Warrnambool Cordials was one of a number of cordial and aerated Waters Manufacturers who operated in Warrnambool from about 1859 until the 1980’s. Warrnambool Cordials was commenced in the early 1920’s by two brothers, Joseph and James Lescai. James operated a fruit shop in Fairy Street and Joseph as an industrial chemist made his own cordials which became very popular. Soon a company was formed with four local businessmen, J S Tait, Chas McMeekin, G Cinquegrana and John Gleeson who took over the company around the 1930’s. Warrnambool Cordials was then purchased by the Flett brothers around 1942. It was then sold in the 1960’s to Thomas McKenzie who traded as McKenzie Cordials. Warrnambool Cordials were one of a number of cordial manufacturers who operated in Warrnambool from the late 19th century until late 20th century. Two clear glass cylindrical bottles with 12 lines and indentations within formation of glass. It is topped with plastic spout which has two metal rims at bottom . Warrnambool Cordial Co. surrounds stylized logo “W” topped with small “C” and encased in large “C.” Small print.” British Syphon Co Ltd London. Warrnambool Soda Water in rectangle on back.: warrnambool, warrnambool cordials, lescai, joseph lescai, james lescai, flett mckenzie cordials.

Warrnambool Cordials was started by James and Joseph Lescai in the 1920’s which was later taken over by a group of businessmen. Charles and Frederick Flett owned and operated Warrnambool Cordials for some time. It was later operated by Mr Thomas McKenzie before finally closing down.A common object associated with a well known local business business. Three clear glass bottles with neck with raised lettering. Fletts Warrnambool, horizontally on front centre, This bottle is the property of Warrnambool Cordials, Pty Ltd Warrnambool. Vertically on other side Warrnambool Cordials Pty Ltd Warrnambool. warrnambool, warrnambool cordials, flett’s cordials, flett.

These marble stopper bottles came from the Warrnambool aerated waters factory of Joseph Lescai. A marble stopper bottle was one which was filled upside down so that as soon as the filling stopped the stopper was forced down to seal the bottle against the rubber ring. Pressure inside the bottle would keep the marble pressed against the top of the bottle. To open the bottle the marble was pressed down where it would fall into the neck chamber below. The marble would stay inside the neck chamber when the bottle was tilted up for drinking. Joseph Lescai and his brother, James had fruit shops in Warrnambool and in the 1920s Joseph Lescai began to produce cordial and soft drinks at his Fairy Street shop. The cordial manufacturing was then re-located to a site in Fairy Street close to Raglan Parade and the business, known as Warrnambool Cordials Pty Ltd, was operated then by a group of Warrnambool businessmen and later by Thomas Hill in the 1930s. In the 1940s the business was purchased by the Flett brothers, Frederick and Charles, and in the 1960s the business was sold to Thomas McKenzie and retailed under the name of McKenzie’s Cordials. The business was still operating in the 1970s. These bottles are significant because they come from the Warrnambool aerated water factory of Joseph Lescai, probably in the late 1920s. The business commenced by Joseph Lescai became Warrnambool Cordials Pty Ltd and this was a prominent business in Warrnambool for 50 years or more. Cordial manufacturing was an important industry in Warrnambool for over 100 years. These three bottles are marble-stopper green glass bottles. They have a rounded base and body with a deep indentation in the glass at the top of the body to form a narrow neck chamber. The necks have small round indentations in the glass. The tops of the bottles have moulded glass and an opening. Details on the aerated waters manufacturer are impressed into the glass on the side of the bottles. A round green marble is loose in the neck chamber. Rubber rings in the necks of the bottles are missing. One of the bottles has a wooden stopper but this may not have been an original. Inscriptions and Markings: Serial numbers, signatures, engravings, dedications in books, manufacturing details or personal markings ‘J. Lescai J.L. Warrnambool’ ‘This bottle is the property of Lescai Warrnambool and cannot be legally used by others’ These three bottles are marble-stopper green glass bottles. They have a rounded base and body with a deep indentation in the glass at the top of the body to form a narrow neck chamber. The necks have small round indentations in the glass. The tops of the bottles have moulded glass and an opening. Details on the aerated waters manufacturer are impressed into the glass on the side of the bottles. A round green marble is loose in the neck chamber. Rubber rings in the necks of the bottles are missing. One of the bottles has a wooden stopper but this may not have been an original. Inscriptions and Markings: Serial numbers, signatures, engravings, dedications in books, manufacturing details or personal markings ‘J. Lescai J.L. Warrnambool’ ‘This bottle is the property of Lescai Warrnambool and cannot be legally used by others’ These three bottles are marble-stopper green glass bottles. They have a rounded base and body with a deep indentation in the glass at the top of the body to form a narrow neck chamber. The necks have small round indentations in the glass. The tops of the bottles have moulded glass and an opening. Details on the aerated waters manufacturer are impressed into the glass on the side of the bottles. A round green marble is loose in the neck chamber. Rubber rings in the necks of the bottles are missing. One of the bottles has a wooden stopper but this may not have been an original. Inscriptions and Markings: Serial numbers, signatures, engravings, dedications in books, manufacturing details or personal markings ‘J. Lescai J.L. Warrnambool’ ‘This bottle is the property of Lescai Warrnambool and cannot be legally used by others’ These three bottles are marble-stopper green glass bottles. They have a rounded base and body with a deep indentation in the glass at the top of the body to form a narrow neck chamber. The necks have small round indentations in the glass. The tops of the bottles have moulded glass and an opening. Details on the aerated waters manufacturer are impressed into the glass on the side of the bottles. A round green marble is loose in the neck chamber. Rubber rings in the necks of the bottles are missing. One of the bottles has a wooden stopper but this may not have been an original. J. Lescai J.L. Warrnambool’ ‘This bottle is the property of Lescai Warrnambool and cannot be legally used by others’ lescal cordials, cordial bottles, 1920's bottles, warrnambool cordial manufacurers

These bottles came from the Warrnambool aerated waters factory of Charles and Frederick Flett. They were sold under the name of Warrnambool Cordials Pty Ltd. This business was first established in the 1920s by Joseph Lescai who had a fruit shop in Fairy Street, Warrnambool (his brother James also had a fruit shop in Liebig Street). Joseph Lescai began to make cordials and moved his business to another location in Fairy Street. His cordial business was sold to a company of local businessmen who employed a cordial maker. In the 1930sThomas Hill then purchased this business, followed by the Flett brothers’ purchase in the 1940s. Charles and Frederick Flett, the sons of William Flett, a Timor Street tinsmith, also operated their father’s plumbing business for some time. In the 1960s Frederick Flett, the surviving brother, sold the Warrnambool Cordials business to Thomas McKenzie.These bottles are of interest because they are examples of the soft drinks bottles sold by the Flett brothers in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. The Warrnambool Cordials business was a prominent one in Warrnambool for many years. These are two glass bottles with a round base and body and rounded neck with a moulded glass opening at the top. The stoppers are missing. The bottles have the contents maker’s details impressed into the body of the bottle.‘Fletts Warrnambool’ ‘Net Contents 6½ fl.oz.’ ‘Warrnambool Cordials Pty Ltd Warrnambool’ ‘This bottle is the property of the Warrnambool Cordials Pty. Ltd. Warrnambool’ ‘39 L103’ charles and frederick flett, warrnambool, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool