HIRES ROOT BEER ~ vs ~ VERNOR'S GINGER ALE

[SODABOB]

P.S. ~ P.S.

If you search for one of the Hires boxes, I recommend using the search term ...

Hires Root Beer Package

Notice that neither one of the snippets I just posted use the word extract. According to most of the histories, Charles Hires didn't introduce a liquid extract until around 1884

 

[SODABOB]

This next segment involves my attempt to do a timeline of Hires bottles starting in 1936 through 1953. You may recall the earliest use of the slogan "Since 1876" I can find is from 1953. That date still stands, and hopefully the following will shed a little more light on it ...

For starters, here's the 1936 bottle patent. Notice the wave design embossed on the shoulder. Also notice it was patented by Charles Hires Jr. (Charles E Hires Sr. passed away a year later in 1937)



Next is this ad from 1937. Notice the bottle has R-J on the label ...



And here's one of the paper label bottles with R-J on it. As near as I can determine, the R-J bottles were produced between ...

1936-37 to about 1949



Next is this ad from 1952. Notice the check mark on the label ...



And here's one of the ACL bottles with a check mark on the label. As near as I can determine, the check mark bottles were produced between ...

About 1949 to about 1952



Next is this ad from 1953. Notice it has "Since 1876" on the label. Also notice its advertising Hire's 77th Anniversary ...



And here's one of the acl bottles with "Since 1876" on the label. As near as I can determine, the "Since 1876" bottles were produced between ...

1953 and at least as late as 1959




What I find most interesting about this is that I cannot find a single reference where Hires Root Beer celebrated a 25th, 50th, or 75th Anniversary. But for some unknown reason they did celebrate their 77th Anniversary. Why they would celebrate a 77th Anniversary in 1953 and start using the "Since 1876" slogan at the same time on their bottles and in advertising, I don't currently know. But I find it strange that 1953 is the earliest use of "Since 1876" that I can find.

 

[SODABOB]

Questions ...

1. Why did Hires celebrate their 77th Anniversary?

2. Why did Hires wait until 1953 to start using the "Since 1876" slogan on their bottles and in advertising?



I don't know either, but I'm going to try and find out.

 

[SODABOB]

For future reference ...

The Philadelphia Inquirer ~ November 19, 1953

 

[hemihampton]

Leon

Because you are into cans, I thought you'd like this one. It has a lithographed label and sold in 2012 for $440. Exact date unknown, but possibly 1906 or later because it has Trade Mark on it ...

View attachment 175941

Cool, But, I like this one better, WWII Olive Drab Camouflage sample. LEON.

 

[Canadacan]

,

This next segment involves my attempt to do a timeline of Hires bottles starting in 1936 through 1953. You may recall the earliest use of the slogan "Since 1876" I can find is from 1953. That date still stands, and hopefully the following will shed a little more light on it.

And here's one of the paper label bottles with R-J on it. As near as I can determine, the R-J bottles were produced between ...

1936-37 to about 1949

View attachment 175971

I think it was a tad earlier, 1933 apparently....note the Hires is contained within the circle? That continued until as best I can tell 1939, starting in 1940 (cant find anything for 1939) the 'Hires' was enlarged to extend outside the circle. I had researched this to confirm my Canadian Hires sign is from the 1930's...commonly mistaken for 1950's


Add from ebay...http://www.ebay.com/itm/1933-Hires-...04eda29&pid=100011&rk=1&rkt=7&sd=311717592570

My Hires sign............again note the Hires is with in the circle






Found one more add!...another year earlier 1932.

Oh sorry just noticed there is no RJ!...possible then the first use of the Hires Root Beer in the circle?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371755115839?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[SODABOB]

Cc

You're right about the R-J being used earlier than 1936-37. Please note that my timeline only involves the Hires 1936 patented bottle and not with the label itself on straight-sided bottles like the one pictured in your 1933 magazine ad.

 

[SODABOB]

Speaking of Hires bottles ...

This one might be the rarest of the lot. Notice the placement of the medals, with one in the center and four more in the corners, totaling five. The later paper label appears to have a total of ten medals all grouped together. Here's the description that accompanied the bottle, which I disagree with ...

[FONT=&quot]This is an unopened bottle of Hires Root Beer. When we called the Hires Museum we were told it was from sometime in the 1860's but they wouldn't give us any more information, however, they wanted us to donate it to the museum.[/FONT]

The reason I disagree with it is because everything I've ever read about Hires states it was first bottled in a carbonated form in 1893. Nor do I think this particular label is for Hires extract because it has "Sparkling" on it. I'm currently trying to identify the medal in the center that appears to be that of a cloaked woman. This is the only example of this particular paper label that I'm aware of or have ever seen.









Compare the above label to this later example that depicts ten medals






[FONT=&quot]


[/FONT]

 

[SODABOB]

This link is to the most extensive list of Exhibition medals I'm aware of. Its hard to say exactly what is depicted on the medal on the mystery Hires bottle, and whether its a person or a building, but so far I haven't found a medal that is similar enough to call it a match. Its possible the medal on the Hires label has nothing to do with international exhibitions and could be for some other type of competition / recognition. Anyway, check out these medals and see if you can find a match ...

http://www.expositionmedals.com/

 

[SODABOB]

P.S.

If you click through the seemingly endless collection of medals on the link I posted, see if you can find this one that I'm confident is for the 1893 World's Fair held in Chicago, Illinois ...