Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2024.FIC.038 |
Object Name |
Bottle |
Title |
Oaklands Farms Milk Bottle |
Description |
The bottle is clear and cylindrical, tapering slightly toward the top, with a thick rim. A series of embossed vertical lines run all around the bottle. In the center, there is an embossed inscription that reads, "ONE PINT LIQUID." Below this inscription, there is an embossed circle containing the text, "OAKLANDS FARMS. TRENTON, N.J." At the very bottom of the front, there is another embossed inscription that reads, "MTC REGISTERED II B 13." The top of the bottle is open, revealing the inside, which contains a white powdery substance, possibly flour. On the bottom of the bottle, there is a small embossed circle. According to the Trenton City Museum, John A. Roebling founded the John A. Roebling's Sons Company in 1841. Initially based in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, the company moved to Trenton, New Jersey, in 1848 and later opened an additional factory in Roebling, New Jersey, in 1905. The company became widely known for its manufacturing of wire rope, which was used in suspension bridges, elevators, cable cars, tramways, airplanes, shipping, mining, construction, ski lifts, electrical lines, telegraphs and telephones, wire cloth and screens, and pre-stressed concrete. Roebling's wire rope was integral to the construction of famous bridges such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the George Washington Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge. For many years, the Roebling family business was one of the largest employers in the city of Trenton. In 1953, the family sold the plants to the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. The Trenton plant closed in 1973, and the Roebling plant followed shortly after in 1974. John Roebling, born June 12, 1806, in Muehlhausen, Prussia, immigrated to America in 1831. He initially joined a farming colony in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, but, realizing he was ill-suited for farming, he transitioned to part-time surveying and construction work. By the late 1840s, Roebling had achieved considerable success, allowing him to move his operation to Trenton. His international reputation grew with the construction of the Niagara Bridge in 1855. After the American Civil War, Roebling expanded his operations and brought his sons into the business. Towards the end of his life, he began drafting plans for the Brooklyn Bridge, though he passed away in 1869 before its completion. The Brooklyn Bridge would go on to become the longest suspension bridge of its time. Citations: Ferdinand W. Roebling Sr. Hemmings.com. (n.d.). https://www.hemmings.com/stories/ferdinand-w-roebling-sr/ John A. Roebling’s Sons Company - Trenton City Museum. Trenton City Museum . (2016, May 6). https://ellarslie.org/john-a-roebling-sons-company/ Thiele, V., & Perrone, F. (2003, November). Inventory to the Roebling Family Collection, 1824-1971. Rutgers Univeristy Special Collections. https://www2.scc.rutgers.edu/ead/manuscripts/pellb.html |
Date |
Mid to Late 19th Century (Probably) |
Material |
Glass |
Artist |
Oaklands Farms Milk Bottle |
Height (in) |
7.000 |
Diameter (in) |
2.500 |
Condition |
Good |
Condition Notes |
Overall: A few abrasions throughout. Front: There is a black accretion on top near the middle. Right Side: There are a few abrasions on top. Back: There is nothing of note. Left Side: There are abrasions throughout. Top: There are abrasions around the rim. Bottom: There is wear around the rim. |
Inscription Type |
Manufacturer's Mark |
Inscription Location |
Front, Center to Bottom, Lef to Right |
Inscription Technique |
Stamped |
Inscription Text |
"ONE PINT" Line 1 "LIQUID" Line 2 "OAKLANDS" Line 3 "FAMRS" Line 4 "TRENTON, N.J." Line 5 "REGISTERED 11 B 4 13" Line 6 |
People |
Ferdinand Roebling |
Classification |
Domestic Life/Household Goods Business & Commerce |
Subjects |
Glass Glassware Glass industry Drinking vessels Milk Milkmen Cows |
Search Terms |
Glass Milk Bottle One Pint 19th Century Oaklands Farms Oaklands Farms Milk Bottle Trenton New Jersey NJ Ferdinand Roebling John A Roebling's Sons Company Roebling |
Provenance |
Found in collection |