Saegertown Ginger Ale etc. | Collecting Vintage Saegertown and Meadville

In addition to the Saegertown Ginger Ale items listed on this page, we also have a few promotional items from the Saegertown Inn. They were often promoted together.

Click on any of the pictures for a larger version. (There are now more than 2,100 images on this website.) Looking for something specific? Use our search engine, located on the right side of the header on every page.

Here is a reusable advertising bottle cap for Saegertown “The Aristocrat” Ginger Ale. Under one tab it says “PAT’D U.S.A. DEC. 9-19 (with patent numbers). Under the other tab, it says “SEALAGAIN BOTTLE STOPPER CO.”

Here is a pinback button that would be worn by someone trying to win a trip to the World Series circa. 1930’s, which would make this a Saegertown Mineral Water Co. promotion.

Image S1 shows a quart Ginger Ale bottle from the Eureka Mineral Spring Co. Saegertown, Pa. The brochure behind the bottle, is opened up to the title page. It says The Eureka Chalybeate Springs Natural Mineral Water, Saegertown Penna. and has a copyright of 1889. It shows the trade mark of an Elk. This was the first brochure to promote the newly built Eureka Springs Hotel. The bottle has the same trade mark. The label lists a wide range of health issues that can be treated with this Ginger Ale, which is “Prepared from the water of the celebrated Eureka Mineral Springs, of Saegertown, Pennsylvania, using none but the freshest and purest syrups the market affords; it therefore possesses the virtues of this mineral water.”

Here is a close-up of the label on the bottle shown in image S1.

Here is a close-up of the Elk that’s in the label, on the bottle shown in image S1.

See text below – Saegertown Mineral Springs Co. Birch Beer bottle.

This very early Saegertown Mineral Springs Company Birch Beer bottle has a label that says: IT IS A LIFE-BUOY – TRADE MARK – PREPARED FROM THE WATER OF THE CELEBRATED MINERAL SPRINGS AT SAEGERTOWN, PA. BY THE SAEGERTOWN MINERAL SPRINGS CO. FORMERLY EUREKA – SAEGERTOWN BIRCH BEER – RECOMMENDED BY LEADING PHYSICIANS – PLACE BOTTLE ON ITS SIDE (missing) A COOL (missing). In the middle of this label, is an image of a group of five people on a ship, with the caption “HERE’S MANY HAPPY DAYS!”. Click on the image below to get a better look at this label.

Click on this image for a better look at the label on the bottle described above.

Early Saegertown Bottles — See text for a description of image S1a:

Image S1a shows a Saegertown Mineral Springs round bottomed bottle with the diamond label, circa. mid-to-late 1890s. The second bottle says “Guaranteed under the food and drugs act, June 30, 1906 – Frank M. Fox, Prop.” and it has a 1912 copyright. The last two bottles (from the The Saegertown Mineral Water Company) have a 1919 copyright on the paper labels. Front and center in this image is a Saegertown “The Aristocrat” Ginger Ale soda fountain glass.

Here is a better look at the SAEGERTOWN “The Aristocrat” GNGER ALE soda fountain glass, seen in image S1a above.

Here is a better look at the diamond shaped label shown in image S1a.

Image S1b has a comparison of old Saegertown labels.

In image S1b, the left Root Beer Soda label, shows the size of the labels used on the large bottles and the bottom two labels, show the size of labels used on the small bottles. The Fox Trot Laxative label at the upper right, was used on a 6 5/10 fluid ounce bottle. The bottom right, Old Style Ginger Ale label, is the small size, but you can see this label in the large size, in image S1 (fourth bottle from the left). The neck label, at the top of this image, is the neck label used on the large bottles with the diamond shaped label. We show the small diamond shaped label, on the first bottle on the left, of image S1. The yellow, blue and red neck label on the right, which went with the bottom right, Old Style Ginger Ale label underneath it, can also be seen on a large Ginger Ale bottle in image S7 (first bottle on the left). Another variation of this neck label with blue and red colors, can be seen in image S1, on a large Ginger Ale bottle (third bottle from the left).

