Historical information

These two soda syphons were used to dispense soda water. They are marked ‘J. Fletcher’ with one of the bottles having the extra label of ‘Reeves’. The bottles come from the cordial factory in Koroit Street, Warrnambool. John Fletcher worked as a young boy in Rowley’s cordial factory in Banyan Street, Warrnambool and then worked for John Davis who had established the Union Cordial Factory in Koroit Street in the 1860s. John Fletcher bought the Davis business in 1885 and operated this factory until 1930. He then sold to Ralph Reeves who initially used the Fletcher bottles and syphons. At least one of these syphons comes from the Koroit Street factory during the proprietorship of Ralph Reeves.

Significance

These soda syphons are of interest as they come from a local Warrnambool cordial factory in Koroit Street. Cordial manufacturing was an important industry in Warrnambool for over100 years.

Physical description

These are two soda syphons made of glass with heavy round bases and ridged surfaces on the bottle bodies. The metal tops contain the pump and valve mechanisms and the inside of the bottles have glass tubes attached to the top mechanisms. The sides of the bottle have the Fletcher trade mark symbol of the stylized letters J and F, Both metal tops are corroded. Both bottles contain a small amount of liquid.

Inscriptions & markings

‘J. Fletcher’
“J. Fletcher Trade Mark Warrnambool’
‘Soda Water’
‘This syphon is the property of John Fletcher Warrnambool and cannot be legally used by others’
‘British Syphon Co. Ltd. London Reg. No 762’.
‘Reeves Soda Water’ (one bottle only)