Charles Menzel was born on March 22, 1875, in Germany and was the older brother of Ernest Menzel, who was also born in Germany on March 7, 1878.
Charles died on March 7, 1947, in La Porte and is buried in Pine Lake Cemetery in La Porte. Ernest died on July 26, 1949, in La Porte.
Menzel Bros. appears in the 1910 La Porte directory as beer bottlers at 302 Tyler Street. In the 1913 directories they are listed as separate saloons. See the directory listings tab for more details.
We can assume that Menzel Bros. bottles predate those embossed Chas. Menzel. We have not seen any bottles embossed Ernest Menzel.
Unfortunately, we cannot find much additional information on Menzel.
1) LAPORTE – Rites at 2 p.m. Thursday in St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed Church for Ernest Menzel, 71, 1403 State street, who died Thursday. The South Bend Tribune, July 27, 1949.
La Porte Directory Listings for CHARLES MENZEL
1904 & 1907 – Menzel, Charles (Mary), works at water works., home at 309 H Street.
1910 – Not listed under Charles, but listed under Menzel Bros., beer bottlers, at 302 Tyler, phone 279.
1913 – MENZEL CHARLES, 603 Washington. (Saloon)
La Porte Directory Listings for ERNEST MENZEL
1907 – Not listed in 1904 or 1907.
1910 – MENZEL, ERNEST (Minnie), manager at 302 Tyler St., phone 279; works at Rumely Company; residence at 201 H St.
1913 – MENZEL ERNEST, 715 Indiana av. (Saloon)
Bottle Type: Pint, tooled blob top.
Embossing: CHAS. MENZEL / LA PORTE, IND.
Glass Maker: ROOT (embossed on base), Root Glass Company, Terre Haute, Indiana.
Other Marks: THIS BOTTLE IS NEVER SOLD (embossed on back); 13 (embossed on back heel).
Notes: Has a bail-wire lightning stopper.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
Bottle Type: Pint, tooled blob top.
Embossing: MENZEL BROS. / LA PORTE, IND.
Glass Maker: ROOT (embossed on base), Root Glass Company, Terre Haute, Indiana.
Other Marks: THIS BOTTLE IS NEVER SOLD (embossed on back); 13 (embossed on back heel).
Notes: Has a bail-wire lightning stopper.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
