Guyan Valley Bottling Works

19??—1925

I am unsure as to when Guyan Valley Bottling Works was founded, but by 1925 the owners had taken out ads in papers to sell their bottling plant (Guyan Valley Bottling Works, 1925).

Guyan Valley Bottling Works aqua green.jpg

Logan Baking & Bottling Co.

1915-1918

According to Dun & Bradstreet books, this company existed from 1915 to 1918. I cannot find additional information on this company.

Logan Baking & Bottling Co., amber, ABM.

Logan Beverage Co.

1939—1960

According to the West Virginia Secretary of State records, Logan Beverage Company existed between 1939 and 1960, owned by Nick Savas and George C. Vance.

A Red Rock Cola bottled by Logan Beverage Co. Front.

A Red Rock Cola bottled by Logan Beverage Co. Back.

A large, 16-ounce Vance's bottle from Logan Beverage Co. Same design on both sides.

Logan Bottling Works

1905—1906

This company existed from 1905 to 1906 according to Dun & Bradstreet, though these ranges may be larger.

Logan Bottling Works crown top. Possibly a beer bottle, about pint-sized.

Logan Bottling Works (Coca-Cola)

1914—19??

Though its bottles bear “Logan Bottling Works” rather than “Co.,” this is the Logan Coca-Cola Bottling Works that our beloved straight sided Coca-Colas come from. As is known throughout the collecting community, Coca-Cola stopped bottling their beverages in straight-sided bottles very soon after this company began, switching to their patented hobbleskirt design 1-2 years after Logan Bottling Co. came into existence. Hence, the rarity of most of these bottles. It first appears in a 1914 Dun & Bradstreet issue (Mercantile Agency, 1914).

In 1922, the owner of the company was Frank S. Martin (“Three Hundred,” 1922), who also served as the President of the Chamber of Commerce in Logan.

Despite the rarity of the straight sided bottles—and how short of a time span in which they were used—there are an immense number of variants. Five variants of the straight sided bottles are missing below.

An almost ice blue Logan Coca-Cola. ABM.

Another aqua green Logan C.C. soda. ABM.

Logan Dr. Pepper Bottling Co.

1938—1953

The Dr. Pepper Bottling Company of Logan chartered in 1938 with incorporators R.B. Broadwater, A.J. Higgins, and T.H. Morris (“Logan Bottling,” 1938). This iteration of the company lasted a year, then dissolved and reincorporated in 1939 with new owners B.C. Minter and J.H. Jarrett (WV Sec. State, n.d.). This second company ended in 1953.

Logan Laundry & Bottling Co.

1905—1914

Logan Laundry & Bottling Co. was founded in 1905 according to The Fairmont West Virginian. They began with a capital stock of $10,000, or about $300,000 today. The incorporating officers were W.I. Campbell, Chas. Bennett, F.S. Martin, W.H. Chapman, and A.W. McLean (“Charters Issued,” 1905). If you are familiar with rare West Virginia hutch sodas, an extremely rare Logan features the names Bennett and Campbell. I am nearly certain that these are the same men that went on to found the Logan Laundry and Bottling Company.

Interestingly, the Dun & Bradstreet issue for January of 1906 states that the Logan Laundry and Bottling Company is Logan Bottling Works (Mercantile Agency, Jan. 1906). By the September issue, it no longer directs toward Logan Bottling Works, though the two continue to coexist until Logan Bottling Works goes out of business around 1906 (Mercantile Agency, Sep. 1906). Logan Laundry & Bottling Co. continues to appear until the September 1914 issue of Dun & Bradstreet and disappears by the 1915 issue, implying its final year was 1914.

So far as I know, only two variants of this bottle exist. The one missing from this gallery is an amber Gay-Ola bottle.

Logan Laundry & Bottling Co., aqua, BIMAL.

Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co.

1942—1986

This company existed from 1942 to 1986, with stakeholders including Merrill R. Atkinson and H.D. Stillman (WV Sec. State, n.d.). According to a newspaper article, Nick Savas served as the President of the firm (“Service Award,” 1967).

A "Chief Logan" branded soda bottle with "NICK SAVAS" on the base, who was the President of the company.

Red Rock Bottling Co.

Information needed.

Royal Crown Bottling Co.

1927—1977

I am unsure as to when the Logan plant of the Royal Crown Cola Bottling Company began, but it was evidently a branch of the Charleston RC Cola Bottling Co. (Royal Crown Bottling Co., 1973), at least later on in its existence. I have used those dates for this company (WV Sec. State, n.d.), though I suspect they may be incorrect.

Whistle Bottling Co.

Information needed.

References

Charters issued. (1905, June 3). The Fairmont West Virginian, 1.

Guyan Valley Bottling Works. (1925, March 17). Bottling plant [advertisement]. Beckley Raleigh Register, 4.

Logan bottling company is given state charter. (1938, February 10). Hinton Daily News, 1.

Royal Crown Bottling Co. (1973, July 24). RC and Can-Am racing [advertisement]. The Charleston Daily Mail, 4.

Service award given by Jaycees in Logan. (1967, January 20). Beckley Post-Herald, 7.

Three hundred residents of Logan in the city Saturday. (1922, November 26). The Charleston Daily Mail, 13.

West Virginia Secretary of State. (n.d.). Business entity details: Dr. Pepper Bottling Company of Logan. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=dXGvaE4hzrhkc6aCjhJeWQ==&Search=ctxax%2f12bmmfp9TIdRlMcQ%3d%3d&Page=0

West Virginia Secretary of State. (n.d.). Business entity details: Logan Beverage Company. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=5HeGJ6FzpZbzf4QabByeIg==&Search=n+%2fouAyD8GLGIsB5IYl4iw%3d%3d&Page=0

West Virginia Secretary of State. (n.d.). Business entity details: Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Logan, Incorporated. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=h96kfl+JUxVH0cHiaeFn9Q==&Search=rvBhJkQkUKnHGrJBC0jyqg%3d%3d&Page=0

West Virginia Secretary of State. (n.d.). Business entity details: Royal Crown Bottling Company of Charleston, Incorporated. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=QTxcAAG6w9vZxXorbUWa/w==&Search=nVXCLyqpey7M14m6+kJUqQ%3d%3d&Page=0