Samuel C. Palmer


Company Names, addresses, dates1:
  Palmer & Green, 57 Greene Georgetown (1872-1874)
  S. C. Palmer, 57 Greene Georgetown (1875-1880)
  S. C. Palmer, 1224 29th NW (1881-1892)
  S. C. Palmer, 615 D SW (1888-1898)
  Samuel C Palmer agent for Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co, 615 D SW (1892-1897)
  Samuel C. Palmer, 1066 32d street NW (1899-1907)
  Samuel C. Palmer, 1066 Wis Ave NW (1908-1911)
  S.C. Palmer Co, 1066 Wis Ave NW (1912-1940)
  Palmer Brand, Washington DC
sc_palmer Samuel C. Palmer

Notes:
 Samuel Claxton Palmer was born 1839 in Washington DC. He started as a clerk in May 1861 working for Arny & Shinn's bottling company at 57 Greene Street in Georgetown. In 1871 he and Robert M. Green purchased the bottling company from Riley Shinn. In February 1874, Green withdrew from the company and moved to Philadelphia, leaving Palmer as the sole proprietor.2
The bottling establishment at that location originally started in 1843.3,4

In 1884, Palmer bottled lemon soda, sarsaparilla, ginger ale, and other carbonated beverages, and was also an agent for both the Wm. Massey Brewing Company and the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company. He employed 35 to 50 men and boys and had 12 to 15 wagons to deliver goods in that year. 2

Palmer's address of 57 Greene Street in Georgetown changed to 1224 29th Street in 1881, but this was simply because Washington DC renamed Greene Street to 29th Street, and re-numbered the addresses (so it was the same building). For more information about the pedigree of companies at this building that lead up to the Samual Palmer's company, see Corner of Olive & Greene Streets .

Palmer's bottling plant at 1066 32nd street NW, which was later designated as 1066 Wisconsin Avenue after a street name change, had previously been a fire house.

The following information came from a descendant of Samuel Palmer:
    Upon his death the bottling company passed to Samuel's son, Roy Massey Palmer, and his four sisters, Blanch, Rose, Grace, and Helen.
At one point they were approached by a grocery chain with an inquiry as to whether the company would like to be their house bottler. However, the 4 sisters thought this company to be too common and beneath their name and refused the idea of this business partnership. That company, the Asia and Pacific Trading Company (A&P), went on to fabulous success.


Palmer & Green Bottles:
p_and_g book # 511
This is one bottle (front & back pictured). It's a 7.2" aqua blob top embossed:
front: PALMER & GREEN / GEORGETOWN, D.C.
back: P & G / THIS BOTTLE IS / NEVER SOLD




