Barq's Root Beer

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SODAPOPBOB

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I'm not sure how accurate this information is, but if the 1934 reference about the red and blue labels is correct, then there might be a 1934 Barq's ACL bottle, which would make it one of only two known ACLs form 1934 - with the other example being a confirmed 1934 Jumbo Cola.

"The Barq's company originated in New Orleans in 1890 by two brothers. In 1897 one of the brother's moved to Biloxi & opened a second bottling plant there. Barq's root beer began appearing around 1900. In the 1930's, the FDA made some changes to the definition of "root beer" and the original Barq's recipe had too high of a caffeine content to fall into the category. The Mississippi Barq's bottlers changed their recipe to comply with the new standards, while the Louisiana side just removed the phrase "root beer" from their bottles & kept the old recipe. Eventually, another company bought out the Mississippi Barq's and a long running battle went on between the two companies until Coca-Cola acquired both in 1995."

"A 1934 contract with Barq protege Jesse Robinson led to a bottling plant in New Orleans. The Louisiana bottle was printed in red (versus Biloxi's blue) to distinguish ownership of bottles, as blue labeled bottles were returned to Mississippi & vice-versa. The last family-held Louisiana Barq's bottling plant was sold by the Robinson's heirs to Coca-Cola in 2000."

[ Barq's ACLs - Dates Unknown ]

Barq's Bottles Variety Dates Unknown.jpg
 

SODAPOPBOB

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If we disregard the red vs. blue acl bottles for the moment - and take into account that the diamond-embossed non-acl bottle was patented in 1935 - is it possible that this non-diamond-embossed acl bottle is from 1934?

Barq's Bottle ACL.jpg
 

SODAPOPBOB

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If so, then it ties with this 1934 Jumbo Cola as one of the earliest ACL soda bottles known ...

[ Images courtesy of member Morbious_fod ]

Jumbo acl - earliest confirmed painted label soda bottle.jpg

Jumbo Cola Base - 1934.jpg

Jumbo Bottle Patent 92098 1934 (2).jpg
 

SODAPOPBOB

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If you really want a super early Barq's soda bottle, then I recommend looking for a ...

Orangine

... bottle from around 1890-1893 which was bottled by the ...

Barq Brothers

[ 1943 Edward Barq Obituary ]

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11449898


Edward Charles Barq was in New Orleans around 1890 and with his brother Gaston opened the Barq’s Brothers Bottling Co. In 1893 he won a gold medal at the Chicago World’s Fair for one of his first soft drinks, Orangine. He moved to Biloxi Miss. in 1897. In 1898 he bottled and sold his first soft drink in Biloxi, it had more “bite” than other root beers due to the higher level of carbonation and a lower sugar content and that is how Barq’s Root Beer started.. He was joined by Mr. Court in 1901 and they marketed this product and it became very successful. They expanded from its plant on Keller Ave in Biloxi to Gulfport in 1902 which ran there until 1910 when it was closed down. It continued to sell through the 1920’s with the first franchise coming in 1934, the drinks popularity was unstoppable. By 1937, there were 62 bottling plants that had been established in 22 states and in 1950 peaked at about 200 franchises. Edward Barq died in the late 1940’s. Coca-Cola purchased the rights to Barq’s in 1995.


[ From 1943 Obituary ]

Barq Edward.jpg

Barq Obituary 1943 mentions 1893 Orangine.jpg


[ From a 1893 New Orleans Newspaper ]

Barq Brothers New Orleans 1893.jpg
 

SODAPOPBOB

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Even though most accounts claim that Barq's Root Beer was established in 1898, this 1900 newspaper article leads me to believe that some aspect of Barq Brothers Bottling was still in operation in 1900, which was two years after the founding of Barq's Root Beer.

Notice Number 11.

Also notice at the top where it says ...

"... and pop bottles branded as follows:"

Barq Brothers New Orleans 1900.jpg
 

SODAPOPBOB

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SODAPOPBOB

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In search of ...

1. A "Barq Brothers" bottle or paper label

2. A "Orangine" bottle or paper label
 

SODAPOPBOB

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In other words ...

1890 = Barq Brothers Bottling Company established

1898 = Biloxi Artesian Bottling Works established
 

SODAPOPBOB

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In search of ...

1. A "Barq Brothers" bottle or paper label

2. A "Orangine" bottle or paper label


I'm adding another Barq Brother's brand to the list that I'm searching for ...

3. A "Ginger Dew" bottle or paper label
 

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