I found this bottle about ten years ago. It was a unique little violin style flask. Here's an odd thing about how I found it. It was on a riverbed and I heard a glass scratching sound as I passed my hand over it. I carefully searched the bottom in a sweeping motion until I found it. The bottle is embossed CHARLEY ROSS.
Through some research at the time, I was able to determine that Charley Ross was a kidnapped child in the 1870s or 80s? The case garnered national attention and was similar to the later (famous) Lindbergh kidnapping. I have no idea what the contents of the bottle were. I'm guessing it was a medicine by the size.
If anybody knows more about the case, maybe post it. I'll try google. By the way, I sold the bottle on ebay back then and it went for quite a bit.
Image Attachment: 100_2229.jpg (25.36 KB) Uploaded on 6/2/2008 12:01:37 AM Viewed 30 time(s). Description: No Description Entered
If you are curious about the details of the case, the link below provides a nice summary. Apparently, little Charley, age 4, was kidnapped in front of his own house with his brother by two men in a carriage. The men demanded ransom and hence, the case became the first big national ransom case (indeed erily similar to Lindbergh). Charley was never found.
Okay. The bottle might have been an attempt at publicity by Charley's father to help locate him. Charley's father wrote a book about his plight. It sold well but the proceeds went into his attempts to find his child.
Chalie Ross bottle
Posted - 02 Jun 2008 : 00:01:47
