TRANSFER PRINTED GINGER BEERS OF CANADA

Transfer Printed
Ginger Beers
Of Canada

Phil Culhane & Scott Wallace

For additional copies, please contact the authors:

Phil Culhane Scott Wallace
102 Abbeyhill Drive 213 Moffatt St.
Kanata, Ontario Carleton Place, Ontario
K2L 1H2 K7C 3K9
Canada Canada
[email protected] [email protected]
(613) 831-7749 (613) 253-6252

Cost of books:

Full colour book: $220 Cdn
Black and white book, colour covers: $60 Cdn
CD-Rom: $25 Cdn

Postage and handling are extra, and will be quoted at time of purchase.

For more information and to learn about upcoming publications visit our web site:

http://www.canadianbottles.com

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada © 2002 Phil Culhane & Scott Wallace. Privately printed and published in Ottawa,
Canada. All material and images, including original softcopy material, is copyright the authors. All rights reserved.

These books took a lot of time, effort and energy. If you would like to support the publishing of books on antique
Canadian bottles, please buy them. If you bought a CD-ROM copy of our book, feel free to print a copy for your own
use, but please don't burn or print them for your friends. Thanks.

International Standard Book Number: ISBN 0-9730638-0-7.

Transfer Printed
Ginger Beers
Of Canada

- Phil Culhane & Scott Wallace

Published March 31st, 2002

Dedications Phil
Scott
To Dave Perch, who finally inspired me to take the leap.
To Bill Bagg, who through his magic made miracle bottles appear.
To my father, who has maintained the collecting faith through all these years.
To all the collectors who have entrusted us with images of their collections.
To Scott, for getting me started and keeping me going.
And to Rhonda and Catherine, who've sacrificed the time it's taken to glue all these pieces together.
To all of you, thank you. This book is as much yours as it is ours.

~~~~~

To Jen, for always understanding.
To John Meyer, for being the first in line.
To the Bytown Bottle Seekers, for getting me started.
To everyone who contributed, for offering and making it possible.
And to Phil, for sharing the load and inspiring the work.

~~~~~

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada ii

Thanks to….

Without the help of these people, there would be fewer images and far less information in these
pages. We thank them for their time and their insights.

Derek Askey James Heffernan
Peter Austin Greg James
Alan Blakeman Scott Jordan
Don & Joyce Blyth Dianne and Lawrence Keddy
Carl Boswick John Knight
Tim Braithwaite Vince Kwok
Thor Brodersen Harry Little
Jim Butler Cy Longman
Mark Careswell Larry Machum and Judith Brannen
George Chopping Jim Maitland
Rick Clayton Malcolm McLeod
Robert A. Clayton and T. Lynda Colucci Brian Millsip
Dave Perch
--The Clayton Colucci Collection Glen Phillips
Kevin Culhane Jack Rip
Jose Demers Karl Robinson
Stephen Dickinson Kim and Jeff Shand
David Dobing James Short
Richard Dobing Fred Spoelstra
Tom Doyle Rob Sturrock
Colin Eyban Vic Toews
John Finlay Kim Troop
Glen Foster Steve Troop
Garnet Gamester John Wicks
Dan Gayowsky Mark Wilson
John Goodyer Blake Woods
David Graci Barry Wright
Herman & Florence Helm Don Yates

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada iii

Table of Contents

DEDICATIONS.......................................................................................................................................... II

THANKS TO…. ........................................................................................................................................III

TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................................................................................................... IV

FORWARD.................................................................................................................................................. 1

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 2

CONDITION ............................................................................................................................................... 5

AGE .............................................................................................................................................................. 6

PRICES - VALUES - RARITY.................................................................................................................. 8

BOTTLE MAKERS AND THEIR MARKS............................................................................................. 9

LIP FINISHES........................................................................................................................................... 13
THE BRANTFORD STONEWARE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, BRANTFORD, ONTARIO............................. 16
GLASS BROTHERS & COMPANY, LONDON, ONTARIO ............................................................................... 19
FOLEY POTTERY, SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK .................................................................................... 21
MEDALTA POTTERIES LIMITED, MEDICINE HAT, ALBERTA...................................................................... 23
CANADIAN MADE?.................................................................................................................................... 25

FAKES........................................................................................................................................................ 27

CLEANING POTTERY BOTTLES ....................................................................................................... 30

BRITISH COLUMBIA............................................................................................................................. 31
COLWOOD................................................................................................................................................. 32
KAMLOOPS................................................................................................................................................ 33
KELOWNA ................................................................................................................................................. 34
NELSON .................................................................................................................................................... 35

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada iv

NEW WESTMINSTER.................................................................................................................................. 38
VANCOUVER ............................................................................................................................................. 40
VICTORIA.................................................................................................................................................. 55
VICTORIA WEST........................................................................................................................................ 65

ALBERTA.................................................................................................................................................. 69

CALGARY.................................................................................................................................................. 69
EDMONTON ............................................................................................................................................... 74
MEDICINE HAT ......................................................................................................................................... 79

SASKATCHEWAN................................................................................................................................... 81

MOOSE JAW .............................................................................................................................................. 81
REGINA ..................................................................................................................................................... 82
SASKATOON .............................................................................................................................................. 83

MANITOBA .............................................................................................................................................. 85

BRANDON ................................................................................................................................................. 85
WINNIPEG ................................................................................................................................................. 93

ONTARIO................................................................................................................................................ 105

ALLISTON ............................................................................................................................................... 105
BARRIE ................................................................................................................................................... 106
BELLEVILLE ............................................................................................................................................ 108
BERLIN.................................................................................................................................................... 110
BOTHWELL.............................................................................................................................................. 111
BOWMANVILLE ....................................................................................................................................... 113
BRAMPTON ............................................................................................................................................. 114
BRANTFORD............................................................................................................................................ 115
BROCKVILLE ........................................................................................................................................... 119
CAMPBELLFORD...................................................................................................................................... 121
CHATHAM ............................................................................................................................................... 123
FORT WILLIAM ....................................................................................................................................... 124
GALT....................................................................................................................................................... 126
GLEN WILLIAMS ..................................................................................................................................... 127
GODERICH............................................................................................................................................... 129
GUELPH .................................................................................................................................................. 131

