The Los Angeles Trio

Finally, a free moment to post L.A.'s three blobs. My research has one, John Moran, Sr. of Los Angeles, trying his hand at soda waters in the early 1860's. A product he sold for two bits a bottle from his vineyard(unembossed). But in a city full of saloons, prostitutes, banditos, and vigilantes, his soda water was too "soft" a drink to find much favor. Little was done to establish the soda water trade until 1867, when Henry Stoll, a German immigrant, arrived to organize the Los Angeles Soda Water Works. The mis-spelt "Los Angelos" bottle (ca.1873, L.A.'s first embossed soda) was Henry's embarrassment, and he had them distributed to the nearby Chinese railroad camps, and the German village of Anaheim. I understand mine is the only one without damage! He then quickly wired San Francisco to correct the mistake the "other" glasshouse made. It was just about that same time that the boys at Excelsior Soda & Mineral Water Factory in Los Angeles were coming into their own, and rode Henry's coat-tails by saving the money it would take for an original mold of their own... Or visa-versa. Hard to say unless you were there. Their bottle is the same mold as Henry's second run, instead putting "Excelsior" where Henry has "Los Angeles." These are my examples - enjoy!