American Pharmacal Co. Providence, RI
This small and unassuming bottle makes up for it's plainness by being highly mysterious. I was not able to find a single mention of the "American Pharmacal Co. (or any variation, like Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical) anywhere online or in city directories. And as to what "Tone" is, I am also stumped!
David Andrews Vegetable Jaundice Bitters Providence, RI
Out of all of the RI bitters bottles, this is the most iconic of the lot. The large distinctive tombstone shape gives it a commanding presence, and is certainly not a commonly found style. A very rare bottle to begin with, I would guess it would be nearly impossible to dig an intact one due to the size and thinness of the glass.
C.E. Angell 220 Cranston St.
Yes, at first glance this bottle is nothing remarkable. What makes it special is that is the only RI pharmacy bottle from a woman. Clara E. Angell must have been pretty ambitious to secure a job that was completely dominated by men at the time!
E.P. Anthony Providence, RI Citrate of Magnesia
E.P. Anthony bottles are very common, but with success often comes diversity. Dr. Anthony used his success to purchase a small number of custom embossed Citrate of Magnesia bottles. While a common style to find in the bottle world, there are only two RI citrate of magnesia bottles, making them quite hard to come by.
J.B. Archambault Woonsocket, RI Long Life Tonic
Here's a perfect example of a quack medicine bottle. It was highly doubtful that Mr. Archambault had any medical training. He simply mixed a few herbs with a narcotic or alcohol and presto! If it didn't kill you, it might make you feel better. His claim of "Long Life" is particularly laughable since we now know that no concoction can make you live longer.
No comments:
Post a Comment