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada v

HAMILTON .............................................................................................................................................. 138
KINGSTON............................................................................................................................................... 146
LISTOWEL ............................................................................................................................................... 152
LONDON.................................................................................................................................................. 153
MOUNT FOREST ...................................................................................................................................... 158
NIAGARA FALLS ..................................................................................................................................... 160
NORTH BAY ............................................................................................................................................ 161
ORANGEVILLE......................................................................................................................................... 162
ORILLIA .................................................................................................................................................. 163
OTTAWA ................................................................................................................................................. 164
OWEN SOUND ......................................................................................................................................... 171
PARRY SOUND ........................................................................................................................................ 172
PERTH ..................................................................................................................................................... 173
PETERBOROUGH...................................................................................................................................... 175
PORT ARTHUR......................................................................................................................................... 177
PORT HOPE ............................................................................................................................................. 178
PORT PERRY............................................................................................................................................ 181
RENFREW................................................................................................................................................ 182
ST. CATHARINES..................................................................................................................................... 183
ST. THOMAS............................................................................................................................................ 185
SARNIA ................................................................................................................................................... 186
SAULT STE. MARIE ................................................................................................................................. 187
SEAFORTH............................................................................................................................................... 188
SIMCOE ................................................................................................................................................... 190
SMITH FALLS .......................................................................................................................................... 191
STRATFORD............................................................................................................................................. 192
STRATHROY ............................................................................................................................................ 193
SUDBURY ................................................................................................................................................ 194
TILLSONBURG ......................................................................................................................................... 195
TORONTO ................................................................................................................................................ 196
WALKERTON........................................................................................................................................... 219
WELLAND ............................................................................................................................................... 220
WINDSOR ................................................................................................................................................ 221

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada vi

QUEBEC .................................................................................................................................................. 223

CHAMBLY BASIN .................................................................................................................................... 223
MONTREAL ............................................................................................................................................. 224
QUEBEC CITY.......................................................................................................................................... 240
SHERBROOKE .......................................................................................................................................... 245
SOREL ..................................................................................................................................................... 248
TROIS RIVIERES ...................................................................................................................................... 249
WINDSOR MILLS ..................................................................................................................................... 251

NEW BRUNSWICK ............................................................................................................................... 253

CAMPBELLTON........................................................................................................................................ 254
CHATHAM ............................................................................................................................................... 255
FAIRVILLE............................................................................................................................................... 256
FREDERICTON ......................................................................................................................................... 257
HAVELOCK.............................................................................................................................................. 263
MONCTON............................................................................................................................................... 264
SAINT JOHN............................................................................................................................................. 267
ST STEPHEN ............................................................................................................................................ 285
SUSSEX ................................................................................................................................................... 290

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND ................................................................................................................ 295

CHARLOTTETOWN................................................................................................................................... 296

NOVA SCOTIA....................................................................................................................................... 299

AMHERST................................................................................................................................................ 300
BRIDGEPORT ........................................................................................................................................... 307
GLACE BAY ............................................................................................................................................ 308
HALIFAX ................................................................................................................................................. 311
NEW GLASGOW ...................................................................................................................................... 339
NORTH SYDNEY ...................................................................................................................................... 343
SPRINGHILL............................................................................................................................................. 344
SYDNEY .................................................................................................................................................. 345
SYDNEY MINES....................................................................................................................................... 357
TRURO .................................................................................................................................................... 358
YARMOUTH............................................................................................................................................. 366

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada vii

NEWFOUNDLAND................................................................................................................................ 369
ST JOHN'S................................................................................................................................................ 369

COLLECTORS ....................................................................................................................................... 370

BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................... 379

INDEX ...................................................................................................................................................... 381

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada viii

Forward Growing up as I did in Ontario, in the 1980s, collecting in
and around my hometown of Ottawa, I found there were
Books like this one are never finished (there's always a bottle very few resources for a young collector interested in bottles
missing), so they are often never started. I've wanted to write this to consult. Mostly there were the Unitt’s books, which were
book for twenty years, and must thank my wife for informing me that enticing, but limited. Like most bottle collectors, I was at the
NOW was the time. It's been an immensely rewarding process, being same time thrilled by the grainy black and white photos, and
a part of putting this book together. I've no doubt there are countless frustrated by the poor resolution and small selection. It was
omissions, hopefully not too many errors, and neither too much nor books on American and British bottles, with their full colour
too little detail to satisfy you, the reader. However, that is what spreads of early rainbow-coloured glass and earthy pottery,
subsequent editions are for, and this book has been too long in the that really put the hook in me. Like Phil, I applaud the first
waiting already. efforts of a fledgling hobby; they were invaluable, but the
next generation of books holds great promise indeed, as
This book does not stand on its own - it stands on the shoulders of this book and its sister book, Primitive Stoneware Bottles
books by countless pioneers of the hobby who, back in the late of Canada, clearly demonstrate.
1960s and early 1970s, decided it was high time to start protecting
and collecting bits and pieces of our Canadian culture. Our If you bought our digital version you are in for a treat! You
bibliography contains a virtual "who's who" of the Canadian bottle- now have at your fingertips literally hundreds of full colour,
publishing world for the past forty years, and we thank each of them often life-sized, high-resolution images of transfer printed
for the help and knowledge they've provided to the hobby in general, ginger beers from right across the country! Colour is
and to us in particular as we amassed images for this book. important; it affects the way we perceive hues, texture, and
even brilliance. Colour is particularly important when it
I've always felt that the best thing about this hobby was the people - comes to evaluating bottles, as minor variations can
something underlined particularly on my trip down east, shooting translate into major price differences.
bottles from 10 collections in four days. No one turned me down, and
many went far out of their way to help me track down the last few If you bought our print version, you have the best quality
elusive bottles in the eastern provinces. From out west, images were black and white photos possible, and better yet you have
emailed to me at all hours of the day and night. And throughout over 500+ pictures, the largest collection of Canadian ginger
Ontario, it's been amazing the support we have received from across beer photos ever assembled by far! We know there are
the province. So many bottles I've never seen before - never even many more, so please tell us about them. There are
knew they existed! For us, this book has been a lot of fun to put already plans for a sequel. Enjoy!
together, and one big "wow!" as a finished product. We hope you get
as many hours of enjoyment going through it as we did in assembling Scott
it. Cheers!