Image S1c below, has four early ginger ale bottle neck labels. The upper left label is also shown in image S1b, and it’s on the neck of the third bottle from the left, in image S1a. It says “HOME OF SAEGERTOWN GINGER ALE” and shows an image of the bottling plant. The other three neck labels say “Home of Saegertown Ginger Ale” and they have an image of the The Saegertown Inn with the caption “THE INN” OPEN ALL THE YEAR.

MVC-207S — See text for a description of image S2:

Image S2 shows some of the Saegertown Mineral Water Company fluted bottles. The bottle on the left (with the first full label) is different from the other Saegertown Mineral Water bottles that also have the 1919 copyright labels. It has the word Beverage where it usually gives what is in the bottle (such as Ginger Ale or Cherry). It also has a slightly larger font for the main word SAEGERTOWN (compare it to the bottle on its left showing half its label) and they have added Inc. to the company name. The second bottle from the right has “Bottled by Saegertown Sparkling Beverages Saegertown, PA.” on the back. The last bottle on the right has the 1952 copyright paper label.

See text for a description of image S2a:

Image S2a shows: On the left side, a green quart bottle. The neck label says – SAEGERTOWN. The Main label says – GINGER ALE EXTRA DRY FULL QUART – SAEGERTOWN GINGER ALE CO., CLEVELAND, O. The second green bottle has a neck label that says – THE DRINK SUPREME. The main label says – The Aristocrat – SAEGERTOWN EXTRA DRY GINGER ALE – CONTENTS 1 PT. 8 FL. OZS. (We found that many of the early labels had the wrong contents size, usually saying pint when they should have said quart.) – THE SAEGERTOWN MINERAL WATER WATER CO. SAEGERTOWN, PA. – COPYRIGHT (no date). The third clear bottle, has a white label that says – SAEGERTOWN Aristocrat – SAEGERTOWN QUALITY – LIME RICKEY – CONTENTS 28 FL. OZ. MINIMUM – BOTTLED BY SAEGERTOWN SPARKLING BEVERAGE CO. – SAEGERTOWN, PA. – COPYRIGHT (no date). The last bottle has the same label as the third bottle, but it is for KOLA. I know that it’s in bad shape, but this label is rare enough, that I wanted to show the scarcer KOLA label.

Here is a better look at the label on the second bottle from the left, in image S2a.

This ad appeared in a program that was published by the Tribune Publishing Co., Meadville, Pa. It was for a charity event, sponsored by The Meadville Optimist Club, for their Boys’ Work Benefit Fund. The event took place at the Meadville High School, on October 13 and 14, 1948.

On the left, is a better front and back view of the Saegertown Sparkling Carbonated Beverages bottle shown in image S2. On the right is a Chantilly Sarsaparilla bottle and a Chantilly Beverages bottle, Saegertown, Pa.

Here is a Saegertown Mineral Water Co. bottle, showing both the front and the back. It has two types of front, but has the same back. In all the years we’ve been collecting, we have only found a total of five bottles of this kind.

Here’s a better look at the picture of a group of bottles, which appears in the image immediately below. It was taken to be used in local newspaper advertising.

Here is a vintage Saegertown Beverage “The Aristocrat” arm patch. This would have been worn by the company’s employees, such as their truck drivers.

These last two images show groups of Saegertown bottles that have embossing. The first image shows a group of seven 7 ounce bottles that are embossed “SAEGERTOWN” at the base of the neck. The bottom side of the bottles are embossed “SAEGERTOWN MIN. WATER CO. INC. – SAEGERTOWN, PA. – CONTENTS 7 FL. OZ.” Each bottle also has a large “S” embossed on the bottom. The other two bottles in this image are quart bottles. Both quart bottles were used with a label. The left quart bottle (with the label) is a textured bottle. The bottom is embossed “SAEGERTOWN MINERAL WATER CO. SAEGERTOWN, PA.” The right quart bottle (without its label) is embossed on the bottom “SAEGERTOWN MINERAL WATER CO. SAEGERTOWN, PA.” The picture you see in this image that is propped up by the bottles, is a photograph that was taken to be used in a local advertisement. In the photograph, we can see a variety of labels (with a 1919 copyright) and no neck labels. I assume that the neck labels wouldn’t stick very well to the fluted or textured bottles. The second image shows a group of nine Saegertown quart bottles that are embossed with the word “SAEGERTOWN”. The three bottles on the right side are embossed only with “SAEGERTOWN”, but the six bottles on the left side of this image, also have a Fox’s head inside a circle embossed under the word “SAEGERTOWN”. You can see that these bottles were used with bottle caps and two types of stoppers. They used these bottles for quite a while with a wide variety of labels and neck labels. If you look at other images on this Saegertown page, you can see that some of the labelled bottles shown, have one of this type of embossing. You can also see, that they came in a variety of green and blue tints, with the green tint being more common.

