAL GREEN COLOR AND PINCHED POUR SPOUT. THIS IS NOT AN EASY MASTER INK TO AQUIRE DUE MOSTLY TOO COLOR.

 The William Carter Company, the forerunner of Carter's Ink, was founded in 1858 by Boston stationer, William Carter who, in order to supplement his paper sales, had started repackaging other companies' inks and selling them under his own name. In 1860, William Carter's brother, Edward Carter, joined the company and the firm became known as "William Carter and Bro."

The Civil War disrupted Carter's primary ink supplier, so William Carter obtained the use of its formulas on a royalty basis and started making his own inks and mucilage, which necessitated the move to a larger building. Another brother, John H. Carter, joined the company, which became "William Carter & Bros."In 1865 William's cousin, John W. Carter, joined the enterprise and the name became "Carter Bros. & Company." John W. Carter focused his efforts on the ink part of the business which, along with the sales efforts of James P. Dinsmore, resulted in such growth that the ink business was separated from the paper business and moved into its own quarters in 1868."

The entire firm and both of its divisions and their separate buildings were destroyed the night of November 9, 1872, in what has been called the Great Boston Fire of 1872. All that was left was the company's good will and its formulas.

After the fire in 1872, John W. Carter teamed up with James P. Dinsmore to buy the ink division and start a new firm known as "Carter, Dinsmore and Company." The new company thrived and by 1884 had become the largest ink producer in the world. Contributing to this growth was John W. Carter's belief in and commitment to research to develop new and better inks.

James P. Dinsmore retired in 1888, and John W. Carter drowned in 1895, which created an organizational crisis in the unincorporated enterprise, which led to its incorporation later that year as "The Carter's Ink Company.

HERE IS A VERY NICE UNDERWOODS INK IN THE PINT SIZE OR THERE ABOUTS! BLOWN AND TOOLED POUR SPOUT ALONG WITH THE FLUTED BODY MAKE IT A NICE DISPLAY. DATING TO THE 1870,S AND CONSIDERED VERY SCARCE.

THIS COMPANY ALSO PRODUCED TYPEWRITERS & ABOUT ANYTHING RELATED TO THE GRAPHIC INDUSTRY AT THE TIME.

John Underwood  passed in 1881.

  YET ANOTHER UNDERWOODS PINT SIZE INK DATING TO THE 1880 RNGE AND BLOWN IN MOLD. EMBOSSED (MUCH BETTER THAN IT SHOWS) UNDERWOODS INKS. 3 BANDS AROUND NECK AND TOOLED POURER.CONSIDERED PRETTY SCARCE AS WELL.

Financial misfortune dogged their John Underwood until, in 1872, he decided to go to America and start anew,9 years later his company was sucessful,  John Underwood  . In his business  had made a number of useful inventions, one of which was a safety check paper on which writing could not possibly be altered; another, an ink which would make seventy-five copies. Also, he invented the first copiable printing ink. He improved on the typewriter ribbons so that no others since made have been able to compare with them.

                     HERE IS A LIGHT TEAL 1870,S VARIANT OF ANOTHER STAFFORDS MASTER INK,THIS ONE ALSO HAS PINCHED POUR SPOUT AND IS IN GREAT SHAPE. CONSIDERED SCARCE IN THIS COLOR IF NOTHING ELSE,NICE DISPLY.

THERE IS NOT MUCH INFORMATION OUT THERE ON SUCH A LARGE PRODUCER OF INKS & BOTTLES.

The Stafford's ink Co., a New York brand, dates back to 1858, when S. S. Stafford, founder of the house, began to produce chemical writing fluids. The output of this firm has been enormous. Many other houses in several American cities make writing fluids, useful for the day's work

 A LATER VARIANT OF S. STAFFORDS INK IN THE MASTER SIZE AND DATING MORE TOWARDS THE 1890,S 1910 RANGE . THIS ONE IS TURNING DUE TO THE MAGENESE IS THE GLASS. THIS ONE WAS DUG AND IS NOT IRRADIATED,JUST THE WAY IT IS. REAL NICE DISPLAY AND NOT A RARE VARIANT BUT ALWAYS COLLECTABLE.

 Stafford’s” violet combined writing and copying ink was first placed on the New York market in 1869, though it was in 1858 that Mr. S. S. Stafford, the founder of the house, began the manufacture of inks, which he has continued to do to the present day. His chemical writing fluids are very popular, but he does not make a tanno-gallate of iron ink without “added” color, for the trade.

 HERE IS A VERY NICE HAND BLOWN ENGLISH PINT INK IN GREAT CONDITION AND WITH HAND MADE POUR SPOUT. EMBOSSED HYDE LONDON AND DATING TOO 1890,S RANGE. NOT COMMON AND ALWAYS COLLECTABLE,THESE GET HARDER TO GET EVERY YEAR THAT GOES BY.

HERE IS A PINT SIZE STAFFORDS HAND BLOWN INK WITH TOOLED LIP SPOUT,THIS ONE WE DUG AND THEREFORE COULD USE A LIGHT TUMBLE. DAMAGE FREE AND ALWAYS POPULAR IN COBALT. EMBOSSED STAFFORDS INK  MADE IN USA

THIS IS BY FAR ONE OF MY FAVORITE ADVERTISING PIECES AND NEW OLD STOCK AS WELL. THEY JUST DON'T MAKE CLASSY ADS LIKE THIS ANYMORE. AN ERA GONE BY, THE STORE HAS MOVED SLIGHTLY DOWN THE STREET BUT IS IN BUSINESS YET TODAY. NOW CALLED ~ Star Liquors & Wines WAS AT 1138 AND NOW AT 1142 STATE STREET,SCHENECATDY N.Y.  STAR LIQUOR is in the Liquor Stores industry in SCHENECTADY, NY. This company currently has approximately 10 to 20 employees and annual sales of $1000000                  ******************************************************************************************    PRETTY HARD TO GET SMITH'S GREEN MOUNTAIN RENOVATOR DOSE CUP. SMITH'S GREEN MOUNTAIN RENOVATOR 40 years of success in Vermont For coughs, colds, and consumption Spirit of the Times (Batavia, NY) November 19, 1898 Embossing: SMITH'S GREEN MOUNTAIN RENOVATOR EAST GEORGIA VT

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THIS IS A FAVORITE DISPLAY WITH THE INSERTS AND ALL IN TACT MAKES IT VERY COLLECTABLE. THERE ARE MODERN VERSIONS OR FAKES OUT THERE SO BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU GET THIS STLE INKWELL FROM,FIND A REPUTABLE DEALER. ALWAYS A NICE DESK DISPLAY AND DATING TO AFTER TURN OF CENTURY. SOLID BRASS WITH GLASS INSERTS. ON THE RIGHT THE EVER POPULAR AND SOMETIMES RARE IN SETS,SEEM TO COME AROUND IN SPURTS.MA & PA CARTER INKS. THESE ARE GREAT AND ALWAYS A REAL EASY SALE IF LISTED FOR SURE. DATING TO  EARLY 1900,S RANGE FROM CARTERS INK COMPANY. VERY COOL INKS

 Keuffel & Esser

William J. D. Keuffel (1838–1908) and Herman Esser (1845–1908), both recent immigrants from Germany, began in business in New York in 1867, selling drawing materials and drafting supplies. K&E, as the firm was soon known, began offering surveying instruments in 1876, built a three-story factory in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1880. and was incorporated in 1889.

K&E introduced a new line of surveying instruments in the early 1890s, describing them as "a thorough departure from all the styles of similar instruments previously made," and noting that many of their improvements were "the product of the genius of our Mr. John Paoli." John Paoli was an Italian who lived in Hoboken, and who obtained several patents for such things as the twisted standards of a transit, the compass box, the leveling screws, and a telescope with stadia wires and cross hairs.

K&E obtained control of Young & Sons in 1918, and made it the Y&S department of their firm. K&E ceased production around 1969.

 CAWS INK COMPANY ~ Francis Cashel Brown

Early in 1886, Brown joined the Fountain Ink Company of 62 Cliff Street, New York as a trustee. Here he fell in love with their crow-colored ink and devised the name "Caws." By October Fountain Ink suddenly went broke and Brown bought the assets in a bankruptcy sale. He changed the name to "Caw's Ink and Pen Company", and named his wife its President.  Besides ink, he quickly started manufacturing and advertising the Dashaway pen that he and David W. Beaumel patented in November, 1886. Brown also opened a store at 233 Broadway where he employed Aunt Camille to handle the retail business. All was going well, but for one thing. Brown's Dashaway was nearly identical To the pen Wirt patented on Feb 3, 1885, nearly two years before. Wirt, a lawyer before entering the pen industry, lost no time in filing suit against Brown for patent infringement. The boastful Brown biography claims that Wirt and Waterman copied his designs, though the patent dates speak for themselves. The Wirt-Brown trial of Feb 1887 proved to be interesting. Exhibit A was  Wirt’s overfeed pen; Exhibit B, C, and D were Brown's pens, the last being the one purchased as this history began. Wirt testified that he bought identical pens from the store himself and that Quesnel, the woman at the register, refused him a receipt. Brown arrived an hour late for his testimony and, when on the stand, conveniently had difficulty remembering incriminating dates on which he made his pens. Brown even denied at first that his pens used capillary attraction to insure a constant ink flow. After several of Wirt's expert witnesses, including Lewis Waterman, testified that Brown's pen worked the same as Wirt's, Brown's counsel attacked Wirt's patent. They claimed that Wirt's design was not original and should not have received a patent in the first place. Ironically, this would also mean that Brown’s nearly identical design shouldn't have received a patent. Brown's lawyers presented dozens of earlier American and English patents covering anything that looked like Wirt's pen. They even tried to sneak in a few irrelevant patents dated after Wirt's. The only patent of any significance was Marvin C. Stone's 1882 feed patent. Wirt's design differed only in that his feed protruded into the ink reservoir where Stone's stopped at the section. Later, Wirt would acquire the rights to the Stone patent and imprint that date on his pens, so that his title was clear.  In the end, Judge Benedict ruled in Wirt's favor, saying "The pens made by the defendant are identical in principle with the pens made by the plaintiff. The Complainant is therefore entitled to a decree and an injunction."  This defeat did little to slow Brown. He quickly created some new feed designs and published even more aggressive advertising. Some of Caw’s first pens made were stylographics nearly identical to the MacKinnon. Lapham & Bogart Company, makers of “The Rival” pen produced them under contract and was sued, in turn, by Wirt for their trouble.  Besides marketing heavily in America, Brown was working hard to find markets in England and France. He won a first place medal at the 1889 World's Fair in Paris for his pens and stylographics where Marie Francoise and Aunt Camille’s French served him well. He also managed to contract with the Maruzen Import Company of Tokyo making the Caw's Stylographic pen one of the first fountain pens imported into Japan.  While Wirt advertised his pens with Mark Twain's endorsement, Brown courted presidents. Both ex-President Benjamin Harrison and President Grover Cleveland used and endorsed the Caw's Dashaway #130, a huge pen whose nib resembles a garden tool more than a writing implement. Cleveland Said, "I find Caw's Dashaway Fountain Pen very valuable as a signature pen." Harrison wrote, "The second Dashaway Fountain Pen received and suits me. The first one I gave to Mrs. Harrison, and she is using it with great satisfaction." No other pen in history has been publicly endorsed by two US presidents.  By the 1890's scores of pen makers were entering the industry, but little had changed in the way of design. Most of these pens were filled with an eyedropper and all suffered from leaks and caused ink stains. It was expected, and people joked about it. In 1893, the New York Times published a little joke that read "I would never trust him, he is as treacherous as a fountain pen." Another common joke was "No, not all gushing letters are written with a fountain pen." Brown sought to change this. In 1895 Francis Brown patented a spiral-cam safety pen(click for images and more information). Much as he had done with the Fountain Ink Company a decade before, he bought up the assets of the failed Horton Pen Company of New Haven, Connecticut and commenced production of the Caw’s Safety Pen in 1896. Also in that year he worked with Morris W. Moore on improvements to Moore’s 1893 safety pen design. Later the Waterman Company acquired these patents (see the Waterman History, Part III, in March Stylophiles) to become the most successful safety pen of the 20th Century. Brown received almost no money from Waterman for his patent rights but was paid in job lots of unmarked Waterman pens that he could imprint and sell both in the United States and in Europe. Francis Brown’s pens were always at least interesting and often innovative. One pen in the Caw’s catalogue and one of which Brown was most proud, was called “The Limit" The owner could convert it from a safety to a normal eyedropper fountain pen. Another interesting Caw's pen is “The Easy" which was Caw’s entry into the “jointless” pen fad of the turn of the last century. “The Easy” is identical in principle to that of the slightly later Jay G. Rider pen. It fills with an eyedropper, but the pen has no section. The barrel is one piece. The nib and feed are pulled out to fill the barrel. Brown began selling more and more pens in Europe as the US market grew more Competitive and his share of the U.S. market dwindled. When found at all today, his contract pens from Waterman often come from France and the Low Countries. The chaos of World War I destroyed the last remaining markets for his fountain pens. Frank Brown left pen manufacture for good, making a living as an insurance salesman until his death on Feb 1,39

3 REAL COLORFUL EARLY 1900S FRENCH  INKS,TEAL BEING THE HARDEST TO GET.

 

STONEWARE CONE INK DATING TOO EARLY 1900'S RANGE & THREE BLOWN IN MOLD LAST QUARTER OF THE 1800'S,THE ONE ON LEFT BEING THREE PART MOLD. ALL HAVE HAND FORMED POUR SPOUTS.

WATERMANS INK WITH COMPLETE BOX...NOT AS OLD AS THE REST OF MY INKS, BUT VERY COOL ANYWAY. AQUA P.&J. ARNOLD INK, USALLY FOUND IN THE STONEWARE AND NOT SEEN AS MUCH IN GLASS. 5 INCHES TALL. 

"I found Mr. Waterman in the midst of a controversy with a dealer who had been selling Ideal pens at less than list prices to consumers. Mr. Waterman's contracts with his agents especially stipulate that pens shall not be sold to users at a discount, and the minute he finds one who is doing so, he annuls his contract, and refuses to sell him any more pens except at list prices.

A few questions brought out the fact that Mr. Waterman was a native of Cooperstown, N. Y., and before inventing his fountain pen was a canvasser, insurance agent, and shorthand wrier and teacher. He realized the need of a writing instrument that would combine a gold pen, with steel pen action, and a contrivance that would do

the Ideal, Mr. E. T. Howard, the advertising agent, approached me with a proposition to use the advertising pages of the Century Magazine. A quarterpage was decided upon as the proper space to begin with, and my first advertisement appeared in the issue for November. During the month

of November I received in cash sales over the counter alone more money than the advertisement cost me, and besides received very many mail orders    accompanied by cash.  "While awaiting the result of the space used in the November number I had neglected to prepare the advertisement for the December issue. However, the result of the first advertisement being so satisfactory, a contract was made for a quarter-page in the January Century, and I have used the Century Magazine always with good results ever since. Our advertisement in the Century Magazine for November,  away with the cumbersome ink well and he set himself a task of producing an instrument that would embody these points. The pen was invented in 1883, and at first was sold by Mr. Waterman in person, by personal canvass from office to office. The business slowly increased   until another hand was required, and has since grown step by step. In his salesroom alone  he employs a force of fifteen workmen and ladies who simply adjust the pens to the holders. The factory, employing a large force of hands, is in another part of the city.

Mr. Waterman credits his success to advertising and to the fact that he made a reliable fountain pen.

  ON THE LEFT IS A REAL NICE LITTLE...AND I DO MEAN LITTLE INK I DUG THIS SUMMER, STANDING 3 INCHES TALL AND SUPER THIN WITH HAND MOLDED SPOUT AND BLOWN IN MOLD BODY. NICE EMERALD GREEN COLOR.I HAVE HEARD THESE ARE LISTED IN THE U.K. AS A MEDICINE,ALTHOUGH THIS ONE HAS OWENS GLASS MARK ON BASE WHICH IS AMERICAN...COOL LITTLE BOTTLE.

