CUTTER LOOK-A-LIKES T40 - T41 - T42

Fooling around here with the three related Cutter bottles that collectors sometimes get mixed up on. The commentary that came up on the (pre 75 gang) post got into the dates of usage of these bottles. I am not sure when they were used exactly, but we can probably get a good idea from the digging experience that our readers bring to the blog. The O.K. and A No 1 trade marks are registered with the state of California in late 1881. These bottles are in use before that date, and the O.K. Cutter long after that date. When was the beginning for the BIRD Cutter? As early as Dec. 1873 according to Thomas. I don't think they started that early, but I can't prove it positively. I have found them in towns that were at their peak in 1876-1882 time frame. What does the bird stand for? Is it in reference to the #1 grade of Cutter whiskey? Unfortunately no trade mark information is available for these bottles from the mid '70's. As 'Old Cutters' has mentioned, the archives has seen its share of interesting items disappear over the years. I want to think that there is some documentation on all three of these bottles from the mid '70s. It is not available currently, if it ever existed.

Did the O.K. Cutter(t-41) replace the Bird Cutter(t-42)? They both have the similar phrase "Cutter OK Whiskey" or "A.P. Hotaling's O.K. Cutter Whiskey" on the reverse in different patterns.

The A No 1 Cutter(t-40) is the oddball. Sure seems redundant, with all the Circle Cutters that say A No. 1 on the reverse.

Here are some picts. to check out and compare these 3 bottles.

A no 1(t-40) and Bird(t-42) from my collection.

O.K. Cutter(t-41) Aaron Hill collection.

I don't know what the bird signifies.

Probably something to do with the #1 grade of Cutter whiskey -- the O.K. Whiskey.

Here is the O.K Cutter(t-41) from Auction #47 - American Bottle Auctions. A nice example with very strong embossing. Notice how heavy the "slug"area is around the crown. I have seen some that the "slug" area is even more defined.

A No 1 Cutter - usually found in lighter amber shades and whittled. Time of usage - possibly 1876-1878 or so. ?? Later??

O.K. Cutter - Aaron's is one of the nicer examples that I have seen of the O.K. Lighter yellow amber, whittled and full of swirls.

Check out the "slug area" on this one, not nearly as pronounced. This particular O.K. has the look of the A No 1's . Did the O.K. and the A no 1 come on the scene at the same time, with the A no 1 being dropped quickly. Redundant bottle. ??

Everything is the same as the O.K., except the lettering A No 1. They are two separate molds however, the lettering slightly different.

The A No 1 crown is "slugged on", but you have to look to look close to see it. I am not sure about these marks around the crowns. A No 1's lightly "slugged", O.K.'s "heavier slug", some very heavy.

Here is the ultimate O.K. submitted by 'A.P.Hotaling'. Certainly the best color I have ever seen in one. I have seen Bird Cutters in a similar coloration, but I have not seen the A No 1 in a color like this. They seem to be in a narrower band of lighter amber to yellowish amber.

Here compared to the typical O.K..

Snowflake letterhead

This Hall, & Luhrs Co billhead shows the vignette of the famous trotter "Snowflake, after which the whiskey was named, and is dated 9 Feb 1897, nearly 14 years after the brand was trademarked and bottles first offered. By that late date the slug plate embossed bottles we know and appreciate were long a thing of the past and a more standardized Hall, Luhrs & Co fifth was used.

Tooled top fifths

Not all valuable whiskies wear an applied top. There are a few "toolies" that appeal to "advanced collectors", as J.T. liked to call some hunter/gatherers of our particular bent. The "picture" theme continued to advance as the years wore on, with various subjects in evidence. A Sacramento dealer, George E. Dierssen, advertised himself as "sole agent" for Buffalo Old Bourbon whiskey, along with promoting other wines and liquors. To date, I have not found a Kentucky distillery in Bourbon County that made this product. Was it merely a takeoff on the immensely popular beers brewed by another local concern, Buffalo Brewing Co's New Brew and Bohemian Lagers? The bottles did have a very similar Buffalo embossed on them. Oh well, that was way back in them days, so "takeoffs" were often tolerated, especially when they contained dissimilar beverages. Some of us are thankful for that. I have been fortunate to have dug several amber Buffalos and a dozen plus clear, applied and tooled ones. Thanks to another "advanced collector" also have the only piece of advertising known to have survived from Dierssen's enterprises.

