BROWNIE CLUB BEVERAGES ~ SEARCH FOR A 1934 ACL

[SODAPOPBOB]

Most of you are probably familar with the previous discussions here on the forum regarding the possible existence of a ...

1934 BROWNIE CLUB BEVERAGES ACL SODA BOTTLE FROM PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

But since one hasn't surfaced yet that I know of, I thought I'd give it another shot and see if resurrecting the topic might produce one. Please know there are variations of this brand but that it is the one pictured here, with the side-by-side wording, that will most likely be the 1934. The other variations typically have the words "Brownie Club" with one word on top of the other and not side-by-side.

What I am attempting to determine once and for all is whether a 1934 Brownie Club Beverages does or does not exist? If one does exist, great, then we'll add it to member Morbious_Fod's 1934 "Jumbo ~ A Super Cola" as the only two known acl soda bottles made in 1934. If one doesn't surface, well ... then I'm going to be greatly disappointed and be forced to spend the rest of my days searching for one, which is something I really do not want to do! (Lol)

So if anybody has one, or even "thinks" they have one, please check the base and see what kind of marks it has, which will likely be either a single-digit 4 or a double-digit 34

Thanks in advance for your time and interest.

Sodapopbob

Here's a picture of the label from Rick Sweeney's 2002 acl book. Following this is a pic of the accompanying text.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

And here's the text ... which I added the red to. Note it list a 1935 and a 1937 but not a 1934. ???

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

splante ~ msleona ~ RIB

Please know I am only teasing when I say this, but what's the deal with all of the Providence, Rhode Island soda bottles? Why are they so mysterious and hard to find and research? Is there something weird about Providence that we don't know and you guy's aren't telling us? Inquiring minds would like to know! (Lol) []

Bob

 

[msleonas]

Would it only be a 12 oz?

As for Providence sodas, not sure what the deal is? What I do know is that for the smallest state, and with the population just about doubling from 1900 to the 1950s, the extremely high business growth during that time period here in Rhode Island, there were more bottling companies than ever. But, as you know business growth was probably at the highest rate during that time period.

Now, even though our population is just over one million, there are literally only a handful of us that are unearthing all of the bottles. So, the odds of the few of us doing the work finding every bottle that was made is slim.

Just my thoughts.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Leona ~

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your insights. I'm not certain if Brownie Club was only available in 12 ounce or not, but it wouldn't surprise me if they also produced a 10 ounce. Nor am I certain, other than what it says in my acl book, whether a 1935 has even been confirmed yet. As for the possibility of a 1934, I believe that started as a rumor but with just enough supporting evidence from various sources to suggest that one likely does exist. Please don't ask me to supply that so called evidence because at the moment it escapes me as to where I saw it, but possibly from one of you Rhode Island collectors.

Bob

 

[splante]

didnt ribottleguy post a pic of a 1934 or 1935 28 oz one before

 

[splante]

here's the pic I need to get ahold of RIbottleguy to see if he can post a pic of the bottom
and if anything is on the neck

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

splante ~

Thanks.

That looks like the right label. It will be interesting to see what RIB has to say.

I recently contacted Bill Lockhart (Bottle Research Group / B.R.G.) to pick his brain again and see what he had to say about early acls in general and the Browine Club in particular. One observation he made about the Brownie Club is that it is a two-color bottle and that most of the early acls he is familiar with (such as Jumbo Cola and 7up) are one-color labels and that two-color labels were likely made a little later than 1934-35. But he added that he wasn't 100% certain about this because he has not seen or examined enough 1934s and 1935s to draw any definite conclusions.

Another thing I have wondered about is why there were so many soda brands from the Providence, Rhode Island area that used the word "Club?" Here's the one's I came up with so far, but there may be others ...

As far as I know these were separate / independent bottlers. Not to mention a ton of other Providence bottlers by various other names.

Brownie Club
Bridge Club
Clover Club
Glee Club
Golf Club
Hope Club
Quaker Club
Warwick Club
Yacht Club

http://platform3research.com/HTML/Soda/MEMACTRI.html

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

PS ~

Steve / splante

I'm watching CNN and following the hurricane damage reports. I hope you and everyone else in the region are safe and doing okay.

Bob

 

[splante]

thanks for asking speaking for myself in the Warwick area we faired pretty well, still have power and thats a big plus compared tropical storm Irene when we lost power for 7 days. seems like most of RI came through ok. Most of the damage was south and west from us