On June 1, 1897 William A. Williamson was granted U.S. Patent #583,561 for his invention of a corkscrew which is concealed inside a small bottle or bullet shape. The ends thread together and when unscrewed, a helix pivots at an angle to the base. The two pieces are then screwed back together to form the handle. Advertising plaques were applied to the bottles. On September 4, 1900 Ralph W. Jorres was granted U.S. Patent #657,421 for his version of this corkscrew. Jorres atttached the helix to the top of the bottle instead of the base. Some of the Williamson bottles had stanhopes (magnifiers) in the top. When held up to the light a photo can be seen through the viewing hole. These are noted in the table below. Unfortunately, the photo was delicate and finding one complete is rare. The table below contains known advertising plates with shapes and sizes shown. If the corkscrew is a bullet shape, an * appears in the Plate column before the V (vertical) or H (horizontal) plate designation. In the column marked "C/S", B or T denotes whether the worm is in the top or the base. Variations in patent data on the base bottom have not been considered in this list. |
Brand | Advertising | C/S | Plate *=Bullet shape | Stanhope |
Abbott | G. W. Abbott & Co., Baltimore, Md., Manufacturers the Original Angostura Bitters | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Adolff | Monogram Pure Rye Whiskey, Chas. A. Adolff, Buffalo, N.Y. | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
American Liquor | Compliments of American Liquor Co., 57 E Park St, Butte, Montana | B | ||
Anderson | Compliments of Anderson & Co., Bluebonnet Whiskey, Waco, Texas | T | *V 1 1/8" | |
Anderson | Anderson Distillery Company, Louisville, Kentucky, Hand Made Sour Mash Fire Copper Whiskey | B | V 1 1/8" | Yes - No Pic |
Anheuser Busch | Anheuser Busch Malt Nutrine | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Anheuser Busch | Anheuser Busch (Spread Wing Eagle) | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Anheuser Busch | Anheuser Busch (Closed Wing Eagle) | T | ||
Anheuser Busch | Anheuser Busch (Closed Wing Eagle) | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Arata | S.A.Arata & Co. Wholesale Liquors, 104 3rd. St. , Portland, Ore. | T | *V 1 1/8" | |
Arata | S.A.Arata & Co. Wholesale Liquors, 104 3rd. St., Portland. Ore. | B | V 1 1/8" | Yes - No pic |
Arlington | Hotel Arlington, G. J. Burg Prop., 31st St. & Penn Ave., Pittsburg, Pa, Phone Fisk 228-2 | B | V 1 1/8" | |
B&B | B & B (Bluthenthal & Bickart) Distillers, Atlanta, Ga., "Four Aces" Whiskey | B | V 1 1/8" | |
Barney | Compliments of Barney 1899 | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Bauer | Drink Bauer Kidney Gin, A. Bauer & Co., Chicago | B | V 7/8" | Yes - No Mag |
Bennet's | Bennet's Catawba Valley Old Corn Whiskey, Gate & Bennett Sole Props., Knoxville, Tenn. | B | H | No |
Berges | J. B. Berges, O. K. Whiskey, Bakersfield, Ca. | B | V 7/8" | No |
Bluthenthal | Bluthenthal & Bickert, B & B Distillers, Atlanta, Ga., Four Aces Whiskey | B | V 1 1/8" | |
Bohemian | Bohemian Brewing, Chicago | B | V 7/8" | Yes - No Mag |
Bronson | Compliments of A. Bronson, Liquor & Cigars, 823 2nd Ave., Seattle | T | V 1 1/8" | |
Brotherhood | Emerson's Old "5X" Rye, Brotherhood Wine Co., New York | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Brotherhood | Emerson's Old "5X" Rye, Brotherhood Wine Co., New York | T | H 1 1/8" | No |
Brown Forman | Old Forester Whisky, Brown Forman & Co., Louisville, Ky. | B | V 7/8" | Yes - No Mag |
