Posted 13 years ago
cocacolaki…
(132 items)
This is a Very Rare and Unusual Coca-Cola hobbleskirt bottle, it is BIM (blown in mold) instead of ABM (automatic bottle machine-made). The history is that this bottle was made by the Laurens Glass Works (the base of the bottle has L. G. W. - 17 marked) in Laurens, S.C. They did not switch to Owen's Automatic Bottle Making machine until late 1918, which before, every bottle was made under glass being blown into mold techniques. So I probably date this to around 1916-1917. Laurens Glass Works made alot of bottles for southern bottlers 1910-1930's, they were actually a very sucessful company, they lasted until 1996. This particular one was made for the Tampa Coca-Cola Bottling Company. I Have a diagram if you don't believe me that it is hand blown. BIM bottles are classified as the mold line being stopped just before the lip of the bottle from tool marks, because every tip was tooled by hand. Automaticly made bottles have the mold line going through the base to to tip top, and usually having a faint ring around the top. I got this 2 years ago so enjoy, I think it was a very nice addition to my coca-cola bottle collection.
Nice cck97! Love those old blue ones. The early bottling history/process is a fascinating part of the Coca-Cola story. I'm afraid to start with the bottles. Though I do have a perfect spot for a couple... three... or four... ; )
I have one like this, it appear's to have the mold line and the tool mark as well, but doesn't have the LGW....On the bottom however it has Spartanburg, S.C. being that I am from Spartanburg I really flipped to find this one, I also Have one that has Gaffney, S.C. which is the town that my husband is from....Would you happen to know if these weren't made in Laurens, what mark should I look for?
This is indeed a Laurens mouth-blown bottle. (I happen to have several, and they are among my favorites!) It dates from 1917-1919, when Laurens finally got the machine. However, I have never seen or heard of one with the "LGW" marking, much less a date "17". It is possible there is an "LGW" mark with the date "19", although I have not seen one. (I do have 2 machine made bottles with that date.) But I have never seen or heard of a mouth blown bottle with any date. Please check it! Maybe a good photo would convince me I'm wrong!
Very cool cck97, you're getting quite indepth with your collecting bro!
The pic shows clearly LGW 19. That is the earliest dated Laurens Coke bottle. The dated Tampa is indeed much rarer than the earlier undated one, or the later ABM.