My Memories of Kinsey Distilling

[Jono]

No spray painting of the stencil info?

[dave ziegler]

Jono No paint what so ever, we used Jet Black India Indelible Ink from metal cans we poured it into the end of the brush and screwed a cap on and painted through the stencil onto the barrel. If you saw the pictures of Fricky and my Barrels the writting is done in that original India Ink it was so durable that when we sent used Barrels to scotland to have them filled with Scotch, we had to brush over the writting with heavy white paint before they were bundled and sent there!

The Ink just most times did not wear off unless the Head sat out in the rain for years!

Also it was hell to get off your hands you had to use Gas or thinner to try and get it off if it got on your hands. We were given gloves to use and we used them. Somewhere back I put a picture of the brushes but I may just post a new one so everyone can see. That Ink was as Black as anything I ever saw and boy did it show up good if your Stencil was good. At the end they tried some heavy cardboard stencils but they did not last so for the most part we used the old hand made Brass ones we made there with a machine to make them as we filled them.

Sometimes they would paint the head white or Gray then stencil but for the most part it was Ink on wood. When we used the brass stencils the writting was as good as it gets easily read.

Dave z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most magnificent Bourbon

[dave ziegler]

On Monday Morning I got a chance to do something I have wanted to do for 2 years. I went with My Friend who was a high up exc with Publicker over to meet Ludy and Al Landis and we Had a great time.

They were talking Jake Kinsey to him while I sat and just listened to the stories. Al was talking about His Dad going to Scotland for Si Neuman to set up Stills and Ludy was telling him about talking to Si Neuman back in the old days at the Bottle House.

We talked about our products and came to the conclusion that Our County Fair BIB was one of the finest Bourbons ever made, put in the Old Hickory and you had a pair of greatest drinking bourbons ever made.

We all talked about how lovely the place looked back in the day and Ludy talked about what It was like keeping all the bottle Lines going back then.

We talked about the 4 deep wells at Kinsey one being the deepest well in our area.

We even talked about Mr Marshel distilling water at O building to send down to the bottle house.

And None of us can figuer what the guy that owns the place was thinking when he shut it down and walked away.

I hope to make many notes from my friend about the history of the company and will post them here as I get them.

Dave Z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon

[dave ziegler]

Well I got something from Continental today I have always wanted, my friend who was a top person in the company gave me a Brass Barrel stencil from 1945. It is brass with a piece fitted on it of steel I do not know why. It has turned black from the many times it was used in 1945 with the India Ink.

Below is picture of it. It has No. 1 Phila at the top which was the plant in Phila at the bottom it has trans NO. 10 pa which was the Kinsey site so the whiskey was maybe distilled at Kinsey in the #10 Rye Barn since it is Rye Whiskey. This Stencil has no month you would write in the Month and filling date after the word Filled on the stencil and the Ser No After the words SER A on the big stencil for the number and lot after the it with small dated for that day cardboard Stenciles one for day month, and one for serial no.after you used the big stencil to put its info on.

This is the first one of these I have seen since 1971 and I think I will hang it on the wall through the Big D in word distilling on top.

As I get pictures or get anything I will post here first before anywhere.

This one may have broke and they fixed it with the piece of metal but it is in great shape for 65 years old.

I am to say the least thrilled to have this for History and will keep it the way it is rather then clean the brass to preserve its history. I am still waiting to see some Plant pictures and will be seeing my friend on my day off tomorrow.

It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bouron

Dave Z

[Luna56]

Great stuff, Dave, thanks for posting this.

Cheers to you!!

[dave ziegler]

Great to hear from you Luna I will be posting lots of things I hope soon. I did get the exact Location of the World wide head Quarters of Publicker in Phila and have a picture of the 16 floor built in 1916 Building.

Mr Neuman had his offices on the whole top floor back then and Harry Publicker when He was Living had an office up there also.

For those who get down to Phila the office was at 1429 Walnut street just at an angle to what was the Old Bellview Stratford Hotel.

Here is a Picture of it.

This was where they ran the company till 1986 when it all ended sadly.

The second Picture is Of 1520 Locust Street where Jake Kinsey Had his Philadelphia Office till he went bankrupt in fall 1939 and the plant was sold to Continental Distilling in a silent Auction.

I hope to have lots of stuff to post very soon and I am very thankful to be able to find all kinds of things out about the company from my friend.

