The first Coca-Cola bottle was created more than 100 years ago today. Called the "perfect liquid wrapper," it's surprising that the iconic design happened by chance before getting approved for patent on November 16, 1915.
In 1915, soda companies such as iKoka-Nola, Ma Coca-Co, Toka-Cola and Koke, had similar bottle designs. In order to stand out among the rest, Coca-Cola decided to hold a design competition where contestants needed to design "a bottle so distinct that you would recognize if by feel in the dark or lying broken on the ground," according to Quartz.
In the end, the prize of $500, which today is estimated to be $11,700, was awarded to a five-man team from Indiana-based Root Glass Company. The team consisted of Chapman J. and William Root, Earl Dean, Clyde Edwards and the shop's foreman Swedish émigré Alexander Samuelson.
Samuelson's name was the one reportedly listed on the original patent, since it is said he created the winning proposal for the iconic Coca-Cola bottle design, reported Quartz.
According to Coca-Cola's director of heritage communications, Ted Ryan, in an article on Coke's website, the group was able to come up with the Coca-Cola bottle design after getting inspired by a cocoa pod with "an elongated shape and distinct ribs" from the local library.
According to Food Beast, the group ended up in the library since they wanted to learn extensively about the word "coca." In the process, they found the word "cocoa" instead and decided to go with the word even though it had nothing to do with Coke. It seems that the Coca-Cola bottle design was a product of the team having fun. They found the cocoa pod interesting therefore they based the design of the iconic Coca-Cola bottle on the pod.
The original patent is on display at Washington, DC's National Archives. It remains there until December 2.
Over 300 billion glass Coke bottles have been sold worldwide since its debut.
