Montezuma Rye - Whiskey Antique Liquor Bottle C. 1894 Pre Prohibition Artifact
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:167415 |
Montezuma Rye Whiskey Antique Liquor Bottle; metal filigree cage. C. 1894. Pre-Prohibition; RarePre-Prohibition Artifact This is an Antique, Pre-Prohibition Rye Whiskey bottle produced by the, Philadelphia Pure Rye Whisky Distilling Company—formed in the late 1800’s as a response to the powerful “Whiskey Trust.”Description: Approx 11” high, clear glass rye whiskey bottle, encased in a metal filigree cage or shell. Part of the cork is still intact. There is some grime and dust... in some of the corners, but I’ll leave the cleaning to the new owner.I discovered one site on the Internet that described the metal on this bottle as pewter, but I cannot be sure if it’s actually pewter. There is a large plaque on the front of the bottle that says: CELEBRATED MONTEZUMA RYE WHISKEY JAS. MAGUIRE 470.472 N. 3rd. St. Phila.The bottom of the bottle has “Montezuma Philada” with the business address across the center in embossed letters. Condition: Very good. The bottom front of the bottle is missing a small section of metal work (see photos!).
Please view the photos carefully. They are the condition description.***********************************************Additional Info: This is a really special piece. Any description I provide doesn’t really do it justice (in my opinion). I searched the Internet for information about the bottle, and discovered only two sites describing James Maguire, and his Montezuma Rye. A quick search will confirm this to anyone who is interested. I have copied some pertinent information from my research below:“I knew that my mother's grandfather Thomas Maguire managed his father's wholesale liquor business, but never realized what a big deal it was until this latest cache of information. Not only did James Maguire distribute liquor, he was a partner in a distillery in Bucks County, just a few miles from Bensalem where I grew up - the Philadelphia Pure Rye Whiskey Distillery. According to the Pittsburgh Dispatch:Upon the tract of 103 acres at Eddington, Bucks county, which has just been purchased from Mrs. Morris, a wealthy Pottsville widow, will be erected an enormous distillery for the production of rye whisky. The plant will be operated by a new company which has just been organized with a capital of $3, 000, 000, and which will be known as the Philadelphia Pure Rye Whisky Distilling Company. Nearly every large liquor dealer in this city holds stock in the company.Despite the fact that the organization of the company has been accomplished so quickly, considerable work has already been done, and the contract for the erection of the buildings will be awarded at a meeting of the Board of Directors tomorrow. Quite a number of bids have been received.Under the present laws of Pennsylvania there can be no president of a liquor company. Angelo Meyers has been elected Chairman; Henry Van Beil, Secretary, and James Maguire, Treasurer. These gentlemen, with Samuel Humphrey and Louis Gilliams, constitute the Board of Directors.But also, apparently there was a "Whiskey Trust" that was not to be trifled with, because as the article goes on..."No, we will not be antagonistic to the Whisky Trust, because the trust does not make rye whisky. The principal advantakes to the stockholders will be in establishing a home industry, which will enable us to economize on shipping. We can probably secure sufficient grain from the farmers of Bucks county to keep us going, so we will not suffer from lack of material. Then, too, we are going to try some new experiments in the manufacture of whisky which are entirely original, and which, if successful, will have a tendency to revolutionize things."APPARENTLY this is what they meant by Whiskey Trust - according to this article it ended in 1895 anyway, so they needn't have worried.
So it turns out that there is a market for pre-Prohibition era artifacts associated with the alcohol business. And it turns out that my great-great grandfather James had lots of artifacts celebrating the celebrated Montezuma Rye Whiskey produced by the Philadelphia Pure Rye Whisky Distilling Company, and many are for sale online.”Credit: Leavens to Mergatroyd
Next excerpt:”The important role played by James Maguire in organizing the distillery company was indicated by its board meeting at his headquarters at Third and Noble Streets to sign the original building contract. Maguire had been elected by his colleagues as the treasurer of the new distilling company. This represented recognition by his peers that this Irish immigrant had risen to the top ranks of Philadelphia whiskey men.
It had been a long road for Maquire, born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1833 and coming to the United States as a young man. His early years in this country have largely gone unrecorded, but a reasonable assumption is that he was working for one of the many liquor houses in Philadelphia, learning the trade. He was also having a personal life, in the late 1850s marrying Rosalie Pauline Martin, also Irish-born. They would have five children, three daughters and two sons. Among them, born in 1864, was Thomas A. Maguire, who eventually would go to work for his father in the liquor house.
James had struck out on his own in 1872, opening a store at 472 North Third Street in Philadelphia and by 1874, a second outlet at Callowhill and North Fourth Street. Eventually he expanded at the Third Street location, to encompass the store fronts on either side. An important part of Maquire’s rise in Philadelphia was his success in making Montezuma Rye Whiskey a nationally recognized brand. When he trademarked the label in 1894 he claimed that the name had been in use since 1875.
