chap5e

Chapter 5e
The Bottles of the Empire Dynasty - Empire Bottling Co./Grapette

Empire Bottling Company
Empire Flavors
When Nell Gardner sold Empire in 1956, the newly-named Empire Bottling Company used bottles that were very similar to the last ACL bottles used by Empire Products Corporation (see above) except for all white ACL labeling and minor changes.

Dating table for Empire flavors from both Empire Products Corp. and Empire Bottling Co.

E 19
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 24.5 (h); 6.3 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: 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 one ring around the heel
Front Description
Neck/Shoulder: White ACL in a slight upward arch - ENJOY/EMPIRE QUALITY
Body: A round-cornered white-outlined rectangle contained a white horizontal bar across the center. The word, EMPIRE, in white appeared within the upper outline with BEVERAGES stenciled into the bar. The lower section contained, Wholesome/and/Refreshing in upwardly- slanted white script.
Heel: Bare (embossed ring)
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 Bottling Company/El Paso, Texas
Heel: See front
Base: Embossed - NET CONTENTS 10-OZS/15 [I-in-an-oval] 60/1
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company (1954-present)
Dating: [1956-1960?] These bottles were probably used as a transition stage between those used by Empire Products Corporation and the variations described below and were obviously in use no earlier than 1956 (sale date to Empire Bottling Company).
Collection(s): Lawrence Angus collection, El Paso; Mike Morrison Collection, Las Cruces; author's collection.
[For a photo of the bottle front, see Chapter 5d, Bottle E09]

A second colorless, ten-ounce Empire bottle with white baked enamel lettering probably replaced the first one at an undetermined point.

E 20
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 24.6 (h); 6.2 (d) [28.3 (h); 6.3 (d)]
Primary Labeling Style: White ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 10 oz. [16 oz.]
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with a single embossed ring around the neck, four rings around the shoulder, and one ring around the heel [neck ring is not present on 16 oz.]
Front Description
Neck/Shoulder: White ACL EMPIRE/[white line]/KING SIZE [EMPIRE/16/OUNCE]
Body: A round-cornered, white-outlined rectangle contained a white horizontal bar across the center. The word, EMPIRE, in white appeared within the upper outline with BEVERAGES stenciled into the bar. The lower section contained, For over a half century/El Paso's favorite, in white script.
Heel: Bare (embossed ring)
Back Description
Neck/Shoulder: Same as front
Body: Same as front but with CONTENTS 10 FL. OZ. below the logo [variation does not have content information on back] [16 oz. - same as front]
Heel: See front
Base: Bare [embossed - NET/CONTENTS/10-OZS./15 [I in an oval] 64/3 [LG 65/16 FL. OZ./982-1]
Manufacturer: Unknown [Owens Illinois Glass Company (1954-present)] [Liberty Glass Company (1954-present)
Dating: [1956 (1960?)-1969] [16 oz. - 1963-1969] The words "for over half a century" suggest that the bottle could not have been used prior to 1956, fifty years after the founding of Purity Bottling and Manufacturing Company. An earlier bottle from the Empire Products Corporation claimed 1906 (the inception of Purity) as the company's founding date. The termination of Empire Bottling Company in 1969 provides a closing date. It is probable that this bottle style followed the first by a few years and can probably be dated after 1960. The first sixteen-ounce bottles were introduced into El Paso by Vess/3V Cola in 1962 or 1963. The sixteen-ounce Empire bottle, therefore, cannot precede 1963.
Collection(s): Rick Chavez Collection, El Paso; author's collection.


Rick Chavez

Empire Shell

The external dimesions of the case are 47.0 x 37.5 x 10.0, with two internal boards dividing the space into four identical rectangles to hold six-pack cartons of product. Side boards measure ca. 1.0 cm. in thickness with end boards at ca. 1.9 cm. All mesurements vary slightly due to wear and/or warping of the wood. The shell is held together by two steel bands (1.5 cm. in width), one on each end that bind the side and bottom boards to the end boards. Each end board contains a cutout handle that measures ca. 8.5 x 2.5 cm. Both sides are labeled on the outside EMPIRE/QUALITY BEVERAGES and on the inside
with EMPIRE, followed by a logo that consists of a stenciled star on a circular red background with a red coniferous tree in the center. Below the logo is TEMPLE MFG. CO./DALLAS, TEX./3 - 60. Each end board is labeled EMPIRE BOTTLING CO./EL PASO, TEXAS. All lettering is in red.

Chocolate Soldier
Two types of colorless Chocolate Soldier bottles were used from about the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s in six-and-one-half-, seven-, and ten-ounce bottles. The containers had red and white baked enamel labels, and each showed line drawings of high-hatted soldiers with the name, Chocolate Soldier. The more common configuration had the soldier on the body front with the name placed on the shoulder (Bates et al 1996a:C-14-15).
A later bottle is the only one found in El Paso collections.

E 21
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 21.5 (h); 5.6 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: Yellow and Red ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 7 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical
Front Description
Neck/Shoulder: Yellow ACL - CHOCOLATE (jumbled letters)/SOLDIER (jumbled letters)/CONTENTS 7 FL. OZ.
Body: A yellow rectangular background with rounded corners supported the message, drink (script)/CHOCOLATE/SOLDIER. The word, chocolate slanted slightly upward, while, soldier, had a downward slope. The words were stenciled to let the chocolate color show through. A drawing of a saluting red soldier with rifle, bayonet, and tall hat adorned the lower right side of the background. Below the main logo in red letters on a separate strip of yellow enamel were the words, DELICIOUS - HEALTHFUL.
Back Description
Neck/Shoulder: Same as front
Body: Yellow ACL - CHOCOLATE SOLDIER/BEVERAGES/CONTAINS WATER, SUGAR, NONFAT DRY MILK/SOLIDS EXTRA GRADE DEXTROSE, COCOA,/MALT, SALT, VANILLIN AND STABILIZER/FROM/MONARCH CITRUS PRODUCTS COMPANY/DORAVILLE, GEORGIA/BOTTLED BY/JEFFERSON BOTTLING CO./NEW ORLEANS, LA.
Base: Embossed - LG 67/583 22 [C-in-a-circle]
Manufacturer: Liberty Glass Company (1954-present) [Chattanooga Glass Company (1925- present)
Dating: [ca. 1965-ca. 1970] Bottles of this type were likely used between the mid-1960s and about 1970 and also came in a ten-ounce configuration.
Collection(s): Lawrence Angus collection; Willies F. Tarrazas collection.

Lawrence Angus

Squirt
Although the bottling of Squirt (first introduced by the Squirt Company, Chairman Oaks, California, in 1938) began during later years of the Empire Product Corporation (1953), it was in use throughout the duration of Empire Bottling Company.

E 22
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Forest Green
Size (in cm.): 20.1 (h); 5.8 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: Yellow and Red ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 7 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical
Front Description
Neck/Shoulder: Yellow ACL - SQUIRT (underlined)
Body: SQUIRT (underlined) in red ACL on a yellow splash background followed by REG. U. S. PAT. OFF. in smaller letters
Back Description
Neck/Shoulder: Same as front
Body: Yellow ACL - SWITCH TO/SQUIRT/NEVER AN/AFTER-THIRST/CONTENTS 7 FL. OZ./ TRADE MARK REG. U. S. PAT. OFF.--. A yellow drawing of a young boy with his hands in his pockets and an ® at his heels appeared to the right of the words.
Base: Embossed - I-in-an-oval
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company (1954-present)
Dating: [1953-1957] Bottles of this type were used from at least 1953 to about 1957.
Collection(s): Rick Chavez collection; Willies F. Tarrazas collection.


Rick Chavez	Willie Terrazas

A later bottle provided a swirled design.

E 23
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Forest Green
Size (in cm.): 20.4 (h); 5.7 (d) [24.3 (h); 6.0 (d)]
Primary Labeling Style:
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 7 oz. [10 oz.]
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with a smooth, debossed spiral from heel to base of shoulder
Front Description
Neck/Shoulder: SQUIRT (underlined) in red ACL on a yellow ACL bubble with points at both top and bottom [10 oz. - Five small stars, two to the left and three to the right, appear above the logo]
Body: Embossed spiral
Back Description
Neck/Shoulder: Yellow ACL - BOTTLED UNDER/AUTHORITY OF/ THE/SQUIRT/CO./NEVER AN/AFTER-THIRST/CONTENTS 7 FL. OZS./ with he same boy described in the previous bottle at the right of the lettering [10 oz. - three more stars are perched atop the message]
Body: See front
Base: Embossed - I-in-an-oval
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company (1954-present)
Dating: [1958-1969] These containers replaced the earlier bottles and can be dated from about 1958 to at least the end of Empire Bottling Company in 1969. The same design may have been used when Barq's Dr. Pepper Bottling Company (1969 -1976) acquired the drink.
Collection(s): Willies F. Tarrazas collection.

Willie Terrazas

Grapette
In the 1950-51 El Paso City Directory Grapette Bottling Company advertised Grapette, Orangette, and Botl-o, all available through the Grapette franchise. An ad for Mason's Old Fashioned Root Beer first appeared in the Summer 1953 telephone directory. A 1953 Timesarticle referred to Botl-o as "Botlo multiple flavor drink" (EPT 4/5/1953 B13:4). "The Timesadded Lemonette in 1954, and the Herald Post included five Botl-o flavors along with Squirt and the Empire flavors inherited from Empire Products Corporation in 1956 (EPHP 4/28/1956 F12:1; EPT 4/25/1954 E11:2). The next Empire (Grapette) advertisement appeared in the February 1964 telephone directory. The ad included Dad's Old Fashioned Root Beer, Squirt, Grapette, Mr. Cola (Low Calorie), Sunburst Flavors, and Empire Flavors, but did not list Orangette, Lemonette, Botl-o, or Mason's Root Beer. The final Empire ad, in 1965, dropped Sunburst from the listing but added Schweppes Tonic and Bitter Lemon.

Although we only have documentary evidence for a beginning date of 1950, it is almost certain that Grapette, Orangette, and the Botl-o flavors were bottled in El Paso beginning in 1941 with the inception of the Grapette Bottling Company. Grapette certainly lasted until 1969 and Orangette may have been around that long. Orangette and Botl-o were in production at least as long as 1956. Botl-o disappeared from the 1964 ad and may have been discontinued earlier. Mason's Root Beer (distributed by Mason & Mason of Chicago, Illinois, beginning in 1947) was probably introduced no earlier than 1953 and extended no later than 1964. It was probably discontinued at approximately the same time as Botl-o. Lemonette was only mentioned in 1954. It may have been introduced at the inception of the company, but dates other than 1954 are impossible to assign with certainty. Dad's Old Fashioned Root Beer, Mr. Cola, and the Sunburst Flavors were comparative newcomers and may not have been available prior to 1964. Squirt and the Empire flavors were survivors from Empire Products Corporation and probably continued to be produced until the company's dissolution in 1969.

Grapette
Grapette was originally produced in six-ounce bottles packaged in thirty-bottle cases.

Mike Morrison

G 01
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 18.0 (h); 5.3 (d) [18.1 (h); 5.6 (d)]
Primary Labeling Style: White ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 6 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with light embossed stippling around neck and heel
Front Description
Neck: Bare [White ACL - Grapette (script - slight upward slant]
Body: White ACL - CONTAINS 6 FL. OZ./(slightly upward slant) Grapette (script)/REG. U. S. PAT. OFF/SODA/IMITATION GRAPE FLAVOR
Back Description
Neck: Same as front
Body: White ACL - Close to Nature (script)/Enriched with Dextrose (script)/A DEPOSIT OF 1¢ ONLY/REQUIRED ON THIS BOTTLE/COPR. 1939 B. T. FOOKS MFG. CO./CAMDEN, ARK./GRAPETTE BOTTLING COMPANY/GRAND JUNCTION/MONTROSE, COLO. [INGREDIENTS/CARBONATED WATER -/CANE SUGAR - DEXTROSE -/GRAPE JUICE - TARTARIC/ACID - ESTERS - CERTIFIED/COLOR/LESS THAN 1/10 OF 1%/BENZOATE OF SODA/LICENSED BY/THE GRAPETTE COMPANY/CAMDEN, ARKANSAS/COPR. 1946 T. G. CO./BOTTLED BY/GRAPETTE BOTTLING CO./EL PASO, TEXAS] [a second 1946 variation begins with, Imition Grape Flavor (script), and has PROPERTY OF/GRAPETTE BOTTLING COMPANY/EL PASO, TEXAS before the main company information and copyright date]
Heel: [Embossed - L-G]
Base: Embossed - I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a-diamond and Duraglass in script (after 1940) [6 FL. OZ./47] [46/207 6/6 FL. OZ./8A/Ball (script)]
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company (1929-1954) [Liberty Glass Company (1946- 1954)] [Ball Brothers Company (1919-1969)]
Dating: [1941-1952] Bottles of this type may have been in use in El Paso from the initial opening of Grapette Bottling Company in 1941 to their replacement by the new style in 1952. Although I have only seen the "COPR. 1946" bottles with El Paso labels, it is almost certain that the earlier "COPR. 1939" bottle style was used also.
Collection(s): Mike Morrison collection, Las Cruces; Lawrence Angus collection; Willies F. Tarrazas collection; author's collection.

Willie Terrazas

In 1952, the home company gave bottlers a choice of changing to seven-, eight-, or ten-ounce bottles. In El Paso, a new colorless, seven-ounce bottle was introduced by Grapette, although Richard Price remembered the choice as being the ten-ounce package (Price interview).

G 02
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless [Georgia Green]
Size (in cm.): 20.8 (h); 5.7 (d) heel & shoulder; 4.8 (d) center [24.1 (h); 5.6 (d) heel & shoulder; 5.1 (d) center]
Primary Labeling Style: White and Red ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 7 oz. [8 oz.]
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with the bottle body divided into three parts: the heel section was cylindrical with no embossing; the central section had rounded, semi-spiral embossed ribs leading from the heel section to the shoulder section; and the shoulder section resembled the heel section
Front Description
Neck: Bare [KING/SIZE in white surrounded by a white rectangular outline]
Shoulder: White ACL - Grapette (script)/®/GRAPE SODA enclosed in a red and white oval
Body: Embossed spiral ribs
Heel: White ACL - "Thirsty or Not" enclosed in a rectangle
Back Description
Neck: Same as front
Shoulder: White ACL - Imitation Grape Flavor (script in a downward arch)/INGREDIENTS:/CARBONATED WATER/CANE SUGAR--DEXTROSE/GRAPE JUICE/TARTARIC ACID--ESTERS/U. S. CERTIFIED COLOR/LESS THAN 1/10 OF 1%/BENZOATE OF SODA
Body: Same as front
Heel: White ACL - LICENSED BY/THE GRAPETTE COMPANY/CAMDEN, ARKANSAS/Copr. 1952 T. G. Co.--Des. Pat. 167345/BOTTLED BY/GRAPETTE BOTTLING COMPANY/EL PASO, TEXAS ["bottled by" information is replaced by, CONTENTS 8 FL OZS.]
Base: Embossed - DES. PAT. 167,345/CONTENTS/7 FL. OZ. around circumference with illegible manufacturer's mark in center [same around circumference (except 8 FL. OZ.) with L- G/289-5/62 in center]
Manufacturer: Unknown [Liberty Glass Company (1946-1954)]
Dating: [1952-1969] These bottles were likely in use from 1952 until the dissolution of the company in 1969. The eight-ounce bottles may not have been used until after the general cessation of local company identification about 1960. Few, if any, bottles would be marked with the El Paso designation after that date.
Collection(s): Rick Chavez Collection; author's collection.

Orangette
Orangette originally came in a bottle similar to the first Grapette bottle.

G 03
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 18.0 (h); 5.2 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: Black ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 6 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical
Front Description
Neck: Black ACL - Orangette (script - slight upward slant)
Body: Black ACL - Orangette (script - slight upward slant)/REG. U. S. PAT. OFF.
Back Description
Neck: Same as front
Body: Black ACL - INGREDIENTS/FILTERED WATER - SUGAR/ORANGE JUICE AND OIL/FLAVOR OF PEEL - CITRIC/ACID - CERTIFIED COLOR/LESS THAN 1/10 OF 1%/BENZOATE OF SODA./LICENSED BY/THE GRAPETTE COMPANY/CAMDEN, ARKANSAS/COPR - 1947 T.G. CO./BOTTLED BY GRAPETTE BOTTLING CO./EL PASO, TEXAS
Base: Embossed - J-in-a-keystone
Manufacturer: Knox Glass Company (1932-present)
Dating: [1941-1952] Containers of this type were probably bottled in El Paso from 1941 until about 1952.
Collection(s): Tom Leachman collection.

Tom Leachman

Lemonette
The Lemonette bottle was also similar.

G 04
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 18.0 (h); 5.2 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: Red ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 6 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical
Front Description
Neck: Red ACL - Lemonette (script - slight upward slant)
Body: Red ACL - CONTENTS 6 FL. OZ./Lemonette (script - upward slant)/REG. U. S. PAT. OFF./LEMON SODA
Back Description
Neck: Same as front
Body: Red ACL - INGREDIENTS/CARBONATED WATER/SUGAR - LEMON JUICE/AND OIL FLAVOR OF PEEL -/CITRIC ACID - CERTIFIED COLOR/LESS OF 1/10 OF 1%/BENZOATE OF SODA/LICENSED BY/THE GRAPETTE COMPANY/CAMDEN, ARKANSAS/COPR. 1947 T. G. CO./BOTTLED BY/GRAPETTE BOTTLING CO./SEDALIA, MISSOURI
Base: Embossed - I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a-diamond and Duraglass in script (after 1940)
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company (1929-1954)
Dating: [1947-1952] It is likely that this type of bottle was used between 1947 and 1952, although I have yet to find one with the El Paso designation.
Collection(s): Willie F. Tarrazas collection.

Willie Terrazas

Orangette/Lemonette
A second, later bottle was used for both Orangette and Lemonette with the identifying name on the bottle cap.

G 05
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 22.9 (h); 6.0 (d) front-to-back; 5.7 (d) side-to-side (bottle was oval in cross- section)
Primary Labeling Style: Black ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 8 oz. [10 oz.]
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with a series of embossed, stippled vertical terraces encircling the bottle and blank oval labeling areas in front and back; oval in cross-section
Front Description
Body: Black ACL - Orangette (upwardly slanted script)/Lemonette (upwardly slanted script)/TRADE MARK REG'D. [10 oz. - Orangette (upwardly slanted script)/Lemonette (upwardly slanted script)/REG. U. S. PAT. OFF.]
Back Description
Body: Black ACL - Small version of front logo/BOTTLED UNDER AUTHORITY OF/THE GRAPETTE COMPANY/CAMDEN, ARKANSAS/CONTENTS 8 FL. OZ. [10 oz. - INGREDIENTS/CARBONATED WATER/SUGAR-CITRUS JUICE AND OR/FLAVOR OF PEEL-CITRIC ACID/U. S. CERTIFIED COLOR/LESS THAN 1/10 OF 1% OF BENZOATE OF SODA/LICENSED BY/THE GRAPETTE COMPANY, INC./CAMDEN, ARKANSAS/COPR. 1962 T. G CO.]
Base: Embossed - 193 8-8/2/8 FL. OZ./J-in-a-keystone 8 53 [10 FL. OZ. and J-in-a-keystone]
Manufacturer: Knox Bottle Company (1932-1953)
Dating: [1952-1970] Bottles of this type were used from about 1952 until about 1970 (Bates et al 1996a:O-4).
Collection(s): Mike Morrison Collection, Las Cruces; author's collection.

Mike Morrison

Botl-o
Botl-o was also presented in eight- and twelve-ounce packages. Toward the end of the period, the neck logo was upwardly-slanted. In 1955, a similar bottle was developed with a red and white label, but it may only have been in use for two or three years and may not have been used in El Paso (Bates et al 1996a:B-21). I have not seen El Paso examples in eight-ounce sizes.

G 06
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Colorless
Size (in cm.): 24.4 (h); 6.0 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: White and Green ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 10 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical
Front Description
Neck/Shoulder: White ACL with BOTL-O in letters that expanded in height to the center of the word then contracted to return to the same size as the beginning
Body: Green ACL BOTL-O (large, open letters)/REG. U. S. PAT. OFF., on a scroll superimposed over a double circle of green fading into white
Back Description
Neck/Shoulder: Same as front
Body: White ACL - COPR. 1939 BY/B. T. FOOKS MFG. CO./TASTE (vertical open capitals)/The DIFFERENCE (upward arch)/BOTTLED BY/GRAPETTE BOTTLING CO./EL PASO, TEXAS. [below the word, DIFFERENCE was enameled MINIMUM CONTENTS 10 FLUID OUNCES. Portions of five other lines of printing appeared but were partially worn away leaving the message illegible.]
Base: Embossed - 54-B-10 upper part of circumference and CONT. 10 FL. OZS. in lower part with a T-in-a-keystone the center. [B-in-a-circle]
Manufacturer: Unknown [Brockway Glass Company (1925-present)]
Dating: [1941-1955] As the copyright date of 1939 suggests, Botl-o was almost certainly in production at the inception of the Grapette Bottling Company in El Paso in 1941, and these bottles were used until about 1955. Interestingly, the T-in-a-keystone bottles did not contain the dimples or protrusions usually present on ACL bottles to serve as a guide to place the enamel between the mold lines. As a result, some of the bottles have the labels superimposed on the mold marks.
Collection(s): Lawrence Angus collection; Mike Morrison Collection; author's collection.

Lawrence Angus

Mason's Root Beer
Mason's Root Beer was bottled in an amber container with a swelled neck–an obvious visual play on the word "beer" in the name.

G 07
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Amber
Size (in cm.): 22.1 (h); 6.1 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: Yellow and Red ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 10 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with irregular embossed horizontal ribs at shoulder and heel
Front Description
Neck: Yellow ACL - Mason's
Body: A yellow ACL rectangle enclosed a thick, red circle around a line drawing of a man behind a root beer keg. The word, MASON'S, appeared in the upper part of the circle with stars near the base, OLD FASHIONED across the barrel, and ROOT BEER in a red bar across the base of the rectangle. Stenciled into the upper right corner of the yellow background was CONTENTS, with 10 FL. OZS. in the left corner. [bottles without the El Paso designation sometimes lacked the content information on the front label]
Back Description
Neck: Same as front
Body: Yellow ACL - BOTTLED UNDER AUTHORITY OF MASON & MASON INC., CHICAGO, ILL./BOTTLED BY/GRAPETTE BOTTLING COMPANY/EL PASO, TEXAS [variation without the El Paso designation included CONTENTS 10 FL OZS/BOTTLED UNDER AUTHORITY OF MASON & MASON INC., CHICAGO, ILL.]
Base: Embossed - L-815/5 H superimposed on an Anchor 53/10 FL. OZ./7 [L-815/5 H superimposed on an Anchor 52/10 FL. OZ.]
Manufacturer: Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation (1938-present)
Dating: [late 1940s-mid-1950s] In general bottles of this type appeared in seven-, eight-, ten-, and thirty-two-ounce sizes and date from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s. Grapette first advertised Mason's in 1953, so the use-life of this bottle style in El Paso was probably short. I have only seen ten-ounce sizes from El Paso.
Collection(s): Mike Morrison Collection, Las Cruces; author's collection.

Mike Morrison

The replacement bottle covered an even greater variety of sizes, including seven-, eight-, ten-, twelve-, sixteen-, and thirty-two-ounce configurations. The bottles retained the same embossed style and general shape. The picture of the man behind the beer keg, however, was replaced with a large, stenciled "M" overlain with the word, Mason's, which also appeared on the neck. In some variations, the stenciled "M" logo appeared on the neck. Numerous variations of this bottle style appeared from the mid-1950s to at least the mid-1970s (Bates et al 1996a:M-4). In El Paso, however, the bottle style was probably used by Grapette from about 1956 to its discontinuance by the company about 1964.

Mr. Cola
Mr. Cola was a low calorie beverage produced by the Grapette franchise.

G 08
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Georgia Green
Size (in cm.): 28.1 (h); 6.5 (d) [24.3 (h); 6.4 (d)]
Primary Labeling Style: White and Red ACL [White ACL]
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 16 oz. [12 oz.]
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical
Front Description
Neck: Embossed around neck - Mr. Cola in Old English letters ["Mr."/®/Cola Jr. in Old English letters]
Neck/Shoulder: White ACL - "Mr."/®/Cola, again in Old English letters, followed by LOW CALORIE on a red ACL background [bare]
Body: White ACL - "Mr."/®/Cola/16 Ounces (all in Old English letters)/ ARTIFICIALLY SWEETENED/DIETETIC BEVERAGE ["Mr."/®/Cola Jr. (Old English letters)/12 FLUID OUNCES/LICENSED BY THE GRAPETTE CO., INC. CAMDEN, ARK.]
Back Description
Neck: See front
Neck/Shoulder: Same as front
Body: White ACL - Contains Carbonated Water, Caramel Color,/Citrus and Other Essential Oils, Gum Acacia,/Flavored with Decocainized Coca Leaf and/other plant extractives, Phosphoric Acid, Caf-/feine, ¼ of 1% Sodium Cyclamate, 1/100 of/1% Saccharin (Non-Nutritive Artificial/Sweeteners which should be used only by per-/sons who must restrict their intake of ordi-/nary sweets.) NO fat or protein. 1/6 Calorie per fl./oz. (Less than 3 Calories per bottle)/NET CONTENTS 16 FL. OZS./LICENSED BY/THE GRAPETTE COMPANY, INC./CAMDEN, ARKANSAS [same as front]
Base: Embossed - 16 FL. OZ./LG/432-6/63 [[c-in-a-circle]/CONTENTS 12 FL. OZS./1257]
Manufacturer: Liberty Glass Company (1954-present) [Chattanooga Glass Company (1925- present)]
Dating: [1963-ca. 1970] Mr. Cola was first advertised by Empire/Grapette in 1964, so bottles of this type were likely used between 1963 and the termination of Empire/Grapette in 1969. This corresponds closely with the national usage from about 1960 to about 1970. Mr. Cola was also offered in ten- and twelve-ounce packages (Bates et al 1996a:M-17-18).
Collection(s): Willies F. Tarrazas collection; author's collection.


	Willie Terrazas

Dad's Old Fashioned Root Beer
Although the parent company, Dad's Root Beer Company (Chicago, Illinois), was founded in 1937, Dad's Old Fashioned Root Beer first appeared in an Empire ad in 1964 but may have been bottled by the company somewhat earlier. Dad's came in a variety of sizes including the half- gallon "Papa" size, full-quart "Mama," "Big Daddy," "Big Junior," twelve-ounce "Junior," ten- ounce "Junior," and seven-ounce "Junior." Dad's was later bottled in El Paso by Barq's Dr Pepper, Dr Pepper, Magnolia Coca-Cola, and finally Kalil.

"Junior" Size

G 09
Method of Manufacture: Machine
Color: Amber
Size (in cm.): 20.4 (h); 5.6 (d)
Primary Labeling Style: Yellow, Blue, and Red ACL
Finish: Crown
Capacity: 7 oz.
Overall Bottle Design: Cylindrical with short shoulder and short swelled (beer-style) neck
Front Description
Neck: "Junior"
Shoulder: Embossed - DAD'S around shoulder
Body: A red-outlined rectangle with a yellow diagonal message area flanked on top and bottom by blue triangles. The top triangle contained a line drawing of the bust of a boy with a bow tie next to the words, "JUNIOR/SIZE," both in yellow. The central yellow area contained the word, DAD'S, stenciled to reveal the amber background. This was followed by Old Fashioned (script) in red, then ROOT BEER again stenciled. Printed in the bottom blue area was CONTENTS/7 FLUID OZS.
Back Description
Neck: Yellow ACL - DAD'S
Shoulder: See front
Body: A slanted yellow ACL polygon with "DAD'S Family (script)/½ GAL. "PAPA" SIZE/FULL QT. "MAMA' SIZE/BIG "JUNIOR" SIZE followed by, BOTTLED UNDER LICENSE OF/DAD'S ROOT BEER CO./CHICAGO, U. S. A./BOTTLED BY/DAD'S ROOT BEER BOTTLING CO./LUFKIN, TEXAS.
Base: Embossed - I-in-an-oval-superimposed-on-a-diamond [GC]
Manufacturer: Owens Illinois Glass Company (1929-1954) [Glass Container Corporation (1934-1967)] (Giarde 1980:45-46)
Dating: [1960?-ca. 1970] Bottles of this type were used nationally from the late 1940s to about 1970 and in El Paso from sometime prior to 1964 to an unknown later date. About 1960, Dad's changed from the amber bottle to a colorless container. (see section on Barq's for sixteen-ounce size)
Collection(s): Mike Morrison collection; Willies F. Tarrazas collection.

Mike Morrison

Table of Contents
Chapter 6a - R. F. Johnson, Henry Pfaff, and Southwestern Liquor Co.