LARKSPUR BOTTLE COLLECTION : Larkspur History through the Eyes of its Bottles
Object ID:
2013.007.12
Object Name:
Bottle, Medicine
Description:
This "2 oz. FULL MEASURE" could be the oldest bottle in this collection. Bottle displays a purple or amethyst coloring. In an attempt to produce a cheap, clear glass, manganese was used to counteract the ever—present iron in sand. All "colorless" bottles made between 1880 and 1914 will change to some shade of amethyst when exposed to ultraviolet rays.

A step closer to eliminating the bubbles present throughout this bottle, occured with the development of the bottle—making machine. The first fully automatic bottle—making machine
appeared in 1899. The machine also eliminated another peculiarity present in this bottle: uneven thickness of the glass. One side of the bottom slants up approximately 1/2".

There is embossed lettering on two sides, reading "2 oz. full measure". This practice of inscribing in the glass was begun about 1869. This custom seems to have ended with the machine—made bottles. The raised lettering sometimes was produced by a plate mold which created a sunken area. Sunken area presents on both sides. Sunken area on front of bottle could have been a paper label containing information on the interior product.

BOTTLE ANATOMY
The bottle is 5.66" tall and weighs 4 ounces. The opening of the small lip is o.30 inches. The lip was formed after the bottle was freed from the blowpipe. This can be observed with the two seams ending somewhere near the lip. A long.(1.08") stove pipe neck, ending with the lip appars to be a cork closure. Bottle base is of the concave profile. One side of the base appears to have been abruptly cut off maybe with shears and is rough. This "scar" is 1.8" long.

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