COCA COLA / 1915 PROTOTYPE / EARL R DEAN / RAY A GRAHAM

[SODAPOPBOB]

I recently discovered something that I thought was most interesting and wanted to share. It involves a forum thread most of us should recall that was started by member sodapops on August 19, 2011 and was titled "Schmidt Coke Museum Auction." As you may recall, the thread eventually developed into a discussion involving the auction/sale of one of the two original Coca Cola contour prototype bottles and it's sketch. In December of 2011 the bottle sold for $240,000 and the sketch for $228,000. (See link below).

The Julien's auction of the contour bottle was brought to our attention by Jeff Dean, who is the grandson of Earl R Dean, who was the man who designed the contour bottle in 1915. Jeff's first post is on Page 1 ~ Post # 8.

Long story short ...

On December 22, 2012, Page 9 ~ Post #168 of the thread, Jeff Dean shared another bottle with us that he said was one of the "other" entries in the Coca Cola bottle design contest that was apparently stolen from one of the display tables in 1915. Jeff goes on to tell us that he was contacted by someone who claimed to possess that particular bottle and that it might come up for sale eventually.

Cut to the chase ...

Jeff stated there was very little known about that "other" bottle. However, based on my recent discovery, it appears that a Mr. Ray Graham, of Graham Bottling, patented that "other" bottle on November 21, 1916.

Reminder: The Coca Cola design contest was held in 1915.

In conclusion I wonder ...

1. If any of the 1916 R. A. Graham bottles were ever produced?

2. If they were produced, what brand names are embossed on them?

3. If produced and examples still exist, what they might be worth today?

I am dedicating this thread to Jeff Dean and will be contacting him shortly to share this information with him.

If you have an example of the bottle in question, please share it with us.

Thanks a lot.

Sodapopbob

~ * ~

Forum Thread ~ Schmidt Coke Museum Auction ~ Started August 19, 2011

https://www.antique-bottles.net/forum/m-439778/mpage-1/key-earl%2Cdean/tm.htm


From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham-Paige

Graham Brothers:
"After successful involvement in a glass manufacturing company ..."

"Ray A. Graham (May 28, 1887–August 13, 1932) ... "

From Makers Marks / Graham Glass:

http://www.glassbottlemarks.com/bottlemarks-2/

Graham Glass Company, Evansville, Indiana; Loogootee, Indiana; and Okmulgee, Oklahoma (1907-1929). Another plant location also was operated at Chekotah, Oklahoma until 1923. Graham owned by Owens Bottle Company after 1916, plants became part of Owens-Illinois in 1929.

Here's the patent I recently discovered. Notice the name "R.A. Graham"

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

And here's the "other" bottle that Jeff Dean brought to our attention ...

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Patent text and illustration of the 1916 R. A. Graham bottle ...

http://www.google.com/patents/USD49924?pg=PA1&dq=R+A+Graham+Bottle&hl=en&sa=X&ei=nstqUeWYMITo8QSI9oH4Cg&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=R%20A%20Graham%20Bottle&f=false

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

More about Ray A Graham ...

http://www.cruise-in.com/resource/cisbk08.htm

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Plus ...

Recommended reading regarding the history of the Earl R Dean Coca Cola prototype bottle.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

The original 1915 Coca Cola prototype bottle ...

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

And the original 1915 sketch ...

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Scroll to pages 49 and 50 for information and pictures of examples of Graham Glass bottle marks as they appear on early Coca Cola bottles. The marks on the R. A. Graham bottles, if they were ever produced, might be similar ...

http://www.sha.org/bottle/pdffiles/coca-cola.pdf

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I heard from Jeff Dean who provided me with the following link and reminded me that the Coca Cola bottle contest was held in 1916 and not 1915. He also said that as far as he knows the R. A. Graham bottle was never produced beyond the patent stage and that Graham's reason for patenting it in the first place was with the hope it would be chosen at the 1916 bottler's convention. But, of course, we know the Graham bottle lost out and the Dean bottle won.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola#Contour_bottle_design

"During the 1916 bottler's convention, Dean's contour bottle was chosen over other entries and was on the market the same year."

The contour bottle was designed by Dean in June of 1915 and patented in November of 1915. I'm not sure which month in 1916 the bottler's convention was held, but it should be easy enough to find.

 

[epackage]

Bob I may have missed it previously but has any mention been made regarding the similar shapes, was there some sort of collusion during the design period?