J.F. Herrmann / A.G. Herrmann / Tiger Brand
Company Names, addresses, dates1:
  Frederick Herrmann, 809 2nd street SE (1881-1885)
  Frederick J. Herrmann, 811 2nd street SE (1886)
  Frederick J. Herrmann, 740 10th SE (1887-1888)
  John F. Hermann, 752 10th SE (1890-1891)
  Herrmann Bottling Works, 752 10th SE (1892)
  J.F. Herrmann & Son, 752 10th street SE
  J.F. Herrmann & Son, 10th c I SE (1893)
  J.F. Herrmann & Son, 750-754 10th street SE (1894-1905)
  August G. Herrmann, 750 10th street SE (1906-1907)
  August G. Herrmann, 750-754 10th street SE (1908-1913)
  Herrmann Bottling Works, 750-754 10th street SE (1914-1933)
  Herrmann Ginger Ale Co, 750 10th street SE (1934-1939)
  Tiger Brand, Washington DC
Notes:
The first city directory entry I see for Herrman as a bottler is in
1881, however one of the bottles below says "QUALITY SINCE 1874".
The Mar 6, 1936 Obituary for A.G. Herrmann in the Washington Post confirms
that the company was founded in 1874.
I think that John F. Herrmann and Frederick J. Herrmann are the same person.
The 1870 and 1880 census lists Frederick Herrmann, and the 1900, 1910 and
1920 census lists John F. Herrmann, but in all cases they say he was born
in 1837 in Germany.
August George Herrmann (born 1862) was J.F.'s son and successor.
His name is sometimes listed as "August" and sometimes as "Augustus".
The Herrmann Bottling Works is listed in a 1925 DC phone book under
"Bottlers, Carbonated Beverages" at 750 10th Street SE, phone number
Lincoln-1981.
Some of their bottles have a trade mark consisting of a dog, a key,
and a safe (or is it a mailbox?). I have no idea what that was supposed to mean.
Note that the bottles with the heart trade-mark have "ACWL" on the botom,
and that the "L" appears to be crudely added.
This web site claims that "ACWL" was the American Glass Works Limited
in Pittsburg PA, and that they added the "L" about 1880.
Bottles:
(enlarge)
|
These are 7.2" aqua hutchinson bottles with 10-sided bases.
The one one the left is marked: front: J.F.HERRMANN & SON / WASHINGTON / D.C. / REGISTERED bottom: J BROS / 57 The one on the right is marked: front: J.F.HERRMANN & SON / 752 10TH ST. S.E. / WASHINGTON D.C. back: AGWL |
(enlarge)
|
This is an 8.9" baltimore-loop top bottle marked: front: J.F. HERRMANN & SON / 752 10TH ST. S.E. / WASHINGTON D.C. |
(enlarge)
|
The left bottle is a 9.2" blue-aqua crown top, the one on the right is an
8.7" blue-aqua baltimore loop top. They are identically marked with: front: TRADE MARK (picture of heart) / J.F.HERRMANN / & SON / 750 754 10TH ST S.E. / WASHINGTON D.C. back: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO / BE SOLD bottom: AGWL (the L is either crudely added or poorly deleted) |
(enlarge)
|
Left is 8.9" aqua blob top and right is 9.6" aqua crown top. Both are marked: front: J.F. HERRMANN & SON / WASHINGTON / D.C. / REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD The crown top is marked on the bottom with: bottom: 1901 |
(enlarge)
|
These 3 bottles are 7.5" crown tops. The middle one is clear, the other
two are aqua. The one on the left has a "J.F.H.&S." on the back, otherwise
all three are marked identically: front: J.F.HERRMANN & SON / WASHINGTON / D.C. / REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD |
(enlarge)
|
This is an 11.9" crown top bottle marked: front: J.F. HERRMANN & SON / WASHINGTON D.C. / REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD back: AGW |
(enlarge)
|
This 9" aqua blob top has a porcelain stopper that is in great shape.
