M. Wertlieb


Company Names, addresses, dates1:
  Michael Wertlieb (Grocer), 300 14th Street, S.E. Washington DC (1922-1925)
  Michael Wertlieb (Soft Drinks), 659 H Street, N.E. Washington DC (1926-1928)
  Morris Wertlieb (Grocer), 300 14th Street, S.E. Washington DC (1926-1931)

Notes:
Michael Wertlieb (1899-1972)2 was born in Russia. He was listed in Washington DC directories as a Grocer from 1922-1925. Then from 1926-1928, his occupation is listed as "Soft Drinks" at address 649 H Street NW. After that, he was listed as a coal dealer.

There was also a Morris Wertlieb, who was listed as a Grocer in Washington DC from 1926-1931. He seemed to have taken over Michael's grocery business, as the address (300 14th Street) was the same place that Michael's grocery store was at. Michael's father's name was Morris, so this might have been Michael's father. The 1920 US Census indicates Michael's father was born about 1880 in Russia.

I don't know if the "M. WERTLIEB" embossed on the bottles below was for Michael or Morris Wertlieb, but I suspect it was for Michael.

It seems unusual that some of the Wertlieb bottles below are blob-tops, as blob-top bottles had largely been replaced by crown-top bottles by the 1920s. On the other hand, the blob top bottles below appear to be machine-made, indicating they are newer than most blob-tops.

The address "300 14th Street SE" seems to be the current home of Payne Elementary School.

Bottles:

wertlieb_02 book # 714
This is a 10.5" clear blob top bottle with a very wide (4.125" diamater) base, and a porcelain lightning-stopper. The bottle is embossed:
round slug plate: M. WERTLIEB / 300 - 14TH ST. S.E. / WASHINGTON, D.C.
wertlieb_03 book # 715
This is an 11" clear blob top bottle with a porcelain lightning-stopper. The bottle is embossed:
round slug plate: M.WERTLIEB / WASHINGTON, D.C.
wertlieb_01 book # 716
This is an 11.5" clear crown top bottle with a porcelain lightning-stopper. The bottle is embossed:
round slug plate: WERTLIEB'S / COR. 14TH & C STS. S.E. / WASHINGTON, D.C.
below slug plate: THIS BOTTLE IS REGISTERED / NOT TO BE SOLD / MIN CONTENTS 24 OZ.
back side on heel in small letters: D.O.C.45-12


1 Boyd's Directory for the District of Columbia (various years)
2 Find-a-grave for Michael Wertlieb


Back to my bottle home page.


This page last updated on August 4, 2022.