The two bottles on the left, are 12-ounce bottles, bottled by the Saegertown Mineral Water Co., Saegertown, Pa. The first bottle on the left has a label that was normally used on the quart-sized bottle. We have found this to be a common practice. The second bottle, has the correct small label, intended for the 12-ounce bottles. Some of the large labels, with the 1919 copyright date, were printed with the wrong ounce amount, but were either used anyway, where over-printed, or had a hole punched to covered up the error. Some of the small labels, with the 1919 copyright, also had the wrong ounce size (9.5 ounces). They were also used as is, or they were corrected the same way as the larger labels. The two paper labels in the background, are the size label, the first two bottles on the left should have. The third bottle from the left, is a 12 fl. oz. (full of Grapefruit Soda) and has the more modern Ma’s label and neck label. The four bottles on the right, are all Ma’s Old Fashion bottles with the older style label. From left to right, they are: 7 fl. oz. (full of Cream Soda); 12 fl. oz.; one pint – 16 ozs.; and one quart. The front pyro-glazed labels, of these four Ma’s bottles, are all copyright 1944, however, these bottles were used well after that date. All five Ma’s bottles were bottled by Saegertown Ginger Ale Co., Saegertown, Pa. 16433.

Here is a group of matchbook covers, that promote various Saegertown Aristocrat Beverages.

MVC-213S — See text for a description of image S4:

Image S4 shows four vintage wooden cases. All four are from The Saegertown Mineral Water Company. The upper left case usually comes from the Saegertown Ginger Ale Company, but this is an older version. The Bottom left case is a Dry Ginger Ale case for 48 – 12 oz. bottles. The two cases on the right were for ginger ale. The top case is older and has the Fox trade mark.

Image S5 shows our oldest wooden Saegertown Case. It is from the Saegertown Mineral Springs Company. The framed item behind this case is the original Diploma, awarded by the American Institute to the Eureka Mineral Spring Company, Saegertown, Penn. For Eureka Mineral Springs Ginger Ale Chalybeate and De Profundis Waters – Medal of Excellence awarded Exhibition of 1889 (in New York). The bottle in the bottom right of the picture is an excellent example of the Old Style Ginger Ale labels copyright 1919 that were used for quite a while.

Here is a close-up of the center of the award won by the Eureka Mineral Spring Co. shown in image S5.

See text for a description of image S6a:

Image S6S shows four more vintage Saegertown cases. The two cases on the left are from the Seagertown Ginger Ale Company. The top case is marked on the inside, “MFG. BY STANDARD BOX COMPANY PITTSBURGH, PA. 5-64”. The case on the top right is from the Saegertown Ginger Ale Co. It has four cardboard cases (see image S6a), each holding six 12 oz. bottles, for a total of twenty-four bottles. On the inside, this case is marked “MFG. BY STANDARD BOX CO PITTSBURGH, PA. 4-57”. The case on the bottom right is the same as a case shown in image S4, but it is in better condition. It is a ginger ale case from the Saegertown Mineral Water Company. Image S6a shows what type of cardboard cases were used in the wooden 12 oz. case shown in image S6. They were made by Mead Packaging (Bottle Master brand), a division of The Mead Corporation, that has branches strategically placed in multiple cities around the country, including Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. This particular wooden case has one red cardboard case and three yellow cardboard cases. Most of the 12 oz. bottles, have the shield-shaped neck graphics that say “SAEGERTOWN The Aistocrat 12 OZS. (see the bottle on the left side of the picture). It also has a couple of the 12 oz. bottles with the rectangular neck graphic that says “SAEGERTOWN The Aristocrat (see the bottle on the right side of the picture.

