From Richard Mix : "I have a limited number of the recently released Collectors Classic Coke bottles in tubes (only 400 tubes made) - $20 each + shipping while supplies last - so hurry!! (Combine with your ebay auctions to save on shipping!!)" ~ click here to see Richard Mix's ebay auctions ~

From JerryW regarding Carolyn's Coca-Cola clock in last week's "Up for Grabs" : "The wood clock that is pictured is the 1970's authorized reproduction of the regulator clock. It is 3/4 size of the original, and the design is slightly different. Petretti has it listed in his guide for $400. The original clock was produced from 1916-20, and goes for $1,000-2,000. The original was spring driven, while the repro is electric battery-powered."

From Ted Oswalt and Rod Rafter :

We have tried to compile a collection of 'No-Drips' as complete as we can determine at this time.

Both of us have been working very hard to offer a long overdue Resource for all the 'No-Drip' Collectors. This is the very first Website of its kind that is dedicated to this area of Collecting, to make more information available to the collectors of the 'No-Drip' Bottle Protectors. 

As more variations become known, they will be added to the site in the future and hope those collectors viewing the site will assist with new, and more, comprehensive information on these collectibles. 

The site's main goal is to help educate and enhance the possibility of getting new collectors interested in the 'No-Drip' as an area of collecting that is both inexpensive and available.

So visit the website @ www.no-drip.com, and if you have any comments, suggestions, or information, please contact either of us, Ted Oswalt or Rod Rafter.

Thousands of people in communities named Columbus were among the first to "discover" the taste of new diet Vanilla Coke as part of local activities commemorating explorer Christopher Columbus. Bottlers of Coca-Cola were delivering diet Vanilla Coke across the country this week with a focus on first reaching as many as 23 towns named Columbus across as many states, from Ohio to Texas , Montana to Georgia , and points in between. Canada also rolled out Diet Vanilla Coke this past week. The debut of diet Vanilla Coke comes just five months after The Coca-Cola Company introduced Vanilla Coke in May.
NOTE: I will have to admit, I was lucky enough to be one of the first ones to get a taste. Although Diet is not everyone's choice, it has to be my choice for soft drink, and I was not disappointed. Diet Cherry Coke is just as good too. CG

The prestigious “Executive of the Year” recognition by Beverage Industry magazine has been awarded to Frank E. Weise of Cott Corporation. Weise accepted the award at the InterBev Conference in Atlanta. Beverage Industry “Executive of the Year” recognizes a top executive who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and influence during the past year. Previous winners include John Sculley, Jim Turner, Craig Weatherup, the late Roberto Goizueta and Mike Weinstein to name a few. InterBev is an "all beverage" exhibition and conference where the beverage industry meets to exchange ideas and showcase what is new and innovative.

New bottles or cans, or anything soda, in your area ?
Please send the info so all of us can know @ WhatsNew@thesodafizz.com

From Kay Arbenz : The Pepsi-Cola Collectors Celebration 2002 will be held on November 1st and 2nd in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Fitzgerald Hotel. For more information, please E-mail jnk14@cox.net.

November 2-3 (Saturday-Sunday) Chehalis, Washington
Washington Bottle Collectors Asspciation's Annual Show & Sale
(Sun 9am-3pm, early admission Sat 1pm-7pm) at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, Chehalis, Washington
Info: Pete Hendricks, Ph: 253-874-6345
or Warren Lhotka, Ph: 206-329-8412, E-mail: Wlhotka@seiu6.org

November 2-3 (Saturday-Sunday) Madison, Wisconsin
Madison Antique Advertising & Bottle Show & Sale
(Sun 9am-3pm, early admission Sat 6pm) at the Quality Inn South
4916 E. Broadway, Madison, Wisconsin
Info: Bill Mitchell, 703 Linwood Ave., Stevens Point, WI 54481
Ph: 715-341-6860 or (727) 319-2875

November 3 (Sunday) Collinsville, Illinois
Metro-East Bottle & Jar Association's 31st Annual Show & Sale
(Sun 9AM-2:30pm) at the Gateway Center
Route 157 at I-55/70, Collinsville, Illinois
Info: Terry Mueller, 4110 S. Park Dr., Belleville, IL 62226, Ph: 618-234-8736
or Dale Zurliene, Ph: 618-224-7353

November 3 (Sunday) Elkton, Maryland
Tri-State Bottle Collectors & Diggers Club's 30 th Annual Show & Sale
(Sun 9am-3pm) at the Singerly Fire Hall
Routes 279 & 213 (I-95 exit 109A), Elkton, Maryland
Info: Warren Cavender, Ph: 302-998-0690

From Reggie Lynch : The 1st annual Greensboro Antique Bottle Show and Sale is less than a month away: Sunday November 10th. Full show details, including maps and dealer applications, can be found on the show page:
http://www.antiquebottles.com/greensboro/

Any new events  in your area? Mail so all of us can know, to: Events@thesodafizz.com

A Coke for Santa by Lionheart October 2002 - 48 pages   Publisher: Andrews McMeel ISBN: 0740722581	Always Your Friend by Lionheart October 2002 - 48 Pages Publisher: Andrews McMeel ISBN: 0740722565	Coke Dates by Lionheart October 2002 - 48 pages Publisher: Andrews McMeel ISBN: 0740722573

English Club soda, bottled by George H. Mitchell Company, was the successor to a bottling operation on the corner of Ticonic and Kelsey Streets, in Waterville, Maine, that went back to 1904. Begun by a man named Moses Rudman, the operation passed to Harry Gitlin and Henry Jacobson in 1920. Jacobson became the sole proprietor in the late 1920s, and it was he who sold the firm to George H. Mitchell around 1939. George, born in Waterville, had been in several businesses with his brothers, Buddy and Joseph. Now it was time to do his own thing, and he did it well. 

At one point in the 1950s, the George H. Mitchell Company had 14 delivery trucks on the road, covering central Maine, from Rangeley to Jackson, to Ellsworth to Bath. In addition to a full line of English Club Beverages, the firm also bottled under franchise, Moxie, Squirt, Hire's, Nesbitt's, Whistle, Orange Crush, Royal Crown and Nehi through the years. George Mitchell served as president of both the Maine State and the New England Bottlers Association.

In 1947, George switched locations because he needed more room. The result was a brand-new plant at 13 Railroad Square. George was also on the move in other ways too. He was the pioneer in northern New England with respect to premix: syrup, water and C02 mixed in five-gallon bulk containers to be "tapped" and sold at fast-food, and other retail outlets. In fact, by 1962, premix was doing so well that George pretty much went out of the bottling end of things.

George H. Mitchell passed away in July, 1977. His son Darrell ran the business almost a decade longer, liquidating in 1986. The company's original Ticonic and Kelsey location is now home to CED's Market. The newer plant houses the Railroad Square Cinema, and the Waterville Family Practice medical office. 

When asked where the name "English Club" came from, Darrell said his dad just liked that name, and thought it had an elegant sound to it.

If you have a soda-related subject that you would like to see here as an "FYI" article, or have information you yourself would like to contribute, don't be shy, send it to: FYI@thesodafizz.com

Until next week, Happy Collecting! CokeGirl