Alka-Seltzer tablets bottle from the travel wardrobe trunk used by Cab Calloway: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

An Alka-Seltzer tablets bottle from the travel wardrobe trunk used by Cab Calloway. The cylindrical glass bottle has a metal screw on cap. The bottle (A2015.273.1.1.14a) is entirely clear glass with molded threading at the mouth. Adhered over most of the body is a light blue adhesive label that wraps entirely around the bottle. At one end of the label is a dark blue banner with a thin white frame. Printed at the center of the banner is the name of the product, [® / Alka – Seltzer / BRAND], in large and small, vertically oriented, white text. Also printed in vertically oriented, white and navy blue text around the label are storage instructions, uses for various medical conditions, manufacturing information, and directions for use. The bottom of the bottle has an illegible molded stamp. The bottle’s metal cap (A2015.273.1.1.14b) is light blue. Around the top edges of the cap is a molded hand grip and printed on the top is a dark blue circular band with light blue text that reads [Alka – Seltzer • Alka – Seltzer •]. Printed inside the circular band is dark blue text that reads [DISCARD / PROTECTIVE / FOAM CUSHION / AFTER OPENING / CLOSE CAP / TIGHTLY]. The interior of the cap is white with molded threading that screws on the glass bottle.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: before 1978
• Manufactured by: Miles Laboratories, American, 1884 - 1995
• Owned by: Cab Calloway, American, 1907 - 1994
• Type: medicine bottles
• Medium: ink on paper (fiber product) and metal on glass
• Dimensions: H x W x D (Overall): 2 11/16 × 1 7/16 × 1 7/16 in. (6.8 × 3.6 × 3.6 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (A2015.273.1.1.14a): 2 5/8 × 1 3/8 × 1 3/8 in. (6.6 × 3.5 × 3.5 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W x D (A2015.273.1.1.14b): 7/16 × 1 7/16 × 1 7/16 in. (1.1 × 3.6 × 3.6 cm)
• Place made: Elkhart, Indiana, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Band (Music)
• Topic: Clothing and dress
• Topic: Conductors (Musicians)
• Topic: Costume
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Health
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Object number: A2015.273.1.1.14ab
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Cabella Calloway Langsam
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: No known copyright restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.