Phil

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 1

Introduction rare bottle becomes common overnight. These changes have
resulted in even common ginger beer bottles being worth $50-
While there have no doubt always been people in Canada $100, while rare and attractive ones often sell for $800+.
Inflation can account for some of the increases in price over the
who were attracted by and interested in old bottles, the hobby years, but there is no question that demand today is greater
did not really catch on in any big way until the 1960s. From the than supply and this is forcing prices up higher and higher all
beginning, ginger beers were popular with collectors, as they the time.
are some of the oldest and most attractive bottles to be found.
How Many Are There?
Old bottles used to be more plentiful than is the case today.
After the Second World War, many Canadian cities and towns Several provinces are easy to catalogue. Newfoundland has
expanded. As they grew beyond their 19th century borders, one transfer print. Prince Edward Island has just three.
often some of the earliest dumps were uncovered. Saskatchewan has five. But what about the rest? In the early
Construction sites were relatively open to scavengers and a lot 1990s, Phil hazarded some guesses for the others.
of early bottles were unearthed. This same expansion saw
many farms sold off, the contents of cellars, barns and attics Alberta had maybe 20 to 30 different bottles. Manitoba, given
flooding into flea markets, antique shops and auctions. As long all the quarts that used to show up everywhere, had to have at
as the supply of bottles stayed steady, prices remained low. least 40 or 50. British Columbia might have as many as 70, or
Until 30 years ago, you could buy most ginger beer bottles, so people said. New Brunswick and Quebec probably had 100
regardless of the kind of transfer they had, for between $5-25. apiece. There are some huge Nova Scotia collections, so it
It was not uncommon for ginger beer collectors to want to seemed possible that there could be somewhere between 250-
acquire an example from each province. 350 bottles from Nova Scotia. Ontario was harder; could there
be 1000 Ontario bottles?
Today, the thought of amassing such a collection would send
any collector’s pocketbook into a nervous breakdown. The With the publishing of this book and its sister book, Primitive
supply of bottles has virtually dried up and demand is high. It Stoneware Bottles of Canada, we now have a pretty good
has become harder to find large, early dumps. Most have been idea how many bottles there might be. While we definitely have
built on, or they are inaccessible under parks and sports fields. not got them all, we are confident these books contain the vast
Bottles still show up at auctions and shows, but they are few majority of Canada's primitive and transfer printed stoneware
and far between and there are more collectors hunting for bottles. Certainly all of the common ones are included, and
them. The hobby is several decades old, so collectors have probably most of the rare ones have found their way into the
more experience to draw on and therefore, a better sense of books as well. There were many surprises! Here are the
what is common and what is rare. If after 30 years of serious numbers:
collecting a bottle is known by only one or a handful of
examples, that is a pretty fair indication that it is rare.
Notwithstanding the fact that tomorrow, someone could dig a
hundred ginger beer bottles from a single hole and a previously

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 2

Province Primitives Transfers Total A Bottle From Each Province

B.C. 15 64 79 Thirty years ago, ginger beer collectors went after "one of
Alberta 0 17 17 each" - clearly not knowing the task ahead of them. Now, you
Saskatchewan 0 can see the inherent difficulty of trying to "cover the country."
Manitoba 0 5 5 Not only do you need a huge bankroll and the detective skills
Ontario 32 32 of Sherlock Holmes; you also need a warehouse to display
Quebec 185 195 380 the 800+ bottles you bring home!
New Brunswick 3 45 48
P.E.I. 113 177 Most of today's collectors choose to collect their home
Nova Scotia 64 province. Which, if you think about it, would be really
Newfoundland 5 3 8 frustrating for someone collecting Newfoundland bottles. With
Total 110 120 only one bottle to get, you are either just starting or already
10 finished. First you're frustrated, then you're done (not to
1 1 2 mention broke!).
585 868
283 Here, we will offer a suggestion to the collector who is looking
for bottles from more than just their home province, but who
There are fewer bottles than we had imagined. Where are all doesn't have a warehouse, a detective agency and a vault
the Quebec bottles? There must be more than 50! We know similar to Fort Knox. What we suggest is this: try to put
we missed some from Ontario, but who could have guessed together a 10-province collection, choosing only one bottle
there were only around 200 different transfer printed Ontario from each Canadian province. Make your own rules. If the
ginger beers? We are confident we got all of the currently- bottle must have the province name on it to count, so be it.
known transfer printed bottles from Nova Scotia, so there are Only don't make a rule that all bottles must be pictorial. The
fewer than half the number we expected to find. We found 64 three most difficult provinces don't have any pictorial bottles.
primitives from New Brunswick and only 10 from Nova Scotia.
How come? Some of the largest collections we photographed Maybe this sounds too easy. You probably already have an
were in Nova Scotia. Are their primitives still buried? O'Keefe or Port Perry (Ontario, check!), a Gurd's (Quebec,
check!), a Quinn, Drake or Donovan (Nova Scotia, check!),
There are so many soda manufacturers listed in old and maybe even one of those Manitoba quarts that were
directories for which there are no known bottles. Clearly, a lot everywhere in the early 1980s and nowhere since. Or maybe
of companies just used plain bottles with relatively cheap you don't have any of the above. But at least it's nice to know
paper labels. Fortunately for collectors, a great many decided that some of the provinces are easy, because others are
to pay a bit more and get their own personalized bottles! So going to try your patience rather severely.
between primitives and transfer printed bottles, there may be
as many as 1000-1200 different ones. It is exciting to think
about how many bottles may still remain to be found.
Rumours about a second transfer printed bottle from
Newfoundland or a sixth from Saskatchewan are sometimes
whispered around shows. We will all just have to wait another
30 years and see!!

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 3

The following list indicates the relative scarcity of bottles from Third on the list are Prince Edward Island bottles. There were
each province. The list is arranged from "most difficult" to only two ginger beer manufacturers on the island who used
obtain to "least difficult" and has been drawn up with an transfer printed bottles, and only one of which you are likely to
Ontario collector in mind. Collectors in other areas of the ever own a bottle from (G.H. Simmons). Collectors would
country would, naturally, have an easier time finding their local likely have little success if they started looking for a P.E.I.
bottles. Collectors from either end of the country might have bottle on the Island, as Islanders are generally not interested
more difficulty finding bottles from across the country than in parting with local bottles. Start in Nova Scotia or New
would collectors located in Ontario, where bottles from all Brunswick - Island bottles are easier to come by on the
provinces seem to be more readily available. mainland.

Difficulty Ranking List Alberta bottles are not common, but can be found with some
persistence. The same can be said for Manitoba and B.C.
1. Newfoundland bottles. Knowing a collector from these provinces would likely
2. Saskatchewan make all the difference in the world. (That's an added benefit
3. Prince Edward Island to putting together this sort of collection -- you get to meet
4. Alberta collectors from across the country!)
5. Manitoba
6. British Columbia Strangely enough, even with a vast number of different
7. Ontario manufacturers in Ontario, bottles from this province can be
8. New Brunswick hard to get (beyond the several already mentioned). This
9. Quebec scarcity is due to several factors: there are many Ontario
10. Nova Scotia collectors you will be competing against, and most Ontario
bottlers were small-scale, local producers, thus making very
There has been some debate as to which bottle is rarer, a few Ontario bottles "common".
Newfoundland bottle or a Saskatchewan bottle, but if price
and number of manufacturers can be any sort of a guide, When choosing a representative bottle from each of the three
Newfoundland bottles would win out. When the Gadens plant remaining provinces, personal tastes can play a much larger
was expanded in St. John's, the entire foundation was re-dug role, as it is more common to see a bottle from one of these
and only one Gadens bottle was found (and was given to the provinces on a dealer's table. A Cape Breton bottle, in
grandson of the original owner, we might add). Add to that the addition to a mainland Nova Scotia ginger beer, would make a
fact that most seasoned divers refuse to dive in St. John's fine addition to any collection, and would represent this unique
Harbour due to the pollution, and it is safe to say that the region of our country separately from mainland Nova Scotia.
chance of cases of these bottles showing up is pretty scarce.
The Saskatchewan bottles are scarce as hen's teeth as well;
only a great deal of persistence, tied in with a spot of luck, is
likely to land you a bottle from either of these provinces.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 4

