Aerated Waters
Early aerated water (or cool drink) bottles are one of the
most popular and most sought after categories collected today. This is mainly
due to the vast range of different patent designs and closures used, especially
in the later half of the 19th century and that most of these bottles
were often very ornately embossed with the companies name, trade mark and town
or location. This gives the bottle an excellent provenance.
Early aerated water (or cool drink) bottles are one of the most popular and most sought after categories collected today. This is mainly due to the vast range of different patent designs and closures used, especially in the later half of the 19th century and that most of these bottles were often very ornately embossed with the companies name, trade mark and town or location. This gives the bottle an excellent provenance.
Marble Bottles
Lamonts Patent
Lamont’s
patent was invented by John Lamont in the later part of the 19th
century, predominately as an alternative to the Codd bottle. Also having an
internal sealing method, the Lamont incorporated a Bakelite type “bullet
stopper” within the bottle, which had the rubber sealing ring recessed into its
base.
Lamont’s
patent was invented by John Lamont in the later part of the 19th
century, predominately as an alternative to the Codd bottle. Also having an
internal sealing method, the Lamont incorporated a Bakelite type “bullet
stopper” within the bottle, which had the rubber sealing ring recessed into its
base.
Hamiltons & Maughams
The
most obvious thing about both of these patents is that they could not stand
upright by themselves.
The
Hamilton or Torpedo bottle was first conceived in the early 19th
century, before the elaborate internal stoppered patent closures appeared and
addressed the issue of the traditional closure method of a cork.
The most obvious thing about both of these patents is that they could not stand upright by themselves.
The Hamilton or Torpedo bottle was first conceived in the early 19th century, before the elaborate internal stoppered patent closures appeared and addressed the issue of the traditional closure method of a cork.
Codd Hamilton Hybrids
Codd Hamilton Hybrids
These
were a rare and strange quirk of the bottle making industry by anyone’s
imagination. Sometimes thought to have been made more as a sales gimmick at the
time than of a practical reason, the Hybrid incorporated two well known designs
within the one bottle. Having a codd top half on a Hamilton base, they couldn’t
stand up, thus keeping the rubber seal within the Codd top permanently wet and
the Hamilton shape gave them extreme strength.
These were a rare and strange quirk of the bottle making industry by anyone’s imagination. Sometimes thought to have been made more as a sales gimmick at the time than of a practical reason, the Hybrid incorporated two well known designs within the one bottle. Having a codd top half on a Hamilton base, they couldn’t stand up, thus keeping the rubber seal within the Codd top permanently wet and the Hamilton shape gave them extreme strength.
Other Patents
Ginger Beers
Like
aerated waters, successfully bottling brewed ginger beer also had its
challenges. Strength of bottle and closure was probably the most important
requirement when bottling a traditionally brewed ginger beer along with
restricting light exposure to the bottled product.
Like aerated waters, successfully bottling brewed ginger beer also had its challenges. Strength of bottle and closure was probably the most important requirement when bottling a traditionally brewed ginger beer along with restricting light exposure to the bottled product.
Ceramic Ginger Beers
Like
most of the glass aerated water bottles, most manufacturers wanted their
bottles to be clearly marked with their name, trade mark and locality. Because most
ceramic ginger beers were hand thrown at the pottery, they were much more
expensive to manufacture than glass bottles and consequently had a very high
return deposit placed on them, sometimes well more than their contents price. It
is for this reason they were never usually thrown away in any numbers and are
generally not common to find.
Like
most of the glass aerated water bottles, most manufacturers wanted their
bottles to be clearly marked with their name, trade mark and locality. Because most
ceramic ginger beers were hand thrown at the pottery, they were much more
expensive to manufacture than glass bottles and consequently had a very high
return deposit placed on them, sometimes well more than their contents price. It
is for this reason they were never usually thrown away in any numbers and are
generally not common to find.
Glass Ginger Beers
By
the 1930’s, due to their high cost of manufacture, many aerated water producers
were opting to the new machine made glass ginger beer bottle. These were
usually made in brown glass to restrict light to the product and all
incorporated a Crown Seal closure.
By the 1930’s, due to their high cost of manufacture, many aerated water producers were opting to the new machine made glass ginger beer bottle. These were usually made in brown glass to restrict light to the product and all incorporated a Crown Seal closure.
Beers
Beers
Company Beers
Like
aerated water manufacturers, brewers had similar issues closing and capping
their bottles, especially in Australia’s hot climate. The methods chosen were a
lot less elaborate than that of the aerated water industry and were generally
attained by a well wired down cork in a traditional “ring seal” or “cork top”
closure until in the 1920’s when, like aerated waters, the Crown Seal started
to dominate the market.
Like aerated water manufacturers, brewers had similar issues closing and capping their bottles, especially in Australia’s hot climate. The methods chosen were a lot less elaborate than that of the aerated water industry and were generally attained by a well wired down cork in a traditional “ring seal” or “cork top” closure until in the 1920’s when, like aerated waters, the Crown Seal started to dominate the market.
Exchange Bottles
As
talked about above, most brewers refrained from the expensive option of
ordering their bottles embossed with their own name on them. What was a much
more preferred option, especially to breweries in the big cities, was to hire
their bottles from a bottle exchange who would look after the collection and
washing of the returned empties.
As talked about above, most brewers refrained from the expensive option of ordering their bottles embossed with their own name on them. What was a much more preferred option, especially to breweries in the big cities, was to hire their bottles from a bottle exchange who would look after the collection and washing of the returned empties.
Black Glass
Black Glass
Black
glass is somewhat of a general reference. Black glass is actually naturally
coloured glass which hasn’t had agents added during the manufacturing process
to clear it or colour it, such as soda ash and includes all natural dark olive
coloured glass through to totally black. Being a natural glass colour, finding
black glass on a site is generally a good indication of age, usually pre
1880’s.
Black glass is somewhat of a general reference. Black glass is actually naturally coloured glass which hasn’t had agents added during the manufacturing process to clear it or colour it, such as soda ash and includes all natural dark olive coloured glass through to totally black. Being a natural glass colour, finding black glass on a site is generally a good indication of age, usually pre 1880’s.
Perth Glass Works
Perth Glass Works
If
you are looking for a uniquely Western Australia bottle, these bottles are
as “West Aussie” as you can get. Unusually crude for their age and uniquely
colourful by their manufacture, they are known throughout Australia for their
popularity with collectors. Except for a couple of very rare varieties, they
are generally quite easy to find due to their extensive use throughout the
state.
If you are looking for a uniquely Western Australia bottle, these bottles are as “West Aussie” as you can get. Unusually crude for their age and uniquely colourful by their manufacture, they are known throughout Australia for their popularity with collectors. Except for a couple of very rare varieties, they are generally quite easy to find due to their extensive use throughout the state.
Cordials
Cordials
Cordials
are another popular category to collect, although not many examples of earlier
Western Australian manufacturers exist. Along with many earlier cordials
imported from England, Rose’s lime juice being the most popular, many cordials
were imported from the Eastern States, usually packaged in very ornate bottles,
the most popular being the Brookes “Lemos” and the OT Cordials.
Cordials are another popular category to collect, although not many examples of earlier Western Australian manufacturers exist. Along with many earlier cordials imported from England, Rose’s lime juice being the most popular, many cordials were imported from the Eastern States, usually packaged in very ornate bottles, the most popular being the Brookes “Lemos” and the OT Cordials.
Demijohns
Demijohns
