| Hutchinson Bottle Sales Guide |
Updated: December 29, 2007
NOTE: Much of the following information is quoted from Collecting Soda Pop
Bottles by Ron Fowler, Seattle History Company, Seattle, Washington, © 1984
and 2006 (visit SHC Books For Sale for details). Permission is granted to quote
from this material only if credit is provided by properly citing the source,
including the www.SeattleHistoryCompany.com web site URL.
A review of Hutchinson bottle sales advertisements placed in hobby publications
and at on-line auction sites reveals many listings missing the essential data
desired by potential buyers. These guidelines are provided to help sellers
improve their listings and consequently enhance their overall sales.
IS THE BOTTLE TRULY A “HUTCHINSON?”
Charles G. Hutchinson registered his “Patent Spring Stopper” April 8, 1879.
During the 1880s his closure gained widespread popularity with bottlers and
consumers, and revolutionized the soda bottling industry. Most other types of
closures were rendered obsolete by Hutchinson’s effective and inexpensive
stoppers. Glass manufacturers and bottlers referred to the bottles using his
stoppers as “Hutchinson” or “Hutch” bottles.
The key to Hutchinson's success was his stopper's simplicity. A rubber washer
was inserted between two metallic disks and connected by a heavy wire that ran
thru the disks and formed an open-ended figure eight. The accompanying 1886
National Bottler’s Gazette illustration shows a stopper in the closed position:
Carefully compare your bottle with the patent drawing shown above; if it does
not match, your bottle may not be a true Hutchinson. Bottles that utilized
other types of external and internal closures are often mis-identified and should
not be referred to as "Hutchinsons." Here are several illustrations and brief
descriptions of bottles that are frequently mistaken for Hutchinsons:
BLOB TOP GRAVITATING BALTIMORE LIGHTNING
STOPPER LOOP SEAL STOPPER
ROORBACH STEWART'S FLOATING CODD CROWN CORK
CLOSURE BALL STOPPER STOPPER CLOSURE
Many web sites and books about antique soda bottles provide detailed
illustrations and descriptions that help with the identification of closure styles.
An excellent reference source is David Graci's book on Soda and Beer Bottle
Closures 1850 - 1910 (see ordering information at Other Bottle Books For Sale).
HUTCHINSON BOTTLE SALES LISTINGS
When preparing Hutchinson sales listings, consider utilizing each of the underlined
headings specified below as your listing format. Here's a sample sales listing,
followed by an explanation of each line of data:
This guide is a work-in-progress and user suggestions are welcomed.
Good selling!
© 2008, Seattle History Company
NOTE: Much of the following information is quoted from Collecting Soda Pop
Bottles by Ron Fowler, Seattle History Company, Seattle, Washington, © 1984
and 2006 (visit SHC Books For Sale for details). Permission is granted to quote
from this material only if credit is provided by properly citing the source,
including the www.SeattleHistoryCompany.com web site URL.
A review of Hutchinson bottle sales advertisements placed in hobby publications
and at on-line auction sites reveals many listings missing the essential data
desired by potential buyers. These guidelines are provided to help sellers
improve their listings and consequently enhance their overall sales.
IS THE BOTTLE TRULY A “HUTCHINSON?”
Charles G. Hutchinson registered his “Patent Spring Stopper” April 8, 1879.
During the 1880s his closure gained widespread popularity with bottlers and
consumers, and revolutionized the soda bottling industry. Most other types of
closures were rendered obsolete by Hutchinson’s effective and inexpensive
stoppers. Glass manufacturers and bottlers referred to the bottles using his
stoppers as “Hutchinson” or “Hutch” bottles.