MVC-216S — See text for a description of image S7:

Image S7 shows five capped full bottles. They are arranged oldest to newest from left to right. The first bottle is from The Saegertown Mineral Water Co. and the other four are Saegertown Ginger Ale Company. The first bottle (on the left) with ginger ale has the 1919 copyright paper label with the red Fox trade mark. The second bottle (Pale Dry Ginger Ale) has the 1952 copyright paper label. The third bottle (according to the cap – Old Style Ginger Ale) has the 1952 painted (pyro-glazed) label. The fourth bottle (Grapefruit) has the same label with a different color scheme. The fifth bottle (Tonic Water – the neck label says Antique Quinine Tonic Water) has the newest paper label in this group. There is no copyright date, but it’s after they started adding the metric volume – 32 FL OZ (1QT) 946 ML.

The caps on these bottles are shown in the next eight images.

Some of the bottles in our collection are still capped and full. Unfortunately, the cap on the oldest capped bottle we have, is too rusted to show any details. This image shows bottles, that have eight different Saegertown bottle caps. They are shown in the next eight images below.

Saegertown The Aristocrat Old Style Ginger Ale bottle cap on the first quart bottle on the left.

Saegertown Ginger Ale Company bottle cap on the second quart bottle from the left.

Lime Rickey bottle cap on the third quart bottle from the left.

Grapefruit Soda bottle cap on the fourth quart bottle from the left.

Pale Dry Ginger Ale bottle cap on the fifth quart bottle from the left.

Tonic Water bottle cap on the sixth quart bottle from the left.

Ma’s Grapefruit Soda bottle cap on the 12 oz. bottle on the left, in the front row – bottled by Saegertown Ginger Ale Co.

Cream Soda bottle cap on the 7 oz. bottle on the right, in the front row – bottled by Saegertown Ginger Ale Co.

Here are five more full bottles, that we have acquired from the Saegertown Ginger Ale Co.

Here is the Club Soda bottle cap that is on the first left bottle shown in the image above.

Here is the Pale Dry Ginger Ale cap that is on the second bottle shown in the image above.

Here is the Ma’s Root Beer cap that is on the third bottle shown in the image above.

Here is the Lime Rickey cap that is on the fourth bottle shown in the image above.

Here is the Grapefruit Drink bottle cap that is on the last right bottle shown in the image above.

Here is the Old Style Ginger Ale bottle cap from the first group of bottles shown above, plus another variation.

Saegertown *The Aristocrat* Root Beer bottle cap (same style as the last two caps shown.)

Image #1 bail top bottles. See text below.

Image #2 bail top bottles. See text below.

Image #3 bail top bottles. See text below.

Image #4 bail top bottles. See text below.

For a while Saegertown Mineral Water Company used stoppers that are called bails, or flip or swing top stoppers, with their quart bottles. Image #1 above shows three of these bottles which illustrate the variations we have found. Image #2 shows a hard rubber type stopper, that is on a special bottle that was made to accept this type of stopper. It had two holes on the sides where the stiff heavy wires were inserted. Most of the bails you will find, were twist wired to the tops of regular bottles. Saegertown used the hard rubber stopper seen in image #3 and a ceramic style with cork or soft rubber seals, seen in image #4. Image #4 shows the ceramic with a cork stopper.

MVC-218S — See text for a description of image S8:

Image S8 has five bottles with paper labels. From left to right, the first three labels have the 1919 copyright date from the Saegertown Mineral Water Company. They are: Old Style Ginger Ale, Standard Root Beer, and Cherry. The last two bottles are from The Saegertown Ginger Ale Company. The fourth bottle (Lemon Lime Smiling Up) has the paper label with the 1952 copyright date. The fifth bottle (also Lemon Lime Smiling Up) has the newest label of this group, but no copyright date.

