UPDATE - 11/28/18
To those who have kept visiting this site in recent years, thank you. I cant believe that it still gets the attention that it does. To make a long story short, I no longer collect bottles like I used to. I have since downgraded and sold almost every bottle that I have listed on this site. I do still collect but I am very selective about what I keep. If you are trying to contact me regarding a specific example, chances are that it has since sold. I will be removing certain things from this site as including a few videos as Ive either gotten the request to have them removed by the other parties involved or for the simple fact that I don't associate with certain people anymore. Its been a crazy ride and it was fun while it lasted.
I DO STILL DIG PRIVIES / CISTERNS. That much has not changed so if you have a property in need of privy / cistern excavation, please reach out.
FUTURE OF THE SITE:
The site will remain up, minus the few bits I mentioned earlier but I will no longer be making updates. What is on this site was only about 10% of the blob tops I had by the time i got rid of them and to this day I sometimes find examples that I haven't seen before. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to complete the site, but life has a funny way of changing a person. Peace!
I DO STILL DIG PRIVIES / CISTERNS. That much has not changed so if you have a property in need of privy / cistern excavation, please reach out.
FUTURE OF THE SITE:
The site will remain up, minus the few bits I mentioned earlier but I will no longer be making updates. What is on this site was only about 10% of the blob tops I had by the time i got rid of them and to this day I sometimes find examples that I haven't seen before. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to complete the site, but life has a funny way of changing a person. Peace!
OLD BOTTLES WANTED:
Coney Island Bottles, Brooklyn Bottles, NYC Bottles, Staten Island Bottles, Long Island Bottles, New Jersey Bottles, Pennsylvania Bottles, Connecticut Bottles, AND ANY OTHERS YOU MIGHT HAVE! ([email protected])
IF YOU ARE A CONSTRUCTION WORKER WHO HAS BOTTLES AND IS OR HAS BEEN FINDING BOTTLES ON A SITE, PLEASE CONTACT ME AS WELL!
ARE YOU A PROPERTY OWNER (Whose Property Goes Back to the 1870s or Older)? You Probably Have Bottles Buried In Your Yard!!!
PLEASE READ:
This pertains to anyone who lives in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut:
Besides maintaining this site for recording the history of New York City's bottle industry, I am also hoping to reach out to those who own a piece of history themselves. What do I mean? Its simple.
Many of the bottles on this website are dug in areas of New York's forgotten past, mostly from old landfills and dumps. But what landowners and construction workers don't know is that every location that dates back to the 1870s or older may contain a treasure trove of bottles, pottery, and other relics right under their feet. Virtually every backyard and or basement in Manhattan, and most neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island will have 2 things: A Privy, which was used for sanitation, and A Cistern, which was used for storing rain water. Both of these structures were essential back then because sewage systems and garbage disposal were nearly non existent. Each Cistern AND Privy will contain relics and bottles dating back from the era in which it was built (going as far back as the 1790s) all the way up to the 1870s (when the sewage system was built). For other areas outside of New York City, the story is pretty much the same, except for the fact that the structures could have been used much later into the early 1900s. For Philadelphia, outhouses tend to be much deeper and filled with treasures as well.
Many homeowners and construction workers dont pay any attention to the potential treasure trove that could be excavated through a very simple process. But with the homeowner or builder's permission we could save history. These are the steps which would be taken if we would receive permission for a dig (We have all of the tools and maps necessary for the process):
First, it is necessary to look at the old maps dating back to the 1870s to see if there was a structure located on the property.
Second, we would use a tool known as a "probe", a five foot long steel rod to check the soil in the backyard or basement to locate the Cistern and Privy (which would have been lined with either wood, bricks, or stone). The contents of an old Privy or Cistern would be ash, allowing the probe to gently sink into the ground, as opposed to regular soil. The probe also brings up a sample so that we can be sure exactly where the structures were located.
Third, the excavation would take place. This would span from between 1 and 3 days, depending on the size and depth of the structures.
Fourth, we restore the area of excavation to its prior condition, also sifting the soil for relics such as marbles, pipes, buttons, and coins, before filling the hole back in.
Fifth, we equally share the treasure with the homeowners and every party involved. Sometimes there could be so many artifacts in one structure that every party involved goes home with dozens of bottles. The best part about the whole process is finding out the history of the people who lived in that dwelling. We could tell their living habits, what they drank, if children were present, and if they were sick or healthy, just by the treasures that we find.
We would love to be part in a historical adventure with you!
Located below are my contact information, digging pictures and videos from both privies and bottle dumps alike.
Besides maintaining this site for recording the history of New York City's bottle industry, I am also hoping to reach out to those who own a piece of history themselves. What do I mean? Its simple.
