Robert Portner bottle

flounderer

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Aug 30, 2006
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Howdy Ya'll.

I found a bottle while testing out some dive equipment today. I found it at the old Wrightsville Beach NC Bridge near Wilmington NC. It was near some old submerged bridge supports leading over to the island. It is marked with "Robert Portner Brewing Comp, HYCEIA (C may be a G, but looks like a C) , Alexandria VA. It's got a round bottom and is about 8.5" tall. It still has a Hutchinson? cork/plug on the inside. I've found a little info on the web but I'm curious about the date. Do you think it is late 1800's or early 1900's. And the other question, what is it's worth, not that it's being sold but I'm just curious.

Here is a similar pic:
portner_20.jpg


And here are the actual pics.
bottle1.jpg


bottle2.jpg
 

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I just went to google and typed in robert portner va. and took the first listing... robert portner brewery. It will tell you alot about the history of his brewery. Im guessing the bottle is late 1880s to late 1890s. Ive seen these types go for $12.00 to $25.00 it depends on rarity and how much a collector is willing to spend and if its something he or she is interested in it might go for a bit more.
 

Very cool find!
http://members.cox.net/chosi/bottles/portner/portner.htm

Robert Portner was a millionaire brewer who lived in Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and often spent his summers in Manassas, Virginia. He owned several of the biggest breweries in the South at the time. Born March 20, 1837 in Rhaden, Prussia, he came to America in 1853 and started his legacy. He married Anna von Valaer in 1872 and they had 13 children. He began his career working in a grocery store in New York, and eventually became one of the foremost businessmen in the country. When he died in 1906, Portners estate was worth 1.9 million. Many innovations that Robert Portner helped create, include his invention of what is believed to be the first air-conditioning system in the U. S. His empire crumbled when Prohibition swept the country. Roberts beloved summer home in Manassas, which he designed for himself and his family, was probably the first fully air-conditioned home in the country; its grounds included a dairy, deer park and a man-made lake, complete with swans.
 

Gypsyheart said:
Very cool find!
http://members.cox.net/chosi/bottles/portner/portner.htm

Robert Portner was a millionaire brewer who lived in Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and often spent his summers in Manassas, Virginia. He owned several of the biggest breweries in the South at the time. Born March 20, 1837 in Rhaden, Prussia, he came to America in 1853 and started his legacy. He married Anna von Valaer in 1872 and they had 13 children. He began his career working in a grocery store in New York, and eventually became one of the foremost businessmen in the country. When he died in 1906, Portners estate was worth 1.9 million. Many innovations that Robert Portner helped create, include his invention of what is believed to be the first air-conditioning system in the U. S. His empire crumbled when Prohibition swept the country. Roberts beloved summer home in Manassas, which he designed for himself and his family, was probably the first fully air-conditioned home in the country; its grounds included a dairy, deer park and a man-made lake, complete with swans.

Very interesting, Having 13 children must of been a trip
 

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