Condition very light wear and tiny nibbles (particularly on sharp
shoulders). Many collectors consider a bottle with a runny or
Condition is always important when something is bought or sold. blurred crest but perfect pottery to be mint. We disagree. As
The better the shape something is in, the more desirable it tends well, there are a wide number of sins covered by the
to be and therefore, the more valuable. Condition affects the price designation "in-manufacture flaw." One must remember that
of all bottles. In some categories, a crack can be enough to shave these were utility bottles churned out typically in the hundreds
50-75% off the value of even a top-grade bottle. (if not thousands) with little regard for perfection. In-
manufacture flaws happened all the time, but they must still be
It is difficult to say exactly how condition affects the value of taken into account when valuing a bottle. Weak and runny
pottery bottles because there are so many variables. Stain or rust crests, pock marks from stones that fell loose, these and many
is not typically a big deal, since this can generally be cleaned (see other factors need to be taken into account when describing a
our section on cleaning bottles). While a small nick in the lip or bottle's condition and pricing it accordingly. Always remember,
base might only reduce a bottle’s value by a few dollars, large bottle collectors are a picky bunch!
chips and hairline cracks (as opposed to glaze cracks) can really
lower the price. It is safe to say that this type of major damage As a final caution, it is possible to repair pottery bottles so that
lowers the value of common bottles (categories 1-3) quite the damage is almost completely hidden. Most collectors
considerably, by half or more. However, extremely rare bottles consider repaired bottles as "damaged," so this will tend to
(categories 4-5) may still retain much of their value despite lower the value somewhat, depending on the buyer. It is
damage, since the demand is relatively high and a better one may worthwhile buying a small black light (ultraviolet lamp) from a
never come along. In this book, you can see images of several stamp collectors’ shop, so that you can detect repairs that are
bottles that are only known by single, damaged examples. invisible to the naked eye, especially if you are putting out a lot
of money for a bottle. These lamps cost between $25-30, and
Truly mint bottles (that is bottles without the slightest bit of clearly reveal repairs as a white, ghostly sheen on the bottle.
damage) are hard to find and therefore, are more costly. "Mint"
means perfect: perfect transfer or imprint and no cracks, chips,
marks, scratches, or damage of any kind, however slight. "Near
mint" can have imperfections, but otherwise no damage beyond

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 5

Age

Throughout much of the 19th Century in Canada, pottery bottles
were commonly incised or impressed with a merchant’s name
and often other details such as place names, product names,
potter’s marks and even dates. Most of these primitive bottles
were made from durable stoneware, a vitrified pottery that was
typically salt-glazed. These heavy, often crude bottles came in a
wide variety of shapes and sizes, reflecting the fact that they
were hand-made by different potters.

It is difficult to say exactly when, but at some point in the 1890's, Ottawa's Drolet & Co. were one of a relative handful of bottlers
pottery bottles with ink transfers or stamps under the glaze began whose wares were used during the crossover period from incised
to rapidly replace the earlier incised type of bottles. Dating
bottles was a common practice in New Brunswick (though to transfer-printed bottles.
nowhere else in Canada). This practice helps to identify
approximately when this transformation occurred. Companies
like S.H. McKee of Fredericton, New Brunswick had dates put on
their bottles as early as the 1850s and continued to do so until
just prior to the First World War. S.H. McKee & Sons started
dating their bottles every year, in an unbroken chain from 1889 to
1913. The first transfer printed McKee bottles appear in 1894.
The Dolans of Saint John also used dated transfer printed bottles
and the earliest of these is from 1896. After a skipped year in
1897 (no bottles yet found with that date), dated Dolans can be
found all the way up to 1916. James Roué of Halifax was the only
Nova Scotia ginger beer manufacturer to use dated transfer
printed bottles; the earliest one is dated 1898. The last,
interestingly enough, is an incised bottle from 1903. Several
manufacturers used crossover bottles - the 1903 Roué and the
impressed Drolet from Ottawa are two excellent examples of

bottles that were used during the transfer-printed era, but for
some reason, were impressed.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 6

The dates of operation for a number of Canadian potteries that are
known to have made transfer printed bottles, also support the idea
that these bottles first appeared sometime in the 1890's:

• The Brantford Stoneware Manufacturing Co., Brantford, Ont.
(1894-1907);

• Glass Brothers & Co, London, Ont. (1888-1897); and
• James W. Foley & Company (1900-1940s).

By the late 1920s, cheaper glass and eventually plastic containers
had replaced pottery bottles altogether. Fortunately for collectors,
these pottery bottles were made to last and many have survived to
remind us of Canada’s pioneer past.

Some of Canada's newest crown-top gingers were made
as recently as the late 1920's and early 1930s.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 7

Prices - Values - Rarity

Valuing antique bottles is an extremely challenging task. Rare bottles may change hands once in a lifetime, making them very difficult
to price. Note that the prices shown are for near mint specimens. Bottles with damage will always sell for less.

Category Classification 2002 Price Range

1 Readily Available To $100
2 Available $100-250
3 Scarce $250-500
4 Rare
5 $500+
Extremely Rare $800+

Category 1 - A persistent collector should be able to acquire potters, or we suspect they were, and that makes them more
one at a reasonable price. valuable to some collectors. Good graphics or scarcity alone
might put a bottle in this category. Selling a bottle in this
Category 2 - These bottles are a bit more difficult to find and, category for full value will require a motivated seller and a
perhaps, are more likely to have nice graphics or interesting serious, knowledgeable buyer. If you have one of these
text. Again, a persistent collector should expect to find one of bottles, it would be a good idea to hold onto it, until you can find
these in time, with the price typically being a bit higher. out exactly what it is worth at a given time and place.

Category 3 - Bottles in this category are generally hard to Category 5 - These bottles are truly exceptional. The
come by, but there are still enough of them around to satisfy description of a Category 5 bottle will tell you why we think it
the demand. Serious collectors (who have been at it for some should be counted among the best and most valuable. The
time) will likely have these bottles. Many of these bottles have asking price and selling price will depend on the particular
great graphics or have a unique feature (like a blue top), which circumstances in which these bottles are sold. What you can
makes them attractive to more people, increasing the demand. get for one of these is anyone’s guess.

Category 4 - Demand is key here. These bottles are rare and,
accordingly, prices start to become a real matter of opinion.
Bottles in this category will seldom change hands, making them
difficult to price. Many of these bottles were made by Canadian

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 8

Bottle Makers and their Marks

Many transfer printed ginger beers are marked with the name of the agent who ordered them or the potter who made them.

Brantford Stoneware
Manufacturing Co.
The Brantford Stoneware
Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
may have manufactured quite a
number of the early Ontario
(and Canadian) ginger beer
bottles. Further information on
this Ontario firm appears at the
end of this section.

Buchan Portobello Doulton & Co
Buchan was a Scottish pottery, Doulton & Co., Lambeth,
located in Portobello, London was a well-known
Edinburgh. English pottery.