The key to Hutchinson's success was his stopper's simplicity. A rubber washer
was inserted between two metallic disks and connected by a heavy wire that ran
thru the disks and formed an open-ended figure eight. The accompanying 1886
National Bottler’s Gazette illustration shows a stopper in the closed position:
Carefully compare your bottle with the patent drawing shown above; if it does
not match, your bottle may not be a true Hutchinson. Bottles that utilized
other types of external and internal closures are often mis-identified and should
not be referred to as "Hutchinsons." Here are several illustrations and brief
descriptions of bottles that are frequently mistaken for Hutchinsons:
BLOB TOP GRAVITATING BALTIMORE LIGHTNING
STOPPER LOOP SEAL STOPPER
ROORBACH STEWART'S FLOATING CODD CROWN CORK
CLOSURE BALL STOPPER STOPPER CLOSURE
- BLOB TOP soda bottles were sealed by a cork inserted into the mouth of
the bottle. Corks were held in place by either (1) wire cork fasteners
attached directly under the blob top and swung into place over the top of
the cork, or (2) a simple wire strand twisted around the neck below the
blob top, looped over the top of the cork, and then twisted around the neck
below the blob top again;
- GRAVITATING STOPPER bottles typically have narrow, tapered shoulders
and are base-embossed with Matthews’ 1864 patent information. This
closure featured a glass rod with a bulb-shaped rubber gasket on one end
that "gravitated" to the bottle's mouth after filling, self-sealing against
the inside, steeply-sloping shoulders of the bottle;
- BALTIMORE LOOP SEAL bottles utilized an external, hard rubber disk
that fit down into a horizontal groove inside the mouth of the bottle;
- LIGHTNING STOPPERS are external ceramic stoppers with a wire bail and
rubber gasket;
- ROORBACH CLOSURES typically have patent dates of February 20, 1883,
June 23, 1885, and August 4, 1885 embossed near the base of the
bottle. An imprisoned, small, hollow, brown ball sealed against a hard
rubber gasket inserted into a horizontal groove inside the mouth of the
bottle;
- STEWART'S FLOATING BALL STOPPER bottles have a very wide mouth
with a horizontal groove that held a rubber washer, and a ball that sealed
against the washer;
- CODD (“marble bottles”) utilized a glass ball that sealed against a rubber
or cork ring inserted into a groove in the mouth of the bottle.
- CROWN CORK CLOSURES ("bottle caps") were patented in 1892 and are
still in use today. Bottle manufacturers began the implementation of
Owens' Automatic Bottle Machine in 1903, bringing the soft drink industry
inexpensive, standardized bottle tops. This development, combined with
inexpensive crown seals, rendered most other closures obsolete, and by the
end of World War I crown cork closures became the industry standard.
Many web sites and books about antique soda bottles provide detailed
illustrations and descriptions that help with the identification of closure styles.
An excellent reference source is David Graci's book on Soda and Beer Bottle
Closures 1850 - 1910 (see ordering information at Other Bottle Books For Sale).
HUTCHINSON BOTTLE SALES LISTINGS
When preparing Hutchinson sales listings, consider utilizing each of the underlined
headings specified below as your listing format. Here's a sample sales listing,
followed by an explanation of each line of data:
- Classification: Collectibles, Bottles & Insulators, Bottles,
Antique (Pre-1900), Sodas
Subject Line: Vancouver Washington Hutchinson Soda
Bottle With McArty Spelling Error
Photograph(s): Accompanying photo shows front embossing
Front Embossing: VANCOUVER SODA / WORKS /
STRICKER & / McARTY / VANCOUVER. WASH.
Back Embossing: Blank
Base Embossing: Blank
Mold Type: 2 piece
Glass Color: Aqua
Dimensions: 6.375" x 2.50"
Plate Mold Shape: Round
Bottle Shape: Round
Condition: Sparkling mint; stopper missing rubber washer
Comments: Errors: (1) McARTY should be McCARTY and
(2) period after VANCOUVER. instead of comma; "Rare"
per Washington Sodas: The Illustrated History of
Washington's Soft Drink Industry by Ron Fowler
- CLASSIFICATION: When listing at an on-line auction, classify your bottle
under Collectibles, Bottles & Insulators, Bottles, Antique (Pre-1900),
Sodas. The primary objective is to have potential bidders find your listing
when searching for Hutchinson bottles to buy!
- SUBJECT LINE: Include the word “Hutchinson” or "Hutch" in your subject
line and listing text so potential bidders will find your listing when
performing searches. Incorporate the bottler’s city and state/province into
the subject line description so your listing will also be found by potential
bidders who search for and collect items from specific geographical areas.
