Q--The raised letters on my clear glass, four-sided bottle say, "Prepared by Dr. Peter Fahrney & Sons Co., Chicago, Illinois, USA." On the other side are the words, "The Reliable Old-Time Preparation for Home Use." How old is the bottle?
A--At the turn of the century, Dr. Peter Fahrney mixed and bottled several kinds of patent medicines.
One of his most famous concoctions was Fahrney's teething syrup for children. It contained morphine and chloroform. He also packaged Fahrney's Panacea, a "cure-all" that was advertised as being "For Impure Blood and All Disorders of the Liver, Bowels, Kidneys, Bladder, etc."
Fahrney's bottles sell for about $10.
Q--I have an old cast-iron bank painted red, white and black. It still is in good condition. The bank is shaped like a building with a mule at the front porch. If you press a button, the mule pitches forward, flinging your coin through a window. How old is it? What is the value?
A: Your "Mule Entering Barn" bank was designed in the 1880s by Edward L. Morris of Boston. The J. & E. Stevens Co. made the bank.
According to the patent descriptions, when the mule kicks the coin, a dog jumps out. The bank also is called a "donkey bank," "donkey savings bank" or "malicious donkey bank."
If your bank is in good working condition and has most of the original paint, it would sell for about $700.
Q--I saw a bread platter with a locomotive in the center as a decoration. How old is it?
A--The platter you describe was made to commemorate the opening of the first American transcontinental rail link, in 1869. It depicts Union Pacific Engine No. 350.
The Kovels welcome letters. They cannot reply individually, but will answer those of general interest in this column. You may write to the Kovels in care of the Chicago Tribune, Home section, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611. Or send e-mail to TribHome@aol.com. For appraisals, contact an auction house or antiques dealer.