Beer bottle, Bryson, Midsteeple, Dumfries
Joseph Priestly discovered how to make carbonised mineral water
in 1772. It was prepared by dissolving carbon dioxide in water and
was originally regarded as having medicinal properties. By 1860, it
had become easier to manufacture and was being flavoured with fruit
syrups, lemons and limes. It had lost its medicinal associations
and was being retailed by grocers and wine and spirit merchants, as
well as chemists.
At first the new drink was stored in earthenware bottles, but
the gas escaped through the skin and the drink became flat.
Manufacturers switched to glass bottles. However, corks were
still used to seal the carbonised mineral water drinks, and if they
were allowed to dry out they tended to loosen which allowed the gas
to escape. If the bottles were stored on their side, this was less
likely to happen, but shopkeepers were reluctant to store them this
way.
This beer bottle sold from Bryson, Midsteeple, Dumfries, had a
cork stopper.
Object no :
DMDM006n
Collection :
Creator :
NA
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
(bottle) height 250mm, diameter (base) 52mm; (stopper) length 54mm
Materials :
glass, cork, white metal
Location :
NA
Accession number :
DUMFM:0207.100
Copyright :
Dumfries & Galloway Council