Heads-Up Publications Charles David Head, Prop'r.
PRESERVING KOCA NOLA'S HISTORY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
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Welcome to KocaNola.com...
KocaNola.com is an Internet site dedicated to the process of
gathering, preserving, and sharing historical information
about Koca Nola. Much of the information and material
accumulated thus far has been obtained thanks to the
strong and much-appreciated support of a core group of
advanced collectors and researchers who have generously
responded to advertisements placed in hobby publications.
By broadening communication about this initiative to the
world wide web, we are expanding our search and reaching
out to all collectors and historians across the continent.
MISSION STATEMENT
Our ultimate objective is to support and promote the
collection, preservation, study, documentation, display,
communication and sharing of information about everything
related to Koca Nola. In the short term we will continue to
gather as much information as possible prior to the planned
publication of A Heads-Up On Koca Nola, the book (with
price-value guide) I am currently researching and writing.
Longer term we will continue to gather and present
information, with this web site serving as a centralized
repository and source of information for anyone having an
interest in Koca Nola.
WHY KOCA NOLA?
Of the 150+ Coca-Cola copycat soda brands known to exist
during the first two decades of the Twentieth Century, Koca
Nola was remarkable for three reasons:
- Koca Nola was one of six major brand name sodas first
marketed in embossed bottles utilizing Hutchinson's
Patent Spring Stopper (Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Celery-
Cola, Ala-Cola, and Moxie were the others);
- Although it is well-documented that the syrup of other
major brand name sodas contained cocaine at some
point, the Koca Nola Company was one of very few
soda bottling firms indicted and found guilty of
adulteration (corrupting, debasing, or making impure by
the addition of a foreign or inferior substance in a
product); and
- Confirmed as having 50 franchises in 15 states, DC,
and Mexico (and counting), the Koca Nola Company was
probably one of the most successful of all the early
copycat soda brands. It is this author's conjecture
that during the company's 1906-1909 heyday, Koca
Nola was one of the top five selling soda brands in the
United States.
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
Please check out the accompanying pages to learn more
about my background, the history of Koca Nola, how you
can help, and how to contact us. After you've reviewed that
information, we encourage you to:
- Add this site to your list of favorites and check back
frequently for project updates, including information
concerning publication of the Koca Nola book;
- Please contact us for free appraisals of Koca Nola
bottles and/or related go-with items (note: send
photos with descriptions, not the actual items!); and
- Do not wait for someone else to submit information. If
you have any information related to Koca Nola, please
contact us as soon as possible. Your help is needed!
KOCA NOLA NEWS FLASHES:
Visit the Koca Nola History page for information about newly
identified Koca Nola franchises in Mississippi and Mexico!
Check the "WANTED" section on the How You Can Help page
for details about CASH REWARDS for Koca Nola bottles!
Check "RECENT PUBLICATIONS" on the Charles David Head
page for information about newly published articles.
© 2009, Heads-Up Publications

This beautiful golden yellow Koca Nola Hutchinson soda bottle is from Philadelphia, PA. The embossed lettering has been painted to make it easier to read. (Photo: R. J. Brown)
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