FLASCHENJAGER - BOTTLE HUNTER...Digs-Stories-Finds
| DIGS - Ongoing and Past --- STORIES - How, When and Where --- FINDS - Items and Artifacts |
FLASCHENJAGER FINDS
Downtown Digging
This pertains to the site at which I fell into bottle collecting. Within three or four weeks, I had over 1500 (c. 1860 - 1890) bottles. I knew very little about bottles then. The banks of dirt at the jobsite were littered with bottles. Many workers carried buckets of bottles home daily. I worked late and in the rain some days just to see what would turn up next. I became addicted. Some bottles would turn out to be quite common ones and many duplicates or doubles were excavated as well. I found out that this used to be one of the city's victorian era dumps. Bottles were only a small part of the items found, but they were everywhere you looked. Dump trucks were hauling them away, all day and daily. We found very old fruit jar lids, even more unusual lids, closures, doll parts, dog I.D. tags from 1878-1879, marbles, coins, (tooth) brushes, stoneware, pottery, china, pot lids, arrowheads and many other objects. All of this became very interesting to me. This area now has a large building on top and thousands of artifacts remain below. Also, it was still yielding bottles at sixty feet below street level. I may never get paid to hunt for bottles again.
The Money House UPDATE --- This is now a subdivision...7-4-2006
Fields with bottles so plentiful that this site always yields a find. Among the bottles, I found a bronze, British half cent from 1861 (on the surface after heavy rains). Some finds are pictured below but there are many others. Large numbers of circa 1920's milks were found in many shapes, sizes and areas. The four straight sided (S.S.) Pepsi:Colas, pictured at left on the Pepsi:Cola page were also found at this place, as well as the eight sided Pepsi.
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From the left - back row: First- DR. BAXTER'S, MANDRAKE BITTERS, LORD BRO'S, PROPRIETORS, BURLINGTON, VT. Second- C. W. BURR, RICHMOND, VA. Third- ROBERT PORTNER, BREW COMP, TRADE HYGEIA MARK, ALEXANDRIA, VA. - on back: This bottle not to be sold Fourth- RICHMOND BREWING COMPANY, TRADE MARK, REGISTERED, RICHMOND, VA. - on back at base: This bottle not to be sold Fifth- The next two bottles were found in a wall cavity on top of the other: BROWN - FORMAN CO., LOUISVILLE, KY. Sixth- EL BART, DRY GIN From the left - front row: First- In handwriting- MCormick (?) M, in block- BALTIMORE Second- Three sided- McCORMICK & CO., BALTIMORE Third- Dr. J W BULL'S, COUGH SYRUP, A. C. MEYER & CO., BALTIMORE Mo U.S.A. Fourth- Found in a wall- SLOAN'S 25¢ FAMILY LINIMENT, with 98% label Fifth- COCA COLA, BOT. WKS., RICHMOND, VA. - on back: TRADE MARK, REGISTERED Sixth- ¼ PINT LIQUID, LAKEVEIW DAIRY, LUCK BROS. (this is gill size)
The Pontil House
The site where shards were so remarkable that they as well became keepers (and I rarely bring home damaged bottles or pieces). The first picture below is of clues that were ten inches and above on a brief walk through. The second picture shows examples of clues to look for, while bottle hunting. The house is mid to early 1800s, and most of the glass is very crude and unique.
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Pictured above, from the left: First- Early colonge with flowers Next- (Olive green, thick embossing, on it's side) BY THE, KING'S, PATENT, TRUE, CEPHALICK, SNUFF Next- Two clay marbles Last- BENNETT & BEERS, DRUGGISTS, RICHMOND Va
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Above are clues and things to look for while digging and searching for bottles. No. 1 and 2 : These were the only embossed clues, No. 1 is an E.BAKER'S - PREMIUM - BITTERS - RICHMOND, VA. No. 3 : Igloo ink No. 4 : Multi-ribbed vertically, flared lip, with inside of neck rough for ground top No. 5 : Large, emerald green, iron pontil base and top No. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 : These are examples of pontil marks Letters a and b : Paper thin glass, flared lips Letter c : Large necks Letter d : Strap sided flasks - two different ones.
The Never Give Up Highway
One of my best, if not the best find yet, was on the walk back to my truck. I was heading home with a few keepers, when something glimmering in the sun caught my eye in the small stream ahead. It was an Indian Rock Ginger Ale - Pepsi:Cola from Richmond, Va. and it was bowling pin (tenpin) shaped. This turned out to be the near mint one. I knew that it was not a common bottle, but I was in for a much bigger surprise. After safeguarding this find in my vehicle and calling home to say that I would be a while longer, I returned to the site to dig. Probing the area, I found two others, with whiskeys and sodas very close together. All finds were contained in a four foot by four foot area, on a bend and side of a very small stream. The soil was mainly sand. This was a true rescue because the area is now covered with about 100+ feet of fill dirt and the stream has been relocated.
Just found - Recent finds and Current digs update
I am currently hunting and digging at many sites. Stay tuned --- I'll post finds here after they have been dug or at Antique-Bottles.Net.
November the first 2003, we began hunting at a 1730s plantation. Above is a photo of the older well we are digging. We have also found one of the privies, which turned out to be post 1900. The search continues for the older ones. We will be there for some time bottle hunting, so check back.
Recent finds are posted on the Treasure page too, so always check there. Some relics found at the plantation will be pictured in the Buttons and Relics area.
UPDATE --- When time allows, I'll try to post some photos of the better bottles and/or a list of some of these finds. Most of these are usually mentioned in the RABCA newsletter, The Digger.
Attic Finds
Take a look at the Beer page to see an example of each flat top beer can that was found in an attic, 750+ in all. Each can was emptied and then placed back into it's cardboard, 6-pack carrier. The 6-packs were placed into brown paper bags and sat for many years. They were discovered in excellent condition, after they were dusted off.
Another attic find, that I hate to call an antique, is a 1965 Kayro-vue Productions, The Munsters metal lunchbox. It's a very collectible box because of the detailed graphics, which cover every inch of the outer sides, front and back.
Items will be listed through the 2008 winter - 2009 spring season.
To preview items before they go up for auction, check the Treasure page for a list and pictures.

Flaschenjager-Bottle Hunter Antique Bottle Sites MAIN PAGE|BEER|BOOKS|COLLECTION|FOR SALE|LINKS|MILK|PEPSI|TOOLS|TRADECARDS|TREASURE
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