Here’s something new under the sun: a searchable database of 19th century California trademarks, including some delightful Los Angeles oddities.

Whether your tastes run to sporting man’s club life or electrically-charged cordials, underpants full of flea powder or workwear that can withstand the tugging of elephants, the merchants of old L.A. were eager to oblige with oddball brand identities. (Of course our neighbors to the north were pretty weird, too.)

Clam broth, anyone?