Palmer Bottles:
palmer_01 book # 493
This is a 7" aqua squat blob top bottle embossed:
front in block letters: S.C. PALMER
front in regular letters: GEORGETOWN / D.C.
back in block letters: P
back in regular letters: THIS BOTTLE IS / NEVER SOLD
palmer_46 book # 493
This is a color variation of the bottle above. It's a 7" green squat blob top bottle embossed:
front in block letters: S.C. PALMER
front in regular letters: GEORGETOWN / D.C.
back in block letters: P
back in regular letters: THIS BOTTLE IS / NEVER SOLD
palmer_12 book # 495
These are 7.3" bottles with gravitating stopper tops. The left one is aqua, the middle one is amber, and the right one is light green. They're embossed:
front: S.C. PALMER / GEORGETOWN / D.C.
back: THIS BOTTLE / IS NEVER SOLD
base: GRAVITATING STOPPER / MADE BY / JOHN MATHEWS / PAT / OCT 11 / 1864 / NEW YORK
palmer_12bot This is a close-up of the base of the aqua bottle above.
palmer1 book # 496 (amber) & 497 (aqua)
These gravitating stopper bottles are similar to the ones above except they say WASHINGTON instead of GEORGETOWN, and they are blank on the base. They are 7" tall except the one on the right which is 7.5". The one on the right still has the glass stopper inside of it. The one in the center is amber, the other 2 are aqua. All 3 are embossed:
front: S.C. PALMER / WASHINGTON / D.C.
back: THIS BOTTLE / IS NEVER SOLD
mod_01 rubbing_01 book # 497 (center bottle)
The center bottle of the 3 bottles shown to the left was made from a mold that had the word "GEORGETOWN" peened out and the word "WASHINGTON" added above it. It doesn't show up too well in the photo, so I took a rubbing of the bottle. I photographed the 3 bottles to compare them. The word "GEORGETOWN" on the left bottle is lower than the word "WASHINGTON" on the right bottle.
Georgetown was assimilated into Washington DC about 1880, and Palmer opened up a 2nd bottling location that was outside of Georgetown about 1888 - so this bottle was probably from about that time period.
palmer_02 book # 498
This is a 9.3" aqua baltimore-loop top bottle embossed:
round slug plate: S.C. PALMER / WASHINGTON / D.C. / REGISTERED
palmer_27 book # 498
This is the same as the bottle above, except the "D.C." and the "REGISTERED" are reversed. It's a 9" aqua baltimore-loop top bottle embossed:
round slug plate: S.C. PALMER / WASHINGTON / REGISTERED / D.C.
palmer_29 book # 498
This is a 9.25" aqua blob top bottle embossed:
round slug plate: S.C. PALMER / WASHINGTON / D.C.
back: THIS BOTTLE / NOT TO / BE SOLD
palmer_23 book # 499
This is a 9.5" aqua blob top bottle with a metal stopper. It is embossed:
round slug plate: S.C. PALMER / GEORGETOWN / D.C.
back: THIS / BOTTLE / IS NEVER SOLD
palmer_03 book # 499
This is embossed the same as the bottle above, but it's amber. It's a 9.5" blob top bottle embossed:
round slug plate: S.C. PALMER / GEORGETOWN / D.C.
back: THIS / BOTTLE / IS NEVER SOLD
base: A&DHC
palmer_41 book # (UNLISTED)
This is a 9.5" amber blob top bottle just like the bottle above, but it has a partial label. It is embossed:
round slug plate: S.C. PALMER / GEORGETOWN / D.C.
back: THIS / BOTTLE / IS NEVER SOLD
base: A&DHC
The label appears to be identical to the one on the bottle below.
palmer_42 palmer_43 book # (UNLISTED)
This is an unembossed, 9.3" black glass, three piece mold blob top bottle with a label that says:
label: Jos SCHLITZ BREWING Co / BOTTLED BY / SAML C. PALMER / 57 GREENE ST., GEORGETOWN, DC / MILWAUKEE / FOR THE USE OF PRIVATE FAMILIES / HOTELS, HOSPITALS, / STORES &c. / LAGER BEER
Since the address on this label is "GREENE ST", it was likely made prior to 1881 when that street got renamed to "29th ST".
palmer_04 book # 500
This is a 9.3" aqua blob top (front & back views shown), embossed:
front: S. C. PALMER / WASHINGTON / D C
back in fancy intertwined letters: SCP
palmer_45 book # 500
This is the same as the bottle above, except it has a baltimore-loop top vs. a blob top. It's 9.5" tall, aqua, and embossed:
front: S. C. PALMER / WASHINGTON / D.C.
back in fancy intertwined letters: SCP
palmer_05 book # 501
This is a 7.5" aqua blob top top bottle embossed:
vertical on front: S.C. PALMER / GEORGETOWN, D.C.
vertical on back: THIS BOTTLE / IS / NEVER SOLD
palmer_22 book # 503
This is a 7.4" aqua short blob top bottle with the stopper intact, embossed:
round slug plate: SAML C. PALMER / WASHINGTON, D.C.
base: F
The stopper was patented on March 3rd, 1885 by Frederick B. Thatcher. It's patent # 313253. I photographed the bottle without backlighting so you can see the stopper more clearly.
palmer_06 book # 504
These are a 9.5" and 9.3" crown top bottles. Left is sun colored amethyst, and the right one is aqua. They are both embossed:
round slug plate: S. C. PALMER / WASHINGTON / D.C. / REGISTERED
palmer_07 book # 504
This is similar to the bottles above, but with a different arrangement in the slug plate. It's a 7.8" sun colored amethyst crown top bottle embossed:
