Hires Root Beer Appraisal

Antique Hires Household Extract Glass Bottle

This is an antique clear glass bottle produced for Hires Household Extract, a concentrated syrup used for making root beer. The bottle features a rectangular body with rounded shoulders and a short, threaded neck designed for a screw-top closure. It is made of machine-molded clear glass with distinct side seams extending up the neck. The front face is embossed with the text 'HIRES CO.' over 'HOUSEHOLD EXTRACT' in a bold, sans-serif block font. The glass appears to be in relatively good structural condition, with no large visible cracks or chips, though it exhibits significant interior clouding or 'sickness,' likely due to mineral deposits or long-term burial/exposure to moisture. Remnants of dirt or dried organic material are visible inside the base. This specific style of machine-made bottle typically dates from the early 20th century, specifically between 1910 and 1930. The craftsmanship represents standard mass-production techniques of the period, providing a historical glimpse into the early bottling industry and the commercialization of home-brewed sodas by the Charles E. Hires Company.