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10 Aug 2021, last revised 03 Jan 2024

Joseph Bosch<br>from Sawyer (1911), A History of the Northern Peninsula of Michigan and its People
Joseph Bosch

Perhaps the most celebrated name in Copper Country brewing history is that of Joseph Bosch. Born into a family well adept at the art of good beer making, Joseph carried on the family trade by learning the brewing business under his father. He accumulated additional knowledge and experience on his own, which eventually led him to establish a small brewery in Lake Linden in 1874 (1,2). This small enterprise would grow to produce preferred varieties of beer recognized throughout the Upper Peninsula for 99 years. This record will remain as a lasting tribute to Joseph Bosch and to all the people associated with the Bosch Brewing Company.

Joseph Bosch was born in Baden, Germany on 11 Feb 1850 and immigrated to New York in 1854 with his family at the age of four (2,5). In 1862, when he was 12 years old, his family moved to Port Washington, WI where he worked under his father in the brewing industry (2,5). In 1867, they moved to Torch Lake (5) and Joseph erected the first house in Lake Linden and worked at the Calumet & Hecla stamp mill for four years (2,3). To gain better knowledge of the brewing business, he moved to Milwaukee, WI to work at Schlitz Brewery, and then to Cleveland, OH and Louisville, KY (2). He returned to Lake Linden in 1874 and established the brewery (2).

Bosch operated the brewery on his own for the first two years (1,2) and produced 1,717 barrels of beer in his first year (1). In 1876, he partnered with Joseph Wertin & Sons of Hancock (3) and they called the firm Joseph Bosch & Co. (2). This partnership may have stemmed from Bosch being Joseph Wertin's son-in-law (2,3). The firm of Wertin & Sons operated a general store in Calumet (8) and then a second store in Hancock (9). In 1877, the brewery produced and sold 2,124 barrels of beer (15). By 1883, they were producing 4,000 barrels per year, one-fourth of which was bottled (3). Bottling started in 1877-1878, as indicated by the bottles, following the advent of pasteurization. The bottles during this partnership bear the name, TORCH LAKE BREWERY. The firm name was specified on the bottles as J. BOSCH & CO., JOS. BOSCH & CO., or JOSEPH BOSCH & CO.

First brewery building - destroyed by fire in 1887
First Brewery Building
Second brewery building<br>Courtesy of Houghton County Historical Society
Second Brewery Building - built in 1887
Bosch Bottling house - Stone building shown on the 1900 Sanborn map<br>Courtesy of Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections, Copper Country Photograph File, MTU Neg 00117
Bottling House
Bosch wagon<br>Courtesy of <i>Superior View</i>, viewsofthepast.com
Bosch Wagon

In 1886, the plant was enlarged to meet the growing demand (1). A 790-ft deep artesian well was bored and its water, claimed to treat kidney, liver, and stomach troubles, was used in brewing (1). On 20 May 1887, fire, which started at Neumann & Trelease's store (28), destroyed nearly all of Lake Linden including every building belonging to the firm (1), but the artesian well survived (27). The brewery was rebuilt and started selling beer again by Oct 1887 (1). In 1889, the brewery's production ranked 11th within the state of Michigan (29). The Sanborn map placed the brewery on the southeast corner of Center St. and Schoolcraft St.

Sanborn map - Sept 1885 (pre-fire)
Sanborn map - Sep 1885 (pre-fire)
Sanborn map - Sept 1893 (post-fire)
Sanborn map - Sep 1893 (post-fire)
Sanborn map - July 1900
Sanborn map - Jul 1900

In May 1891, Bosch had plans to wire the brewery, bottling works, and office for electric lights (18). In 1892, the brewery expanded with new kettles and mash tubs, and a refrigerator that maintained the desired temperature for fermentation and storage, thus eliminating the need for ice (1). The improvements doubled the storage capacity of the brewery (22). In Aug 1896, a new bottling works was near completion (30). It was constructed of Portage Lake sandstone and the floor was caulked and waterproof (30). It was equipped with a patent bottle cleaning machine with a capacity of 3,000 bottles per hour and a steam corker or sealer (30). This building is shown on the 1900 Sanborn map.

In Nov 1892, the company claimed that a few competitors imitated their labels sufficiently enough to deceive some customers into believing they were purchasing Torch Lake beer (23). In late Nov 1892, they announced that all their bottles now bear a trademark, as shown in the advertisement (24).