Brown Forman | Old Forester Whisky, Brown Forman & Co., Louisville, Ky. | T | *V 1 1/8" | No |
Buffalo | Buffalo Co-operative Brewing Co., Extra 6 Special Brew | B | V 7/8" | Yes - No Pic |
Burns | Burns & O'Donohue Agts. Call for Kentucky Whiskey, Bangor, Me. | B | H | No |
Cape Brewery | Cape Brewery and Ice Co., Cape Girardeau, Mo., | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Carta Blanca | Carta Blanca, Cerveceria Cuauhtemol S. A. Exquisita Monterrey, N. L. Pilsener Mexicana | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Churchill | Churchill's Rye | |||
Columbian | Columbian Souvenir (Pic of Christopher Columbus - Full body) | B | Oval 1 1/8" | No |
Columbian | Columbian Souvenir (Pic of Christopher Columbus - Bust Only) | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Columbus | Columbus, Ohio - state capitol souvenir plate | B | V 1 1/8" Shield | No |
Crooked | Crooked but he's got pull (Devil) | B | V 1 1/8" | |
Cunninghams | Compliments of Cunninghams & Co., Ltd., Pittsburgh, Pa, Glass Bottle Mf'rs | B | V 7/8" | No |
Daleiden | Old Harper Whiskey, Compliments of P. Daleiden, Chicago | T | V 1 1/8" | |
Daleiden | Old Harper Whiskey, Compliments of P. Daleiden, Chicago | B | V 7/8" | |
Dallemand | Dallemand & Co., Cream Pure Rye- Chicago | |||
Delaney | Compliments of D. J. Delaney, 35 Adam St. Chicago | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Dewar | John Dewar & Sons (Distillers) Ltd., Old Highland Whisky, Perth, N.B. & London | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Dewar | John Dewar & Sons (Distillers) Ltd., Old Highland Whisky, Perth, N.B. & London | B | H 1 3/16" | No |
Dewar | John Dewar & Sons (Distillers) Ltd., Old Highland Whisky, Perth, N.B. & London | B | V 1 3/16" | No |
Dewar | Dewars Whisky, White Label, Finest Highland Whiskey John Dewar & Sons Distillers Scotland | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Dewar | White Label | B | V 1 1/8" | |
Dewar | White Label Whisky | B | V 1 1/8" embossed | |
Dewar | Imperial Whisky | B | Embossed | No |
Eastern | Eastern Liquor Co., Portland, Ore | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Eisner | H & A Eisner, 94 Market St. Newark, N.J. | B | ||
Eldredge | Compliments Eldredge Brewing Co., Ale, Lager Beer, Brewers, Portsmouth, N.H. | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Eliston | Eliston Brand Whiskey, Eliston Distilling Co., Cincinnati, Ohio | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Five Oak | Five Oak Rye | B | ||
Flynn | J. J. Flynn & Co., Carbonated Waters, Quincy, ILL. | B | V 1 1/8' | No |
Foshay | W. B. Foshay Bottling Works, Penn Yan, N. Y., Fine Sodas Etc. | H 1 1/8" | ||
Friday | Wm. J. Friday & Co., 630 Smithfield St., Pittsburg, Pa. | T | * | |
Frisch | Compliments of Frisch & Co., 346 East Water Street, Milwaukee Wis., Established 1869 | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Gates | Gates & Bennet, Catawba Valley Old Corn Whiskey | |||
Gerisch | Louis Gerisch, 1873 Pure Old Maryland Cabinet Rye | B | V 7/8" | |
Goff | Goff & Co., El Tropico (Cigar) Louisville, Ky. | Cigar | ||
Golden Gate | Golden Gate International Exposition | T | *V 1 1/8" Shield | No |
Grahams | Grahams, 330 & 332 4th Ave., Pittsburg | B | ||
Grain Belt | Grain Belt Supply Co., South Omaha, Nebraska | T | *V 1 1/8" | No |
Greil | B. S. Greil & Co., Wholesale Liquors, Montgomery, Ala. | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Gunshole | Compliments of Straus Gunshole, Maryland Rye, Richmond, Va. | B | ||
