Images(2)

Bottle

Object number96.167.100

Retailer Independent Brewing Co. of Pittsburgh

Date1927

Mediumglass, metal, paper, ink, metal foil

Credit LineGift of Ralph W. Friday

DescriptionBrown to amber color glass. Short, squat body with well-defined shoulder and long neck. Fitted with a crown-type cap, sealed with wrap-around metal foil. Front paper label shows illustration of the Fort Pitt Blockhouse at center and has text describing product and maker. Rear paper label lists the many therapeutic uses for the medicine including dosage information.DimensionsHeight x Diameter: 8 × 2.875 in. (20.3 × 7.3 cm)
MarksFront paper label has text "DUQUESNE / EXTRACT / The Home Malt Tonic / A HIGHLY CONCENTRATED LIQUID EXTRACT OF MALT AND HOPS / ALCHOLIC CONTENT / NOT OVER 3 1/2% / CONTENTS / 12 FLUID OZS. / KEEP IN / COLD PLACE / MANUFACTURED BY / INDEPENDENT BREWING CO. OF PITTSBURGH"; text around the Blockhouse "TRADE / MARK / FORT DUQUESNE".

Front label is dot-perforated with the date: "5-17-27".

Rear paper label lists the many therapeutic uses for the medicine including dosage information and including "HOME MALT TONIC / HYGIENIC--NUTRITIOUS / ... / DIRECTIONS FOR USING / LOSS OF APPETITE... / DYSPEPSIA... / SLEEPLESSNESS... / NURSING MOTHERS... / CONVALESCENCES... / INDEPENDENT BREWING CO. OF PITTSBURGH".

Historical NotesDuquesne Extract Home Malt Tonic bottle. This was a malt product brewed during prohibition; though the Volstead Act prohibited the sale of beer as a beverage, many breweries produced a concentrated malt extract for use as medicine; though usually not particularly palatable as a beverage, it was easily converted into a potable beer.Label TextAlthough the Volstead Act prohibited the sale of beer as a beverage, many breweries produced a concentrated malt extract for use as medicine; though usually not particularly palatable as a beverage, it was easily converted into a potable beer. Labels for the Home Malt Tonic Preparation and the Duquesne Extract Home Malt Tonic carry the caveat: “ … A Purely Medicinal Preparation And Is Not Sold As A Beverage”

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