This striking Lakeside Bottling Co. bottle dates to approximately 1890–1905, most likely the 1890s. Stand it near a window and the pale green aqua glass lights up: crisp raised lettering across the front, tiny trapped seed bubbles, wonderful twists through the neck, and a boldly shaped ten sided base. At 7 1/8 inches tall, it has the presence of a much larger bottle.
The front advertises LAKESIDE BOTTLING CO. / CHICAGO. On the heel, the small NBBG Co. mark identifies the glassmaker as the North Baltimore Bottle Glass Company. That firm supplied soda and mineral water bottles, including bottles for Chicago customers. The heel mark tells a second story alongside Lakeside’s embossing: one company sold the drink; another made the glass that carried its name.
Chicago in the 1890s
Picture this bottle in a city remaking itself at astonishing speed. Chicago’s first elevated railway opened in 1892. The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition drew visitors from across the country and around the world. A year later, the Pullman Strike of 1894 put Chicago at the center of a national struggle over work and wages. Amid the trains, street traffic, shops, and neighborhood businesses, a local bottler’s name traveled on bottles like this one.
Lakeside’s surviving embossed bottles preserve the company name, although I have not found a period advertisement confirming a particular flavor for this example. The generous lettering made the container itself an advertisement, while the unusual base and wonderfully animated glass make this one especially rewarding to display.
Details
- Bottler: Lakeside Bottling Co., Chicago, Illinois
- Glassmaker: North Baltimore Bottle Glass Company, marked NBBG Co. on the heel
- Date: Approximately 1890–1905
- Type: Blob top soda or mineral water bottle
- Height: 7 1/8 inches
- Glass: Bright, glowing green aqua
- Features: Ten sided base, strong embossing, neck twists, and abundant seed bubbles
- Closure: Bottle only; no original stopper included
Condition
- Bright, clean, and shiny with exceptional visual clarity
- No case wear or scratches observed
- Two very small, flea sized nicks on the back, shown in the thumb pointing photographs
- Beautiful overall display condition; please review the close-up photos of the two nicks
A handsome Chicago bottle with the kind of sparkle and character that photographs can barely contain.
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