This bottle has come from the aerated waters factory of John Fletcher of Warrnambool. This factory in Koroit Street was established in the mid 19th century by John Davis. As a young boy John Fletcher worked at the cordial factory of John Rowley in Banyan Street, Warrnambool and then worked for a number of years for John Davis at his Union Cordial Factory. In 1885 John Fletcher succeeded John Davis and continued in this business until 1930. The business was then taken over by Ralph Reeves. John Fletcher manufactured aerated waters, soda, tonic waters, lemonade, ginger ale, hop beer, hop bitters, sarsaparilla and cordials. The bottle would have been sealed with a cork stopper. The torpedo shape of the bottle would ensure that it was stored on its side, keeping the cork moist so that it didn't shrink and cause the bottle to leak its contents.The bottle is significant for its unusual torpedo shape and for being sold by the long standing John Fletcher's soft drink business in Warrnambool who was a prominent soft drinks manufacturer in Warrnambool for over 40 years.Torpedo shaped green glass bottle, name of manufacture of contents, John Fletcher Late and J. Davis, of Koroit St Warrnambool, is impressed in the glass."John Fletcher Late and J. Davis Koroit St Warrnambool"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, torpedo shaped glass bottle, torpedo bottle, bottle, john fletcher late and j. davis koroit st warrnambool, john fletcher late and j. davis, john fletcher late, j. davis

This bottle is called a torpedo bottle. It cannot stand up but lies on its side so that the soda contents are kept in contact with the cork. This stops the cork from shrinking and the consequent loss of pressure. The bottle came from the Warrnambool aerated waters factory of John Fletcher and would have held soda. The bottle has the name of both John Davis and John Fletcher on it. John Davis established a store in Warrnambool in the mid 19th century and he also established the Union Cordial Factory in Koroit Street in the mid 1860s. John Fletcher worked at that factory for John Davis and in 1885 he bought the factory from John Davis. The Fletcher business continued until 1930. As the name of Davis is on the bottle (‘late J. Davis’) it is probable that this bottle dates from the early years of the Fletcher business. This bottle is of some considerable interest as it appears to be an early example of a John Fletcher bottle (late 19th century). Fletcher was a prominent businessman in Warrnambool for over 40 years. This is a green glass bottle, known as a torpedo bottle. It has a spherical-shaped body with a pointed curved end and a rounded neck with a round moulded top. There is no stopper. The details of the soda manufacturer are embedded into the glass on the side of the bottle. ‘John Fletcher late J. Davis Koroit St. Warrnambool’ john fletcher of warrnambool, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

In 1888 it was reported in "Victoria and its Metropolis" that John Fletcher carried on the business of a manufacturer of aerated waters, cordials, hop bitters, etc. in Warrnambool, and traded throughout the Western District. The establishment was started by a Mr. J. Davis with whom Mr. Fletcher was connected from its commencement, and whom he succeeded in 1885. His business continued until 1930. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has a collection of bottles used by John Fletcher to contain his products. These labels are significant as John Fletcher was a most successful manufacturer of cordials and aerated waters in Warrnambool in the late 1800s and early 1900s .1 Buff coloured rectangular card label with black text. 2 Rectangular label with curved top adhered to a piece of white paper. It is coloured red, blue black and gold and features two standards and text. .3 Rectangular label with curved top adhered to the reverse of .2. It is coloured red and green and features a sketch of Punch carrying a bowl of a steaming substance and text .4 Rectangular label with curved top adhered to a piece of white paper. It is coloured red, apricot, dark and light blue, gold and black. It features the linked initials JF, two standards a trade mark and text .5 Rectangular label with curved top adhered to the reverse of .4 It is coloured red, blue, green, black and gold. It features two standards and text. .6 Identical to .3 but not adhered to paper .7,.8, .9 .10 White rectangular labels with red text. .9 has a damaged corner. .10 is adhered to a piece of white paper. .11,.12,.13,.14,.15..16 Red rectangular labels with black text and a coat of arms. .13 is adhered to a piece of pink card, .17 Blue rectangular label with text and a coat of arms .1 FROM J. FLETCHER, WARRNAMBOOL Manufacturer of Aerated Waters, Soda, Lithia and Tonic Waters, Lemonade, Ginger Ale, Hop beer, Hop Bitters, Sarsaparilla and all Cordials .2 SUPERIOR CONCENTATED COMPOUND EXTRACT OF SARSAPARILLA PREPARED FROM THE BEST RED ROOT OF JAMAICA SARSAPARILLA J. FLETCHER,WARRNAMBOOL .3 HOT CHILLIE PUNCH J. FLETCHER WARRNAMBOOL Approximately 26 Oz. .4 UNION TRADE MARK JOHN FLETCHER WARRNAMBOOL HOP BITTERS EXTRACTED FROM THE FLOWER .5 J FLETCHER WARRNAMBOOL SUPERIOR GREEN COLOURED WITH BURNT SUGAR GINGER CORDIAL .6 Identical to .3 .7,.8,.9,.10 ASK FOR XXX HOP A1 BEER J FLETCHER WARRNAMBOOL .11,.12,.13.14,.15.16 SODA WATER J Fletcher .17 LITHIA WATER J FLETCHER WARRNAMBOOL john fletcher, warnambool, cordials

