Case bottles were designed for easy and efficient transportation. Their square bodies with flat, rectangular sides packed neatly into wooden boxes or cases. Case bottles were common from the 1600s into the 1900s and usually held gin or other alcoholic or medicinal spirits.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often decorated with symbols of national pride, appealed to America's common man. This Baltimore-made flask contains an image of a sheaf of grain above crossed agricultural tools. This symbol of America's agriculture bounty probably also referred to the flask's content of grain-based alcohol.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks often were decorated with symbols of national pride. Other flasks, like this one, contain images of foreign newsmakers. Many Americans embraced Louis Kossuth, a mid-century Hungarian patriot and revolutionist. Kossuth arrived in the U. S. in 1851 after a failed attempt to set up a democratic Hungarian state.

Whether depicted as commander-in-chief, the first president of the United States, or a symbol of the republic, George Washington is a common likeness on early American flasks. Washington appears on 72 recorded flask designs--more than any other person. This example depicts Washington as a classical statesman with major general Zachary Taylor, who became the 12th United States president in 1849.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often decorated with symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation, appealed to America's common man. Many flasks, like this one, contain images of an eagle -- a traditional symbol for America.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often embellished with symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation, appealed to America's common man. Purely decorative flasks, however, were another option. These flasks -- like this sunburst-pattern one -- held alcohol just as well as those with images of great men or patriotic emblems.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often decorated with symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation, appealed to America's common man. Some of these flasks contain images of revered Revolutionary War-era patriots. Benjamin Franklin -- writer, philosopher, statesman and diplomat -- adorns this flask from the early 1800s.

Americans in the mid-to-late 19th century purchased a variety of pickled and preserved foods in inexpensive, commercially made glass containers. Though cheap, some of these utilitarian bottles were distinctive in their decorations. This gothic-inspired bottle with its pointed arches and trefoils appealed to the tastes of many 19th-century middle class Americans and was found sitting on pantry and cupboard shelves, or atop kitchen tables.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often decorated with symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation, appealed to America's common man. Those who dreamed of striking it rich also found their aspirations molded in glass. This flask contains an image of a prospector bound "For Pikes Peak" -- an area rumored with gold.

People have explored the health benefits of spring water for thousands of years. Natural springs became travel destinations and the restorative waters were touted as cures for everyday ill. As interest in these waters' potential curative powers grew in the nineteenth-century, entrepreneurs captured the perceived health-giving liquid in affordable glass bottles and sold it to consumers both near and far.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often decorated with symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation, appealed to America's common man. The inverted cornucopia found on the front of this flask alludes to America's bounty. The other side has a decorative star-shape design.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often decorated with symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation, appealed to America's common man. This flask contains an image of a sheaf of grain -- a symbol for agriculture. The image also may refer to the flask's original content of grain-based alcohol.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks often were decorated with symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation. Other flasks provided advertisement for the glass company. Owners of the Isabella Glass Works in New Brooklyn, New Jersey, molded their name and an image of their factory on this flask.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks appealed to America's common man. Many of these flasks contained symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation. Embellishments on other flasks, like this one, were purely decorative.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often embellished with symbols of national pride or political or cultural affiliation, appealed to America's common man. Purely decorative flasks, however, were another option. These flasks -- like this simple ribbed-pattern one -- held alcohol just as well as those with images of great men or patriotic emblems.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. Many figured flasks were decorated with symbols of national pride and images of famous individuals -- or in this case a famous racehorse. Flora Temple won 95 harness races during the 1850s and 1860s. Not only was this "bob-tailed" mare immortalized in glass, but also in the song "Camptown races."

American glass factories produced flasks, like this one, from the late 1700s well into the mid-1800s. The pint-sized flask could hold water but more likely contained alcoholic beverages. Its textured decorative exterior -- formed when the hot glass was dipped into a pattern mold before it was blown -- made the flask easier to grasp. And its flattened shape fit nicely into pockets providing ready access to the liquid refreshment.

Bitters is an herb-infused alcoholic mixture. Named for its bitter taste, the liquid was originally developed as a medicinal tonic to help soothe stomach complaints or other digestive disorders. During the late-19th and early-20th centuries, patent medicine dealers bottled and sold the elixir. Americans purchased bitters in simple mold-blown bottles or ones shaped like drums, barrels, cabins, and even pineapples.

Dr. George Merchant founded the Merchant's Gargling Oil Company in 1833 in Lockport, New York. The company claimed the liniment (not really for "gargling") eased a variety of aches and pains common to "man and beast"--it bottled one version for humans and another for animals.

Glass factories in America began producing inexpensive, mold-formed flasks in the early 1800s. These figured flasks, often decorated with symbols of national pride, appealed to America's common man. This flask pairs Mexican War hero General Zachary Taylor with America's founding father, George Washington. The inscription around Taylor's image refers to his order to fire more artillery rounds -- and alluded to the flask's alcoholic content.