ATTENTION! FORUM MEMBER squirtbob ~ EARLY SQUIRT BOTTLING NEWSPAPER ADS

[SODAPOPBOB]

P.S. Because the 1957 article mentions Mrs. Dengler as the former owner, that suggest ... The Piergallini brothers (Ma's Bottling) only leased the building and never purchased it, which might explain why they relocated to 37 N. 16th Street.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

P.S. ~ P.S. I momentarily forgot that we already connected the 4211 phone number to 216 N. 12th Street, which was in the 1948 car for sale classified ad, which by 1948 was the location of Ma's Bottling. And because the 4211 phone number is also connected to the 37 N. 16th Street address, it clearly suggest the Piergallini brothers (Ma's Bottling) transferred the 4211 phone number when they relocated around 1952.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Bob

In case you haven't already noticed, I wanted you to know I have been doing some editing to the timeline I posted earlier so as to make it as accurate as possible. The most significant changes are ...

195? ... Ma's Bottling, 37 North Sixteenth Street. Phone number 4211. (Black notepad / Likely pre 1954).
1954 ... Ma's Bottling, 37 N. 16th Street, Phone Lebanon 2-8701 (Earliest 2-8701 for this address).

~ * ~

In other words ...

1. I'm dating the black notepad as "most likely" 1953
2. Ma's Bottling phone number changed from Lebanon 4211 to Lebanon 2-8701 in 1954

From ...

Lebanon Daily News ~ December 20, 1954

(Shows 37 N. 16th address and 2-8701 phone number)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Which means ... The 4211 phone number on your Squirt crate likely dates somewhere between about 1948 and 1954

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Long story short ... Based on my research findings, I am best guessing the date of the 4211 phone number on your Squirt crate as ... Circa 1952 But as to the actual date of the crate itself, I do not know!

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

By the way ...

Even though Ma's Bottling won some Squirt awards in the 1960s, Squirt actually appears to have been a secondary brand for them in the 1950s. They didn't advertise Squirt all that much until about 1957, which the newspaper ads bare witness to. Prior to about 1957, the majority of their ads are for "Ma's Old Fashioned Root Beer." It's as if Ma's Bottling didn't get on the Squirt wagon until after it became more popular nationwide in the 1950s and 1960s. But once the popularity of Squirt increased nationwide, so did the advertisements for Squirt by Ma's Bottling in Lebanon, Pa.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Bob In conclusion ... 1. I agree with you that your Squirt crate has all the earmarks of being made in the late 1930s or early 1940s. 2. However, I am of the current opinion that the 4211 phone number was added to your Squirt crate after it was made!

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Just for the record ... I have seen lots of pictures of this Ma's crate and because of the 1941 Copyright date stamped on the front of it, most seller's assume that's when it was made and say as much in their descriptions. So I would like to set the record straight, because this particular crate has the Lebanon 2-8701 phone number, that it does not date any earlier than about 1954, and possibly even much later.

 

[cowseatmaize]

I see from the title this is a private "bob" subject so I stayed away and since I couldn't add to it, I didn't. I did have to skim to check for some secret drug sale coding though. I hope that's OK?[]PS, was there? There was cool research stuff but I'm not sure if there was hidden illicit activity stuff. Just be honest, I won't tell anyone.[]

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Cows: There's nothing illegal or goofy going on between squirtbob and myself, but there might be with this eBay seller ...
Here's just one example of what I was saying about seller's descriptions. This Ma's crate is from Lebanon, Pa. and is currently on eBay. Even though the seller doesn't mention a phone number in his description, if you use the zoom to focus on the end panel, the phone number 2-8701 is clearly visible. He is incorrectly assuming that the 1941 Copyright date is when the crate was made.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-1941-Mas-Root-Beer-Soda-Crate-Lebanon-PA-Pennsylvania-Solid-Condition-/161159191016?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2585d619e8

SELLER'S DESCRIPTION ...

"This is a very solid and rare 1941 Ma's Root Beer crate Lebanon, PA. The graphics are in great shape. One side has a split in the wood and one side has some writing in pencil which I will leave for the next person to decide what to do whether erase it or keep it. I think it's cool it could have been the guy stocking the shelves keeping a count. The pictures are my best description of the overall condition of the item so look at them carefully. Email me with any questions you may have."