Dave Z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon

[dave ziegler]

Well I recieved 5 Rare original Publicker Pictures mounted on Old fashion Paper board by Art work companies.

1. Artist conception of Inver House Distillery around 1960 before it was built.

Well I am not sure what I can do because the sight has told me I am at the max for pictures which is a shame as I was about to post a late 1930's picture of DSP-pa 1 plus 3 other rare pictures. I will have to talk to the Moderater to see if I can do anything till then I will keep getting pictures from my friend. I wish you could see the next ones but I will ask.

Dave Z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon

[dave ziegler]

Thanks to Jim I have a little more space but from now on posting pictures in size small.

1. Old Poster board mounted picture of DSP-Pa-1 late 1930's

2. Aerial shot of Part of the Publicker Plant

3. Publicker Rail tanker we offten got tank loads of Whiskey this way at Kinsey we would then fill barrels and rack them to age.

I have posted these in small format to save room I also hope to remmove somehow pictures on none Publicker/Continental / Kinsey stuff to be able to post these rare one of a kind pictures.

I also posted a large Artist Coception picture of Inver House Distillery the post before here where I ran out of room please look at it is most amazing. My Friend saved these in a old building after the Company started to go down as there were going to be tossed into a dumpster. They are well worn and silver fish have attacked them but i am going to save as many as I can. I Really love the late 1930's shot of DSP-Pa-1.

And there are many more Plant pictures to be posted most from the 1930' / 1940's.

Dave Z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most magnificent Bourbon

[dave ziegler]

On The page before this one Page #682 the second Picture having fully read the small print from this old Company Picture from the Offices on Walnut street given me by my friend who was a high up person with Continental distilling and saved the pictures. I have posted and many more from the dump when the company went out of bussiness in Phila. Picture in small print

States Publicker Commercial Alcohol Company Alcohol Butadiene Plant CornWells Heights Pa. Bensalem so this was a pre Prohibition Plant that was just outside Philadelphia on State Road in Bensalem this is most likely the only picture in the world of this now gone plant.

In the next few weeks I will be posting more of these rare pictures in smalll size so I do not run out of space and telling where they were!

I will be getting many ld Company Office Pictures that My Friend took to his home to save them from the trash dumpster. They are not in great shape but they show lots of things about the Plant through its history.

I will take a better shot of the picture and repost it.

Dave Z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon

[unclebunk]

Thanks Dave for the great pictures. I love seeing them as always.

[dave ziegler]

Hey Thanks Unclebunk I am in the process of taking pictures of many old company Photo posters that once hung in their Headquarters on Walnut street in Phila.

If My friend had not saved them at his garage they would be lost for History but sadly the silver fish have been enjoying them.I will be posting everyone I can in small size as ran out of room and the sight gave me a little bit more space I am very thankful for that, so I am going to post till I run out.

Tonight I picked up about 10 more rare Publicker Pictures. I am going to send them to my Friend Butch who worked there for around 20 years so I can get the right information for each picture.

Funny thing Butch never knew about the Cornwells hights / Bensalem Plant he was thrilled at the picture.

Tonight I got a one of a kind picture of The Steers eating Mash at the steer pens at Kinsey Distilley during WWII I intend to post it as soon as I can take a shot of it.

I also have what looks to be Publickers plant Weswego La. I got home late tonight so did not have a chance to take any pictures but I have some great Bigler Street pictures and some more rare shots of Inver house Distillery.

As long as I have room I will post pictures here first for all my friends to see. So keep looking as they will be coming in small but if anyone wants a certain picture I will be more then willing to send them it bigger.

I even have a framed award Continental got for their Lord Sandwich Gin.

Dave Z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnicient Bourbon

[dave ziegler]

Today I am posting two more rare 1940's /1950's Pictures of Publickers Bigler Street Plant. I sent them to Butch and he put information on them so I will post the original and the one of it with Outlines about the buildings. Here are both pictures first of each after I cleaned them and used my Digital camera in Black & White mode followed by one of each with highlighted information thanks to Butch for the tech help. It was here good old Old Hickory was made! When I worked at Kinsey during the same time frame Butch worked at the Phila plants both Bigler & Snyder Ave!

