BURNETT

Southborough Historical Society

Southborough, MA

BURNETT'S FOOD PRODUCTS

(Continued – 6th Page - Update December 10, 2007)

JOSEPH BURNETT COMPANY EXHIBIT AT THE BOSTON FOOD EXPOSITION 1891

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS FROM THE BOSTON FOOD EXPO ARE THANKS TO OWEN (DAN) MATHEWSON

Burnett Agencies listed at: Chicago, New York, London, Paris, Sydney, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Adelaide, Shanghai, Christiana (?), Milan, Valparaiso, & Havana.

“This exhibit was one of the finest and most artistic in Grand Hall, where it occupied a conspicuous position. It consists of an ebony case, which is artistically carved and decorated with designs in gold. On the top, at one end of the case, was the announcement of the. medals taken by this firm in all parts of the world for superior excellence of product. On the other end was a list of the agencies of the firm in foreign countries. The centre was roofed, and on either end were announcements of the firm's business. In front of this fine case was a counter, as shown in the photograph, which was filled with the flavoring extracts, etc., which are made by the concern.

Visitors noticed a large Grecian glass pitcher, which was filled with an emerald green fluid. This was an extract of the pistachio nut, which is found in the cone of the Persian pine. It is a tiny kernel of green color, exceedingly pleasant to the taste, wholesome, and nutritious. For about twenty years one of the Messrs. Burnett has worked to produce an extract from this rare nut which would combine all its exquisite characteristics, and, after repeated failures, about two years ago he was successful in getting a perfect result, and this rare flavoring extract is now finding an extended use in the production of ice-cream, etc., of a new and most delightful flavor.

In addition to all the well-known extracts made by the house of Joseph Burnett & Co., there were shown in the exhibit at the fair the various toilet articles so well known to the public and the trade, such as cocoaine, Kalliston, Oriental tooth-wash, cologne and lavender waters, to say nothing of their lesser products, such as almond meal, which is a substitute for soap for whitening the hands, rose water and glycerin for use after washing, as well as perfumes of wood violet, garden heliotrope and others, which are put up in the most attractive shapes.”

This exhibit, which represents an immense industry, as will be shown, had its origin over forty years ago in what might be called an accident—or, perhaps, incident might better describe it. In 1847 Mr. Joseph Burnett, founder of the firm of Joseph Burnett & Co., was doing an apothecary and drug business on Tremont Street. One day one of the prominent ladies of Boston, wife of a wealthy manufacturer, who had lived for a time in France, came into Mr. Burnett's store, and complained to him that she had found it impossible to procure in this country a decent flavor of vanilla, and asked him if he would not procure for her or make for her some of this flavoring extract, of which she was very fond.

Mr. Burnett agreed to do what he could to satisfy her desire in this respect. He went to New York, procured a pound of vanilla beans, for which he paid three dollars and fifty cents, and made an extract of vanilla which so pleased the lady that she urged him to make more of it, promising to continue to take her supplies of it from him, and to introduce it among her aristocratic friends.

This was the beginning of vanilla and other extract industries in the United States. Mr. Burnett, in view of the success of his first effort, decided to make a specialty of this flavor along with other extracts, and from this beginning the business of making vanilla and other flavoring extracts has extended all over the civilized world.

(The above is a description of the Joseph Burnett Company booth at the expo from a Boston Food Exposition 1891 brochure.)

THEODORE METCALF COMPANY EXHIBIT AT THE BOSTON FOOD EXPOSITION 1891 (shown for interest as Theodore Metcalf was once a partner with Joseph Burnett).

“In close proximity to the Stickney & Poor Spice Co.'s display was one of the most attractive exhibits on exhibition. It was the beautiful display of the Theodore Metcalf Co., the well-known pharmaceutical chemists and wholesale druggists of 39 Tremont Street and Copley Square. The booth was so prettily arranged that it was a pleasing sight to gaze upon the picture, and great credit should be given to those in charge for their remarkable judgment in the artistic arrangement of the pieces. In fact, the booth looked so temptingly arranged with its syrups, sachet powders, toilet articles, colognes, etc., that it was almost impossible to resist the temptation of stealing some trifling article as a keepsake. The centre of attraction was an elaborate pyramid composed of pure fruit syrups, interspersed with some of their choice toilet preparations.

During the summer months nothing is more palatable and wholesome to satisfy craving for something sour than Metcalf’s raspberry syrup. When mixed in cold water, either aerated or plain, it forms a grateful, acidulous drink, abounding in the delicious flavors of ripe raspberries.

They make a specialty of ginger ale syrup. The bottles are handsomely wrapped in brilliant colored paper, and the exhibits reflect credit on the vice-president of the company, Mr. E. W. Shedd, under whose charge the exhibit has been made.

The Theodore Metcalf Co.'s violet sachet powder is known to be the only representative of this delicate flower. The samples distributed by this firm have perfumed the main hall during the entire exhibit, and it has proved a great attraction to lady visitors, who have thoroughly appreciated the free samples distributed.

The perfumes used by the ancients were undoubtedly nothing more than the odoriferous gums which naturally exude from various trees and shrubs indigenous to the Eastern Hemisphere, and their possession was considered an evidence of wealth. As far as we are able to learn, all the perfumes used by the Egyptians and Persians, during the early period of the world, were dry perfumes, consisting of myrrh, olibanum, spikenard, and other gum-resins, nearly all of which are still in use in sachet powders. Among the curiosities shown at Alnwick Castle is a vase that was taken from an Egyptian catacomb. It is full of a mixture of gum-resins, etc., which evolve a pleasant odor to the present clay, although probably three thousand years old.

The Theodore Metcalf Co. announces that their new odor, the "Drop of Dew," has met with a ready sale. This is the strongest and most permanent perfume ever manufactured, one drop being sufficient to perfume a square yard of tissue paper, and remains permanent for years. Thirty-nine Cologne has been manufactured by this firm since 1837, is the only odor that can compare with German cologne, and is sold in long green bottles and full pints.

Toilet lotion for the complexion, for tan, sunburn, eruptions, roughness of the skin from exposure to wind, and to be used after shaving, has been known for many years as non-poisonous, free from chemicals, and a finely perfumed lotion.

The novelty in pharmaceutical tablets is the "antacidine, or lime-water, tablets " made by this firm. This is a most convenient method of instantly preparing lime-water. These tablets dissolve readily, producing an accurate solution of the lime in water, the discomforts of finding the lime-water bottles in a tasteless and useless condition from long standing being obviated by dissolving the required number of tablets in water when lime-water is needed. Physicians recommend these tablets in the preparation of infants' food, and the low price at which they are sold, twenty-five cents for a package containing forty tablets, commends them for use in place of lime-water in bottles, as being less expensive when made in this way.

It will never do to forget to speak of the very attentive and pretty young lady who waited upon the customers.”

(The above is a description of the Theodore Metcalf Company booth at the Boston Food Exposition from their 1891 brochure.)

And there's more!

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