COCA COLA QUESTION / QUANDARY

[SODAPOPBOB]

Jim / epackage ~

It might be a little late to disclose this now, but two years ago when I tested the Boise box with bottles, I discovered it was the Hutchinson bottles that actually had the best (tightest) fit. This might have been because the Hutch's have a shorter and flatter shoulder. Perhaps celerycola can conduct a test of his own and tell us his opinion.

Later

Bob

 

[epackage]

Hmmmm, that's interesting, just by the look of the two side by side I would expect the crown top to stay put alot better than the hutch...

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Celery ~

I totally agree with you this time in that the Boise type of shipping boxes were made for decades and appear to be identical in many respects. Its possible that not even a so called expert would be able to precisely date it. Maybe the answer will eventually be found in an original McFerson & Foster catalog, if such a critter even exist. I looked the box over pretty good two years ago and certain it wasn't stamped with a date.

As for the vintage photograph I posted, I zoomed it again and the bottles still appear to be alternated up and down. Its the specks of light reflecting off the glass that leads me to think this. I was also thinking it might not have the perforated holes in the bottom, but instead is a standard flat bottom box which would allow the bottles to all be the same height. Hard to say for certain.

All things considered, I'm calling it quits on trying to date the Boise box. Maybe someday someone will stumble onto this thread and be able to shed some more light on it. But as for myself, I've done all of the research I can think of and have hit a dead end. So it only seems appropriate to allow this thread to fade into oblivion once again just like the Boise box that I'm sure I will never see again anyway.

But before closing, I'd like to share this one last link and picture of a vintage Coca Cola box which is described as a ...

Circa 1917 Train / Steamer Ship 48 Bottle Shipping Crate From Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (No holes in the bottom)

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/38878-early-1900s-coca-cola-bottle-shipping

Later alligators. Its been a fun run.

Thanks again to all.

Bob

 

[epackage]

Looks similar to a Number 9 in the Owens catalog, maybe someday someone who can shed some new light on this subject will come along...

 

[celerycola]

I love that Lemo-Cola crate. William M. Draper introduced Lemo-Cola to Sullivan, Indiana, in April, 1915. It was popular enough that franchises were issued to bottlers at Clinton and Terre Haute, Indiana. They were sued by Coca-Cola in 1925 and discontinued the name Lemo-Cola.

The only straight-side Coke bottle I've seen with the town name on the bottom was Elkins, WV. Digging in Birmingham we found Coke bottles both from nearby towns and often as far away as Chicago along with the local bottles. I would guess they were filled alongside the local bottles.

ORIGINAL: fer_de_lance

Celery,
Nice post. I checked my examples of straight sided Coca-Colas (all of which are mid-body embossed) and as Bob pointed out the bottoms were just marked Coca-Cola. Does that mean Coca-Cola bottlers had to pull their empties out of the case to find which belonged to them or did they fill any bottle as long as it was marked Coca-Cola? I'm basing my question on my bottles, there my be other Coca-Cola bottlers that had their straight sided bottles with location embossed on bottom or base.Both perforated and an solid bottom boxes were available which brings up the question why buy one or the other? As this thread was originally a question about SBP's desired box or crate I apologize if my comments are off topic.I couldn't resist posting photo of my perforated bottom Lemo-Cola box when I saw your bottle.If you have information on Lemo I would be interested ,but it would probably be best addressed in another thread.

Best regards
Tim

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

ORIGINAL: SODAPOPBOB

But before closing, I'd like to share this one last link and picture of a vintage Coca Cola box which is described as a ...

Circa 1917 Train / Steamer Ship 48 Bottle Shipping Crate From Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (No holes in the bottom)

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/38878-early-1900s-coca-cola-bottle-shipping

For future reference ...

Although these two Coca Cola shipping crates appear to be the same one, they are two different examples. What I found interesting is that both are dated circa 1917. Even though they are unrelated to one another, you gotta wonder how they both came up with the same date? Maybe it has something to do with the Harrisburg bottler, or perhaps its something else. I really don't know, but I find it interesting.

Bob

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41606952@N07/4484038217/in/pool-71347304@N00%7C41606952@N07

 

[OsiaBoyce]

ORIGINAL: SODAPOPBOB

ORIGINAL: SODAPOPBOB

But before closing, I'd like to share this one last link and picture of a vintage Coca Cola box which is described as a ...

Circa 1917 Train / Steamer Ship 48 Bottle Shipping Crate From Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (No holes in the bottom)

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/38878-early-1900s-coca-cola-bottle-shipping

For future reference ...

Although these two Coca Cola shipping crates appear to be the same one, they are two different examples. What I found interesting is that both are dated circa 1917. Even though they are unrelated to one another, you gotta wonder how they both came up with the same date? Maybe it has something to do with the Harrisburg bottler, or perhaps its something else. I really don't know, but I find it interesting.

Bob

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41606952@N07/4484038217/in/pool-71347304@N00%7C41606952@N07

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyFyAqLtHq8


The key word to answering the same date question is 'circa'.