These photos illustrate a neat little bit of Coca-Cola history. Each gives a step-by-step instruction to their truck drivers for the proper delivery of bottled Coca-Cola to a customer’s vending machine. It’s very interesting to see the procedures of the time, as well as the setting and other vending devices that were used. Note the driver’s uniform as well, he looks presentable enough to enter any business establishment. (We apologize, but Step 2 seems to have gotten misplaced over the years.)

The machine featured in these photos is a Mills 47-N. It was manufactured from 1939 to 1945 and has a 104-bottle vending capacity. It has the distinctive cathedral top and two-tone (red and green) paint. This machine was made by the Mills Novelty Company of Chicago, Illinois, the largest manufacturer of coin-operated machines until they closed in 1953.

Vintage Cups, Glasses and Mugs

In our blogs, we’ve been featuring a different promotional or corporate restaurantware product made over the years. This is another in the group of cool retro cups, glasses or mugs from our large collection. Here we’ll be sharing what we’ve learned about it and we welcome your additional input and comments.

This is a paper cup from Manners Big Boy. The Big Boy franchise is one of many that sprung from the hugely successful Bob’s Big Boy restaurant begun in 1936 in Glendale, California. The concept expanded into a chain with locations across the country. Today there are seven states where you can still find a Big Boy restaurant.

The franchise called Manners Big Boy was located in Northeastern Ohio. The first location, near Cleveland, opened in 1939. It was the first California-type fastfood drive-in to appear in that area. They grew to more than 30 restaurants in Ohio, and had over 300 locations in countries other than the U.S. The Manners chain was purchased by Marriott in 1968.

This 6-ounce paper cup is called a “Handi-Handle Cup”. Mostly likely intended for small children, it has a handle built into it that lies flat until you pull it out to use it. This cup was manufactured by Sutherland Paper Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Santa Clara, California. In the 1950s the company became the KVP Sutherland Co., so this cup probably was made in the late 40s or early 50s. The pastel color is very reflective of the style of that time.

Vendo was founded in 1937 in Kansas City, Missouri. Their initial product line consisted of chest coolers, but after WWII they became known for their upright vending machines, which were made exclusively for the Coca-Cola Company. This chest cooler is one of the earliest—if not one of the first chest coolers made by Vendo.

This cooler is embossed for Cleo Cola, a soft drink that was introduced in 1935 by the Whistle soda company. Cleo Cola was named after the cigar favored by the company’s owner (presumably Antonio y Cleopatra cigars, manufactured since 1879). Advertising for the soda featured Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, which may explain the use of what then was considered an “oriental” typeface.

In addition to the photo of the Cleo Cola chest cooler, there are also photos of artist renditions of the Vendo chest and an additional cooler embossed with the Coca-Cola logo, in what appears to be an office. Perhaps this gentleman is a Vendo Company executive. In this last picture, it is possible to see the top of the machine with the rotating vending mechanism. This chest cooler represents an early version of the soda vending machines that Vendo continued to develop and became famous for.

Manufactured by:

The Vendo Company
Kansas City, Missouri

Vintage Cups, Glasses and Mugs

In our blogs, we’ve been featuring a different promotional or corporate restaurantware product made over the years. This is another in the group of cool retro cups, glasses or mugs from our large collection. Here we’ll be sharing what we’ve learned about it and we welcome your additional input and comments.

This is a Squirt soda fountain glass, copyright 1948. It is about 5 ¼ inches high. There aren’t any markings to determine the manufacturer. It’s a soda fountain glass that advertises Squirt soda.

Squirt is a grapefruit-flavored soft drink that was first introduced in 1938. This carbonated fruit drink was created by Herb Bishop of Dallas, Texas. The character featured on the glass is called “Little Squirt” and was created by Bishop and his partner, Ed Mehren in 1941. Squirt continues to be one of the best-selling grapefruit drinks in the U.S. today.

Here is a photo of a Vendo Ark Pie ice cream vendor. I really do not know much about this machine or what an Ark Pie is, but I thought it was a neat picture. If anyone is familiar with this machine or what an Ark Pie is, please blog-in and let us know.

Manufactured by:

The Vendo Company
Kansas City, Missouri

This is an eye-catching cooler manufactured for dispensing and promoting the sales of Coca-Cola in bottles and cans. It was manufactured in the 1960s by the Beverage-Air Company of South Carolina. It has a very large capacity, with 12 display racks. There are two glass doors that open to provide access to the cold the Coca-Cola. These large glass panels also keep the product visible, making it easy for the customer to find what they’re looking for. There is plenty of space for Coca-Cola in 6-packs and cans, as well as other Coke products such as Tab and Sprite.

The signage is illuminated and, combined with the clearly marked six-packs within, make this refrigerated cabinet a clever merchandising tool. As this ad states, “Every inch of width is equal to one cubic foot of effective signage and display space”.

Manufactured by:

Beverage-Air Company
Spartanburg, S. Carolina