Topic: Large, fancy CWS bottle stopper

[Chris Harrison]

A neighbour recently dug this out of an old tip, along with a lot of bottles, pots and flagons from between the 1880s and 1930s.

13 cm long.  7 cm wide.

Obviously a stopper from a large bottle or flask.  And obviously from the Co-op (Cooperative Wholesale Society).

But why so large and fancy?  Anyone know what kind of thing it's from?
Thanks.

[glassobsessed]

It may not be a stopper - is it tapered?

John

[Foxfurie]

As above are you sure it's a bottle stopper?

I could be very wrong but it looks more like a cabinet knob (missing it's brass fitting), perhaps original fixtures and fittings from a Co-operative shop?

Really interesting item.


Fox

[Chris Harrison]

Thanks folks.  All suggestions welcome.

John, no it isn't tapered.

I called it a stopper because...
a) that's what it looks most like
b) a couple of hoary old bottle-diggers said it was 

I was a little concerned by the fancy little ridge design thingies around the cylinder.  I thought that they might cause it to stick.  So the idea that it isn't a stopper is fine by me. 

But I can't really see
a) how such a door/drawer knob might be attached
b) why it would be in a rubbish tip if it isn't broken - unless, as you say, Fox, there's some metalware missing and that's what got broken.  Although I would have thought that - back in the 1930s - someone would have mended it rather than chuck it away.

[Foxfurie]

I think my idea was that a brass cuff would sit around the glass stem with a brass fitting for screwing it on to the cabinet. I've seen such things but never with a logo on. Which is why I thought it might be a shop fitting.

I think you are right, it has been thrown away because some part of it is broken, but I agree it is puzzling that someone didn't fix it.

I do love a good mystery.

[glassobsessed]

Did not spot those little sticky out lugs. They would make for a poor stopper but would be perfect for attaching it to a base (a bit like a bayonet fitting lightbulb but without the need to turn it).

In which case a handle would be a good bet. Perhaps contact the society, they may be able to help.

John

[Chris Harrison]

Thanks, all.

I wrote to the Co-op a while ago, but haven't had an answer.  They do have an archivist, but that web site is down at the mo'.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to a likely manufacturer?

[Lustrousstone]

As it would have been a commission, you are unlikely to find that sort of information outside order books

[Ivo]

To me that is a stopper for a square cologne or after shave bottle. The taper is very slight - but then they always are.

[glassobsessed]

Ivo, there are protruding bits on the 'shaft', it would make a for a very badly fitting stopper.

Chris, a photo that shows them clearly may be useful, how many sticky out bits are there, three or four?

John