EARLY ROYAL CROWN GINGER ALE PAPER LABEL

[SODAPOPBOB]

Reminder ... 1901 - Cole-Hatcher-Hampton Grocery Company
1903 - Hatcher Grocery Company
1905 - Union Bottling Works
1912 - Chero-Cola Company
1925 - Nehi Bottling Company
1959 - Royal Crown Cola Company

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Typo / Correction on my post #4 The test samples were collected on September 20, 1902 and not September 16, 1902 [] As if four days really make a difference! [] (It's the "possible" 1902 date that really counts!)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

By the way, the so called 'mark' below the crown on the label isn't a letter! It's some kind of decorative thing that has "Curly-Q's" on either side of it ...

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Meet Claud A. Hatcher Which is from the history site where it shows ... http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/muscogee/photos/hatcher13430gph.jpg
Image file size: 159.7 Kb (More about him later)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Because the 1902 Testing states the samples came from McManus Short & Company of Charlotte, North Carolina, this suggest some type of distribution on the part of the Hatchers who were located in Columbus, Georgia. Charlotte is about 300 miles northeast of Columbus. The various histories don't include any specifics about distribution as early as 1902, but there must have been in order for the test samples to have come from McManus Short & Co. in Charlotte. But whatever the situation was, the only thing I have found so far regarding McManus Short & Co. comes from ... The Charlotte News ~ Charlotte, N.C. ~ March 4, 1903 (Which adds credence to the 1902 name for the company)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

If I understand the various histories correctly, the Union Bottling Works of Columbus, Georgia, which was a name change from the earlier Hatcher Grocery Company, was established in about 1905. So if the 1905 name change date is correct, then the paper label pictured below should date to about 1905 or later. In small print at the bottom of the label is, Union Bottling Works, Columbus, Georgia. Later, around 1911-1912, the name was changed again to Chero-Cola Co. So with this in mind, one can't help but wonder why there is no company name on the labels being discussed here?

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Here's the label that sold on eBay recently for $173.50. It is clearly marked Chero-Cola Bottling Company, which would date it between about 1912 and 1925 when the company name was changed again to the Nehi Bottling Company.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

And then there's this from member Morbious_fod, which he posted on his Royal Crown Redux thread. I still don't know when it was published other than the imagery is the same or similar to that of the Chero-Cola label I just posted. Notice it has the word "Improved," which indicates an earlier variation of the brand.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Since I'm posting various labels, I thought I'd add this to the mix. It's from the link Michael posted and is of what might be a Royal Crown Ginger Ale ACL bottle.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

P.S. I can't say for certain, but part of the image on the so called ACL bottle appears to be a Top Hat