You'll wish it was - but it wasn't.

It was in Hilo, Hawaii, in 1972, when I dug up a small bottle with embossing only to base: THE OWL DRUG CO., LTD. HILO, H.T. (Hawaiian Territory). Almost threw it away !

My first impression was WOW ! A new unknown OWL bottle for the "Hoot, Hoot" collectors

on the Mainland, USA.

A few of these were dug up from sizes of three inches to 5 ½ inches; although a broken one

of about 10 inches - to no avail.

All of them are BIMAL and embossed to bottom of base only.

At first believed these Hawaiian Territory bottles were associated with the mainland Owl Drug

Company, which started in 1892, in San Francisco, CA.

This theory was not put to question, until a research was done.

The Owl Drug Co. Ltd. Hilo; unfortunately had no affiliation at all with the West Coast Owl Drug Co.

The Owl Drug Co. Ltd. of Hilo opened for business in August, 1899, and was owned and managed

by Frank W. Bosworth. Located at Wai'anuenue near Pu'ueo bridge.

First advertisement regarding this new Owl Drug of Hilo appeared in the Hawaii Herald newspaper, Aug. 10, 1899.

The owner of the Mainland counterpart (facsimile) was Mr. Miller, who originally came from Canada.

The advertisement also showed an owl standing on a branch; not the owl sitting on a mortar

and pestle with the TODCO trademark.

TODCO stands for: The Owl Drug Company.

Inside the booklet entitled: Rules, Instructions and Selling Hints for Employees of the Owl Drug

Company, there is a section entitled: A History of the Owl Drug Company by W.M. Berg.

Published in 1914, provides complete history of the original Owl Drug Company. A synopsis of all the stores they opened - never a mention of the Hawaiian Islands, or Territory of Hawaii,

ever mentioned.

The Owl Drug Co. Ltd. of Hilo was an imitator !

This Owl Drug Co. Ltd. Hilo was eventually sold to a Mr. A.C. McKenney in 1902.

The Owl Drug Co. Ltd. of Hilo enterprise lasted about 5 years total. Mean while, the well known Hollister Drug Company of Honolulu, established a branch in Hilo, in 1895.

There are no advertisements for The Owl Drug, Hilo, after April 28, 1904 - until March 10, 1928

- when Hollister Drug Co. was named "exclusive agent" for the original Mainland Owl Drug Co.

The day came when Hollister Drug Co. was appointed exclusive representative for the Territory of Hawaii on March 10, 1928. A contract was signed between the Main land Owl Drug Co.

and the local Hawaii firm of Hollister Drug Co.

We now know that the bottle embossed to the base: THE OWL DRUG CO., LTD.,HILO,H.T.

was an independent business.

Although; some of the collectors of USA Mainland Owl collectors are enthusiastically adding

this unique Owl bottle to their collection.

Perhaps; the condition of "OWLITIS" has spread to include this RARE specimen to their collection as a "go with"....

*reference: condensed from: The Federation Letter, pg 11, May 1977, by Edwin L. Kaukali