Item: Vintage “Grape Smash” Drugstore Syrup Dispenser
Drink Grape Smash – It’s Delicious
Sold For: $11,100.00
Bids: 37
Date: Feb 26, 2012
Auction: Ebay
Seller: rocket1go
Feedback: 100% (825)
Description and Image By: rocket1go
Vintage “Grape Smash” Drugstore Syrup Dispenser
Drink Grape Smash – It’s Delicious
You are bidding on a vintage ceramic Drugstore Syrup Dispenser, it includes the globe and the dispenser pictured. On both sides of the globe is the wording; Drink Grape Smash – It’s Delicious; also the words “trademark” and “registered”. The wording and pictures on the ceramic globe are very well preserved. On the bottom of the globe are some numbers that are not completely readable; I will insert a “?” where I am not sure; T 766 ? and 2 – 26? along with what looks like a “6” off by itself. This really is a beautiful, museum quality piece that reminds us of a day gone by. I’ll start the bidding at $99 with no reserve.
The item you see is the item you are bidding on. The pictures were taken with my digital camera.
Of interest: Syrup Dispensers and the Drugstore
When the industrial revolution made its way into the realm of the soda fountain and drugstore of the late 19th century, mass-production of soda syrup became the norm. Mass produced syrups like Ward’s Orange Crush, Cherry Smash, Orange Julep and Green River became common in the neighborhood drugstore.
Soda fountain syrup is made with 85% sugar and various kinds of flavoring. The syrup was preservative free because the high concentration of sugar prevented any microorganism from growing. The flavorings were extracted from natural fruits and were of very high concentration. The soda fountain syrup would be squirted into a glass and carbonated water and phosphate was added by the soda jerk. This made a very tasty one of a kind beverage.
Because of the inroads made by the soda fountain syrup manufacturers the pharmacist didn’t need to spend time making the syrups from scratch anymore. Various syrup companies began to provide the pharmacist with syrup dispensers free of charge to advertise their products.