Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co.
edited by Mike Reilly
Revised 11/08/2007
Royal Ruby Glass
Anchor Hocking made many different pattern dinner sets and novelty
items using Royal Ruby (created first in 1938), sometimes combining it with crystal. There
are apothecary jars, cigarette boxes and powder boxes combining ruby and crystal glass.
There are at least thirteen different shapes of vases ranging from 3-3/4 inches to 9
inches tall.
Anchor Hocking made Royal Ruby beer bottles for Schlitz Brewery for a
limited time. These beer bottles are trademarked with either the Anchor "H" or a
script Royal Ruby.
There are many different pitchers, vases, bowls, and ashtrays to choose
from. This variety makes Royal Ruby collecting a very versatile hobby. A collector can
accumulate a dinner set or just serving pieces.
Note: One of the references used for the above piece is http://www.shop4antiques.com/misc/article1.htm
Those Royal Ruby Beer Bottles
by Robert Jaeger
The ruby bottles are not considered antique in the true meaning, but are very collectible.
Ruby bottles were made by Anchor Hocking Glass Corp. of Lancaster, Ohio, between 1950 and 1963. In 1948, Mr. Uihlein of Schlitz, requested Anchor Hocking Corp. to submit sample bottles of ruby color. (Editor's note: It's been said that the reason for the request was the up-coming 100th anniversary of the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co.)
The color of the bottle is obtained by the addition of cuprous oxide to a glass batch under reducing conditions, the color being developed by reheating the glass. Workmanship, color, smoothness, and appearance are of the highest quality. Copper ruby glass was used for tableware from 1939 to 1943. During the war, key ingredients were unobtainable. Ruby glass was again available in 1948. In 1949 and 1950, Schlitz proceeded with a run of 50 million bottles. Again in 1963, four million bottles were used.
Cost of the bottles was cited as the chief reason for not continuing the use of ruby bottles. Schlitz Brewing Co. used four sizes of rubys. They were a 7oz - 12oz - 16oz and 32oz. The 16oz bottle as of today (Editor's Note: This article was written by Mr. Jaeger in the late 1970's to early 80's) is the most rare of all the bottles used by Schlitz.
This does not mean there are no other ruby bottles. There are 37 different sizes and shapes of ruby bottles that I know of. Rubys are used as wine, whiskey, juice, catsup, baby food, aspirin, pill, salad dressing, bank (?), instant coffee, chili sauce and peroxide bottles. Also many different sizes. The value of the bottles is low on some and very high on others.
The Bottles
7 OZ. Ruby Red Schlitz Bottle. This bottle is what they call an air filled bottle. They were made and capped empty. Used for display purpose. This bottle was never meant to be filled. Signed on the bottom of the bottle 54 67-22 5 50 Royal Ruby Anchor Glass. With the Anchor Hocking symbol. This bottle is shown in the Gene Florence book. Fire King and Anchor Hocking Price Guide.
ROYAL RUBY SCHLITZ BOTTLE 9 OZ (Not according to Mr. Jaeger's article(?)) - It is marked with the #28-then-#67-22, then 5 and anchor symbol and 50. Royal Ruby and Anchorglass all on bottom of bottle.
Royal Ruby by Anchor Hocking made in 1963 for Schlitz; 5 3/4" tall by Anchor Hocking originally held 12 oz. Schlitz Beer. Embossed "NOT TO BE REFILLED NO DEPOSIT*NO RETURN" around shoulder, and says on bottom "5 168-38B 63 ROYAL RUBY 124". Stippling around foot and shoulder.
ROYAL RUBY 32 OZ SCHLITZ BOTTLE; It says 86, then 8585C under that, then 5 and anchor symbol and 50, under that, then Royal Ruby and then Anchorglass all on the bottom of bottle. Two thirds of the bottle has a stippled effect.
