Rare Antique Vintage Rc Royal Crown Cola Soda Bottle Protector, Chicago, Il 1930s

Rare Antique Vintage RC Royal Crown Cola Soda Bottle Protector, Chicago, Illinois 1930s

7" x 4 1/4" ~

I only have 1 of these rare pieces of an American Icon company that helped shape the beverage industry into what it is today. These were given out at vending machines to cover your bottle to help with the condensation.

This piece was made back when Royal Crown almost took the figurative crown of the soda industry. This company was founded in a basement in Columbus, Georgia was one of the most innovative in the industry and if things had gone just a little different they would be as large or larger than Coke or Pepsi and we would all be reaching for an RC right now while reading this. This companies accomplishments include coming out with the first canned soda, the first caffeine-free soda, and the first 16-ounce soda. They were also the first to promote and make Diet Cola a desired product. You all remember the taste tests advertising campaigns Pepsi did vs Coke in the 1970s. Well, they got that idea from Royal Crown Cola who did the exact same thing in the late 1930s and 1940s. I read about the Pepsi Coke Challenge while researching this and it seems a lot of them don't seem to realize that RC started this marketing as they give credit to Pepsi for being bold and innovative. They were backed by major stars like Rita Haywood, Bing Crosby, Joan Crawford, Shirley Temple, and Lucille Ball.

The list of things that went wrong for this company is extensive, unfortunately. A lot do to with lobbying by Coke for the Cola trademark and Sugar companies pouring money into studies to prove their innovative diet soda was cancerous which has been found to be untrue but totally destroyed the diet soda industry. Then some strange ownership decisions which make no sense you can read all about this company that is still on the market today here. 

This soda still has a cult following in the South for being the scrappy underdog soda brand. It is common from what I hear to have a Moonpie and RC Cola as a way to unwind from a day. The roots are so strong in the South they even made a song about the two together 

They also have a strong following in Chicago as it is served at Bears games and also local pizzerias staying strong to its Blue Collar roots.

Imagine hanging this vintage advertising on your wall as home decor in any room!

This is within 10 years of full antique status.