1885
IT HAPPENED IN…1885
An act of Congress prohibited the fencing of
public lands in the Western U.S.
Furnaces for garbage disposal were introduced as
a health measure in the Midwest.
Another world’s fair, the New Orleans Exposition,
attracted international attention.
The postal rate for first-class letters was
doubled to 2¢, and second class mailing was reduced to 1¢ per pound,
resulting in an increase in the number of subscription-based
periodicals.
William Painter patented a single-use “Baltimore
Loop Seal” bottle closure.
They were used for “still” beverages, such as beer, but not
for carbonated beverages such as soda and mineral water.
Lobsters and oysters were popular, with many
oyster houses and saloons in operation.
After Moxie Nerve Food’s health claims were
dropped, it outsold Coca-Cola in the Northeast U.S.
Hires distributed a pocket-sized
1885 Diary. The cover
and calendar pages were updated, while the 18 pages of advertising copy
and testimonials were identical to Hires’
1882 Diary.
(Figure 1885-01,
Diary 1885)
Hires focused on dealer and customer testimonials when placing this large advertisement offering Hires’ Improved Root Beer Packages wholesale directly to druggists:
(Figure
1885-02,
American Druggist, page 61, September 1885)
Charles E. Hires Company sales for 1885 were listed
as 55,728 bottles.