Welcome to KocaNola.com, an Internet site dedicated to the
process of gathering, preserving, and sharing historical
information about Koca Nola. Most 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
2008 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:
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:
KOCA NOLA NEWS FLASHES:
1. My two part "The Legacy of Koca Nola" article
appears in the January and February, 2008
issues of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector
magazine; and
2. "Proud to be an American," my article about
James Esposito, noted Philadelphia Koca Nola
bottler, appears in the FOHBC's January-
February, 2008 Bottles and Extras.
© 2008, Heads-Up Publications
process of gathering, preserving, and sharing historical
information about Koca Nola. Most 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
2008 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 44 franchises in 15 states and DC
(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:
1. My two part "The Legacy of Koca Nola" article
appears in the January and February, 2008
issues of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector
magazine; and
2. "Proud to be an American," my article about
James Esposito, noted Philadelphia Koca Nola
bottler, appears in the FOHBC's January-
February, 2008 Bottles and Extras.
© 2008, Heads-Up Publications
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| PRESERVING KOCA NOLA'S HISTORY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS |
| 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) |
Heads-Up Publications Charles David Head, Prop'r.