Name/Title
Edisto Farms Dairy Milk BottleEntry/Object ID
2011.11.18Description
Glass milk bottle from embossed "Edisto" twice around neck of the bottle. It is labeled on the front in red lettering “Edisto Farms Dairy Columbia, S.C. Phone 4-6916." The back is labeled also in red lettering: "Golden Guernsey Trade Mark" with a depiction of a milk pitcher and "Please Return All Milk Bottles Promptly." There are additional labels embossed on the bottle, including "Liquid,” "One Quart," "Sealed | 52 S.," and "Reg." The neck of bottle features a glass ledge.Context
Edisto Farms Dairy was established in 1938 at 227 Heyward Street by Robert Parks Kapp, Sr. (1905-1987) and Denmark, S.C., dairy farmer James Barre Guess, Jr. (1885-1969). Processing milk produced by the pure-bred Guernsey cow's living on Guess's farm, Edisto Farms Dairy was the largest distributor of Golden Guernsey milk in the country in 1962 and 1963. In January 1941, Edisto Farms Dairy relocated to a new processing plant at 650 South Edisto Avenue in Rosewood. The firm would remain on South Edisto Avenue until it merged with Coburg Dairy, Inc. in 1969. In addition to its dairy processing facility, Edisto Farms Dairy operated ice cream parlors and dairy stores at Trenholm Plaza, 3316 North Main Street, and 605 Harden Street.
Based on the phone number listed on its front, this milk bottle was made between 1952 and 1954. Available for purchase at any of the Edisto Farms Dairy stores or ordered for home delivery, the Golden Guernsey milk that came in this bottle would have had a golden-yellow tinge due to its high beta-carotene content, and it was known for its rich flavor and high levels of fat and protein. As is made clear by the label on the back of the bottle, milk bottles were returned and reused. A glass ledge on the neck of the bottle probably served the dual-purpose of making it easier to grip and providing the base for a waterproof paper closure.Made/Created
Manufacturer
Edisto Farms DairyDate made
1952 - 1954Place
City
Columbia, South CarolinaDimensions
Height
9 inWidth
3-1/2 inDiameter
12 in
