7up BOTTLES ~ OUTSIDE THE BOX

[SODAPOPBOB]

Notice in this cropped portion of the 1969 newspaper article about Hamblett Grigg where it says ...

"Grigg adapted the art form to large 7-up advertisements and used them on the panels of 7-up delivery trucks.


This is the only picture of what appears to be a 1930s 7up delivery truck I have been able to find. I'm not sure about the date of the truck nor the date of the picture itself, except the accompanying information said the guy pictured was born in 1913.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I'm guessing the guy in the picture is no older than about 25 years old. If correct, then the picture would date to no later than about 1938. But what about the truck itself - are there any truck experts out there who can date the truck for us?

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Delivery Trucks ...

1. 1933
2. 1935
3. 1940 (Both)


http://www.autopaper.com/1940-chevr...chure-coca-cola-pepsi-hires-root-beer-7up.php

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I'm no expert on delivery trucks, but because the one in question has the word "Alkaline" on it, I'm guessing the truck and picture are from 1935. Which would make the guy in the picture about 22 years old. I base this guess primarily on the bottle pictured here because it is the only 7up bottle I'm aware of that has the word "Alkaline" on it. I will have to double check, but I'm pretty sure they discontinued the term "Alkaline" by 1936.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Call me crazy, but I'm thinking the photo shows a whole truckload of the first 7up bottles that have the large 7 on them. And check out the wood crates - they are the only examples like it I can find. As for the slogan "Fresh Up With 7up" that goes all the way back to 1935 as well, as does the term Alkaline.

Which means, if I'm right, the artwork on the truck and shield on the door could very well be the handy-work of Hamblett Grigg, per the reference in the 1969 newspaper article.

 

[Canadacan]

I'm no expert either but from what I can glean the truck could be a Chevrolet....1935 seems correct. Just for time period reference here is a Thorpe's truck in 1933 showing similar crate.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

CC

Fantastic picture! The only Thorpe 7up Bottling I could find was located in Oklahoma. Is your picture of that bottler?


I went back to Ancestry.com where I found the black & white photo and discovered the guy pictured in it was ...

Hildreth Martin MacDavid
Born in Los Angeles, Ca. in 1913
Died in 1992

Because U.S. Census records are taken only every ten years, in 1930 it list Hildreth as still in school and 17 years old. And then it jumps to 1940 where it list him as a Barrister, which is some type of lawyer. So I had to rely on directories to find what he did between 1930 and 1940.

Note: I have learned over time that Directories either transfer information from the previous year or prepare the listings prior to their actual publication. In other words, listings for 1937 and 1938 were most likely compiled in 1936 and 1937. Plus, not all directory listings show who they worked for but rather just what their occupation was at the time.

Directory listings for Hildreth MacDavid

1931 - Clerk - Coca Cola Company
1934 - Book Keeper
1935 - Clerk
1936 - Book Keeper
1937 - Driver
1938 - Driver

Which, when you take into account the way Directory listings are compiled, suggest that Hildreth MacDavid was likely a driver in 1936 and 1937.

Note: I don't know for certain that Hildreth was a 7up driver in the photo, but it seems unlikely that a clerk or book keeper would wear a driver's uniform.

Hence, I am circa dating the photo at 1936 or 1937.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

This is some type of ID card for Hildreth MacDavid when he was a clerk/book keeper for the Pasadena, Ca. Coca Cola Company in 1931. He was about 18 years old at the time.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

However ...

The truck itself in the photo could still be a 1935 model. ???

 

[dbv1919]

I cant remember where I read it but I think the 1935 alkaiine bottles were only made in Huntington West Virginia. Not sure if it is correct but I live about an hour from there and have searched antique stores there a few times with no luck. There used to be a large Owens Illinois plant there. They must have shipped them all out lol.