Great Encouragement!
Yes indeed! With everything in this world looking so bleak, it did my heart good to see so many friendly faces!
Honestly, I woke up December 2nd, my head still on the pillow, and it dawned on me that it was the 2nd day of December. My next thought was, today is(((TUESDAY!))).
Next, my tiny-little decomposing brain finished the equation, “It is the first Tuesday!!! . . . . “AND I HAVEN’T STARTED THE NEWSLETTER!!!”
So, here we go!
Here is a list of the friendly faces at our Thanksgiving meeting: Vincent Grossi, Mary Gale, Brain Wages,
Katie Wages, Lynn Kozik, Dann Louis, Len Sheaffer, Eddie Nickerson, Kelly Bobbitt, Kevin Siegfried, Gary Dean, Dave Wilkins, Tim Hayes, Ethan May, Gorgy Hubenet, Erik Berrington, Ashley Carlson, and E.J. Carlson and your meek and humble servant, Allan Holden.
At our meeting we enjoyed a neat presentation from Dan Louis.
As I mentioned last month, two of my metal detector customers, Ernie Lawson and Jack Short were trying-and-trying to get me to a bottle club meeting. I should be flattered that they wanted me to share in their interest so badly , but I wasn’t interested at first.
They started the Kalamazoo Antique Bottle Club in 1979, and the club wasn’t hurting for members. But they pressed on, and I listened. These two guys tried to explain every aspect of collecting, including explaining how some collectors focus on one type of bottle.
In explaining that method of collecting, well, that was when I first heard the name, Dan Louis, and how his interest was focused on the ‘Cure Bottles.’
I tried that same approach to build a more focused collection. I found myself drawn to early open pontil ink bottles, and beautiful pepper sauce bottles.
But, when all your sources for bottles, are from dump diggers, and you dig yourself, you simply collect whatever you find, which is . . . (((EVERYTHING!))))
Cure bottles were driven into rarity by the President of the United States and his goal of protecting the American people from evil!
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, (1901–09) expanded the powers of the presidency, and of the federal government, in support of the public interest and in conflicts between big business and labor.
Trouble with Unions is nothing new.
The first known historic account of, and cause of, man’s inhumanity to man, is mentioned in the first chapters in the Bible. You may not like that, but it is true. We will until the final hour have men and women with evil selfish desires.
Man, by his fallen nature is born with the most dangerous weapon ever devised . . . the ability to lie.
By the time Republican President, Teddy Roosevelt, came into office, the early form of marketing had spun completely out of control! In many cases, it was far more than just cheating for profit, people were dying!
Infants were dying!!!!! (they were humans back then)
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906
was a landmark U.S. law that banned the interstate commerce of adulterated and misbranded food and drugs.
Signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, it mandated that labels be truthful and not misleading, and, must required the disclosure of certain dangerous ingredients like alcohol and heroin.
This act established the groundwork for modern consumer protection, preventing the sale of poisonous or unsanitary products. Soon it was leading towards the Food and Drug Administration.
In the case of claiming the product you were selling acted, or provided a cure for any illness, was brought to an end . . . or at least under control for the most part.
Many snake oil sellers simply shifted to different wording. For example Cure changed to Remedy. Until this day, holistic remedies must provide the statement:
"This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”
The real power behind the Pure Food and Drug act wasn’t that the wording “Cure” was removed from the label,
it was that the ingredients were added to the label!
That, plus now, products were tested and the consumer assured contents were accurate and claims justified.
The criminal activity was far more wide spread than just within the medicine ‘snake-oil’ industry.
Evil is always lurking just below the surface; it is always in hiding, looking for opportunity to strike.
During my years in the metal detecting hobby I have found some of the strangest mysteries.
One of my customers found a beautiful gold ring with a natural, deep-blue sapphire in 1980. The ring was unmarked, but it tested to be over 18 K gold, and the sapphire was weighed at 7.5Ct.
An expert, in the field of antique jewelry, examined the ring and determined it pre-dated the U.S. Civil War.
In 1980 it was appraised a well over $20,000.00.