The first bottle (starting on the left) in image S9, shows an “Old Fashioned Creamy Top Root Beer” bottle, bottled by the Saegertown Ginger Ale & Bottling Company. The paper label has no date. The second and third bottles, show a comparison between the second bottle, which is a Saegertown Beverages “The Aristocrat” bottled by Saegertown Ginger Ale Co., Saegertown PA., and the third bottle, which is a Saegertown Beverages “the Aristocrat” bottled by Saegertown Mineral Water Co., Cleveland Ohio. The fourth bottle is the same as the third bottle showing a different color scheme. The fifth bottle is a Half and Half “The Aristocrat” bottle, bottled by Saegertown Ginger Ale Co., Cleveland Ohio. The sixth bottle is the same as the fourth bottle, but this bottle is bottled by Saegertown Mineral Water Co., Saegertown, Pa., instead of Cleveland Ohio (the only one of that style we’ve found, that isn’t Cleveland).

Image 9a has all five of our Saegertown bottles, that are from Cleveland, Ohio.

In image 9a, the first bottle on the left, has a pyro glazed front label, that has an image of an aristocrat, and says: SAEGERTOWN the Aristocrat BEVERAGES. On the back it says: CONTENTS 12 FL OZ. – BOTTLED BY SAEGERTOWN GINGER ALE CO CLEVELAND, OHIO. This image shows all five of our Saegertown bottles that are from Cleveland Ohio. The other four are shown and described in images S2a and S9.

Here is the bottle cap that would have been on the Half & Half bottle shown in image 9a. It says BARD BOTTLING CO., CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Here is a close-up of one of the front windows at Sperry’s (Delicatessen) Store in Cleveland, Ohio. Through the window, you can see the tops of three Saegertown Soda racks that would be similar to the rack in imag S9b below.

See text for a description of image S9b:

Image S9b shows a metal store display rack for Saegertown Ginger Ale and other Saegertown soda quart bottles, circa. 1940s-1960s. It has been spray painted black, but the raised lettering on the side of the shelves is showing through. The top shelf says “SAEGERTOWN”. The middles shelf says (in script) “The Aristocrat”. The bottom shelf says “GINGER ALE”. We managed to uncover enough of the original paint to see that originally, it was all white with blue lettering. It is missing its metal sign, that would have been inserted into the top of the rack.

See text for a description of image S10:

See text for a description of image S10a:

The top of image S10 shows an Eureka Mineral Springs Co. invoice from Dec. 12, 1892. The business card says Eureka Mineral Springs Co. Limited and has a “Cost of Treatment” list on the back with C.T. Benner, superintendent, Saegertown, Pa., April 28, 1889. The letter at the bottom, has a Saegertown Mineral Springs Company letterhead. It is dated April 22, 1899 and is written and signed by Geo. W. Gardner, President and General Manager. The bottom left item in image 10a, is an envelope that has a logo that matches the letter at the bottom of image S10. It is also from the Saegertown Minerals Springs Co. Hotel and Sanitarium. The top left envelope (image 10a) is an 1894 (post marked on the back) Eureka Mineral Springs Hotel and Sanitarium, Saegertown, Pa. envelope. The top of image 10a shows the top of a July 2, 1892 Statement from The Eureka Mineral Springs Co., Saegertown, Pa. The last two yellow items, are two different advertising blotters, about the Celebrated-Sparkling Saegertown Ginger Ale from “The Famous Inn” Frank M. Fox Props., Saegertown Pa.

See text for a description of image S11:

At the top of image S11 is an envelope from the Benner Bros., Agts., Saegertown, Pa. “Eureka Springs” Carbonated Chalybeate Natural Mineral Water, circa. mid-late 1880s. The middle envelope is postmarked Apr. 20, 1891. It has advertising for Eureka Springs Iron Water and Ginger Ale. It also has information about the award they won from the American Institute in New York (see image S5 for a picture of that award), and advertising for Eureka Springs Baths, Hotel & Sanitarium. The bottom envelope is postmarked Sep. 14, 1896. It shows the Saegertown Ginger Ale bottle being used at that time. A neck label of that style is shown laying on top of the middle envelope. A smaller bottle with that style label is shown in image S1. For more Saegertown envelopes, see our Local Postal Covers Page.

