THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF
WM. H. EARL BOTTLES IN THE WORLD
In 2018 I found my first relic, an antique 1903 "WM. H. EARL NEWTON, N.J." embossed bottle. I spotted the thick amber glass in a local river from my kayak, where it had been tossed 115 years earlier. After recovering the item, I researched the history of the man whose name and monogram covered the body of the vessel.
William Earl was a hotel and cafe owner in Newton, New Jersey. He operated his 26-room hotel from 1897 until he died in 1925. During this time, Earl filled thousands of his bottles with a variety of beers, homemade mineral waters, and soft drinks for his parched patrons. Glass bottle manufacturing techniques and patent closures improved tremendously over these 28 years and Earl spared no expense transitioning from the early and crude mouth-blown blob top finishes of the late 19th century to the later machine-made crown tops of the 1920s.
The longevity of Earl's bottling business, coupled with the ever-improving bottle manufacturing processes of the era, meant that dozens of variants of unique Earl bottles were created.
The following is my personal William Earl bottle collection. Each of the bottles displayed is unique in its embossing, color, size, or lip finish.
Cheers,
Dave
c. 1885
FRONT: W. H. EARL / NEWTON / N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO / BE SOLD / REGISTERED
BASE: 1
FINISH: Applied Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES:
c. 1885
FRONT: W. H. EARL / NEWTON / N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO / BE SOLD / REGISTERED
BASE: 1
FINISH:
COLOR: Yellow Amber
NOTES:
c. 1885
FRONT: W. H. EARL / NEWTON / N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE / SOLD
BASE: 3
FINISH: Applied Blob
COLOR: Honey Amber
NOTES:
c. 1885
FRONT: W. H. EARL / NEWTON / N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE / SOLD
BASE:
FINISH: Applied Blob
COLOR: Citron
NOTES: Base has been cut off. Original closure.
c. 1890
FRONT: W. H. EARL / NEWTON, N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO / BE SOLD
BASE: E-L (East Lakes Glass Co.)
FINISH: Applied Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES:
c. 1890
FRONT: W. H. EARL / NEWTON, N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO / BE SOLD
BASE: 3 B
FINISH: Tooled Hutchinson
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Original closure. Previously unlisted. Hutchbook NJ0376.5
c. 1892
FRONT: W. H. EARL / NEWTON, N.J. /
THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: Blank
FINISH: Applied Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES:
c. 1895
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: Blank
FINISH: Applied Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES:
c. 1895
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: KARL HUTTER / XXVN / NEW YORK
FINISH: Applied Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES:
c. 1895
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: Blank
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES: Original closure. Lightning stopper.
c. 1897
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: 50-N
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES:
c. 1897
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: 50-N
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES:
c. 1897
FRONT: WM. H. EARL, / WME / NEWTON, N.J.
BACK: Blank
BASE: Blank
FINISH: Tooled Blob Champagne
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: No additional embossing outside of the slug plate. Loop on the bottom of "M" in monogram.
c. 1897
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: Blank
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES:
c. 1897
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BASE: 175
FINISH: Tooled Blob Champagne
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Original Putnam Cork Retainer (Patented 1859).
c. 1900
FRONT: WM. H. EARL, / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: (Illegible)
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES: Comma after "Earl". Loop on the bottom of "M" in monogram.
c. 1900
FRONT: WM. H. EARL, / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: (Illegible)
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES: Comma after "Earl". Loop on the bottom of "M" in monogram.
c. 1900
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BASE: Blank
FINISH: Tooled Hutchinson
COLOR: Clear
NOTES: Previously unlisted. Hutchbook NJ0380.5
c. 1900
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO / BE SOLD
BASE: Blank
FINISH: Tooled Hutchinson
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Hutchbook NJ0379
c. 1900
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BASE: 10 / 0
FINISH: Tooled Hutchinson
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Previously unlisted. Original closure. Hutchbook NJ0378.5
c. 1900
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BASE: 10 D
FINISH: Tooled Hutchinson
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Previously unlisted. Hutchbook NJ0377.5
c. 1900
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BASE: WME Monogram
FINISH: Tooled Hutchinson
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Previously unlisted. Hutchbook NJ0380.3
c. 1900
Front: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J.
Back: Blank
Base: C461
Finish: Tooled Hutchinson
Color: Aqua
NOTES: Hutchbook NJ0377
c. 1900
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED
BACK: Blank
BASE: Horseshoe Mark
FINISH: Tooled Blob Champagne
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES:
c. 1900
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J.
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO / BE SOLD
BASE: WME Monogram
FINISH: Tooled Hutchinson
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Original closure. Hutchbook NJ0380
c. 1900
FRONT: REGISTERED / WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: (Illegible)
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES: Distinctive cupped bottom.
c. 1900
FRONT: REGISTERED / WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: 10 A
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES:
c. 1900
FRONT: REGISTERED / WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: 10B
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Original closure. "Germany" Karl Hutter porcelain stopper.
