While some are content to recall the era of the milkman, others keep the memory alive by collecting vintage milk bottles from the late 1800s through the mid-20th century, when waxed-paper cartons sold in supermarkets put many local milkmen out of business.

In the late 19th century, milk was routinely scooped directly from the farmer’s churn into jugs that customers would leave on their doorsteps.

Legend has it that Thatcher was disgusted after watching a milkman dip from a can into which a child’s toy had dropped.

Early Thatcher “milk protector” bottles are embossed with a seated Quaker farmer milking a cow.

I have put up pictures of the lips so that the readers can see how they mold goes all the way over the top as shown below. This is different than an older hand tooled, hand blown bottle.

The pressure from the automatic machine was strong and the molds fit tight leaving only a very thin line.

Milk bottles with the names of many different dairies from many different locations are popular kitchen collectibles.

the pontil is actually broken glass where the metal rod used to hold the bottle while the lip was form was broken off leaving a sharp scar.

One approach to helping beginner identify their old bottles involves show them the bases of old bottles.

The picture below at the left shows an iron pontil on the base jof a historical flask circa 1865.

All bottles made before the turn of the century are partly or completely hand blown and formed.

Bottles made after about 1914 were produced in much greater number by machine (ABM for Automatic Bottle Machine).