The bottle is marked: front-horiz: TRADE / (picture of safe/dog/key) / MARK / THIS BOTTLE IS NOT SOLD / RETURN PROMPTLY WHEN EMPTY front-vert: A.G. HERRMANN / SUCCESSOR TO / J.F. HERRMANN & SON / WASHINGTON, D.C. / REGISTERED back: C & CO. The porcelain stopper is marked: top: A.G. HERRMANN / SUPERIOR / (picture of safe/dog/key) / TRADE MARK / WASHINGTON, D.C. bottom: PAT'D / K. HUTTER / FEB. 7, 1893 |
(enlarge)
|
These aqua crown tops are marked the same, but have slight variations.
The left is 8.5" tall and the right is 8.3" tall. Also, the dog on the
left bottle is facing front, whereas the dog on the right bottle is
facing to the side. They are both marked: front-horiz: TRADE / (picture of safe/dog/key) / MARK / THIS BOTTLE IS NOT SOLD / RETURN PROMPTLY WHEN EMPTY front-vert: A.G. HERRMANN / SUCCESSOR TO / J.F. HERRMANN & SON / WASHINGTON, D.C. / REGISTERED back: C & CO. |
(enlarge)
|
These are 8.5" crown top (machine made) bottles that are identical except
for color, and are marked: front: TRADE / (picture of safe/dog/key) / MARK / REGISTERED WASHINGTON DC / THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD / RETURN PROMPTLY WHEN EMPTY back: A.G. HERRMANN / CONTENTS 8 FLUID OZ |
(enlarge)
|
This is the same bottle as the one above (on the right), except that it
has a cap and a label. The label is marked: label center: HERRMANN / AROMATIC / (picture of safe/dog/key) / TRADE MARK / GINGER ALE label top left: CARBONATED BEVERAGE / COLORED WITH CARAMEL. label top right: LOOK FOR THIS LABEL / BEWARE OF SUBSTITUTES. label bottom left: LAY BOTTLE ON ICE - DO NOT USE ICE / IN GLASS. label bottom right: A.G. HERRMANN / WASHINGTON, D.C. |
(enlarge)
|
This is a 9.5" crown top bottle marked: front: A.G. HERRMANN / CONTENTS 13 FLUID OZ. THIS BOTTLE IS NOT SOLD back: WASHINGTON D.C. / REGISTERED / DOC 1511 |
(enlarge)
|
This is a 12" machine-made crown top bottle marked: front: TRADE / (picture of safe/dog/key) / MARK / REGISTERED WASHINGTON DC / THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD / RETURN PROMPTLY WHEN EMPTY back: A.G. HERRMANN / 1 PT & 8 FLUID OZ |
(enlarge)
|
This is a 9.9" machine-made crown top bottle marked: front: TIGER / (picture of tiger) / BRAND / REGISTERED WASHINGTON DC / THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD / RETURN PROMPTLY WHEN EMPTY back: A.G. HERRMANN / CONTENTS 1 PT |
(enlarge)
|
This is a 9.8" Applied Color Label crown top bottle. The coloring is
black on white and says: shoulder: HERRMANNS front: QUALITY / SINCE 1874 / HERRMANN'S / "Famous" / BEVERAGES back: HERRMANN'S BEVERAGES / Carbonated Water, Sugar, / Flavor or Artificial Flaver, / Other Ingredients on Crown. / Contents 12 Fluid Ounces / HERRMANN GINGER ALE CO. / Washington, D.C. |
Enlarge
|
This is a letter that is postmarked 1894. It shows JF Herrmann & Son
were wholesale dealers in Val Blatz's Milwaukee Beer. |
Enlarge
|
This is a bottle cap. It is marked: FAMOUS / SINCE 1874 / HERRMANNS / ARIFICIALLY COLORED / LIME SODA / 8 OZ. / WASH DC |