» vernor’s Yesteryear Remembered

Mmmm, remember walking up to one of those vintage style Coke machines back in the ’60s? Let me rephrase that, because if you walked up to one back then, it wasn’t vintage, it was probably brand new, but do you remember?

I recollect putting my coin (singular for only one coin) in the machine. Back then it was around 10 cents for a bottle of pop, instead of todays $1.00 plus. You hear the coin dropping into the machine, which allows you to open the side hinged door and pull out your choice of bottled soda and if you’re going to drink it right away (and why wouldn’t you), you pop the top off with the built-in bottle opener, right on the machine. I also remember visiting my uncle’s place of business on occasion and he had a Coca Cola machine similar to the cooler style machine pictured below.

Maybe some of you are too young to remember either of these Coca Cola machines, but you’ve probably seen reconditioned old style Coke vending machine in places like a ’50s style diners in museums or vintage shops.

The spark that ignited me to write this particular post came from a friend. I was visiting with him and his wife and he said he went to the Galco’s Soda Pop Stop, in Los Angeles, California. He bought me a bottle of Bubble Up, Vernor’s Ginger soda and Nesbitt’s Orange soda (see photo below). These were all classics from my growing up years. If you’ve never been to Galco’s before, they have just about every soda imaginable and many you’ve probably never imagined.

There is just something about drinking a soda from a glass bottle, I think it tastes cleaner (for lack of a better term) and it just feels good in your hand compared to a flimsy old aluminum can. Just picture a hot summer day, with bottles of your favorite sodas on ice, making the exterior of the bottles all frosty and cold. You pick one up and put it to your forehead and ice cold water droplets cascade down your skin. You open the bottle and hear that oh so familiar ‘POP’. You put the bottle to your lips and take a sip…AHHH!

I bet you’re craving a soda right now, AREN’T YOU!?