Sanford’s Inks Utility Bottle

1. Identification and Attributes

• Manufacturer: The Sanford Manufacturing Company.
  • The Mark: The base is embossed “SANFORD’S” in an arch over the number “8”.
  • The Number “8”: This is a mold number used by the glass factory to track quality control (identifying which specific iron mold the bottle came from). It does not indicate the ounce capacity, as this is likely a standard 2-ounce bottle.
• Color: Teal Green.
  • Note: While many utility inks were a pale, washed-out aqua, Sanford’s bottles are famous for coming in this richer, vibrant “Peacock” or Teal Blue-Green. This specific color makes them more desirable to collectors than standard clear or pale aqua versions.
• Form: This is a Conical or “Cone” Ink.
  • Design: The wide base tapering to a narrow neck was a practical design choice to prevent tipping (stability) on a desk. The distinct “step” or ring at the shoulder is a signature feature of this specific Sanford mold.

2. Manufacturing and Age

• Date: Circa 1890s (1885–1905).
• Production Method: This is Blown-in-Mold (BIM) with a Hand-Tooled Finish.
  • Evidence: In the neck, you can see concentric striations or lines on the glass collar. This indicates that after the bottle was removed from the blowpipe, the glassblower used a hand tool (a “finishing tool”) to shape the hot glass into that precise Double Ring Collar.
  • The Collar: The “Double Ring” style was functional; the lower ring provided a grip for a wire bail or foil seal, while the upper ring formed the pouring lip.
  • Texture: The body displays a “whittled” texture, caused by the hot glass coming into contact with a cooler metal mold—a hallmark of authentic Victorian glass.

3. About the Sanford Manufacturing Co.

• History: The company was founded in 1857 in Worcester, Massachusetts, but moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1866.
• Legacy: They became one of the largest ink and mucilage (glue) manufacturers in America. They are still in business today as Sanford L.P., the company that owns the Sharpie, Expo, and Paper Mate brands. This bottle is an early ancestor of the modern Sharpie marker!

Summary: This is a classic American utility ink bottle. Its value lies in its excellent condition, the desirable teal color, and the clear embossing. It is a tangible piece of office history from the era of dip pens and steel nibs.