3 CENTA was started in 1935 in Athens, GA by Joseph Costa,
who also rant the Bludwine Bottling Company.
The Gastonia 3 Centa Co. was owned by the Carson family started in 1936.
3 CENTA was a popular, but short-lived, soda bottle produced around 1935-41.
While Coke and Pepsi were selling their bottles for 5 cents,
3 CENTA was undercutting that price to push their soda.
They competed successfully at first, then introduced the 12 oz 5 CENTA
bottle in 1942.
People stopped buying it because they would rather have a Coke or Pepsi
instead of a flavored soda.
The 5 CENTA bottle is blamed for driving the business under.
The 5 CENTA bottles are rare.
Above history info courtesy of Henry Clay.
Most 3 CENTA bottles are green tinted with a plain base. Some are clear, which are harder to find than the green tint.
Some 3 CENTA bottles had a city on the base. Here's a list of cities, listed from most common to rarest:
The typical 3 CENTA bottle in undamaged condition sells in
the $5-10 range, so they are an affordable category to collect.
The rarer bottles are more valuable.
Questions on a 3 or 5 CENTA:
click here.
Some pics of 3 and 5 CENTA bottles, along with some advertising:
3 CENTA sign courtesy www.3centa.com |
3 CENTA bottle courtesy www.3centa.com |
Henry Clay's 3 CENTA poster. |
Henry Clay's 5 CENTA bottle. |
