I'm writing a monthly article for the NPCCC Can-O-Gram on newly found undocumented obsolete soda cans. This is sort of keeps in theme with Dave Tanner's posting about one-of-a-kind soda cans, except that these may not necessarily be one a kind. I'd thought I'd share the cans posted to this month's article. Input for future articles would be greatly appreciated and can be posted here or emailed to me at
balexcpa1961@yahoo.com.
There are a lot of cans to report this month. I’ll start off by showing some newly discovered generations (or possible generations) of cans:
Nehi N80-25a-Two different cans surfaced in this previously unknown zip code generation within the last month. I picked up the Orange last month. It is a flat top. The Root Beer was (see Dave' posting) recently purchased by Dave Tanner. I believe it is a tab.
- Nehi Orange
Bon Ton Cola-Not previously identified as different generation. This recently rolled pre-zip Cola can matches the brown Root Beer (B620-1) pictured in Dave’s 2007 Guide. I also found this Black Cherry last year. Collectively, I believe these three cans to part of an earlier generation of Bon Ton’s, coming before the orange colored series.
- Bon Ton Cola
- Bon Ton Cherry
Donald Duck Cola-This pre-zip can (on the right, next to the more common version) was pictured in last month’s Can-O-Gram and is a very puzzling (at least to me) can. Notice the black colored bill. There is a similar Root Beer can shown in the 2007 guide. Until I acquired this can, I always suspected that the black color had something to do with being exposed to the elements. However, the Cola is an “inside can” without exposure to elements. Could this perhaps be part of a separate generation. It has also been speculated that this was part of design change that was being marketed to African-Americans. Any other thoughts?
- Donald Duck Cola
Now for some of the other new undocumented cans:
Frank’s Diet Cola F580-1A-I recently acquired this rolled pre-zip flat top, which matches 7 other known flavors of this generation. Not many original (unrolled) examples of these cans exists.
- Frank's Diet Cola
Lawson’s Swing & Lawson’s Chocolate Cola L160-0-I recently obtained these two pre-zip pull tabs, representing two more flavors in this generation. Until recently, there were no documented flavors of pre-zip Lawson’s cans.
- Lawson's Swing
- Lawson's Chocolate
Carnival Cream & Carnival Root Beer-Three sets of these pre-zip code unrolled sheets were recently found. This can was filled by Frank’s and closely matches the more common zip code version.
- Carnival Cream Soda
- Carnival RB
Cott Ginger Ale-Look closely at this one. This pre-zip juice tab most closely resembles C1160-3, except that it has red lettering at the top.
- Cott GA
Gayla Cream Soda-G80-11-This is a new flavor of the pre-zip Gayla cans with the Foodco emblem at the bottom. Interestingly enough, this can has a fully rounded pressure bead on its lid, which is normally seen in 1950’s cans.
- Gayla Cream Soda
Shasta Quinine Water S420-34-Okay, I know it’s only a Shasta can (right Lance?), but this is one that I’m pretty excited about. It represents perhaps the toughest flavor of the pre-zip Shasta flats, but in a different generation.
- Shasta Quinine Water
Golden Age Dietetic Ginger Ale G300-2-This pre-zip flat top represents a new flavor in a very elusive can.
- Golden Age GA
Booth’s Cola & Ginger Ale-These rolled pre-zip flat tops are new flavors in another very tough series of cans.
- Booth's Cola
- Booth's Ginger Ale