Another Cutter container

This one is really off topic, what with it not even being close to globby, but it is kinda neat. How many wicker covered flasks with "name tags" have y'all seen? The little "tag" is nickel plated brass.

The Davy Crocket Saloon, with Isaac Marks as the proprietor, was located at 842 Market St for a bit over 2 yrs, 1901-03. In 1904 it had moved to 620 Turk St, and Marks had returned to his partnership with Adler.

WHISKEY NEWS

May has come and gone and I didn't add anything to my collection, how about you? Nothing for sale on ebay, I mean NOTHING! The S.T. Suits, sixth in yellow amber with a slight olive tone sold for $552.77. It was a better than avg. example. Same seller had an eastern Blakes, Adams-Taylor for sale, but I didn't see the closing price on it. That is all that I noticed for the entire month. Grim! Lance, how did you do on the extra Crown Shoulder Hotaling you had for sale?


Maybe June will be better for us globby enthusiasts, a couple of shows this month. San Diego Show on June 13th, and the Oregon Bottle Collectors Summer Show in Aurora, Oregon on June 12th and 13th. If you need directions or contacts, shoot me an email and I will get right back to you, or click on the Federation link and check out show dates.


I browsed through the Glassworks Auction preview, not usually a place for western globs, but sometimes for western bitters. Three Hostetter's lots was about the extent of western glass in there.

(** Note: Just received Bruce Silva's most recent list of whiskey bottles for sale - June 09. A number of globs on the list. If you don't have his email address or phone number, send me an email soleagent@aol.com and and I will pass it along. He will get you on the mailing list. If I was a bit more computer savvy maybe I could just link to his Word document. )

So, I guess y'all need to get out and dig up something if you want to add anything... take a cue from the "Moleman". Anyone else want to fess up and tell us what they have found this year?

I made a trip north of Elko, Nv in mid May. Blake and I thought we would try the area north of Tusky town, you know, the town where a broken Club House was supposedly found by some one's -brother's-son-in-law's-dad's- best friend's uncle. Thomas makes mention of this rumored find in his book. Rumors, rumors, I been suckered into Cornucopia a couple of times. It had been a quite a few years, a new book on Nevada ghost towns was the latest "magnet". New information, a couple of new photos, ... great let's go!! Sure, by the way, did we neglect to tell you that a real recent mining operation pretty well leveled and obliterated whatever was left of 'ol Corny. And they're worried about a few bottle diggers. We could hardly find a shard of glass, let alone a place to dig.



Cornucopia - horn of plenty, fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants ... Garden of Eden-ish.... well gents - the Serpent has taken over the garden:

Sacramento Sluggers

I tried to put this in sole agent's "Slug me, I'm an idiot" post, but, for the life of me, I couldn't get it to work. Bottles come and bottles go, but I have steadfastly retained possession of these three Sacramento whiskies. Although none are of the much sought after non-air vented type, they are nevertheless rare in their own rite. The Snowflake on the left is the only one that I have personally dug. It, and two others, came from a sidewalk hugging pit in "Grangeville", an area known to produce some of the finest and rarest fifths and flasks. The Hahn was dragged from deep within the"dark hole" of a now deceased collector from along the North Coast, and the Kirk was "silver picked" from the shelves of our very own aph.

Recent Finds

Pictured at the left are three whiskies recently dug in the Northern California Gold County by "Moleman".

All three of these bottle were recovered from the same pit.

From left to right:

Circle Cutter (T44a) two piece mold with A NO 1 on reverse in medium amber.

Pint size knife edge flask in clear glass.

And the topper; a Pioneer Bear (Fenkhausen & Braunschweiger T4) in light yellow amber. The bear has some nice whittle and a super applied top.

As you can see all three bottles have just been washed with soap & water and are in original dug condition.

Great dig "Moleman"!!!