MVC-221S — See text for a description of image S13:

The top left item in image S13 is a booklet titled “A Victorious Victim” by “Anonymous”. It was published by the Imperial Press, Cleveland Ohio, 1896 and was issued by The Saegertown Mineral Springs Co., Saegertown, Pa. It has 45 pages and a full-page ad on the last page, with the heading: This story has been issued by The Saegertown Mineral Springs Co. as a means of advertising their Hotel and Sanitarium which is located at Saegertown, Pa. The second item from the left – top row – is an advertising brochure titled: A short way to Saegertown, Saegertown Inn, Frank M. Fox Prop’r. It has four pages which are connected and fold out to a nice sized map with pictures (see image H1). The third item from the left – top row – is the first advertising booklet issued by the Eureka Mineral Springs Co. Limited, promoting their new hotel and sanitarium built in 1888 and opened in 1889. It contains information about the water (including analysis, history, testimonials), the town, the hotel, the springs, costs of treatments, prices of water and ginger ale, railroad services, and more. It has 40 pages and is dated 1889. The last item on the top row is an advertising brochure from the Saegertown Inn, Frank M. Fox, Proprietor. It unfolds to 28 inches wide, with its front and back covered with useful information and pictures. The first bottom left item is an advertising brochure for the Saegertown Mineral Springs Inn and Sanitarium Saegertown, Pa., Horace Fox, Proprietor, Frank M. Fox, Asst. Manager. However , the brochure is totally about the beverages, with information about analysis, testimonials, and their highest award at the Industrial Exposition of American Institute, New York (see image S5). The last paper item on the bottom row is an advertising brochure from the Eureka Springs Hotel, Saegertown, Pa. This brochure looks like a revised and edited reprint of their first brochure that we have in the top row of this picture. The last two items in this picture are the solid brass tags used at the Eureka Springs Hotel. The diamond shaped brass tag originally held a room key. The square brass tag is a luggage tag.

Image 13a. Here is a group of Saegertown paper items.

In image 13a, the first item at the bottom left, is a card promoting EUREKA MINERAL SPRINGS COMPANY (LIMITED) SAEGERTOWN, PA. It lists Wm. C. Hickox as its Eastern Manager, at 101 Park Place, New York City with E. Saeger, chairman, and O. Saeger, Secy. & Treas. The back of the card has an illustration of the hotel and sanitarium, with endorsements. The card is laying on top of the bottom of a promotional booklet. The front cover says: Eureka Springs CARBONATED CHALYBEATE – NATURAL MINERAL WATER – SAEGERTOWN, PA. – FOR SALE BY ALL LEADING DRUGGISTS. This booklet, circa. 1890, has 44 pages with illustrations, history, uses for the product, testimonials, and other advertising. At the top of image 13a is a package that held TOM Smoking Tobacco, manufactured expressly for SAEGER & BECK. Saegertown, Pa. Beneath the tobacco package, is a brochure from FRANK RABELL & CO., SAEGERTOWN, PA. Its four pages tell about Rabell’s Concentrated Preparations (most of them are for different kinds of insect exterminating). The last item on the right, is a trade card for “HOLIDAY GOODS AT The Drug Store, SAEGERTOWN, PA.” probably circa. 1880s.

Front of a Eureka Mineral Springs business card of Wm. C. Hickox, Eastern Manager, New York City. E. Saeger, chairman, O. Saeger, Secy & Treas.

Back of a Eureka Mineral Springs business card of Wm. C. Hickox, Eastern Manager, New York City. E. Saeger, chairman, O. Saeger, Secy & Treas.

Here is the back, of a government issued Postal Card professionally printed on the back. It is postmarked Saegerstown, Pa. and dated June 9, 1896. It’s a receipt for $21.75 and it is lavishly printed with logos and advertising.

