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Soft drinks first appeared
The first marketed soft drinks (non-carbonated) appeared in the 17th century. They were made from water and lemon juice sweetened with honey -
Who made the first soda?
Joseph Priestly created the first drinkable glass of carbonated water. -
United States patent soft drinks
In 1810, the first United States patent was issued for the "means of mass manufacture of imitation mineral waters" to Simons and Rundell of Charleston, South Carolina. -
When carbonated beverages became popular
Carbonated beverages did not achieve great popularity in America until John Mathews invented his apparatus for making carbonated water where he then mass-manufactured his apparatus for sale to soda fountain owners. -
The soft drink bottling industry
Over 1,500 U.S. patents were filed for either a cork, cap, or lid for the carbonated drink bottle tops during the early days of the bottling industry. Carbonated drink bottles are under a lot of pressure from the gas. Inventors were trying to find the best way to prevent the carbon dioxide or bubbles from escaping. The "Crown Cork Bottle Seal" was patented by William Painter, a Baltimore machine shop operator. The method was very successful for keeping water carbonated. -
Glass Bottle production
The first patent was issued for a glass-blowing machine for the automatic production of glass bottles. Earlier glass bottles had all been hand-blown. Four years later, the new bottle-blowing machine was in operation. It was first operated by, Michael Owens,the inventor, an employee of Libby Glass Company. -
Hom-Paks and vending machines
"Hom-Paks" are the familiar six-pack beverage carrying cartons made from cardboard. Automatic vending machines also began to appear. The soft drink had become an American mainstay. -
Are soft drinks healthy
The drinking of either natural or artificial mineral water was considered a healthy practice. The American pharmacists selling mineral waters began to add medicinal and flavorful herbs to unflavored mineral water. They used birch bark, dandelion, sarsaparilla, and fruit extracts. Since our body can more easily absorb minerals from water as opposed to food, you gain more by drinking. These all lead to the creation of the soft drink bottling industry.
