Vintage glass milk bottles are thick, durable containers, usually clear or lightly tinted, featuring embossed dairy names or cow designs, and were sealed with foil, paper, or metal caps, characterized by their heavy feel, flared tops for easy filling, and distinctive manufacturing marks on the bottom indicating age, transitioning from early round shapes to later squat, square designs before plastic cartons took over.

Key Characteristics

Material & Color: Made from thick, heavy glass, often clear, but sometimes lightly tinted green or amber (to block light) or even opaque "milk glass". Shape: Early bottles (pre-1930s) were often tall and round; later ones became shorter and squatter (post-1940s).

Embossing: Dairy names, locations, or cow/farm images were raised (embossed) into the glass for identification before printed labels became common.

Lids: Sealed with paper/foil caps, wire-clamped glass plugs, or later, plastic/metal lids with rubber gaskets.

Manufacturing Marks: Look for mold seams, circular scars (from Owens machines), or valve marks on the bottom, indicating production methods and age.