ON THE RIGHT IS MY DATED 1870 BARREL INK WELL  WHICH IS ALSO BLOWN IN THE MOLD AND CONSIDERED PRETTY SCARCE THAT I DUG A FEW YEARS BACK AT ABOUT THE 12 FOOT LEVEL IN AN LATE 1800'S CITY DUMP

 LEFT ~ PRIDGE'S INK LONDON NE STONEWARE, 5 INCHS TALL. PRETTY SCARCE. 

RIGHT ~ NEAT LITTLE STERLING TOP INK WELL FOR A LADIES DESK...I ASSUME. ALSO PRETTY SCARCE.

  A fine display is made by Antoine Fils & Co., ink manufacturers, who in their endeavor to bring out the perfect color and quality of their inks have furnished some most artistic specimens of colorprinting. 

N. Antoine & Fils, Paris (London branch, 1 Prior-st., Greenwich, S. E.)—Catalogue of writing inks, with lithographed fac-similes of labels and full-sized colored illustrations of the various bottles and jars in which their wares are put up.—By parcel post we have also sample bottles of the excellent inks manufactured by this firm.

 Antoine, Fils & Co., 13 Rose street, London, E.C.,
Jan 1898   Antoine's Ink Factory.—From an account of the celebrated ink factory of L. Antoine fils, of Paris (who advertises his products in this journal), in the Union, it appears that the firm employ no less than eighty-five workmen, besides about twenty clerks and several travellers. They have besides branch businesses and agencies in England, Germanv Spain, China, &c.

       THREE VARIATIONS OF BIXBYS INKS, THE ONE ON FAR RIGHT  HAS A CRUDE LIP NOT AS COMMON AS OTHER LIP FINISHES ~ PATENT 1883

  BIXBY INK CO. VARIANTS  ~ 1880'S LARKIN SOAP CO. BUFFALO,NEW YORK 

The Larkin Soap Company was founded in Buffalo in 1875. Among the principals were John D. Larkin, Elbert Hubbard, and Darwin D. Martin. By the early years of the twentieth century, the company expanded beyond soap manufacturing into groceries, dry goods, china, and furniture. Larkin became a pioneering, national mail-order house with branch stores in Buffalo, New York City and Chicago. At the time it commissioned its headquarters, Larkin was prosperous and the high price for a well-designed, innovative building was not a barrier. The company, known for its generous corporate culture, also commissioned Wright to design row houses for its workers, which were never built   The Larkin Building was designed in 1904 by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1906 for the Larkin Soap Company of Buffalo, New York, at 680 Seneca Street. It was demolished in 1950. The five story dark red brick building used pink tinted mortar and utilized steel frame construction. It was noted for many innovations, including air conditioning, stained glass windows, built-in desk furniture, and suspended toilet bowls (hung from the walls, not supported by the floor). Sculptor Richard Bock provided ornamentation for the building.[1] Exterior details were executed in red sandstone; the entrance doors, windows, and skylights were of glass. Floors, desktops, and cabinet tops were covered with magnesite for sound absorption. For floors, magnesite was mixed with excelsior and poured, and troweled like cement, over a layer of felt to impart it's resiliency. Magnesite was also used for sculptural decoration on the piers surrounding the light court and for panels and beams around the executive offices at the south end of the main floor. Frank Lloyd Wright designed much of the furniture. The interior walls were made of semi-vitreous, hard, cream colored brick. The building's approximate dimensions were 200 feet long by 134 feet wide. The light court was located in the center of the building, and was 76 feet tall. It provided plenty of natural light to all of the floors. In the light court, between the piers on the sides of the court, there appeared fourteen sets of three inspiration words each, such as: GENEROSITY ALTRUISM SACRIFICE, INTEGRITY LOYALTY FIDELITY, IMAGINATION JUDGEMENT INITIATIVE, INTELLIGENCE ENTHUSIASM CONTROL, CO-OPERATION ECONOMY INDUSTRY.

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