I saw this ring, just as it looked in the treasure scoop, just lifted from the sand of the Chesapeake Bay, for the first time in 140 years.
Because it was a high-quality gold, it looked sparkling new. That is how real gold is.
Just a side note: I was good friends with the finder who was an engineer at Oldsmobile and a single man. He went on to become one of the top water hunting treasure hunters in the country, and a author on the subject. I had helped him so much, that he promised to leave that ring to me!
In the last two years of his life he took on a mail-order bride from Philippines. On his death, she became a millionaire, and new owner of
MY RING!!!!
Back to my point. I have found dozens of gold rings over the years. Some are 10K some 14K some 18K and I even have a ring that tested over 20K. Being that they are real gold, they look great from the very second they are found!
But, I have found some which are real puzzling! Inside the band they are marked, “Solid Gold.” Solid Gold? That could only mean 24K. Which would also mean that even the harshest environment would not hurt them!
But they are corroded-up bad!
Pure Gold? No, Pure Trash!
Yep! Evil raises it’s sinful head again!
The National Gold and Silver Act, also of 1906:
The U.S. government demanded that marked gold and silver products be accurately stamped with their fineness through the National Gold and Silver Stamping Act of 1906.
Prior to 1906, there were no federal regulations requiring items to bear marks indicating their metal content, which led to fraudulent practices. The Act made it unlawful to transport or sell falsely marked gold and silver products in interstate commerce. It required that any quality mark, such as "14K" for gold or ".925" for sterling silver be "reasonably accurate" within specified tolerances.
What do you think the average Joe was thinking about President Roosevelt? Of course they loved him . . .
But, Oh my! He sure had his hate filled enemies! He was stepping on evil’s toes! He was making them squirm!
Can you see any similarity with today?
“And there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? Ecclesiastes 1:9-10
Meeting Bottles
We did have the closest thing you will see today, in the form of an old fashion medicine show! Without the pitch!
Well, we had a good selection of the cure bottles which were available in southwest and central Michigan all on display! What a treat to see them!
I have a tendency to connect the old fashioned Cures, with the traveling medicine shows.
I love to hear the pitchmen at the fair. Can you picture a traveling medicine show from 1890's?
“Step right up folks!
Here, we have, and just for you, a golden opportunity far beyond your wildest dreams!
Thank your lucky stars folks! You are living in the age of that timeless wonder of modern science!
That, combined with the wisdom of the Native Tribe's Medicine Man,
All coupled with Devine Wisdom sent from Heaven itself!
Folks! You no longer need to no sleep in the same bed with that evil monster PAIN!
Yes indeed, very few folks will ever be as blessed . . as you are today, at this very hour!
All because of our offer, which is presented to you with a hard and fast guarantee!
Blessings which are as rich as the divine nectar which flows from these bottles, to rescue you as needed . . . sure and quick!
Who, may I ask, could ever put a price on such a proven and amazing . . . and oh-so magical cure?
So, by the name of everything that is good, and pure, please lend me your ears!
Yes! That’s right folks, please step right to the front! Our supply is limited as are the minutes within the hour. Don’t pass by this opportunity, one of which others can but pray for!”
Dan Louis
displayed several bottles from his Cure collection.
The ones he brought to the meeting were a group from
Southwest Michigan.
Some of the cures Dan showed us were actually used in veterinary medicine.
For example; Kitchell’s Wind Puff Cure.
Being a former horse owner, (I sold Jody, my beautiful 4-year-old Arabian mare . . . to get married, well Duh!) I do know what wind puff is! Truth be known, this product may have gone a long way towards being a cure!
A wind puff is a soft, fluid-filled swelling that
appears on a horse's lower leg, most commonly behind
the lower joint. It is normally caused by an
accumulation of fluid in the tendon sheath,
due to repetitive strain or wear, and is often a
cosmetic blemish that does not cause pain or
lameness.
It was most common with working animals, with the straining common to plow horses, or one pulling heavy loads.
Dan had two
Kitchell’s one with beautiful strong embossing, and
one with a nice paper label. Kitchell’s
Wind Puff Cure was from Coldwater, Mich.A neat cure from Allegan MI was VDS Burch Rheumatic “SURE CURE!”
I was actually curious to see what I could learn about the initials Vds so I typed in the VDS Burch Rheumatic Sure Cure into Google. The response mixed no words!
“There is no known cure for rheumatic heart disease.”
Clearly they have never seen this bottle!
Another bottle from Hastings, Michigan was A.R.P. Catarrh Cure.
Google still says ‘no cure.’
A.R. Pratt was the company,
The idea was: to put a few drops into a spoon and tip the spoon up allowing the liquid to run to the tip of the spoon. The label gives these directions:
“Snuff through each nostril 3 or 4
drops before breakfast and after supper. Place point
of spoon in nostril, closing the other by pressure
of the finger and SNIFF!”Thank goodness for plastic spray bottles!
Catarrh is the inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose and throat, leading to a symptom often called postnasal drip. This condition can result from infections cold or flu, allergies, or other irritants, and its symptoms include a blocked nose, a persistent need to clear your throat.
This next one was simply a very cool bottle with a nice colorful label!
Sunflower Cholera CURE, W.J. Roberts Med. Co. Coldwater Mich.
The design is timeless! It shows a large yellow sunflower behind a black person enjoying a bite of red watermelon. On the boys chest it says “Pleasant to the Taste”
Above the boys head it says
“I Cure All Pains, Stomach & Bowels! Try Me!”
The label reads: Colic and Cholera, Dysentry, Diarrhea, Gas on Stomach or Belching, Gas from Stomach. Sick & Nervous Headaches, Mentstrual Disturbances of Females Such as Irregularity, Exaggerations and Suppression.
My whole life, my mother prayed for some simple
product that would address my problem with
exaggeration!There I did it again!
Another Cure related to the horse was from Coldwater Michigan is a labeled bottle Kitchel’s Spavin Cure.
I think we have a tendency to not think about the role in the lives of our ancestors the horse played. They didn’t park it in the garage with a sticker in the window that reminded them of the next oil change.
A good horse was like a valued family member which required care and devotion. Spavin, like wind puff, is a joint, hide, or bone condition. There is:
Bog Spavin which is a fluid swelling on the hock joint.
Bone Spavin which is a enlarged bone like arthritis in human joints
Blood Spavin which was a swelling of the veins
With the
family horse, issues leaving it lame or
leading to lameness was serious business! The
word Cure gave a sense of hope, how-be-it a false
sense.Tim Hayes showed us a beautiful silver overlaid amber whiskey flask! Also a early, aqua 1820 -30's Cornucopia /Eagle flask open pontil with sheared lip. Great Stuff!!!
Lynn Kozik had another one of his sweet pyro-glaze ACL one quart dairy bottles. Stephenson Dairy. It has the image of a sweet 1930's Panel Delivery Milk Truck. On the reverse side it has a clock face reminder for mothers to serve milk three times a day!
Very neat Lynn!
THIS MONTH
Mary Gale and Katie Wages will be giving a Presentation
on the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
Our theme this month is Christmas Collectibles
Bottles, Lights, Candles, Advertising Items, Santa Items!
Christmas Treasure
By Allan Holden
Some of you older members can recite this, but, we have some new friends! I wrote this for our Christmas Newsletter about 30 years ago. When the idea came to me, it was on a snowy Christmas Eve, returning from a Church Service, with beautiful goose feather-size flakes of snow falling with a full moon that was my inspiration . .
May you come to Love that wonderful Christ Jesus as I have!
CHRISTMAS TREASURE
Silas Harter, his wife and two young daughters had just returned home from Christmas Eve services at the small country church where they attend. Each year the Sunday School classes treats the congregation to a Christmas play. This was always followed by a joyous evening of singing Christmas hymns.
It was 1898, that winter the Farmers Almanac had warned would be harsh! Harsh it was! The sleigh ride to church was through falling snow- snow flakes as big as goose down. It came down so hard that even the warm backs of the horses were covered!
For the ride back home, the sky had cleared. In place of the clouds there was a full Christmas moon, and, what looked to the girls like a million twinkling stars! Their delightful singing went on the whole way home. It was the perfect Christmas Eve, and all thoughts were on the birth of the Christ Child.
