Warner’s Safe Cure – Frank Romanowski’s Safe Compound Dig in 2010

Warner's Safe Compounds Dug by Frank Romanowski

If you follow this blog with any regularity, you have heard me say more than once that my favorite Safe Cures come from the London Office. That is not a slight against the cures from Frankfurt, Pressburg or Melbourne, but rather an acknowledgement that London offers, perhaps, the widest variety of types and colors, second only to Rochester. For example, the London Office offers us the remarkable sample in amber and green or the Safe Compound in  6″ or 5 1/2″ strap sided varieties. Also, the colors run from amber to ice blue aqua.

Although I have never had the opportunity to dig in Great Britain, I have had the pleasure of making the acquaintance (virtually) of Frank Romanowski. Frank lives in the north of England and is an avid bottle digger. More to the point, he has had occasion to dig some nice Warner’s Safe Cures over the years. One such dig yielded some nice Safe Compounds pictured above. I asked him to share the story of that dig and he graciously agreed to do so. Here is his unedited account of that dig:

                                                     The ‘Compound’ Dig
 
          It was February 28th 2010. A day in my digging career I will never forget! This is how the story began. My sister Helena is what we call here in the UK a ‘rambler’. That doesn’t mean she talks endlessly! It actually means that she is a member of The Ramblers Association,  a national group which organises group walks through the countryside and takes pride in protecting rights of way. The previous weekend, my sister had been on one such ‘ramble’ and had spotted broken glass and stoneware at the bottom of a stream bank. I had asked her to look out for such tell-tale signs of possible old dumping grounds whenever she was out walking and had several leads which turned out to be false starts in the past. So I didn’t hold out much hope when she offered to take me to the spot.

         It was quite a long drive and then a hike on foot, so it was mid-morning when we finally arrived at the site. It was just as she had said, broken stoneware jam pots and fragments of codd bottles could be seen in the stream and it was clear that they had come from the eroded edges of an ashy bank above it. I cut into the banking with my shovel and after removing about a foot of hard clay ash and bottle fragments began to appear. It looked promising! A few minutes later my heart sank a little as clear glass machine-made sauce bottles and jam jars began to surface. ”Another horrible late 20s site” I thought to myself. My sister took her dogs off for a long walk and left me to get on with the dig. Three hours and a ton of fruitlessly shifted ash later my mobile phone rang. It was my partner Catherine calling to enquire how I was getting on. ”I’ve got nothing” I told her ”I doubt I’ll be hurrying back to dig this place again”. A few minutes after ending our conversation I decided to fork in the sides of the trench. A small amber bottle fell face down on to the ash. ”Another Jeye’s Fluid” I thought to myself, picked the bottle up and turned it around. A Warner’s Compound!! I couldn’t believe it! A moment later the base of another appeared, alas it was only the base. An amber hair restorer had my heart racing again for a moment as i pulled it from the ash thinking it might be yet another Compound! I dug with renewed vigour for a few minutes untill suddenly the top of another small amber bottle appeared, sticking out of the wall of the trench. I gently eased it out….Warner’s Compound number two!! My sister returned shortly afterwards to find me one excited and happy digger! Upon returning home, Catherine couldn’t believe my good fortune. ”I want to dig one” she said, ”Shall we go back there tomorrow?” I didn’t need a second invitation to return.

         March 1st, we set off good and early and upon arrival set about starting to dig each side of the trench I had dug the day before. Hopeful of yet more success, I quickly hit the bottom of the site in my trench…for little reward. Meanwhile, Catherine had been struggling a little with the hard clay that capped the site. ”Here, let me have a go” I said, quickly cutting off the clay in her trench to get down into the ash. As I lifted my shovel, a small amber lip appeared. ”Can I dig it out?” she said and then carefully lifted the bottle from the ash. Another sparkling Warner’s Compound! Elated we dug on, but unfortunately no more Compounds surfaced that day. I have since returned to the site on several occasions and have dug a further five broken Compounds. There is very little left of the site to dig now, but I live in hope! 

Thanks for sharing Frank!  I hope to have the opportunity to dig with Frank some day. Cheers.

Warner’s Safe Cure – The End

As I devoted my last post to H. H. Warner’s Death Certificate, it seemed appropriate to followup with a post on the site where his remains remain. Specifically, Warner elected to be buried next to his first wife, Martha Keeney, in Skaneateles, New York. Martha had died suddenly in 1871, well before Warner’s Safe Cure empire took off.  Below is a photograph of the stone marking the gravesite.

The marker carries the following inscriptions. On the front, it reads:

H. H. Warner

1842-1923

Martha, wife of H. H. Warner

Died Jan. 25, 1871

Aged 23 Years, 7 Months & 7 days

The right side of the stone reads:

Sherman Keeney

Died Aug. 27, 1847

Ellen E. Keeney

Died Oct. 26, 1855

Clearly, the marker belonged to Martha’s parents. By the time of his demise, Warner was likely not in a financial position to purchase an exquisite grave marker. He will spend enternity with his in-laws. Special thanks to Jack Stecher for lending me this photograph and providing a transcription of the engraving on the marker.