- PHOTOGRAPH(S): Hutchinson bottles are challenging to photograph because
their sides are curved and reflect light, and the front embossing often
wraps around the sides of the bottle. With practice, anyone can produce
effective images that will contribute positively to the sales process. At a
minimum, post a photograph showing the entire bottle, including the front
embossing. Additional close up photographs showing front, back, and base
embossing plus any damage are also desirable. Edit and crop images to
eliminate background distractions and provide potential buyers with large,
sharply-focused images.
- FRONT EMBOSSING: Describe the exact front embossing in CAPITAL
letters, including all punctuation. Use slash marks to represent line breaks
in the lettering. The front embossing for the illustrated example is
properly described as VANCOUVER SODA / WORKS / STRICKER & /
McARTY / VANCOUVER. WASH.
- BACK EMBOSSING: Describe the exact embossing (including line breaks) on
the back of the bottle, e.g. THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO / BE SOLD /
REGISTERED, and include maker’s marks such as I.G.Co., N.B.B.G.Co.,
PCGW, ROOT, WISC. G. CO. MILW., etc. Maker's marks are typically
found near the heel. Describe all monograms, pictures such as stars and
animals, etc. If the back is totally unembossed, specify it is blank.
- BASE EMBOSSING: Describe the exact base embossing (including line
breaks), e.g. 329 / H, or K. HUTTER / 10B / NEW YORK, or THE
LIQUID, monograms, pictures, etc. If the base is totally unembossed,
specify it is blank.
- MOLD TYPE: Most Hutchinson bottles are two piece mold bottles with
vertical seams that run from the base up the sides and disappear in the
shoulder or neck area. A few Hutchinson bottles are four piece mold
bottles with an additional horizontal mold line high up on the sides near the
shoulders.
- GLASS COLOR: The majority of Hutchinson bottles were produced in
various shades of aqua (pale green) glass. They are also found in flint
(clear), cobalt blue, cornflower blue, emerald green, and various shades of
amber glass. Beware of Hutchinson bottles that have been irradiated,
permanently altering the original glass color. They are typically dark
purple or a strange brown color. Help stop the wanton destruction of these
historical artifacts by refusing to buy these altered bottles. Check the
Caveat Emptor page for additional details.
- DIMENSIONS: Specify bottle height and diameter. Hutchinson bottles
were manufactured in a variety of sizes, with heights ranging from 5.50”
to over 10.0” and diameters from 2” to over 3.5.”
- PLATE MOLD SHAPE: The bottler-specific embossed lettering on most
Hutchinson bottles was produced via the use of engraved round, horseshoe-
shaped, or rectangular plate molds. If there is a plate mold line
surrounding the embossing, describe its shape in your listing. Hutchinsons
without plate mold lines were more expensive to produce and are referred
to as “private mold” bottles.
- BOTTLE SHAPE: Most Hutchinson bottles have either round or 10 panel
bases. They are also found with vertical panels, base and shoulder panels,
and a few other unusual shapes. A good photograph will show a bottle's
shape, but also be sure to describe the shape in the accompanying text.
- CONDITION: Hutchinson bottles were usually refilled and reused many
times, so evidence of handling wear is normal. An accurate description
fully disclosing a bottle's condition is critically important to Hutchinson
collectors; your listings should detail all damage including cracks, chips,
nicks, flakes, pitting, bruises, dings, scratches, case wear, stains, dirt,
water deposits, sick glass, etc. Be sure to disclose any repairs, polishing,
and/or professional cleaning. If a bottle has been irradiated, include and
explain that the color has been permanently altered; failure to disclose a
bottle has been irradiated is, in my opinion, fraud.
- COMMENTS: Include commentary describing special features such as
monograms, embossed pictures, spelling errors, incorrect/missing
punctuation, etc. If you truly know a bottle’s rarity rating, mention it.
Note, however, that many advertised Hutchinson bottles described as
“Rare” or “Scarce” are actually “Common.” If you cite information from a
publication, list the source!
This guide is a work-in-progress and user suggestions are welcomed.
Good selling!
© 2008, Seattle History Company
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