Glass Bros. & Co. Govancroft Glasgow
Glass Bros. & Co. was a Govancroft was a Scottish
London, Ontario based pottery. pottery, located in Glasgow.
Very few stamped bottles from
this pottery are known to exist.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 9

Kennedy
H. Kennedy ran the Barrowfield Pottery in Glasgow, Scotland.

Lovatt
An English Pottery located in Langley Mills, Nottinghamshire,
England.

Medalta
A number of Canadian ginger beers were made at the Medalta
potteries, including the MacDonald from North Bay, the Country
Club from BC and some of the Gurd's bottles.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 10

Munderloh & Co.

Despite previously published reports, Munderloh and Co. was
NOT a Canadian pottery! Munderloh was strictly an agent,
importing ginger beer bottles and selling them to Canadian soda
water bottlers.

Wilhelm Christian Munderloh was born in Oldenburg, Germany,
and immigrated to Canada in 1857. He quickly established
himself in the export market and it was on his initiative that the
Hansa Steamship Co. began regular voyages from Hamburg to
Montreal. Munderloh & Co. Importers were founded 1861.

Pollack Bros.

Pollack Bros. was another agent, NOT a Canadian pottery. They
had offices in Montreal and, briefly, Toronto.

Possil Pottery Powell Bristol
A Scottish pottery located in A pottery located in Bristol.
Glasgow. Green-top Gurds Later purchased by and
were made at Possil. became part of Price Powell &
Co.

Price Bristol Price Powell & Co., Bristol
A UK pottery. The number in Price, Powell & Co. dates after
the centre of the crest is the Price Bristol.
number assigned to the potter.
Potters were paid based on the
number of bottles with their
potter's stamp.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 11

R.C.P. Co. Akron O Stiff Lambeth
Tall, straight-sided quarts like A UK pottery.
the Tommy Burns were a
favourite of this pottery, located
in Akron, Ohio, USA.

Webster Smith & Co., Halifax
Webster Smith and Co. was another agent, importers of glass and
stoneware bottles who sold them to bottlers, primarily in Nova
Scotia.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 12

Lip Finishes

Blob Top - Type A Blob Top - Type B Collar Top Inside Thread

Blob Top— Lips of this style are round rather than square. The Collar Top—The Collar Top has roughly square sides and like
blob is one of the oldest styles of lip finish and was around well the blob took a variety of closures. This was another popular
before transfer printed ginger beers appeared on the scene. style that was in use through much of the late nineteenth and
The style was popular and persisted well into the early early twentieth centuries.
twentieth century. This type of lip would have typically taken
some kind of closure to keep the cork in under pressure. Inside Thread—This blob style of top is threaded and generally
Shown here are a couple of examples of closures that were took a wooden closure with a rubber gasket. This style of top
used on this style of lip. The first pictured is a very basic wire was quite common on the West Coast and appears on a
closure. The second is a kind of collar style lightning stopper number of East Coast bottles as well (such as the Dolan's of St.
secured by a band around the base of the lip. John). This style of closure is rare on bottles from the prairies,
Ontario and Quebec.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 13

Lightning Stopper Crown Top Blob Crown Top Collar Crown Top Ring

Standard Lightning Stopper—This collar style lightning last Canadian transfer printed ginger beers right up until the
stopper is fitted into holes in either side of the lip of the bottle. late 1920s.
This type of lightning closure appeared just prior to the turn of
the twentieth century and quickly became one of the most Crown Top Collar—This style of crown top has sharper more
popular lip finishes for transfer printed ginger beers in Canada. tapered sides than the blob style.
This type of lightning stopper was used almost exclusively on
bottles that were manufactured by English potters for the Crown Top Ring—This style of crown top is little more than a
Canadian market. ring on the neck.

Crown Top Blob—A new closure on an old lip. The crown top
blob has rounded sides. Crown top style closures appear
around the turn of the twentieth and were used on some of the

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 14

There are a few lip finishes/closures that bear special attention. These are:

The wire closure used on the The odd collar style inside
T.M. Pilgrim bottles from thread used on the bottles of
Brantford demonstrates another the Nelson Soda Factory and
popular form of wire closure. the Thorpe Company of Nelson,
B.C. demonstrate an odd style
of closure for a Canadian
ginger beer. It appears only on
these two manufacturers'
bottles from the same west
coast town.

The very odd double ring inside The blob top used on the
thread used on the Robillard Galtee More patent Donovan's
from Montreal demonstrates from Halifax is a very unusual
perhaps a one-of a kind closure stopper style for Canada.
type for Canada. These are the only two
Canadian bottles that use this
stopper. A spike went through
the single hole on the side.
Users were instructed to drop
the spike in the bottom of the
bottle when finished.

The odd wide Crown Top Blob The double ring collar tops
that appears on the Seth C. used by McIntyre & Townsend
Nutter from Sherbrooke PQ is of St. John NB - McIntyre &
unusual - perhaps another one- Townsend appear to have been
of a kind? the only Canadian
manufacturer to use this style
of lip finish.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 15

Canadian Made Transfer Printed Ginger Beers

The Brantford Stoneware Manufacturing Company, Brantford, Ontario

At least two styles (and several sizes) of Canadian transfer printed ginger beer bottles are known to The A.W. Brown from
have been produced by the Brantford Stoneware Manufacturing Company of Brantford, Ontario. This Brampton is an excellent
joint-stock company was established in 1894 and ceased production in 1907. The Brantford Potteries example of the Type I,
may have manufactured all the following styles before this particular company came into existence, Stovepipe style of bottle.
but this fact has not been confirmed.
16
The pint sized stovepipe style bottle (Type I) is typically found in a solid ivory or cream coloured glaze.
The glaze on many of the bottles we saw was cracked and does not appear to have stood up well to
burial. The collar top lip finish is small and quite distinctive. These bottles appear to have taken a
collar style of lightning stopper. This type of bottle was used by a number of Ontario manufacturers:

• J. Williams of Alliston;
• A.W. Brown of Brampton;
• Myles Bourke of Brockville; and
• James Crozier of Orangeville.
No bottles have yet been found with both the Brantford mark as well as the name of the ginger beer
manufacturer. Many of the James Crozier bottles, however, do have a Brantford marked stopper.
There are two tone bottles from Givans & Sons of Moncton, New Brunswick that appear to be of the
same manufacture (though no two-tone bottles have been found with the Brantford mark). Similarly,
there are a number of quart sized two-tone bottles from Manitoba (such as the Cleverly & Ferguson
as well as the A. Ferguson, both of Brandon) as well as two tone tall pints such as the F. Fralick and
F.P. Hinds of Orillia that could very well be Brantford bottles. However, none of these quarts or tall
pints has been found with the Brantford mark. Most of these bottles are quite rare.

