TIME IN A BOTTLE

Every bottle bears a message about it's origins, even though it is not always spelled out.  The 19th and early 20th century examples have a pontil mark on the bottom, indicating that they were hand blown on a rod.  They also tend to have tiny bubbles inside.  Molded bottles - produced after 1860 - have a telltale seam.

Fruit jars )popularly known as Mason jars for John Landis Mason, who introduced his unique screw-on zinc lids in 1858) are especially easy to date:  many have a trademark, a patent date, even a factory monogram embossed in the glass.  Early jars were simply lettered:  later ones had elaborate monograms, even portraits of animals and war heroes, all encased in the most delectably pale shades of teal, sea green and romantic amber.

Bottles that still bear their labels - for instance, an old liniment or Tabasco sauce container - are especially valuable.  If any bottle is discolored with a rainbow patina, it's been in contact with the soil for a long time.  This reduces its worth, but like crazing on an old plate - the effect can be beautiful.

Milk bottles could date from as early as the 1930s though pyro-glazed and silk-screened graphics continued to be made as early as the 1960s.  Some have a bulge near the lip, called a "cream top".  This indicates they were made in the pre-World War II years before the milkman began to make his rounds with a wire basket that fit only streamlined bottles.  Red and orange were the most prolific lettering colors, though blue, green and yellow were seen too.  The bottles' catchy slogans, nursery rhymes, and patriotic messages entertained children at breakfast.

By Barbara Manchin

Source:  Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion

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