Habich | Bottled by C. Habich & Co., Indianapolis, C. Maus Topaz | B | V 7/8" | Yes - No Pic |
Hamburger | The Hamburger Co's, Hoffman House, Pure Rye, Chicago | B | V 7/8" | No |
Hanks | J. B. Hanks Wrecking | B | V 1 1/8" | |
Harp | Harp Lager | |||
Hays | L. J. Hays, Sweet Briar Whiskey, Toledo, O. | B | V - Oval | No |
Hicks | Jacob E. Hicks, Wholesale Liquor Dealer, 507 Dickson St., Homestead, Pa. | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Hochstadter | Hochstadter's Leipziger Burgunder Wein Bitters The Hochstadter's Co. New York | T | V 7/8" | No |
Home | For a pure beer drink Home Brewing Co's Imperial Pale Bottle Beer St. Louis | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Indiana | Indiana Brewing Co., New Albany, Ind., Export and Lager Table Beer | B | V 7/8" | Yes - No Mag |
Indianapolis | Indianapolis Brewing Co., Indianapolis, Ind., U.S.A., Tonica | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Jackson | Drink Jackson's Napa Soda | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Jewett | Jewett, Bigelow & Brooks Coal, Detroit, Mich. | T | *V 1 1/8" | |
Joliet | Joliet Bottling Co., Joliet, Ills. | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Jones | Simeon Jones Ltd., St. John, N.B., XXX Ale & Porter | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Kellenberger | Columbine Pure Rye, John Kellenberger, Sole Owner, Durango, Col. & Chicago, Ill. | B | V 1 1/8" | |
Keller | Keller & Horting Pure Rye Whiskey, Lancaster, Pa. | B | V 7/8" | No |
Kellerstrass | Compliments of Kellerstrass Distilling Co., Kansas City, Mo. | |||
Kelly | Call for D. Kelly's Private Stock, Finest Whiskey Sold, Columbus, O. | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Koenig | Jules C. Koenig, Fine Whiskies, Agents for G & B Rye, No. 418 Camp Str., New Orleans | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Kolb | Kolb Bros. Crystal Export Lager West Bay City, Mich. | B | V 7/8" | |
Lau | Wm. C. Lau, 485 Elmwood Ave., Detroit | B | V 1 1/8" | Yes |
Lemp | Drink Lemp St. Louis | B | *V 1 1/8" | No |
Liquor | Liquor Trades Gazette | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Live Oak | Live Oak Rye, The Live Oak Distl'y Co., Cincinnati, O. 1870 | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Looker | Compliments of Turner Looker, Cincinnati | |||
Mahan | Mahan Supply Co., Wichita, Kas., Budweiser, Schlitz | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Malakoff | Malakoff | B | H 1 1/8" | |
Martin | Argonaut Whiskey, E. Martin & Co., S. F. | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Maryland Rye | Maryland Rye, Compliments Straus Gunshole, Richmond, Va. (Trade mark - pic of Gentleman) | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Matthews | N. M. Matthews & Co., Altamont Pure Rye, Finest American Whiskey, Baltimore | B | H 1 1/8" | |
McAvoy | McAvoy Brewing Co., Chicago, U.S.A. | B | V Oval | No |
McCarthy | McCarthy's Oyster & Chop House, 505 Wood Street, Pittsburg, Pa. | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Melchers | Melchers & Effler, Redistillers & Wholesale Dealers, Wines & Liquors, 509 Monroe St., Toledo, Ohio | B | V 1 1/8" | ? |
Metropolitan | Old Hickory Rye,Metropolitan Distributing Co., 108-8th Ave. N.Y. | B | V 1 1/8" | Yes |
Metropolitan | Old Hickory Rye,Metropolitan Distributing Co., 108-8th Ave. N.Y. | T | *V 1 1/8" | |
Michelson | A. Michelson, Pure Rye Whiskey, Austin, Tex | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Mihms | A Merry Xmas, Mih's Cafe & Bar, 629 Smithfield St., Pittsburg, Pa | B | V 1 1/8" | |