Newspaper ad - <i>Torch Lake Times</i>, 02 Aug 1892
Newspaper ad - Aug 1892
Newspaper ad - <i>Torch Lake Times</i>, 22 Nov 1892
Newspaper ad - Nov 1892

George Wertin died in 1890 (7). After Joseph Wertin Sr. died in 1893 (1), Bosch purchased his interest and that of Joseph Wertin Jr. (2). On 01 Mar 1894, Bosch formed a stock company, the Bosch Brewing Co., for which he maintained controlling interest and served as president (1,2,5,26). We see this change reflected on the bottles now being embossed, BOSCH BREWING CO. / LAKE LINDEN, MICH.

Jos. Bosch & Co. released Bavarian beer in Jan-Feb 1892 (19), and then about a month later, changed its name to Ulmer to distinguish it from the Bavarian beers of other breweries (16,20). The company then released Export beer in Feb-Mar 1892 as a low-alcohol beer brewed from only malt and hops (21), and Bock beer in Apr-May 1892 made from selected malt and imported hops (17).

The company pamphlet described the three types of beer produced by 1899 (1):

"Superior Stock", a beer second to none, is brewed from the choicest imported hops and malt especially manufactured for this Company. The "Ulmer" is a rich, dark and heavy beer, brewed after the Bavarian process. The "Export" is a mild, light beer, but highly nutritious.
Newspaper ad - <i>The Copper Country Evening News</i>, 23 Oct 1899
Newspaper ad - Oct 1899
Newspaper ad - <i>Torch Lake Times</i>, 10 Jan 1893
Newspaper ad - Jan 1893
Newspaper ad - <i>The Copper Country Evening News</i>, 22 Jun 1899
Newspaper ad - Jun 1899

The company stated that bottling was the most substantial aspect that extended its reach (1). Superior Stock and Ulmer were sold in kegs and bottles, while Export was only sold in bottles (1). In Jun 1893, the company announced that Superior Stock could now be purchased in pint bottles, with a 24-bottle case selling for $1.25 (25). By 1899, the company bottled 1,063,452 bottles and thousands of kegs of its number one beer, Superior Stock (1). The company had branches and storehouses in Hancock, Calumet, Ishpeming, Eagle Harbor, and Baraga (1). In the late 1890s, the embossing on the bottles changed to the script Bosch design. In 1902, annual production was about 20,000 barrels (10).

Aside from brewing, Joseph Bosch was a prominent member of the community. He helped to organize the First National Bank of Lake Linden in 1888 and then became its president (2). He became a partner in a general merchandise store in Lake Linden, which was purchased from D. W. Sutter in 1885 (5). He served as mayor of Lake Linden for four years (5). He was known to have a charitable disposition: giving his time freely to worthy enterprises, extending a helping hand to the needy (2), and contributing to the development of Lake Linden and neighboring towns (5). He was elected president of the Upper Peninsula Brewers Association in 1905 (35).

In Dec 1899, the company launched Gilt Edge and marketed it in "clear white bottles" (recognized today as aqua glass). In May 1902, the company started to sell Porter in bottles and claimed it equaled any imported brand (34). In Jan 1903, the company listed four varieties in a Daily Mining Gazette ad: Superior Stock, Gilt Edge, Ulmer, and Porter, but not Export. More beer varieties were marketed in later years.

Newspaper ad - <i>The Native Copper Times</i>, 20 Feb 1900
Newspaper ad - Dec 1899
Newspaper ad - <i>The Native Copper Times</i>, 03 Jun 1902
Newspaper ad - Jun 1902
Newspaper ad - <i>The Native Copper Times</i>, 24 Feb 1903
Newspaper ad - Feb 1903
Newspaper ad - <i>The Calumet News</i>, 09 Feb 1912
Newspaper ad - Feb 1912

