Posted 12 years ago
bottle-bud
(153 items)
Smile bottles from my collection.
The two on the left are bottled by IBC Root Beer Co. St. Louis, Missouri
The double header in the middle is from Galli Bottling Co, New Kensington, PA, Under license ot Orange Smile Sirup Co. ST.L
The double header on the right is bottled under the license of The Smile Co., STL by National Bottling Wks, St. Louis, Mo (who at one time owned the rights to the IBC brand)
The red head smile has no city/state mentioned on the bottle.
Would like to correspond with collectors interested in Smile soda that have more information than I do. Any help greatly appreciated.
What would you like to know? I am not an expert by any means, but it is always fun to chat about soda bottle collecting.
Two years ago I bought four Smile bottles from a collector. They were the 1 oz., 2 1/2 oz., 6 oz., and 6 1/2 oz. bottles. I thought they were great bottles and when I like something I go in whole hog, so to speak. So I have been trying to find anything and everything I can related to Smile Soda. I have picked up several nice items related to Smile since that first purchase. I think I know a little in how and when it
started in St. Louis. I have never seen or heard of Smile advertising in magazines or
newspapers. Did they ever do that, and if so, what magazines or papers did they use. As to the bottles, at this time I have 12 different ACL Smile bottles. Each bottle is a different variation. A few I would like to up-grade due to bad fading on the logos. My first ACL Smile was the three colored ACL 8 oz. Was this bottle ever made in any other size? I wish there was book or some literature available on Smile
to get a better handle on just what to look for.
As you can tell I tend to run on. I plan on posting a couple of show and tell pictures if I can get a couple of good enough pictures. Again, thanks for responding and any information is appreciated.
If you were to google orange smile syrup company you will get hits on the history of the smile company. Orange Smile did originate in St. Louis actually as the Orange Julep Co., at 515 Elm street. I have seen advertisements for Smile in The American Bottler which you can google and search the e-books that are now available. I'm sure they advertised in other magazines or newspapers but I have none in my scrapbook. I do not have a 3 color acl in my collection and would love to see one, so I can't say for sure if it was made in any other sizes. Sorry to say I don't know of a book or club dedicated to Smile, perhaps another collector will come forth.
Looking forward to seeing your post!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the small sample size 1922 2 1/2 oz Embossed Smile Soda Bottles !! My dad and others have stated that when they went to the movies...sometimes promo items were given out to the kids. Also it was not uncommon for the movie theaters to have a drawing for a bike. Under one seat they would put a paper that was to show the one in that seat was the lucky kid to get the bike. My grandmother was born in 1914 & was a kid in the 1920s. Wish she was here for many reasons~~she would no doubt know of the promos and samples of that time !!
I do have a couple small Smile clear embossed bottles in my collection but did not post them. It's cool to know how they were used. I like your comments on the theater and the promos. Yea, I wished that I had quizzed my grandparents too on things like that. I guess I wasn't into history as much as I am today.
This is really neat! I have one Smile Pop Bottle. Mine was laying in my Grandpa's woods for an unknown number of years and is a little worn.
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/226393-smile-pop-soda-bottle-12-fl-oz
I seen your bottle and posted a comment. Your label, I believe would be similar to the bottle to the left of the red label bottle shown above.