Rations

[rebyank]

bottle labels

Does anyone know of any period wine, whisky or beer bottle labels? I have a good scource of period looking bottles, but I'd like to know about some labels.

sidedrummer@lycos.com

[markj]

Re: bottle labels

Hi Ian,

Today is your lucky day. If you do the following, you will see an interesting image containing a bottle label:

1. Start here: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html

2. Do a search with these key words: 114th Pennsylvania

3. Select photo #6 [Petersburg, Va. Officers of the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry playing cards in front of tents].

4. Download the high-resolution "tiff" version of this image.

5. Zoom in on the bottle immediately next to the zouave officer holding cards on the left-hand side of the table.

6. This bottle carries a label clearly marked "HADDEN'S OLD TOM COCKTAIL"

Close study of this label may provide sufficient details to make a fairly close reproduction.

Check it out!

Mark Jaeger

[markj]

Re: bottle labels

Greetings,

On a somewhat related note, this classic bartending guide was first published in 1862:

HOW TO MIX DRINKS

or

THE BON VIVANT'S COMPANION

Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing all the Beverages Used in the United States, Together with the Most Popular British, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish Recipes, Embracing Punches, Juleps, Cobblers, etc., etc., etc., in Endless Variety.

By JERRY THOMAS

Formerly Principal Bartender at the Metropolitan Hotel, New York, and the Planters' House, St. Louis.

TO WHICH IS APPENDED A MANUAL FOR THE MANUFACTURE

of

CORDIALS, LIQUORS, FANCY SYRUPS, ETC., ETC.,

After the Most Approved Methods Now Used in the Distillation of Liquors and Beverages, Designed for the Special Use of Manufacturers and Dealers in Wines and Spirits, Grocers, Tavern Keepers and Private Families, the Same Being Adapted to the Trade of the United States and Canada.

ILLUSTRATED WITH DESCRIPTIVE ENGRAVINGS

The Whole Containing

OVER 600 Valuable RECIPES.

By CHRISTIAN SCHULTZ,

Professor of Chemistry, Apothecary and Manufacturer of Wines, Liquors, Cordials, etc., etc,. from Berne, Switzerland.

[Published in New York by Dick & Fitzgerald, 1862]

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Bill Cross]

Re: bottle labels

Bob Sullivan makes a good period whisky label.

[Dbackfed]

Re: bottle labels

Does anyone know a any places that make a good period bottle? :sarcastic

Jason Krausz
Prodigal Sons Mess
36th ILL "B"

[PrettyBoyDonovan]

Re: bottle labels

The Regimental Quartermaster has a new section for campaigners and I think I saw some in there. Can't really remember what style.

Does anyone know a any places that make a good period bottle? :sarcastic

Jason Krausz
Prodigal Sons Mess
36th ILL "B"

[Michael Semann]

Re: bottle labels

Does anyone know a any places that make a good period bottle?

Dog River Glassworks does some of the most exact period bottle reproductions I've seen. Check out:

http://www.dogriverglassworks.com

[rebyank]

Re: bottle labels

I cannot seem to get a hold of the large tiff pic, can anyone zoom in on it and post a zoom here? where's that guy that has been doing that with musket and apple pics? :D

[2ndNHDOC]

Re: bottle labels

\Thank You Thank You

I have been looking for period medical bottles.

Brian Schwatka
Out of the loop mess.

[Michael Semann]

Re: bottle labels

No problem Brian. I know certain items like these can be a real pain to find sometimes. Good luck.

[straggler]

Re: bottle labels

Not as clear as I would have liked but here is a close up of the bottle in question.

Next - the wall tent in the same photo has buttons in front (and it
appears on the ridge).

To attach a fly??

[markj]

Re: bottle labels

Greetings,

Yep, that's the bottle I mentioned. I suspect any concoction with the name of "Old Tom" must have been pretty potent, to say the least.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[County Militia]

Re: bottle labels

The Sullivan Press has a variety of bottle labels to purchase.

A small selection:

[orngblsm]

Soft Bread Recipe

Gents,

I'm looking for an accurate period soft bread recipe. Also was there a regulation dimension for each loaf.

Thanks

[Hank Trent]

Re: Soft Bread Recipe

Here are some recipes from Beecher's Domestic Receipt Book, 1850:

http://tinyurl.com/3d6sq (it continues on the next page, followed by one for homemade yeast)

Those two are typical of the two main variations I've seen in period homemade yeast bread--either using weaker homemade yeast, making a sponge and letting it rise a long time, or brewer's yeast and adding all the flour, skipping the sponge step.

There's another one in the same book for baker's bread which might reflect commercial bakers' practice, but I haven't researched commercial bakeries to know.

In images and recipe quantities, many loaves appear to be about the same size as typical modern bread pans. But I'm sure there were many variations, and perhaps also military contract or other specifications for commercial loaf sizes, but I can't help with that part. :(

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net