Pictures 1 & 4 same photo

Pictures 2 &3 Same Photo

Dave Z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon

[dave ziegler]

Just got home 2 hours ago with my car trunk filled to the brim with Publicker Pictures. Including an oil painting of the Plant from 1943. I will post some tonight and more as can take shots during the week.

My Friend who was in a high position with Publicker has given me every picture he saved back in 1977. Some have gotten bad but all of them show the history of the company which he has told me had only 6 people working when Mr Neuman took over. Mr Neuman turned it into a 5,000 employee company during the time he ran the company.

1. & 2 This is an original Oil Painting of the plant in 1943 first one I put what was left of the Matting with writing, second just the painting.

3. An Original and only known of picture of the original Haller's Distillery bought by Publicker. Note sign says JA Haller and Sons. Plant Sat at the corner of Tasker and Delaware Ave.

4. The original areial picture of Kinsey Distillery right after the explosion proof Warehouses were built and finished by Publicker around 1946 / 47.

5. Publicker Bigler street Plant 1972 with Walt Whitman bridge on right side and the Famous Old Hickory Sign.

6. AA Building with Old Hickory on the top.

I will never forget the first time I saw that neon sign going on the first weeks vacation I ever had on a job taking my Mom and little Sister over the Bridge in my 1963 Chevy to Atlantic City I never felt so proud that I worked for Publicker / Continental Distilling.

Dave Z

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As the Old Sign said

" It Seems All The nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon"

[dave ziegler]

Just got home 2 hours ago with my car trunk filled to the brim with Publicker Pictures. Including an oil painting of the Plant from 1943. I will post some tonight and more as can take shots during the week.

My Friend who was in a high position with Publicker has given me every picture he saved back in 1977. Some have gotten bad but all of them show the history of the company which he has told me had only 6 people working when Mr Neuman took over. Mr Neuman turned it into a 5,000 employee company during the time he ran the company.

1. & 2 This is an original Oil Painting of the plant in 1943 first one I put what was left of the Matting with writing, second just the painting.

3. An Original and only known of picture of the original Haller's Distillery bought by Publicker. Note sign says JA Haller and Sons. Plant Sat at the corner of Tasker and Delaware Ave.

4. The original areial picture of Kinsey Distillery right after the explosion proof Warehouses were built and finished by Publicker around 1946 / 47.

5. Publicker Bigler street Plant 1972 with Walt Whitman bridge on right side and the Famous Old Hickory Sign.

6. AA Building with Old Hickory on the top.

I will never forget the first time I saw that neon sign going on the first weeks vacation I ever had on a job taking my Mom and little Sister over the Bridge in my 1963 Chevy to Atlantic City I never felt so proud that I worked for Publicker / Continental Distilling.

Dave Z

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As the Old Sign said

" It Seems All The nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon"

I messed up thinking as writting about Hallers the right name on the sign on Picture #3 Post 687 should be WA Hallers & Sons. Dougherty's was the JA , and I do not have a picture of their Plant Sorry about that too many amazing pictures I get too excited. They Bought Hallers in The Late 1940's . 1950's like Kinsey at silent auction.

Dave Z

[dave ziegler]

Here are 5 more Pictures of Which 4 are totally one of a Kind. Starting from

One here they are.

1. This is a one of a Kind Picture of The Publicker Commercial Alcohol Company Board of Directors early 1930's. In the Front Row 4th from the right in The Light Suit is a very Young Si S. neuman!

2. This is a Picture of Harry Publicker's Private sitting room at Walnut Street offices next to His Son inlaw Si Neumans Office. Picture on the wall in the background is of Harry Publicker.

3. Here we have a picture of the Christmas party for Publicker Commercial Alcohol Company dated 1930. On far right side back side table the Man on the right side of the Lady at the table is Harry Publicker. This party was held at the Belview Straford Hotel in Phila.

4. A Very Nice Picture of The AA Building

5. This is an amazing photo of an Art Painting for a Kinsey Blended Whisky Ad all that is missing is the writting and Bottle Picture to be put on the bottom. The Man in the top hat in the back ground is supposed to be Mr Kinsey in Spirit with them! If you look on E bay you will see this ad complete on paper from magazines. This is the art work the rest in the final Ad would be put in after the Art work was done. It is a very Biig Painting and in nice condition.

I hope these Pictures excite you as much as they do me, I am going to do all I can to preserve them for History.

