Take a look at this neat old Tip Top Ink bottle I found this weekend. A beautiful, and very thick, square glass container with a jet black screw top lid, plus a near perfect label featuring super graphics as well as the revelation that this "washable blue" ink "for fountain pens and general use" was made right here in STL MO by Levison & Blythe MGF Co. I'm not sure of the exact year, but after performing a quick web search about Levison & Blythe, I discovered a very interesting article about John Hinkel, an ink bottle collector / fellow Missourian who, coincidentally enough, actually lives in a town about 15 minutes away from me. The article goes into great detail about many of the centuries old ink makers from MO, --including the makers of my ink bottle! Levison & Blythe was established in 1854 and operated in several locations in downtown STL before eventually closing shop in the 1950's. So whatever the actual date is of my bottle, it's OLD-- yay! CLICK HERE to read more about the company, as well as the many others, and to see some great photos from John's incredible collection.
Very cool! And in great shape too!
ReplyDeleteThe only ink Dennis DeYoung uses! <-- possibly to deep a dive for a joke.
ReplyDeleteJohn hINKel's collection looks amazing I'd love to see more of it. So many neat and beautiful labels.
ReplyDeleteI was trying to find contact info for him in that news article to see if maybe he knew anything about my bottle, but couldn’t find anything. Maybe he’ll see this post :)
ReplyDeleteWhoa, that guy's, like, a magical writing apothecary. I've always loved rooms full of dusty old ornate bottles. But normally they are medicine or booze bottles. This is the first time I've seen someone's ink collection. I'm really charmed.
ReplyDeleteI love the bottle you found Karswell. It's huge! Like a damn glass brick! When I read your intro I thought it would be small, like nail polish. What a neat find.
Looks like an amalgam of Kilroy and Irving Nebbish on the label.
ReplyDelete