Antique Soda & Beer Bottles

Your Information Source For Pre-crown Sodas & Beers

Rounded taper lip, circ: 1847-1920

This type of lip is often called a "blob" top by collectors.  It was first used on soda shaped bottles and later on various shapes of beer bottles.  Its rounded shape prevented chipping and provided the strength needed to mount various closures.  It was used almost exclusively on pony and champagne beer shaped bottles.  It was by far the most common type of lip used on pre-crown soda and beer bottles.

Double tapered lip, circ: 1815-1885

The type of lip first made its appearance on black glass wine and beer bottles.  The shape second taper was a refinement of the earlier lips used on these bottles.  The second taper was used to hold wire that was wrapped around the bottle and over the cork to hold it in place.  This type of lip was used almost exclusively on beer bottles and is commonly found on porter and ale bottles.  Its popularity started to fade during the 1870s when it was replaced with the rounded taper lip.

Tapered lip, circ: 1844-1855

This type of lip was first used on late pontil soda shaped bottles but shortly thereafter was used on some porter shaped bottles.  On soda bottles its use followed the short tapered lip and provided a heavier and larger area for securing the string or wire used to secure the cork in the neck.  Its use faded on the East coast by 1850, but remained popular in the Midwest for a number of years later.  Its use was replaced by the rounded taper lip. 

Tapered lip with ring, circ: 1848-1870

This type of lip is often called a Twitchell top by collectors.  George Twitchell of Philadelphia was the first to use this top in the late 1840s and used it almost exclusively on his soda, pony, and porter shaped bottles.  This lip style was later used by other bottlers in New York, Georgia, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, but was never really that popular.

Short tapered lip, circ: 1838-1845

This type of lip was used on some of the earliest soda bottles.  It was replaced with the tapered lip starting in 1844.  They were used exclusively on the early and late pontiled shaped sodas.  These lips are often very crudely applied and add greatly to the character of a bottle.

Rounded lip, circ: 1850-1855 and 1880-1915

This type of lip is sometimes referred to as a doughnut by collectors.  It was used on some early soda shaped bottles, usually manufactured at Pittsburgh glass works during the era that pontiled bottles were produced.  Its use then stopped until the Hutchinson stopper became popular.  Since this stopper was sealed internally, there was no need for a heavy lip to fasten the closure to on Hutchinson shaped bottles.  It is also used on other internally stopped bottles such as those that used the Baltimore loop seal, which are often in the pony and champagne beer shape, or Roobach's second patent, which used Hutchinson shaped bottles.  Both of these later patents have a ring inside the lip that is part of the sealing mechanism.

Long tapered lip, circ: 1875-1920

This type of lip was used mostly on Codd shaped bottle.  It was primarily used with bottles that used Codds patent closure or those of a similar function such as the early Roobach's stopper.  There is often a ring inside the lip with a rubber gasket that serves as a sealing mechanism.

Inverted tapered lip, circ: 1850-1855 and 1865-1885

This type of lip was used on porter and soda shaped bottles manufactured in the Pittsburgh region during the era that pontiled bottles were being manufactured.  Its use then stopped and was reintroduced when Matthew's gravitating patent shaped bottles were manufactured.  It was used almost exclusively on these gravitating shaped bottles.  When Hutchinson's patent closure was introduced, this style of lip was used until the rounded lip replaced it.

Rounded with tapered ring lip, circ: 1865-1875

This type of lip was never really popular and was only used on some beer bottles.  This style of lip was popular in England and without a doubt, American bottles tried to identify their wares with the English products.  This lip style was used on porter and early export beer shaped bottles.

Rounded taper with insert lip, circ: 1900-1920

This type of lip was never popular in the United States, but examples do exist.  It was much more popular in Germany.  The insert in the side of the lip allowed the eccentric part of a wire closure to be mounted and eliminated the need for a wire band under the lip to secure it.  this lip was used almost exclusively on champagne beer shaped bottles.

Flare with taper lip, circ: 1870-1875

This type of lip was primarily used on one style of bottle for Taylor's 1872 patent closure.  It was used on a pony shaped bottle and comes with and without a hole through the lip.

Matthews early lip, circ: 1864-1866

This type of lip was only used on pony shaped bottles that used the first Matthew's patent.  Although this lip appears wide, it is really hollow inside and was used to house a spring mechanism that would seal the bottle.

Double Rounded lip, circ: 1860-1885

This type of lip was not extensively used, but does occur on a few soda and beer bottles.  The height of each of the rounded collars on these lips varies greatly.  These bottles range from a porter shaped bottle from Louisiana, a Hutchinson shaped bottle from New Jersey, to a Zaun shaped weiss beer bottle from New York.