The second style of Brantford squat bottle is quite similar to the stovepipe, but the collar lip is
generally broader and more tapered (Type II). The neck of this bottle is a bit shorter, with a gentler
curve to the shoulder, than the stovepipe. This bottle would take a collar type lightning stopper.
Unlike the stovepipe style, a quart-sized example of the squat bottle has been found with the
Brantford mark (see two bottles on previous page). The glaze colour and quality are the same as the
stovepipe. A number of Ontario manufacturers used this bottle, including J.T. Walsh of Barrie,

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com

This photo shows two rare, Brantford Stoneware marked Above left, the pint J.T. Walsh from Barrie shows off the Type II
Squat Shoulder Square Collar features, and above right, The
Type II Squat Shoulder Square Collar bottles. Notice the
glaze crackling that appears on many Brantford T.M. Pilgrim from Brantford displays all the characteristics of the
Type III, Square Shoulder Squat Collar style of bottle.
Stoneware bottles, for example the J.T. Walsh at right.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 17

Taylor & Pringle of Owen Sound (who also have a stove pipe colour and quality are consistent. The lip finish is similar to that
style), as well as John Vernor of Toronto. While two tone of the squat style of Brantford bottle and the colour and glaze
examples of this bottle are known, none of them are marked quality are consistent with Brantford bottles. The T.M. Pilgrim
Brantford. This style of bottle does not appear to have been Company of Brantford, Ontario and H. Day of Belleville,
used much outside of Ontario. These bottles are quite rare. Ontario, used the square shoulder bottle. These bottles are
particularly rare.
A third, square shoulder pint sized bottle looks to be a Brantford
product, but no marked examples have been found. The glaze

Type I Type II Type III
Stovepipe Style Bottle Square Shoulder Squat Collar Bottle Square Shoulder Squat Collar Bottle

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 18

Glass Brothers & Company, London,
Ontario

At least two styles of transfer printed ginger beer
bottles were made by Glass Brothers & Company of
London, Ontario. Glass Brothers & Company was in
business from 1888-1897. It is impossible to say
exactly when these bottles were made, but it is likely
that they were produced no earlier than the mid-1890s.
Only solid ivory coloured bottles have been found with
the Glass Brothers' mark. The glaze tends to be quite
clean and the pottery was well made, unlike the
Brantford Stoneware Manufacturing Co., Ltd. bottles.
These bottles were sealed with a collar style lightning
stopper.

A blob top round shoulder style of bottle has been
found with the Glass Brothers’ mark in both pint
(8¾”) and quart (10”) sizes (left hand bottle, this
page, and Type I closure, next page). The lip on this
bottle is a more or less standard blob style. Robert
Hill of Walkerton, Ontario used the pint size bottle,
and a few examples of Hill’s bottles have been found
with the Glass Brothers’ mark (see next page).
These Hill bottles are the only bottles we found that
have both the soda manufacturer’s name and the
pottery stamp. Examples of this bottle in quart size
appear to be scarce. The Tune & Son Company of
London, Ontario used this bottle in a quart size, but
we are not sure of any others.

A square shoulder style of bottle has also been Type I Type II
found with the Glass Brothers’ mark in both pint
(8¼”) and quart (9½”) sizes (Type II). The blob lip is
almost perfectly round and is a bit on the small side.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 19

Phillips & Company of Goderich, Ontario and Charles Wilson of Bothwell, Ontario bears a striking resemblance to the solid ivory
Toronto, Ontario appear to have used the pint sized bottle. No bottles. No quart sized solid cream bottles marked by a soda
two-tone examples have been found with the Glass Brothers’ manufacturer have been positively identified.
mark, but at least one two tone pint bottle used by J.F. Adkin of

Type I Stamp on reverse of Robert Hill, Type II
Round Shoulder Walkerton Bottle Square Shoulder

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 20

Foley Pottery, Saint John, New
Brunswick

A special thank you to Tom Doyle of Saint
John, New Brunswick who kindly shared both
his research and memories so we could give
you some information on the Foley Pottery
and the ginger beer bottles that were
produced there.

Poole & Foley App. 1880 - 1900

As a manufacturer, this was a first business
venture for James W. Foley, an experienced
Saint John potter, and Samuel Poole, a
trained potter who had previously been
working in Nova Scotia. Advertisements
indicated they were producing mainly the
essential items of the time but there was no
mention of bottles. I have yet to see or hear
of a stamped piece from this firm. This
partnership was dissolved about 1900 after
which they operated individual potteries.
Some time later the Poole Pottery was lost to
fire and not replaced. Again, no stamped
material was identified through this short
venture.

Right: Two New Brunswick bottles known
to have been manufactured by James W.

Foley & Co.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 21

James W. Foley & Co. 1900 - 1940's

James W. continued the business along with his son Fenwick D. Foley as Manager. From
this pottery there were numerous churns, crocks, jugs in all sizes that had the above name
incised at the base. The later stamp was of a cobalt blue transfer, glazed over. The pottery
had great success with smaller items such as bean crocks, teapots, flower vases, souvenir
items etc. This location on the Loch Loman road was lost to fire in the mid-1940's but was
relocated to Bayside Drive at a later date.

Let us now move ahead to Dec. 1969 when the Saint John Bottle Collectors' Club members
were meeting and the topic was stoneware bottles and had the Foley pottery produced
any? About mid-Summer of 1970, club president Stephen Pestano arranged a meeting with
Mr. Fenwick Foley who at that time was 85 years of age and very alert. From the material
that Stephen had with him Mr. Foley identified the following three bottles as having been
manufactured at his father's pottery at around 1903:

• D. J. Britt, Brussels St.
• W. B. Daley, Brussels St.
• T. A. Hooley, Fairville.

Tom E. Doyle

Right: Bottle known to have been made
at the Foley Pottery in Saint John, N.B.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 22

Medalta Potteries Limited, Medicine Hat,
Alberta

A number of Canadian transfer printed ginger beers are
known to have been manufactured by the Medalta Potteries
Limited of Medicine Hat, Alberta. The Medalta Potteries Ltd.
was in operation from 1924-54. At least two kinds of ink
stamps were used by this company and appear on the base
of the bottle. A page from the 1924 Medalta Potteries Ltd.
catalogue (right) pictures four different ginger beer bottles.
Three blob crown two tone bottles are shown. Two of these
are clearly a Gurd’s and a King’s Old Country however, the
drawings are such that it is difficult to tell which particular
variants are represented. The third crown top bottle pictured
is one we cannot identify with any certainty, though it may be
a variation of the Phillips from Calgary, Alberta. The two city
(Edmonton & Toronto) blob inside thread two-tone
McLaughlin bottle is also illustrated in the catalogue and
confirms that the Medalta Potteries Ltd. used at least two
styles of lip finish.

