John G. Epping Bottles

[SODAPOPBOB]

Also, there are some amber Straight side Block & Script Epps-Kola bottles out there.[/quote]

1. Block lettering2. Script lettering3. Script lettering base (Dates unknown - But are COLA and not KOLA)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

There is also an emerald green Epping bottle. I found this on member Morbious_Fod's website and he dates it 1926 ... http://www.tazewell-orange.com/epping.html

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Correction ... Morb's green Epping bottle is dated 1927 and not 1926

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Josh: Did you see this eBay auction for a Epps-Kola deco bottle that ended on April 23, 2015? The interesting thing about this particular bottle is that on the base it has ... Trademark Registered ... which tells us the patent was eventually granted and this bottle was produced later than yours. However, I do not know how much later because the seller's description does not give a date, nor are there any date codes on the bottle itself that I can see. http://www.ebay.com.my/itm/Vintage-1920s-Epps-Kola-Soda-Bottle-Art-Deco-Ribbed-John-G-Epping-Louisville-KY-/141635906441

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

P.S. / Clarification I just remembered that ... Patent Pending and Trademark Registered ... refer to two different things. Patent Pending refers to the bottle design, whereas Trademark Registered refers to the name - which was probably Epps-Kola. So its possible the bottle with Trademark Registered was produced earlier and not later than yours. But one thing seems certain - there should be a dated Trademark application for the words Epps-Kola. I haven't looked for that application yet but intend to.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Okay, now I'm really confused! Notice in this copy/pasted listing from WorthPoint where it says an Epps Kola bottle is marked with Trademark Registered - McCabe Bottling Works - 2351EG24 - Patent Pending. There is no accompanying picture, but based on the description its surely the same bottle. Now I'm thinking the Trademark Registered refers to the name McCabe Bottling Works and not Epps Kola. Another thing that's weird is the bottle I posted a picture of has a large E on the base (for Epping) whereas the one on WorthPoint is described as having a large M (for McCabe). And yet the Graham code (2351EG24) on this bottle is the same as on Josh's bottle. ~ * ~ Hey, Josh: Does your bottle have the E or the M on the base? And does it have any of the other markings like the one described on WorthPoint?
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/epps-kola-bottle-mccabe-bottling-69016871

This auction is for an intresting old bottle that was recently dug in southeast Indiana, in area that had been undisturbed for many years. It is approx. 7 1/2 inches tall, light green in color, ribbed, embossed. On front and back is embossed EPPS KOLA. Around bottom is embossed TRADEMARK REG. McCABE BOTTLING WORKS. In very faint print under the word trademark is 2351EG24. On bottom of bottle is a large M and PATENT PENDING 6 FLU. OZS..

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Josh: I apologize for any confusion, but I'm really trying to make sense of things and establish a timeline. What I can't figure out and hoping you can help me with is determining the difference between Epping Bottling Works and McCabe Bottling Works. What is their connection and what years are we talking about for each? Or are they basically one and the same?

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

The closest thing I can find to an explanation is found on Morb's site where he says ... "It turns out that H. C. McCabe was the brother-in-law of John G. Epping who owned a long operating bottling company in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky, and that this plant was a branch plant for this main plant." ~ * ~ So does this mean the Epps-Kola deco bottles are from Kentucky or Virginia? Or possibly from both states by both bottlers?

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Josh: In answer to one of my own questions, because your Epps-Kola deco bottle has McCabe Bottling Works on it, then I'm assuming it has a large M on the base for McCabe. But does it say which state it came from - Kentucky or Virginia? As near as I can determine there was no McCabe Bottling Works located in Kentucky but there was one in Virginia.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Josh: Everything I'm seeing that's even remotely connected to your deco Epp's-Kola bottle keeps pointing to the year ... 1924 Maybe its just a coincidence, but notice the Epp's-Kola bottle cap pictured on the cover of this November 1924 Crown bottle cap book