round slug plate: S. C. PALMER / WASHINGTON D.C.
below slug plate: REGISTERED / THIS BOTTLE / IS NEVER SOLD
palmer_10 book # 504
This is an 11.9" (picnic sized) clear machine-made crown top embossed:
round slug plate: S.C.PALMER / WASHINGTON / D.C. / REGISTERED
palmer_13 book # 506
Book number 506 has many varations, but all have a slugplate that has "SAML C. PALMER" instead of "S.C. PALMER". This is an 8.5" aqua crown top bottle (with cap), embossed:
shoulder: REGISTERED
round slug plate: SAML. C. PALMER / WASHINGTON, / D.C.
below slug plate: THIS BOTTLE IS NEVER SOLD
base: C384
palmer_35 book # 506
This one has a different arrangement in the slug plate than the one above. It's a 7.7" aqua crown top embossed:
round slug plate: SAML. C. PALMER / REGISTERED / WASHINGTON, D.C.
on front heel: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD
on rear heel: C & CO. 8
palmer_14 book # 506
This one has an oval shaped slug plate, with a large empty area in the middle (possibly to hold a label?).
It's a 9" aqua mouth-blown crown top bottle embossed:
above slug plate: REGISTERED
oval slug plate: SAML. C. PALMER CO./ WASHINGTON, D.C.
base: S.C.P.
palmer_44 book # 506
This one is similar to the one above, but it has some extra words in the oval slugplate. It's a 9" clear mouth-blown crown top bottle embossed:
oval slug plate: SAML. C. PALMER CO./ 12. OUNCES / REGISTERED / WASHINGTON, D.C.
base: S.C.P.
palmer_37 book # 506
This is a 7.5" aqua crown top embossed:
shoulder: CONTENTS 8 OZ.
oval slug plate: SAML. C. PALMER / CO / WASHINGTON, / D.C. / REGISTERED
below slug plate: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD
base: S.C.P.
palmer_38 book # 506
These are similar to the bottle above, but they don't have the embossing on the shoulder. They're both 7.5" tall crown tops; the left one is aqua, the right one is sun colored amethyst. They are embossed:
oval slug plate: SAML. C. PALMER / CO / WASHINGTON, / D.C. / REGISTERED
below slug plate: 8 ounces / THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD
base: S.C.P.
The one on the left doesn't say "CONTENTS 8 OZ." below the slug plate.
palmer_39 book # 506
These bottles are embossed similar to the ones above, but they don't say "CO" in the slug plate. They are 7.5" tall crown tops - the left is aqua and the right is clear. They are embossed:
oval slug plate: SAML. C. PALMER / WASHINGTON, / D.C. / REGISTERED
below slug plate: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD
palmer_08 book # 506 (upside-down slugplate is 507)
These bottles are embossed the same as the bottles above, except that the left one has an upside-down slug plate!
They're 7.5" aqua crown top bottles embossed:
oval slug plate: SAML. C. PALMER / WASHINGTON, / D.C. / REGISTERED
below slug plate: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD
palmer_40 book # 506
This is similar to the bottles above, but it's taller & doesn't say "REGISTERED" in the slug plate. It's a 9.5" tall aqua crown top bottle embossed:
oval slug plate: SAML. C. PALMER / WASHINGTON, / D.C.
below slug plate: THIS BOTTLE IS REGISTERED / NOT TO BE SOLD
palmer_16 book # 508
This is a 9.9" clear machine-made crown top bottle with bottle cap still on it and liquid still in it, with a white & red applied color label:
front: PALMER BEST SINCE 18433,4 / SPARKLING SODA / Purified by Ultra-Violet Rays / SAMUEL C. PALMER CO., INC./ WASHINGTON, D.C.
back: CONTAINS: / Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, / Hearts of Fruit, Essential Oils, / Extract and Compound, / Herbs, Citric Acid, Ginger, / Vegetable Color and Caramel./ CONTENTS 15 FL. OZS.
base: 239 B 8
 It also has a paper label on top that says:
SERVE SELTZER ICE COLD / Pure filtered Carbonated Water/ Bottled under the supervision of / RABBI Manuel M. Poliakoff / California Beverage Co., Baltimore Md.
palmer_21 book # 509
These are an 11.8" (picnic-sized) machine-made crown top bottles. The left is green, the right is aqua. They are both embossed:
on both shoulders: Palmer
on both heels: FULL QUART 32 OZ
base: PROPERTY OF S C PALMER CO INC / WASH, D.C.
palmer_26 book # 509-c
This is identical to the bottles above, except it's clear glass, and it has a label:
label: CONTENTS 1 QUART / PALMER / SINCE 18433,4 / (picture of man in top hat holding glass) / STRAWBERRY / ... / WASHINGTON DC
palmer_17 book # 510
These are 8" machine-made crown top bottles. Left one is aqua, right one is clear. They are both embossed:
front & back shoulders: Palmer / BRAND
front heel: 8 FLU. OZS. / WASHINGTON, D.C.
back heel: PROPERTY OF / S.C. PALMER CO INC
base in script: Palmer
palmer_20 book # 510
These are 11.3" (picnic-sized) machine-made crown top bottles. Left is green, right is aqua. They are both embossed:
front & back shoulders: Palmer / BRAND
front heel: ONE PINT 8 OUNCES / WASHINGTON, D.C.
back heel: PROPERTY OF / S.C. PALMER CO INC
base in script: Palmer




