As many of you are aware of, we do occasional consignment
sales for collectors who are adverse to eBay or the "big auction
houses". We recently received a couple of bottles from a collector up
north that we just don't see; ever. Both are Portland picture whiskies and both are just
flat rare. We've seen a total of two of one and three of the other over the
past 40 years. Both are tooled tops and clear in color. I realize that this may
well turn off some of the purists out there, but for those who appreciate fancy,
full faced embossing coupled with extreme rarity, this pair is tough to beat.
They are "Commodores Royal OK Old Bourbon". The
embossing patterns differ slightly; with one having "KY" after
Bourbon; the other "Rye"
after Bourbon. The other primary difference are the names of the proprietors; Marx.
& Jorgensen vs. E. C. Jorgensen.
I learned, a long time ago, not to publish what has been
regurgitated as fact for the past 50 years. As such, I spend a great deal of
time trying to either verify, or discredit, that which has been accepted as
gospel with regards to western whiskey history.
The history of this pair of pictures is almost as tough to
come by as the bottles themselves.
There's been little to nothing written about them and Portland
newspaper and business directories are scant to non-existent compared to San Francisco.
John Thomas was, in this particular instance, for the most
part correct.
Here's what we came up with in terms of history regarding this
pair of bottles and the folks that were responsible for them:
Daniel Marx & E. C.
Jorgensen;
According to Thomas, the firm of Marx. & Jorgensen had their start up
in 1877. This is probably either correct, or quite close. (the newspaper article in the closing chapter of this article states 1876). I located an ad from "The
Daily Astorian" dated January 26, 1879 stating that the firm already had
an established branch operating in Astoria, Oregon, which is 98 miles by river, downstream from Portland.
Astoria has, as many will
recall, been the source of more than just a handful of rare whiskies (and
bitters) over the years.
According to what I was able to glean, their product line appears
to have been exclusive to one brand, "Commodores Royal Old OK Bourbon".
It was Kentucky bourbon whiskey, which was
casked at the distillery on the east coast (I was unable to determine who the
distiller was), shipped in hogsheads via railroad, and bottled initially in embossed
private mold amber glop top cylinders in Portland.
This bottle is quite rare, and is considered to be one of the top Oregon whiskies.
Later, a clear "German connection" glop top cylinder
was produced. This bottle would date. ca. early to mid 1890's. About the same
time, a domestically produced tool top was also blown. Neither the amber glop,
or the clear tool tops are embossed with the name of the product.
The third variant in the lineup of embossed Marx &
Jorgensen cylinders is a "real hitter". It would date from
approximately the same era as the prior variants; ca. early 1890's - 1902. It
is embossed with full faced coverage "Commodores / Royal / OK / Old / Bourbon
K.Y." inside of a large ornate draped crest topped by a large jeweled crown, with "Marx
& Jorgensen / Portland Ogn" beneath. (why the period after both K and Y in KY?).
The bottle was blown with a
manganese dioxide based de-colorizor that allows the bottle to turn purple when
exposed to UV radiation (sunlight). It has a long tapered collar over single
ring closure that was sealed with a cork. The shoulders were air vented by a
series of six small vents. The base was air vented in a like manner. The
embossing does not bear any indication of air venting, although it is extremely
bold and crisp. The base is plain and void of mold marks or glasshouse
identifiers. We are unable to ascertain for certain which of the glass
factories blew this variant, although all evidence points to San Francisco
& Pacific Glass Works.
A pair of matching acid etched advertising shot glasses were produced
to advertise the brand.
Commodore is a military rank used in
many navies. The etch pattern is reflective of this, picturing a commodore on the rigging of a sailing ship.
On January 11, 1902 a notice appeared in the Portland newspaper "The
Morning Oregonian" , which signaled the beginning of the end of the firm. The
notice was a "dissolution of co-partnership", in which Daniel Marx
announced his impending retirement. Emil C. Jorgensen would assume the roll of president
and the responsibilities of the firm.
E. C. Jorgensen & Co. was comprised of Emil C. Jorgensen
as president, Carl F. Bartholama as vice president and Max Fleischauer as
secretary. The two partners were rumored to have bought out Marx's interests
upon his retirement but, to our knowledge, no concrete evidence to support this exists.
After the changing of the guard, a new mold was commissioned for bottles. All production
techniques noted above with regards to the prior bottle apply to this bottle as well and it too,
will turn purple. This variant closely resembles the original with a couple of
exceptions. Obviously the change of company name was reflected in the new
embossing pattern. Another small change is in the product itself. Rather than
stating that the bourbon was "K.Y.", the new mold states Bourbon &
Rye. This indicates that the product was now being distilled and rectified on
the west coast; no doubt to reflect the growing acceptance of west coast bourbon
whiskey (and rye whiskey) and also to decrease expenses and increase profit.
One other difference encountered, although rarely, is the
presence of the Riley patent inside thread closure. Thomas had never seen an
example, but noted the supposed existence of one example with this new style substitute
for the old cork style top. The example we have is believed to be the one that
John referenced.
In keeping with the advertising theme of the era, an acid
etched shot glass, sans Marx & Jorgensen was also produced.
The death knell of E. C. Jorgensen & Co. sounded on
December 31, 1905. An article appeared in "The Morning Oregonian" announcing
the closing of the firm. And so, with this brief announcement, the doors to the
firm of Marx & Jorgensen, and E. C. Jorgensen & Co. closed for the last
time.
Thankfully, we have two full faced picture whiskies and
three acid etched picture shot glasses, which were produced for the firm, to
remind us of these two men, and their Commodore brand. All are rare.
Thanks to Robin Preston for the shot glass photos. They are from the estate of the late Ken Schwartz~