The company continued to make improvements to the brewery over the years as business grew. In Jan 1900, the company received a new bottle washer with the capacity of 1,000 bottles per hour (39). In Apr 1900, the company was installing a new ice-making machine, which required 9,000 ft of pipe (41). A new bottle labeling machine was put in operation in Jan 1901 (40). It automatically labeled the bottles and dated the labels, with a capacity of 30-40 bottles per minute (40). In Nov 1901, a pipeline was being installed so beer could be piped from the vats to kegs or bottles under pressure so "there being no chance for it to lose its life" (32). Ten new vats were also being installed (32). In Apr 1902, a new concrete floor was being laid in the cellar where new tanks would be installed (33). By Jun 1902, the company had a pipeline to transport beer from the tanks in the brewery to the bottling works (42). The pipeline and pipes from a large ice machine traveled through a tunnel that was 6 ft high, 4 ft wide, and 80 ft long (42). This new system allowed the beer to be bottled directly from the storage tanks while maintaining temperature and preventing exposure to outside air (42). The old system used barrels to transport beer to the bottling works (42). In Nov 1905, an addition was being built to house a new boiler with a new 26,000-gallon tank (36). The boiler would be used to generate electricity to power the brewery in the future (36). In Jan 1906, the company installed a new generator that would drive a 25-ton motor, supply water to power other machinery, and generate electricity to light the plant (37). They also installed new steam feed pumps to supply the boiler with water, and received a new ice machine (37). Three months later, the new electrical system powered by the generator was nearly in full operation (38). All machinery at the plant would now run by electricity, including an electric bottle labeling device (38). They were also installing an improved private telephone system for employees and an automatic oiling device for the machinery (38). In Aug 1907, Bosch installed an automatic bottle filling machine from the Bishop & Babcock Co. (31). It could fill 72 pint bottles or 48 quart bottles per minute, and was said to be sanitary because the workers did not touch the bottles during filling (31). With such continual improvements, Bosch maintained one of the most up-to-date operations in the Upper Peninsula (37). The brewery and its bottling works had 24 employees in 1905 (12) and 44 in 1913 (13).

When Prohibition hit Michigan in 1918, Bosch was listed as manufacturing "soft drinks" (14), but then shortly suspended operations (4). After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Bosch re-opened at the Scheuermann plant in Houghton (4). Thus, ABM bottles and wooden cases with HOUGHTON as the location date to post-Prohibition. Joseph Bosch died on 09 Jan 1937 at the age of 86 (4) and was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Lake Linden (6). His business continued to operate in Houghton, with peak sales of 100,000 barrels per year occurring from 1955 to 1961 (11). Sales then dwindled down to only 22,000 barrels in 1972 (11). The brewery closed on 28 Sep 1973, marking 99 years of existence (4). It suffered from higher grain prices, high taxes, and shrinking patronage; and couldn't compete with regional giants like Pabst, Stroh, and Anheuser-Busch (4,11).

Superior Stock label<br>Courtesy of Ed Cuyler
Superior Stock label
Superior Stock label<br>Courtesy of the Richard Dana Collection
Superior Stock label
Ulmer label<br>Courtesy of the Richard Dana Collection
Ulmer label
Bock label<br>Courtesy of the Richard Dana Collection
Bock label
Bock label<br>Courtesy of Ed Cuyler
Bock label
Gilt Edge label<br>Courtesy of Ed Cuyler
Gilt Edge label
Porter label<br>Courtesy of the Richard Dana Collection
Porter label