Palmer Seltzer Bottles:
palmer_31 book # 12 (in syphon-seltzer section of the book)
This is a 9" (10.7" with the metal top) syphon seltzer bottle with a red Applied Color label:
front: CONTENTS 25 FL. 0ZS. / PALMER / BEST SINCE 18433,4 (picture of man in top hat) / CARBONATED / SPARKLING WATER / Purified by Ultra-Violet Rays / SAMUEL C. PALMER CO. INC / WASHINGTON, D.C.
palmer_19 book # 15 (in syphon-seltzer section of the book)
This is a 9.5" (11.2" with the metal top) syphon seltzer bottle embossed:
front: SAM'L. C. PALMER CO. INC / REGISTERED 1914 / WASHINGTON,D.C. / CONTENTS-26-0Z.
metal top: SAM'L C PALMER CO INC.



Other Items:
Palmer bottlecap This is a bottle cap from a Palmer Brand soda bottle. From what I can make out, it says something like "Palmer Brand Washington DC" around the edges. In the center, I can make out:
Palmer / BRAND / ARTIFICIAL / GRAPE / ARTIFICIAL COLOR / --- 11 --- / MIN CONTS ??
palmer_cap_01 This is another bottle cap. It has a picture of a dapper gentleman with a tall hat. It's marked:
PALMER / SINCE 1843 / PALE DRY GINGER ALE
palmer_cap_02 This is another bottle cap. It's marked:
S.C. PALMER COMPANY INC / Palmer / LEMON / SODA / MIN CONTS 6 OZ. / WASHINGTON DC
palmer_cap_03 This is another bottle cap. It's marked:
S.C. PALMER CO. INC / ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR / AND / COLOR / Palmer / BRAND / IMITATION / ORANGE / WASHINGTON D.C.
palmer_cap_04 This is another bottle cap. It's marked:
S.C. PALMER CO. INC. / Palmer / BRAND / GINGER ALE / COLORED WITH CARAMEL / MIN. CONTS. 7 OZ. / WASHINGTON, D.C.
palmer_28 This is a bottle opener - front and back shown. It says:
front: THE S. C. PALMER CO. / WASHINGTON D.C.
back: PALMER BRAND / HIGH GRADE SODA
palmer_30 This is a colorful label from a bottle of Samuel Palmer's Sarsaparilla. It says:
label: ONE AND ONE HALF PINTS NET WEIGHT / Palco / SARSAPARILLA / SAMUEL C. PALMER CO. INC. / WASHINGTON, D.C.