He was particularly intent on providing saloons, hotels and restaurants featuring the brand with attractive back of the bar bottles. Of particular note was an elaborate metal overlay bottle used to dispense Montezuma Rye. It stood just over eleven inches high, completely encased, as shown here, in a soft metal cage with a filigree vine and flower design. Plaques on the front contained a hammered and engraved text that read: “Celebrated Montezuma Rye Whiskey, Jas. Maquire, ” and his address.”
Credit: Those Pre-Pro Whiskey Men!
IntraCODE:ILS6GS6
Please view the photos carefully. They are the condition description.***********************************************Additional Info: This is a really special piece. Any description I provide doesn’t really do it justice (in my opinion). I searched the Internet for information about the bottle, and discovered only two sites describing James Maguire, and his Montezuma Rye. A quick search will confirm this to anyone who is interested. I have copied some pertinent information from my research below:“I knew that my mother's grandfather Thomas Maguire managed his father's wholesale liquor business, but never realized what a big deal it was until this latest cache of information. Not only did James Maguire distribute liquor, he was a partner in a distillery in Bucks County, just a few miles from Bensalem where I grew up - the Philadelphia Pure Rye Whiskey Distillery. According to the Pittsburgh Dispatch:Upon the tract of 103 acres at Eddington, Bucks county, which has just been purchased from Mrs. Morris, a wealthy Pottsville widow, will be erected an enormous distillery for the production of rye whisky. The plant will be operated by a new company which has just been organized with a capital of $3, 000, 000, and which will be known as the Philadelphia Pure Rye Whisky Distilling Company. Nearly every large liquor dealer in this city holds stock in the company.Despite the fact that the organization of the company has been accomplished so quickly, considerable work has already been done, and the contract for the erection of the buildings will be awarded at a meeting of the Board of Directors tomorrow. Quite a number of bids have been received.Under the present laws of Pennsylvania there can be no president of a liquor company. Angelo Meyers has been elected Chairman; Henry Van Beil, Secretary, and James Maguire, Treasurer. These gentlemen, with Samuel Humphrey and Louis Gilliams, constitute the Board of Directors.But also, apparently there was a "Whiskey Trust" that was not to be trifled with, because as the article goes on..."No, we will not be antagonistic to the Whisky Trust, because the trust does not make rye whisky. The principal advantakes to the stockholders will be in establishing a home industry, which will enable us to economize on shipping. We can probably secure sufficient grain from the farmers of Bucks county to keep us going, so we will not suffer from lack of material. Then, too, we are going to try some new experiments in the manufacture of whisky which are entirely original, and which, if successful, will have a tendency to revolutionize things."APPARENTLY this is what they meant by Whiskey Trust - according to this article it ended in 1895 anyway, so they needn't have worried.
So it turns out that there is a market for pre-Prohibition era artifacts associated with the alcohol business. And it turns out that my great-great grandfather James had lots of artifacts celebrating the celebrated Montezuma Rye Whiskey produced by the Philadelphia Pure Rye Whisky Distilling Company, and many are for sale online.”Credit: Leavens to Mergatroyd
Next excerpt:”The important role played by James Maguire in organizing the distillery company was indicated by its board meeting at his headquarters at Third and Noble Streets to sign the original building contract. Maguire had been elected by his colleagues as the treasurer of the new distilling company. This represented recognition by his peers that this Irish immigrant had risen to the top ranks of Philadelphia whiskey men.
It had been a long road for Maquire, born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1833 and coming to the United States as a young man. His early years in this country have largely gone unrecorded, but a reasonable assumption is that he was working for one of the many liquor houses in Philadelphia, learning the trade. He was also having a personal life, in the late 1850s marrying Rosalie Pauline Martin, also Irish-born. They would have five children, three daughters and two sons. Among them, born in 1864, was Thomas A. Maguire, who eventually would go to work for his father in the liquor house.
James had struck out on his own in 1872, opening a store at 472 North Third Street in Philadelphia and by 1874, a second outlet at Callowhill and North Fourth Street. Eventually he expanded at the Third Street location, to encompass the store fronts on either side. An important part of Maquire’s rise in Philadelphia was his success in making Montezuma Rye Whiskey a nationally recognized brand. When he trademarked the label in 1894 he claimed that the name had been in use since 1875.
He was particularly intent on providing saloons, hotels and restaurants featuring the brand with attractive back of the bar bottles. Of particular note was an elaborate metal overlay bottle used to dispense Montezuma Rye. It stood just over eleven inches high, completely encased, as shown here, in a soft metal cage with a filigree vine and flower design. Plaques on the front contained a hammered and engraved text that read: “Celebrated Montezuma Rye Whiskey, Jas. Maquire, ” and his address.”
Credit: Those Pre-Pro Whiskey Men!
IntraCODE:ILS6GS6
