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Chapter 5d
The Bottles of the Empire Dynasty - Empire Products Corp.

Empire-Link Industries
Because Empire-Link Industries operated as a selling organization for Empire Bottling Works, it is highly unlikely that there was actually any change of bottle style during this short (1922- 1924) period. All bottles probably continued to be labeled Empire Bottling Works.

Empire Products Corporation
Of the four stages of growth that used the Empire name, the Empire Products Corporation lasted longest, from 1925 to 1956 and produced the greatest variety of containers. Lime Rickey is mentioned in the September 2, 1939 article on El Paso bottlers in the Herald Post, but it is discussed as if it were a time-honored product. Old Monk Punch (a grape drink) first appears in a city directory advertisement in 1926 and received comment in newspaper articles in 1928 and 1939. The 1928 El Paso Herald article on Empire Products Corporation indicates that Bronco, a fruit cordial, was first manufactured about the beginning of Prohibition (1919). It remained on the market until at least 1928. Dr. Pepper became part of the Empire line about 1931 and remained until at least 1949. After that, Dr. Pepper was not offered in El Paso until 1952. Sometime, probably after 1935, Empire introduced the only chocolate soft drink I have found in El Paso, Chocolate Soldier (except the very recent addition of Yoo Hoo Chocolate in the late 1980s); it is unknown how long the drink was bottled. The product most recently distributed by Empire was Squirt, first mentioned in the Times and an El Paso telephone directory advertisement in 1953. Squirt was still advertised by Empire in the February 1964 telephone directory and was still distributed by Empire until the company's demise in 1969. It was again advertised by the Dr. Pepper Bottling Company in 1970.

Empire Flavors
Following the example of its predecessor, Empire Bottling Works, Empire Produces Corporation used an interim bottle while choosing a proprietary design. Like the earlier interim container, this bottle used a plate mold, but there the resemblance ceased. The new bottle was colorless, taller, and thinner than the earlier interim container.

Table 5d-1 - Bottle Chronology for Empire Products Corp. and Empire Bottling Co.

Style Changes	Dates
Plate mokd; macnine made; 10 oz.; Empire Beverages	ca. 1924-1925
Generic with paper label	ca. 1925-ca. 1930
Proprietary; 6 checkered, embossed panels; 7 & 9 oz; EMPIRE GIANT (10 oz.)	ca. 1930-1940
Proprietary; 6 checkered, embossed panels; 9 oz.; FRUIT ACID	ca. 1930-1940
Blue & red ACL; shield front; stippled bottle; 12 oz.	1940-1942
White, red, & blue ACL; shield front; stippled bottle	1942-ca. 1945
Blue & red ACL; shield front; stippled bottle; 32 oz.	1943-ca. 1945
Black & White ACL; Wholesome & Refreshing; 10 oz.; colorless	ca. 1945-ca. 1950?
White ACL; Wholesome & Refreshing; 6.5 & 10 oz.; forest green	ca. 1945- ca. 1956
White ACL; Wholesome & Refreshing; 6.5 & 10 oz.; colorless; Empire Products Corp.	ca. 1945-ca. 1956
White ACL; Wholesome & Refreshing; 10 oz.; colorless; Empire Bottling Co.	1956-ca. 1959
White ACL; For over a half century; 10 oz.; colorless; Empire Bottling Co.	ca. 1959-1969
White ACL; For over a half century; 16 oz.; colorless; Empire Bottling Co.	1963-1969

E 03
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless [Common Green]
Size (in cm.): 23.3 (h); 5.8 (d) [23.4 (h); 6.1 (d)]
Primary Labeling Style: Embossed
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 10 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical
Front Description
Body: Embossed plate mold on upper body: EMPIRE (downward arch)/BEVERAGES (horizontal)/EL PASO TEX. (upward arch) [same]
Heel: Embossed: CONTENTS 10 OUNCES [CONTENTS 10 OUNCES/32800 ROOT 32] [CONTENTS 10 OUNCES/19 6 1]
Back Description
Body: Bare
Heel: Bare
Base: Embossed - S-in-a-star/EMPIRE/1 [EMPIRE]
Manufacturer: Southern Glass Company (1917-1931) [Root Glass Co. (1901-1932)]
Dating: [1925-early 1930s] Although I originally thought this was a temporary order, two colors and the three different mold/manufacturer’s marks indicate at least three separate orders. The designation “Empire Beverages” seems to have only been used during the 1925-1936 period, so these bottles may have held a different brand of drink than the Empire Giant Beverages (see below).
Collection(s): Anthony and Maria Romero collection; author's collection.

