Historical information

This is a marble stopper bottle from the Port Fairy aerated waters factory of the Webb brothers. A marble stopper bottle was filled upside down so that as soon as the filling stopped the stopper was forced down to seal the bottle against the rubber ring. Pressure inside the bottle would keep the marble pressed against the top of the bottle. To open the bottle the marble was pressed down where it would fall into the neck chamber below. The marble would stay inside the chamber when the bottle was tilted up for drinking. The Webb brothers operated the Port Fairy Aerated Water and Cordial Factory in William Street (no 29) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Significance

This bottle is of interest as an example of a marble stopper bottle from the aerated waters factory of the Webb brothers in Port Fairy. Cordial manufacturing was an important industry in Warrnambool and district for over 100 years

Physical description

This is a marble stopper glass bottle. It has a rounded base with a rounded body tapering to a deeply-indented section which forms a narrow neck chamber. The top is rounded moulded glass with an opening. The green marble is loose inside the neck chamber and the rubber ring has been displaced and is at the bottom of the bottle. There is some discolouration inside the bottle from the original contents.

Inscriptions & markings

‘Webb Bros. Aerated Waters Port Fairy’