References

  1. anonymous. 1899. Compliments of The Bosch Brewing Co.: Bottlers and Brewers of Fine Lager Beer, Lake Linden, Michigan. Mining Journal Print, Marquette. (company pamphlet)
  2. anonymous. 1903. Biographical Record: Houghton, Baraga and Marquette Counties, Michigan. Biographical Publishing Company. Chicago, IL.
  3. anonymous. 1883. The History of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Western Historical Company. Chicago, IL.
  4. Monette, C. J. 1978. Joseph Bosch and the Bosch Brewing Company. Welden H. Curtin. Lake Linden, MI.
  5. Sawyer, A. L. 1911. A History of the Northern Peninsula of Michigan and its People. The Lewis Publishing Company. Chicago, IL.
  6. Find a Grave. accessed Aug 2021. Joseph Bosch. findagrave.com/memorial/167328156/joseph-bosch
  7. Find a Grave. accessed Oct 2021. George Wertin. findagrave.com/memorial/193883878/george-wertin
  8. R. L. Polk & Co. 1877. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory 1877. R. L. Polk & Co. Detroit, MI.
  9. R. L. Polk & Co. 1879. Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory 1879. The Detroit Free Press Company. Detroit, MI.
  10. anonymous. 1903. One Hundred Years of Brewing. H. S. Rich & Co., Publishers. Chicago and New York.
  11. Kent, E. (1973, Oct 03). Brewery Closes after 99 Years. Michigan Tech Lode. p. 8.
  12. Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics. 1906. State of Michigan Twenty-Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics Including the Thirteenth Annual Report of State Inspection of Factories. Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co., State Printers. Lansing, MI.
  13. Michigan Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics. 1914. Thirty-First Annual Report of the Department of Labor of the State of Michigan. Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co., State Printers. Lansing, MI.
  14. State of Michigan Department of Labor. 1919. Thirty-Sixth Annual Report of the Department of Labor of the State of Michigan. Fort Wayne Printing Co. Fort Wayne, Indiana.
  15. anonymous. (1879, Jul 24). Amount of Lager Beer Made and Sold in this District Last Year. Portage Lake Mining Gazette (Houghton, MI). p. 3.
  16. anonymous. (1892, Mar 03). Our Merchants. Michigan Copper Journal (Hancock, MI). p. 5.
  17. anonymous. (1892, Apr 28). untitled. Michigan Copper Journal (Hancock, MI). p. 1.
  18. anonymous. (1891, May 19). untitled. Torch Lake Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 3.
  19. anonymous. (1892, Feb 02). untitled. Torch Lake Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 3.
  20. anonymous. (1892, Mar 01). Have changed the name. Torch Lake Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 3.
  21. anonymous. (1892, Mar 01). untitled. Torch Lake Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 3.
  22. anonymous. (1892, Aug 30). untitled. Torch Lake Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 3.
  23. anonymous. (1892, Nov 01). Imitation is the Sincerest Flattery. Torch Lake Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 3.
  24. anonymous. (1892, Nov 29). untitled. Torch Lake Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 3.
  25. anonymous. (1893, Jun 13). untitled. The Native Copper Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 3.
  26. anonymous. (1894, Feb 27). untitled. The Native Copper Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 3.
  27. anonymous. (1887, Jun 07). untitled. Torch Lake Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 2.
  28. anonymous. (1887, May 24). Lake Linden's Calamity. Torch Lake Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 2.
  29. anonymous. (1889, Jul 02). The Torch Lake Brewery. Torch Lake Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 3.
  30. anonymous. (1896, Aug 11). Second to None. The Native Copper Times (Lake Linden, MI). p. 3.
  31. anonymous. (1907, Aug 03). Bottle Filler is Sanitary. The Copper Country Evening News (Calumet, MI). p. 4.
  32. anonymous. (1901, Nov 06). Improvements. The Copper Country Evening News (Calumet, MI). p. 7.
  33. anonymous. (1902, Apr 11). Improvements. The Copper Country Evening News (Calumet, MI). p. 7.
  34. anonymous. (1902, May 20). Porter in Bottles. The Copper Country Evening News (Calumet, MI). p. 5.
  35. anonymous. (1905, Sep 08). Officers Elected. The Copper Country Evening News (Calumet, MI). p. 2.
  36. anonymous. (1905, Nov 13). New Addition to the Bosch Brewing Plant. The Copper Country Evening News (Calumet, MI). p. 3.
  37. anonymous. (1906, Jan 22). Bosch Brewing Co. Installs Machinery. The Copper Country Evening News (Calumet, MI). p. 3.
  38. anonymous. (1906, Apr 01). Bosch Brewing Company's Machinery. The Copper Country Evening News (Calumet, MI). p. 3.
  39. anonymous. (1900, Jan 18). Lake Linden-Grover Briefs. The Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton, MI). p. 7.
  40. anonymous. (1901, Jan 23). Bottle Labeling Machine. The Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton, MI). p. 7.
  41. anonymous. (1900, Apr 09). News Notes from the Lake Lindens. The Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton, MI). p. 7.
  42. anonymous. (1902). Jun 27). New Contrivance for Bottling Beer. The Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton, MI). p. 7.

s34
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: aqua
top: lightning stopper - applied
base: ?
maker's mark: (unknown)
other marks: (unknown)
date: 1877-1878
rarity: no known whole example
  • JOSEPH spelled out
  • lowercase O in Co

s1
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: aqua
top: lightning stopper - applied
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: C & I (base)
other marks: (none)
date: c.1878
rarity: extremely rare
  • different plate
  • small plate with Joseph abbreviated as J.
  • same plate for 1, 1a, s1, 2, s2
  • mold has tall body compared to 1 (see comparison)

1
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: aqua
top: lightning stopper - applied
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: C & I (base)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (back)
date: c.1878
rarity: extremely rare
  • same plate for 1, 1a, s1, 2, s2
  • mold has short body
1a
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
maker's mark: C & Co (base)
other marks: (none)
rarity: extremely rare
  • same plate for 1, 1a, s1, 2, s2
  • mold has short body
  • different maker's mark
  • maker's mark image is from a different example

