HIRES BOTTLE w/ PAPER LABEL / 1904 ST LOUIS EXPOSITION

[epackage]

.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Jim / epackage ~

Thanks for the enlargement of the stein ad - its the frosting on the cake!

Currently I am trying to find out just what all went on in Malvern, Pennsylvania and whether or not Hires had a soda bottling facility there? Remember, the label on my bottle says "Malvern" and not "Philadelphia." According to my research, I have been able to determine the following about Malvern ...

1. It began operation sometime in the summer of 1899.
2. They produced a variety products including root beer extract ~ condensed milk ~ cough syrup.
3. Numerous ads, like the one for the free stein, all have Malvern, Pa. on them.

But other than that, I haven't been able to find anything specific about the Malvern operation.

Notice on the following 1901 Hires ad that ...

1. It shows an illustration of a paper label bottle with a crown closure.
2. It says ... "To be had everywhere in carbonated form or in packages."
3. It has Malvern, Pa. on the bottom.

My primary focus at this point is in trying to determine if my bottle is actually from Malvern or if that was just an address they used at the time for every item in their product line?

Bob

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I'm not sure what this bottle contained but could either have been root beer extract, cough syrup, or some other product. The main thing is that it is a Hires bottle embossed with Malvern, Pa., which indicates they most likely "bottled" something there.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Just for the record ...

Here's where I found the 1899 date related to when the Hires Malvern, Pa. operation began ...

The American Druggist magazine ... January to June 1899

http://books.google.com/books?id=HzDnAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA277&dq=hires+root+beer+malvern+pennsylvania&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2nx6UZ7fJ4ar2QWmoYHoCg&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBDge#v=onepage&q=hires%20root%20beer%20malvern%20pennsylvania&f=false

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

P.S. ~

I'm full of reminders, including this one ...

Note the word "Bottled" at the bottom of the label. (And yet I cannot find a bona fide reference for a "bottling facility" in Malvern).

 

[myersdiggers1998]

BOB your like a hound dog after a rabbit when it comes to research skills , you always amaze me with the info. you find , and I always enjoy reading and learning from your posts here, congradulations are in order.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

md1998 ~

Thanks for the kudos. I don't mind being called a hound dog at all, especially when I actually catch that elusive rabbit. The following link is to a 1904 publication by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Foods. Notice on the second highlighted Hires in the "Marks on the Package" column where it says ...

Hires Root Beer. Healthful, Sparkling, Appetizing. Bottled by Chas. E. Hires Co., at Malvern, Pa.

With the two key words being ... Bottled at

I eventually hope to find more information regarding the bottling facility in Malvern, but for the time being this is good enough for this hound dog.

Link:

http://books.google.com/books?id=v3EmAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA39&lpg=RA4-PA39&dq=hires+root+beer+malvern+pennsylvania&source=bl&ots=j7_RGI3pEo&sig=r8FiCOqoFHNY44vmKSqX3KIB3Bk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6dd7UaLqOOmQ2gWV2oC4Ag&ved=0CIgBEOgBMAk#v=onepage&q=hires%20root%20beer%20malvern%20pennsylvania&f=false

If zecritr or epackage would be so kind as to save/crop/enlarge/post the information from page, it would be mucho much appreciated.

Thanks.

Bob

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Here's a close up of some of the wording on the "package" as it was referred to in the 1904 Food Bureau book ...

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Just for the record ...

Philidelphia ~ Merion ~ Rose Hill ~ and Malvern, Pennsylvania are all within about five to twenty miles of each other and are basically considered subburbs of Philidelphia.

Lower Merion:

[ Scroll to Charles E. Hires / Rose Hill ] ... (Rose Hill was the name of the Hire's home in Merion).

http://lowermerionhistory.org/texts/first300/part26.html

He also sold ginger ale which was called champanale. While soft drinks were at the heart of his enterprise, he was a pioneer in manufacturing condensed milk and had factories in towns near dairy centers including Malvern, Pennsylvania. His Purock Water Company distributed spring water around the region and Hires water coolers were found in many Philadelphia area buildings. Hires’ sugar plantations in Cuba supplied his bottling plants around the country.

Merion, Pennsylvania:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merion,_Pennsylvania

Malvern, Pennsylvania:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malvern,_Pennsylvania

Rose Hill:

http://lowermerionhistory.org/photodb/web/html2/234-1.html

 

[root beer madness]

No typo. Starting bid $7,500 estimated $15,000-$25,000 description says Villeroy & Boch Mettlach Early Hires Root Beer Stoneware & Pewter Tankard Circa 1900. Highly important, rarely found piece. Wonderful overall condition with only minimal browning from age. Wonderfully graphic and colorful decoration on both sides, featuring Ugly Kid, as well as a leaf decoration on top of lid. 8-1/4" tall. (85 - 90, Excellent to Near Mint)

Have you browsed the hires items on Live auctioneers? Most of the info is sketchy and the dates are usually listed as circa but sometimes you can find some good info and the pics as far as reference goes are the best.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/search?q=hires++&hasimage=true&dtype=gallery&type=complete&rows=20