From Brian Lefever : I have the "25 Years with Cal Ripken" retiree bottle in the tube (from 2001) available for $20 + shipping. Email me if interested.

From Joy "Colalady" Woolfolk : I am running several bottles - some that are quite hard to find. So, please check them out.

From Richard Mix, Mix International : Several NEW BOTTLE OFFERS this week:
--USAF Thunderbirds 50th Anniversary - $4 ea.--
--LSU Tigers Track and Field - $3 ea.--
--Holiday High Lights Atlanta 2003 in BOX - $20 ea.--
--Happy Holidays Las Vegas 2003 in BOX - $22.50 ea.-- 
--Austrian 2002 Christmas bottle - ACL Beautiful! - $12 ea.--

FOLLOWING WRAPPED BOTTLES ARE EMPTY WITH CAP (Save $5 and buy all 3 wrapped bottles below for $30.
--Italy Sound of Passion 20cl. bottle - $10 ea.--
--England 2002 Christmas Fireworks wrapped bottle - $12 ea.--
--Matthew Williamson - England wrapped bottle - colorful!! - $13 ea. 

PREVIOUS BOTTLE OFFERS STILL AVAILABLE.  (VERY limited supplies of some - hurry!):

--Collector's Showcase 2003 - Las Vegas in box - $22.50 ea.-- --Collectors Classic Atlanta 2003 in BOX - $20 ea.--    --Boston Red Sox 2003 wrapped bottle - $12 ea.-- --San Antonio Spurs Sprite wrapped bottle - $5 ea.--  --McDonalds - Ray Kroc 100th - $25 ea.--  --Message in a bottle - China TUBE - $35 each--

--Message in a bottle - Thailand TUBE - $35 each--  --Message in a bottle - Soviet Georgia TUBE - $35 each-- --Sunbelt Ag Expo 2003 - $5ea.-- --Hot August Nights 2003 - $5 ea.-- --Pier 39 - $5 ea.--

THE FOLLOWING ARE $3 EA. OR 6+ FOR $2.50 EA. (Mix and Match):

--Golden Egg - 100th Game MS State vs. Ole Miss-- --University of Florida 150th-- --Florida A&M 25th Football bottle--  --Tulsa Zoo 75th-- --Tulsa Fair 100th-- --Rice Owls Baseball--

--University of Arkansas 75th Anniversary-- --Pensacola 100th-- --Saratoga Racecourse-- --Circle City Classic 2003-- --Soldier Field 2003--  --Phillies [Baseball] Veteran Stadium--

Also if anyone else has bottles or other soda-related items to offer, E-mail and let us all know.

From Doug McCoy : WANTED - a 16-ounce Coca-Cola hobbleskirt from 1955 or 1956. Contact: Doug McCoy, 2851 Milford View, Marietta, GA 30008; Phone: (770) 435-9138 or by E-mail.

Do you have a particular item, or items, that you have been looking for a long time to complete part of your collection, or something you want - but have not as yet been able to find? Send it so all of us can help you look. You never know where it may turn up! E-mail it to My Missing Item

Turkey & Gravy Soda hit the market
No time for turkey? Craving gravy to go? Then give thanks for the newest creation from Jones Soda Co.: Turkey & Gravy Soda. Don't cancel those Thanksgiving & Xmas feast preparations just yet, however ­ the tan-colored soda's taste can politely be described as, um, interesting. But the limited-edition novelty soda tempted enough curious taste buds that the entire supply sold out within three hours on the company's Web site. "It just kind of exploded," said Michelle Whitehead marketing assistant of the Seattle-based Jones Soda Co. Jones Soda is also known for carbonating ham and fish flavors.

Coca-Cola has beaten Pepsi-Cola to be named as the exclusive beverage provider for Subway. The deal covers all of Coke’s products and package forms across all 20,000 Subway outlets in 72 countries. Prior to the agreement, Coke had held only 15% of Subway’s beverage business. Pepsi-Cola had the remaining 85%. Pepsi, however, is very disappointed with the decision, particularly as it has been Subway's supplier of the year for the last seven years. Dow Jones quoted a Pepsi spokesman as saying: “It's inconceivable to think this has anything to do with products or service. This is about an incredibly big bag of cash, and we hope Coke is offering the same deal to the rest of its customers.” Subway was not able to confirm when the move would be completed.

Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan is coming to a town near you. Here is a preliminary schedule of the Coca-Cola trucks with holiday merchandise and locally sponsored events for 2003. (Please call Coca-Cola at 1-800-GET-COKE for updated schedule and location.)

Diet Sprite may celebrate its 30th birthday next year with a name change. Reports suggest that Coca-Cola may change the name of the drink to Sprite Zero, in an attempt to generate greater attention and sales. Coca-Cola may also change the ingredients using a different kind of artificial sweetener. The company has not yet stated its attentions officially. Sprite Zero has a track record of use in both Mexico and Greece.

The Coca-Cola Company and its U.S. bottling system released on November 17th their Model Guidelines for School Beverage Partnerships, which will apply to all current and future relationships between Coca-Cola and K-12 schools in the U.S. Developed in direct consultation with leaders from the education community, the Guidelines are designed to help school decision-makers respond to concerns about commercialism and nutrition while maintaining their ability to raise critical resources for their schools. 

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

DECEMBER 5 - 6  -  AUBURN, CALIFORNIA
49er Historical Bottle Association's 26th Annual Show & Sale (Sat. 9 AM – 3 PM, early admission Fri. 2 PM – 8 PM) at the Gold Country Fairgrounds, Auburn, California. INFO: Pat Patocka, P. O. Box 326, Penryn, CA  95663. PH: (916) 663-3681.
** FEDERATION MEMBER CLUB **  

DECEMBER 6  -  TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA
The Wabash Valley Antique Bottle & Pottery Club's 6th Annual Illiana 2003 Antique Bottle & Pottery Show & Sale (Sat. 9 AM - 2:30 PM) at the Terre Haute South High School Cafeteria, Terre Haute, Indiana (just off I-70 at Davis Ave. & 7th St.). Free admission. (Tables available. $20 first table, second free. Additional $10.) INFO: Tony Stringfellow, P.O. Box 690, Farmersburg, IN 47850, PH: (812) 268-6602, E-mail: jotokene@joink.com

If you would like to view the full 'events calendar' that I now maintain  < click here>.
Any new events  in your area? E-mail it so all of us can know, to: Upcoming Events

The holidays are just around the corner. Where has this year gone? (Or have I said that already?) There are only two remaining shows this year, listed above. Then no more until January 4th (in England) and January 11th (in Indiana and Massachusetts). 

Do remember the EXPO in Memphis next August , 2004. It will be here before we know it. I am excited about it and want you to be too! Do mail me if you are interested in participating in ANY way.

Until next time, Happy Collecting!

Sent by Michael Elling, Sharon, Tenn.

Douglas, Georgia, 25 November 2003: Carl Barnett, co-author of the highly acclaimed reference work, Georgia Early Embossed Crown Top Soda Bottles, privately published (2002), released today the discovery and verification of two, heretofore unknown Chero-Cola bottlers of Georgia. These are Fort Gaines and Forsyth. The bottles found are standard franchise designs common at about the time of World War 1. Chero-Cola, a sweet caramel-colored soda drink was formulated in Columbus, GA, in 1905.

Soda bottle scholars are now asked to search their archives in an attempt to know who the people were who established these bottle companies and issued this brand in their area. The town of Fort Gaines was founded because of its strategic location on the Alabama Frontier, and Forsyth was primarily a railroad town founded north of Macon. The discoveries bring the total number of known Georgia bottler towns to 71.

Georgia Early Embossed Crown Top Soda Bottles is available from the author at: Georgia Soda Bottle Book, 1211 St. Andrews Drive, Douglas, GA 31533 for $43.90 (which includes $3.95 postage) within the US. (Georgia residents, add 7% sales tax.)

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 Idea