John Graf

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blobbottlebob

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Ever find a bottle embossed with the phrase "THE BEST WHAT GIVES"? You are not alone (if you have). John Graf was one of the most prolific bottlers of sodas and weiss beers from Milwaukee. One thing that was amazing about the company (besides their command of the english language) was the vast number and types of bottles they used. I am convinced that John Graf was a marketing genius. He changed bottle types often to reflect changing bottle styles and used an amazing array of closure mechanisms. He also advertised, made stoppers, glasses, seltzers, openers, ash trays, . . you name it, trying to get the name out there at every opportunity. I thought that it might be neat to begin a post showing some of the various bottles that he made. It will certainly be easy to add new pics on a regular basis because of the many variants out there.

One great thing about Graf bottles is that anyone trying hard enough can get their hands on one. Common examples can easily be purchased. They turn up on the bay often enough. On the other hand, some Graf bottles are so rare that stacks of hundreds wouldn't help (because none are out there for sale).

Many people nowadys still remember Grandpa Graf's root beer. It may even be still available. Last I heard, an Illinois company called Canfields was still selling it. Graf's was, however, a prolific brewer of weiss beer at the turn of the century. There are some great examples to come that will show that better.

Graf began his bottling career in 1873 in a partnership with Phillip Madlener. (date is credited to Roger Peters - Thanks Roger!) About ten years later, Graf bottles no longer had the Madlener embossing. It seems appropriate to start with a few pics of those early bottles.
 

blobbottlebob

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This first picture is of an early hutchinson soda in a wonderful teal aqua shade. I am lucky enough to be able to show this photograph because the bottle is from my own collection.


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blobbottlebob

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I wish this example was in my collection. A friend sent me the shot a few years back. While these blob style sodas are typically rare - they are almost never seen in amber. This example is one of very few known. It really is a gem. (Thanks Peter!)

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blobbottlebob

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Here is one of John Graf's unique weiss beer bottles. The bottle has eight vertical facets along the entire height of the bottle. Very few other bottlers nationwide seemed to use this attractive bottle design. While the bottle is not rare, it is fairly collectible (I think because it is so cool).



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blobbottlebob

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The facets on that amber bottle read,

PLEASE RETURN

WHEN EMPTY

TO THE OWNER

COR 17 TH & GREENFIELD AVE

TRADE
THE BEST WHAT GIVES
MARK

JOHN GRAF

MILWAUKEE, WIS.

THIS BOTTLE IS NEVER SOLD


Later versions of the amber bottle can be seen with rim for a crown cap. Early versions of these bottles almost look like the crown was added to the blob! There are also crown versions that say WEISS BEER on one panel.


In addition, after prohibition, Graf continued to use this faceted bottle for sodas. This gorgeous example has an overfill at the base. Some of these sodas say LEMON LIFE or soda water on the panels.


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glass man

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NICE BOTTLES! THANKS FOR THE PICTURES! YOUR TEAL ONE IS GORGEOUS!!!! JAMIE
 

blobbottlebob

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Here is a 1930s deco soda with an embossed Zeppelin on it. The bottle is tall and slender with the dirigble visible on each side. It has ribs going the length of the airship, little fins at the back and weights (or bombs?) on the outside edges. The ships have a pebbled texture.

I'm guessing that Graf took some pride in the airships in their heyday because of his German heritage. Obviously, these were popular before the Hindenburg disaster in 1937.

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blobbottlebob

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By the way, I saw a show that said the outer casing of the Zeppelins were made of Aluminum oxide (or the like). It is a component in rocket fuel. It is surprising that more of these didn't burn.

Here is a later (post world war two) acl version of the soda. Apparently, it was now enriched with vitamin B1.

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