Deliciously Different!

Deliciously Different!, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Created in 1866 by Detroit pharmacist James Vernor, Vernor's Ginger Ale is the oldest surviving ginger ale brand in the United States. After opening his own drugstore on Woodward Avenue, Vernor began selling bottling franchises for his popular drink, city by city. Primarily a regional drink (and it remains most popular in Michigan, northeastern Ohio, and Southern Ontario), Vernor's became a national brand in the 1980's. Although, now I think of it, it's still kind of hard to find!

This vintage Vernor's sign is on display in the Museum Of Science and Industry, in Chicago.

Cheer Up

Cheer Up, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Made by the Orange Smile Syrup Company of St. Louis, Cheer Up was one of the innumerable locally bottled soft drinks that were around in the 1930's. I would wager that this sign is from about then, maybe immediately post war. I found it on the wall of an old building on the west side of Aurora, Illinois that I believe was a corner grocery at one time.

As always, it pays to get out of the car and wander around.

Enjoy Sprite!

Enjoy Sprite!, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Of all the pop brands out there, the one you usually see being used as a store sign somewhere is Coke, followed by Pepsi. Other things show up, but are few and far between compared to the Big Two. This one's a sixties Sprite sign, advertising a grocery store in Rockford, Illinois. I've only ever seen one of these old Sprite signs, up north near Wisconsin, perched on top of an old gas station in the middle of nowhere.

I think it's pretty cool, especially with the stars in the middle section, and it's in fantastic shape.

Pokagon Pop

Pokagon, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

An old, and kind of rare, Pokagon Pop bottle I found at the flea market. Bottled in Angola, Indiana, Pokagon was a regional favorite for many years, and came in all sorts of flavors. Named after the Potawatomi chief who befriended area settlers, Pokagon was bottled between 1925-ish and the 1970's. I don't think I ever had any-we seldom traveled to northwest Indiana and I may have not been born when it went out of production. I'm told it was very good, though.

I shoulda bought this bottle, too.