QUICK "POPEYE SODA" QUESTION

[SODAPOPBOB]

This next Popeye entry is a little odd, but at least it's soda related. It's a cheap (sew on/iron on ?) felt patch for some type of Virginia Dare promotion. Even the individual who owns it can't explain what it was intended for. Nor is there an exact date associated with it. But circa late 1930s / early 1940s seems about right. It's just about as mysterious as the Popeye bottle cap that doesn't have a bottle. []

SPBOB

 

[morbious_fod]

Hmmmm. Virginia Dare the makers of flavor extracts for soft drinks, and a promotion that features Popeye the Sailor, add to that the possibility of a Popeye related soda and you have a very possible connection. Could this Popeye soda be a Virginia Dare brand? I do know that Virginia Dare was providing the extracts for various flavor lines, including in 1938 the Pocahontas Bottling Company. I also know that from time to time these extract companies would create their own brands. Blue Ribbon Extract had a drink they called Tandem which was bottled by the Marion Bottling Company in the 1930's, which I have the letters to the company describing how to prepare the drink though no bottles have ever arisen. Virginia Dare also had the Korker brand which existed during the 1930's. It's very possible that the Popeye brand belongs to the Virginia Dare company. It's just too much of a coincidence to have a Popeye brand and a Popeye related Virginia Dare promotion, and no connection.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Thanks Morb ~

In the back of my mind I was thinking along those same lines. But without anything to back it up I restrained myself. Even as we speak I'm doing a little research, but so far have found zilch to connect the two.

SPBOB

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I hit another dead end, but in the process came across this collectibles auction site. It shows over 2000 Popeye collectibles from various years, mostly from the 1930s and 40s. Most of them are sold items from past auctions. And in order to see the realized prices you would have to sign up. But just to scan the photos and details is free. It covers everything from Popeye banks to Popeye tanks. Unfortunately, out of the hundreds of items shown, not a single one is soda pop related. But if you enjoy seeing hundreds of great photos of classic collectibles, then click and check it out. My favorite item is the Popeye Pirate Pistol below, which has an estimated value of between $300.00 and $500.00. Man'alive, I'd love to have one of them. By using their search box you can look up your own favorite collectibles as well. And just click on any photo to enlarge it. Enjoy.

Link:

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/search?q=Popeye&fq=&sort=relevance&dtype=gallery&hasimage=true&type=complete&rows=20&pagenum=1

SPBOB

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

BINGO! (sort of)

The item below is currently available on e-bay, and is described as a "new/reproduction" magnet of an original cardboard store display for Popeye Cola. At first I was a little sceptical so I sent the seller a message to inquire about it. I just heard back from them and they told me to enlarge/zoom in on the item and I would notice that the image is in fact from an actual photo, and that you can even see the texture, discoloration and edge wear of the cardboard itself. So for me if the bottle cap wasn't proof enough of the existence of a for real Popeye Cola, this item double confirms it. I am sure these magnets are plentiful and cheap, but the cardboard displays and the bottles they depict have got to be as rare as hen's teeth. With the introduction of this new evidence I personally am 100% convinced now that a bottle exist. But finding a photo of one may be a monumental task to say the least. Not to mention finding an actual bottle for sale somewhere. No doubt this is where the image for the (reproduction) tin signs came from. Whatta ya think?

SPBOB

e-bay link to item
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310253901071&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Notation ...

I keep saying Popeye "Cola." It may very well have been available in ginger ale or various other flavors. So henceforth I will refer to it as "Popeye Soda." []

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Additionally ...

I wanted to emphasize that the auction site I provided a link to is totally user friendly and also contains hundreds/thousands? of other collectibles besides Popeye, etc. Search "Coca Cola" and you will find something like 10,000 various items. And under "Soda Pop" you will see a lot of cool acl bottles, plus a variety of other stuff. It is also an on-going auction and not just an archives. Check it out! You won't be disappointed.

SPBOB

Here's the link again ... but if it comes up "Popeye" just change it in the search box.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/search?q=Popeye&fq=&sort=relevance&dtype=gallery&hasimage=true&type=complete&rows=20&pagenum=1

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

All I know about this steel Popeye Cola can is that it was part of a series of five different flavors called "Sunday Funnies" and was made by ... (On the back of the cans were snippets of Sunday newspaper comics).

Flavor Valley Corporation, New York, New York 10024

I will do some research on it soon, but as far as I know there is no connection between the can and the bottle.

SPBOB

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Hmmm ... I wonder what you were supposed to drink out of this mug after you finished off the peanut butter? Popeye Soda perhaps? And what is the date that's shown on the lower right portion of the label? 1949 ? (Sussex Foods Inc).

SPBOB

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

By the way ...

I did a little research regarding the "Sunday Funnies" soda cans. And although I didn't find much on the brand itself, I did find this pertaining to "steel flat-top cans" vs. "pull-tab cans" ... Thus dating the Sunday Funnies can sometime prior to about 1962/64. (It looks late 1950s or early 60s to me).

The First Pull Tabs: 1962-1964
The flat top can had been born in 1933 and first sold in 1935.