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original oversized late 1870's or early 1880's chicago privy dug amber heavily iridized glass "california pops" beer bottle manufactured for s. geer in chicago, il.
  • original oversized late 1870's or early 1880's chicago privy dug amber heavily iridized glass "california pops" beer bottle manufactured for s. geer in chicago, il.
  • original oversized late 1870's or early 1880's chicago privy dug amber heavily iridized glass "california pops" beer bottle manufactured for s. geer in chicago, il.
original oversized late 1870's or early 1880's chicago privy dug amber heavily iridized glass "california pops" beer bottle manufactured for s. geer in chicago, il.

original oversized late 1870's or early 1880's chicago privy dug amber heavily iridized glass "california pops" beer bottle manufactured for s. geer in chicago, il.

SKU: UR-22275-15
reference only
mid-nineteenth century (1879-80) privy dug amber heavily iridized beer bottle manufactured for s. geer in chicago, il. the champagne style shape is finished with an applied rounded taper lip. the bottle is embossed all along the front of the body, “s geer / california / popbeer / trademark / oct 29 1872”, with casewear rendering some of the embossing illegible. the amber color is heavily iridized with a white and rainbow patina. the bottle also features whittling in the neck. only four companies in chicago produced “california pop” or “california pop beer”, including s. geer, h.c. dorman, paul rouze, and john a lomax. california pop or pop beer was patented by charles c. haley of troy, ny on october 29, 1872. it was similar to spruce beer and other small beers of the nineteenth century, but combined oil of spruce, sassafras, and wintergreen with ginger root, hops, malt and pure spirits. the beverage was popular, so much so that it even had a u.s. patent number. only geer and dorman have haley’s patent date of oct. 29 1872 embossed on the bottle. while lomax and rouze must have either ignored the patent or changed the ingredients a bit in an attempt to avoid paying royalties to charles haley. the product was not unique to chicago, and was more popular on the east coast.

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