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October 26 OctoberPOST BAG; FROM CLUB MEMBER MALCOLM ANDREWS IN THE NEWS Malcolm Andrews contacted me a couple of months ago regarding a forth coming auction at Bamfords, Derby -August 23-24 2006. Malcolm thought some Salt Glazed pharmaceutical jars may be of some interest to me, Steve Haselgrove or Karl Moore. I contacted Karl, and we agreed to wait until we could get to see the online catalogue for better pictures & a rough estimate of prices. When the pictures finally reached the internet, they were to say the least 'SUPER' but like all great plans, our trip to the auction room suffered a blow, Karl had to work, and I decided to visit the NHS for a quick slash and grab on my appendix. Well the auction passed by and I forgot all about it with all the recent excitement etc. but this week in the post came a newspaper piece from the ANTIQUES TRADE GAZETTE, 3O TH. SEPTEMBER 2006, and there on page 17 entitled 'Prescribing blood money' was a cracking write up! not only on the sale, but on the much shunned LEACH, By Roland Arkell, and well worth a read. Malcolm had kept his finger on the pulse for us, and followed the sale through and managed to get the prices realised for us all to hum & arhh about. The set of EIGHTEEN Circa. 18 C. Salt-glazed Drug Jars went for a very reasonable £3600! And the TWO wet Drug Jars, in A1 condition fetched a whopping £4200! Once again quality items fetching top prices! and there is more from the auction on page 8. It wasn't just the Salt-glaze that attracted the collectors, some excellent Staffordshire pieces were also in the offering! and the stunning example pictured right went for £2700! to an American collector, who I believe still got a bargain. The THREE Medicinal Jars above battered their estimate by SIX times fetching £3600 and went to the same American collector, he won't be needing any more happy pills when these four beauties arrive!. The sale included loads of other items 1949 in total, not all were in our collecting fields unfortunately, but the overall sale total was £540,000 + 15% buyer's premium + VAT. It just goes to show the money is still out there for the right items.
October 05 September's Story.T & J HUNT BREWERS BANBURY After purchasing an early Banbury stoneware Porter bottle in the Summer National Auction 2006, I decided to do a little research into the Hunt family in Banbury. Thomas & John Hunt are listed at The UNICORN - 20 Market Place, Banbury , In 1840 -1847. This seemed a little late for at least one of the two porters below, so more research was needed. Thomas Hunt the Elder first started brewing at the Unicorn a lighter quality beer & charged 2 pence a quart! This greatly appealed to the public, demand grew and he began brewing on a larger scale in premises in Cow Fair, Bridge Street, from humble beginnings the business grew until his Grandson John Hunt built a brewery in 1839 - which in 1850 became the Hunt Edmund's Brewery Company. The Unicorn - One of Banbury's oldest Inns still surviving today: the date 1648 can still be seen carved on the old wooden gates of the archway leading to the court yard. A trade token was issued "At the Vunicorne" on obverse "In Banbery 1650" with the initials SWI ( This refers to STOKES - William & Joanna- I depicting J for Joanna. It is not until 1807 that Thomas Hunt the elder, wife Elizabeth, bought the Unicorn and malting business. In 1819 Thomas must have died as John Hunt with wife Elizabeth is listed 1819 - 1840 decd. During this period in 1839 they built a Brewery in Bridge Street, Banbury. From 1840 the records show Thomas & John Hunt, also Mother Elizabeth widow, this continued until 1847, by 1850 it became the famous Hunt Edmund's Brewery Co. BY A McConville August 31 August.DISBELIEF - TWICE OVER! BY MALCOLM ANDREWS It was with a feeling of total disbelief when, towards the end of June, I realised that we had booked our holiday to coincide with the National. For the first time in fifteen years I would not be in the early entrant's queue, full of hope and expectancy. On the second day away we went to a Country Fair where, on a table amongst a jumble of items, I spotted a Doulton Tobacco Jar. The lid featured a 'George Tinworth Mouse', seated on a blue cushion smoking a pipe! UNBELIEVABLE! A tiny chip on one ear and a rubbed leaf in the foliage on the jar provided good bargaining points and a very satisfactory deal was completed. George Tinworth was born in 1843, in Walworth S. E. London, to humble parents. As a young boy he developed an untutored gift for carving small figures