2
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: lightning stopper - applied
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: C & Co. (base)
other marks: (none)
date: 1878-1880
rarity: extremely rare
  • same plate for 1, 1a, s1, 2, s2
  • mold has tall body
  • different color from s1

s2
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: lightning stopper - applied
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: C & Co. (base)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (back)
date: 1878-1880
rarity: extremely rare
  • same plate for 1, 1a, s1, 2, s2
  • mold has short body compared to 2 (see comparison)
  • different color from 1a but with generic mark

3
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: lightning stopper - applied
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: E. SON & H (base)
other marks: (none)
date: mid-1880s
rarity: extremely rare
  • different plate
  • larger plate with Joseph abbreviated as JOS.
  • lowercase o in Co.
  • punctuation after LAKE, BREWERY, and BOSCH
  • mold has tall body
  • same plate for 3, 3a, 3b, 3c
3a
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
maker's mark: E S & H (base)
other marks: (none)
rarity: rare
  • same plate as 3 but "." after BOSCH was modified into ","
  • plate slightly lower on mold
  • different maker's mark
3b
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
color: light olive-amber
maker's mark: E S & H. (base)
other marks: (none)
rarity: extremely rare
  • same modified plate
  • color variant of 3a
3c
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
maker's mark: E S & H (base)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (back)
rarity: rare
  • same modified plate
  • generic mark on back

4
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: lightning stopper - applied
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE IS NOT TO BE SOLD (back)
date: late 1880s
rarity: rare
  • different plate from 3
  • uppercase O in CO.
  • "," after BREWERY
  • same plate for 4, 7, and 7a
  • mold has a tall body

7
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - applied
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE IS NOT TO BE SOLD (back)
date: late 1880s
rarity: rare
  • same plate for 4, 7, and 7a
  • different top from 4
  • mold has tall body
7a
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
rarity: (?)
  • same plate for 4, 7, and 7a
  • no generic mark

5
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: lightning stopper - applied
base: cup-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (back)
date: late 1880s
rarity: extremely rare
  • different plate design
  • same plate for 5, 6, and 6a
  • mold has short body and short neck
  • the D S G Co. mark stated in the book was not found on this example

6
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - applied
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
date: late 1880s
rarity: rare
  • same plate for 5, 6, and 6a
  • different top and mold from 5
6a
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (back)
rarity: rare
  • same plate for 5, 6, and 6a
  • includes generic mark on back

8
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
date: early 1890s
rarity: rare
  • different plate from 7
  • no "," after BREWERY
  • BREWERY closer to left edge of plate

9
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: cup-bottom
maker's mark: C. C. G. Co. (base)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (back), W (base), 1 (base)
date: 1893-1894
rarity: rare
  • pint-sized complement to 8
  • no "." after JOS, BOSCH, or CO
  • same plate for 9 and 9a
9a
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
color: olive yellow
maker's mark: C. C. G. Co. (base)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (back), W (base), 1 (base)
rarity: extremely rare
  • same plate for 9 and 9a
  • color variant of 9

10
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - applied
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: CLYDE GLASS WORKS CLYDE N.Y. (base)
other marks: (none)
date: 1895
rarity: scarce
  • different plate from 8 and 7
  • "," after BREWERY (like 7 but unlike 8)
  • "." after BOSCH (unlike 7 or 8)
  • top of J in JOS. in front of B in BREWERY (unlike 7 and 8)
10a
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
maker's mark: CLYDE GLASS WORKS CLYDE N.Y. (base)
other marks: (none)
rarity: scarce
  • different plate from 10
  • C in BOSCH at bottom of plate
  • J in JOS. higher on plate

11
Torch Lake Brewery botttle
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled or applied
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: CLYDE GLASS WORKS CLYDE N.Y. (base)
other marks: (none)
date: 1895
rarity: rare
  • pint-sized complement of 10
  • different plate from 9
  • "." after JOS, BOSCH, and CO

