Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2020.FIC.005 |
Object Name |
Bottle |
Title |
Squirt Party Size Soda Glass Bottle |
Description |
The bottle is green and cylindrical, with two stickers on the front and a cap on top. The bottle tapers noticeably near the top, where it has an elevated rim. The glass features small raised horizontal lines on the front, back, left, and right sides. Both the front and back have an embossed inscription that reads, "KERNS." The first sticker is yellow with red text, which says, "SQUIRT. FRESH FRUIT FLAVOR YOU CAN SEE." This text is enclosed within a circle. The second, larger sticker also features yellow and red colors, with the inscription, "SQUIRT. PARTY SIZE. Bottled by E.L. KERNS CO. TRENTON, N.J." The words "SQUIRT. PARTY SIZE" are surrounded by a red circle, placed over a yellow, white, and red striped background. There are additional vertical inscriptions: one on the left side reads, "Ingredients: Grapefruit Juice, Citric Acid, Grapefruit Oil, Carbonated Water, Sugar," and the other on the right side says, "NET CONTENTS 1 PT. 13 FL. OZ." The bottle is sealed with a light green metal cap featuring a red inscription: "CONTAINS CARBONATED WATER, SUGAR, SQUIRT. GRAPEFRUIT JUICE, CITRIC ACID, GRAPEFRUIT OIL. KERNS CO. TRENTON, N.J." A yellow plastic cap, attached to the top, carries a red inscription that reads, "SQUIRT. Never an after-thirst." Every instance of the word "SQUIRT" is underlined. Finally, the bottom of the bottle has an embossed inscription that says, "E.L. KERNS CO. 3. I. 6. CONTENTS 1 PT. 13 FL. OZ. G-14346. 1. TRENTON. N.J.," with the "I" circled. The bottle contains a liquid, presumably soda. According to pre-pro.com and findagrave.com, E.L. Kerns founded the E.L. Kerns Company in 1889. Originally a coal miner in Pennsylvania, Edgar (E.L.) Kerns moved to Trenton, NJ, to learn the art of soda making. By the 1890s, Kerns began selling alcoholic beverages, and by 1896, the company was so successful that it acquired a four-story building on North Broad Street. Around this time, Kerns began using the initials "E.L.K." for his company and adopted an elk's head as the company mascot, which appeared on many of their bottles. Kerns was known for his motto, "quality wins," and after more than thirty-five years in the bottling business, he passed away in 1925. Citations THE E L KERNS CO. pre-pro.com. (n.d.). https://www.pre-pro.com/midacore/view_vendor.php?vid=TRT11838 Edgar L. Kerns (1861-1925) - find a grave... Find a Grave. (n.d.). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/261079128/edgar-l.-kerns |
Year Range from |
1899 |
Year Range to |
1980 |
Material |
Glass, Paper, Metal, Plastic, Liquid |
Artist |
E.L. Kerns Company |
Height (in) |
10.750 |
Diameter (in) |
3.000 |
Condition |
Okay |
Condition Notes |
Overall: Tears and accretions throughout. Front: There are tears all over the bottom sticker. There is a black stain on the bottom of the top sticker. And finally, there is a stain on the bottom of the bottom sticker. Right Side: The top sticker is torn slightly. Back: There is nothing of note. Left Side: There is a white accretion on the bottom near the right side. Top: There is corrosion all over the bottle cap. Bottom: There are scratches all over the edges. Also, there are white paint accretions on top near the right side. |
Inscription Type |
Manufacturer's Mark |
Inscription Location |
Front, Top to Bottom, Left to Right |
Inscription Technique |
Stamped |
Inscription Text |
"KERNS" Line 1 "SQUIRT" Line2 "FRESH FRUIT FLAVOR" Line 3 "YOU CAN SEE" Line 4 "SQUIRT" Line 5 "PARTY SIZE" Line 6 "Bottled by E.L. KERNS CO., TRENTON, N.J." Line 7 "Ingredients: Grapefruit Juice, Citric Acid, Grapefruit Oil, Carbonated Water, Sugar" Line 8 "NET CONTENTS 1 PT. 13 FL. OZ." Line 9 Manufacturer's Mark Embossed Back, Top, Middle "KERNS" Line 1 Manufacturer's Mark Stamped Top, Top to Bottom, Left to Right "CONTAINS CARBONATED" Line 1 " WATER SUGAR" Line 2 "SQUIRT" Line 3 "GRAPEFRUIT JUICE" Line 4 "CITRIC ACID, GRAPEFRUIT OIL" Line 5 "KERNS Co. TRENTON, N.J." Line 6 Manufacturer's Mark Embossed Bottom, Top to Bottom, Left to Right "E.L. KERNS CO." Line 1 "3. I. 63" Line 2 "CONTENTS" Line 3 "1 PT. 13 Fl. OZ." Line 4 "G-14346" Line 5 "1." Line 6 "TRENTON, N.J." Line 7 |
People |
Edgar L. Kerns |
Classification |
Business & Commerce Domestic Life/Household Goods |
Subjects |
Bottle industry Bottles Bottling industry Soda industry Drinking vessels Water Fruit Fruit juices Grapes Sugar Glassware Glass |
Search Terms |
Bottles Paper Glass E.L. Kerns Edgar L. Kerns E.L. Kerns Company North Broad Street 1889 1980 1925 19th Century 20th Century Club Soda Sparkling Water Elk Pint Pt Soda Ounces Oz FL Trenton New Jersey NJ Beverage Bottle Cap Plastic Yellow White Red Squirt Fruit Grapefruit Oil Citric Acid Juice Grapes G-14346 1 3 68 Carbonated Water Sugar 13 Party Party Size After-Thirst Squirt Party Size Soda Glass Bottle |
Provenance |
Found in collection |