Torpedo glass drinking bottle
Description
Bottles of this shape were commonly used in New Zealand from c.1850-1865, and many were still being produced by local bottling companies through the early 1900s.
Patented in 1809 by William Hamilton of Dublin, this distinctive type of bottle was variously referred to as a ‘torpedo’ bottle, or as a ‘Hamilton’ bottle. The shape ensured that these bottles were stored on their sides, which meant that the cork would remain wet through contact with the liquid contained within. A wet cork kept a stable pressure inside the bottle and stopped the cork from coming out. Curved bottles such as these were also difficult to put down once opened, encouraging fast drinking of the aerated cordial or mineral water contained within.
Torpedo bottles were fitted with copper wire at the neck to secure the cork and feature a thick flange at the neck where the wire could be tied down. Early torpedo bottles like this one were used by soldiers during the Waikato Wars. This bottle does not bear a maker’s mark.
See full details
Object detail
Courtesy of Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato
Public comments
Eu tenho uma garafa desta achei dentro de um rio aqui no Brasil no Acre Xapuri
- Cleiton costa souza gomes posted 2 years ago.