Interesting Historical Facts
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke (a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company in the United States since March 27, 1944).
Originally intended as a patent medicine when it was invented in the late 19th century by John Pemberton, Coca-Cola was bought out by businessman Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing tactics led Coke to its dominance of the world soft-drink market throughout the 20th century.
Advertising thermometers were a popular item between the 1920s and 1960s, and were distributed by a great number of brands. Common antique and vintage thermometers include the round ones resembling a clock face, with a hand pointing to the temperature, and the vertical rectangular or cigar-shaped thermometers with a mercury meter in the middle.
Some advertising thermometers, such as those made by soda companies, often took the shape of a bottle. Common advertising thermometer brands include Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Mail Pouch Tobacco, Hills Bros. Coffee, John Deere, Pabst, Sunbeam Bread, Nesbitt's, Exide Batteries, Royal Crown Cola, and Hire's Root Beer.