The background of the label depicts a waterfall, which could be the Great Falls of the Potomac River.
palmer_24 This is a letter written on a printed receipt. The letterhead says:
letterhead: DEPOTS, 615 to 621 D Street, S.W., and 1224 29th Street, N.W. / Washington, D.C. ____ 188 / Bought of SAMUEL C. PALMER, / SODA AND MINERAL WATER MANUFACTURER / Agent for WM. MASSEY BREWING CO.'S Philadelphia Draught Ale, Porter and Brown Stout, / And JOS. SCHLITZ BREWING CO.'S MILWAUKEE LAGER BEER / TERMS, CASH. CASKS AND BOTTLES TO BE RETURNED
(in square on left): BOTTLER / OF / PORTER, ALE, CIDER, AND MINERAL WATERS, / DEALER IN / CLARIFIED CIDER, VINEGAR, / Imported Ale, Brown Stout, / BELFAST GINGER ALE

The letter is from a son to a Father, asking for an estimate to build a porch. I beleive it was written by Samuel Palmer to his father, because of the letterhead, and because it was signed "yours, Sam". Also, the 1850 Census lists Palmer's father's occupation as "Merchant & Carpenter".
palmer_34 This is an advertisement, probably from the 1890's. It says:
advertisement: SAMUEL C. PALMER, ESTABLISHED 1861 SPECIALTIES.- BELFAST GINGER ALE. CALIFORNIA ORANGE CIDER. FAVORATE CREAM ROOT BEER. CRAB CIDER CHAMPAGNE. SARSPARILLA. LEMON SODA, &c. / MANUFACTURER OF SODA AND MINERAL WATERS / IN FOUNTS, SYPHONS AND BOTTLES. Soda Water Syrups of all Flavors. AGENT FOR SCHLITZ'S MILWAUKEE LAGER BEER. Depots, 615-621 D St. S.W., Washington, D.C.
I've never heard of "crab cider champagne" before - I'd like to try it.
palmer_36 This is a letter with Samuel Palmer letterhead, probably from the early 1900s (based on the phone number being "WEST 190" - I've seen other artifacts that had a word followed by a 3-digit phone number in the early 1900s). It says:
letterhead: OLDEST ESTABLISHED SODA BUSINESS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. / The Samuel C. Palmer Co., Inc. / MANUFACTURER OF / Soda and Mineral Water, / IN FOUNTS, SYPHONS AND BOTTLES. 1066 Wisconsin Avenue, / TELEPHONE WEST 190 . / Washington, D.C.
graphic on the left: "Palmers's Ginger Ale Washington DC" in a bottle cap, "Aromatic Ginger Ale a Specialty" below.
graphic on the right: Label that says "DO NOT USE ICE IN GLASS LAY BOTTLE ON ICE THE SAMUEL C. PALMER CO., INC. AMERICAN GINGER ALE AROMATIC 1066 WISCONSIN AVE NW, WASHINGTON, D.C. GUARANTEED UNDER THE FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, JUNE 30TH 1906 SERIAL NO 3857" with "FAC SIMILE OF OUR LABEL" below it.
palmer_32 This is a wooden crate. It says in black lettering:
sides: RETURN TO / S.C. PALMER CO. / WASHINGTON D.C. / PHONE WEST-0190
ends: (cant make it out)
palmer_33 This is another wooden crate. It says:
sides (in black): PALMER / GINGER ALE
ends (in red): PALMER / 1935
Based on the size of the 12 pockets, I'd say this one carried syphon-seltzer bottles.



1 Boyd's Directory for the District of Columbia (various years)
2 Historical & Commercial Sketches of Washington, 1884, compiled by E.E. Barton, p.126
3 Some of the artifacts above say "SINCE 1843", indicating the company started that year
4 Daily National Intelligencer (Wash DC), 11-Aug-1843, p.3 (earliest ad I could find for J.Rother's establishment which Palmer eventually took over, see this web site)


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This page last updated on March 29, 2024.