Wartime Coke??

[jennygrace08]

Hi! I'm so very new to all this and could use some help! I live on the island of Guam and while doing some yard work I found this bottle almost completely buried in the dirt. From my quick google search I THINK it's from WWII as a special treat sent to US troops? Can anyone tell me what the small "A" on the bottom means? As well as the other markings? Thanks!

 

[jennygrace08]

I'm just a tad confused by all this...the waist is marked 8 <(I)> 45. Which I took to mean bottled in plant #8 by Owens-Illinois Company in 1945...plant 8 closed in Glassboro, NJ in 1939 and didn't reopen in New Orleans until 1962? Am I reading the markings incorrectly?

 

[cowseatmaize]

Not necessarily, those are the dates as written in a book by Julian Toulouse in the early 70's. There may be information that has been found since but the number coding I think is still correct. One paper states "All dates are approximate; Toulouse used a graph that was not precise."

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Question: Are you 110% certain that the single-digit number is an 8 and not a "melted" 9?

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Jenny:
Here are the links to a couple of major forum discussions about WWII Guam Coca Cola bottles. Read through both of them and you will find ample information regarding these unique bottles, including some information about the weird letter codes. I'm not sure if Dave is still stationed in Guam, but he might be. If you post a reply on either of these threads, or send him a PM, I'm sure he will get it no matter where he is.


Part One:

https://www.antique-bottles.net/forum/m525898-m525898.aspx

Part Two:

https://www.antique-bottles.net/forum/Agana-Guam-Hobbleskirt-Coke-m572712.aspx

 

[jennygrace08]

Thank you all so much for your help! I will definitely take a look at those links! And here is a (better?) picture up close...I'm pretty certain it is an 8.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Jenny:

Thank you for the clarification on the number 8. When you read through the links, especially Part Two, you will find some information about the combination number and letter codes, including a few with 8A. I realize the 8 on your bottle is on the side and the A is on the base, but there still might be a connection of some type. And please don't feel like the Lone Ranger in the confusing department because no one, including Coca Cola guru Bill Porter, have been able to make much sense of the various code combinations on the WWII era Coca Cola bottles.

Additionally ...

I hope you don't mind my posting the following here, but because member cowseatmaze/Eric is following this thread, I wanted to ask him ...

Cows:

Why is it that I cannot post a reply to the two links I provided? The last reply (Part Two) was by Dave on January 13, 2014. Is the thread locked down or is it just me? [8|]

 

[cowseatmaize]

Bob, something in the software is set so that threads lock after a while, 3 months I think. There was a post on why and what it is called but I don't remember where.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Cows: Thanks for the info. I realize you weren't certain about the time frame, but I'm still a little confused because there is another thread I'd like to post to that was last replied to on March 15, 2014 and it's locked down, too. Oh well, life goes on. ~ * ~ Jenny: I apologize for the interruption and hope you don't mind my posting a particular image here as it pertains to the Chester Butler Coca Cola Bottling in Agana, Guam, which I especially wanted to share with Dave from the other threads. But because those threads are locked down, I'm hoping Dave will eventually see it here. Once you read through the threads you will have a better understanding of just how rare and special the envelope is. It's dated 1931 and sold at auction for $625.00, which makes me wonder just how much a Agana, Guam Coca Cola bottle might sell for? I'm also including a picture of the Agana bottle that Dave shared with us from the other threads. Bob

 

[jennygrace08]

I couldn't imagine finding an Agana bottle!! I'm not on Guam for much longer but I think bottle hunting is my new hobby! Thanks for taking the time to help me out! This bottle has a link into history and is the perfect souvenir of our time here. I know they aren't particularly rare but what are these bottles worth?