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George Lamberson

  • County: La Porte County
  • Location: La Porte
  • Years Active in the Business: c. 1900s - 1920s (bottled for Big Boy after 1928)

George Lamberson was born in Greece in 1869 (his gravestone lists 1869, although the year varies in U.S. Census records, including the 1940 census) and died in 1946. He is buried in Pine Lake Cemetery in La Porte.

Before entering the bottling works business, he was involved in the confectionery and soda trade, as noted in the La Porte City Directories from 1904 through 1910. His Hutchinson bottle most likely predates 1910, as Hutchinson bottles were largely phased out by about 1912 when crown-top bottles became the sanitary standard.

There is a John Lamberson in the 1899 and 1902 directories listed as a confectioner at 723 Main Street; George is not listed in either. It is reasonable to assume that this was his brother, and that George took over the business sometime between 1902 and 1904.

Lamberson took over the Jacob Spahn Bottling Works sometime shortly after 1910, operating at 601 Washington Street until the early 1930s. The June 1928 issue of The Beverage Journal reports that he began bottling for the Big Boy Bottling Co.

The 1920 U.S. Census states that he immigrated to the United States in 1891.
The 1940 U.S. Census shows that he lived at 909 Jackson Street in La Porte. His wife was Panayta (listed as Panageota on the gravestone). It also shows he had a daughter named Dorothy and a son named Lamber.

1899 & 1902 — His brother, John Lamberson, is listed as a confectioner at 723 Main.
George is not listed in either of these directories. John was most likely his brother, as he was also born in 1869.

1904 — Lamberson, George, candies, fruit, soda water, ice cream and cigars, 723 Main, home is the same.

1907 — Lamberson Geo., confectionaries, fruits, ice cream and sodas, home at the corner of Main and Michigan Ave.

1910 — Lamberson Geo, confectionary at 922 Main St., phone 816, residence at Washington and corner of Monroe.

1913 — Lamberson George, mineral water bottler at 601 Washington and lives at the same address.

1926 — Lamberson George, bottler 601 Washington, residence 601-1/2 Washington.

1929 & 1931 — Lamberson George (Polly), bottler 601 Washington, residence 601-1/2 Washington.

1940 — Lamberson Geo (Bertha), residence at 909 Jackson.

Bottle Photos

#1

Bottle Type: Hutchinson
Embossing: GEO. LAMBERSON / LA PORTE, IND. 
Glass Maker: 
Other Marks: 
Notes: 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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#2

Bottle Type: Quart, tooled crown top. 
Embossing: GEORGE LAMBERSON / MANUFACTURER / LA PORTE, IND. 
Glass Maker: A B Co (embossed on base), American Bottle Company.
Other Marks: S-17 (embossed on heel).
Notes: 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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#3

Bottle Type: Approx. 7 oz. soda, tooled crown top. 
Embossing: GEORGE LAMBERSON / MANUFACTURER / LA PORTE, IND. 
Glass Maker: NBBGCO (embossed on base), North Baltimore Bottle Glass Company.
Other Marks: Large “L” (embossed on base).
Notes: 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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#4

Bottle Type: 7-1/2  oz., machine-made crown top. 
Embossing: GEORGE LAMBERSON / M’FG’R / LA PORTE, IND. / 7 1/2 FLU. OZS.
Glass Maker: 
Other Marks: Large “L” (embossed on base).
Notes: 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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#5

Bottle Type: 7 oz., machine-made crown top. 
Embossing: GEORGE LAMBERSON / MFG’R / LA PORTE, IND. / 7 FLU. OZS.
Glass Maker: 
Other Marks: Large “L” (embossed on base). “25 S2” (embossed on heel).
Notes: 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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#6

Bottle Type: Approx. 7 oz. soda, tooled crown top. 
Embossing: GEORGE LAMBERSON / MANUFACTURER / LA PORTE, IND.
Glass Maker: A B Co (embossed on heel), American Bottle Company.
Other Marks: “11 S” (embossed on heel).
Notes: 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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#7

Bottle Type: 9 oz., machine-made crown top. 
Embossing: BIG BOY
Glass Maker: 
Other Marks: See photo #7 for base markings.
Notes: 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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#8

Base of bottle #7
Bottle Type: 9 oz., machine-made crown top. 
Embossing: CONTENTS 9 FL OZ. / PATENTED / APRIL 12, 1927 / 30 S 2 / LA PORTE, IND. 
Glass Maker: 
Other Marks: 
Notes: BIG BOY 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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#9

Bottle Type: 7 oz., machine-made crown top. 
Embossing: BIG BOY / PALE DRY
Glass Maker: 
Other Marks: 
Notes: 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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#10

Bottle Type: 7 oz., machine-made crown top. 
Embossing: BIG BOY / PALE DRY
Glass Maker: 
Other Marks: 
Notes: Reverse of bottle #9.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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#11

Base of bottle photos #9 & #10
Bottle Type: 7 oz., machine-made crown top. 
Embossing: CONTENTS 7 FL. OZ. / LA PORTE, IND. / 30 S
Glass Maker: 
Other Marks: 
Notes: 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

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Labels • Ephemera • Ads • Article Clippings

#1

The Beverage Journal (June 1928).

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Maps

#1

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (1912).
NW corner of Clay & Washington.

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#2

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (1919).
NW corner of Clay & Washington.

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