Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2019.004.001 |
Object Name |
Bottle |
Title |
E.L. Kerns Company Sparkling Water Club Soda Bottle |
Description |
The bottle is clear and cylindrical in shape, tapering significantly near the top. It has a flared rim with two noticeable expansions. The glass features a series of small elevated horizontal lines that run along the front, right side, back, and left sides. Near the top of the bottle, the word "KERNS" is embossed twice. There are two stickers on the front of the bottle, both colored black, white, and blue. The first sticker is primarily white and displays the inscription "KERNS. CLUB SODA." The word "KERNS" is written in black, while "CLUB SODA" appears in white on a blue horizontal line beneath it. The second sticker is divided into two halves, with one side white and the other blue. The white portion contains the inscription "SINCE 1889. KERNS," with a smiling elk's head between "SINCE" and "1889." On the blue portion of the sticker, the inscription reads, "SPARKLING WATER. CLUB SODA. CONTENTS 1 PT. 12 FL. OZ. KERNS CO. TRENTON N.J.," with the word "WATER" written in white. Additionally, there are two black inscriptions on the sides of the bottle: on the left, "CORP. 1951. BY E.L. KERNS CO. TRENTON, N.J.," and on the right, "A CAREFULLY TREATED, MULTIPLE FILTERED, HIGH CARBONATED WATER." The bottle is open at the top, revealing its contents. The bottom of the bottle is embossed with the inscription, "E.L. KERNS CO. 3 I 60. CONTENTS 1 PT. 13 FL. OZ. G-14546. 3. TRENTON. N.J.," with the "I" portion of the inscription circled. 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 |
1889 |
Year Range to |
1980 |
Material |
Glass, Paper |
Artist |
E.L. Kerns Company |
Height (in) |
11.500 |
Condition |
Okay |
Condition Notes |
Overall: Oxidization on the sticker. Wear throughout. Front: The paper is oxidized. There is wear on the bottom of the paper. The bottom paper is torn slightly on top. There is a black accretion on the center near the middle. And finally, there is a little bit of wear on the center of the glass near the middle. Right Side: There is an abrasion on the center near the middle. Also, there is a little bit of wear on the center of the glass near the middle. Back: There is a little bit of wear on the center of the glass near the middle. Left Side: There is a little bit of wear on the center of the glass near the middle. Top: There is nothing of note Bottom: There is a crack on top near the left side. There is a white accretion on top near the left side. |
Inscription Type |
Manufacturer's Mark |
Inscription Location |
Front, Top to Bottom, Left to Right |
Inscription Technique |
Stamped |
Inscription Text |
"KERNS" Line 1 "CLUB SODA" Line 2 "SINCE 1889" Line 3 "KERNS" Line 4 "SPARKLING" Line 5 "WATER" Line 6 "CLUB SODA" Line 7 "CONTENTS 1 PT. 12 FL. OZ. E.L. KERNS CO., TRENTON N.J." Line 8 "CORP. 1951 BY E.L. KERNS Co., TRENTON. N.J." Line 9 "A CAREFULLY TREATED, MULTIPLE FILTERED, HIGHLY CARBONATED WATER." Line 10 Manufacturer's Mark Embossed Right Side, Top, Left to Right "KERNS" Manufacturer's Mark Embossed Left Side, Top, Left to Right "KERNS" Manufacturer's Mark Embossed Bottom, Top to Bottom, Left to Right "E.L KERNS CO." Line 1 "3 I 60" Line 2 "CONTENTS" Line 3 "1 PT. 13 FL. OZ." Line 4 "G-14546" Line 5 "3" 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 Glassware Glass |
Search Terms |
Bottles Paper Glass E.L. Kerns Laura Poll 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 3 I 60 1 13 G-14346 Ounces Oz FL Trenton New Jersey NJ Beverage Blue White Black Clear E.L. Kerns Company Sparkling Water Club Soda Bottle |
Provenance |
This item was donated to the library by Laura Poll. It became apart of the Museum Collection in May of 2019. |