VINTAGE TIMOTHY WHITES & TAYLORS HOUSEHOLD BOTTLE TURPENTINE (c. 1935–1940s)

PRICE: £26

A characterful Late Interwar to Second World War era British transparent glass utility bottle, standing at 17.0cm tall with a 6.5cm x 3.5cm rectangular base profile. Representing the fascinating historical overlap between professional medicine and household hardware retail, this flat-fronted specimen features structural bevelled panels along its vertical edges, a recessed base, and retains its original period cork closure driven one-third of the way into the neck.
The artifact is enriched by a compelling palimpsest of two layered beige paper labels that beautifully trace its commercial life on the Isle of Wight. The underlying, partially obscured dispensary label (approx. 6cm x 4cm) prints the classic pharmaceutical advisory: "SHAKE THE BOTTLE / THE MIXTURE". Where the top layer has gently lifted on the right margin, fragments of the original backing text are visible, reading "...MISTS", "...D LTD", "...eet", and "...ght", denoting an original preparation by a local "Chemist / Ryde Ltd / High Street / Isle of Wight".
Superimposed directly over this is a secondary retail label (currently measuring 5cm x 3.5cm, showing a historic loss to the right edge and lower corner). It documents the bottle's historical repurposing for domestic utility, displaying bold typography: "TURPENTINE" (pure oil of turpentine, traditionally retailed as a paint solvent and wax fluid). It features the clear branding of the iconic British high-street giant: "Timothy Whites & Taylor / Household Stores", an entity formed by a landmark merger in 1935. The bottom rim retains the partial corporate slogan: "...ES THROUGHOUT THE C..." ("Stores Throughout the Country"). Timothy Whites famously operated prominent, beloved branches in both Ventnor and Ryde during this era. 
Of remarkable tactile appeal for advanced Scientifica or industrial social history displays, the bottle is not empty; it holds approximately 2.5cm of its original, genuine golden-amber turpentine fluid formulation from over eighty years ago.

Condition:
The antique transparent glass is in excellent vintage condition with no chips, cracks, or heavy scratching, showing a clean silhouette. The dual paper labels are stable and offer a wonderful, naturally weathered patina with partial historic paper loss to the upper layer, which brilliantly allows the collector to glimpse the hidden local pharmacy label underneath. The cork is solid and securely sealed. A highly evocative piece of Isle of Wight commercial history.

Dimensions:
  • Height: 17.0cm
  • Base: 6.5cm x 3.5cm (Rectangular)

Please note: This vintage artifact is sold strictly as a decorative and collectable object for display. It contains ancient, volatile household solvents and is not intended for any modern medical, practical, or chemical use.

Shipping Information:
  • Shipping is available at the buyer's expense.
  • We routinely use Royal Mail Tracked 24 for parcels up to 20kg to ensure secure, traceable transit.