in wood and stone. When he was nineteen he was accepted by the Lambeth School of Art. His skills soon came to the attention of the school principal, John Sparkes, who with others, was trying to persuade Henry Doulton to produce decorative stoneware alongside his industrial wares. Doulton was reluctant, but Sparkes' persuasive powers triumphed. He recommended his most talented pupil, Tinworth, who started at Doultons in 1866. His first work was to model the outer bodies of water filters with floral designs. Working without preliminary sketches, straight into the clay, Doulton was somewhat non-plussed by his skill. Tinworth went on to produce a variety of decorative artware and contributed much to the success of Doulton Ware at the exhibitions of 1867, 1871 and 1873 in Paris, London and Vienna. He was soon engaged on special commissions for public buildings and institutions, many with a religious theme. This work demanded a high degree of concentration and it is said that as a form of relaxation he turned to modeling MICE and FROGS in human situations, either as groups or singles. These were not taken seriously by the factory and were sold at relatively low prices. It is generally accepted that George Tinworth had done his best work by the early 1900's, but he continued to be acclaimed until his death, on a train going to work in September 1913, as the 'Grand old man of the Lambeth studios'. It is of note that Tinworth was the only artist at Doulton who was allowed to incorporate his monogram in the design on the EXTERIOR of his work. Other major artists were only allowed this privilege if the item had been specially commissioned for an exhibition. It is rather ironic that Tinworth's whimsical mice and frog creations now attract more attention than some of his more artistic work. In November, 2004, six of these groups sold at auction, at prices ranging from £2,800 - £5,600, in spite of damage to some pieces. Perhaps a smoking mouse made up for missing the National !. July 23 July.'A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH' OR THE THAMES MUD! BY STEVE HASELGROVE
Following the considerable import of German Salt-glazed stoneware into England that commenced in the early 16 TH. Century, it is a logical assumption that sooner or later English potters would strive to break the continental monopoly and produce these wares at home.Black Lead-Glazed drinking mugs were produced in England during the early 16 TH. Century. From the late 16TH. Century Salt-glazed Mugs and Ale bottles were also being manufactured possibly by German Immigrants? either way, be they German or English potters, the Germanic form of manufacture was copied / imitated. I possess an English Black Lead glazed Ale pot dating C.1530, the form being typically German even down to the FRILL-FOOTED base.I also own an English Salt-glazed Ale bottle dating C. 1580 (Possibly the earliest recorded example of an English salt glazed Ale Bottle), again reflecting the German style with a low bellied body and a cordoned base, which was wire cut, the crude rolled lip though being of classical English form. By the mid to late 17 TH. Century German 'BELLARMINE' Ale bottles were being imported by their thousands into this country and it is from this period that English potters were far more determined to break the now German stranglehold and to make home made products for the large English market, namely Taverns & Brewers etc.To this day, English Ale/Tavern bottles of the 17 TH. & 18 TH., Centuries are far more rare than their German counterparts of the same period. Unmarked English examples are very hard to come by, whilst those carrying an inscribed name etc. or an applied plaque or medallion are as rare as 'HENS TEETH'!Which brings me on to a recently acquired piece to my collection (Thanks to Alan's vigilance on E-BAY) an English tavern bottle with an applied medallion incorporating a Cockerel and the initials H. C. There is a slight down side to it though, as you can see from the photograph, it's damaged. The amazing thing is that the lip is perfect and the handle is still on it! but I am still very pleased with it, even in this condition. This piece was and I quote 'Excavated' from deep within the Thames foreshore in London. According to my research the bottle, or what remains of it!! could date to Circa 1660 - 1665. It would appear that the initials H.C. are those of HENRY CROSSE, landlord of the COCK ALE HOUSE at Temple Bar, London. According to records the said Tavern was patronised by Samuel Pepys who recorded in his diaries visiting the tavern on at least nine occasions.
