Transparent glass elliptical based Dr. Thomas’ Eclectric Oil bottle with non-removable cylindrical black plastic screw cap; half full with brown liquid; long round front and back walls and short sides walls; round shoulders, short cylindrical neck, flat neck ring, and cylindrical finish with contin…
Transparent glass elliptical based Dr. Thomas’ Eclectric Oil bottle with non-removable cylindrical black plastic screw cap; half full with brown liquid; long round front and back walls and short sides walls; round shoulders, short cylindrical neck, flat neck ring, and cylindrical finish with continuous external thread; mold lines on sides from base to top and around neck; embossed manufacturers information on bottom; red and yellow paper label with product information attached to front; cap has flat top, vertical ridges on exterior sides, and internal continuous thread.
Printed on label: “Dr. // THOMAS’ // ECLECTRIC // OIL // FOR // DIRECTIONS // SEE INSIDE // CIRCULAR // L6525 // No. 5520 The Proprietary or Patent Medicine Act. // 2 FLUID OUNCES // NORTHRUP & LYMAN CO., Limited // TORONTO, CANADA”; embossed on bottom: “D 8”
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A5-6 Box 3 Row D
Length
12.1 cm
Width
4.9 cm
Depth
2.7 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Minor staining from liquid on interior, especially at the middle of bottle; minor fading all over label; label separating from bottle; two long linear areas of dark discoloration on label; minor scratches on top and sides of cap
Copy Type
original
Reference Types
Website
Document
Reference Comments
“Doctor Thomas' Eclectric Oil.” Toronto Vintage, 2018. Accessed 28 May 2019.
Sullivan, Catherine. “Research Bulletin: Dr. Thomas’ Eclectric Oil.” Parks Canada, 1984.
Lockhart, Bill et al. “The Dominion Glass Companies of Montreal, Canada.” Society for Historical Archaeology, 2015.
Research Facts
Dr. Thomas’ Eclectric Oil is a cure-all patent medicine created by S. N. Thomas during the 1860s; sold in Canada by Northrop & Lyman Co. Limited beginning in 1871.
The name “Eclectric” was likely an attempt to take advantage of the fascination with electricity around the time of the remedy’s invention, although it had nothing to do with electricity; Dr. Thomas’ Eclectric Oil claimed to cure many common ailments, but was merely a combination of various oils.
The D in diamond symbol embossed on the bottom indicates the bottle itself was made by Canadian glass manufacturer Dominion Glass Company in Hamilton, Ontario.
Exhibit History
On loan to Kingston Association of Museums for exhibit at Fort Henry L-2022-6 16 May – 1 Dec 2022.
On loan to Kingston Association of Museums for exhibit at Fort Henry L-2021-1 14 May – 31 Oct 2021.