Updates - Chapter 10e
Bottles of Seven-Up Bottling Co. and Seven-Up Royal Crown Bottling Co.

Update:  October 8, 2000 - First El Paso Seven-Up Bottle

     Although the main text describes the standardized forest green Seven-Up bottle as being in use in El Paso by 1939, an earlier version of the bottle was used by at least 1937.  This version differs from the later (and much more common version) in three major ways.  First, the neck/shoulder area is embossed with a large 7up.  Second, the message on the back body is very different (see below). Third, the front logo contains eight bubbles.

     The main text states: 
 

An unsubstantiated rumor (overheard at a bottle collectors' convention) stated that someone in the main office noticed the number and suggested that since the drink was called seven-up, seven bubbles would be more appropriate, and the design was changed.  Subsequent bottles were enameled with only seven bubbles.  It is unlikely that any of these early, eight-bubble bottles were used in El Paso.

 The rumor is now empirically substantiated, and bottles of this type were obviously used in El Paso, probably between 1937 and 1939.  Based on this new evidence, it is probable that these 8-bubble bottles were the first ones used in El Paso (rather than the paper label ones described in the main text.
SU2-1
Method of Manufacture:  Machine
Color: Forest Green
Size (in cm.): 20.3 (h); 6.0-6.1 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: White and Red ACL
Finish:  Crown
Capacity: 7 oz.
Overall Bottle Design:  Cylindrical
Front Description 
Neck/shoulder: Embossed - 7 up (large)
Body: ACL - A white square frame surrounded the silhouette of a woman in a bathing suit with upraised arms accompanied by a red shield containing the characters 7up and eight bubbles (all in white).  A white area below the shield was stenciled through to the green bottle color with REG. U. S. PAT. OFF. [same as the next variation except for eight bubbles in the red shield] 
Heel: Bare
Back Description 
Neck/shoulder: Same as front
Body: White ACL - A COOLER OFF/A FRESHER UP/FOR THE STOMACH'S SAKE/DON'T SHADE OR STIR/YOU LIKE 7UP/IT LIKES YOU/________.________/CARRYING THE 7-UP TRADEMARK/THIS BOTTLE MUST/NOT BE USED FOR/ANY OTHER DRINK
Heel: Bare
Base:  Embossed - 7 UP BOTTLING CO INC (downward arch)/3 I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-an-elongated-diamond 7/5/EL PASO (slight downward arch)/TEX.
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Bottling Co. (1929-1954)
Dating: [1937-1938] These bottles almost certainly were used during the first year that the Seven-Up Bottling Company was in business and may have been used during the second.  We know from the 1939 ad that the next version was used by 1939.
Collection(s): Author's collection.

Update:  11/19/2000
 
Another variation of the swim suit bottle is slightly earlier than the one listed in the main text (1951) but later than the 8-bubble variation.  The front of both bottles are exactly the same, but the backs differ.  The slightly older (1944) back reads in white ACL: A FRESH UP/DRINK/ FOR THE STOMACH'S SAKE/DO NOT STIR OR SHAKE/YOU LIKE IT/IT LIKES YOU/ CONTENTS 7 FL. OZS./CARRYING THE 7-UP TRADEMARK/THIS BOTTLE MUST/NOT BE USED FOR /ANY OTHER DRINK/7-UP BOTTLING CO. OF EL PASO/EL PASO, TEXAS.  The base was embossed: G94/Duraglas (script)/3 I-in-an-oval-superimposed-over-an-elongated-diamond 4./7. with stippling [The variation in the main text did not have a complete citation.  The base was embossed: G94/Duraglas/7 I-in-an-oval-superimposed-over-an-elongated-diamond 51/10-]

 
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