AS I grew up during WW2 we didn't have sodas or candy. Sugar was rationed so none of that stuff was available. But beer bottles had a deposit, a penny for small & a nickle for quarts. So my buddy Joe & I prowled the ditches along side the roads for bottles. We would trade them in & could buy 22 shells for 50 cents. 16 gauge shot shells were $1.25. this was in 1944.
1940 - 1950 Soft Drinks
- Thread starter jimmyj
- Start date
Nesbitts is another that I remember that I hadn't seen mentioned.
When I was in college I had a summer job at a local bottling plant. The equipment was made in the 40s or 50s. All returnable bottles, which were prone to explode when being filled with the carbonated water. Our mint ginger ale actually had a tiny bit of grain alcohol (not listed as an ingredient) in it. The formula for the mint came from Wrigleys. There was a sight glass on the syrup dispenser and when the syrup for a batch was running low they would stop the line, drain the system and switch to the next flavor. When the Cream Soda was being drained I would take a few clean bottles and catch the syrup & run it through the capper. My Mom and I would put the syrup on Vanilla ice cream.
When I was in college I had a summer job at a local bottling plant. The equipment was made in the 40s or 50s. All returnable bottles, which were prone to explode when being filled with the carbonated water. Our mint ginger ale actually had a tiny bit of grain alcohol (not listed as an ingredient) in it. The formula for the mint came from Wrigleys. There was a sight glass on the syrup dispenser and when the syrup for a batch was running low they would stop the line, drain the system and switch to the next flavor. When the Cream Soda was being drained I would take a few clean bottles and catch the syrup & run it through the capper. My Mom and I would put the syrup on Vanilla ice cream.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
Let's go back before bottles at the soda fountain with the paper cup in the stainless cup holder. Cokes were $0.10 mixed fresh with syrup and selzer.
I got a huge milky way candy bar for 5 cents. We walked miles to the soda fountain but on that sugar high we had no problem running home. Those were the 50's.
I got a huge milky way candy bar for 5 cents. We walked miles to the soda fountain but on that sugar high we had no problem running home. Those were the 50's.
How about Squirt, good stuff, Fanta NASTY stuff
BLACKHAWKNJ
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Lot's of vanished local brands. I recall Kisco Cola from Mount Kisco,NY
around 1960. Also recall-from the NYC-New Jersey-Philadelphia area Hoffman's, Cott's-"It's Cott to be good.", Frank's. Trenton, NJ had the
the E.L. Kerns bottling company, their logo was-yes-an elk. Their cream soda was red,I recall I found that very perverse until years later I learned about food coloring. Also Clicquot Club. In Allentown, PA there is the A Treat Soda company, they still used cane sugar. I recall the sodamachines in the movie theaters that mixed the soda in front of you like a fountain soda.
The vending machines I like were the ones that held the bottles in racks in an ice water bath. You deposited your coins then pulled your bottle out of the now opened rack. Putting your hand into that cold water on a boiling hot summer day often felt better than drinking the soda.
around 1960. Also recall-from the NYC-New Jersey-Philadelphia area Hoffman's, Cott's-"It's Cott to be good.", Frank's. Trenton, NJ had the
the E.L. Kerns bottling company, their logo was-yes-an elk. Their cream soda was red,I recall I found that very perverse until years later I learned about food coloring. Also Clicquot Club. In Allentown, PA there is the A Treat Soda company, they still used cane sugar. I recall the sodamachines in the movie theaters that mixed the soda in front of you like a fountain soda.
The vending machines I like were the ones that held the bottles in racks in an ice water bath. You deposited your coins then pulled your bottle out of the now opened rack. Putting your hand into that cold water on a boiling hot summer day often felt better than drinking the soda.
gregintenn
Member
Tab?
Choc-Ola
We have a local distributor who sells Double Cola. They also have a lemon lime soda called Ski. In a small glass bottle, a Ski beats the socks off a mountain dew or mellow yellow.
Anybody here ever drink a Ski?
