Original Listing Description

I have searched for hours, trying to figure out the history of this dairy bottle. It looks to be unused - after all these years. I’ve never seen a dairy bottle with this shape. It is embossed with a shape like an arrow going one direction on the top and then the other direction on the bottom. The middle part of the bottle is not embossed. The red Bordens writing is in great shape. I’m not sure if the paper label cap on the top is original or not. It looks like someone put flour inside the bottle. I’m assuming they did this to show off the shape and red writing. there are NO chips cracks or breaks or flea bites in the bottle. I have run my finger all around the bottle everywhere and I do not feel anything sharp, or see any of those listed problems. At the rim it looks like there is a chip, but there is NO chip. There’s a bubble inside of the glass at the rim and it makes it look like there’s a chip, but there is absolutely no flea bite or chip there. I can see a (mold ) line ? on the bottle on two sides. It doesn’t extend all the way to the top though. There is a mark on the bottom which I took pictures of from different angles. I believe it to be Owens Illinois marking. there is also a round circle near the middle of the bottom of the glass base. I can barely see that it says half pint near the bottom of the base. The dairy bottle measures about 6 3/4 inches tall. The bottle at the base measures about 2 1/4 inches across. I have tried over and over with different lighting and different color background to show the emblem on the bottom. I can tell that the number on the left appears to be 21 and the number on the right appears to be a four. I’m not sure why I am so obsessed with finding out the history of this dairy bottle but because it’s such a unique shape and says Bordens -I keep searching to find answers. I have screenshot some information that I have found and will show that information on the pictures. I have googled Borden’s dairy bottles, dairy bottles, juice bottles, creamers, embossed dairy bottles, chocolate dairy bottles, and other searches. I just can’t find anything like this. I also wonder why they would make this shape for a dairy bottle because it would be difficult to clean. I also thought maybe it was made as a demonstration and they didn’t like the design well enough to bottle it in this design. Maybe they thought it looked too much like a soda. There was one soda bottle that I found that had a similar design but it still wasn’t that design of this bottle either. And soda bottles do not have the dairy shaped top. After comparing the bottom glass stamp to Owens Illinois stamp. I believe it to be Owens Illinois from the 30s to the 40s. I think it is from 1934. Also, is that a Pontil on the bottom of this milk bottle? There seems to be an extra circle around the manufacturer stamp on the bottom. The stamp on the bottom is very faint. I see a 21 on the left and a 4 on the right of the manufacturers emblem. The left side number should be the place the bottle was manufactured. The number on the right should be the year it was made. I will share a little history on Borden… Gail Borden developed the first successful commercial method of condensing milk. He (later finally ) patented his process of condensing milk in 1856. In 1885 they pioneered the use of glass bottles. In 1919, that New York Condensed Milk Company changed its name to Borden Company to honor its founder. Between 1927 and 1930 Borden company bought more than 200 companies around the US and became the nations largest distributor of fluid milk . In 1936 Elsie the cow was introduced as Bordens brand mascot. She was officially trademarked in 1951. Elsie is an icon who brought Borden nationwide recognition! There were contests and campaigns featuring Elsie and her family. Elmer, the bull was her husband. She had two babies named Beulah and Beauregard. She later had twins, Larabeer and Lobelia. Her husband, Elmer, the bull, became the mascot for Borden’s chemical division- Elmers glue. Elsie, the cow actually went around to state fairs and different events and promoted Bordens brands of products. I have other Elsie, the cow and Borden’s items listed on eBay. Thanks for looking. I would love to know more about this unique dairy bottle! (Condition: Pre-Owned)

Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for Milk Bottle collectors and appraisers.