Cross & Co. Vancouver B.C. 1894-1963

[CanadianBottles]

My bad, here's the correct link: http://openmov.museumofvancouver.ca/node/115549Definitely get it if it's only five bucks! I almost never came across BC paper labels that I could afford, even in bad shape. Don't think I've ever seen a Cross paper label. Are you saying it's an ACL with a paper label? That's pretty unusual in itself. I've seen one of that variation of the Black Bear bottles on Ebay, but it was in terrible condition and ended up selling for way too much.

 

[Canadacan]

Several Cross and Black Bear bottles on Ebay right now. Put up by someone from BC. Not exactly cheap.

Hey thanks for that!...be interesting to where they go $....bothe the Lions listed already got opening bids @ $35There is a Double Drink from the same seller...@ $40 opening bid..some of the white in the lettering is missing, is in a littler rougher shape than mine and I paid 25% less.

 

[Canadacan]

My bad, here's the correct link: http://openmov.museumofvancouver.ca/node/115549Definitely get it if it's only five bucks! I almost never came across BC paper labels that I could afford, even in bad shape. Don't think I've ever seen a Cross paper label. Are you saying it's an ACL with a paper label? That's pretty unusual in itself. I've seen one of that variation of the Black Bear bottles on Ebay, but it was in terrible condition and ended up selling for way too much.

yea I had a look last night. Oh man I was there today and I still left the paper label behind!!!..lol...it's ugly!.. it's on green glass....ahh yea I'm like a yo yo with it!...at home I say I should get it, then I see and say that's just ugly!I brought the embossed home ..has a pretty faded ACL on the back...not as bad as the 1945 dated bottle though, It's in the sink getting cleaned up []

 

[Canadacan]

This is the current line up with the new bottle. I had not realized there was a size variation on the ACL!I will eventually get an ACL that is in decent shape.Note there are so far 4 distinct 'B's, four distinct layouts for 'VANCOUVER', 4 distinct Cross logos ...my new one could be argued that it's the same as the previous but it has more curvature to it. And also 4 various layouts for the 'Cross & Co ltd.' above the Cross logo. So there we go 4 distinct variations on the front embossing. [attachment=New Cross bottle1.jpg] [attachment=New Cross bottle.jpg]

 

[CanadianBottles]

I still say go for it if it's only five bucks, who knows, it might be the only known example! Not a lot of paper label sodas survived from any company, and any from BC (except Felix Distributors, strangely) are really scarce. I'm really glad I got one of those Cross bottles when I did, it was years ago and I had no idea how they are to find, especially in good condition. Still have to find all those other Black Bear variations, though, which isn't easy living in this part of the country.

 

[Canadacan]

Yea I think that seller on ebay has em priced a little high?..but who knows. Ages ago when I got the first Cross bottle #1 , I never realized there would be so many variations...but knowing that bottle spanned 4 decades it's understandable.As I write this I'm trying to figure out how to nail down another Cross's variation[] It's a doozie too!!! you ready for this?....I don't have a pic but the back is marked 'Bottle Made in the USA' !!! I was dumb founded!! lolOk now I present to you this piece of crusty paper labeled bottle and of course some others that tagged along home with me [] [attachment=Cross's paper.jpg][attachment=Cross's paper1.jpg]

 

[Canadacan]

Well I let a Cross's variation slip away[] It would have been great to have but was in a group of three bottles and I already have the other 2 that were with it. The price was just to steep IMHO ...and true they say sometimes you just can't have it all!...but I got the next best thing, photos to document it's existence![] This would have been a 5th variation for me as it has BOTTLE MADE IN USA embossed on the back and the Cross & Co. Ltd is a placement variation.Possible that the large B is also a variation. [attachment=Cross-made in USA - Copy.JPG][attachment=Cross-made in USA1 - Copy.JPG]

 

[Canadacan]

Well with missing out on bottle variations and other contacts flaking out on me I was down in the dumps[>:]But alas a nice little envelope showed up today with this little gem![] The only thing that could have made it better?...well nothing really!...it's uncrimped in near mint condition[] I would be guessing it's from the late 30's or 1940's but I have no real way of knowing. [attachment=Cross Club Soda cap.jpg]

 

[CanadianBottles]

Hey I like that paper label Cross's! Even if it is ugly it's a pretty early one. I wonder where it fits in with the chronology of Black Bear bottles. Right after the last ACL? That Mac's is the version I have, I'm assuming the North Star and Husky aren't from BC, right? Though I guess there are probably still some brands I've never heard of.That Black Bear bottle is an interesting one, never seen another one of those either. Never realized how many variations of that bottle there are. I guess a lot of bottles are like that. I have five or so variations of that McCulloch's Aerated Waters bottle from Vernon, and that one's a generic design no less.And I think you're right on the date of that cap, it looks very similar to all the other BC caps I've seen from that era. Actually come to think of it I've never seen a BC soda cap from any other era, not that I can think of anyway.

 

[Canadacan]

Thanks CB [] yes I'm glad I took your advice and went back and got it. So the paper label bottle is dated 1950...taking into consideration they reused the bottles (case wear on this one is minimal) so the label may be a bit later. And my latest Black Bear with an ACL is 1945, and on the last style of ACL that bottle design was Reg. in 1956...my green one with the red cross is dated 1958, there could be earlier examples?...but for now we have a window of 1946-1958...but they may have used them for shorter or even longer time period and introduced them in around 1940, tough to really know though. Yea variations are fun! did you see that one of the Lion's on ebay just in the last few weeks?That was a fluke thing I got that Mac's!..I was at the store that day to get the Paper Cross and the store owner said just wait I'll run home and grab a box I have with some other bottles you might want, I grabbed all those that are in that picture lol.The North Star is from Prince Rupert and the Husky is from Wisconsin (1945)...it is in such pristine condition I could not bear to leave it behind[]