June 19 JuneONE COMPANY COLLECTIONS
(NUMBER TWO) MAYPOLE DAIRY COMPANY. PART 2. BY MALCOLM ANDREWS
BY 1923, CONTINUING EXPANSION RESULTED IN OVER 780 SHOPS, A TYPICAL SHOP-FRONT FROM THIS PERIOD BEING SHOWN IN FIG. 8. TEA AND MARGARINE CAN BE SEEN TO BE PROMINENTLY ADVERTISED. WHILST THE BUSINESS DEVELOPED IN THE UK, MAYPOLE INVESTED IN AN EGG PRODUCTION UNIT IN DENMARK WHICH SUPPLIED THEIR REQUIREMENTS UP TO THE OUTBREAK OF WAR IN 1939. FIG. 9. SHOWS THE SHOP-FRONT AT GRAYS IN ESSEX IN 1931, WITH EGGS FEATURING IN THE WINDOW DISPLAY. IN 1924 THE SHARE CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY WAS BOUGHT BY COMPETITORS, HOME AND COLONIAL ALTHOUGH TRADING CONTINUED UNDER ITS MAYPOLE NAME. FIG. 10. SHOWS AN ADVERTISING MIRROR GIVEN AWAY BY HOME AND COLONIAL. DURING THE 1920S MAYPOLE'S PRINCIPAL MANUFACTURING COMPETITORS - VAN DEN BURGH AND JURGEN - HAD SET UP FACTORIES IN THE UK, THE FORMER AT FULHAM AND THE LATTER AT PURFLEET IN ESSEX. THESE MODERN PRODUCTION FACILITIES, WITH CONSEQUENT ECONOMIES, GAVE MAYPOLE FIERCE COMPETITION AND IT WAS DECIDED TO CLOSE THE FACTORY AT SOUTHALL IN 1929. THE LARGE SITE WAS DIVIDED AND SOLD TO NEW OCCUPANTS AS VARIED AS BIRDS EYE FOODS AND A CEMETERY! THE RETAIL SIDE OF BUSINESS CONTINUED TO PROSPER, THERE BEING OVER 1000 SHOPS BY 1951, MANY LARGE TOWNS AND CITIES HAVING MULTIPLE BRANCHES. 16 QUEEN ST. WAS THE ADDRESS IN OXFORD WITH COMPETITORS HOME AND COLONIAL AT NO. 28 AND LIPTONS AT NO. 44. BY 1964 THESE THREE GROCERY CHAINS WERE ALL TRADING UNDER THE UMBRELLA OWNERSHIP OF ALLIED SUPPLIERS. ABOUT THIS TIME, IT WAS DECIDED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL SHOPS OWING TO NEW COMPETITION FROM THE ADVENT OF THE 'SUPERMARKETS'. IN THE EARLY 1980S ALLIED SUPPLIERS BECAME ARGYLL STORES, WHO IN 1988 BOUGHT THE BRITISH ARM OF THE AMERICAN FIRM SAFEWAY. IN RECENT MONTHS THIS COMPANY HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A RATHER MESSY AND LONG DRAWN OUT TAKEOVER BATTLE, PARTIALLY WON BY MORRISONS. A RATHER INGLORIOUS END TO A ONCE PROUD COMPANY. MANY THANKS TO ALAN McCONVILLE AND TOM HEMMING FOR INFORMATION USED IN THIS ARTICLE. May 23 Issue; MayONE COMPANY COLLECTIONS
(NUMBER TWO) MAYPOLE DAIRY COMPANY. PART 1. BY MALCOLM ANDREWS.
