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SWISS STOMACH BITTERS: ARNOLD KOCH : BIRMINGHAM. PA.

swiss stomach bitters 5

There were three Swiss Bitters produced in Birmingham. The first one was Jacob Augustus Zwinger who put out the bitters first. Then there was Arnold Koch who must have purchased the rights to make and sell the bitters. The third one was William F. Zoeller.

Below is from the Bitters Bottle book by Carlyn Ring & Bill Ham.

S 241 SWISS STOMACH BITTERSManufactured by F (Should be “J”) . Aug. Zwinger, 172 Smithfield Street, Corner Strawberry Alley Pittsburgh Directory (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) 1858-1859 (Actually 1856 – 1878, bitters probable marketed from 1856 to 1859 or so) Possible predessor to Arnold Koch.

S 242 SWISS STOMACH BITTERSf // SWISS / STOMACH BITTERS // f // ARNOLD KOCH / BIRMINGHAM. PA. // 9 3/8 x 3 3/8 x 2 3/4 (6 7/8) Rectangular 2 sides folded, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Rare Arnold Koch was in business until 1876 or 1877 (Arnold Koch was in business from 1862 to 1896. First listed as a clerk, he quickly become a druggist and was listed as a bitters manufacturer from 1873-1876) Birmingham became part of Pittsburgh in 1872. Thereafter it was called South Side.

S 243 SWISS STOMACH BITTERSSWISS / STOMACH / BITTERS // f // THE ZOELLER / MEDICAL CO / BIRMINGHAM, PA // f // 10 1/8 x 3 3/8 x 2 3/4 (6 7/8) Rectangular, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth and Tooled lip, Rare Possibly successors to Arnold Koch, after 1867.

Arnold Koch was one of the best known druggists in Birminghan which now is the South Side of Pittsburgh, He established his business in 1862. Previous to this date he was connected to Julius Zeller in New York, the uncle and predecessor of Max Zeller, the well known wholesaler in New York.

Koch was listed as a retail druggist in Pittsburgh and Allegheny City Directories from 1862 to 1896. First listed as a clerk, he quickly become a druggist and was listed as a bitters manufacturer from 1873-1876.

Some select listings.

1862 – 1863: Arnold Koch, clerk, corner Washington and Liberty – Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities.

1864 – 1870: Arnold Koch, druggist (Drug store, drugs), 1118 Carson n Denman – Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities.

1871: Arnold Koch, druggist, 127 Twentieth - Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities.

1872: Arnold Koch, druggist, 1118 Carson n Denman – Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities.

1873: Arnold Koch, stomach bitters, 113 Eighteenth ss – Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities.

1874: Arnold Koch, druggist, Charles, L St. Clair tp – Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities.

1875 – 1876: Arnold Koch, bitters manufacturer, 113 Eighteenth ss, h Walnut, L St. Clair tp – Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities.

1877 – 1886: Arnold Koch, druggist (pharmacist), 1203 Carson- Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities.

1887 – 1896: Arnold Koch, druggist, 62 Washington av – Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities.

1896: Arnold Koch sudden death Arnold Koch’s son was Professor J. A. Koch, dean of the faculty of the Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy.

Birmingham became part of Pittsburgh in 1872. There after it was called South Side.

Below are photos of this rectangular 2 side folded bottle.


swiss stomach bitters 1..swiss stomach bitters 2

swiss stomach bitters 3

swiss stomach bitters 4

For more about William F. Zoeller refer to artical 13.

References:

City directories from Pittsburg and Allegheny PA. 1862-1896.

Bitters Bttles by Carlyn Ring & Bill Ham.

www.peachridgeglass.com

Frank & Frank Jr. Bottle Collection.

swiss stomach bitters 1a.swiss stomach bitters 2a









































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