rare and unusually shaped mid-nineteenth century deep blue aqua blob top bottle with semi-round bottom manufactured for notable chicago bottler william h. hutchinson. the tall shouldered cylinder is vertically embossed "w.h.hutchinson & / son / chicago, ills" with casewear rendering the word "son" illegible. the bottle is finished with a squat neck and oval blob top with some wear at the edge. it retains part of the original stopper. crudities include allover seeding and surface wear. typical of a dug bottle, the glass has some discoloration, irridization, and haze. the hutchinson family bottling works, with its various partnerships and different bottling focuses over the years, was one of two generation-spanning corporate giants among nineteenth century bottling works (the other being the john a. lomax company). from pre-civil war times to the early 1880s these two companies competed aggressively for the share of chicago soda, small beer, and ale bottling market. after the early 1880s the hutchinson company changed course, ceased beverage bottling, and focused on its manufacturing of bottler's equipment and supplies to the industry. at the time of this bottle's manufacture, in 1876, george c. hutchinson rejoined the bottling business and from 1876-1878 bottles were embossed "w.h. hutchinson & son". in the 1877 chicago city directory william h. hutchinson himself was listed as a member of the bottling business for the last time, as he passed away later that year.