[David Cole]

     Empire followed the national trend in switching to a proprietary bottle design that failed to identify the local bottler or city of origin. Examples of this design are common in El Paso dumps used during the 1920s-1930s period. These bottles were used until the change to ACL labeling during the mid-1930s.
     Empire flavors of the time included Old Monk and Bronco, both popular nationally. Old Monk was a grape drink; Bronco was a fruit cordial. In addition, Empire manufactured two types of ginger ale, a pale dry ginger ale and an Irish type. During Prohibition, Empire distributed Schlitz cereal beverages (near-beers) (EPH 2/11/1928 1 ;1).
     Empire advertised their Giant Beverages (9-ounce size) as "SKY HIGH In Quality SO BIG In Quantity. . . . Also at Your Dealer Our Other Matchless Specialties in Regular Bottles" (EPH 4/3/1931 16:1). The regular size bottle was seven-ounces.

El Paso Times 4/4/1931

E 04
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): unknown [no complete 7 oz. bottle has been located] (h); 5.4 (d) at checkering; 5.7 (d) at vertical ribs [9 oz. - 23.3 (h); 5.6 (d) at checkering; 5.9 (d) at vertical ribs]
Primary Labeling Style: Embossed
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 7 oz. [9 oz.]
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with two horizontal embossed rings encircling the upper body at the shoulder junction and just above the heel. Six rounded, vertical ribs connect the rings and form six panels. Each panel is filled with embossed checkering. The seven-ounce bottle has a much steeper shoulder than the nine-ounce version.
Front Description
Shoulder: Embossed: CONTENTS [9 oz. variation has an embossed 31 on the crown finish]
Body: See Overall Bottle Design
Heel: Embossed: EMPIRE [9 oz. - EMPIRE GIANT] [9 oz. variation - FRUIT ACID ARTIFICIAL COLOR ADDED (embossed all around heel)]
Back Description
Shoulder: Embossed: 7 FL. OZ. [9 oz. - 9 FLU. OZ.]
Body: Same as front
Heel: Embossed: BEVERAGES [see front for 9 oz. variation/IPG-in-a-triangle]
Base: Embossed - 9 I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a-diamond 5./EMPIPE/1 (Note misspelling on 7 oz. version) [9 oz. - 9 I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a-diamond 8/EMPIRE/2] [9 oz. variation - only EMPIRE]
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company (1929-1954) [9 oz. variation - Illinois Pacific Glass Corp. (1925-1930)]
Dating: [1926-ca. 1940] These bottles were likely used from shortly after the name change to Empire Products Corporation (1925) to the inception of ACL bottles in the mid-1930s. The variation made by Illinois Pacific is almost certainly the earliest type as the logo was discontinued in 1930, just about the time Owens Glass Co. and Illinois Glass Co. merged. The earlier bottle style can probably be dated ca. 1926 to 1930; the following Owens Illinois bottles from 1930(or earlier)-ca. 1940.
Collection(s): Author's collection.

Willie Terrazas

During the mid 1930s, Empire again followed the national trend–this time toward ACL (baked enamel) labeling. The earliest ACL bottles were bichrome and polychrome in red and blue or red, white, and blue.

E 05
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 24.5 (h); 6.4 (d) [32 oz. - 29.8 (h) 9.1 (d)]
Primary Labeling Style: Blue and Red ACL [White, Red, and Blue ACL]
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 12 oz. [32 oz.]
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with embossed stippling over entire outside surface
Cap: At least two caps have survived on bottles of this type. On a polychrome example, the cap is orange with what may have been a white stripe across the center. Viewed from the top, the cap is lettered: EMPIRE (white on the upper orange area)/ORANGE/NECTAR (orange on the white stripe)/CONTAINS CARBONATED WATER/SUGAR, CITRIC ACID, ORANGE/OIL FLAVOR AND/ARTIFICIAL COLORS (all in white on the lower orange section). EL PASO, TEXAS appears on the lower side of the cap with LESS THAN 1/100 OF 1% BENZOATE OF SODA on the upper side.
A 32-ounce bottle contains a cap and some original cola residue. The cap is white around the edges (with a red ring and the initials, CCS) with a red top and white letters with read: EMPIRE/COLA/EMPIRE PRODUCTS CORP./EL PASO, TEXAS.