12
Bosch Brewing Co bottle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: CLYDE GLASS WORKS CLYDE N.Y. (base)
other marks: (none)
date: 1895-c.1897
rarity: scarce
  • plate reflects change in company name
  • same plate for 12, 12a, and 12b
  • "." after BOSCH
  • no generic marks
12a
Bosch Brewing Co bottle
maker's mark: CLYDE GLASS WORKS CLYDE N.Y. (base)
other marks: REGISTERED (lower front)
rarity: scarce
  • same plate for 12, 12a, and 12b
  • no "." after BOSCH
  • generic mark on front
12b
Bosch Brewing Co bottle
maker's mark: CLYDE GLASS WORKS CLYDE N.Y. (base)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (lower back)
rarity: scarce
  • same plate for 12, 12a, and 12b
  • no "." after BOSCH
  • generic mark on back

13
Bosch Brewing Co bottle
capacity: quart
color: dark amber
top: Baltimore loop seal
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
date: 1895-c.1897
rarity: extremely rare
  • different plate from 12
  • no punctuation after CO, MICH, or LINDEN
  • wider space between B in BOSCH and L in LINDEN
  • plate lower on mold than 12
  • no maker's mark

14
Bosch Brewing Co bottle
capacity: quart
color: various shades of amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
date: c.1897
rarity: scarce
  • different plate design
  • smaller plate size
  • same plate for 14 and 14b
14a
Bosch Brewing Co bottle
color: light olive green
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
rarity: extremely rare
  • same plate for 14 and 14b
  • color variant of 14

15
Bosch Brewing Co bottle
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
date: c.1897
rarity: scarce
  • pint-sized complement to 14

s41
Bosch Brewing Co bottle
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (back)
date: c.1897
rarity: extremely rare
  • different plate from 15
  • "." after MICH
  • no gap between C and H in MICH
  • mold shorter with smaller diameter compared to 15 (see comparison)
  • generic mark on back

16
Bosch bottle
capacity: quart
color: dark amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
date: c.1898
rarity: scarce
  • different plate design
  • script-style embossing

17
Bosch bottle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
date: c.1899
rarity: common
  • different plate from 16
  • script unfilled
  • ascender of h in Bosch almost touching plate seam line
  • K in LAKE under o in Bosch
17a
Bosch bottle
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
rarity: common
  • different plate from 17
  • ascender of h in Bosch distant from plate seam line
  • K in LAKE under s in Bosch
  • same plate for 17a and 27

27
Bosch bottle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: crown top - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
date: c.1900
rarity: scarce
  • same plate for 17a and 27
  • different top
  • this early crown top probably used a porcelain stopper

18
Bosch bottle
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: cup-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
date: c.1899
rarity: scarce
  • pint-sized complement to 17

19
Bosch bottle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: REGISTERED (under plate), THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
date: 1900-1905
rarity: common
  • different plate from 17
  • top of h is rounded
  • I in MICH directly under E in LAKE
  • REGISTERED on front

20
Bosch bottle
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: REGISTERED (under plate), THIS BOTTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
date: 1900-1905
rarity: common
  • pint-sized complement to 19
  • different plate from 18
  • underscore extends only halfway under B in Bosch
  • C in MICH right of I in LINDEN

21
Bosch bottle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: cup-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
date: c.1905
rarity: scarce
  • full-mold plate
  • straight REGISTERED

22
Bosch bottle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: Baltimore loop seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: A B CO (heel)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
dated: 1908
rarity: common
  • different plate from 21
  • curved REGISTERED
  • E in REGISTERED under left edge of M in MICH
  • short tails at the top of B in Bosch
  • this speciment has date code: 8 - S
22a
Bosch bottle
maker's mark: N B B G CO (back heel)
other marks: (none)
date: 1905-1910
rarity: common
  • different plate from other variants
  • E in REGISTERED far left of M in MICH
  • no tails at top of B in Bosch
  • different maker's mark
22b
Bosch bottle
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
date: 1905-1910
rarity: common
  • different plate from other variants
  • like 22 but M in MICH slightly right of E in LAKE
  • no maker's mark

23
Bosch bottle
capacity: quart
color: aqua
top: cork seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: S B & G CO (base)
other marks: (none)
date: 1899-c.1904
rarity: scarce
  • oval plate
  • REGISTERED within the plate
  • held Gilt Edge Premium Beer

24
Bosch bottle
capacity: pint
color: aqua
top: cork seal - tooled
base: cup-bottom
maker's mark: S B & G Co (base)
other marks: (none)
date: 1899-c.1904
rarity: scarce
  • pint-sized complement to 23
  • held Gilt Edge Premium Beer

