Keystone
McDowell County
Elkhorn Bottling Works
1915—1917
In 1915, the Elkhorn Bottling Works began putting out ads in regional newspapers for an experienced bottler to join the company, as far as Cincinnati (“Wanted”, 1915). This was in October. The same ads reveal the manager of the firm to have been Aaron Totz of Keystone. Someone must have successfully applied, as two months later Elkhorn Bottling Works announced it will begin shipping soft drinks on December 15th (“We Desire”, 1915). Come 1917, the company again searches for a new experienced bottler (“Wanted”, 1917). By September of that year, however, the company stops appearing in Dun & Bradstreet, so I presume that it could not find a bottler and closed (Mercantile Agency, 1917).
C.W. Elliott & Co.
1899—1901
See “Keystone Bottling Company” below for the full scoop. Charles W. Elliott & Company appears in the 1899, 1900, and 1901 Dun & Bradstreet listings for Keystone (copies from the 1890s are not available). By 1904, the company had moved to Northfork per a community note about them holding a board meeting there that year (“North Fork,” 1904). I presume this was sometime later in 1904, as the American Bottler places them in Keystone this same year.
The rest of the article on C.W. Elliott is below, in the article for Keystone Bottling Company.
A hutchinson style bottle from this company. Hutchbook ID: WV0116.
Keystone Bottling Co.
1907—1930
As of 1904, C.W. Elliott & Co. existed in Keystone per the American Carbonator and American Bottler (1904). C.W. Elliott does not appear in any Dun & Bradstreet listings for that year, which is strange to me due to their thoroughness. Nor do they appear in 1905 or 1906. In fact, they only appear to be in the Dun & Bradstreet listings around 1900 (Mercantile Agency, 1900). C.W. Elliott & Co. then relocates to Northfork at some later point and, interestingly enough, K.B.Co. becomes based out of Northfork rather than Keystone.
This is further obfuscated by another report from the American Carbonator and American Bottler in 1907 that states that Keystone Bottling Company incorporated in Keystone (“Charter Has,” 1907). Yet, Keystone Bottling Company does not appear listed under Keystone in Dun & Bradstreet issues. It does, however, appear in Northfork. This doesn’t technically matter, as Keystone and Northfork are extremely close to one another, but the discrepancies in location are somewhat puzzling.
Nevertheless, K.B.Co. became an absolutely dominating force in the soda industry of southern West Virginia. Shortly after its founding, it bought out all of its local competitors, including Flat Top Bottling Company of Welch, Kimball Bottling Works of Kimball, Williamson Bottling Company, and Bluefield Bottling Company. The company says this themselves in 1911, claiming it took over the independent bottling plants the year prior (“To Manager”, 1911). The purchase of Kimball Bottling Works, however, didn’t occur until 1915 (“The Keystone,” 1915). The company indicated that Kimball Bottling Works would remain open, but as a branch.
C.W. Elliott passed away in 1913 to the grief of his many communities. Keystone Bottling Co. continued successfully for many years following his passing. In 1930, the company changed its name to the Northfork Coca-Cola Bottling Company (Lee, n.d.), marking the end of the company in name.
Since it would be expected for K.B.Co. to be listed under Keystone, I will list their bottles without a town or branch bottler here and in Northfork.
K.B.Co. Coca-Cola, no large "K." ABM.
K.B.Co. Coca-Cola, with a large "K." ABM.
Teal K.B.Co. block letter Coca-Cola. ABM.
Dark amber K.B.Co. Coca-Cola, with a large "K." ABM. Very rare.
Aqua green base-embossed K.B.Co.
Base of the bottle to the left.
A 1915 Coca-Cola hobbleskirt from K.B.Co.
A 1915 Coca-Cola hobbleskirt from K.B.Co. Base.
References
Charter has been granted… (1907). American Carbonator and American Bottler, 27(3), pp. 64.
C.W. Elliott & Company (1904, November 15). The Pureoxia Company Palatable Water Still [advertisement]. The American Bottler.
Lee, J. III (n.d.). Bluefield Bottling Company. Tazewell-Orange. http://www.tazewell-orange.com/cokeblfd.html
North fork. (1904, December 16). Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 5.
The Keystone Bottling Works (1915). American Carbonator and American Bottler, 35(1), pp. 61.
To manager of bottling works. (1911, October 3). Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 5.
Wanted. (1915, October 24). The Cincinnati Enquirer, 34.
Wanted. (1917, September 11). The Cincinnati Enquirer, 14.
We desire to announce… (1915, December 12). Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 3.