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.) 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.”

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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.

Heard it through the Grapevine

The Southern Cross from the Southern Hemisphere

Reported by our mate, Ralph Finch

Ending April 25 and auctioned by ABCR Auctions of Victoria, Australia, was this 1880s “I. J. K. Cohn / Southern Cross / & / Coolgardie // Acme Patent / 4 / Sole Makers / Dan Rylands Ld / Barnsley.”

Its condition was “very good. Polished. No marble in this bottle. Fold to rear lip from making. Remains of etching around the embossing and a patch or two internally as well. Embossing is a bit flattened from the polish, but still looks quite good. Not sure I have seen another in this bright blue colour before.”

It was offered with a reserve of $3,000, and estimated value of $5,000-$7,500 Australian. It sold for $6,000 Australian (that’s $3,898 U.S.) with 47 bids. Travis Dunn, the main man at ABCR auctions, commented, “Australia has very few coloured codd bottles, and those that are known are invariably rare. Therefore, any time a coloured codd comes on the open market, it is highly sought after by the multitude of keen collectors across the country.

“The I. J. K. Cohn, Southern Cross and Coolgardie Acme Patent codd in the last ABCR auction was a bright, pure blue colour which was a bit unusual. We have sold a few others in the past, but they have been a different colour with a green tinge to the blue; this pure blue one is the first we have seen for sale.

“In auction 39 we had the other colour in really good polished condition which sold for around $10,000 AU. This pure blue example in auction 40 made $6,000, which collectors have suggested since was on the cheap side.”

Want a Cap Pitcher? Then Picture this

By Ralph Finch

Selling May 2 by Jasper52 of Manhattan was this likely unique folk art pitcher made from bottle caps. Honest! But what happened to the bottles? Estimated by Jasper at $300-$400, it later was offered for $225, plus a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Jasper52, by the way, claims to offer weekly auctions in twenty-plus categories, and “presents expertly curated antique, vintage and collectible goods focusing on the rare and exceptional.”