Page 15 - SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY AUCTION

A short story about Schweppes
In the 1920’s, next to the ashtrays in
the pub, there was either a freshly
tapped beer or a gin and tonic with
a filler from Schweppe & Co. Since
the 1851 Great Exhibition in Hyde
Park the Empire had known their
aerated lemonade, German Seltzer
or Malvern Soda from the ingenious
egg bottles. Alcohol was forbidden
in Crystal Palace for safety reasons
and no one else could deliver such
huge amounts for the expected rush
- six million people, equivalent to a third of the entire British population of Britain, attended. Tourists from all over the world consumed 175,000 dozen egg bottles from London’s Oxford Street/ Berners Street address taking them as souvenirs. Some could not wait for the fascinating blob of the wired cork on the boat throwing their empties overboard. Today the worldwide Schweppes community is happy about the
addition to case gins, they often unearth a Schweppes torpedo. In 1852 192,000 dozen were sold. Tonic Water was invented
by Schweppe & Co. in 1870, still a landmark of the Empire of historic proportions. Gin and tonic with a British soul developed in the 19th century, like beer, wine or rum, became the world’s beverage and most popular soft drink. Not least because during the annoying prohibition around the turn of the millennium the clear gin could hide so well in the clear tonic. Pemberton’s
parcel post from divers and mudwalkers from all oceans and continents. In
57. SCHWEPPES ASHTRAY. 5 x 3.8ins Large multicoloured central image of lady beside spring, lettering round perimeter & patronage to the King. Some corner restoration. (7/10)
Coca Wine Fake on the other hand, had to come up with a lot. Only with the help of electric
refrigerators, cheap crown caps and loads of press bottles from Owen’s glass-blowing
carousel were Schweppes’ fizzy torpedoes finally topped and whiskey diluted with brown sauce. Source: spiritschweppes.com
58. SCHWEPPES ASHTRAY. 5.6 X 3.5 ins. Similar to previous lot but smaller Royal patronage lettering/ motifs. Two under corner chips - see additional easylive images. (7/10)
59. SCHWEPPES CYDER ASHTRAY. 5 ins diam. Multicoloured central image of apples and blue lettering around perimeter. Very good. (9/10)
62. SCHWEPPES SODA SELTZER POTASS & SPARKLING MALVERN ASHTRAY. 4.6 x 3.8ins A very striking variant to the previous two lots, card image shown photographically. Exc/A1 (10/10)
60. SCHWEPPES SODA SELTZER SPARKLING MALVERN WATER ASHTRAY. 4.7 x 3.8 ins. Coloured Queen of Hearts Central image - Supplied to... the Queen, dates 1837-1897. Underside chips to bottom edge.(8/10)
61. SCHWEPPES SODA SELTZER ASHTRAY 4.6 x 3.6 ins Similar to previous lot minus the Malvern Water attribution. Bottom right slight edge wear. (9/10)