George Watkins Mushroom Ketchup Bottle/Label

[Matthew Semple]

All,

I have been searching for some time without luck for pictures of the orginal bottle or labeling for George Watkin's Mushroom Ketchup that was imported into the United States starting in the 1850's. If anyone can point me in the correct direction, I would much appreciate it.

Thank you.

Very respectfully,

[Charles W. Mood]

Re: George Watkins Mushroom Ketchup Bottle/Label

Matthew,
I was hoping to help you out by referring to the book "Ketchup, Pickles, Sauces; 19th Century Food in Glass" by Betty Zumwalt. The book covers numerous manufactuers and is fairly comprehensive for the 19th Century, but alas, no mention of George Watkins or his Mushroom Ketchup. Other manufactueres of Mushroom Ketchup for our time period are are W.K. Lewis and Brothers, and Wells, Miller and Provost. Both are firms from New York who sold their products nationwide and would have been well known in their day. Reproductions of ketchup bottles from these two manufactuers are currently being reproduced by ******* from New Jersey.

The only mention of a "Watkins" in the book was a Joseph R. Watkins who produced a "Dr. Ward's Linoment" in 1868. Also, there is a great video on how to make Mushroom Ketchup on UTube if you seach for "Jas Townsend and Son" (a Rev War Sutler) who has produced several 18th Century cooking videos. The process did not change, so you can easily make an authentic mushroom ketchup for your 19th century impression.

Chuck Mood
LtColMood@aol.com

[Matthew Semple]

Re: George Watkins Mushroom Ketchup Bottle/Label

Chuck,

Thanks for the response. I had already referenced that book and I highly recommend it for anyone with interest in 19th century domestic food stuffs and glass containers. It has answered many of my questions over the years. I was surprised that George Watkins was not mentioned in it but think that was more attributed to him being a British manufacturer while the book seems to concentrate more on American manufacturers.

The George Watkins Company is still producing their Brown Sauce and Mushroom Ketchup which were both available in England well before the Civil War. While doing research on the company I have come across references stating that they started importing to the United States in the 1850s. I have been trying to find an original bottle here in the United States but have been unsuccessful over the past several years. There are bunches of examples and drawings of the W.K. Lewis and Brothers and Wells, Miller and Provost bottles but I have not been able to find any photos or any known examples of the George Watkins bottle here in the United States.

Taking into account that lack of available bottles, US commercial Mushroom Ketchups, and recipes that had been published and passed down for years, I have been thinking that it was a failed attempt by the George Watkins Company to establish a new market for their product. Finding a bottle here in the US will establish that at least it was commercially available here in the US.

I have made Mushroom Ketchup several times using several recipes with varying results. Jas Townsend's video is good and I liked watching it and his others.

[Charles W. Mood]

Re: George Watkins Mushroom Ketchup Bottle/Label

Matthew,
Have you tried reaching out to the bottle digging/collecting community?

Chuck Mood
LtColMood@aol.com

[Bmanz1085]

Re: George Watkins Mushroom Ketchup Bottle/Label


Not sure if this is accurate

[Matthew Semple]

Re: George Watkins Mushroom Ketchup Bottle/Label

Chuck,

I have reached out to the bottle collecting community several times over the past couple years but have not received responses.

Bob,

That is the picture of the modern bottle that is currently imported into the United States. I have not be able to determine how accurate the label is as compared to the Civil War era.

Matt

[FloridaRanger]

Re: George Watkins Mushroom Ketchup Bottle/Label

Can't help with the bottle/label, but I do have an 1870 recipe for Mushroom Ketchup if you want to make your own and refill those period bottles. Unlike modern ketchup it is not a sweet recipe, but very very salty.

[BobSullivanPress]

Re: George Watkins Mushroom Ketchup Bottle/Label

To me, the label on the modern bottle looks "old-timey" not accurate. There are too many marketing things going on on that label.

I have the E. Lazenby & Son Mushroom Ketchup label. This product is also from England. The original bottle with label is in the Parks Canada collection. That ketchup bottle is hexagonal (I think, working from memory here) with a long neck, but not flat like the picture show above.