Results: The Fizz on Soda - The History of Soda Fountains & Medicinal Beverages

Success did not occur until the swing stopper was invented. This important closure was invented and patented first by Charles de Quillfeldt of New York City on January 5, 1875. The design was intended initially for beverage bottles. I have large Maple Syrup Bottles with the swing stopper. Do you have any products with swing stoppers?

William Painter invented the crown bottle cap in 1892. Crown caps, both pry-offs and twist-offs, are still used today. Although bottled carbonated beverages were already popular by the 1880s, there was a constant problem with stoppers and bottle caps. They lacked reliability because they did not seal the beverage sufficiently, causing liquids and carbonated gases to leak. Determined to prevent beverages from being ruined, Painter invented the Crown Cork bottle cap. The Crown Cork had a corrugated-flange edge and was lined with a thin cork disc and a special paper backing to seal the bottle and prevent contact between the metal cap and the drink. It was simple, economical to produce, and leakproof. After working with bottling manufacturers to develop a universal neck, Painter invented and patented all the machinery needed to manufacture the caps. He successfully launched the Crown Cork and Seal Company in 1892 to manufacture and market the cap and a bottling and capping system. Were you aware of William Painter and his accomplishments?

In the early 1800s soda drinks were being produced in England. In 1866 Frank Hervey installed the first soda fountain in Exeter, New Hampshire. From the early 20th Century up until the 1960s, it was common for small-town residents and big-city dwellers to enjoy carbonated beverages at local soda fountains and ice cream saloons. Often housed together with pharmacies, the ornate, baroque soda fountain counter served as a meeting place for people of all ages and became especially popular as a legal place to gather during Prohibition. By the 1920s, just about every Pharmacy had a soda fountain. Today most people refer to Pharmacies as Drug Stores. Have you ever been to Exeter, New Hampshire?

Most of the big sodas we are familiar with today were invented by Pharmacists and sold in Pharmacies in the United States. They started out as patent medicines meant to cure certain ailments such as indigestion, impotence, headaches, and various psychological disorders. The Pharmacists knowledge of chemistry and chemical reactions allowed for the creation of drinks that combined syrup concentrate, ice cream, carbon dioxide, and water. The result was flavored sodas, sundaes and ice cream sodas, and treats like the banana split, which was invented by a pharmacist in Pennsylvania. Early pharmacists were also instrumental in the creation of commercial soft drinks. Have you ordered at a Soda Fountain...