See text for a description of image S14:

Image S14 shows a variety of Saegertown bottle openers. The top left opener says “Saegertown Old Style Ginger ale” on one side and “Aristocrat Extra Dry Ginger Ale” on the opposite side. The opener in the second row left, is the oldest opener we have. It says “Drink Saegertown Beverages” one one side, and “Saegertown Old Style, Saegertown Lyme Rickey, Aristocrat, Extra Dry” on the opposite side. The two openers on the top right, both say “Saegertown Ginger Ale”. Of this style, the newest one is on top. The bottom row shows the best-known Saegertown bottle opener, which is in the shape of a bottle. The first opener on the left, has been installed into a leather advertising holder. The advertiser is Earl’s Tavern, Pittsburgh. The opener, second from the left, shows an opener that has been encased in clear plastic on both sides. You can read the opener through the plastic that has been colored red. The top is encased with white plastic. All of the openers, in the bottom row, are Old Style Ginger Ale openers (most openers of this style, were for Old Style Ginger Ale) – except the last opener (bottom right) – it is for: Saegertown Old Style, Saegertown Lime Rickey, Aristocrat, Extra Dry. The third and fourth openers (bottom row from the left) show the two different stamping styles used for the Old Style openers, while the fifth opener shows the reverse side, that says “Drink Saegertown Ginger Ale”.

See text for a description of image S17:

Image S17 shows three different sized Saegertown soda cases. The case on the left, has twenty-four green-glass 7 oz. bottles. The case on the right, has twelve quart bottles, and the case that is front and center, has twenty-four 12 oz. bottles.

See text for a description of image S19:

Image S19 shows five more Saegertown bottles. Starting on the left side, it shows a one pint milk bottle embossed: A.D. STAINBROOK DAIRY SAEGERTOWN, PA. The next bottle is a half pint milk bottle embossed in script: Saegertown Dairy Coop. For more Saegertown milk bottles, see our Milk Bottles and Caps Page. The third bottle from the left, is a green textured quart bottle, that is capped and full of Lime Rickey soda. The paper label says: SAEGERTOWN The Aristocrat bottled by THE SAEGERTOWN MINERAL WATER CO. SAEGERTOWN, PA. copyright 1919. The next bottle is a green quart bottle that is capped and full of Pale Dry Ginger Ale. The red and white painted label and the neck label, both say: SAEGERTOWN Pale Dry GINGER ALE. This bottle, copyright 1952, is bottled by the Saegertown Ginger Ale Co. Saegertown, Pa. The last bottle on the right is a 7 oz. clear bottle capped, and full of Cream Soda. This Ma’s Old Fashion bottle, with painted labels, and copyright 1944, is bottled by the Saegertown Ginger Ale Co. Saegertown, Pa.

Four early Ginger Ale bottles in the order they were introduced. It shows the progression: switching from the Fox to The Aristocrat.

Five later bottles still having a 1919 copyright on the labels. They are labeled: BEVERAGES, KOLA, LIME RICKEY, GINGER ALE, CHERRY.

Image S19a shows a selection of Saegertown bottles from when the company was perhaps the best of the modern era local sodas.

Image S19a shows the bottle style that was in use when my wife and I remember it best. At that time, many local people thought it was the best soda that they could buy. It came in a wide variety of flavors, that you could buy by the bottle or by the case. The clear or green glass bottles, are pyro-glazed with a 1952 copyright and come in 7 ounce, 12 ounce, and quart sizes. Here is a sample of the varieties of this bottle style. So far, we’ve found (and have) 22 different varieties of this style.

Image S19b shows two common Saegertown quart bottles, and two not so common quart bottles.

