S.O. Dunbar & his Tomato (ya ya ya) Bitters
23 November 2014
Bitters ephemera authority Joe Gourd sent me the above handbill from the druggist, S. O. Dunbar from Taunton, Massachusetts. The Tomato, Sarsaparilla, Blackberry, Dandelion and Wild Cherry, Vegetable Compound Life Invigorating Bitters has to be the longest name for a bitters product ever.
“S.O. Dunbar / Taunton Mass” Ink Bottle, America, 1840-1860. Twelve sided, bright blue green, sheared mouth – pontil scar, ht. 2 1/4 inches; (shallow 1/8 inch flake from base edge). C #520 Interesting 1/4 inch piece of glass adhered to side. Rare in this color. Strong embossing. Ex Roger Long collection. – Heckler Auctions
I didn’t have to look far for information as Ed and Lucy Faulkner, from up Virginia way, had done a nice article in the FOHBC Bottles and Extras back in 2010. Makes sense, as Ed and Lucy are ink bottle authorities and Samuel Dunbar sold some neat inks. Read article.
The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:
T 35 L … Tomato, Sarsaparilla, Blackberry, Dandelion and Wild Cherry, Vegetable Compound Life Invigorating Bitters
S. O. Dunbar / TAUNTON / MASS. // c //
7 1/4 x 3 1/4 (4 1/2)
Round, Aqua, FM, with pour spout, Rough pontil mark
Dunbar was a noted manufacturer on ink which may explain the Bitters label on a pour spout bottle commonly associated with ink.
Taunton Directory (Mass.) 1850
S.O. Dunbar, Taunton, Mass bottle with pontil. This example has no pour spout which makes it a prime candidate for the labeled Tomato, Sarsaparilla, Blackberry, Dandelion and Wild Cherry, Vegetable Compound Life Invigorating Bitters. – GreatAntiqueBottles.com
The bottle shown above is one of the 1850 age bottles known from the S. O. Dunbar Company in Taunton. This bottle was thought to have contained ink but this specimen, with the original label shows it to be a medicine. It is likely that he used this container for both ink and medicine. – Bottle Books
Select listings
1836: Samuel Oliver Dunbar publishes a Map of the town of Taunton, with a view of the public buildings
1855: S.O. Dunbar, Director, Farmers’ Insurance Company – Taunton, Massachusetts City Directory
1875: S.O. Dunbar & Son, 10 and 11 Bank Row, City square, druggists – The Bristol County Directory and History
1880: S.O. Dunbar, Drugs and Chemicals, Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts – United States Federal Census
1893: Dunbar’s Drug Store, drugs, stationery, etc. 51 City sq. cor Lincoln (see advertisement below) – Taunton, Massachusetts City Directory