Front Description
Neck: The remains of a paper label on the neck of a 32 oz. bottle indicates that it contained Lime Ricky. Paper neck labels and designations on caps were the early method used by Empire for identifying flavors.
Body: A complex blue rectangle background with an ornate scroll stenciled into the upper half that stated EXTRA/QUALITY on the right, EMPIRE in the center, and ESTABLISHED/1906 on the left, all in red ACL. The word, PRODUCTS was stenciled through the blue background below the scroll. The city, El PASO, was stenciled beneath the left end of the scroll with, TEXAS, beneath the right. A red ornate shield occupied the lower center with the word REGISTERED beneath it. [variation: the blue background in the rectangle was replaced by white with a blue border]
Heel: Bare [LG 597 or G597]
Back Description
Body: Red ACL - The inside of a double three-quarter circle on the back body suggested: RETURN TO YOUR DEALER/AND COLLECT/DEPOSIT ON THIS BOTTLE/OF 2¢/CONTENTS 12 FL. OZS. Below the three-quarter circle the company was identified as EMPIRE PRODUCTS CORPORATION/EL PASO, TEXAS. [32 oz. - changed 2¢ to 5¢; 12 FL. OZS. to 32 FL. OZS.]
Base: Embossed - 9 I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a-diamond 9 (red & blue label) [9 I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a- diamond 0 (red & blue label)] [9 I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a-diamond 2./Duraglass (script) (red, white, and blue label)] [9 I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a-diamond 3./Duraglass (script) (red, white, and blue label)][9 I-in-an-oval- superimposed-on-a-diamond 3./Duraglass (script) (red and blue label-32 oz.)] All contain Owens rings.
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company (1929-1954)
Dating: [1939-1945] The 9 to the left indicates the Streator, Illinois, plant which continued producing bottles until at least 1970. The numeral 9 to the right would then indicate 1939. The 2. indicates 1942; 3. = 1943. Containers of this type were probably used from the change to ACL labeling by at least 1939 to the early or mid-1940s. The polychrome (tri-colored) bottle may have been in use later than the bi-colored version, although bicolor 32-ounce bottles are dated later. The only quarts I have seen were made in the bichrome style.
Collection(s): Mike Morrison Collection, Las Cruces; Lawrence Angus collection; Jim Cullen collection; Willies F. Tarrazas collection; author's collection.


Willie Terrazas	Willie Terrazas	Lawrence Angus

During this same time period, Empire also used a wider bottle with a fuller shape and embossed flutes on the shoulder. The bottle was identified only by a small paper label. The label showed a white-outlined blue background with EMPIRE (red)/a glowing white crown/PRODUCTS/EL PASO, TEXAS (upward arch). The cardboard cartons that carried these bottles were imprinted with the red, white, and blue logos used on the ACL bottles. Empire produced orange soda in this packaging and likely included other popular flavors of the day. A larger (probably quart) size bottle also used small round paper labels with dark blue text and dark blue outline - EMPIRE/PRODUCTS/EL PASO (Jim Cullen collection).

Jim Cullen

As a part of their wider range of products, Empire included siphon (seltzer) bottles. Around 1890, these bottles became popular. They are almost all high-quality, thick containers designed to withstand high internal pressures. Most of these bottles were manufactured in Austria or Czechoslovakia (although some were US made) using the turn-mold process. The bottle's finish is a one-part expanded rim. The siphon head was made in three pieces: a two-part collar that fit around the bottle's finish and the valve-and-spigot assemblage that screwed into place holding the collar tightly against the finish. Because the contents were under pressure, opening the valve in the siphon head allowed the carbonated water to gush forth through the spigot (Clint 1976:225).