1903
FRONT: REGISTERED / WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: 1903
BASE: 44-N / K.H. (Karl Hutter)
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES: Original closure. Karl Hutter porcelain stopper.
c. 1905
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: C G Co
BASE: 30-S
FINISH: Tooled Blob Champagne
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Lots of air ventilation marks.
c. 1905
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: 2501
FINISH: Tooled Blob Champagne
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Original closure. Unmarked porcelain stopper.
c. 1905
FRONT: THE PROPERTY OF / WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: 250
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES: Original closure. Karl Hutter porcelain stopper.
c. 1905
FRONT: THE PROPERTY OF / WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: 250
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES:
c. 1905
FRONT: THE PROPERTY OF / WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: 250N.
FINISH: Tooled Blob
COLOR: Amber
NOTES: Original closure. Karl Hutter porcelain stopper.
c. 1910
FRONT: THE PROPERTY OF / WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: 250
FINISH: Tooled Crown
COLOR: Amber
NOTES:
c. 1910
FRONT: THE PROPERTY OF / WM. H. EARL / WME / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
BACK: Blank
BASE: 250 / 2
FINISH: Tooled Crown
COLOR: Amber
NOTES: Weak slug plate embossing.
c. 1913
FRONT: WM. H. EARL
BACK: NEWTON, N.J.
BASE: U2327
FINISH: Tooled Crown
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Missing label? Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1915
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / NEWTON, N.J. / CONTENTS 8 OZ. / REGISTERED
BACK: Blank
BASE: 216
FINISH: Tooled Crown
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1915
FRONT: REGISTERED / WM. H. EARL / NEWTON, N.J. / CAPACITY 12 OZ.
BACK: Blank
BASE: 1338
FINISH: Tooled Crown
COLOR: Aqua
NOTES: Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1920
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED
BACK: MINIMUM CONTENTS / 7 FLUID OZS.
BASE: 1133
FINISH: Machined Crown
COLOR: Clear
NOTES: Underlined "M". Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1920
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED / 330
BACK: MINIMUM CONTENTS / 7 FLUID OZS.
BASE: Blank
FINISH: Machined Crown
COLOR: Clear
NOTES: Underlined "M". Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1920
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / NEWTON, N.J.
BACK: MINIMUM CONTENTS / 7 FLUID OZ.
BASE: A.G.W. / 55-1 (American Glass Works Richmond, Virginia)
FINISH: Machined Crown
COLOR: Clear
NOTES: Six embossed stars around the shoulder. Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1920
FRONT: WM. H. EARL / NEWTON, N.J.
BACK: MINIMUM CONTENTS / 7 FLUID OZS.
BASE: A. G. W. / 55-2 (American Glass Works Richmond, Virginia)
FINISH: Machined Crown
COLOR: Clear
NOTES: Six embossed stars around the shoulder. Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1925
FRONT: EARL'S BOTTLING / WORKS / NEWTON, N.J. / REGISTERED / 101 L
BACK: MINIMUM CONTENTS / 7 FLUID OZS.
BASE: Blank
FINISH: Machined Crown
COLOR: Clear
NOTES: Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1925
FRONT: EARL'S BOTTLING / WORKS / NEWTON, N.J. / CONTENTS 7 FLD. OZ'S / REGISTERED
BACK: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD / D. O. C. 224-2
BASE: Blank
FINISH: Machined Crown
COLOR: Clear
NOTES: D.O.C. (Dominick Cunningham Glass Co.). Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1925
FRONT: REGISTERED / EARL'S BOTTLING / WORKS / NEWTON, N.J. / CONTENTS 7 FL. OZ. / A 234 9
BACK: Blank
BASE: R inside a triangle (Reed Glass Company)
FINISH: Machined Crown
COLOR: Clear
NOTES: Embossed scalloping around the shoulder. Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1925
FRONT: EARL'S / BOTTLING WORKS / WM. P. MATHEWS / PROP. / NEWTON, N.J. / CONTENTS 26 Fl. OZS.
BACK: M.S. / M. SCHWARTZ / BROOKLYN, N.Y. / REGISTERED / CONT. 26 OZ.
BASE: F.. / 8
FINISH: Siphon Seltzer
COLOR: Clear
NOTES: Siphon stamped with "M. Schwartz BKLYN 50". Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1925
FRONT: REGISTERED / EARL'S BOTTLING / WORKS / NEWTON, N.J. / CONTENTS 7 FL. OZ. / A 234 0
BACK: Blank
BASE: R inside a triangle (Reed Glass Company)
FINISH: Machined Crown
COLOR: Emerald Green
NOTES: Embossed scalloping around the shoulder with texture. Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.
c. 1927
FRONT: HOWDY / HOWDY / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / 6 1/2 FL. OZS.
BACK: HOWDY / HOWDY / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / D O C 606-1
BASE: EARL'S / BOT'G WKS. / NEWTON, N.J.
FINISH: Machined Crown
COLOR: Clear
NOTES: Howdy bottle design patented 1927. D.O.C. (Dominick Cunningham Glass Co.). Gould Amendment 1913 - Required that contents be plainly marked on the outside of the food package.