The first bottle on the left of image S19b is fairly easy-to-find. Every time we found green quart bottles of this style, with red and white labels, they were for Pale Dry Ginger Ale and they all have shield-shaped neck labels. Then, one day, we found a green quart bottle with red and white labels of this style, with a banner-shaped neck label, and it said BEVERAGES, instead of Pale Dry GINGER ALE. (It’s the second bottle from the left.) So far, we’ve only seen a couple more. The third, clear quart bottle with blue and white labels, is another very common bottle, of this style. They all have the shield-shaped neck label, and all say BEVERAGES in the main label. Then, one day, we found the last bottle on the right. It has a banner-shaped neck label. It also says BEVERAGES in the main label, but the color scheme is different. The aristocrat figure, has a blue coat, instead of white, and white pants, instead of blue. The aristocrat figure, also has a white face instead of clear and the hat, plume and boots are also reversed in color. In the main label, the words, The Aristocrat, are white, instead of blue, and the white outer border of the main label, is missing. So far, it’s the only one we’ve found. All four bottles have a 1952 copyright.

Image S20 shows a selection of Saegertown Ginger Ale Company labels that were used briefly before the company introduced the paper label that gives the size of the contents in both fluid ounces and milliliters. These labels all say 1 QUART, except the Kringle Ale label that says 2 LITERS. Optical illusion: When you look at the loose paper labels, and then at the same labels on round bottles, they look like they’re not the same size. The loose label looks wider and shorter, while the label on the bottle looks taller and narrower. That’s because the label wraps around the bottle, giving it the illusion that it’s narrower than it actually is, and making it appear to be taller.

Image S21 above, and image S21a below, show a selection of bottles with a variety of paper labels that gives the contents as 32 FL.(1 QT.) 946 ML. You can see the two Tonic Water bottles. They have the same body label, but different neck labels. All eight bottles say: “BOTTLED BY SAEGERTOWN GINGER ALE CO. SAEGERTOWN, PA. 16433.

Here is a better look at the wooden cases shown above:

Here is case #1 side view. It doesn’t specify what size bottles.

Here is case #1 end view. It doesn’t specify what size bottles.

Here is case #2 side view. It holds 48 12oz. bottles.

Here is case #2 end view. It holds 48 12oz. bottles.

Here is case #3 side view. It holds two dozen large bottles.

Here is case #3 end view. It holds two dozen large bottles.

Here is case #4 side view. It holds two dozen large bottles.

Here is case #4 end view. It holds two dozen large bottles.

Here is case #5 side view. It holds 12 32oz. bottles.

Here is case #5 early version end view. It holds 12 32oz. bottles.

Here is case #5 later version end view. It holds 12 32oz. bottles.

Here is case #6 side view. It holds 24 12oz. bottles.

Here is case #6 end view. It holds 24 12oz. bottles.

Here is the manufacturer’s mark inside case #6 It holds 24 12oz. bottles.

Here is the side view of case #7 It holds 12 quart bottles. (regular wood side)

Here is the side view of case #7 It holds 12 quart bottles. (plywood side)

Here is the end view of case #7 It holds 12 quart bottles.

Here is the side view of case #8 It holds 24 7 oz. bottles.

Here is the manufacturer’s mark found inside case #8 It holds 24 7 oz. bottles.

Here is the early version end view of case #8 It holds 24 7 oz. bottles.

Here is the later version end view of case #8 It holds 24 7 oz. bottles.

Here is a side view of case #9 for 24 12 ounce bottles held in four six-packs.

Here is an end view of case #9 for 24 12 ounce bottles held in four six-packs.

Here is the manufacturer’s mark found inside case #9 for 24 12 ounce bottles held in four six-packs.

Image SA1 has A Saegertown Ginger Ale counter or window card. See text for description.

Image SA2 has A pair of Saegertown Ginger Ale newspaper ads. See text for description.

Image SA3 has a Saegertown Ginger Ale newspaper ad. See text for description.

These three images were taken from a 1914 book we have: Advertising Media Copy – or – Magazine Advertising by John Horace Lytle. The second half of the book describes an advertising campaign that was carried out in the Dayton, Ohio area in late 1913. Image SA1 shows a counter or window card used by stores during the campaign. Image SA2 shows two typical newspaper ads that were run during the campaign. Image SA3 shows a newspaper ad that was run daily during the campaign. They put a different business name at the top of the ad each day.

This ad appeared in the Pittsburg Press newspaper, on page 32, June 20, 1928.

Click on the page header to go to the Home page and click the links under the page header to go to the other pages on this website. Click on any picture for a larger version.