A Renz's Not on Ebay...

I was a bit surprised that the variant 3 Renz's Herb Bitters did not see more interest when it ran on Ebay recently. Western bitters are very desirable, and they are rarely available without some condition issues, and the amber example was problem free. Maybe the color held it back in overal appeal, but it seemed to be pretty affordable at hammer time.

Here is a variant #1 with the small lettering, and in a pretty green color. This one dates to the late 1860s I believe, and has some nice character. These do not seem to come up for sale very often either, and I would be interested to see what a colored example in fine condition would bring if offered (which this one will not), in this economy.

On another note, it seems like there is a bit of hostility, or jealousy, or anger in some posts. I am all for expressing one's views, but the internet allows people to hide their identities at the same time they express occasional negative viewpoints, and even verbally attack, and insult people. I believe that everyone who comments or posts on this site should have their name in the post, or at least register. I appreciate most collectors efforts to offer their knowledge, as well at the countless hours of research to enlighten us about the beautiful glass we love. If posts continue to slam, or insult others, I will just turn to another venue, and not tune in at all. No big loss for most, but I hope there can be a positive energy here.

"Can't we all just get along? :)

Dale Mlasko

Amber Renz on Ebay

An example of the third variant of the Dr. Renz's Herb Bitters with the curved R's in an amber coloration realized $373 on ebay last week. One of the few desirable western bitters that has been listed on the bay in the last several months didn't come near what I thought it would bring.

It seems like at the present time listing bottles on ebay is a crap shoot. On any given day the same bottle can bring a different price at auction. Why is this? Heck, if I knew that I could retire a wealthy man.

One thing is for sure, the winning bidder has a very desirable western bitters for a very reasonable price.

A Renz Sampler

In answer to a question about the date of this ad I am not sure when it was published but the above ad for Renz's bitters at 219 Commercial street was published in the August 13, 1874 Sacramento Daily Union. It appears that John Renz was at 219 Commercial as early as 1874.

A Brief History of Dr. Renz's Herb Bitters

Dr. Renz's Herb Bitters was first introduced to the California public on August 31st 1867. The very first advertisement shows the bitters to be marketed from 222 J Street in Sacramento California by Dr. C.M. Renz and his son John.

John Renz had a paints, oils and glass business when he began marketing his fathers bitters. The bitters sold well in the Sacramento area so John tried to expand his bitters product to the competitive San Francisco market. San Francisco based competitors included Dr. Henley's Wild Grape Root Bitters, Lacour's Bitters and Cassin,s Grape Brandy Bitters, very stiff competition indeed.

Several different newspaper advertisements show different San Francisco agents handling Renz's product without much success. He continued in Sacramento promoting his bitters and eventually Langley & Co. began distributing Dr. Renz's Herb Bitters in the San Francisco bay area. Renz's bitters won a silver medal at the 1869 State Agricultural Fair after narrowly losing to Dr. Henley's Wild Grape Root Bitters in 1868.

John sold his Sacramento paint business sometime in 1870 and later moved to San Francisco to pursue the sale of his award winning bitters full time.

There are three variants of the Renz bottle. The small letter variant is considered by most western collectors as the earliest example of the Renz bottle. It is not known if this bottle was manufactured at the San Francisco or Pacific Glass Works. These early examples of the Renz's bitters bottle are seen in several different colors with three different style tops and most likely date from 1868 - 1869.

The second variant of the Renz bottle has large letters and "straight legged" R's. This bottle exhibits the same exact lettering style and apostrophe font as the Dr. Wonser's Indian Root Bitters; The Wonser's started being marketed in December of 1870, and is attributed to the San Francisco Glass Works. An original label found on an example of the second variant shows that John Renz was still marketing the product fron the Sacramento location and probably dates from 1870.

The third and last variant of this bottle has large letters and the distinctive western "curved" R's associated with the San Francisco glass houses. This variant uses an apostrophe that is seen on several different whiskies of the early and mid 1870's and has the same font style as the E. Martin crown shoulder and mid crown whiskey fifths. This last variant has been found with an original label confirming that John Renz was marketing the "curved" R bottle from the San Francisco location during 1871 and until he discontinued the embossed bottle.

Western collectors consider the Dr. Renz's Herb Bitters a highly collectible bottle and the small letter variant is the most coveted of the three variants. Any western bitters collector worth his salt has completed the Renz hat trick, all three variants of the bottle in his collection.

From left to right: the "curved legged" R variant, small letter variant & the "straight legged" R variant.

Dr. Renzs Advertisement 1893 Tooled Top?

This advertisement is from the 1893 Edition of The California Demokrat, a German periodical of the time printed in San Francisco, CAL. Renz must have still been producing the product, although it may have been paper labeled at that point. Listed as being at 315 Commercial Street, San Francisco, probably between Montgomery and Sansome Streets at that time. It also makes mention of Renzs Blackberry Brandy, so maybe he ordered large and then took his sweet time to unload the inventory. The Germans really controlled the wholesale liquor and brewing industries for years, and a whole community within a community existed, enough to support this newspaper which has great ads of other dealers all written and printed in the native tongue. Has anyone seen a tooled top Renzs?

More Renz ads

The following ads are from the yeaes 1868 and 1871 Sacramento City Directories. John Renz REAL business was in paints, oils, wall coverings, etc, but he concocted his bitters as a sideline beginning in 1867.

This is the ad that appeared in the 1868 Directory, the first "announcement" of Dr. J. Renz's Herb Bitters, and with the firm of Langley & Crowell as San Francisco Agents. This product's popularity is evidenced by the numbers of bottles found by diggers over the years.

Renz's Bitters continued to be sold in cities and towns all over the immediate West. It's quality was proclaimed by the California Agricultural Society by the awarding of a First Premium Gold Medal at the State Fair of 1870. This 1871 Directory ad is emblazoned with the award, and uses this merit to proclaim it's superiority. We collectors do thank the Agricultural Society for making this award, thereby encreasing the sale and usage of Renz's Bitters by consumers.

Dr. Renz's Herb Bitters

Above are all three variants of this bottle. The center example is considered the earliest embossed bottle. This example is most likely made around 1868,'69 and is R36 in the Bitters Bottles book. This particular mold shares some interesting characteristics with another early western square, the ALEX VON HUMBOLDTs STOMACH BITTERS also marketed briefly in 1868.

The variant on the right is R37, this example comes in several shades of amber, and also in a pure green color occassionaly. The example on the left is R38 and this variant is found in amber shades ranging from light yellow to orangish red and occassionally in a yellow olive. R37 & R38 use a lettering style for the embossing that is seen on 1870 and later bottles.

Dr. Renz's Herb Bitters was a success for John Renz who began marketing this bitters product in August of 1867. This bitters won a silver medal at the 1869 State Agricultural Fair and won the First Premium Award at the 1870 Fair. Renz became so busy trying to fill the orders for this product that he put up his Paints, Oil, Glass business that he had operated for many years for sale. Two ads appeared in October 1870, essentially stating that he is so busy filling orders for Renz's Herb Bitters that he is willing to sell all stock in trade, along with a lease of the premises for a discounted price. He was determined to sell his going concern and relocate to San Francisco.