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Second time around: A look at bottle reuse

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Abstract

Until recently, glass bottles were generally used more than one time. This study investigates customs of bottle reuse in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries, with particular attention to the secondhand bottle business and returnable bottle systems. Effects of bottle-manufacturing machinery and reasons for the decline of bottle reuse are discussed. The implications of reuse for the analysis of bottles from archaeological sites are considered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Western Reserve Historical Society, 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 44106

    Jane Busch

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  1. Jane Busch
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Busch, J. Second time around: A look at bottle reuse. Hist Arch 21, 67–80 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03374080

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