The Illustrated History of Hires Root Beer

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1918 

(Figure 1918-01, tin sign, 9.5” x 27.0”)

 (Figure 1918-02, porcelain on metal sign, 15.0” x 36.0”)

This sign has gold lettering on a red background and originally hung by a metal chain.

 (Figure 1918-03, reverse-on-glass, beveled-edge, hanger, 4.0” x 8.0”)

(Figure 1918-04, tin sign, 20.0” x 3.0”)

(Figure 1918-05, porcelain on tin, double-sided, flange sign, 10.0” x 14.5”)

(Figure 1918-06, cardboard hanger, 8.0” x 10.0”, courtesy of Mike Godown)

(Figure 1918-07, tin over cardboard sign, 9.25” x 6.25”, courtesy of Mike Godown)

The seated couple and the woman standing at the counter are each holding Cauldon Ware Hires mugs.  The plate on the table in front of the man reads Drink Hires It’s Pure.

(Figure 1918-08, cardboard sign, 28.0” x 25.0”)

This sign’s image is larger than the partial version used for the previously illustrated sign.  Note the additional details of the soda fountain and the tile flooring.

(Figure 1918-09, die-cut, cardboard sign, 20.0” x 29.0”)

(Figure 1918-10, die-cut, metal hanger, 8.5" x 4.5")

            (Figure 1918-11, lithographed tin sign, 27.5” x 19.5”)

The differences between these two pottery mugs include heights, handle shapes, and lettering styles, particularly for the word “Hires.”  The bases of both mugs are blank. 

(Figure 1918-12, pottery mug, 6.0” x 3.875”)

(Figure 1918-13, pottery mug, 5.5” x 3.875”)

(Figure 1918-14, tin sign, 8.0” x 19.0”)

The edges of this pressed, shield-shaped tin sign are raised and semi-rounded, while the center portion is flat. 

(Figure 1918-15, tin sign, 6.25” x4.5”)

(Figure 1918-16, tin sign, 10.0” x 18.0”)

(Figure 1918-17, paper sign)

(Figure 1918-18, tin tacker, 19.0” x 2.25”)

The base of this heavy, clear, concave-shaped, glass mug is embossed “Hires Root Beer Stands For Health” with the wording read by looking down thru the mug.  It measures 4.5" high and 3.25" in diameter.

(Figure 1918-19, glass mug, side)

(Figure 1918-19, glass mug, base)

This dovetailed, wooden shipping case is an updated version of the one used in 1906 (see Figure 1906-03).  Like the 1906 example, this case held one dozen packages containing Hires Root Beer Extract bottles and had a cardboard advertising notice with the same wording glued to the back.

(Figure 1918.20, wooden shipping case, 5.5” high, 5.625” deep, 7.125” wide)

This small notice appeared in the April 27, 1918 issue of the Friends’ Newsletter, a weekly publication of the Friends’ Intelligencer Association, Ltd., Philadelphia.

Hires' advertisements began to illustrate and explained how their newly introduced “Hires Expansion Bottle Stoppers” worked.  The stoppers sold for 50¢ per dozen.

(Figure 1918-21, Needlecraft, May and June 13, 1918)

(Figure 1918-22, magazine advertisement)

(Figure 1918-23, Needlecraft, June 1918)

(Figure 1918-24, Needlecraft, July 1918)

Two styles of Hires Expansion Bottle Stoppers were distributed.  This first version is embossed HIRES ROOT BEER and utilized two types of wingnuts.

(Figure 1918-25, Hires Root Beer Expansion Bottle Stopper with small wingnut)

(Figure 1918-25, Hires Root Beer Expansion Bottle Stopper with large wingnut)

The second version is embossed HIRES ROOT BEER HOUSEHOLD EXTRACT.  The wingnut was removed to facilitate viewing the wording.  (Photo courtesy Gregg Wilson)

(Figure 1918-25, Hires Household Extract Expansion Bottle Stopper)

This advertisement was placed in The Modern Priscilla, a women’s magazine that focused on housekeeping and needlework.

(Figure 1918-26, The Modern Priscilla, July 1918)

J. Edgar Hires designed and built this automatic extract filling machine coincidental with his transfer to Philadelphia in 1918.  Each run of the machine automatically filled 92 bottles with exactly three ounces of Hires extract. 

