A recent addition to my collection spurred an investigation with surprising results and proved once again that the history behind the glass and ceramic containers that we collect can be absolutely fascinating. The bottle is a clear quart cylinder whiskey embossed in a bold slug plate, “Fred W. Pawinski Marble Hall Milwaukee.” It is pre-machine made and I judged its age to be in the 1900 to 1910 age. I wondered who was this Fred guy and what was “Marble Hall.” It also intrigued me that in my nearly five decades of collecting I had not seen any other bottle from Pawinski. I presumed his business must have been an obscure, short-lived venture. My assumption proved to be wrong on several levels.

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This bottle was part of an old collection and recently came to light. Neither the brand nor this particular bottle was previously known to collectors. A. Breslauser was a large and successful Milwaukee whiskey dealer. Many bottles and advertising shot glasses are known, as well as quite a few brands that he promoted, including:

• Old Hickory
• Graham Club
• Cheddington
• Connet
• Henry Van Erden Gin
• Kilbourn
• La Belle
• Old Chessy
• Palm
• Standard Club
• Top Cliff Gin

Simon Jung was a wholesale liquor dealer in Milwaukee that operated from 1889 until prohibition in 1918. He partnered with his father-in-law Abraham Breslauser for his first year of business. A Breslauer was a large and well-known Milwaukee liquor dealership. Simon later also partnered with M. Wiener for a year. His business was initially located at 425 Chestnut St but later moved several times. From 1908 to 1918 his business was located at 244-246 E Water Street. That building still stands.
S. Jung brands include Mountain King Rye, Homer Club Whiskey, Ole Bull Bourbon and Underhill Whiskey. Some of the advertising items known today include several varieties of shot glasses and backbar bottles. There are probably many other S. Jung advertising items not yet known to collectors.
Jack Sullivan posted an article on his “Those Pre-Pro Whiskey Men!” blog entitled “Simon Jung Gave Milwaukee His Best Shots”. Click here to read the full article.