If one was offered a coupon worth 1/10 of one new penny for redemption against goods, what would be the reaction? Unprintable, I guess! However, a coupon of equivalent value in old money, namely 1/4d (farthing) was offered by THE MAYPOLE DAIRY CO. LTD. in 1914 as shown in FIG. 1. In the early 1800's the Much of the dairy products sold by the two dairies was imported from the DANISH DAIRY COMPANY and in 1889, with D.D.Co. support, another WATSON brother, CHARLES, opened a shop in Wednesbury under the D.D.Co. name. This had its own railway sidings and canal side facilities and by the following year a chartered milk train brought milk from the West Country daily. Butter and Cream were also being produced and although the factory operated under the MAYPOLE name, cream was sold in D.D.Co. pots, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Although many of the managers were Danes who had moved down from Godley, loyalty to the MAYPOLE 'ethos' was encouraged. Working conditions were very strict but fair and provision was made for extensive recreational facilities. The development soon became the largest margarine works in the world. Equipped with its own electricity generating system, carpenter's shop, blacksmiths, printing works (see FIG. 4.) and the best equipped food laboratory in the country, it successfully competed with the large Dutch producers - VAN den BURGH and JURGEN, supplying over one third of the UK MARKET. The retail business continued to expand and, in common with many grocery chains, gained a reputation for its TEA BLENDS as well as dairy products. FIG. 5. shows a miniature teapot and caddy spoon as an advertisement whilst FIG. 6. shows the back of a 1923 bus ticket advertising margarine. This was marketed in April 17 Aprils StoryFROM O.A.B.C.C MEMBER TERRY JACKSON
'AN EAGLE HAS LANDED... ...........IN ASTON CLINTON!
Hi Alan, After some months of negotiating with another coloured top GB collector I finally managed to add this classic to my collection. It didn't come cheap! The maker Price, Bristol was the sole agent for the GALTEE MORE Patent, and it seems that they only produced THREE versions with Blue top and a Blue print. Naturally they made their own salesman's sample (one appeared for sale at the last Elsecar show! and within seconds someone had handed over a sack full of cash for it.) but commercially they only produced them, as far as we know, for just TWO companies - Birches of Morecombe and Harts of Nottingham. The Harts being the only PICTORIAL blue top, blue print version known to date. Consequently these are all rare and therefore quite expensive- that's if you can ever get your hands on one. Just think - at the end of the nineteenth century these G.B's were sold - complete with contents - for 2p. each. The Galtee more patent doesn't seem to have been a very popular closure with the mineral water trade and was soon to be overtaken anyway by Barret and Elers screw tops. The rest, as they say - is history. March 19 POLO SHIRTS!NEW! CLUB POLO SHIRT!
HERE THEY ARE! FRUIT OF THE LOOM, DOUBLE EMBROIDERED, OXFORD BLUE. THE SHIRTS THEMSELVES COST £3.40 EACH, BUT THE EMBROIDERY COSTS £7.40, A TOTAL OF £10.80! BUT THE CLUB HAS AGREED TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE. * IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANOTHER COLOUR PLEASE ASK!* I KNOW SOMEONE HAS ALREADY PUT AN ORDER IN FOR ONE IN BLACK, FOR NO EXTRA COST.
AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING SIZES. XXXL XXL XL LG. MED. SM.
