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what IS this thing?????

A

Anonymous

Guest
<img src="/metal/html/confused.gif" border=0 width=15 height=22 alt=":?"> <img src="/metal/html/confused.gif" border=0 width=15 height=22 alt=":?"> I found this thing in an attic underneath a large sheet of cardboard, It has brown powder in the vial,I'm afraid to take the cork out as it may be some kind of poison. I have had it for about 9 months and have asked everyone i run across what it is, but no one can tell me for sure. or even how old it is.ANY IDEA ANYONE????????? <img src="/metal/html/confused.gif" border=0 width=15 height=22 alt=":?"> <img src="/metal/html/confused.gif" border=0 width=15 height=22 alt=":?"> <FONT COLOR="#ff0000"></FONT>
 
...probably opium. Any manufature marks on the flask/general condition... etc. that would indicate age? Got a better pic? You may have a real piece of history... if it is opium you better take steps to make sure you don't get busted with it.
Here's a little bit on opium:
>>>At the beginning of the 19th century drug addiction was rare in the English-speaking world, but at the end of the century it was common, at least in the United States. By a conservative estimate the U.S. had 200,000 addicts in 1900, with most of the increase coming in the late 1800s. The Civil War is often blamed for this, and in fact, after the war it's said that many called morphine addiction "the army disease."<<
 
If the spider web has a butter fly in it? is that the bottle you have been asking about? I have been passing it around and it could be heroin, or some type of opium, or posion. The spider web and butter fly is what concerns me. I would take it to some who who can analize it and find out what it is, even ask the police if they could test it to see if its drugs? I wouldnt say anything about the container if you want to keep it. Why do you want to keep the powder? I would get it analized and keep the conatiner.
 
...why take the risk of being charged with possesion of a narcotic? In the same token, you can bet that there is a researcher somewhere who would give his eye teeth to examine a historic find like this, if indeed it is what I think it is.
With something like this, I think I would take the vial intact with contents (keep the flask) into the police, impress on them the historic significance of the piece, have them label it do not destroy, and get a reciept. Further impress upon them that there will be an expert from the Smithsonian or whereever who will be arriving soon to examine the contents.
Any other suggestions?
In the meantime, Crystal, how about a closer look at that flask?
 
The Birth of the American Heroin Addict
In the mid to late 1800
 
Drug Addictions
The majority of nineteenth-century morphine and opium addicts were native-born white women, with a heavy concentration among Southern middle and upper classes, which persisted into the early twentieth century. The typical morphine addict of the 1920s was a Southern white female, middle-aged or older, widowed, homebound and a property owner. It was not uncommon for women to become addicted by their physicians who prescribed the medicine. According to David T. Courtwright's Dark Paradise: Opiate Addiction in America Before 1940:
The most common occupation among female addicts was that of housewife. The majority of nineteenth-century female addicts were married and therefore stayed at home. Unmarried female addicts were observed among domestics, teachers, actresses, and especially prostitutes. Another type, mentioned as early as 1832, was the harried society lady, who downed opium or morphine to steady her nerve and enhance her wit. Women associated with the medical profession
 
But that is one super cool find!You may have a VERY valuable item.Good luck on your efforts at IDing it.
 
It's hard to tell from here but it looks either chrome plated or stainless.The shape looks to be Art Deco and so does the linear decoration on it.That would make it not earlier than the twenties and probably pre 1940.The brown substance is gonna be a mystery unless you can find someone who can (or wants to) identify it by smell/taste or has a decent idea of what it might be.Otherwise, I'm afraid that you might have to pay to get it tested.Just out of curiosity, Does it have a strong smell or can it be disolved in water.Is that container water thight also or is it meant to protect the glass tube only?
 
And low and behold suff is dark yellowish brown in color and it can be milled in very fine powder form.The shape is classic snuff bottle all the way.
 
Here is a few questions answered: I tried to get a better picture of the spiderweb motif.The flask is made of brass or copper and is gold in color.There are no manufacturers marks or anything at all on the flask or the vial.Down inside the flask is some kind of dried glue,it looks like it was put down in there and then the vial was pushed in so the glue would harden around it, maybe to hold it in or to form a pocket for the vial to slide down into. My opinion is that the vial was'nt meant to come out, because it looks too messy down inside the flask.
I know a guy that works at the college, I will ask him to analyze the powder for me. I will let you guys know what he says!! ISN'T THIS FUN!!! <img src="/metal/html/biggrin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":D">
 
In reading some of the posts, let me see if I can help. Someone had mentioned it may be heroin. There are three kinds that plague the U.S. Most common is Tar Heroin. It looks just like it is named Tar. Very dark brown almost black.
Second is Mexican Brown Heroin. This stuff looks like brown sugar but granulated. Third is China White but real uncommon and it looks kind of like baby powder and pure white.
I can say much about the opiates not real familiar with them. I agree with the people that said take it to a local law enforcement agency. The do have field test kits that can determine if it is opiate based and it does not take alot of material.
I guess I should say before people start thinking I am some drug user, I have been with a local law enforcement agency for 15 years and have been working narcotics since 1994.....Hope this helps
 
The bottle in this pic is about 2". It is being listed as a perfume bottle. How big is yours?
Here is the description:
>>>Next is a Bottle in a brass flask that has a spider and web on the flask. It will also need cleaning and has no lid on it, some use wear to the brass flask.<<<
 
hey, you found exactly the same bottle i have.
i wonder if it really is a perfume bottle?
i'm sure glad to find another one. the one you found even has the spiderweb on it.
i,m still going to have the powder analyzed.
 
...it looked much bigger, like a hip flask. I also assumed that the vial was added in a way to conceal it.
However it looks like the top screws right onto the glass vial which protrudes from the top? And you say the vial was held in place with glue?
I can't imagine that this is any older than the 1970's: cheap and deceptive packaging intended to make the bottle look like it contained more than it really did. <img src="/metal/html/shrug.gif" border=0 width=37 height=15 alt=":shrug">
 
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