Speaking of Old Bottles | Chickens in the Road

Mar
5

Betty, a reader here, sent me this old Rumford baking powder bottle.

Years ago, she lived on Chincoteague Island in Virginia and dug many old bottles from an abandoned house site. This Rumford bottle is one of those. She believes the bottle is from the late 1800s or early 1900s.

If you’re wondering about scale, the bottle is about 4 1/2 inches tall.

And awesome! Thank you, Betty!

More posts you might enjoy:

17 Responses
RSS feed for comments on this post | TrackBack this post

3-5
2:10
am

I adore old blue bottles. What a wonderful specimen! Hmm, maybe I should get started on my garden and see what I dig up

Jennifer Robin

Flag this comment
3-5
2:35
am

Oooooh! I love old glass. And most of it is affordable. Nice find. Just beautiful-it will look great all cleaned up.

Katharina

Flag this comment
3-5
8:43
am

It seems the Old Rumford Cookbooks trail continues.
Who would have thunk it. ha ha MMHoney

mmhoney

Flag this comment
3-5
8:51
am

Now that’s what I’m talking about!….’cause plastic on the lids is not old to me…he he yep, I’m old….not that the Wagners are not nice and older…have sold many of them in my antiquing adventures…but now the blue and brown and faded that require cork stoppers are old….
Take some grains (several) and some good hot water with a little bleach or good liquid soap..put in the jar and shake, shake, shake..shake your booty..err bottle…It should come clean…can also use small amount of aquarium gravel it acts as a scouring aid inside the bottle, if really dirty!…I usually do mine until I am happy with it..most dirt will come out but not always…at least it is sterilized with the bleach…LOL
Let dry, hunt an old cork for the top and your’re good to go…can also stain the cork with tea or coffee for an older vintage look.
Lucky you!!!

B. Ruth

Flag this comment
3-5
8:55
am

Suzanne,
The old kicked in I tell you….the grains in my comment is supposed to be grains of rice…first then if real dirty use aquarium gravel….sorry about that….

B. Ruth

Flag this comment
3-5
8:58
am

B Ruth, I use denture cleaner also, It does a pretty good job especially on flower vases that are nasty that you can’t get your hadn into. The tablets you drop into water in a denture box and leave overnight. When you get up in the morning they are clean, same goes for the vases.

holstein woman

Flag this comment
3-5
9:21
am

Lots of good ideas here about cleaning old bottles.

I recently found an old Rumford slotted spoon when going through my late aunt’s belongings.

Dianna

Flag this comment
3-5
9:54
am

Oh that’s a FANTASTIC gift! An almost one-of-a-kinder kindness!

texwisgirl

Flag this comment
3-5
12:01
pm

I like old bottles like that. Just recently I started collecting sea glass to make jewelry and art projects. Nice color too!

Shelly

Flag this comment
3-5
12:05
pm

Chincoteague Island brought a smile to my face on this rainy day in Ohio. My brother stayed there for a few months when he graduated High School. He was there to help get a little church going, then heading to college. We went there to visit him, then went back many times later to visit. Love it there so much.

Marci Zinn

Flag this comment
3-5
8:11
pm

Cool bottle….Cool gift!

Linda

Flag this comment
3-5
10:09
pm

Very cool. Very nice of Betty to share it with you so you could share it with us. You’re going to be the Rumford queen!

whaledancer

Flag this comment
3-5
10:27
pm

I have a Rumford bottle exactly like yours. It’s been sitting on my kitchen window ledge for a good many years now. I love the blue color. It keeps company with several other vintage bottles of various colors on that ledge. I’m glad you have one too.

Rosemeri

Flag this comment
3-6
10:04
am

I’m here on Chincoteague Island, getting my niece’s home ready for summer renters- I’ve been coming for weeks at a time for 35 years, but never had an occasion to dig. When we do the landscaping next week, I’ll be looking for something to treasure! Lol.

heidiannie

Flag this comment
3-6
5:01
pm

I love old bottles and jars!

Tori Lennox

Flag this comment
3-7
12:35
pm

Cool! Many a old bottle has been dug up.

Ramona

Flag this comment
3-9
4:49
pm

Love the blue bottle! It is beautiful! How fortunate to find such a treasure.

Deidre'

Flag this comment

Registration is required to leave a comment on this site. You may register here. (You can use this same username on the forum as well.) Already registered? Login here.

Discussion is encouraged, and differing opinions are welcome. However, please don't say anything your grandmother would be ashamed to read. If you see an objectionable comment, you may flag it for moderation. If you write an objectionable comment, be aware that it may be flagged--and deleted. I'm glad you're here. Welcome to our community!