I'm reminded of the reusable longneck beer bottles that are used
exclusively by bars and taverns in certain locations, and represent
some refilling arrangement with the local beer distributor. I think
they differ from the store-bought variety in having thicker glass, lots
of scratches at the base of the neck, and a bottle cap that requires
use of an opener (rather than twist-off).....or so I've heard. ;^)

I've no idea how long there has been a distinction between such
reusable beer bottles used only by bars/taverns and the disposable
bottles sold to the GP, whether this practice varies by region (e.g.,
state), or whether it still occurs today anywhere (don't think I've
seen it since I moved out of Pennsylvania in '83).

Joe B. Jones

Date sent:              Wed, 20 Mar 2002 13:47:02 -0500
From:                   "Robert L. Schuyler"
<[log in to unmask]>
Subject:                Formal Reuse of Bottles (?)
To:                     [log in to unmask]
Send reply to:          HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
<[log in to unmask]>

> Does anyone on the list know of PUBLISHED sources, or
unpublished
> papers, on the history and nature of the formal reuse of glass
bottles?
> I am referring to the practice in the 20th century (19th century?)
when
> bottles were systematically returned to the store or other original
> source. The two major categories I am familiar with are:
>
> (1) Soda bottles which were purchased (with part of the price
considered
> a deposit) and then returned for money. This was a way many
children
> made pocket money, especially with Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola
bottles.
>
> (2) Milk bottles which were left out to be picked up by the
milkman
> (sorry, I do not remember any milkwomen!) to be taken back to
the local
> dairy to be refilled.
>
> Some questions:
>
>         (1) Are there other obvious categories beyond the two I
listed
>         above?
>
>         (2) When did such practices start?
>
>         (3) When did they end (if they have ended)?
>
>         (4) When did the phrase - "No Deposit No Return" - come
into
> use?
>
>         Such practices have a major impact on the archaeological
record
> of the 20th (19th?) century. For example, in recent excavations of
20th
> century deposits we found only one Coca Cola bottle and it was
there
> because it had been broken.
>
>         I am after published (or at least formally written up) sources,
> either primary sources or work by researchers such as
archaeologists,
> material culture experts or cultural historians. I would also be
> interested in personal knowledge you may have. You could either
send
> such personal accounts to me off line or, if you want, share them
with
> the list. This question would, I think, be of interert to many
> historical archaeologists.
>
>                                     Robert L. Schuyler
>
>
>
> Robert L. Schuyler
> University of Pennsylvania Museum
> 33rd & Spruce Streets
> Philadelphia, PA l9l04-6324
>
> Tel: (215) 898-6965
> Fax: (215) 898-0657
> [log in to unmask]