I talked to My friend Butch who worked at Publicker and he told me he sent all these pictures I have posted to his fellow former Publicker Workers and they all talked about what a great company it was. He said all the fellows he worked with were so well trained they got higher up jobs after leaving Publicker after it closed.

Dave Z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon

[dave ziegler]

In getting these many History Pictures I got something very amazing. I am in process of cleaning out as many Silver fish from it as I can. It is a giant Album of Photo Facts showing every operarating Distillery in The United States in the year 1936 a master catolog, and I saw looking through all the KY ones operating in that year. They are done in areial Blue prints and colored so each building shows up.

The book tells about years operating capacity, and much more. I saw the many old KY Distilleries talked about here on it. What I am going to do is lay it out and shoot pictures of everyone through the year and post them.

The Book weighs about 25 Pounds and is as big as a table top. Continental used it as a guide to other Distiller's. It looks like a giant Picture Album.

Later this week when it is not raining I will try to get started on this project. By taking Pictures its history will be preserved no matter what the bugs are trying to do. It is safe and dry and protected in my Garage.

I also have a couple more Pictures I want to post once I get a chance to take pictures of them. I only looked through the Album a couple of Times quickly but it is nothing short of Amazing.

Everything is colored in the book in pink and yellow and everything was glued from aerial blueprints. Some of the Names and Blueprints of KY Distilleries will blow your minds. During the Many years Continental Operated we worked with many small KY Distilleries on projects for us and them.

Dave Z

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Join The Swing To Kinsey The Unhurried

Whisky for Unhurried Moments

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[Jono]

Wow, what a find! I know you can use Boric Acid as a safe way to kill silverfish...can you store the book in a sealed container with the boric acid in packets?

http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/boric_acid.html

Kill Silverfish Quickly:

Mix a small amount of boric acid, 20% or so with an inert ingredient like "whiting" fold into small packets and place them in dresser drawers, under your sink, or closets to kill silverfish quickly with absolutely no mess.

Mothballs will repel them in a closed space.

[silverfish]

Wow, what a find! I know you can use Boric Acid as a safe way to kill silverfish...

WHAT?! Well, I know you can use sulfuric acid to kill Jonos.

And here I thought this was a nice place to visit...

Mothballs will repel them in a closed space.

I know of someone who puts mothballs in old 35mm film containers (and

then put those in a box or wherever the problem is) to get rid of silverfish.

[Jono]

Ha! I sweat sulfuric acid.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MSX1iRymcBI/SaFpWn9DOdI/AAAAAAAAJ_Q/tKcYHW5Izj0/s400/alien%2520model.jpg

[dave ziegler]

Jono and Silverfish and everyone interested, I think what I will do is get as many pictures of the pages I can while the weather is still ok, then put the Book in a giant size Plastic bag from shipping from work and put moth balls and seal it for the winter!

I may take some pictures tonight as weather is good till late tonight. It is like a giant Photo album for a giant person. Every Distillery in the USA in 1936 is on the pages in colored Blue print and as far as I could see every One in KY that operated in 1936. I will get as good a set of each page as I can and do it from the begining to the end to not forget any.

First I will spray it with a can of Air, then shoot pictures. From what I remember first looking after I got it Last week there is information about each distillery with its blue print. And from what my friend who was in a high position has told me, it was Continental's way of seeing who was doing what after the end of Prohibition, who would work with them in a common goal, best whiskeys and competing fairly and what they could do for each other.

The book even listes Kinsey and that page was updated to say our's now.

It was made by a famous blueprinting type company and I will post a picture of the front cover with the info.

I will have to post in Small as My room left to post is limited and only Thanks to the Boss of the sight's Kindness I have some space. But once you see it you can take it and blow it up to what size you want.

I am very excited about this book and some day it will go to a museum but I have to get it much cleaned before that ever happens. Having worked in a museum as a young man I learned alot of things to repair and preserve History and I will do my best with this giant book I will also measure its size tonight.

When I post I will try to do very many by putting some on all 3 of my threads.

This is important to me because of all the hundreds of Distilleries in the book. And All the People from KY who will want to see colored Blue prints of 1936 Distilleries in the book.

Once the weather gets cold I will bag it seal it and put it up in a high dry place in my Garage with Mothballs to kill the silver fish over the winter. Untill then I will get started documenting as many pages as pssible before winter.