After tucking the girls into bed, mother adjusted the oil lamp wick, then curled up under the blanket that she was knitting.
"I will see to the horses and bring in more wood for the stove," whispered Silas to his wife as he lifted his hat from the nail near the door.
As he wandered back out into
the night the full moon made the snow look like a
sea of diamonds, and the bitter cold made the snow
squeak under each step. Yes it was the perfect night
for a Christmas Eve. Silas was feeling very good
about his family, the farm, and his plans for both.That night before entering church, one of this neighbors paid Silas in gold coins for his team of the finest plow horses in the county. A farmer was nothing without his team, and anyone else would have felt unsettled about selling, but it was all part of a plan, or you could say a dream that Silas had.
The dream started only a few short months ago at the Allegan County Fair. A dealer from the Kalamazoo area was there displaying one of the most beautiful pieces of machinery Silas had ever seen -- an engine powered by steam!
It was an iron horse that could do the work of six teams of horses! The best part is, all you fed it is wood! Wood is something Silas would never run out of, so it seemed. And best of all, you don't have to feed this iron horse during the winter months! The salesman demonstrated how the steam engine could be used to saw wood, plow the field, and even power a machine shop!
"To be a successful farmer in the 1900's you must have a steam engine," warned the salesman.
"Makes a lot of sense," thought Silas.
As he reached inside the barn door, he felt for the lantern. As the lamp sputtered to life the darkness turned into the familiar barn he and his neighbors worked so hard to build. This was his kingdom; a retreat where he could get alone with just his thoughts as he repaired the equipment or cared for the animals.
Silas walked to the far corner of the barn where he hooked the lamp over a long peg on an overhead beam. At his feet stood a large empty wooden barrel which he rolled to one side. Behind the barrel was a stack of burlap bags. He stooped and lifted them from the ground and placed them onto the barrel. With the manure shovel, Silas dug into the soft dirt floor until he heard a familiar clunk.
Setting the shovel against a wall which hid him from view of the door, he crouched down and felt for the wire bail handle on the buried container . Sitting the can on a nearby work bench he emptied out its contents.
Laying before him, was a large pile of gold and silver coins; over three thousand dollars to be exact and tonight he would add another $160.00---all in twenty-dollar gold pieces. After checking the total count, Silas returned the coins to the hidden underground safe and again covered the can with dirt.
The little family had a wonderful Christmas -- a Christmas they would never forget!
Before the spring frost broke and the steam tractor was purchased, the Lord called his servant, Silas, to be with him. The farm changed hands many times and eventually became rental property. Sadly, the landlord let it run down to the point of no return. All that is left today is a small pit that was the basement of the once cozy little farm house. There is no sign of the old barn. After it collapsed, the aged silver wood was sold and hauled away. The bank of dreams? It's held firmly by the roots of a beautiful oak tree just waiting to be found.
One of the best places to treasure hunt is often overlooked. The barn served as the a perfect hiding place, shielded by prying eyes! A cache could be buried, witnessed by only the animals who are too smart to value money.
The dirt floor could also hide coins that fell from the farmer's pockets as he lay beneath the tractor or wagon for repairs. The barn roof would protect anything buried in the floor from moisture. Antique tools, pocket watches and knives, even handguns and ammo were often hidden in the barn's floor.
Our theme this month is
"Christmas Collectibles"
Bottles, Lights, Candles, Advertising Items, Santa Items!
"Christmas Collectibles"
Bottles, Lights, Candles, Advertising Items, Santa Items!
The
Kalamazoo Antique Bottle
Club
Meets At the
Otsego Historic Society
Museum
Meeting date is
December 9th
at 7:00 pm
The Museum is located at
218 N. Farmer St. Otsego, MI 49078
Meeting starts at 7:00
Information
E-Mail
Meets At the
Otsego Historic Society
Museum
Meeting date is
December 9th
at 7:00 pm
The Museum is located at
218 N. Farmer St. Otsego, MI 49078
Meeting starts at 7:00
Information
MERRY CHRISTMAS DEAR
FRIENDS!