This soda syphon (or siphon) was distributed by John Fletcher of Warrnambool, and made by the British Syphon Mfg. Co. Ltd. of London between the 1900s-1930s. It comprises a multi-sided clear glass bottle, an internal glass tube and a metal release valve and spout on the top. It was used to dispense pressurised, effervescent soda water. It was often used as an alternative to water or added to fruit juices and cordials. The text on this bottle states that it remains the property of the retailer, John Fletcher, and must be returned to him. Customers were asked for a deposit on the bottle, which would be refunded when the bottle was exchanged or continued as the deposit on a fresh bottle. Returned bottles would be cleaned and recharged with the gas and sold again. Soda syphon are bottles, glass or metal, with a release valve and spout on the top. The valve lever on the top of the syphon, when depressed, causes the gas in the syphon to force the water up through the tube and out of the spout. The bottle’s mechanism gives the water an effervescent quality to make bubbly drinks such as sparkling mineral water, soda water and sparkling water. ABOUT JOHN FLETCHER John Fletcher bought the Union Cordial Factory in Koroit Street, Warrnambool that was previously owned by John Davis. Fletcher operated the factory as J Fletcher, John Fletcher and Fletcher’s. He eventually sold his business and stock in 1930 to Ralph Reeves, who may have continued using Fletcher’s supply of drink containers before renewing them with stock showing his own brand. The soda syphon is representative of drink containers used in the later 19th and early 20th century. It also represents the system of returnable, recyclable containers. Soda syphon (or siphon). Glass bottle, clear, multi sided, tapered from a heavy glass base to a narrower shoulder, with glass tube at centre connected to metal pump mechanism at the top. Has elaborate frosted label for J. Fletcher of Warrnambool. Made by the British Syphon Mfg. Co. Ltd. London. Bottle remains the property of John Fletcher, Warrnambool.Metal syphon has impressed "J FLETCHER" and logo "S S" in centre of two concentric circles with text between circles "BRITISH SYPHON MFG. CO. LTD. LONDON". Etched into glass "J. FLETCHER / WARRNAMBOOL", "TRADE "[stylised] F" / MARK", "SODA WATER", "THIS SYPHON IS THE PROPERTY / OF JOHN FLETCHER / WARRNAMBOOL AND CONNOT BE / AND CONNOT BE LEGALLY USED BY OTHERS / BRITISH SYPHON CO. TLD. LONDON / - - - - "flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, john fletcher, fletcher, john fletcher of warrnambool, soda siphon, soda syphon, british syphon mfg co ltd of london, soft drinks, soda drinks