Bottle Lettering Symbols

Various symbols are used on this site to describe how the lettering appears on the bottles.  Generally, the methodology that is used to describe the format of the lettering or lack thereof on this site follows the model set by Carlyn Ring in her book For Bitters Only published in 1980.  The following symbols and examples of their use are illustrative of those used on this site:

/ Indicates the end of the description on this line of the bottle.  Any lettering that follows is on a new line on the same side of the bottle. CH. HAEBERLE / PHILADELPHIA New Line Example
// Indicates the end of the description on this side of the bottle.  Lettering that follows is on a new side. CH. HAEBERLE / PHILADELPHIA // H // New Side ExampleNew Side Example
// b // Indicates the information that follows is on the base of the bottle. // b // 252 / H Base Example
// c // Indicates that this side of the bottle has no lettering or pictures and is curved. H. POWELL // c //  
// f // Indicates that this side of the bottle has no lettering or pictures and is flat. RIDDLE'S // f // PHILAD.A // f // MINERAL // f // WATERS. // f //  
// l // Indicates the information that follows is on the lip of the bottle. // l // TRIPP & LUSCOMB // c // Lip Example
// n // Indicates the information that follows is on the neck of the bottle. // n // T // c //   TORAM'S // 61 / SOUTH ST / PHIL.A // Front Lettering ExampleNeck Lettering Example
// s // Indicates the information that follows is on the shoulder of the bottle. // s // J. SALBER // c // Shoulder Example
// sp // Indicates that this side of the bottle has no lettering or pictures and has a sunken panel. HIRES // ROOT BEER // PHILA. // sp //  
(Arches Up) The lettering arches or is curved upwards. (Arches Up) J. MONTEITH Arches Up Example
(Arches Down) The lettering arches or is curved downward. McCAULEY / (Arches Down) MINERAL WATER / PHILADA Arches Down Example
(o) The lettering is in a continuous circle.  Usually on the base of the bottle. (o) C. IHMSEN & SON PITTSBURGH Circular Example
(/) The lettering slants upwards. (/) Continental / (/) Brewing Company) / (/) Philada. (all in script) // Slants Up Example
(\) The lettering slants downward. (\) DAVISON \ (\) & THEM // Slants Down Example
(>) The lettering shrinks from larger to small as it goes from right to left. (>) TRADE Shrinks Example
(<) The lettering expands from smaller to larger as it goes from right to left. (<) MARK Expands Example
(<>) The lettering starts out small, gets larger and then smaller as it goes from left to right. (<>) TRADE MARK Expands and then Shrinks Example
(><) The lettering starts out large, then gets smaller then expands larger. (><) TRADE MARK Shrinks and then Expands Example
(|) The lettering is vertical. (|) TRADE MARK Vertical Example