R.T. Mazinger / Smithson & Mazinger


Company Names, addresses, dates1:
  Smithson & Mazinger, 359 M SW (1893)
  Smithson & Mazinger, 462 H SW (1894-1897)
  R.T. Mazinger, 462 H SW (1898)
  R.T. Mazinger, 359 M street SW (1899-1915)

Notes:
Richard T. Mazinger (ca.1849-1915)2 was born in Washington DC3.
The residential section of Washington DC directories lists his occupation was "bottler" in various years, on-and-off between 1867 and 1892. In 1890 and 1891 his occupation was listed as "foreman". So it seems he was a worker in the bottling business during that time, learning the business and moving up in his position.

Starting in 1893, the "Smithson & Mazinger" bottling establishment was listed in the city directories, so it seems he became a co-owner of a bottling company at that time.

Their bottling works was referred to as "The South Washington Bottling Works, Smithson & Mazinger proprietors" by an ad in the March 31st 1893 Evening Star newspaper (page 1), which noted that they had moved from 359 M Street SW to 462 H Street SW, which had "greatly increased facilities" so they could supply their patrons with "the Finest Carbonated Beverages and Bottled Beer".
An entry in the November 5th, 1898 issue of the Evening Star newspaper (page 3) said that R.T. Mazinger was moving from 462 H Street SW to 359 M Street SW, so it appears that about the same time his partnership with Smithson broke up, he moved back to the address where their business had started from.
In 1902, he was listed as both a Bottler & Wholesale Liquor dealer4.
Mazinger passed away on March 24, 19155.

William A. Smithson (1870-1938)6 was also born in Washington DC. He was partnered with Mazinger from 1893-1897. Before that, he was partnered with his brother Charles C. Smithson, selling Coal under the name "C.C. Smithson & Bro". His occupation is not listed in the 1898-99 city directories, but in later years he is listed as owning a Livery business.


Smithson & Mazinger Bottles:

smithson_02 book # 648
This is a 6.5" aqua hutchinson-shaped bottle with a baltimore-loop top. It is embossed:
round slugplate: SMITHSON & MAZINGER / WASHINGTON / D.C.
rear heel: McC 2
smithson_01 book # 649
This is a 7.4" aqua hutchinson bottle embossed:
front: SMITHSON & MAZINGER / 462 H. ST. S.W. / WASHINGTON, D.C. / REGISTERED 1894.
base: S&M
smithson_06 book # 650
This is a 6.5" aqua hutchinson bottle. It is embossed with the same slug plate as the bottle 2-rows above, except that bottle has a baltimore-loop top, and this one has a normal hutchinson top. It is embossed:
round slugplate: SMITHSON & MAZINGER / WASHINGTON / D.C.
rear heel: McC 2
smithson_03 book # 651
This is an 8.8" aqua baltimore-loop bottle embossed:
round slugplate: SMITHSON & MAZINGER / 462 H. ST. S.W. / 1894 / WASHINGTON, D.C.
back: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
base: S&M
smithson_04 book # 652
This is a 9" aqua BIM crown-top bottle, with vthe same embossing as the baltimore-loop-top bottle above. It is embossed:
round slugplate: SMITHSON & MAZINGER / 462 H. ST. S.W. / 1894 / WASHINGTON, D.C.
back: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
base: S&M



R.T. Mazinger Bottles:
mazinger_07 book # 386
This is a 7.5" clear hutchinson bottle embossed:
tombstone slugplate: R.T. MAZINGER / REGD. / 462 H. ST. S.W. / 1989 / WASHINGTON D.C. / THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
mazinger_09 book # 387
Compare this to #649 a few rows above... This bottle appears to be made from the same mold as that bottle, but the words "SMITHSON &" were peened out, and replaced with "R. T.". Also, the address was altered, and the last digit of the year was altered. It is a 7.3" clear hutchinson bottle embossed:
front: R. T. MAZINGER / 359 M. ST. S.W. / WASHINGTON, D.C. / REGISTERED 1898.
base: S&M
mazinger1 book # 389
These are 7.5" clear hutchinson bottles embossed:
tombstone slugplate: R.T. MAZINGER / 359 / M. ST. S.W. / REGISTERED/ 1898 / WASHINGTON, D.C.
lower front: AGW
mazinger_08 book # 390
This is similar to the bottles above except for the shape of the slug-plate. It's a 7.7" sun-colored-amethyst hutchinson bottle embossed:
round slugplate: R.T. MAZINGER / 359 M. ST. S.W. / REGISTERED / 1898 / WASHINGTON, D.C.
mazinger_04 book # 393
Left is an 8" sun-colored-amethyst crown top bottle embossed:
oval slugplate: R.T. MAZINGER / 359 / M. ST. S.W. / WASHINGTON, D.C.
lower front: THIS BOTTLE NEVER SOLD
lower back: REGISTERED
The right bottle is the same except it is aqua, and the embossing is in an oval pattern vs. a slugplate.
mazinger_06 book # 393
The left bottle is a 9.2" clear crown-top embossed:
round slugplate: R.T. MAZINGER / 359 M ST SW / REGISTERED / WASHINGTON DC
The right bottle is the same except it is aqua, and it's 9.0" tall.
mazinger_02 book # 394 (right) & 396 (left)
The left bottle is an 8.5" clear crown-top embossed:
shoulder: REGISTERED
oval slugplate: MAZINGER / 359 [M] ST / BOTTLER / SW / WASHINGTON / DC
lower front: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
The right bottle is an 8.75" clear crown-top embossed:
shoulder: REGISTERED
oval pattern: MAZINGER / 359 [M] ST / BOTTLER / SW / WASHINGTON / DC
lower front: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD
The difference (besides color) is that one has a slug-plate and the other doesn't.
mazinger_05 book # 395
This is a 9.5" clear crown top bottle embossed:
fancy slugplate: MAZINGER / 359 [M] ST / BOTTLER / SW / WASHINGTON / DC
lower front: REGISTERED
base: RTM
mazinger_03 book # 397
These bottles have nearly identical slug plates. Left bottle is 9.5" tall and aqua, and the right bottle is 9" tall and clear. The left bottle is embossed:
oval slugplate: R.T. MAZINGER / 462 H. ST. S.W. / REGD / 1898 / WASHINGTON, D.C.
back: THIS BOTTLE NEVER SOLD
and the right bottle is embossed:
oval slugplate: R.T. MAZINGER / REGD. / 462 H. ST. S.W. / 1898 / WASHINGTON, D.C.
below slugplate: REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE IS NEVER SOLD
rear heel: A G W


Seltzer Bottles:
smithson_05 book # (unlisted in the syphon-seltzer section)
This is a syphon-seltzer bottle. I'm not sure if it's painted or etched, but it says:
front: SMITHSON & MAZINGER / TRADE (SM monogram) MARK / REGISTERED,1895 / WASHINGTON, D.C.

1 Boyd's Directory for the District of Columbia (various years)
2 Evening Star (Washington DC), 26-Mar-1915, page 9 ("Deaths Reported" entry for Richard T. Mazinger)
3 1910 US Census lists Richard Mazinger, bottler in Washington DC, born in Washington DC
4 Merchants, Tradesmen and Manufacturers Financial Condition for the District of Columbia 1902
5 Find-a-grave for Richard T. Mazinger
6 Find-a-grave for William A. Smithson


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This page last updated on November 21, 2023.