AM SMITH and Utah's Rarest Bottle
Andrew Mason Smith was born Hans Lykkejaeger in Denmark 1841. He worked at a foundry and was disatisfied with the life there and ran away to sea. He served as the ship's cook, London street vagabond, and eventually came to serve on American ships. When the Civil War broke out, he joined the Union Army. His career in America also involved surveying, farming, and being a "dead broke tramp".
In 1872, he found himself in Salt Lake City. He started the California Wine Depot in 1873 with $10 capital and shaky credit (See 1873 Ad from
Deseret News). But good advertising, good products, and good investments made him a success. He established his store on the south side of 1st South between East Temple (State St) and Commercial Street. See photo below.
Smith believed in the power of advertising and created his own embossed whiskey flask. You can almost see a box of bottles in the photo. Only
parts to this elusive flask have been found over the years. Smith stayed in Salt Lake for only a few short years. in 1875 he left to take
advantage of the great Centennial in Philadelphia. He set up his second depot there, but he was too liberal in granting credit and his business
failed. He picked up the pieces and started over again. He again built up his trade and set up a small branch in Minneapolis in 1886. It was described as no more than boards laid across two barrels. This became successful and he sold out in Philadelphia and the California Wine Depot became a thriving business on Hennepin Avenue. It became one of the largest of it's kind in the city and produced many advertising items. He also ran the California Restaurant next to the Depot. In later life, Smith became an avid coin collector. And wrote the "Illustrated History of the US Mint" published in 1881 and 1885. He was listed as the owner of one of ten "Trade Dollars" minted in 1884. These dollars were kept a secret for many years and would be a very rare item. In addition Smith wrote an autobiography "Up and Down in the World or Paddle Your own Canoe."
Smith remains a very colorful character and entreprenuer and an important but brief part of Utah History.
Click on the detailed article below about the history of Mr. A.M Smith.
In 1872, he found himself in Salt Lake City. He started the California Wine Depot in 1873 with $10 capital and shaky credit (See 1873 Ad from
Deseret News). But good advertising, good products, and good investments made him a success. He established his store on the south side of 1st South between East Temple (State St) and Commercial Street. See photo below.
Smith believed in the power of advertising and created his own embossed whiskey flask. You can almost see a box of bottles in the photo. Only
parts to this elusive flask have been found over the years. Smith stayed in Salt Lake for only a few short years. in 1875 he left to take
advantage of the great Centennial in Philadelphia. He set up his second depot there, but he was too liberal in granting credit and his business
failed. He picked up the pieces and started over again. He again built up his trade and set up a small branch in Minneapolis in 1886. It was described as no more than boards laid across two barrels. This became successful and he sold out in Philadelphia and the California Wine Depot became a thriving business on Hennepin Avenue. It became one of the largest of it's kind in the city and produced many advertising items. He also ran the California Restaurant next to the Depot. In later life, Smith became an avid coin collector. And wrote the "Illustrated History of the US Mint" published in 1881 and 1885. He was listed as the owner of one of ten "Trade Dollars" minted in 1884. These dollars were kept a secret for many years and would be a very rare item. In addition Smith wrote an autobiography "Up and Down in the World or Paddle Your own Canoe."
Smith remains a very colorful character and entreprenuer and an important but brief part of Utah History.
Click on the detailed article below about the history of Mr. A.M Smith.
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Now, over a hundred years later, a complete flask has been found in Idaho. It was saved in a garage by a construction worker digging in Downtown Salt Lake many years ago. A Federation Article is planned in the near future that will tell the tale. This is the ONLY one known and Utah's Rarest bottle.
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