Miller | Compliments of B. Miller, 501 N. 4th St., Harrison and 200 Grant Ave, Newark | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Molter | H. T. & J. N. Molter, Providence, R.I., What Cheer Lager Beer | B | V - Oval | Yes - No Mag |
Monahan | Monahan's XXXXX Whiskey, 108 210 Friend St., Boston, Mass. | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Moorman | J. H. Cutter Old Whiskies, C. P. Moorman & Co. | B | V - Oval | No |
Napa | Napa Soda & Spring | B | ||
None | Devil Caricature | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
O'Keefe | Hazelwood Pure Rye, J. E. O'Keefe & Co., Distillers | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Old "76" | The Old "76" Distilling Co., Medallion Whiskies | B | V 7/8" | No |
Old Elk | Old Elk, Stollvannatta & Co. Distillers, Lexington, Ky. | B | V 7/8" | Yes |
Old Whiskey | Old Whiskey | |||
Our Very Best | Our Very Best | B | V 1 1/8" | |
Peacock | Compliments of W. C. Peacock & Co., Honolulu | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Peebles | Peebles Old Cabinet Whisky, Cincinnati, O., Trade Mark 1840 | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Peebles | Peebles Old Cabinet Whisky, Cincinnati, O., Trade Mark 1840 | B | V - Oval | No |
Peebles | Peebles Cabinet Whisky, Cincinnati, O. | B | V 7/8" | No |
Pehl | Peter Pehl, Fulton Market Bar, Sedalia, MO | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Pepper | Pepper Distillery, Hand made Sour Mash, Established 1780, Mas. E. Pepper & Co. Distillers, Lexington, Ky., Trade Mark, Jas. E. Pepper & Co. | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Pepper | Pepper Distillery, Hand made Sour Mash, Established 1780, Mas. E. Pepper & Co. Distillers, Lexington, Ky., Trade Mark, Jas. E. Pepper & Co. | B | H 1 1/8" | Yes - Pic of Trademark |
Person's | Call for Person's Sons Buffalo Club Whiskey. The Finest, Try It. | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Pfeffer | Jacob J. Pfeffer, Tippecanoe Double Fire Copper Whiskey | B | V 7/8" | No |
Pierce | Old Crow Whiskey "1881" S. S. Pierce Co., Boston | B | * | |
Pierce | Old Crow Whiskey "1881" S. S. Pierce Co., Boston | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Pittsburg Bridge | Compliments of Pittsburg Bridge Co., Pittsburg, Pa. (engraved in bullet - no plate) | B | *Engraved | No |
Powers | James G. Powers & Co., New York, Olde Parchment Rye Whiskey | B | ||
Produce | Produce Exchange Cafe Rome & Miller 2 Broadway N.Y. | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Reliable | The Reliable Grand Union, Wholesale Liquor House, 27 So. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Riebel | Compliments of Jacob Riebel Cafe, 43 Water St., Elmira, N.Y. | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Ross | Charles H. Ross & Co., Thompson Pure Rye Whiskey, 339 Registered Trade Mark, Baltimore, MD. | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Rowley | Rowley's Cafe, The Palm, W. R. Rowley, Prop., Middletown, N.Y. | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Rueckeisens | Rueckeisens Cafe, Nickel & Osthoff props, 144 Sixth St., Pittsburg, Pa. | T | *V 1 1/8" | |
Rueckeisens | Rueckeisens Cafe, Nickel & Osthoff props, 144 Sixth St., Pittsburg, Pa. | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Schoenhofen | P. Schoenhofen Brewing Co., Chicago, Edelweiss | B | V 7/8" | Yes - No Mag |