CONTACT PHIL CARTER 01993 891035 OR KEITHHUMPHRIS 01993 844279 TO PLACE YOUR ORDERS.**SWEAT SHIRTS TO FOLLOW, SLIGHTLY MORE EXPENSIVE. February 19 February - Sneak PreviewNOW THERE'S TWO! BY A. McCONVILLE Had to read the listing twice when I saw this mega rare seal on E-BAY. I checked Fay Banks book: Wine drinking in Oxford 1640 -1850, and there on page 105, described as the only known bottle baring this seal, Circa 1751, attributed to the second batch of bottles bought in 1751, bears the seal All Souls C R. Supplied by Dennis Glass House of Stourbridge. I was concerned the bidding would get out of control on such a rare piece, so I waited until the last minute, and to my amazement I won the bottle for a jaw dropping £72 plus £5 delivery. I offered to collect the bottle as it was quite local, but the person selling drove it out to me at Bicester, and even brought the £77 pound along in case I was not happy with the bottle. Karl Moore was even happier when I let him have it for his collection, it was one of only three he hasn't got, so a good day all round, and no, Karl paid me £77 exactly, it's not all about a big profit. January 12 Sneak Preview - JanuaryBOTTLING WILDLIFE Then there are the BADGERS. Secretive, impressive On the other hand we have the FERRETS. Bright eyed We probably all know one of the SNAKES. Smooth talking, Watch out for the VULTURES. Usually seen hovering Finally the SHARKS. Only seen occasionally now at shows and fairs, December 18 December - Sneak PreviewE-MAIL OF THE MONTH:- DIGGING NEWS FROM GARY WAKELIN
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE EXACT DIRECTIONS BUT FROM SOME CLUES WE THOUGHT WE COULD SOON FIND IT. WRONG!!! WE DROVE AROUND WESTON-SUPER-MARE FOR AGES. I KEPT GETTING RICK TO ASK OLD PEOPLE IF THEY REMEMBERED ABOUT OLD PLACES WE HAD IN OUR CLUES BUT MOST OF THEM WERE TOO MUDDLED AND THE MOST WE COULD GET OUT OF THEM WAS "HASN'T IT CHANGED". NOT MUCH USE, BLESS EM. WE DID FIND A RECENTLY DUG SITE ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY ROAD AFTER A FEW LAPS. THIS PLACE DIDN'T FIT OUR DESCRIPTION BUT NEVERTHELESS IT WAS AN EDWARDIAN TIP. WE JUMPED IN EXISTING HOLES AND OPENED THEM UP FURTHER EXPECTING OUR COLLARS FELT SOON AFTER. THREE DAYS LATER ARMED WITH PROPER DIRECTIONS WE SET OFF TO FIND THE MUCH BIGGER TIP WE WERE TOLD OF IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS WE FOUND QUICKLY ONLY UP THE ROAD FROM THE FIRST ONE! THIS TIP WAS BEING REMOVED AND IN ITS FINAL STAGES. WE HAD BOTTLES STRAIGHT AWAY. WE FILLED CARRIER BAGS WITH CODDS, POISONS, INKS, BEERS, VIROLS. LOADS OF BITS. THE SECURITY WERE SOON ON US. ALL HE SAID WAS "YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ME AND I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU", FAIR ENOUGH, REAL FRIENDLY THESE LOCALS!!! RICK DUG A NICE GREEN OCTAGONAL INK EMBOSSED "EDWARD NATION & CO BRISTOL" AND A JAYS GINGER. I DUG A LOVELY GREEN GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY BEER OR WHISKY, THEN AN UNUSUAL MEAT PASTE POT FROM "GERVIS HALL RESTAURANT BOURNEMOUTH". A GREAT SHAME WAS KNOCKING THE TOP OFF AN ALREADY CRACKED GIANT TWO PINT GINGER BEER FROM "MC FARLANES WESTON & BURNHAM". THESE ARE A LOCAL RARITY AND QUITE SOUGHT AFTER. I ALSO HAD A BRISTOL GINGER THOUGH A BIT CHIPPED. ONLY LID WAS A BURGESS. COME TWILIGHT WE GAVE IT UP AFTER A GOOD AFTERNOONS DIG AND HEADED OFF HOME. THE TIP SHOULD BE ALL BUILT ON NOW.
