Bottle Attributes Soda & Mineral Water Bases

The base of a bottle has a lot to say about a bottle's age. The main feature on a base is the presence or absence of markings. These markings can be a pontil mark, machine scar, or lettering.

The pontil types shown below are specific representations of actual bottles. The exact shape of the pontil or presentation of lettering on the base may very greatly.  Pontils were attached to the base of the bottle so that it could be detached from the blowpipe and the lip could be tooled.

Bar Pontil Base Bar pontil base (BP), circ: 1810-1825
This base type is distinguished by a solid glass scar. This pontil is also known as a solid pontil. This pontil was formed when a pontil rod was dipped in molten glass and attached to base of the bottle.  Water was applied to the pontil to cause it to break and detach from the bottle's base after the lip was formed. This type of pontil was used until replaced by the open or blowpipe and scar pontils.
Open Pontil Base Open pontil base (OP), circ: 1838-1845
This base type is distinguished by a tubular scar. This pontil is also known as a blowpipe pontil. After the blowpipe was severed from the blown bottle it was attached to the bottle's base . Thus the scar is the diameter of the neck. This type of pontil was occasionally used until 1860, but was not a production technique on soda bottles.
Scar Pontil Base Scar pontil base (SP), circ: 1823-1845
This base type is distinguished by chunks of glass scarring the bottle's base. This is also known as a sand or re-fired pontil and is common on early black glass bottles. In the evolution of soda bottles, the scar pontil followed the use of the open pontil.
Improved Pontil Base Improved pontil base (IP), circ: 1844-1860
This base type is distinguished by a gray metallic residue on the base of the bottle. This is also known as an iron pontil or graphite pontil due to the coloration of the residue.  The amount of residue can very greatly and is many times worn off. However, scarring will usually remain on the base, which can be felt as a sharp indentation into the base.

There is another variation of the improved pontil with a red coloration. These are more common of bottles manufactured in the Mid-West. However, examples of Eastern manufacture can be located.
Snap Case Base Snap case base (SC), circ: 1855-1865
This base type is distinguished by smooth markings left by snaps or clamps, which were the replacements for pontils. They are often mistaken for pontils by novice and advanced collectors. With a pontil being a premium, this is often wishful thinking. The best way to identify this base is to feel it. Snap case bases are distorted but smooth to the touch.
Smooth Base Smooth base (SB), circ: 1857-1920
This base type is distinguished by a smooth well formed base. Often there are letters or numbers present. These can be mold identifiers, manufacturer's markings, or the proprietor's initials or logo. Many times the markings are double struck or ghosted.
Automatic Bottle Machine Base Automatic bottle machine base (ABM), circ: 1895-1920
This base type is distinguished by a small ridge of glass that can travel up onto the sides of the bottle. The size of the ring can very from half an inch to the width of the bottle. Look for a seam line over the lip of the bottle to positively identify a machine made bottle. Semi-automatic bottles also have these base scars and predate fully machine made bottles by nearly a decade.