mid-nineteenth century privy dug c. 1860's privy-dug cobalt blobtop soda bottle manufactured for chicago bottler j.a. lomax. the bottle has an asymmetrical, gravitating shape with long steep shoulders and an extremely short neck finsihed with an applied blob top. the front is embossed with caseworn lettering that reads "j.a. lomax / 14 & 16 / charles place / chicago." it features a smooth base with the bottler's initials embossed. the body features several large bubbles, including vertical bubbles centered over the embossed lettering. crudities typical of its age and date of manufacture include surface scratches and discoloration. john a. lomax entered the bottling operations in 1854, distributing soda water located at 38 w. lake street in chicago. in 1859, the plant was destroyed by fire and operations were moved to a two-story frame building located at 16 charles place. as business grew, john and his son george erected a large masonry building in 1871, which was consumed by the great chicago fire the same year. shortly after, lomax rebuilt an even larger four-story facility that was advertised as being the "largest bottling house in the world.” during their peak production years, lomax serviced more than five thousand of the approximately seven thousand saloons across the city of chicago. their bottling works furnished soda-waters, ginger ale, mineral and spring water, ales and other drinks. the company ceased operations in 1885.