Warner’s Safe Cure – Death of a King

As the saying goes “death comes for us all,” and H. H. Warner was no exception. His once great patent medicine empire had spiralled into bankruptcy in 1893, but he lived another thirty years trying to reclaim the wealth and influence that he wielded in the 1880′s. He died trying. In 1923, he succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 81. Thanks to Jack Stecher, I have attached a copy of H. H. Warner’s Death Certificate issued by Hennepin County, Minnesota.

H. H. Warner Death Certificate (1923)

For years after his Safe Cure empire collapsed, Warner tried to reclaim his past glory by dabbling in other medicine companies like the Nuera Medicine Company and Warner’s Renowned Remedies Company. He never realized the success he had known at the helm of Warner’s Safe Remedies. For more information, you may want to look at an earlier post from July, 2008 entitled “Rise and Fall of the Warner Empire: Life After Safe Cure (Part IX)”.

Nuera Medicine Company Ad in the 1914 Providence City Directory

Warner’s Safe Cure – Rare Warner’s in Baltimore!

2012 Baltimore Antique Bottle Show & Sale

Without fail, the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show in March is a terrific show to attend for both the seasoned collector and the newbie, it offers something for everyone. The 2012 Show was no exception. That was especially true for those of us who collect Warner’s Safe Cures.  I usually meet up with Jack Stecher at the Baltimore Show, but also ran into a number of other Warner’s collectors including Andy Lang, Richard Peal,  Russ Dean, Ed Nikles and John Wolf. Jack was kind enough to loan me some of his Warner’s paper, which will be the subject of some future posts on this site.  Also, Terry McMurray had his table with some labelled Log Cabin Remedies, including the extremely rare Scalpine and a half pint Safe Tonic with Tonic Bitters label.

Steve Jackson at the 2012 Baltimore Bottle Show & Sale

Jack Stecher at the 2012 Baltimore Bottle Show & Sale

Carl Sturm from Florida also had a table full of Warner’s, including a London Diabetes Cure, Melbourne Diabetes Cure and 4-Cities Rheumatic Cure.  Richard Peal was offering a nice amber Animal Cure and an amber London Safe Cure Sample.  There were even some extremely rare Warner’s that never hit the sales table, including the one-of-a-kind Frankfurt Safe Nervine pint and an equally rare Pressburg Safe Diabetic Cure. Jack had a half pint Tonic Bitters with a double collar lip, which Russ Dean scored. Normally, the half pint Tonic Bitters sports a medicine lip.

From the standpoint of Warner’s collectors, the 2012 Baltimore Show was a treasure trove. Not sure if 2013 can top it, but do yourself a favor and make the trip next March. You won’t be sorry.

Warner’s Safe Cure in Richmond

Richmond Times - May 6, 1902

 When I first started collecting Warner’s Safe Cures back in the mid-1970′s, I was a member of the Richmond Area Bottle Collectors Association.  I stopped actively collecting in the 1980′s while I was in college and graduate school, but resumed in the mid-1990′s when the internet became available on a widespread basis. Since that time, I have added substantially to my Warner’s Safe Cure collection and knowledge about this niche of patent medicine history generally and H. H. Warner, specifically. This blog represents my ongoing effort to research and share information about Mr. Warner and his famous patent medicines.

Although I left the Richmond club in the late 1970′s, I had to opportunity to visit again last night and present a program that I call “Hulbert Harrington Warner: A ‘Safe Cure’ Empire.” The Richmond club was most gracious to invite me to talk about one of my great passions.

Hulbert Harrington Warner: A "Safe Cure" Empire

When I was digging in Richmond in the 1970′s, I don’t ever remember seeing or hearing about a Warner’s Safe Cure being dug. I simply assumed that they never made their way that far south. I was mistaken. The above excerpt from the Richmond Times shows that Warner’s Safe Cure was marketed in Richmond. Indeed, at last night’s meeting, several folks mentioned that examples of Kidney & Liver Cures had been dug in Richmond. This represents a confluence of two of my favorite things: Richmond and Warner’s Safe Cure!

Warner’s Safe Cure: Hope to the Hopeless

“Warner’s Safe Cure Is Life Saving”

Warner’s Safe Cure advertising is loaded with themes that repeat themselves over and over again. Perhaps one of the most prevalent themes is the notion that Warner’s Safe Cure can provide hope to those whose health is in peril.  This theme is often portrayed in a maritime context, where the imperiled person would face certain doom on the shoals of bad health without the help of Warner’s Safe Cure. This Warner’s Safe Cure poster from 1888 is a particularly good example. In addition to promoting Safe Cure, it tips its hat to an often unheralded organization, the United States Lifesaving Service, which was a progenitor to today’s Coast Guard. Many of the members of the USLSS risked and loss their lives rescuing mariners in distress.

