Henry Otto
Company Names, addresses, dates1:
  Henry Otto, 707 8th street NE (1887-1889)
  Henry Otto, 640 C street NE (1890-1921)
Notes:
Henry L. Otto was born about 1862 in Maryland. The 1880 census listed
his occupation as working in a mineral water factory. I suspect the
factory he worked in belonged to George Otto, who was listed in the 1880
census as living in the same house as Henry but was head of a different family.
Henry eventually became the owner of his own soda water bottling establishment.
Henry's 1902 estimated pecuniary strength was $3000-$5000, and his
credit rating was "good"2.
The first year Henry Otto shows up as a bottler in city directories is 1887,
however he is mentioned as a bottler of Ginger ale at the corner of 5th and
C streets S.E. in the Historical & Commercial Sketches of Washington, compiled
by E.E. Barton in 1884. That book also says that Otto's establishment was
30 x 100 feet, that he employed 4 assistants, and had 2 wagons to deliver his
goods. It says he manufactured ginger ale, sarsaparilla, soda and a large
number of light summer drinks. 3
Bottles:
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This is a 7" aqua hutchinson bottle with 10-sided bottom, embossed: tombstone slug plate: HENRY OTTO / 8TH ST / N.E. / WASHINGTON / D.C. bottom: No 1 |
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This is a 7" aqua huthinson embossed: round slug plate: HENRY OTTO / TRADE / HO / MARK / 640 C. ST N.E. / WASH. / D.C. back: REGISTERED NOT TO BE SOLD |
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This is similar to the above bottle, but without the trade mark.
It is a 7" aqua hutchinson, embossed: round slug plate: HENRY OTTO / 640 C. ST N.E. / WASH. / D.C. back: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD |
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This is an 8" clear BIM crown-top, embossed: oval slug plate: HENRY OTTO / 640 C. ST. N.E. / WASHINGTON, D.C. below slug plate: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD |
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This is an 8.5" aqua BIM crown-top, embossed: oval pattern: HENRY OTTO / 640 C. ST. / N.E. / WASHINGTON, D.C. above oval: REGISTERED below oval: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO BE SOLD |