Many of the Medalta Potteries Ltd. ginger beers were
unmarked, which makes them difficult to attribute to a
manufacturer. We found only one example of a blob
crown two tone pint, MacDonald & Son of North Bay,
Ontario with the circular text-only Medalta stamp on the
base (at near right). The neck on this bottle is a
distinctive reddish brown. George Chopping’s Bottles of
the Canadian Prairies lists only one marked Medalta
bottle - a King’s Old Country Limited dark brown top
blob crown pint from Winnipeg, Manitoba base-marked
with the maple leaf trade mark (at far right). We did not
see any King’s Old Country bottles marked in this way,
but have included the best photo we were able to get of
the same type of bottle, the rare variant with both
Manitoba and Saskatchewan branches listed.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 23

It is interesting to speculate how many Canadian
ginger beers may have been made by the Medalta
Potteries Ltd. It is not inconceivable that many of
the unmarked inside thread ginger beers from
British Columbia could be Medalta products.
Likewise, there are many crown top bottles that
could have been made there. The Medalta
Potteries Ltd. clearly used at least four colours of
glaze: reddish brown, tan, dark brown and cream.
It is possible that the Medalta Potteries Ltd. may
have made a number of the rainbow multi-coloured
Gurd’s bottles, since they clearly made at least
some bottles for this company. Also, the Medalta
Potteries Ltd. was preceded by the Medalta
Stoneware Company, which operated from 1915-
24. No ginger beer bottles have yet been found
with this particular company’s stamp, but it is likely
that this pottery made this type of bottle.

For more information on the potteries of Medicine
Hat, Alberta we recommend you visit the web site:
www.medalta.org. There you will find some
interesting historical tidbits as well as the promise of
a future pictorial database.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 24

Canadian Made?

There are two styles of transfer printed ginger beer
bottles that we have come across which would seem
to be Canadian made, but for which we have no
solid proof. All known examples of these two styles
of bottles were used by Ontario ginger beer
manufacturers.

The first of these is a pint sized (6¾”) squatty
bottle with a very distinctive bulbous shape. These
bottles took a collar style lightning stopper. These
bottles are known in both ivory and two-tone
variants. Solid cream examples of this bottle were
used by: Challand & Jenks, Hamilton; J. Cordery,
London; John Murray, London; and the Niagara
Falls Bottling Works, Niagara Falls. Two tone
bottles were used by John Murray, London and
H.J. Matthews, Tillsonburg. These bottles appear
to have been used primarily by soda
manufacturers in Southwestern, Ontario. The lip
finish of these bottles is similar, albeit more crude,
to the round blob lip finish of the square shoulder
variety of Glass Brothers ginger beers from
London, Ontario. The glazes on the two-tone
ginger beers are also remarkably similar to ones
used on merchant jugs marked by the Glass
Brothers Company. These pint sized squatty
bottles may very well have been Glass Brothers'
products. These bottles are quite rare.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 25

The second bottle style we have found that we think
might be Canadian is a gently tapered pint sized
(7½”) bottle with a relatively large, somewhat
squared blob type lip. These bottles would appear to
have taken a collar style lightning closure, though we
only saw one with a stopper. Some of these bottles
are incised on the base, but these marks are poor
and impossible to make out. Only a few companies
are known to have used this style of bottle. William
Atkinson of Guelph and Eugene Mirault of Ottawa
used both ivory and two tone bottles. Another
Ottawa ginger beer manufacturer, H. Christin, used
only the two-tone variety. These Ontario bottles are
extremely rare. It is possible that the Brantford
Stoneware Manufacturing Company made these
bottles.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 26

Fakes www.canadianbottles.com 27

By Robert Sturrock

Yes, they are out there – fake Canadian
ginger beer bottles. Call them what you
want: “Repros”, “Phonies”, “Frauds”,
“Fakes”, “Door-Stoppers”, or “Tourist
Souvenirs”. The bottom-line is fraud and
it hurts the collecting hobby. So far, we
know that there are currently five
different examples of fake Canadian
ginger beers – representing four early
Quebec proprietors. They are:

• P.A. Milloy, Montreal
• Elz. Fortier & Cie., Quebec
• C. Robillard & Cie, Montreal (two

variants, see right)
• M. Timmons & Son, Quebec, P.Q.

(see right)

So how do you tell the difference
between an authentic ginger beer and a
fake ginger beer? It is simple; the latter is
made out of lightweight ceramic pottery,
whereas the real thing is made of heavy
stoneware. From a distance, fake ginger
beers look like the real thing; some even
have crazing. But until you get one in
your hands for a closer examination you
will not know the difference. Here is an
easy five-point test so you do not get
fooled out there and you know what to
look for.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada

Five-Point Test to Determine a Fake Ginger Beer

1. The bottle is very light in weight. Real ginger beers are
heavy.

2. The bottle often has two visible mold seam marks running
up both sides of its body (see image at right), from the base
to the neck, indicating that it was cast in a mold (real ginger
beers seldom - but NOT never - have mold seams). If you
see seams and are concerned, refer back to point 1 - heavy
bottles are real bottles.

3. The bottle has no pottery stamp. Real ginger beers often
(but NOT always) have pottery stamps.

4. The bottle does not feel "solid" and is made out of a thin
ceramic (see lip images on the next page. Real ginger beers
are solid and made out of stoneware or earthenware pottery
that is thick and heavy.

5. The bottle’s transfer print is near perfect (10 out of 10).
Transfer prints on real ginger beers vary, some look pretty
good, while others are smudged, runny and faded.

Not Me

Who me, I can’t be fooled! Guess again, even the well
seasoned, experienced collector (I won’t mention any names)
has been fooled, and guess where: Internet-based auctions. At
Internet auction sites, “a picture or PIC is worth a 1000 words,”
especially when the seller’s item advertisement only states: “old
advertising ginger beer, excellent condition, buyer pays
shipping.” It is pretty tough to tell from a single PIC whether a
ginger beer is real. If you are interested in the ginger beer bottle
that you may be skeptical about, email the seller and ask
questions pertaining to the five-point test. This way you can
avoid receiving a light parcel in the mail that will make you
extremely perturbed. And, in turn, you will save yourself from
wasting time and money, and sending hastily written emails.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 28

Prevention First, the key is to stop whoever is making these fake ginger
How can we prevent the illegal manufacturing of fake Canadian beers by getting them out of business so don’t support them.
ginger beers? I did point out that we know of five examples of
fakes but who is to say that there won't be more fake examples Second, do not buy fakes because they do not mix with a nice
turning up in the near future at flea markets, antique stores, collection of early stoneware ginger beers on your display shelf.
online auctions, estate sales, collectible shows and so on?
What are the next potential examples: J.J. McLaughlin, James Finally, when you spot a fake, keep your collector buddies in
Roue, Blackwoods? The illegal manufacturer of these ginger the loop so they are informed and mistakes are prevented. Who
beers in order to sell them as the real thing (i.e., representing knows, maybe we can catch whoever is making these bottles
them as early original authentic bottles) is a criminal offence. before better fakes start reaching the market.

Note the very thin lips on these bottles - blobs
should be very solid, not hollow, as these are.

