This is a vintage, aqua blue Schlitz beer bottle most likely dating between the late 1800s and 1912 from the Norfolk, VA Branch bottler. The antique beer bottle is embossed on the front "Schlitz - Norfolk VA Branch - Registered" on one side and "This Bottle Not to be Sold" on the reverse. The bottom of the bottle is embossed, "A B Co - 058 2". The vintage beer bottle is mold formed (seam stops at the neck) with an awkwardly formed applied crown top. The glass is thick, heavy and unevenly poured at the base, reminiscent of slug plate bottles. I have had several A B Co bottles and there is debate on whether the mark stands for the American Bottle Company or Anheuser Busch. The articles below reference there being an Anheuser Busch Brewery in the Norfolk area in the late 1800s and that the company switched their brown bottle in 1912. I have seen similar bottles cited from other locations but never one from Norfolk so assume this must be a very rare bottle. My father, an avid bottle digger found the bottle more than 40 hears ago in the ruins of an old homestead in Virginia. The 100 plus year old beer bottle is in nice condition, free from breaks or cracks. There is sediment deposit on one side from having been buried for such a long period of time. The aqua blue color is nice, embossing is sharp. There are age related bubbles in the glass. The old bottle measures about 9.5' x 3".
Please note this is an EMPTY bottle sold for display purposes.
For more information:
https://virginiacraftbeer.com/norfolks-history-with-beer/
https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/schlitz-brewing-company/
https://sha.org/bottle/beer.htm
https://www.fohbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/SchlitzBeerBottles_1Winter2004.pdf