November 21 Guestbook Thanks for visiting the site. Tell me what you think. Wether it be improvements, spelling mistakes, or you need a question answering about antique bottles. Thanks again. LEAVE A COMMENT!! November 20 Sneak Preview - NovemberTHE HISTORY OF A GLASS BOTTOMED STONEWARE TANKARD BY STEVE HASELGROVE IT IS MOST FITTING THAT WHILE THE BRITISH NATION IS CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE HORATIO, LORD NELSONS VICTORY OVER THE FRENCH AT THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR 200 YEARS EARLIER THAT AN EXTREMELY RARE GLASS BOTTOMED, SPRIGGED SALTGLAZED STONEWARE TANKARD PRODUCED AT ONE OF THE EARLY BRAMPTON POTTERIES AND DATING FROM THE SAME PERIOD, SHOULD APPEAR FOR SALE AT THE BBR OCTOBER BOTTLE FAIR, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHICH WILL BE REVEALED LATER, NEEDLESS TO SAY I PURCHASED THE SAID ITEM WITHOUT THINKING TWICE, SUCH OPPORTUNITIES AS WITH THE 'HENRY SMITH, TUNBRIDGE, 1762' TANKARD PURCHASED THE SAME DAY VARY RARELY HAPPENS. THIS PIECE MEASURING 4.5 INCHES IN HEIGHT AND WITH A CAPACITY OF 0.75 PINT, IS ONLY THE SECOND EXAMPLE I HAVE EVER SEEN, THE OTHER BEING ILLUSTRATED IN DEREK ASKEY'S STONEWARE ROUND UP IN BBR 103. THE TANKARD PICTURED ALMOST CERTAINLY ORIGINATING FROM JOHN KISHERE'S MORTLAKE POTTERY IN LONDON AND DATING FROM THE SAME PERIOD AS MY BRAMPTON EXAMPLE. IN HIS ARTICLE DEREK COMMENTS, AND I QUOTE "I HAVE NEVER ESTABLISHED THE REASON FOR THE GLASS BOTTOM; A WATERTIGHT SEAL WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE DURING THE FIRING CYCLE, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SENSIBLE THEORIES AS I THOUGHT THE OWNERS WAS QUITE POTTY" UNQUOTE. I DO NOT KNOW THE 'POTTY' OWNERS THEORY ON HIS TANKARD BUT HAVING CAREFULLY STUDIED, MY EXAMPLE IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE GLASS BOTTOM WAS IN FACT INSERTED AFTER FIRING. THREE SMALL HOLES CAN BE SEEN NEAR THE BASE, THESE HOLES BEING MADE BY THE POTTER WHILST THE TANKARD WAS STILL IN A 'LEATHERY' STATE PRIOR TO FIRING THE GLASS BASE WAS POSITIONED AND SMALL METAL PINS WERE INSERTED INTO THE HOLES THUS RETAINING THE GLASS IN POSITION, FINALLY A FORM OF PUTTY WAS THEN APPLIED AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE BASE MAKING THE TANKARD FULLY ALE-TIGHT! THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NELSON AND HIS VICTORY AT TRAFALGAR AND THE GLASS BOTTOMED TANKARD RELATES TO THE METHOD OF RECRUITING SAILORS FOR HIS FLEET, DURING THIS PERIOD WILLING ROYAL NAVY RECRUITS WERE PAID A SIGNING IN BOUNTY OF ONE SHILLING, ALSO OPERATING AT THIS TIME WERE PRESSGANGS COMPILED OF UNSCRUPULOUS NAVAL OFFICERS AND OTHER SEAMEN WHO ENTERED TAVERNS IN COASTAL PORTS AND TRICKED PROSPECTS BY PLACING A SHILLING COIN IN THEIR TANKARDS OF ALE. BY DRINKING THE ALE, THE WRETCHED VICTIM WAS DEEMED TO HAVE COMMITTED HIMSELF TO NAVAL SERVICE BY ACCEPTING THE KINGS SHILLING, THUS IN THE LATE 18TH, EARLY 19 TH. CENTURY, A GLASS BOTTOMED TANKARD WAS INVENTED SO THAT THE HIDDEN DANGER COULD BE IMMEDIATELY SPOTTED, COMMONER PEWTER EXAMPLES ALSO EXIST, THESE BEING PRODUCED WELL INTO THE 19TH CENTURY AND EVEN TODAY. |
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