Ward's Orange Crush by Alco Bottling?

[SODAPOPBOB]

I realize this thread has just about run its course, but because there are still a few unanswered questions remaining, I offer the following for future reference. To start with is this possible alternative for what might be written on the sign I posted earlier. Based on what we've seen so far, including bottle labels, advertisements, etc; its rare to see the name Nevin-Frank Co. without Alco Beverages being tied in with it. Hence, my new "guess" as to what might be written on the factory sign pictured below ... (To be continued shortly with what "might" be a 1913 listing for the first Coca Cola bottler in Butte, Montana)

 

[Canadacan]

Yea I went looking for another picture of the fire...which I did find one but it's on the wrong angle and the sign is not visible.I looked at that picture, manipulated the contrast, the color, brightness...but I could not get anything more, I speculated too that it may have Alco or even Techo in it....could even be Alco Bottling? Does the sign appears to have white lettering above and darker below?Hey there is always more stuff to add!...and the nature of these threads do wonder off course from time to time but it's part of the discovery process, and so long as were talking about Montana related and anthing backing up the therory's disscussed it's all good to me![]

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Canadacan: I too suspect the lower sign might have a light background with dark lettering, but whatever the case, I just can't say for certain what it says and will leave that for a forensic-type of detective to figure out like they do on TV. ~ * ~ Next up is this list of soft drink bottlers located in Butte, Montana as of 1913, a few of which have not been mentioned during the course of this thread .... Holland Rink Bottling Works Keenan Manufacturing Company Northwestern Bottling Works Rocky Mountain Bottling Works Now here's the tricky part, which I admit is somewhat speculative/assumptive, but could very well be a reference for the first Coca Cola bottler in Butte, which we have seen references to earlier that indicate the first Coca Cola bottler in Butte was established in 1912. This link is to a Montana public health document dated September 15, 1913. It contains about 20 pages, a few of which are devoted to the testing of various brands of soda pop in Butte. https://archive.org/details/bulletinofdepar1913mont_7 The attached images are pages from the 1913 document ... 1. Cover2. Page 163. Page 17 Notice: A. The test dates are all for 8-30-13 (August 30, 1913)B. The various bottlers are grouped individually. I.E; The Holland Rink brands are one after the other, as are the Northwestern Bottling Works brands listed one after the other.C. Which brings us to Rocky Mountain Bottling Works. Notice right in the middle of the R.M.B.W. listings we find ... COCO COLA I could be wrong, but I can't imagine Coco Cola (obviously misspelled) being listed right in the middle of the brands for Rocky Mountain Bottling Works if it was not they who were bottling it at the time. I found this document this morning and have not had time to fully research the Rocky Mountain Bottling Works. But I do know they made some Hutchinson bottles and were in business for a long time. Hence, more research is required to determine if they did in fact bottle Coca Cola at some point in time. By the way, by clicking on the small magnifying glass after opening the link, it will allow you to do your own word searches within the document. The Coco Cola reference is the only Coca Cola related listing in the entire book. But everyone can do their own searches and see what else might be found.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

For future reference ... Rocky Mountain Bottling Works A myriad of rail-dependent businesses located in this area during the last decades of the nineteenth century, Hinds & Company, proprietors of the Rocky Mountain Bottling Works and agents for the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association, moved here in 1897. In 1900, the operation included a bottling plant at the front loading platform along the railroad siding to the south and an ice house with adjacent keg storage. The tin floor of the ice house is intact and the heavy beams supporting it are still visible. A stable at the rear accommodated the company’s teams; its bricked-in windows document the passing of horse-drawn delivery. Proprietors Browne and Finnigan commissioned Nelson and Pederson to rebuild the frame facility in 1911. The flat parapeted roofs and ornamental brickwork are characteristic of Butte’s Industrial buildings. On the eve of Prohibition in 1916, the front building was a soda bottling plant and beer was still stored in the two-story section. By 1920, the company was out of business. Bottles embossed with “Rocky Mountain Bottling Works – Butte” are today prized among antique collectors.

 

[Canadacan]

That Coco-Cola has to be an imitator...I can't see the typist or typesetter making the error twice?...but mabey!..lol Northwestern Bottling Works is the one Nevin-Frank took over, although in the 1920 article they refer to it as the Western Beverage Co.???...that has to be a mistake by the reporter, and latter in 1939 the mention of North West Bottling Co.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Coca Cola is often misspelled as typos. But regardless of that for the moment, remember this 1932 document that shows Northwestern Bottling Works listed separately from Nevin-Frank, but are located in the same town at the same time? Plus, there's this Northwestern Bottling Works bottle currently on eBay with an Owens-Illinois mark that looks like a 4 but it could be some other number. But whatever the date number is, it would have to be later than 1929, which is when Owens-Illinois was established. In 1929 Nevin-Frank had been around for about nine years. I'm about 95% certain that Western Beverage Company (which is the one Nevin-Frank took over in 1920) and Northwestern Bottling Works were two entirely different companies. eBay link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/121677293272?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT 1. 1932 Document2. eBay bottle3. eBay bottle base

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

1920 newspaper reference showing Western Beverage Company ...

 

[Canadacan]

Naw can't be possible...then why is Northwestern Bottling works listed right below Nevin-Frank co.? ...and they are both listed for Alco beverages, Techo ginger Ale. I think the reference to Western Beverage Company in 1920 is a mistake...the only mention of it seems to be in that article. Guess I'm reading that chart wrong...but still where is Western Beverage Company then???

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I think the reference to Western Beverage Company in 1920 is a mistake...the only mention of it seems to be in that article.

1. Are you saying this 1918 reference for the Western Beverage Company is another typo? https://books.google.com/books?id=HLkrAQAAMAAJ&pg=PR48-IA31&dq=western+beverage+company+butte+montana&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qfmWVbqiIcfxoATl4pqQDQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=western%20beverage%20company%20butte%20montana&f=false 2. And what about this 1918 reference? ~ * ~ I thought it was already established that Western Beverage Company was where the name ALCO originated?

 

[Canadacan]

oh yea!...crap I got confused![]..lol[]...Yes right different owner on Northwestern.Carry on sir...[]