E06
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Forest Green
Size (in cm.): 24.1 (h); 10.5 (d) (measured without spout - 29.7 with spout)
Primary Labeling Style: Acid Etched
Finish: Rimmed - squirter spout was three-piece; two pieces formed a continuous thread base for the third--a squirt ejector.
Capacity: 35 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with pot metal dispenser cap.
Front Description
Cap: Seltzer squirter with spigot stamped EMPIRE PRODUCTS CORP around heel.
Body: Etched - interlocking EPC surrounded by a wide etched ring stenciled with EMPIRE PRODUCTS CORP. (downward arch)/EL PASO TEXAS. (upward arch). Stenciled dots separated top and bottom stencils. A thinner etched ring surrounded the first. REGISTERED was etched above, and an upwardly arched etched band was below, stenciled with CONTENTS 35 FL OZ.
Back Description
Body: Bare
Base: Etched - MADE/IN/CZECHOSLOVAKIA [variation MADE/IN/CZECHO-/SLOVAKIA/ debossed ballon with 3 in the center]
Manufacturer: Unknown
Dating: [1925-1956] Seltzer bottles were probably distributed during at least the first 70% of the period when Empire used the name Empire Products Corp. Manufacture of all non-soft drink products decreased from about the time of Lawrence Gardner's death (1950), or a little earlier, until Nell Gardner sold the business in 1956.
Collection(s): David Cole collection, Bangs, Texas; Jim Cullen collection, San Marcos, Texas; author's collection.

In a complete change of style, the company used green bottles with white ACL lettering, although these containers may have been reserved for ginger ale.

E 07
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Forest Green
Size (in cm.): 24.5 (h); 6.2 (d) [20.2 (h); 5.9 (d)]
Primary Labeling Style: White ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 10 oz. [6.5 oz.]
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with a single embossed ring around the neck; four rings around the shoulder; and one ring around the heel
Front Description
Neck/Shoulder: White ACL in an upward arch - ENJOY/EMPIRE QUALITY
Body: A round-cornered, white-outlined rectangle contained a horizontal white bar across the center. The word, EMPIRE, in white appeared within the upper outline with BEVERAGES stenciled in the bar. The lower section stated: Wholesome/and/Refreshing in upwardly-slanted white script.
Back Description
Neck/Shoulder: Same as front
Body: White ACL - EVERY BOTTLE/Sterilized (script)/RETURN/TO YOUR DEALER/AND COLLECT DEPOSIT/ON THIS BOTTLE/EMPIRE PRODUCTS CORP./EL PASO, TEXAS
Base: Embossed - MINIMUM CONTENTS 10 FL. OZ./[I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a- diamond] [6½ oz. - MINIMUM CONTENTS 6½ FL. OZ.]
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company (1929-1954)
Dating: [ca. 1945-ca. 1956] These bottles were likely used from the mid-1940s until about 1956.
Collection(s): Willies F. Tarrazas collection.

Willie Terrazas

About the same time, a colorless bottle was used.

E 08
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 20.8 (h); 5.8 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: White ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 6.5 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with no embossing (unusual for Empire)
Front Description
Neck/Shoulder: A white ACL band encircled the neck/shoulder
Body: A round-cornered, white-outlined rectangle contained a horizontal white bar across the center. The word, EMPIRE, in white appeared within the upper outline with BEVERAGES stenciled in the bar. The lower section stated: Wholesome/and/Refreshing in upwardly-slanted white script.
Back Description
Neck/Shoulder: See front
Body: White ACL - EVERY BOTTLE/Sterilized (script)/RETURN/TO YOUR DEALER/AND COLLECT DEPOSIT/ON THIS BOTTLE/EMPIRE PRODUCTS CORP./EL PASO, TEXAS/MINIMUM CONTENTS 6½ OZ.
Base: Embossed - G-94/Duraglass (script)/15 [I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a-diamond] 53/1
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company
Dating: [ca. 1945-ca. 1956] Bottles of this type were likely used from the mid-1940s to as late as 1956.
Collection(s): Willies F. Tauruses collection.

Willie Terrazas

The most common container was a colorless, ten-ounce bottle that used two ACL color configurations. A logo that used black and white ACL lettering was probably the earliest of the two, followed by a very similar design that used only white ACL.

E 09
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 24.5 (h); 6.3 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: White and Black ACL [White ACL]
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 10 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with a single embossed ring around the neck, four rings around the shoulder, and two rings around the heel
Front Description
Neck/Shoulder: White ACL in an upward arch - ENJOY/EMPIRE QUALITY
Body: A round-cornered black rectangle contained a colorless horizontal bar across the center. The word, EMPIRE, in white appeared within the upper section of the black area with BEVERAGES in white in the colorless bar. The lower section contained, Wholesome/and/Refreshing in upwardly-slanted white script. [A round-cornered, white-outlined rectangle contained a horizontal white bar across the center. The word, EMPIRE, in white appeared within the upper outline with BEVERAGES stenciled in the bar. The lower section stated: Wholesome/and/Refreshing in upwardly-slanted white script.]
Heel: Embossed - NET CONTENT [May be bare on some bottles]
Back Description
Neck/Shoulder: Same as front
Body: White ACL - EVERY/BOTTLE/Sterilized (script)/RETURN/TO YOUR DEALER/AND COLLECT DEPOSIT/ON THIS BOTTLE/Empire Products Corporation/El Paso, Texas
Heel: Embossed - 10 OZS.
Base: Embossed - 97-8-10/J-in-a-keystone 9/3
Manufacturer: Knox Glass Company 1932-1953
Dating: [ca. 1945-1956] These bottles likely date from the mid-1940s to the to the transition to Empire Bottling Company in 1956. Although the bi-chrome (black & white) bottle was probably in use earlier, no dates can be comfortably set, so both variations must be dated from ca. 1945 to the sale of Empire Products Corp.
Collection(s): Mike Morrison Collection, Las Cruces; author's collection.

[See Chapter 5e, bottle E1 for a comparison of the back labels between Empire Products Corp. and Empire Bottling Co.]


	Lawrence Angus

Pale Dry Ginger Ale
At some point after 1935, Pale Dry Ginger Ale was bottled its own container. A forest green, quart-size bottle was probably not introduced until at least the 1940s.

E 10
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Forest Green
Size (in cm.): 29.5 (h); 9.0 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: Yellow and Red ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 32 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical
Front Description
Neck/Shoulder: Yellow ACL - EMPIRE/PALE DRY with thin lines above and below the word, EMPIRE
Body: A yellow triple-rectangle formed a base superimposed with a yellow diamond and a thin red diamond outline. The upper point of the diamond contained a complex coat of arms. Both left and right points contained double circles surrounding the initials, E.P.C. A horizontal red bar stretched across the center of the diamond with GINGER ALE in yellow above CONTENTS/32 FLD. OZS. in red. Yellow ACL letters identified, EMPIRE PRODUCTS CORP., EL PASO, U. S. A. below the diamond.
Back Description
Neck/Shoulder: Same as front
Body: Yellow ACL - THIS GINGER ALE IS PREPARED/FROM GINGER ALE FLAVOR BLENDED/WITH CITRUS OILS, LIME JUICE, SUGAR, CARAMEL COLOR AND IS GUARANTEED/TO CONTAIN NO HARMFUL SUBSTANCE/RETURN BOTTLE TO YOUR DEALER/AND COLLECT 5¢ DEPOSIT ON BOTTLE.
Base: Embossed - I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a-diamond
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company (1929-1954)
Dating: [ca. 1945-ca. 1956] Use of these bottles began no earlier than 1934 (probably between the late 1930s and the early 1940s) and lasted no longer than the change of name from Empire Products Corporation to Empire Bottling Company in 1956.
Collection(s): Lawrence Angus collection.

Jim Cullen

Orange Crush
Because Orange Crush bottles are scattered among various bottlers through El Paso history, it is helpful to organize them in a single table by bottle style, dates of use, and local franchiser.

Table 5d-2 - Orange Crush Bottling Styles and Probable Dates

Body Style	Dates in Use	Bottling Co.
Generic with paper label	1919-ca. 1923	Tri-State Bottling Co.
Colorless proprietary (pat. 1920)*	1920-1923	Tri-State Bottling Co.
Colorless propreitary (pat. 1920); Empire embossed on base**	ca. 1924-1930(?)	Empire Products Corp.
Amber proprietary (embossed)	1930(?)-ca. 1940	Empire Products Corp.
Amber proprietary (Orange & White ACL); El Paso on label	ca. 1940-ca. 1945	Empire Products Corp.
Amber proprietary (Orange & White ACL); El Paso on label†	1945-ca. 1955	Barq's Bottling Co.
Colorless; White & Green ACL; no city or company designation	1956-ca.1969	Empire Bottling Co.

