Tiny soda bottles.. Not a what is but a "what was there original purpose"

Helix · Apr 9, 2014

I have had these tiny soda bottles and crate for sometime. I was wondering if anyone knows there original purpose? I picked them up in California and was told they came with a toy truck. I have seen old toy Coca Cola delivery trucks that came with very small bottles and crates. I have found others online but didn't read anything about there original purpose. They are glass and still full of liquid. I also was thinking possibly they came from a salesmen sample cooler? This might be a tough one so if I don't get many replies I understand.

wheatfinder13 · Apr 10, 2014

Those look good enough to drink!

. I don't know but someone who does will chime in

duggap · Apr 10, 2014

When I was a kid in the 1950s, Coke came out with toy drink bottles like yours. My parents got them for me, I think for buying gas at a particular station.

Butter Hat · Apr 10, 2014

Those. Are. CUTE.

texasred777 · Apr 10, 2014

Yeah, duggap, I remember some of the small Coca Cola bottles back in the '50s. But, how big were the ones you had? The ones (maybe 4 or 5) that I had were empty and were probably less than 2 inches tall. Helix, the ones you're showing are a lot bigger than the ones I remember. If my memory is correct, the last one I had was found behind the baseboards of a house we lived in back in the late '40s to early '50s. It had to be quite old when we found it. Dad and my uncle were putting up sheetrock in the room and I was 'digging' around behind where the baseboards were removed. I also found an old toy cap pistol, which I kept until the mid 1970s and finally sold it. Sure wish I had it back. Not that it was worth much; but what a conversation piece!

BosnMate · Apr 10, 2014

I remember seeing them, but little else. It sticks in my mind that the coke delivery truck had miniature bottles of coke, but I think those were smaller, and solid, no liquid. Looks like a toy that my family couldn't afford, or my dad didn't want to step on bare footed. There were some really interesting things in scale that went along with Lionel Trains, and again to expensive for me, but it might be an angle to research.

tokenhead · Apr 10, 2014

Hello everybody!,Those are advertising bottles,give-aways,souvenir's from the plant,I have some that are even smaller...I will get a pic up soon.I myself like the beer bottle's! very cool bottles&carrier wow!

BosnMate · Apr 10, 2014

I just did a quick check of google images for Lionel and Vintage Doll House accessories, and struck out. At three inches, the bottles are to large for either of those ideas. I remember seeing them, sorry I can't help anymore than that.

Helix · Apr 10, 2014

Thanks for all the input everyone! I looked at the toy coca cola trucks and BosnMate I agree the bottles I seen were plastic and no liquid. That leads me to believe that they were some type of promotional item like duggap an tokenhead stated. Reminds me a few years back we visited the Louisville Slugger factory and I remember they gave out mini baseball bats, makes sense. Must not of been intended to drink because I don't see how they were opened unless there were tiny bottle openers. :happy3:

cw0909 · Apr 10, 2014

maybe these folks know
Welcome to Sodamuseum.com

nhbenz · Apr 10, 2014

I'm thinking these may not have been made by, nor authorized by, the companies represented. I don't see trademark symbols where I would expect to, and they are from 4 different bottling companies. I'm not sure the companies would have cooperated to have the same sized novelty items?

nhbenz · Apr 10, 2014

What are the words just below the Canada Dry and Fanta labels?

Helix · Apr 10, 2014

nhbenz said:
I'm thinking these may not have been made by, nor authorized by, the companies represented. I don't see trademark symbols where I would expect to, and they are from 4 different bottling companies. I'm not sure the companies would have cooperated to have the same sized novelty items?

Now that's a new twist, that makes a lot of sense. 4 different bottling companies working together to create something like a novelty item which would more then likely make them very little profit. I doubt that also. Stranger things have happened. Coca Cola I a sure had some mini bottles, like others stated. I added one in the photos witch is clearly a bit larger and the label looks to be a higher quality. No trade makes that I can see. The Fanta's, Canada Dry, and Spur Cola all say "Industria Argentina". HHMMM.....