When I was 13 I found an old cistern on a vacant lot. I decided to go ahead and dig it because that's what my dad would do LOL! I got down to about five feet and was finding lots of old Rainier beer can! Despite the cans I was having fun. Soon I heard what sounded like wood breaking and then felt the dirt start to give way underneath me! I dropped 30 feet straight down into water that came up to my nose. I tried working my legs but they were pinned. It was about that time when I really thought all was lost when a rope fell onto my head. A kid that I knew from school had seen me go down and went to get a rope! He was an awful bully too but here he was helping me. He dragged me out and we became friends and I have never dug another cistern in my life after that!! Oh and the first bottle I ever dug was a Sutherland 7 Sisters!! Hope you find the old hole for that place!
Hey Jack, Sweet video!! Your 7 Sutherland sisters bottle is a nice find, I've never seen one before. I didn't know that you collected hair bottles. There are quite a few that are quite nice. I also liked the chilli bottle the had a ground lip with the lid. Usually the lids are so badly corroded that they are unusable. So we're you able to dig the entire cistern or did you stay away from the two corner walls of the house? Did you probe the entire yard for privys? Was the platter from the cistern? English or American made? Have you finished digging for the year? Take care
Hi Debra, always good to hear from you! I collect hair bottles because I found a few oddballs 10 years ago and got hooked. Dug a purple Mrs. Allen's and a light blue C Heimstreet from two neighboring pontil age privies and was hooked. This year it seems I have dug more hair bottles than anything. I stayed away from the house walls as the last thing I needed was to cause any chance of structural issue with his foundation, as unlikely as it may be. The yard is mostly covered by a modern garage that is sitting on the most likely area for a privy. Been the story of my season this year. Garages sitting on so many privies! Thing is, they are usually the ones loaded as it was a sure bet the inspector was good with it as long as it was under a thick slab of concrete! No need for the dippers! Platter I believe was English? I'm no plate expert for sure! Thanks again for checking in and watching!
I just suck it up, convince myself the worst is they say "No" and I go to the next. I try to show my short probe and explain I don't dig Willie-Nillie but try to locate accurately where to dig. I minimize the size and depth of projected hole so as not to scare them off. If a 3 foot hole becomes an 8 foot hole, oh well. By then it is what it is! The more permissions I ask, the better I get at it. I have so few respond in the negative I'm actually surprised when they do! I just shrug it off and move on to the next one. Couple years ago a house I wanted to hunt had an old truck parked with an old farmer sitting inside. I passed by while walking and thought "No way will that crabby looking guy let me dig." On my return I remembered my own advice and turned out he was a bottle digger 50 years ago! Nicest guy I could have met and owns half the old houses in town! Gave me blanket permission to hunt any of them! Ya never know until you ask!
When I was 13 I found an old cistern on a vacant lot. I decided to go ahead and dig it because that's what my dad would do LOL! I got down to about five feet and was finding lots of old Rainier beer can! Despite the cans I was having fun. Soon I heard what sounded like wood breaking and then felt the dirt start to give way underneath me! I dropped 30 feet straight down into water that came up to my nose. I tried working my legs but they were pinned. It was about that time when I really thought all was lost when a rope fell onto my head. A kid that I knew from school had seen me go down and went to get a rope! He was an awful bully too but here he was helping me. He dragged me out and we became friends and I have never dug another cistern in my life after that!! Oh and the first bottle I ever dug was a Sutherland 7 Sisters!! Hope you find the old hole for that place!
I appreciate this story. Thank you for sharing. Sounds like me everyday of my life.
That's pretty wild! I'd buy the book if you write it!
Thanks,keep on keeping on👍
Thanks for keeping on watching!
Hi that seven Sutherland sisters is my Dream bottle, Thanks
It was a pleasant surprise for sure! Been on my list for 30 years! Ha!
Hey Jack,
Sweet video!! Your 7 Sutherland sisters bottle is a nice find, I've never seen one before. I didn't know that you collected hair bottles. There are quite a few that are quite nice. I also liked the chilli bottle the had a ground lip with the lid. Usually the lids are so badly corroded that they are unusable. So we're you able to dig the entire cistern or did you stay away from the two corner walls of the house? Did you probe the entire yard for privys? Was the platter from the cistern? English or American made? Have you finished digging for the year? Take care
Hi Debra, always good to hear from you! I collect hair bottles because I found a few oddballs 10 years ago and got hooked. Dug a purple Mrs. Allen's and a light blue C Heimstreet from two neighboring pontil age privies and was hooked. This year it seems I have dug more hair bottles than anything. I stayed away from the house walls as the last thing I needed was to cause any chance of structural issue with his foundation, as unlikely as it may be. The yard is mostly covered by a modern garage that is sitting on the most likely area for a privy. Been the story of my season this year. Garages sitting on so many privies! Thing is, they are usually the ones loaded as it was a sure bet the inspector was good with it as long as it was under a thick slab of concrete! No need for the dippers! Platter I believe was English? I'm no plate expert for sure! Thanks again for checking in and watching!
Love your videos. How do you get permission
I just suck it up, convince myself the worst is they say "No" and I go to the next. I try to show my short probe and explain I don't dig Willie-Nillie but try to locate accurately where to dig. I minimize the size and depth of projected hole so as not to scare them off. If a 3 foot hole becomes an 8 foot hole, oh well. By then it is what it is! The more permissions I ask, the better I get at it. I have so few respond in the negative I'm actually surprised when they do! I just shrug it off and move on to the next one. Couple years ago a house I wanted to hunt had an old truck parked with an old farmer sitting inside. I passed by while walking and thought "No way will that crabby looking guy let me dig." On my return I remembered my own advice and turned out he was a bottle digger 50 years ago! Nicest guy I could have met and owns half the old houses in town! Gave me blanket permission to hunt any of them! Ya never know until you ask!
Wasn’t Forbes a ST Louis MFG?
Yes, and the T&S was short for Tea and Spices, not Tom and Sam or whoever like I was thinking...