www.californiaperfumecompany.net                       Issue 7, 2005

In This Issue:

• A Little Extract of Onion to Spice Up the Mix
• Upcoming Events
• Web Site News
• Collectors' Tales

Happy New Year to one and all!

One present under the Christmas tree this year brought an extra special delight to me: the early California Concentrated Extract of Onion bottle (seen to the immediate left.) The present came from my two children after I suggested they get something other than a tie or cologne or one of those other non-descript fatherly-type-Christmas-gifts. Granted, when asked in previous years what I wanted for Christmas, my simple response was, "Nothing..." Hence, my non-descript fatherly-type-Christmas-gifts that I would normally receive. But this year was different!!!

When I saw this California Concentrated Extract of Onion bottle come up for auction on e-Bay, I was so excited. This excitement was due, in part, to my earlier travels to the home of George Gaspar back in June 2004 when I was afforded the opportunity to photograph approximately half of George's CPC collection. During that short time in George's home snapping approximately 300 pictures, I photographed four very early California Concentrated Extract bottles (shown below). One of those four extract bottles, the Jamaica Ginger (see below, far left), bore a very striking resemblance to this Extract of Onion.

Eureka Trade Mark circa 1898

As I compared pictures of the Extract of Jamaica Ginger and the Extract of Onion, one difference jumped out at me: the Jamaica Ginger included the Eureka Trade Mark on its label and the Onion did not. This proved to be a very interesting difference and presented something of a mystery. I then turned to the pages of Bud Hastin's Avon Collectors Encyclopedia, 17th edition (hereafter referred to as BH 17) as well as to the older Western World Avon 8 Collector's Handbook (hereafter referred to as Avon 8), and neither publication pictured this bottle -- or one with this distinct labeling style (no Eureka Trade Mark).

Therefore, our first CPC Newsletter journey of 2005 considers this California Concentrated Extract of Onion bottle.

I started doing some research using my two Avon encyclopedias in an attempt to determine the Extract of Onion's age...and this is what I found:

• George's Extract of Jamaica Ginger bottle is pictured on page 36 of the Avon 8 with a date range of 1902-1908;
• An illustration of an Extract of Vanilla is rendered on page 253 of BH 17 with the exact same labeling style as George's Extract of Jamaica Ginger. BH 17 identifies the date range of this bottle as 1900-1912;
• On page 255 of BH 17, there is a picture of a Lemon Yellow Vegetable Coloring bottle. The labeling style of this bottle is very similar to the Extract of Onion (no Eureka Trade Mark). The date of this Vegetable Coloring is identified as 1908; and finally...
• Two larger flavoring extract bottles (one eight ounce and one 16 ounce) found on page 253 of BH 17 immediately to the left of the Extract of Vanilla mentioned previously show labeling styles exactly like the Extract of Jamaica Ginger and the Extract of Onion. These two items share a date range of 1905-1908.

Needless to say, pinning down a date for this mystery Extract of Onion was not going to be easy. So..... I went to my catalogs.

Concentrated Extract of Jamaica Ginger

Concentrated Extract of Peppermint

Concentrated Extract of Onion

Concentrated Extract of Rose

Before I continue, let me remind you that catalogs often present a bit of a problem for the following reasons: 1) the first illustrated catalog was not published until 1897; 2) the California Perfume Company was content to use the same picture for a particular product for years, regardless of possible labeling style changes; and 3) only a small percentage of all available products were illustrated within the early catalogs. With these things in mind, let's keep going...

California Concentrated Extract of Vanilla from the 1897 Catalog

California Concentrated Extract of Vanilla from the 1905 Catalog

California Concentrated Extract of Lemon from the 1908 Catalog

Immediately I hit pay dirt! My 1897 catalog depicted a California Concentrated Extract of Vanilla bottle (above left) with the exact same labeling style as the Extract of Onion. I checked to see that onion was an available flavor in 1897 and, sure enough, it was! End of story? Not quite! What about the trade mark?

Well, I noticed something. When perusing the 1897 catalog, none of its 18 illustrations were drawn with any semblance of a trade mark. However, in both the smaller and larger versions of the 1898 catalogs, the hand-drawn illustrations began to incorporate the Eureka Trade Mark on the labels of some items. Additionally, the larger 1898 catalog featured the Eureka Trade Mark on its rear cover. Knowing David McConnell's affinity to show off company accolades and successes, I believe that the Eureka Trade Mark was probably acquired by the company in late 1897 to early 1898. Again, this is a guess. This is a point easily open for debate. One further note -- the same illustration used in the 1897 catalog for the Concentrated Extract of Vanilla was also used in the smaller 1898 catalog.

This brings me to my supposition: If the Eureka Trade Mark was acquired and instituted by the California Perfume Company around 1898, then all products bearing the Eureka Trade Mark would most likely date from 1898 or later.

Sadly, my research gets spotty owing to a lack of catalogs or pertinent CPC documentation dating from 1899 through 1904.

Continuing, the 1905 and 1906 catalogs contained the same illustration for California Concentrated Extract of Vanilla (above center) which included the Eureka Trade Mark on its label. Herein lies another mystery. I understand the logical progression of the labeling style from the Extract of Onion that we started with to the Extract of Jamaica Ginger - the simple addition of the Eureka Trade Mark. But what about the other three early extract bottles from George's collection? Those extract labels (Extract of Peppermint, Extract of Onion, and Extract of Rose seen above) are exactly the same except for the different flavoring, of course, and the use of color on two of those labels. Where do they fit in? To further press the point home, the 1908 catalog reveals a very substantial change in label design for the concentrated extract (above right) -- a design that would continue through approximately 1920.

