Bachtold & Acherman - Walla Walla
Alfred Bachtold and Charles Achermann hailed originally from the German speaking part of Switzerland. Emigrating as youths to the United States, both found occupations in other states until joining forces in Walla Walla, Washington, in 1897 to create a major West Coast wholesale liquor firm. An early ad from the firm indicates a modest beginning with the company having offices in the cellar of the basement in the Dusenbery Building, located between 2nd and 3rd Streets in Walla Walla. The company was an agent for Sutter Home Wines, Olympia Beer, Jesse Moore Whiskey, Lash’s Bitters and other house brands such as "Blue Stem, “White Cloud,” and “B & A Rye".
Kreielsheimer Bros. - Seattle
The Kreielsheimer Brothers (Simon, Jacob and Max) started out in Seattle, Washington Territory in 1887 at 323 Commercial Street. The firm dealt in wholesale wines, liquors and cigars. From late 1889 until 1895 they were located at 309-311 Commercial Street. Beginning in 1896 they moved to larger quarters at 209 First Avenue South. The Seattle operation remained there for the rest of their business life, a total of 27 years. The company utilized a number of "advertising" items (embossed bottles, labels, tea pots, ink stands and shot glasses) to promote their "Crown Diamonds" brand over the years.
Prairie Queen Distilling Co. - Spokane
Not a lot of information is known about this company (at least to this collector) other than a postcard of downtown Spokane dated 1907 showing a sign for "Prairie Queen Rye" on the side of a building; an advertisement in the "Eastern Oregonian" (a Pendelton Oregon newspaper) dated February 2, 1905 featured an ad selling "Prairie Queen Rye" for $5/Gallon; $2.50/Half Gallon and $1.25/Quart an ad in the Pend d’Oreille Review:1/13/05, p.3 for "Prairie Queen Whiskey". The Gentlemans Resort of Coeur d'Alene offered "Priarie Queen Rye" for $1.50/Quart in the August 29, 1907 edition of the Couer d'Alene Press. Little else is known of this business other than they produced an engraved backbar decanter and a very nicely detailed shot glass of a girl with long hair wearing a hat and frosted letters.
Holzman "Orpheum Club"- Spokane
One of the longest running wholesale liquor houses in the State of Washington, David Holzman started this firm sometime in 1888 in Spokane and was located at 106 Howard St. Approximately a year later the firm was listed as Holzman, D. & Co and was located on the SW corner of the Northern Pacific railroad tracks at South Monroe St. which was later renamed Railroad Ave. The firm remained at this location until closed by Prohibition in 1915. This location also housed the Northwest Bottling Works owned by Holzman since 1890 which was in business until 1917. Over time, the company used the brand names:
"Kentucky's Old Style", "MacNeal", "Old Newport Club", "Orpheum Club", "Red Stork", "Circle Eight" and "Rob't. Hamilton Old Tom Gin" among their product lines.
Keystone Liquor Co. - Seattle
Simon Weixel was the president and manager of the Keystone Liquor Company when it opened in 1902. It was located from start to finish at 1123 First Avenue in Seattle until 1908 when a second establishment.was opened next door at 1119 First Avenue. Some of the newspaper ads of the day noted that they were the local distributor for Schlitz Beer and strictly a wholesale and family liquor store with no connection to a bar or saloon. In June 1915 they were reorganized into the Keystone Wine House as successors to the Keystone Liquor Co. in order to sell out their last bit of stock prior to prohibition.
Jaffe & Co. - Seattle
Established in Healdsburg, California on June 26, 1886 Mr. Louis Jaffe purchased the Pridham Vineyards (re-naming it the Wine Creek Winery) which comprised of 264 acres of wine and brandy grapes. The Jaffe Liquor Co. began business in Seattle on August 4, 1889, just months after the great fire had swept the city. Circumstances forced Jaffe to set up at a location on what was then known as Old Mill Street just above Third Avenue South in a 15x70 ft tent. It was around 1893 that the firm began to show up in city listings and its business. Throughout its existence, the company was both a retail and wholesale establishments located at 115-117 Second Ave. S. & 213-217 Second Ave. S. The Jaffe name was closely tied in with the Imperial Liquor Company whose owner was Joseph L. Jaffe and the College Inn Buffet whose manager was Herbert Jaffe. Jaffe & Co. also owned a saloon in Spokane and a retail/wholesale location from 1892-1915 which closed due to Prohibition. Louis Jaffe died in San Francisco at the age of 71 after an emergency operation for internal issues on 2/1/1905.