Coca Cola Christmas

When a drug addled, John Pemberton, sold the formula for Coca Cola to Asa Candler in 1887, he had no idea what an American institution it would become. Today, Coke is as American as baseball and apple pie, but back then it was just another drug store medicinal that John Pemberton developed for his Eagle Drug and Chemical Company. He developed the non-alcoholic beverage in response to Prohibition that first passed in Fulton County, GA in 1886.

While Coca Cola was non-alcoholic, its early version was purported to include an active coca ingredient that carried many of the effects fo Cocaine which was not a banned substance at that time. As a result, many of the early users became more dependent on Coca Cola than other soda fountain drinks. So, why would John Pemberton sell this potential Tiger he had by the tail? John Pemberton was apparently addicted to morphine himself and near bankruptcy at the time of its sale. In fact, he was so desperate that he supposedly sold the formula to three different buyers.

Eventually though, Asa Candler was able to consolidate the ownership of the formula and became the true founder of the Coca Cola Company as we know it today. In 1903, the active coca ingredient was removed from the product so that it no longer carried the same dependent effects but It was Asa Candler's aggressive marketing of the Coca Cola brand and its products that led to its rapid expansion. In 1919, after dramatically growing the company and his own wealth, Candler gifted most of his stock to his children who eventually sold that stock to Ernest Woodruff.

From very early in its history, Coca Cola aligned itself with Santa Clause and the Christmas tradition. Being a southern company, it started out with a strong christian following and the family traditions of Christmas and the holidays provided a perfect marketing platform for developing the Coke brand. It was in the 1930s, that Coca Cola first rolled out its version of the jolly old Santa Clause in a red and white suit. And while that image was already somewhat common, it was popularized by Coca Cola and its advertising.

With brilliant advertising aplomb, the marketing staff would rollout different images of families and Santa each holiday using artists such as Haddon Sundblom. This beautifully crafted artwork with its nostalgic undertones became collectors items that remain very popular today. Coca Cola collectibles are one of the most popular category of advertising collectibles.

Being a bit obsessed about the marketing power of the Coca Cola brand, I have read all four of these books. They are all excellent in their own way.

Coke is American as You are!

Coca Cola has been with America in her wars, her commerce, in her homes, in her sports, in her life. Coca Cola Corporation has established a new, 'green' museum of the heritage of Coca Cola and the contributions it has made, culturally and otherwise.

The new Coca Cola museum, called Pemberton Place in Atlanta is here:

Pemberton Place

121 Baker Street

Atlanta, GA 30313

1-800-676-Coke

These coca cola machines can be very valuable investments as their prices have steadily climbed in both good and bad times. Check out some of the current coke machine auctions going on at eBay right now.