25
Bosch bottle
capacity: quart
color: aqua
top: cork seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: S B & G Co (base)
other marks: (none)
date: 1905
rarity: extremely rare
  • full-mold plate
  • held Gilt Edge Premium Beer
  • same plate for 25 and 25a
25a
Bosch bottle
maker's mark: A B Co (base)
other marks: (none)
dated: 1905 or 1906
rarity: scarce
  • same plate for 25 and 25a
  • different maker's mark
  • date code on this example unclear; appears to be 5 (or 6) - S

26
Bosch bottle
capacity: pint
color: aqua
top: cork seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: S B & G Co (base)
other marks: (none)
date: 1905
rarity: scarce
  • pint-sized complement to 25
  • same plate for 26 and 26a
  • held Gilt Edge Premium Beer
26a
Bosch bottle
maker's mark: A B Co (base)
other marks: (none)
dated: 1907
rarity: scarce
  • pint-sized complement to 25a
  • same plate for 26 and 26a
  • different maker's mark
  • this example has date code: 7 - S

28
Bosch bottle
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: crown top - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE IS NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
dated: 1912
rarity: common
  • different plate from 22 and its variants
  • M in MICH not tilted
  • different top
  • the A B Co. mark stated in the book was not found on this example
  • this example has date code: S - 12
28a
Bosch bottle
maker's mark: N B B G CO (back heel)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
date: 1910-1912
rarity: common
  • different plate from 22 and its variants and 28
  • underscore does not extend beyond o in Bosch
  • "," after LINDEN and "." after MICH
  • different maker's mark

29
Bosch bottle
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: crown top - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: REGISTERED (under plate), THIS BOTTLE IS NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
dated: 1912
rarity: common
  • different plate from 18 and 20
  • underscore ends above K in LAKE
  • different top
  • the A B Co. mark stated in the book was not found on this example
  • this example has date code: S - 12

30
Bosch bottle
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: cork seal - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: S B & G Co (base)
other marks: (paper label)
date: 1903
rarity: rare
  • shoulder embossing
  • the paper label was added later
30a
Bosch bottle
maker's mark: A B Co (base)
other marks: (none)
dated: 1907
rarity: extremely rare
  • similar embossing
  • different maker's mark
  • this example has date code: 7 - S

31
Bosch bottle
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: crown top - tooled
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: A B Co (base)
other marks: (paper label)
dated: 1914
rarity: rare
  • similar embossing as 30a
  • different top
  • these labels were added later
  • this example has date code: 14 - S

abm-1
bottle image
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: crown top - ABM
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
dated: 1916
rarity: common
  • this example has an A B Co. date code: 16 S 9

abm-2
bottle image
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: crown top - ABM
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
dated: 1920
rarity: common
  • this example has an A B Co. date code: 20 S 2
abm-2a
bottle image
maker's mark: N B B G CO (back heel)
other marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (base)
rarity: common
  • different plate from abm-2
  • M in MICH right of E in LAKE
  • "," after LINDEN and "." after MICH
  • has a maker's mark

abm-3
bottle image
capacity: quart
color: aqua
top: crown top - ABM
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
dated: 1913
rarity: scarce
  • heel has "13 1", which may be a date code

abm-4
bottle image
capacity: pint
color: aqua
top: crown top - ABM
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
dated: 1913
rarity: rare
  • pint-sized complement of abm-3
  • heel has "13 1", which may be a date code

abm-5
bottle image
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: crown top - ABM
base: post-bottom
maker's mark: (none)
other marks: (none)
date: c.1915
rarity: rare

abm-6
bottle image
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: crown top - ABM
base: cup-bottom
maker's mark: (base)
other marks: (none)
dated: 1933
rarity: extremely rare
  • location changed to Houghton, post-Prohibition
  • this example has a date code for 1933

abm-7
bottle image
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: crown top - ABM
base: cup-bottom
maker's mark: (base)
other marks: (none)
dated: 1934
rarity: extremely rare
  • export-shape
  • this example has a date code for 1934

abm-8
bottle image
capacity: quart
color: amber
top: crown top - ABM
base: cup-bottom
maker's mark: (base)
other marks: (none)
dated: 1936
rarity: extremely rare
  • this example has a date code for 1936

abm-9
bottle image
capacity: pint
color: amber
top: crown top - ABM
base: cup-bottom
maker's mark: (base)
other marks: (none)
dated: 1936
rarity: rare
  • this example has a date code for 1936