SODABOB
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Most of us are familiar with the controversy that claims the missing red paint on 7up and other soda bottles is because the red paint was rationed during WWII. I'm not certain where that claim originated except to say the following two accounts might be where so many eBay sellers are getting that information. Of course, the same topic has also been discussed at length on this forum in the past, which no doubt contributes to its perpetuation.
Even though I have a lot of information and pictures to share on this topic, which I will post in due course, I'd like to start with the following to confirm where at least some of the red paint controversy might have originate from ...
Bill Lockhart article ~ the Soda Fizz ~ 2007
I'm not sure when this next Bill Lockhart article was written, nor do I know all of the individuals it mentions, but if you scroll to where it says "Other Discrepancies" you will find ...
https://sha.org/resources/newsletter-articles/owens-illinois-glass-company/
Other Discrepancies
[FONT=&]In a personal communication, Mike Elling noted that ca. 1944-1945 (World War II) Owens-Illinois seems to have run short of red pigment. Mike has a Royal Crown pyramid bottle that is missing the red that was typically used on the label. Billy Grice offered a yellow-only Squirt bottle on eBay with a 1945 Owens-Illinois mark and date code embossed on the base. He stated that “during the war many west coast bottlers went to single colors.” It is probable that red dye was in short supply during the end of World War II. Owens-Illinois may have only experienced the shortage for the final year or so of the war.
(To be continued)
[/FONT]
Even though I have a lot of information and pictures to share on this topic, which I will post in due course, I'd like to start with the following to confirm where at least some of the red paint controversy might have originate from ...
Bill Lockhart article ~ the Soda Fizz ~ 2007
I'm not sure when this next Bill Lockhart article was written, nor do I know all of the individuals it mentions, but if you scroll to where it says "Other Discrepancies" you will find ...
https://sha.org/resources/newsletter-articles/owens-illinois-glass-company/
Other Discrepancies
[FONT=&]In a personal communication, Mike Elling noted that ca. 1944-1945 (World War II) Owens-Illinois seems to have run short of red pigment. Mike has a Royal Crown pyramid bottle that is missing the red that was typically used on the label. Billy Grice offered a yellow-only Squirt bottle on eBay with a 1945 Owens-Illinois mark and date code embossed on the base. He stated that “during the war many west coast bottlers went to single colors.” It is probable that red dye was in short supply during the end of World War II. Owens-Illinois may have only experienced the shortage for the final year or so of the war.
(To be continued)
[/FONT]