Coca-Cola Tray The Two Girls at Car 1942
This Coca-Cola soda tray is known as the “The Two Girls at Car” version produced in 1942. The tray artwork portrays two young women at a convertible car each holding a Coca-Cola bottle. The outer rim is silver and the inner rim is red with silver lines. This tray version features the message “Drink Coca-Cola” one of the well-known Coca-Cola slogans. The words “Trade Mark Reg. US Pat Off” appear below the words Coca-Cola in the trademark, typical for the time period of 1941-1960’s. The Two Girls at Car version was produced by American Artworks and it was the last tin soda tray issued in the 1940’s by Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola is the leader of all the old-time soda advertisers. Rare memorabilia from popular brands such as Coca-Cola can generate the most value but overall the worth of the soda relics depend on condition, the brand and how unique it is.
Coca-Cola originated in 1886 when a pharmacist Dr. John S. Pemberton, from Atlanta, Georgia developed a unique beverage formula. It was originally considered a medicinal tonic that he called “French Wine of Coca”. He did not add alcohol like other elixirs at that time. Instead, he created a dark brown syrupy drink. He took his drink to Jacob’s Pharmacy which was a successful business for that time. He persuaded the owner to offer this new tasting soft drink to customers. The beverage became very popular and was a hit at soda fountains. Dr. Pemberton’s accountant, Frank M. Robinson, is credited with naming the beverage “Coca‑Cola”, thinking that the two C’s would look well in advertising. Robinson also designed the script trademark when he used his own handwriting with a form of penmanship known at that time as Spencerian script. He thought it had a dramatic style and the trademark has stayed almost the same over the years with a few minor variations. The name was not a registered trademark until 1893.
The first print advertising for Coca-Cola was included in the Atlanta Journal. The ad described the beverage as “Delicious, Refreshing, Invigorating”. The very earliest forms of advertising Coca-Cola were drink tickets, horse-drawn wagons with advertising signs and newspaper ads.