I believe that some sense and order can be postulated (nice word for guessed) from the information gathered thus far.

First, I believe the Concentrated Extract of Onion without the Eureka Trade Mark represents the oldest example of a CPC Flavoring Extract known - possible date range: 1897-1898.

Second, the Concentrated Extract of Jamaica Ginger would follow on the time line - possible date  range: 1898-1906. I actually do not believe this style ran through 1906, however I use that end date because of the 1905 and 1906 catalogs.

Thirdly, I believe the Concentrated Extracts of Peppermint, Onion, and Rose would follow in the order of progression. Please notice 1) the word "California" at the top of the three extracts compared to the earlier Onion and Jamaica Ginger - it is the same; 2) the designers continue to use an illustration behind the flavor banner; 3) the words "The Best Flavoring For All Culinary Purposes" continues to be used throughout; and 4) the Eureka Trade Mark is placed nearer to the company name. Possible date range: 1900-1906

Before simply acquiescing to the 1908 design change, I thought it appropriate to show this Concentrated Extract of Nutmeg (right). BH 17 indicates the date of the bottle as 1906. I would definitely agree. The reason I say this is because the label clearly shows many of the revisions depicted in the 1908 catalog, however the Eureka Trade Mark is still being used. Possible date range:1906-1907.

Hopefully I have made this subject "Clear as Mud" for everyone...just joking!

I do believe it is possible, with the information available and the products (or their pictures) in hand, to develop a reasonable, logical time line for the labels of the Concentrated Flavoring Extracts. No, it is not an exact science, especially using these old catalogs with all their problems, but certain highlights do stand out. So, in summary, I submit the following possible  progression of labeling style usage for the early Concentrated Flavoring Extracts:

1897-1898

1898-1906

1900-1906

1900-1906

1900-1906

1906-1907

1908

Note: Only Two Ounce Flavoring Extract Bottles were considered for this newsletter.

Until next time...

CPC and Early-Avon Collecting is an Upstanding Endeavor.

We all know that this statement is true. Further, we also know that CPC and early-Avon collecting can be extremely fun, rewarding, and it presents an excellent opportunity to meet and make new friends. However, there is one particularly disconcerting attitude that I continue to encounter: the mistaken assumption by other bottle-, glass-, antique-, tin-, or what-so-ever-you-can-name collectors which says that WE are simply Avon collectors collecting nothing but junk figurals. We are sometimes shunned or shrugged off -- not recognized as true collectors. As I have stated before, most people (including Avon representatives) don't have any knowledge of the deep and rich history of the California Perfume Company and the worth of so many of its past products and memorabilia.

I believe that much of the problem rests in a lack of presence resulting in a lack of information. Simply stated, where there is no information, there is no education -- no education, no knowledge -- no knowledge, no opportunity for change. Thus it would seriously benefit our group of collectors to consider reaching out into other venues...

Recently, I joined the Baltimore Antique Bottle Club. There are two primary goals I am hoping to accomplish: 1) to educate the other local bottle collectors about CPC and early-Avon collecting, and 2) to elicit the help of many other bottle-minded collectors in finding other CPC treasures to add to my own collection. I don't mean to sound selfish in my second stated goal, but if I can develop an awareness in others for CPC items which they themselves do not (and probably will not) collect, then maybe I can get them to steer me in the right direction.

Here are a few of the Antique Bottle Collecting web sites that I now use/watch:

• Baltimore Antique Bottle Club: http://baltimorebottleclub.org/

• Antique Bottle Collector's Haven: http://www.antiquebottles.com/

• Antique-Bottles.Net: http://www.antique-bottles.net/

I present this a food for thought. If CPC and Avon collecting is to grow, we really do need to think of new ways to accomplish that growth! I think that we CPC and Avon collectors must present ourselves and our collections in new and different ways...like the CPC web site...or like Allen Keyser giving CPC "Show and Tells" at Avon Representative meetings ((Way to Go Allen!!!!))...or joining Bottle clubs...or whatever your mind can imagine. The sky truly is the limit!

Rusty

www.californiaperfumecompany.net

If you know of any worth while web site related in some way to CPC and Avon collecting, please let me know and I will include the site in an upcoming CPC Newsletter issue.

Early CPC Fruit Flavors Bottle with Backward "a"

This Collector's Tale is actually from a non-CPC collector. I purchased a beautiful 1908 Furniture Polish back in late-July, 2004. In an e-mail during the sales transaction, the gentleman selling the polish shared with me his enjoyment for a "CPC Fruit Flavor Extract with the reversed 'a' in the word California" in his collection. This intrigued me quite a bit. Until that time, I never noted mistakes in the labeling or packaging of any CPC products. That is not to say that there aren't other examples out there. I am simply saying that I had never seen any. I asked the gentleman to send me some photos and he graciously provided the two I bring to you in this newsletter. Early CPC Fruit Flavors Bottle with Backward "a" If you know of any other examples of mistakes or errors, please let us know -- send pictures and a short story about how you acquired the item. I know the rest of our readers would definitely love to hear about your Collector's Tale...

Previous CPC Newsletter issues are always available upon request.

Thank you and have an awesome day!

Rusty

I appreciate and welcome any and all feedback!!!!!

Always Looking To Hatch New CPC Stories