Dave Z ==== The Best Old Fashioneds Are, You'll Find The Mellow, made With Kinsey Kind! =================

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[Jono]

I know this is a huge project, but do you plan on putting the digital photos through a picture editor to tweak the washed out colors? Often, you can really enhance a faded photo with a few standard tweaks.

[dave ziegler]

Jono I plan on brightening them up a bit on my Photo controls on my computer if needed. Going to get started soon but will be doing something next week so may not get many up till the 18th of the month. First I need a clear day or two, raining again today.

I also have something I was told I must mention per my Friend who was a High up Person at Publicker. He told me He has with all the good things from History he has given me, ones I have saved for History myself and my writings and feelings about the company made me the official Historian for Publicker Industries / Continental Distilling and Kinsey Distillery. He insisted I post this as He said when He goes Home he will be reading all my Stuff! I feel more honered then words can say.

It is something I can hardly believe someone who had the position in the company He had would give me, but He said I have done more to promote the Company and Its great History then anyone else.

Loving the Kinsey Plant as I do, it is just a title given me by Him but to me a badge Of Honor to speak of the Company and how great it was.

I also have to take a picture of something else special I have, I have some of Si Neumans playing Cards with his Initials on the back SSN I will shoot a picture of them and post it soon.

Yesterday I went to Kinsey and shot two rolls of 35 MM film in two different Camera's and I will scan them and post them soon too!

I should have started the Album rpoject but it was such a nice day and I had not been to Kinsey for many weeks and wanted to walk around.

Dave Z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon

[dave ziegler]

Well I am home from my trip to WV and going to post a couple of shots out of the book. Have to post them in small so I do not run out of room.

1. Here is the front cover of this rare old book. It weigh's about 30 pound and is 25 3/4 inches high, 24 inches wide and over 3 inches thick. Made by Savborn Map co in 1936

2. Kinsey Distilling, says Ours in fine print

3. Continental Distillery

4.Elverson Distilling

5. Foust Distilling

6. Joseph S Finch Distillery.

There are hundreds of Distillery's in this book including all the KY ones back in 1936. I hope these are readable I am trying to shoot pictures of them as best I can.

Dave Z

In Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon

[dave ziegler]

Been sick with a real bad sinus infection so not posting but this morning I want to post a cool shot of Si Neuman on the company Hot line from his home in Palm Beach FL., back in the 1960's.

Here is the picture I hope to do more if I feel better this week as I want to get more of The Distillery Maps up and will do a couple of them in a bigger size but my room is very limited here .

Dave Z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon

[dave ziegler]

During the week I asked my Friend Butch who worked at Publicker in Phila to send me 4 Pictures he had of Continental Distillings Inver House Distilley back in the Old days. And I am now going to post them in small so I can continue to post pictures here and have space!

1. The Inver House Distillery Plant

2. Another shot of the Inver House plant

3. going into the Big Still at Inver House in Scotland

4. Inside the Inver House Still

I have had a very Busy day today instead of getting things done at Home I took my Friend who worked for Publicker in a high position in Liquor sales for a tour of what is left of Kinsey. It broke his heart seeing it like it is but we walked all over the Plant and many buildings were open so I took him in the old 1966 Bottle House and we walked around with flashlights just looking in amazment at the ruin of it all.

It had been many years since he was there, and He had not been there alot when it operated so I took him all the way to the road down to the steer Pens and told him about the different operations once so proudly ran there!

We spent 3 Hours looking and talking and he Like I hated seeing it the way it is but still glad to walk there once more and remember.

I got home and had a shot of 1947 Charter Oak Bourbon He had given me to Just relax from the sadness of it all. I talked to him later this evening and He was so glad I took him through and so sad to see what has happen to Kinsey.

In a week or so He will go back to Ca till summer next year when He hopes to sell his home here. It is by his help I was able to get all the vintage pictures of the Phila Plant and learn much about its operations. If he would not have saved those pictures from the Dumpster all that History would have been lost after 1976 when Mr Si Neuman died so suddenly.

As I Find Historic Pictures I will continue to post till there is no more room.

I will always be proud I worked for Publicker and remember all the amazing things Mr Si Neuman did to make the company a 5,000 employee company from 6 people and number 435 on the fortune 500 back in the day!

Dave Z.

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon