Heard it through the
Grapevine Coke Serves Sex to America It did 120 years ago, and still does, via the internet By Ralph Finch Selling March 21 by Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers of Los Angeles was Lot 257, an attractive “Coca-Cola Topless Girl” serving tray. It was described (edited) as being from the private collection of James Harrison Ring. It was “issued between 1905-08 by the Chicago-based Western Coca-Cola Bottling Co., a parent bottler working with franchised operations, and not company-distributed by Coca-Cola in Atlanta. The tray was specifically created to advertise Coca-Cola as a mixer in cocktails, hence ‘Drink Coca-Cola High Balls’ and ‘Drink Coca-Cola Gin Rickies’ as seen in the 10:00 and 2:00 position on tray’s edge with ‘Drink Coca-Cola’ at the 6:00 position.” “Further, surrounding the appealing topless figure the copy reads, ‘Wherever Ginger Ale, Seltzer or Soda is Good, Coca-Cola is Better - Try It.’ Edge of tray boasts a foliate design of gold on green accented with roses inside a cartouche. Tray manufactured by H.D.Beach & Co. Vienna Art Plates, which often were used by companies for point of sale materials. “Obviously such an image ran counter to Coca-Cola’s wholesome branding, but Western Bottling knew how to generate interest. In overall fine condition, with only scattered scratches and some paint loss, and oxidation mostly at the 2:00 and 5:00 positions and some areas of paint loss and oxidation on verso — 12¼" in diameter, scarce, and a very desirablepiece for collectors. Estimated value $1,800 and up.” (The serving plate sold for $2,200, plus a buyers premium of 20 percent.)
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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector
Editor’s note: Wikipedia adds this related information: “The first known ‘Exhibition Girl’ Coca-Cola calendar was issued by the company in 1891. But by the first decade of the 20th century, the company copyrighted stunning images of popular, beautiful models and entertainers and enlisted some of the finest printers in the nation. Antique calendars are some of the most prized treasures by collectors due to how rare most are and certainly how beautiful.”
r Warning: What follows may offend some readers. While searching the internet to locate the sexy Coke plate’s selling price, I was amazed at how many X-rated porn sites popped up (pardon the pun) involving naked women and Coca-Cola. After that, every time I see a Coke bottle I will blush.
New Mexico Hutchinson Soda Bottle Book - Revised Edition Buyers of the original book will get a free revised edition FARMINGTON, N.M. – Zang Wood and Bill Lockhart in 2018 published a wellresearched book, New Mexico Hutchinson Soda Bottles, only to discover nearly two years later they had accidentally left out an important chapter. So they published a second edition containing the chapter on Silver City, New Mexico, Hutchinsons within its 130 pages. They have mailed copies of the revised work to all of the buyers of the first edition at no charge. If anyone else is interested in adding the book to their library, they should contact Wood at 1612 Camino Rio, Farmington, New Mexico, 87401 for more information. He also can be reached by email at zapa33-51@msn.com.
