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.

What today has become the number one selling root beer nationally started at a roadside stand in Lodi, California. In 1919 Roy Allen sold root beer to people attending a parade that was held to honor returning WWI veterans. His soft drink beverage was so popular he took on a partner and opened a second roadside stand in Sacramento. Until 1971 A&W Root Beer was only available in A&W Restaurants. The soda was first sold in bottles and cans in 1971 starting in Arizona and California. By 1986 A&W soda was being distributed nationally. In 1995 Cadbury Schweppes of London acquired the A&W brand.

This A&W Root Beer paper cup was most likely manufactured for use in an A&W Restaurant from the late 1970s to early 1980s. The colors are very reflective of the orange/brown combination that was popular at the time. The image of the contiguous United States indicates the national distribution of A&W Root Beer.