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 29

CLEANING POTTERY BOTTLES though we would hesitate to use this process on a valuable
primitive (early) bottle. Practice before you try it on your
There are still a great many collectors who search and toil in best bottle!
dirt and mud for old bottles. Often these bottles are found badly
stained or rust covered. Every digger has their own method for 3. If the glaze is cracked (often all over) dirt will seep into the
cleaning bottles and there is no substitute for good old trial and cracks and stain the bottle. If you think the stain is dirt
error. Here are our recommendations. Use them AT YOUR rather than rust, it can be cleaned with a soak in highly
OWN RISK: concentrated peroxide. This requires stronger peroxide than
is available at your local pharmacy. You will need to buy 50
1. Start with a soak in ordinary soapy water overnight. Scrub Volume peroxide. Find a barber's supply company or be
the soaked bottle with a plastic scrub pad. Do not use nice to your barber and ask him to get it for you. Follow the
steel wool to clean pottery bottles as it can scratch the instructions for safe use of peroxide carefully! This
glaze! strength of peroxide evaporates quickly, so you will need to
keep buying it. Pour undiluted peroxide into a tray deep
2. If the bottle has stubborn rust or calcium deposits, soak it in enough to cover the bottle completely. Leave the bottle to
a mixture of muriatic acid and water (half and half) for 1-2 soak for 1-2 days maximum. Rinse and scrub it with a
days maximum. Follow the instructions for safe use of plastic scrub pad. Bake the bottle on an old cookie sheet in
muriatic acid carefully! It will burn you badly! It will the oven overnight at the lowest possible setting (at the
also burn holes in almost anything (concrete floor, point where it just clicks on). This forces the moisture from
asphalt garage floor, etc.) Rinse and scrub it with a plastic the bottle and the stain and peroxide along with it. Often the
scrub pad. Bake the bottle on an old cookie sheet in the stain will come out and stick to the glaze in a fine powder.
oven overnight at the lowest possible setting (at the point Let the bottle fully cool to room temperature and then wash
where it just clicks on). This forces the moisture from the it in soapy water. Warning: some glazes are sensitive to
bottle and the rust and acid along with it. Often the stain will highly concentrated peroxide and can be damaged by
come out and stick to the glaze in a fine powder. Let the it! This process works incredibly well and has been used
bottle fully cool to room temperature and then wash it in successfully on not just ginger beers, but fine bone china.
soapy water. Warning: some glazes are sensitive to Practice before you try it on your best bottle!
muriatic acid and can be damaged by it! We have seen
the glaze on cheap pottery inkwells literally get washed off
by it! Generally, ginger beer bottles can handle the acid,

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 30

British Columbia

Note to Collectors of British Columbia Bottles:

If you are wondering "what happened to bottle x" from British Columbia, there are 15 B.C. bottles listed in Primitive Stoneware
Bottles of Canada. They are listed in the other book because they are debossed. These bottles come from manufacturers including:

Colwood Hygienic Mineral Water Works, Colwood (1 bottle)
Louis Lawrence, Nanaimo (1 bottle)
Thorpe & Co., Vancouver (2 bottles)
Phillips, Victoria (2 bottles)
Victoria Brewery, Victoria (5 bottles)
L&G, Victoria (1 bottle)
A. Astrico, Victoria (1 bottle)
Bavaria Brewery, Victoria (1 bottle)
R.L & Co, Victoria (1 bottle)

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 31

Colwood

BC-1 Colwood Hygienic Mineral Water Works

"Colwood. B.C. / Hygienic / Mineral Water / Works"

Description: Internal thread tan pint.
Height:
Potter/Agent:
Category: 4

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 32

Kamloops

BC-2 Dobson & Caldicott

"Dobson & Caldicott / Kamloops, B.C."

Description: Crown top tan pint.
Height:
Potter/Agent:
Category: 4 {for a near mint bottle}

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 33

Kelowna

BC-3 Kelowna Canning Co.

"Return / To / Kelowna / Canning Co. / Kelowna"

Description: Internal thread tan pint.
Height:
Potter/Agent:
Category: 3

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 34

Nelson Nelson Soda Water Factory

BC-4

"Nelson Soda / Stone / Ginger / Beer / Factory"

Description: Unusual shaped small quart, internal thread,
tan glaze.
Height: 8 3/4"
Potter/Agent: Munderloh & Co., Montreal
Category: 4

BC-5 Nelson Soda Water Factory

"The Nelson / Soda / Water / Factory / Nelson, B.C."

Description: Tall pint, internal thread medium tan glaze.
Height: 9 1/2"
Potter/Agent: Barnett & Foster, London
Category: 4

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 35

Nelson…continued

BC-6 Nelson Soda Water Factory

"Nelson Soda Water Factory / Old / Fashioned /
English Brewed / Ginger / Beer"

Description: White internal thread pint.
Height:
Potter/Agent:
Category: 4

BC-7 Thorpe & Co. Ltd.

"Thorpe & Co Ltd / Thorpe's / Old English / Ginger
Beer / Nelson"

Description: Medium tan top internal thread tall pint.
Height:
Potter/Agent:
Category: 4

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 36

Nelson…continued

BC-8 Thorpe & Co. Ltd.

"Thorpe & Co. Ltd. / Thorpe's / Old English / Ginger Beer / Nelson"

Description: Internal thread tan large pint.
Height: 9 1/4"
Potter/Agent: Lovatt & Lovatt, Langley Mills
Category: 4

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 37

New Westminster

BC-9 B.C. Bottling Works

"B.C. Bottling Works / Trade B.C. Mark / Regd / New
Westminster, B.C."

Description Internal thread tan slip over ivory pint.
Height: 6 3/4"
Potter/Agent: Barnett & Foster, London
Category: 3

BC-10 B.C. Bottling Works

"B.C. Bottling Works / Trade B.C. Mark / Regd / New
Westminster, B.C."

Description Internal thread tan pint.
Height: 6 3/4"
Potter/Agent: Barnett & Foster, London
Category: 3

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 38

New Westminster…continued

BC-11 Joseph Henley

"Jos. Henley / New Westminster, B.C."

Description: "Straight H" Inside thread ivory pint.
Height:
Potter/Agent: Munderloh & Co, Montreal.
Category: 2

BC-12 Joseph Henley

"Jos. Henley / New Westminster, B.C."

Description: "Sloping H" Inside thread ivory pint.
Height:
Potter/Agent: Bourne, Denby.
Category: 2

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 39

Vancouver

BC-13 Calley & Co.

"Calley & Co / Vancouver, B.C."

Description: Tan top internal thread pint.
Height: 6.75"
Potter/Agent: Barnett & Foster
Category: 3

BC-14 Country Club Beverage Company

"Country - Club / Stone Ginger / Beer / Beverage
Company / Vancouver, B.C. / 10 Oz."

Description: Tan top crown pint.
Height: 8 1/4"
Potter/Agent: No mark - possibly Medalta.
Category: 1

Transfer Printed Ginger Beers of Canada www.canadianbottles.com 40