Choc-Ola
We have a local distributor who sells Double Cola. They also have a lemon lime soda called Ski. In a small glass bottle, a Ski beats the socks off a mountain dew or mellow yellow.
Anybody here ever drink a Ski?
I don't know it it was a regional thing.
But I do remember when they started giving 2 cents for bottles which pretty much doubled our money for collecting bottles. That used to be downright profitable when a lot of candy cost 1 to 5 cents.
But I do remember when they started giving 2 cents for bottles which pretty much doubled our money for collecting bottles. That used to be downright profitable when a lot of candy cost 1 to 5 cents.
After Squirt and Dr. Pepper Dad added Bubble-Up.
It started back in the 1920s.
Had a really clean, slightly tart taste.
It started back in the 1920s.
Had a really clean, slightly tart taste.
gregintenn
Member
If your neck's red and your feet stink,
Bubba cola is the one to drink!
luangtom
US Veteran
Surely do....I am dated.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
I go way back, and certainly remember cork-lined bottle caps, but I don't recall ever seeing Nehi Peach. Lots of grape and orange, but never peach.
george minze
Member
I have Vernon's and Yahoo in the fridge as we speak. I have always bought Vernon's, and drank Yahoo as a kid that was a Loooong time ago. Didn't know it was still being made until about two years ago....
george minze
Member
You didn't say what year you were in e.Ohio but when i was there.In the early 50's their was a regional diary in Youngstown call Isaly's Dairy...Good hand packed ice cream..I worked as a kid in the freezer room. .75 cents per hour and all you could eat...Even that got old..
Although it costs more, you can buy Coke at Costco that's made in Mexico with pure cane sugar. I agree it's better tasting.
Bullzaye
US Veteran
I grew up there in the 60's and 70's. Graduated in '78, left Ohio to join the USAF.
Yep, I surely remember Isaly's. My Father (and my Uncle, my cousin, and my older brother) worked at the U.S. Steel plant in Youngstown (until they closed), but we lived in Greenford. Nearby Columbiana had an Isaly's location there. I believe I still have an old Isaly's milk bottle, with the enlarged cream "bowl" area at the top.
I can't say I remember their products...I think most of them had closed before I was very old. Do you recall Handel's Ice Cream? Another local company, fairly small by comparison. Not a dairy, but they serve excellent ice cream. They're still in the area, and growing.
Bib said:
This may explain why drinking mint ginger ale always made us feel better when we were sick!
Tim
Last edited:
Good old memories.....................
Did you ever take real care in taking the cork from a bottle top, into just one piece and then...................
putting the cap in the front of your t-shirt and the cork under neat it and pressing it into the cap, so you now had...........
A "COOL" looking what ever, stuck to your shirt ?
Today in Utah the new "Thing" is Ruby Red Squirt............
later.
Did you ever take real care in taking the cork from a bottle top, into just one piece and then...................
putting the cap in the front of your t-shirt and the cork under neat it and pressing it into the cap, so you now had...........
A "COOL" looking what ever, stuck to your shirt ?
Today in Utah the new "Thing" is Ruby Red Squirt............
later.
eaglebeaver
Member
double cola
cheerwine
fanta orange
fanta grape
cheerwine
fanta orange
fanta grape
radar1972, I would have never remembered doing this as a kid if not for your post. Funny how certain things stir a memory. Thanks for the memory.
Joe
franzas
Member
I guess my favorite "retro" drink other than Coke has to be Big Red.
I remember being a kid in NC we would go to this Tex-Mex place called South of the Border. I always got a Big Red. Great food and soda. (late '90s)
I remember being a kid in NC we would go to this Tex-Mex place called South of the Border. I always got a Big Red. Great food and soda. (late '90s)
nuguy
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I can remember leaving home in the 50's and walking to the next little town (about 4 Mile) but we could find enough bottles on the way to get a soda for the walk home. I usually got Lotta Cola, It was the biggest bottle. I saw some of these mentioned.
Attachments
You can still get it in Texas. Whenever I go to San Antonio to visit my folks I always pick up enough to last till my next visit. I drink the sugar free version & sometimes you can find it in cans. I prefer the two liter bottles which you can also find here in OKC, but not the sugar free version. Go figure!
SgtLumpy
Member
As others have pointed out, Mexican Coca Cola is cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.
"Jarritos" is cane sugar cola from Mexico as well. It's a different brand and formula from CocaCola. It's the largest selling drink in Mexico. Any city here in the US that has any kind of significant Mexican population will probably have Jarritos at Kroger/Safeway/Ralphs etc.
One nice thing about cane sugar cola is you can chill it a little colder than corn syrup cola. The sugar keeps it from freezing. 31 degree cane sugar cola...Mmmm Muy Bueno!
Sgt Lumpy
Ogandydancer
Member
We had two Non-carbonated orange drinks in my area, TrueAide and Pal I liked pal best. I thought it had a better flavor and it had a red heart on the bottle. We also had some flavor drinks brand named Caravan (they all had a pic. of an oasis and a palm tree on the bottle), they had Cream Soda, Strawberry, Peach, and an Orange, my favorite was their spicy Ginger Ale. Someone else mentioned Blenhiems I think it's still made in S.C. I would always get one of their spicy Ginger Ales every time we would go to the beach.
The only two flavors I can remember Nehi having was Grape and Orange didn't like the orange and the Grapette Grape was a lot better than Nehi.
I had a cousin that drank nothing but Dr. Pepper. Their slogan was Dr. Pepper at Ten and Two and Four Each Day.
I faintly remember the Pepsi Clear I don't think it went over like they hoped cause it is now gone.
The only two flavors I can remember Nehi having was Grape and Orange didn't like the orange and the Grapette Grape was a lot better than Nehi.
I had a cousin that drank nothing but Dr. Pepper. Their slogan was Dr. Pepper at Ten and Two and Four Each Day.
I faintly remember the Pepsi Clear I don't think it went over like they hoped cause it is now gone.
mafuta54
Member
How about "SIMBA" to quench the African thirst.
I've found Jarritos at Buy For Less here in OKC. When I feel the need for a sugared pop, they have a Mango flavored soda that's great.
I don't think I've seen Faygo mentioned yet. The only place I ever saw it was in Arkansas. It came in a bunch of different flavors that were pretty good. Pretty strange name though!
vigil617
US Veteran
Anyone here ever heard of a soft drink called Spur?
My dad, who grew up in North Carolina in the 30s and 40s, now and then would sing us kids a jingle about Spur that he remembered from the radio. For some reason, it stuck in my mind.
Oh I prefer Spur, oh yeah, oh yeah,
The quality drink oh yeah, oh yeah,
Quality buy, Canada Dry,
That's what we spend our nickels fer.
Giddyup Napoleon, it looks like Spur!
Yeeeeeeooooooooyeah!
Never heard of it otherwise, and just wondered if anyone else knows of it.
My dad, who grew up in North Carolina in the 30s and 40s, now and then would sing us kids a jingle about Spur that he remembered from the radio. For some reason, it stuck in my mind.
Oh I prefer Spur, oh yeah, oh yeah,
The quality drink oh yeah, oh yeah,
Quality buy, Canada Dry,
That's what we spend our nickels fer.
Giddyup Napoleon, it looks like Spur!
Yeeeeeeooooooooyeah!
Never heard of it otherwise, and just wondered if anyone else knows of it.
yepper...............don't be a dork.....drink the soda with a cork
nehi came in a six bottle carton with assorted flavors.............cream soda was my favorite.......
SgtLumpy
Member
It Hasta be Shasta...
We used to buy a case of 24 alum cans with the ring top pulls that would come off. Case was $1 at Pelliseer drive through dairy in SoCal in the 60s. Cola, Root Beer, Orange, Lemon Lime.
Sgt Lumpy
We used to buy a case of 24 alum cans with the ring top pulls that would come off. Case was $1 at Pelliseer drive through dairy in SoCal in the 60s. Cola, Root Beer, Orange, Lemon Lime.
Sgt Lumpy