As one might expect, this theme made its way into Warner’s Safe almanacs as well. One good example is the Beacon of Light of Safety almanac from 1887. This is a relatively rare almanac, which conveys the message that Warner’s Safe Cure is a guiding light to those lost with bad health. For some reason, this almanac also reminds me of the Statue of Liberty, which also conveys the message of hope to the hopeless. I am not sure if that parallel was intended by the Warner advertising folks, but, in 1887, the Statue of Liberty would have been a relatively new addition to the skyline of  New York harbor.

1887 Beacon Light of Safety Almanac

Other Warner almanacs also hit on this theme of Safe Cure as a safe harbor or source of protection. The other one that comes to mind is the 1886 Girl in the Safe almanac. While not based on maritime images, this hard to find almanac emphasizes the notion that Safe Cure can protect the user from the storms of bad health. The little girl on the cover is safely tucked away inside a safe, which a thunderstorm rages around her.

1886 Girl in Safe Almanac

The take home message in all of this imagery is unmistakeable. Warner’s Safe Cure can save your life when you are threatened by ill health. Too bad it was a hollow promise.

Warner’s Safe Cure Blog Review for 2011

WordPress.com prepared an analysis of the Warner’s Safe Cure Blog for 2011. Thanks to everyone who helped make it a success. I hope you will continue to visit in 2012!

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 20,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 7 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Warner’s Safe Cure: Throatine – Reality or Myth?

Warner’s Safe Throatine

There is no dispute that Warner was one of the most successful proprietors of the patent medicine era. However, in 14 short years, by 1893, he was bankrupt. While his empire lived on without him, he was consigned to relative obscurity and financial ruin for the remainder of his life.  During his period of success, however, it seemed that he could do little wrong. He firmly established his trademark “Safe” in the minds of the public and produced a family of products that was, for the most part, successful. At the pinnacle of his success was his Kidney & Liver Cure, which was marketed  in multiple countries on three continents. The best evidence of his is the frequency with which the Kidney & Liver Cure bottles appear. His other remedies appear less freqently depending on the type and the foreign office from which they originated.

Perhaps at the other end of the Warner spectrum is his Safe Throatine. The above advertisement appeared  in the American Reformer in 1884. Judging from the packaging, Safe Throatine was a predecessor to Warner’s Safe Asthma Cure/Remedy and was packaged in a small tin. I have yet to see an actual example of this product, so to say that it is rare would be an understatement. This is undoubtedly the result of two factors. First, the product appears to have been produced for only a short period, in the early 1880′s. For whatever reason, the name “Throatine” must have been commercially unviable and it was changed to Asthma Cure, leaving little doubt as to the target ailment. Second, as with the later, Asthma Cure and Asthma Remedy,  the product was designed to be burned in its tin container, thereby destroying the packaging and leaving nothing for future collectors. That is why examples of the Asthma Cure and Asthma Remedy are so hard to come by. If, by chance, someone has an example of Throatine, I would be most grateful for pictures of the package.

Over the years, I have taken a stab at listing what I believe are the rarest Warner bottles and products. For no particular reason, I dubbed it the “A List.”  There is no doubt that Throatine would be listed among the rarest of the rare provided someone comes up with an example of it. Until then, all that can be said is that this product occupies mythical status among Warner’s collectors.

 

Warner’s Safe Cure: Nothings Says “Merry Christmas” Like……

Every family’s got one, the person who is impossible to buy a gift for. You spend weeks before Christmas searching for just the right thing, but nothing seems to fit the bill. What’s worse, the person won’t give you any hints or suggestions of something they need or like. Consequently, you are left to roll the dice on a gift that will either be a hit or a complete dud.  For some lucky folks 120 years ago, the answer was easy. Pickup a couple bottles of Warner’s Safe Cure for that hard to please relative.

Warmest wishes for the holidays and for a prosperous 2012! 

Warner’s Safe Cure: Some Very Rare Safe Remedies

Warner's Safe Diabetes Remedy in Green

Recently, Michael Seeliger was in San Jose giving a presentation on Warner’s to their bottle club.  He had the opportunity to see the collection of Michael and Kathy Craig, which includes some very nice Warner’s and he was kind enough to share them with me. Thanks also to the Craigs for allowing me to post these.

The photo above is an exceptionally rare Diabetes Remedy in green. How about a  3-Cities Safe Cure in green?

Warner's Safe Cure 3- Cities in Green

By any standard, the Craigs have a nice collection of Warner’s, including some rare examples including an olive Kidney & Liver Remedy, a clear Diabetes Remedy and a clear Kidney & Liver Remedy for starters. And, appropriately enough, a nice collection of Craigs cures.

Warner’s Collection of Michael & Kathy Craig

Collecting Warner’s can be kind of addicting. Once you get into them, you always want that variant that you don’t have. As with most addictions, the problem is that you just can’t stop. Thanks again to Mike and to the Craigs for allowing a peek into their collection. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.