Coca-Cola began advertising its products on clocks in 1893, when such novelty advertisements were increasingly common. Coke would distribute branded clocks to sellers who bought and sold at least 100 gallons of Coca-Cola syrup per year.
The first Coca-Cola clocks were made by the Baird Clock Company of Plattsburgh, New York, and had big, round faces with Roman numerals. The first ones were generally blue rather than red, and they measured about two feet tall. Unlike the electric clocks that were to follow several decades later, they were key-wound.
At $2.75 each, clocks were relatively expensive to produce, but Coca-Cola made the investment knowing that, because of their usefulness, advertising clocks would stay on display in a store long after posters or other items had been discarded...
These early Coca-Cola clocks often bore slogans like “The Ideal Brain Tonic,” or “Delicious, Refreshing, Relieves Exhaustion.” Soon, however, simpler slogans like “Drink Coca-Cola” and “Delicious, Refreshing” became standard. Because these statements were more generic, they also helped prevent the clocks from becoming outdated or irrelevant.
In 1900, Coca-Cola switched to schoolhouse clocks, which were manufactured by companies like Welch Manufacturing. These clocks had octagonal faces, were pendulum-driven, and featured ornate engravings on their wood cases.
Five years later, schoolhouse clocks gave way to large, rectangular regulator clocks. These often had the same type of face as the schoolhouse clocks but had two panels on them—a top panel with the clock itself and a bottom panel with an illustration. One example, from 1911, has been nicknamed the “Gibson Girl” clock because its illustration of a girl in the bottom panel that resembles the artwork of the illustrator Charles Dana Gibson. In addition to these wall clocks, Coke distributed clocks meant to be displayed on the top of a store’s cash register.
Around the same time, until about 1920, Coca-Cola also produced small table and desk clocks for the home. Some of these were wind-up clocks and sported leather casing and gold-stamped lettering. Whereas store clocks often simply said, “Drink Coca-Cola,” desk and table clocks frequently emphasized drinking Coca-Cola in bottles, which could be purchased and served in the home. These clocks had slogans like “Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles” and “Drink Bottles, So Easily Served.” One such clock from about 1910 was even shaped like a bottle, with a clock face mounted in the front.
In the 1930s, and especially after World War II, Coke switched from pendulum clocks to cheaper, more reliable electric clocks. On these clocks, the Coke logo was placed either on the actual face of the clock or on the glass over the face. These clocks were made of wood and metal at first, but by the 1950s, plastic was more common. These later clocks were generally not dated and were produced by a variety of manufacturers, so collectors must rely on slogans, designs, and materials to identify the year or decade in which a clock was produced.
Interviews & Articles
Coca-Cola's Historian and Archivist Talks About His Favorite Frosty Beverage

As the archivist for Coca-Cola, I’m interested in preserving the history of this company. Integrally tied to that history are all … [more]
The Timeless Appeal of the Westclock Big and Baby Bens

How did I get interested in clocks? Something about them has always been ingrained in me. My mom’s father had a small collection o… [more]
At Home with Vintage Coca-Cola Collector Ray Kilinski

I started collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia back in the early 1970s. I was working the night shift at a company, and as I walked ho… [more]
The Care and Repair of 19th-Century American Clocks

I was working as a jewelry department manager for a department store, and I had a customer who brought a clock in for repair. I wa… [more]
Coca-Cola Author Doug McCoy on the Beverage Company's Bottles

My grandfather got me started collecting bottles when I was about eight years old. A couple of years later, I was walking along a … [more]
Coca-Cola Collector Bobby Liao Explains Why Things Go Better With Coke

I started collecting Coca-Cola in 1994. The World Cup soccer games were being hosted at the Stanford Stadium and I saw Coke bottle… [more]
San Fran Fizzes Over 'Ghost' Coca-Cola Sign

Coca-Cola collectors take note: A vintage Coke sign has prompted an epic "only in San Francisco" battle royale, as passionate pres… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
Coca-Cola Conversations

Phil Mooney's Coca-Cola blog focuses on everything from memorabilia (antique, vintage, and modern) to the company's… [read review or visit site]
National Watch and Clock Museum

This virtual museum, created by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, lets you stroll through tim… [read review or visit site]
Bobbys Coca-Cola on the Web

This site, a group effort, is a great reference for Coca-Cola collectors. Start with the timeline and product lists… [read review or visit site]
Clockhistory.com

Bill Stoddard's clock history site offers a trove of great reference information on clock and watch makers includin… [read review or visit site]
Falvo Collectables Gallery

Ralph and Carol Falvo's excellent collection of automobiles, petroliana, jukeboxes, soda, and general store items. … [read review or visit site]
National Maritime Museum

Check out this sampling of nautical and maritime items held by the U.K.'s National Maritime Museum and Royal Observ… [read review or visit site]
Soda-Machines.com

The ultimate guide to vintage soda vending machines, from Coca-Cola to Pepsi to Royal Crown to Dr. Pepper. Start at… [read review or visit site]
Dan and Diana's Lux Clock Collection

Dan and Diana Lockett's amazing collection of several hundred novelty Lux clocks made by the Lux Clock Manufacturin… [read review or visit site]
Detex Watchman's Clock Album

Philip Haselton's guide to watchmen's time recording equipment. Includes 19th century German portables, 20th centur… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations: Coca-Cola
- National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors
- The Antiquarian Horological Society
- Coca-Cola Collectors Club
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