Bill,

That would be a great contribution ... especially if you were able to 
develop information on the range of early closure types in the period ca 
1885-1910. And thanks for the webpages you've provided, so far (appears to 
be the only ones of any real value relating to the ligneous disks on the 
whole WWW). There is a nice page of milk bottle accoutrements illustrations 
here (including a collection of the picks or "milk cap removers" at the very 
bottom of the page):

http://dairyantiques.com/Milk_Bottle_Go_Withs.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, 
without either virtue or talents ... The artificial aristocracy is a 
mischievous ingredient in government, and provisions should be made to 
prevent its ascendancy."

- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lockhart, Bill" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:03 PM
Subject: Re: Weird disks - milk lid


> This discussion makes me realize that I need to add a serious section on
> milk bottle closures to a study I am working on — about milk bottles.
> I now have a short section on ligneous disks and need to enlarge it.
>
> Industry literature seems to indicate (and these are my impressions,
> rather than solid facts — at least for now) that thin layers of wood
> were used early on and were gradually replace by cardboard.  The
> original wooden disks were often removed with a special pointed tool
> that generally destroyed the disk for future use.
>
> A number of methods were introduced (including a notched bottle to
> allow access to the disk for removal without damage) to facilite easy
> opening and resealing.  Eventually, the topmost of three cardboard
> layers was made with a thumb tab that allowed the disk to be removed and
> replaced.  I grew up with those, although the transition to them was
> much earlier than my 1940s and1950s upbringing.
>
> Bill Lockhart
>