ThePortForum.com

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me. We were at an auction yesterday and there was a lot of 6 bottles, one identified 5 not. The 5 unidentified were not in great condition and a bit sticky but I thought they had interesting bottles and there was a mark on the wax of 2 of them that were still in tact saying what looked like “H or M Callwey” around one side and round the other “Waterford”.
The bottoms were flat which I haven’t really seen before and seemed to have some sort of pontil scar a large rough oval in the middle of the base with some lettering. I’ve attached some photos just in case they were anything interesting! I’m hoping they are not as we didn’t buy them!!

Gallwey were wine and spirit merchants in Waterford city (Ireland). They tended to only bottle the premium shippers so sorry looks as if you may have missed a bargain. How much did they go for and where was the auction?

I’ve looked at my Irish bottlings and I’d say an IGB (iris Glass Bottles) bottle from late 40’s to mid 50’s. the L might signify a 1948 port or a late bottled 47. Taylor’s , , Dow’s or Cockburn’s being the likely candidates.

F.O.B. means Free on Board, which is an old term used to record duty status of goods. I've seen it stamped on cases but never before on bottles.

Derek, the IGB stands for Irish Glass Bottle Co. All Irish bottlings used this as it was the only indigenous bottle manufacturer. I have some almost identical bottles (Croft 1950, Cockburns 1955 after that they dropped the Roman numerals.

Justin K wrote: ↑21:06 Sat 23 Feb 2019 Derek, the IGB stands for Irish Glass Bottle Co. All Irish bottlings used this as it was the only indigenous bottle manufacturer. I have some almost identical bottles (Croft 1950, Cockburns 1955 after that they dropped the Roman numerals.

Ah, I thought it said FOB, not IGB. Thanks for clarifying.

I think they went for about £350 odd in the end, there was one identified and 5 like this! The auction was in Leominster.
Thank you for the information on this, I’ll know next time! )