*Tri-State may have only used paper label bottles or may not have embossed their name on the colorless proprietary bottles. None of the colorless proprietary containers have yet been found with either El Paso or Tri-State embossed on the base.
**The closing date for colorless proprietary bottles is based on manufacturer's marks. The company that made bottles with Empire on the base closed in 1931. It is certain that Empire sold the colorless proprietary bottle, but the amber embossed bottle had no designation on it. The amber containers with Orange and White ACL contain the El Paso designation, but they may only have been used by Barq's after 1945. The only dated bottle I have seen was made in 1945.
†Bates (1992b:C-32) has dates for these bottles ranging from 1941 to 1954.

Obviously, more empirical research needs to be done on these bottles. Because the examples of embossed amber I have seen bore the manufacturer's mark of Owens Illinois Glass Co., they also are dated (although I did not record dates in either case). Future examples should yield better information. It is also possible that Tri-State embossed bottles will appear.

An undated advertisement promoted Wards Orange-Crush as a drink bottled by Empire Bottling Company. The ad suggested that the buyer "ask for Orange-Crush by name, and accept it only in the Krinkly Bottle." The bottle illustrated in the ad had a patent date of July 19, 1920. The ad is almost an oxymoron. Orange Crush was introduced in 1916, and the bottle shown is one of the complex and elaborately designed "proprietary" bottles that became popular in the early 1920s and remained popular until the late-1930s/early 1940s when they were replaced by the simplified glass design required to allow room for the newly applied process of baked enamel lettering (ACL). This early dating is confirmed by the patent date in the illustration. Conversely, the Empire Bottling Company did not exist prior to 1956, twenty years after proprietary bottles went out of style and at least two bottle design changes (for Orange Crush) later. The most likely explanation is that Empire Bottling Works used the name Empire Bottling Company inadvertently in advertising this product (Paul & Parmalee 1973:25-28; EPCD 1913-1930; EPH clipping, date unknown, from Rick Chavez collection). The discrepancy is unresolved, but it is likely that Empire Bottling Company used amber bottles similar to those described in the section on Bottles of the Barq's Bottling Company. See Update 11/16/2000 for dating guide for Orange Crush.

Rick Chavez Collection - Undated

Orange Crush bottles of the variety pictured in the ad do, however, occasionally appear in the El Paso area. They were used by Empire Products Corp. and possibly by Tri-State Beverage Co. (1919-1923), although all Tri-State ads show bottles with paper labels. Although the Empire name was embossed on bottles used by Empire, it is unknown whether Tri-State also labeled containers with their name. Later amber bottles were used by Barq's Bottling Company.

E 11
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 19.5 (h); 5.6 (d) [21.8 (h); 5.3 (d)]
Primary Labeling Style: Embossed
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 6 oz. [7 oz.]
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with an embossed basketweave effect created by a series of three vertical ribs evenly spaced to make four columns interspersed with horizontal ribs evenly spaced from heel to the neck/shoulder joint. The neck, itself, contained embossed stippling.
Front Description
Body: Inside a diamond-shaped labeling area was embossed PAT'D/JULY 20, 1920/ORANGE/CRUSH CO/BOTTLE/6 FL OZS [variation 1 - same but no contents information] [variation 2 - a stick figure in a circle at the top of the diamond replacing the patent information]
Heel: Bare [Embossed - IPG-in-a-triangle]
Back Description
Body: Same as front [variations 1 & 2 - Another embossed diamond-shaped area with, O C/ BEVERAGES/ARTIFICIALLY/COLORED/7 FL. OZ.]
Base: Embossed - EMPIRE with the PI superimposed over an S-in-a-star [Bare]
Manufacturer: Southern Glass Company (1917-1931) [Illinois Pacific Glass Corporation (1925- 1930)]
Dating: [1920-?] How long such containers were used by Empire is unknown. Embossed Orange Crush bottles were manufactured in six-, seven-, and eight-ounce sizes and in both colorless and amber formats. Bottles came in both thin and squat configurations. How many of these varieties were used in El Paso is unknown. A dating scheme for embossed Orange Crush bottles has yet to be developed, but these colorless bottles certainly appeared after their patent date of 1920 (Bates et al 1992a:C-22-31).
Collection(s): Author's collection.