ROYAL RUBY 32oz SCHLITZ BEER BOTTLE - Anchor Hocking - Embossed Markings on Bottom 46 8585c 5 {Anchor} 49 Royal Ruby Anchorglass. (Editor's Note- These two 32oz bottles seem the same except for the number 49 or 50 after the anchor symbol. Two different years of manufacture?)
Borden’s
Royal Red Ruby Milk Bottle - RARE!
The story goes that the Schlitz Beer Company had the Anchor Hocking Glass Company make a “Ruby Red” beer bottle for them in the early fifties and Borden’s wanted to celebrate their one-hundredth (100th) birthday and decided to do something special, so Anchor Hocking Glass Company made a very limited run (maybe only five or six total) of these milk bottles for Borden’s officials to look at, but the cost was too high and the idea was dropped.
Bid on eBay auctions as of 5/3/00 was $1,451.00
Ruby Beer Bottle Advertising
1950 SCHLITZ SEVEN OZ. RUBY BEER SIGN. ON THE REAR OF THIS SIGN IT SAYS FORM NO.27-50 JOS. SCHLITZ BREWING CO. MILWAUKEE, WIS. U.S.A.; INDOOR PLAQUE IS MADE BY K-C-S CO. MILWAUKEE, WIS. U.S.A. THE SIGN IS ABOUT 12" BY 13"; PLASTIC BOTTLE AND PAPER LABEL
Good afternoon! I read your article on the Schlitz Royal Ruby bottles and you might want to consult Royal Ruby or More Royal Ruby by Schiffer Publishing for some updated information. The Schlitz bottles were first made in 1949, again in 1950, and finally in 1963. The 1963 bottles contained both Schlitz and Old Milwaukee beer (I have have examples with labels for both). The 1950 version, the 67-22 design, contained Schlitz beer, but I also have one with a mint label for National Beer (Baltimore, MD brewery). The air fills were made in both the 8585C and 67-22 design. Both designs were made into displays containing three bottles in a steel bracket. Two bottles were placed on the bottom, with the third directly above and between the bottom two. The caps were brazed onto the bracket and the entire unit had holes to fasten the display to a countertop. The steel bracket was painted red and stamped and lettered with the Schlitz name and address. I have both versions of the displays with labels. The books mentioned above list the actual production figures for each design. There were also several experimental designs that were never marketed. All but one of these experimental designs are pictured in More Royal Ruby. While cost did play a factor in the production of Royal Ruby bottles, Schlitz did encounter much resistance from consumers. Beer drinkers did not like to drink from red bottles. The company waited 13 years after producing the first two designs, to introduce the 12 oz. squatty bottle. Again they met with resistance and dropped the bottles even though beer retains its flavor and freshness in red glass better than the usual brown glass. Anchor Hocking did not pursue production of the other types of Royal Ruby bottles (baby food, catsup, fruit juice, whiskey, etc.) because of possible patent infringement action by Schlitz. Copper ruby was not made until after the war and the books list the actual ingedients as well as an explanation of the nucleation process and how the color appears when the glass is reheated in a lehr under controlled conditions to relieve internal glass stress. Anchor Hocking still uses the lehrs today to temper and relieve stress in glass. Another point, there are at least 64 known types of Royal Ruby bottles produced by Anchor Hocking. I believe only two people in the U.S. have the complete sets. I personally have over 40 different bottles. Several hundred of the Borden's milk bottle were made, however, the company rejected them because of flaws in the glass. There have been at least 4 milk bottles on eBay auctions in the last year alone. On the bottom of most of the bottles is the design or mold number (i.e., #67-22), the year of manufacture (49, 50, or 63) and the number 5 for the place of manufacture (plant 5 in Connelsville, PA). I would suggest you consult the two books mentioned above because they may give you some more accurate information. If you would like any additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me. Phil Hopper (author of Royal Ruby, More Royal Ruby, Anchor Hocking Commemorative Bottles, and Forest Green Glassware by Schiffer Publishing)
(Note: We are not affiliated with the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. or endorsed by them. Any Schlitz trademarks displayed, or brands mentioned are the sole ownership of the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co.)