Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2020.FIC.006 |
Object Name |
Bottle |
Title |
E.L. Kerns Company Sparkling Water Club Soda Bottle With Bottle Caps Attached |
Description |
The bottle is clear and cylindrical, with a sticker on the front and six bottle caps attached to the top. The bottle narrows significantly near the top. The sticker is divided into two halves: one white and one blue. On the white portion, there is a black inscription that reads, "SINCE 1889. KERNS," with a smiling elk's head positioned between "SINCE" and "1889." The blue portion of the sticker contains a black-and-white inscription: "SPARKLING WATER CLUB SODA. NET 28 FL. OZS. (1 PT. 12 FL. OZ.) E.L. KERNS CO., TRENTON, N.J.," with the word "WATER" written in white. A vertical inscription on the right side of the bottle reads, "A CAREFULLY TREATED, MULTIPLE FILTERED, HIGH CARBONATED WATER." There are bumps on the glass above and below the sticker. The right side also features an embossed inscription that reads, "28 FL. OZ. (1 PT. 12 FL. OZ.) NO DEPOSIT. NO REFILL," with a star between the words "DEPOSIT" and "NO." Another inscription on the right side states, "28 FL. OZ. (1 PT. 12 FL. OZ.) DISPOSE OF PROPERLY." The bottle is sealed with a gray metal bottle cap, though its inscription is obscured by six plastic bottle caps attached to it. Each of the six bottle caps is primarily white, featuring an elk image and an inscription that reads, "KERNS BEVERAGES." The topmost bottle cap has a gold-colored inscription with the additional words, "70th Year," while the rest feature blue-colored text. An embossed inscription on the bottom of the bottle reads, "CH. L7028," with the "C" and "H" stacked on top of one another. The bottle contains a liquid, presumed to be club 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 |
1950 |
Year Range to |
1969 |
Material |
Glass, Metal, Paper, Plastic, Liquid |
Artist |
E.L. Kerns Company |
Height (in) |
10.000 |
Diameter (in) |
3.000 |
Condition |
Good |
Condition Notes |
Overall: A few abrasions and accretions throughout. Front: There are a couple of abrasions on the center near the middle. Also, the label is oxidized. Right Side: There is nothing of note. Back: There are a couple of white accretions on the center near the left side. Left Side: There are abrasions on the bottom near the right side. Top: There is dirt on top of the cap. Bottom: There are white accretions all over the bottom. |
Inscription Type |
Manufacturer's Mark |
Inscription Location |
Front, Center to Bottom, Left to Right |
Inscription Technique |
Stamped |
Inscription Text |
"SINCE 1889" Line 1 "KERNS" Line 2 "SPARKLING" Line 3 "WATER" Line 4 "CLUB SODA" Line 5 "NET 28 FL. OZ. (1PT. 12FL. OZ.) E.L. KERNS CO. TRENTON, N.J." Line 6 "A CAREFULLY TREATED, MULTIPLE FILTERED, HIGH CARBONATED WATER." Line 7 Manufacturer's Mark Embossed Right Side, Center, Left to Right "28 FL. OZ. (1 PT. 12 FL. OZ.)" Line 1 "NO DEPOSIT NO REFUND" Line 2 Maufacturer's Mark Embossed Left Side, Center, Left to Right "28 FL. OZ. (1 PT. 12 FL. OZ.)" Line 1 "DISPOSE OF PROPERLY" Line 2 Maufacturer's Mark Embossed Bottom, Top, Middle "G L7028" Line 1 |
People |
Edgar L. Kerns |
Classification |
Business & Commerce Domestic Life/Household Goods |
Subjects |
Bottle industry Bottles Bottling industry Soda industry Drinking vessels Water 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 Blue White Black Clear Bottle Cap Metal Plastic 70th Year Beverages G L7028 28 1 12 Gold Carbonated Water Sugar E.L. Kerns Company Sparkling Water Club Soda Bottle With Bottle Caps Attached |
Provenance |
Found in collection |