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OnDaFence 36M/44M
44267 posts
3/11/2019 7:00 pm

Last Read:
3/13/2019 8:05 pm

Happy 125TH!!!



On a spring day in 1894, Joseph Biedenharn, a candy merchant and soda fountain operator, had an idea that would reshape the soft drink industry. He took the popular fountain beverage, Coca-Cola, put it in bottles, and delivered it to rural areas outside of Vicksburg.



It was the first time Coca-Cola had been sold in bottles. Mr. Biedenharn created a totally new concept of marketing the beverage and established the cornerstone of the independent network of franchise bottlers who now distribute bottled Coca-Cola all over the world.



Born in 1866, Joseph Biedenharn was the eldest of eight and, in his teens, became part of the candy business founded by his father and uncle. Later, he and his brothers Will, Harry, Lawrence, Herman, Ollie, Albert and sister Katy acquired franchises to bottle Coca-Cola in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. The building located at 1107 Washington Street, where the first bottling took place, was built in 1890 and is operated today as the museum interpreting this important moment in our nation's history.



When Joe Biedenharn decided to bottle Coca-Cola, he used the bottles that he had on hand, those that he was using to bottle soda water using equipment he had bought from the Sarasota Springs operation. These were Hutchinson blob-top bottles embossed with "Biedenharn Candy Company, Vicksburg, Miss." These bottles were sealed with a rubber disk that was pushed into the neck of the bottle and held with a wire. The bottles were used for only a short time because the rubber changed the flavor of the drink after about a week.



In the early 1900s, Joe switched to straight-sided crown bottles which maintained the integrity of the true taste of Coca-Cola. They did not, however, give any uniformity to the packaging image of the beverage. The color of the glass varied from clear and aqua to differing shades of blue, green and amber. In addition, the amount of liquid that a bottle contained varied from 6-7 ounces. The early straight-sided crown bottles were hand blown in molds which often left rough seams, bubbles, imperfections and irregular areas of thick and thin glass. After 1910, the bottles were machine-made and became more uniform. Biedenharn straight-sides were embossed with "Biedenharn Candy Company, Vicksburg, Miss.," with Coca-Cola in script across the base in some cases.



By 1913, those involved in the Coca-Cola Company saw the need for a distinctive package in order to fight imitators. Ben Thomas, one of the original patent bottlers, noted that "we need a bottle which a person can recognize as a Coca-Cola bottle when he feels it in the dark.” As a result of some inaccurate research by the team at Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, Indiana, a bottle was designed that resembled the cacao bean, the source of chocolate instead of the coca bean. Nonetheless, the Root Glass Company bested eight other competitors at a meeting of the seven bottlers in 1916.



The exaggerated center section was trimmed down and the “contour” bottle, or “Mae West” bottle or “Hobble skirt” bottle, whichever name you chose, was born. The bottle was recognized by the United States patent office in 1960, a distinction among bottles shared at the time by only one other.

OnDaFence 36M/44M

3/11/2019 7:03 pm

Everyone the world over knows a Coke Bottle!


OnDaFence 36M/44M

3/11/2019 7:04 pm

I am drinking an icy cold one from a 2 liter bottle as I write this.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

3/11/2019 7:08 pm

During World War II Coca Cola seen to it, irregardless of cost, that the servicemen the world over, could enjoy a bottle of Coke for just 5 cents.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

3/11/2019 7:10 pm

Between cans and bottles there's probably 5 gallons of coke in our pantry at this time.


Hungr4Yungr 75M
5766 posts
3/11/2019 9:15 pm

Interesting history of Coca Cola. I always wondered where it originated. The product is one that I will not try because of its high caffeine content, that can trigger heart attacks in people prone to such an event. Caffeine triggered both of my heart attacks.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

3/11/2019 9:49 pm

    Quoting Hungr4Yungr:
    Interesting history of Coca Cola. I always wondered where it originated. The product is one that I will not try because of its high caffeine content, that can trigger heart attacks in people prone to such an event. Caffeine triggered both of my heart attacks.
I never knew that about caffeine. I may need to consider reducing it's contents in my lifestyle.


Julie_Tgirl 74T
3021 posts
3/11/2019 10:46 pm

I liked Coke and Pepsi both but now have to drink diet of either one. I do not drink to much soda any more, mostly tea or juices at home. Soft drinks in restaurants have the highest profit margins and largest mark up. But of course those are fountain drinks. I usually drink water when I go out.

Coke in the early days did contain small amounts of cocaine.


Julie_Tgirl 74T
3021 posts
3/11/2019 10:49 pm

    Quoting OnDaFence:
    Everyone the world over knows a Coke Bottle!
The bottles were shaped like that to help prevent them from slipping through the hand.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

3/11/2019 10:55 pm

    Quoting Julie_Tgirl:
    I liked Coke and Pepsi both but now have to drink diet of either one. I do not drink to much soda any more, mostly tea or juices at home. Soft drinks in restaurants have the highest profit margins and largest mark up. But of course those are fountain drinks. I usually drink water when I go out.

    Coke in the early days did contain small amounts of cocaine.
The cocaine was it's big selling point, too bad we empowered the FDA to ruin our lives.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

3/11/2019 10:57 pm

    Quoting Julie_Tgirl:
    The bottles were shaped like that to help prevent them from slipping through the hand.
A distinctive marketing ploy that helped them be known the world over.


OnDaFence 36M/44M

3/12/2019 12:54 pm

    Quoting  :

I'll just eat mine separate.... LOL!


OnDaFence 36M/44M

3/13/2019 8:03 pm

    Quoting  :

I think the Mexican Cartels should make Coke the old fashioned way to sneak the cocaine across the border!


OnDaFence 36M/44M

3/13/2019 8:05 pm

    Quoting  :

I buy most of our Mt Dew and Coke in 2 liter bottles we consume so much but keep cans for the guys down in the shop and some in the bar fridge.