S. M. Bixby & Company, Shoe Black Polish Aqua Bottle pat. 1883

This attractive aqua bottle contain S. M. Bixby & Company Shoe Blacking, or black shoe polish. The bottle is embossed on the base BIXBY & Co. with a large X, and the side reads "PATENTED MCH.6.83 / 25." It stands four inches tall.

While the New York company did make ink, as well as glue, this particular bottle, with the March 6, 1883 patent date, contained shoe blacking or black shoe polish. The bottle was blown in a mold with a hand tooled lip and likely dates to the 1890s. The bottle seams go up the neck but fade before the lip, and the glass is very thin on one side of the base and thick on the other. The lip is similarly irregular. The bottle was dug, has a few light scuffs, and has dirt inside. The bottle lay on its side, and on quarter of the inside is somewhat frosted, or sick from standing water. It could be cleaned up a bit, but still looks good.