A rare and evocative piece of American industrial history — this small embossed glass bottle was manufactured by Thomas A. Edison Incorporated, Bloomfield, New Jersey, U.S.A. and used by railroad companies to maintain the battery-operated signal lamps at railroad crossings. After use, these bottles were routinely discarded along the tracks, making intact survivors a genuine find for collectors of Edisonia, railroad memorabilia, and early American industrial artifacts.
The bottle features a classic milk-bottle silhouette in miniature — a wide-mouth opening with a pronounced double-ring lip, a gently tapering cylindrical body, and a slightly domed base. The embossed text wraps the body in crisp relief, a direct connection to the Edison manufacturing empire of the early 20th century. Displayed on a shelf or in a collection, it tells a quiet story of the electrification of America's railways.
Key Features
Maker: Thomas A. Edison Incorporated, Bloomfield, N.J., U.S.A.
Use: Battery oil / electrolyte maintenance for railroad crossing signal batteries
Form: Embossed clear glass, milk-bottle silhouette with double-ring lip
Embossed text reads: "Edison Battery Oil / Made in U.S.A. / Thomas A. Edison Incorporated / Bloomfield, N.J. / U.S.A."
Slight warm amber tint to base of glass consistent with age
Provenance: Discarded along railroad tracks after use
Dimensions
Height: approximately 5"
Width at base: approximately 1.5"
Condition & Disclaimer
No Chips or Cracks
Great vintage condition: items may show light scratches, small marks, patina, sediment residue in base, or minor wear consistent with age and use.
All vintage items are final sale and non-refundable.
Please see full shop disclaimer for additional notes on vintage and antique items.
