Vintage Kalopa Soda Works Bottle


Item Number: 240

Time Left: CLOSED

Value: $125

Online Close: Jul 27, 2014 7:00 PM HST

Bid History: 5 bids - Item Sold!



Description

This Kalopa Soda Works bottle has " net contents 6 1/2 fluid ounces" embossed on it and has "KSW" on the bottom. It is machine made.


During the 1880s and early 1900s, when the pineapple and sugar plantations were the basis of Hawaii’s main economy, the owners of the plantations embossed their company names on soda bottles. The plantation stores then sold the filled bottles to their field workers for a nickel each and charged the cost back to the workers company store accounts. The company would then collect the empty bottles for refilling, and continue the cycle. In essence, the field workers were always in debt to the company store. During this time, there were more than 44 different soda companies representing each of the plantations but the number of bottles made was very limited. That is what makes these bottles so rare and collectible. 

Special Instructions

Winning bidder is responsible for shipping and Hawai`i State tax (.04166%). We try our best to ship items as economically as possible. Most are shipped flat rate but larger or unusually shaped items may need to be shipped priority. Winning bidder is also responsible for postal insurance if the item’s value is over $500.

Donated by

Anonymous Friend of KHS