Many of the bottles on this website are dug in areas of New York's forgotten past, mostly from old landfills and dumps. But what landowners and construction workers don't know is that every location that dates back to the 1870s or older may contain a treasure trove of bottles, pottery, and other relics right under their feet. Virtually every backyard and or basement in Manhattan, and most neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island will have 2 things: A Privy, which was used for sanitation, and A Cistern, which was used for storing rain water. Both of these structures were essential back then because sewage systems and garbage disposal were nearly non existent. Each Cistern AND Privy will contain relics and bottles dating back from the era in which it was built (going as far back as the 1790s) all the way up to the 1870s (when the sewage system was built). For other areas outside of New York City, the story is pretty much the same, except for the fact that the structures could have been used much later into the early 1900s. For Philadelphia, outhouses tend to be much deeper and filled with treasures as well.
Many homeowners and construction workers dont pay any attention to the potential treasure trove that could be excavated through a very simple process. But with the homeowner or builder's permission we could save history. These are the steps which would be taken if we would receive permission for a dig (We have all of the tools and maps necessary for the process):
First, it is necessary to look at the old maps dating back to the 1870s to see if there was a structure located on the property.
Second, we would use a tool known as a "probe", a five foot long steel rod to check the soil in the backyard or basement to locate the Cistern and Privy (which would have been lined with either wood, bricks, or stone). The contents of an old Privy or Cistern would be ash, allowing the probe to gently sink into the ground, as opposed to regular soil. The probe also brings up a sample so that we can be sure exactly where the structures were located.
Third, the excavation would take place. This would span from between 1 and 3 days, depending on the size and depth of the structures.
Fourth, we restore the area of excavation to its prior condition, also sifting the soil for relics such as marbles, pipes, buttons, and coins, before filling the hole back in.
Fifth, we equally share the treasure with the homeowners and every party involved. Sometimes there could be so many artifacts in one structure that every party involved goes home with dozens of bottles. The best part about the whole process is finding out the history of the people who lived in that dwelling. We could tell their living habits, what they drank, if children were present, and if they were sick or healthy, just by the treasures that we find.
We would love to be part in a historical adventure with you!
Located below are my contact information, digging pictures and videos from both privies and bottle dumps alike.
Park Slope Brooklyn Privy - Bottom was 15 feet.
Welcome!
About Me:
For those of you who don't know who I am my name is Mike AKA Chinchillaman1. I'm a Youtube Bottle Digger so to speak which means that I collect bottles and post the videos of various digs or elements of my collection onto Youtube. This site is for those who want to get into the hobby of bottle hunting, metal detecting or any treasure hunting hobby in general, or for those who want to find out about the history of bottles that they might already own. Ive been a collector for five years and my goal is to find out about the histories of all of the bottles that I have, local especially. If you'd like to view my bottle digging channel here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/chinchillaman1
This website will be changing so please visit back often! IF YOU HAVE ANY NY BOTTLES THAT YOU WANT TO SELL, PLEASE SEND ME A MESSAGE!
CONTACT:
Via Youtube: Chinchillaman1
Email: [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE:
If it says no info on this bottle, this means that I couldn't find any information about the bottle in any books or on the internet, some bottle and brewing companies weren't as popular as others and little information was recorded. / ALL CONTENT ON THIS WEBSITE IS COPYRIGHTED.
For those of you who don't know who I am my name is Mike AKA Chinchillaman1. I'm a Youtube Bottle Digger so to speak which means that I collect bottles and post the videos of various digs or elements of my collection onto Youtube. This site is for those who want to get into the hobby of bottle hunting, metal detecting or any treasure hunting hobby in general, or for those who want to find out about the history of bottles that they might already own. Ive been a collector for five years and my goal is to find out about the histories of all of the bottles that I have, local especially. If you'd like to view my bottle digging channel here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/chinchillaman1
This website will be changing so please visit back often! IF YOU HAVE ANY NY BOTTLES THAT YOU WANT TO SELL, PLEASE SEND ME A MESSAGE!
CONTACT:
Via Youtube: Chinchillaman1
Email: [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE:
If it says no info on this bottle, this means that I couldn't find any information about the bottle in any books or on the internet, some bottle and brewing companies weren't as popular as others and little information was recorded. / ALL CONTENT ON THIS WEBSITE IS COPYRIGHTED.
PRIVY & CISTERN RELICS: Bottles, Coins, Buttons, Civil War Bullets, Marbles, Pipes
Bottle Dump Videos
SPECIAL THANKS
This is a special thanks to people who have helped this website and myself in various ways:
Alex Nica
"Uncle" Bruce Mobley
Connor Rush
John Panella
Digger Dave Cutler (Rest in Peace)
Gary Guest
PJ Novello
Wrong Way Rob
Raymond J. Shanley
Mark Smith
Mark Steinbrick
Tom Riel
"Rockaway" Steve Feldman
David Sclafani
Alex Nica
"Uncle" Bruce Mobley
Connor Rush
John Panella
Digger Dave Cutler (Rest in Peace)
Gary Guest
PJ Novello
Wrong Way Rob
Raymond J. Shanley
Mark Smith
Mark Steinbrick
Tom Riel
"Rockaway" Steve Feldman
David Sclafani