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This amber Coca-Cola bottle originates from Chattanooga, Tennessee. It stands 7.75 inches tall and measures 2.25 inches in diameter at the base. The bottle is classified as a straight-sided, crown-top type, typical of early Coca-Cola bottling designs.
The cast relief lettering that is discernible includes:
COCA-COLA in stylized script across the shoulder area, followed by TRADEMARK REGISTERED beneath ~ PROPERTY OF COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. embossed near the base, indicating the bottle's ownership.
CHATTANOOGA, TENN. also appears embossed near the lower part of the bottle, specifying the city of the bottling plant.
The underside base of the bottle features a distinctive embossed mark, a diamond shape surrounding the letter "J" perhaps indicating a manufacturer.
CONDITION REPORT > Case wear to the cast relief letters ~ Mild fracture of sorts at the base beneath "CHATTANOOGA" ~ Mark, blemishes, scratched ~ Expect varying elements relative to age, handling, material and early production methods.
History of the Chattanooga, Tennessee Coca-Cola Bottling Company
The Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Company holds a significant place in the history of Coca-Cola bottling, as it was the site of the first-ever Coca-Cola bottling franchise. Its story dates back to 1899, when two Chattanooga lawyers, Benjamin Thomas and Joseph B. Whitehead, secured an agreement that would change the beverage industry forever.
In 1899, Thomas and Whitehead approached Asa Candler, who owned The Coca-Cola Company at the time. They proposed the idea of bottling Coca-Cola to allow for wider distribution beyond soda fountains. Candler, who initially focused on selling the Coca-Cola syrup for use in soda fountains, was skeptical about the viability of bottling the product. However, he agreed to sell Thomas and Whitehead the rights to bottle Coca-Cola in most of the United States (excluding a few territories) for just $1. This agreement became the foundation of the global Coca-Cola bottling system, allowing Coca-Cola to be enjoyed far from its place of origin in Atlanta.
Thomas and Whitehead then partnered with John T. Lupton, another Chattanooga businessman, who provided additional capital and expertise to establish the bottling operations. Together, they set up the first Coca-Cola bottling plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and began the process of bottling the syrup with carbonated water to produce ready-to-drink Coca-Cola.
The success of the Chattanooga bottling plant quickly proved the potential of bottling Coca-Cola. It enabled mass distribution to rural areas and smaller towns that did not have access to soda fountains. As a result, Thomas, Whitehead, and Lupton began licensing additional bottling operations across the country, creating a network of bottlers that replicated the Chattanooga plant’s process.
Chattanooga’s role as the birthplace of Coca-Cola bottling is commemorated as a pivotal moment in the company's expansion. The bottling system allowed Coca-Cola to become a nationwide product, eventually growing into the global brand recognized today. The success of the Chattanooga franchise paved the way for the Coca-Cola contour bottle, which was introduced in 1915 to create a distinctive look and prevent counterfeiting, further solidifying the identity of the brand.
The original bottling rights agreement signed in Chattanooga is one of the most famous contracts in the history of the beverage industry, as it shaped the structure of Coca-Cola’s business model and transformed the way soft drinks were distributed. The Chattanooga plant continued to operate as a part of the larger Coca-Cola bottling network and maintained a significant historical role in the company’s legacy.
In later years, as the Coca-Cola bottling system consolidated and modernized, the Chattanooga plant evolved with new production methods, but its place as the starting point of Coca-Cola bottling remains a celebrated part of both Chattanooga’s local history and the larger story of Coca-Cola’s rise as a global icon.
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