Seifert | Compliments of John R. Seifert, San Diego, Cal. | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Simon | J. Simon & Co., Louisville, Ashton, Ky. Distillery, Hand Made | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Smith | C. D. Smith Drug Co., St. Joseph, Mo. Bulk Goods, King Korn and Windsor. Bottled goods. Thoroughbred and Bobby Burns Pts. & Qts. | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Stagg | O. F. C. Whiskey, The Geo. T. Stagg Co., Frankfort, Ky. | B | V 7/8" | Yes - No Mag |
Standard | The Standard Brewery's Chicago Bohemian Export | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Steinecke | Louis Steinecke, KansasCity | B | H | |
Steinhardt | Compliments of Steinhardt Bros. & Co. | B | ||
Steuernagel | Compliments of Peter Steuernagel, Peter, 63 Chestnut St., Alleghany | B | H 1 1/8" | |
Stoll Vannatta | Old Elk, Stoll Vannatta & Co., Lexington Ky. | B | V 7/8" | Yes - No Mag. |
Stroh | Compliments of B. Stroh Brewing Co., Detroit | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Sunstein | Compliments of C. Sunstein | B | V 7/8" | Yes - Photo **** |
Symes | Compliments of Symes Building Buffet, Symes Bldg. Denver | B | V 7/8" | |
Tenneesee | Tennessee Liquor Co., Drink Ivydale Rye, 4 Qts. $2.90, Tennessee Liquor Co., Atlanta, Ga. | T | V 1 1/8" | |
Terre Haute | Terre Haute Brewing Co., Terre Haute, Ind., Velvet | B | V 7/8" | Yes - No Pic |
Texas | Texas Brewing Co., Brewers &; Bottlers of Fine Beer, Fort Worth, Texas | B | V 7/8" | No |
Turner Looker | Compliments of The Turner Looker Co., Cincinnati | B | *V 1 1/8" | |
Turner Looker | Compliments of The Turner Looker Co., Cincinnati | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Webb Howe | Webb Howe, Hub Cafe, Syracuse, N.Y. | |||
Western | Western Bottler, Chicago | B | V 7/8" | No |
White | Old Trimble Whiskey, White, Hentz & Co., Philadelphia | B | V 7/8" | No |
White Elephant | White Elephant Saloon, Keystone W VA | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Whitney | Whitney Glass Works, Philadelphia | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Wilkinson | Stylus Club Whiskey, W. C. Wilkinson, Philada. | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Wilmot | Wilmot's Cafe | |||
Wilson | Wilson's Old Empire Rye aged in oak casks government guarantee 1890, Laurence A. Wilson & Co., Sole Proprietors, Montreal | B | H 1 1/8" | No |
Windisch-Muhlhauser | Ask for Lion Beers, Compliments of the Windisch-Muhlhauser Brewing Co., Cincinnati, O. | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Wise | Armitage Rye Whiskey, David Wise & Co., Distillers, Chicago | B | V 7/8" | Yes - No Pic |
Wolcott | Cornhill Rye, James E. Wolcott & Co., Rochester, N.Y., Established 1827, James E. Wolcott & Co. | B | V 1 1/8" | No |
Wolcott | Cornhill Rye, James E. Wolcott & Co., Rochester, N.Y., Established 1827, James E. Wolcott & Co. | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Wolcott | Cornhill Rye, James E. Wolcott & Co., Trademarked Rochester, N.Y., James E. Wolcott & Co. | T | V 1 1/8" | No |
Shield type plate - "Golden Gate International Exposition. From the collection of Michael Sharp. |
Jack Bandy reports that he has an Anheuser Busch bottle with the advertising plate upside down. Jack writes: "It looks totally original, i.e. I see no evidence that it's ever been detached or reattached. It appears to be an anomaly--something like the 1918 24 cent stamp with the Curtiss 'Jenny' biplane upside down that's worth a million+ bucks----whaddya you think?"
So Jack...is the plate upside down or the bottle?!