This partial summary and accompanying question conclude my observations for the time being ...
Hopefully my most recent post will confirm that 1939 Bakersfield phone numbers were random and not specifically assigned to a business or resident based on their street address. Hence, I believe the Bakersfield Seven Up Bottling Company phone number 7313 was not assigned based on the street address but for some other reason.
Next Question:
I wonder if the 7313 phone number was 'assigned' to the 7up Bottling Company or did they request it?
I forgot to include this in my partial summary ...
Based on selected evidence (permits, phone numbers, addresses, etc) I am currently leaning toward the possibility that the 3-1-3 7up sign was designed and manufactured before the 7313 phone number was assigned/requested. But whether I can prove this possibility is a horse of a different color, not to mention finding proof as to whether the phone number was assigned or requested. In other words ...
This May 18, 1939 ad is kinda significant because its the earliest Bakersfield 7up ad that ...
1. Depicts the image of a bottle
2. Shows the 230 East Eighteenth address
3. Shows the 7313 phone number
Note: Even though the bottle is just a drawing, I definitely see 3 bubbles on the left and 3 on the right. But what about the center bubble(s) - is it a 3-1-3 or a 3-2-3? And what about the neck logo - is it depicted as being embossed or an applied color label? I see the lines above and below the 7up, but those might just depict where the light reflections start and end near the shoulder. Compare it to iggy's 3-1-3 Los Angeles bottles and see what you think ...
Here's some more of what I call the tricky/complicated stuff - but I'll do my best with it so please bear with me as it will take several post to complete ...
First up are these two 7up ads. One of the interesting things about them is that they were both published on the same exact day but are from two different newspapers. I will post some cropped images from them shortly, but for now I will just post the ads as they originally appeared, and then discuss them a little later ...
The main observations I'm trying to point out are ...
1. Even though the earliest confirmed 3-1-3 Los Angeles bottles are iggy's two 1941 examples with ACL neck logos, I'm thinking there might also be 8 bubble Los Angeles bottles with embossed neck logos from 1940 and earlier - possibly as early as 1936 or 1937
2. Even thought there is no confirmed 3-1-3 bottle from Bakersfield, I'm thinking the one in my last post is a 3-1-3 that might have an embossed neck logo
In other words, I'm thinking this Bakersfield bottle, that I posted earlier, and has an obvious embossed neck logo, might be from 1940 or earlier. Unfortunately, we still don't know the date or bubble placement on this particular example, but my best guess is that its an 8 bubble. If we could just find a picture of the front and base of one of these mystery bottles, it might provide us with some significant clues ...
Do we know for certain whether all of this 3-1-3 stuff (bottles-signs-wood crates-newspaper images - etc) originated in Los Angeles or in Bakersfield?
Footnote:
I have to admit that I'm a little confused myself regarding the answer to this question. However, if the bottle I cropped from the 1940 Bakersfield ad is indeed a 3-1-3, then that predates iggy's two Los Angeles bottles by one year. Not to mention the 3-1-3 Bakersfield sign from 1939.
Even though I don't know the exact date on this particular Bakersfield bottle, because it doesn't have the Swimsuit Girl label its likely from the late 1950s or 1960s. The reason I'm even posting it is to confirm that other Bakersfield bottles do exist - but for some reason are kinda hard to find
( The thing stuck in the top is one of those clothes sprinkling spouts )
1. I realize the last number could be a 5 or a 6 - but I think its a 6 - either way, its pretty early
2. The 24 is for the Illinois-Pacific Coast Company that was in operation in Los Angeles between 1932 and 1937
3. Notice it has 8 bubbles
4. Notice it has an embossed neck logo
5. Notice its 6 1/2 ounce
I'm still looking for 1937 through 1940 7up bottles from Los Angeles to see how they compare to iggy's 3-1-3 examples, but so far this is the closest I have found ...