Dr. Pepper
The 1931 City Directory displays the usual Empire Products Corporation advertisement but includes for the first time a Dr. Pepper bottle in the upper right corner along with the suggestion to "Drink a Bite to Eat at 10 - 2 - 4 O'Clock." The bottle remained in the Empire ad until 1945. The bottle pictured is debossed (possibly embossed) with a clock and the numerals 10, 2, and 4 (EPCD 1931-45).

Although Dr. Pepper franchisers used embossed containers from about 1923-24 to 1930 or later (personal communication from Mildred G. Walker, Curator of Collections, Dr Pepper Museum, Waco, Texas), the company officially changed to debossed bottles about 1930 and continued to use debossed designs until long after the industry in general had converted to ACL containers. Although Dr. Pepper was not advertised until 1931, the first bottles used by Empire were embossed. See Chapter 11e for a dating guide to Dr Pepper bottles in El Paso.

E 12
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 20.5 (h); 5.7 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: Embossed
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 6.5 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical
Front Description
Body: Embossed - Dr. Pepper in script with an underlining tail sweeping back from the final "r" that contained the words, GOOD FOR LIFE
Heel: Embossed - EMPIRE - EL PASO, TEX.
Back Description
Body: An embossed, stippled clock face with three hands pointing to the numerals 10, 2, and 4 in approximately the same position in which they are located on a normal clock
Heel: Embossed - 6½ OZS.
Base: Embossed - 3 RIVERS [star]/Dr. Pepper (with underlining tail)/F
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Glass Company (1925-1937)
Dating: [1928-1930] These bottles present a slight enigma in that the bottle type (embossed) was used between 1924 and 1930, although Empire did not advertise Dr. Pepper until 1931. Two possibilities occur: 1) Empire used the older bottle type after the official change; or 2) the company bottled Dr. Pepper prior to the initial ad in the city directory. The latter is more likely, although the scarcity of embossed bottles from El Paso suggests that Dr. Pepper was probably not bottled by Empire for a very long period prior to the ad. The bottles thus likely date to approximately 1928-30.
Collection(s): Robert Sproull collection; author's collection.

Because of problems with the harsh cleansers roughing up the embossing, Dr. Pepper changed to a debossed bottle.

E 13
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 20.6 (h); 5.6 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: Debossed
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 6.5 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical
Front Description
Body: Debossed - Dr. Pepper in script with an underlining tail sweeping back from the final "r" that contained the words, GOOD FOR LIFE
Heel: Bare
Back Description
Body: A debossed, stippled clock face with three hands pointing to the numerals 10, 2, and 4 in approximately the same position in which they are located on a normal clock
Heel: Bare [6½ OZS./C1299]
Base: Embossed - EL PASO/9 [I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a-diamond] 3./TEXAS [GC]
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company (1929-1954) [Glass Container Corporation (1934-1967)] Toulouse (1971:220) dates Glass Container Corp. use of the design "Since 1945." Giarde (1980:45-46) suggests 1934-1967, a date range more in keeping with the probable use date of this bottle. Three Dr. Pepper bottles were excavated at the El Paso Coliseum, one manufactured by Glass Container Corp., two by Owens Illinois. Bottles from the site predate 1942, the year the Coliseum was built. The pre-1942 date supports Giarde's date of 1934-1967 for GCC and suggests that Toulouse's date of 1945 to the present is incorrect.
Dating: [1931-1950] These bottles followed the bottles described above and were probably used by Empire in El Paso between 1931 and 1950. The final date derives not only because Empire ceased their advertisement for Dr Pepper in 1950, but also because the Dr Pepper Company changed designs in that year. In 1949, a prototype bottle with the same design was marketed in Georgia Green color. By the next year, however, a new bottle design appeared, so Georgia Green containers with script lettering are unusual (personal communication from Mildred Walker). The individual Owens Illinois bottle was probably manufactured in 1943.
Collection(s): Willile F. Tarrazas collection; El Paso Coliseum Collection; author's collection.


Lawrence Angus

Table of Contents
Chapter 5d-1 - The Bottles of the Empire Dynasty - Empire Products Corp. (Continued)