(Figure 1918-27, automatic extract filling machine)

The right arm of the youngster pictured on this sign is hinged at the shoulder and rotates.

(Figure 1918-28, die-cut, cardboard sign, 22.0” x 25.0”, courtesy of Mike Godown)

The same image and wording was also used for the front cover of this paper tablet proclaiming “Hires Household Extract…As good to-day as it has been for the last 40 years.”  (Note: 40 years prior was 1878.)  The back cover features advertisements for Hires Cork Fasteners, Hires Cork Securers, and Bottles with Patent Rubber Stoppers for Making Rootbeer at Home.  High wood content has caused the paper to darken with age.

(Figure 1918-28.5, paper tablet, front cover)

This paper prize puzzle postcard featured the images of three children and continued the “Home To Mother” theme.  Note the detailed puzzle instructions and the prizes included "an Aluminum Hires Thimble to the lucky girls and a triangular Hires Pencil to the bright boys."

(Figure 1918-29, paper prize puzzle postcard, front)

(Figure 1918-29, paper prize puzzle postcard, back)

The back of this sign reads “If you want Real Root Beer use Hires Household Extract.” 

(Figure 1918-30, cardboard, double-sided sign, 8.0” x 17.0”)

The worldwide influenza pandemic was particularly deadly in Philadelphia.  With their employee work force heavily impacted, Hires placed this notice in the Evening Public Ledger newspaper to alert their Purock Water customers in Philadelphia and New York City that water supplies and delivery were limited.

(Figure 1918-30.5, Evening Public Ledger, Philadelphia, October 15, 1918)

Hires demonstrated support for U.S. involvement in World War I with this HOW THE Hires ANIMALS HELPED THE U.S.A. booklet.  Note Alice is wearing a U.S. Army uniform.

(Figure 1918-31, How The Hires Animals Helped The U.S.A. booklet, 12 pages)

The end of World War I on November 11, 1918 was certainly cause for celebration.  Hires participated with the release of a 12 page booklet entitled Hires Animals Celebrate Peace, once again including a verse starring Alice.  The advertising copy inside the front cover reads:

Peace, and Hires Rootbeer

Many are the lessons the Great War has taught.  Chief among them are the need of paying more attention to Health, Temperance and Saving.

The health of the soldiers was greatly promoted by abstinence from harmful beverages, and the saving of foods helped all the people toward a realization of the joy of sensible, simple living.

(Figure 1918-32, Hires Animals Celebrate Peace booklet, front cover)

(Figure 1918-32, Hires Animals Celebrate Peace booklet, back cover)

With the benefit of hindsight, an article written in 1947 for Hires to You!, Volume 1, Number 2 described the effect of World War I on the availability of sugar:

During World War I when the sugar situation became very severe (as it did during World War II), Hires went down to Porto Rico and contracted for one-half the output of a sugar mill there – something that had never been done before in the beverage business.

But then the U.S. Government took over the shipping and production of sugar.  Hires received the permission of the Government, however, to charter wooden schooners and bring the sugar to the United States, in return for which the Government permitted Hires to retain one-half the sugar so brought – the result being that during the first war period Hires was able to meet its sugar requirements. 

Out of this incident came the purchase of Central Dos Rosas in 1919.  Since that time Dos Rosas has made over 600 million pounds of sugar for Hires.  It has been one of the very few plantations in Cuba that has not changed hands, plunged into bankruptcy, or gone out of business in the past 28 years.

Year end 1918 brought publication of The Animals Trip To Town, a 3.0" x 5.0" promotional children's booklet.  Once again the verse starred Alice, this time driving animals to town. 

(Figure 1918-33, The Animals Trip To Town, front cover)

(Figure 1918-33, The Animals Trip To Town, inside front cover)

(Figure 1918-33, The Animals Trip To Town, page 1)

(Figure 1918-33, The Animals Trip To Town, page 2)

(Figure 1918-33, The Animals Trip To Town, page 3)

(Figure 1918-33, The Animals Trip To Town, pages 4-5)

(Figure 1918-33, The Animals Trip To Town, page 6)

(Figure 1918-33, The Animals Trip To Town, page 7)

(Figure 1918-33, The Animals Trip To Town, page 8)

(Figure 1918-33, The Animals Trip To Town, inside back cover)

(Figure 1918-33, The Animals Trip To Town, back cover)

 

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