Day 45 #100DaysOfOldDays

My late dad was a bit of a collector. I must have taken after him for my love of old things, and old-time stories. Mam likes old things too, but only if they look pretty. And she likes old stories—but only if there’s a ghost involved! They were very well matched!

So, Dad’s collection of old bottles and pottery jars were not high on her ‘fancy list.’ He would often have them on display in the house, but they’d disappear one by one out to the garage. Eventually he’d pipe up, ‘Hi…where’s all me bottles?’ And back in they’d come.

Mam kept some of the cute little ones in the house though. They’d often blend in with some of her fancy ornaments.

I have some of Dad’s old bottles and jars in my possession and they absolutely deserve a mention in my 100 days of old days collection!

My first one here is the most unusual in the collection. It’s a torpedo or soda bottle and was common during the 1800’s. Why is it shaped like this?

During the first century AD, the Romans documented many of Europe’s mineral wells. When news of the benefits of sparkling water spread around the world, the demand grew, and shipping it to other countries began. But long distance travelling was a problem; the corks would dry out and shrink, causing the fizz to escape. So, shipping the mineral water ceased. Because only very rich people could afford to travel to the mineral wells in Europe, the thinking caps were smartened, and the torpedo bottle was invented. With its egg-shaped bottom, the bottle had to be kept on its side to kept the cork wet thus avoiding shrinkage.

The problem with this bottle of mineral was, once it was opened, you had to drink it all. A problem for the customer yes, but not for the merchant.

By 1838 flavoured fizzy drinks started to take off. Improvements were made to the bottles; flat bottoms and better corks.

In 1861 ginger ale was bottled, and Charles Hires began bottling root beer in 1876. In 1885 a pharmacist named Charles Alderton invented Dr Pepper and in 1886 Coca-Cola was born.

The next bottle in my dad’s collection is this Codd neck bottle. This particular one, embossed Walter Brights LTD Dublin, is vintage from the 1900’s and is a rare find.

The Codd-neck bottle was designed and patented in 1872 by British soft drink maker Hiram Codd. The thick glass was designed to withstand pressure from within. The pinch on the neck of the bottle created a chamber that enclosed a marble and a rubber washer. The bottle was filled upside down and the pressure from the gas forced the marble to seal against the rubber washer at the opening. To open the bottle, the marble was pushed down into the chamber. When held in the right position the marble stayed in the chamber when the bottle was tilted for pouring the drink.

Dad had quite a few vintage ink bottles/inkwells in his collection.

Among this collection are some old Milk of Magnesia bottles.

These big stoneware pots were called butter crocks.

We’ve had this already in my post about the old style hot water bottles. You can read about that HERE.

The next picture is of an antique hand blown glass rolling pin! It even has its original cork.

These old stone ginger beer bottles are my favourites!

And last but not least…Lucy’s drawing of an old green ink bottle!