Need help with value of ACL bottles I found

[SODAPOPBOB]

Speaking of Warren, which is about 50 miles north of Johnsonburg ... You will recall this ad I posted earlier and said it was the earliest Barrelhead ad I could find. The reason I'm posting it again is to emphasize the Thorco Inc.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Here's one of my favorite articles of all, which explains the map I posted showing the towns of Kane and Wilcox. The article is from a Kane newspaper but it talks about the new Thorco, Inc. bottling pant to be built in Wilcox. Wilcox is about 5 miles north of Johnsonburg Notice where it says ... 1. "Services 19 counties" 2. "Expanded our franchise area" The accumulation of information in the article strengthens my belief that Barrelhead Root Beer originated in Johnsonburg and that Thorco, Inc. grew to the point where it needed a new bottling plant to facilitate its franchise bottlers not only in Pennsylvania but in other states as well. I strongly suspect Thorco, Inc. did all of the bottling and then shipped it to various bottlers. I can find no evidence where any of the bottlers actually bottled Barrelhead themselves, although I could be mistaken about this. Also notice there are two "Daniel" Thorwarts pictured in the article ... Daniel E. Thorwart ~ Vice President Daniel A. Thorwart ~ President According to the information on this obituary link, Daniel A. Thorwart was the son of founder Luke Thorwart. I do not know who Daniel E. was, but he could possibly be Daniel A's son. http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=2602350&fh_id=14130 Article from ... The Kane Republic ~ Kane, Pennsylvania ~ July 21, 1978

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

BullGill: Long story short ... Even though nothing I've found so far explains your one-of-a-kind label, I do feel your bottle came from Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania in 1976, and obviously before the new Wilcox plant was built in 1978.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Reminders ... 1. First Trademark ~ Filed May 5, 1970 ~ Registered March 28, 1972 2. Second Trademark ~ Filed April 27, 1976 ~ Registered July 5, 1977 3. BullGill's Canada Dry label acl bottle ~ Glenshaw Glass Company 1976 ?

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

And let's not forget these from ... 1. 1974 2. 1975

 

[BullGill]

I wonder if I contacted Canada Dry and asked them about the label if they would be interested in helping me. I have been to all of the cities you mentioned, Erie PA is the city I grew up in. I found the bottle at a garage sale in Jefferson Ohio, well within the distribution range.

 

[BullGill]

The logo on that add looks very similar to the label on my bottle!

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I'd say they are more than just similar, but almost identical. In fact, because of the 28 Ounce and other information on the newspaper image, that one looks like a real paper label. But even with that said, I can't find another paper label like it, not to mention not being able to find another acl label.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

P.S. BullGill: If your bottle had a 1972 date on the base I wouldn't think twice about it because it would tie in with the 1972 ad. Its the 1976 date that puts it outside the box and makes one wonder. And the thing I wonder about most is, regardless of the dates, where are all of the other Canada Dry label bottles? Or is yours the only one?

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

The first ad I posted was from Warren, Pennsylvania and dated August 16, 1972. Here's a similar ad, but this one is from ... The Progress ~ Clearfield, Pennsylvania ~ Also dated August 16, 1972 (Same exact date as the first ad!) 1. First Ad ~ Warren, Pa.2. Second Ad ~ Clearfield, Pa. (These are the only ads I can find for Barrelhead Root Beer from 1972. There are zero ads from 1971)