Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Medicine Bottle recovered from City Centre Plaza, c.1880-1920. |
Object Name |
Bottle, Medicine |
Description |
Medicine Bottle recovered from City Centre Plaza, c.1880-11920. This bottle is round shaped. The rim has prescription finish which is narrow (vertically) and the outside surface distinctly tapers in from the top surface of the finish to bottom. The bottom of the bottle is embossed with the initials "M.C.W. 2". A .875 inch short and narrow neck flares out .75 inch shoulders to a 3.5 inch body. The bottle is amber/viola color and shows evidence of machine manufacture. |
Date |
c.1880-1920 |
Creator |
Mallinckrodt Chemical Works Co. |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Catalog Number |
1999.048.272 |
Dimensions |
H-5.375 W-2 D-2 inches |
Collection |
3D - Medical & Psychological Tools & Equip. |
Inscription Text |
"M.C.W. 2" (the initials is embossed at the bottom of the bottle) |
Provenance |
20 boxes of archaeological material excavated from the City Centre Plaza site at 950 Main at Middlefield in Redwood City. Excavation for development, done by Basin Research Associates. |
Notes |
Cylindrical (round in cross-section) bottles were used frequently by druggists to dispense their products, although the other flat paneled shapes also covered in this section appear to have been more popular and more commonly used. Round prescription bottles with embossing identifying them as being used by druggists - like the bottle pictured to the left - seem to have been somewhat more popular during the earlier portion of the era covered here, i.e., 1860s into the 1880s. However, the shape was still being offered without proprietary embossing (used with labels) and external screw threads (1930s on) well into the 20th century (Obear-Nester 1923; Whitall Tatum 1937; Owens-Illinois Co. 1952). The 1880 Whitall Tatum & Company catalog gives some hints about the early popularity by noting in their "Round Prescriptions" section that these type bottles were used "...by some of the first pharmacists..." (Whitall Tatum & Co. 1880). Their 1880 catalog also offered a much larger variety of square, rectangular, and oval "prescriptions" than it did round varieties. Whitall Tatum & Co. specialized in and was a major producer of prescription/druggist bottles in a variety of shapes from the late 1870s into the 1930s. [http://www.sha.org/bottle/medicinal.htm#Round Druggists] Three-piece mold body seams: In conjunction with the true two-piece mold, one of the earliest mold types to be used in the U.S. was the "three-piece mold" which was likely first used in about 1814, patented by the Henry Ricketts (Bristol, England) in 1821 or 1822, and likely adapted into the U.S. by the 1830s (McKearin & Wilson 1978; Hume 1991). Although earlier versions of a three-piece mold may pre-date the Rickett's mold it is not certain. If so, they would have been essentially a dip mold with two shoulder mold sections added. Rickett's patent added several other features, including hinged shoulder parts and foot controls for opening and closing the mold, both of which were significant improvements in efficiency (Jones 1986). The Rickett's mold also consisted of at least four parts - two opposing shoulder parts, dip mold body portion, and a moveable base plate which could be changed to achieve different base configurations or for different embossing. This was likely the first plate mold (McKearin & Wilson 1978, Jones 1983). Most true Rickett's produced bottles are embossed on the base with H. RICKETT'S & CO. GLASS WORKS BRISTOL, date between 1821 and the 1850s, and usually have a sand pontil scar. [http://www.sha.org/bottle/body.htm] HOW OLD IS "OLD"? Recognizing Historical Sites and Artifacts There are four important characteristics for dating bottles: -Mold Seams -Finish Types -Closures -Glass Color Because bottle-making technology changed over time, it is often possible to determine roughly when a bottle was made by looking at one (or more) of these attributes. Of course, any labels or embossed lettering are potentially helpful, as well. Free-blown (no mold) No mold seams Asymmetrical and non-uniform Up to about the 1860s in the archaeological record Simple Two-piece mold ("Hinged mold") Mold seam extends from just below finish, down the neck and side, across the bottom, and up the other side Symmetrical, uniform shapes May have embossed lettering on body, especially after 1869 Ca. 1810-1880 "Cup" mold Mold seam on each side that extends from just below the finish down to the edge ("heel") of the base Most-common technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (ca. 1850s- 1920s) Post mold Bottle made in a three-piece mold with separate base plate Side seam continues onto base, then is interrupted by the circular (sometimes oval) post Dominant mold type used between about 1870 and 1900 1840s–early 1900s (sometimes later) Ricketts mold No mold seams on body; horizontal seam around circumference where body joins shoulder, and vertical seam part-way up each shoulder Often used for liquor and pharmaceutical bottles 1820s–1920s Turn mold Bottle turned while in mold, obliterating seams Often used for wine/champagne and brandy bottles (usually dark green) No embossed lettering; glass highly polished from turning in mold Ca.1870–World War I Automatic bottle machine Bottles made by machine, rather than blown Seams run all the way up the bottle and over the finish Made in large numbers beginning after World War I (though the first machine was invented in the 1890s) http://www.fire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/archaeology/downloads/bottles.pdf In 1867, the Mallinckrodt brothers, Gustav, Otto and Edward, founded G. Mallinckrodt & Co. in St. Louis, Missouri.[4] Mallinckrodt Chemical Works was incorporated 15 years later. By 1898, the company had established itself as a pharmaceuticals supplier and in 1913 became the first to introduce barium sulfate as a contrast media for x-rays. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallinckrodt] 1840 Emil Mallinckrodt purchases a plot of land in the Bremen area of St. Louis, Missouri, which becomes the site of the first Mallinckrodt factory. 1867 Emil's sons, Gustavo, Otto and Edward establish G. Mallinckrodt and Company, in order to supply local pharmacists with much-needed drugs. It is the only chemical company west of Philadelphia. 1880 Becomes the leading supplier of chemicals for the emerging photography industry. 1882 Incorporates in Missouri as Mallinckrodt Chemical Works... [http://www.mallinckrodt.com/about/history] |
Search Terms |
Archaeology Bottles City Center Plaza Drug Stores Medicine Privy Redwood City Civil War |
Subjects |
Bottle industry Bottles Civil wars Drugstores Medicine |
People |
Mallinckrodt, Gustavo Mallinckrodt, Otto Mallinckrodt, Edward |
Credit line |
Courtesy of the City of Redwood City |