Vintage Federal Law Prohibits Sale or Reuse of this Bottle Whiskey Flask

This is a vintage clear glass institutional whiskey flask, easily identified by the embossed 'Federal Law Prohibits Sale or Reuse of this Bottle' warning typical of post-Prohibition era containers produced between 1935 and 1964. The bottle features a characteristic square base with rounded shoulders and a classic machine-made construction. The glass exhibits a slight greyish-green tint common in mass-produced mid-century utility glass. The base shows a complex maker's mark consisting of embossed circular text and numerical codes, likely including a plant code and date code from a manufacturer such as Owens-Illinois, though the specific center logo is partially obscured. The physical condition appears fair to good; there is visible surface wear, internal residue ('clouding' or 'sickness'), and several scratches on the bottom surface which are expected with age and use. The embossing is well-defined, showing the sharp detailing required for federal compliance during its tenure. Standard bubbles within the glass and mold seams running up the sides of the square body are visible, confirming its origin as an industrial mid-20th-century piece of American glass manufacturing history.

Based on my visual inspection of this machine-made glass whiskey flask, I have identified it as a mass-produced utility vessel from the mid-20th century. The 'Federal Law Prohibits Sale or Reuse of this Bottle' embossing confirms its manufacture between 1935 and 1964. The construction characteristics, including the visible side seams and machine-molded base, are consistent with industrial production by major firms like Owens-Illinois or Anchor-Hocking. The item exhibits several condition issues, notably internal 'sickness' or clouding caused by mineral deposits and surface scratching, which diminish its aesthetic appeal for display. The market for mid-century clear glass flasks is currently saturated. These items were produced by the millions and lack characteristics that drive premium prices, such as rare colors (cobalt or amber), unique regional embossing, or intact historical labels. Authenticity appears genuine as there is little incentive to counterfeit this specific model. However, a physical inspection would be required to rule out modern silica cleaning (which can thin the glass) or to definitively read the obscured base codes to pinpoint the exact manufacture year and plant. Without a original label or rare 'ghost' mark, this piece is valued primarily as a decorative 'find' or a low-level historical artifact for entry-level bottle collectors. High supply and low scarcity keep the valuation modest.