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Like many businesses, mineral water manufacturers were quick to take advantage of the wave of patriotism that swept through the UK during the Anglo-Boer War. To this end several companies emblazoned their bottles with such names as “Long Tom”, “Long Cecil”, “Pom-Pom”, and “Long Guns”. As well as referencing the various artillery pieces in service in South Africa, such terms also reflected the nature of the receptacles upon which the words appeared, these being extra-large / extra-long versions of the standard Codd bottle.

The three examples shown below are marked:

1. POM-POM / MERRICKS MINERAL WATER COMPANY / M TRADE MARK. Base with bottle manufacturers details: REFEARN BROs / BOTTLE MAKERS / BARNSLEY.

2. LONG TOM / KEYSTONE COMP. LIMITED / REGISTERED / REGD No 247270.

3. LONG CECIL / HEDGES / SMETHWICK. Base with bottle manufacturers details: REFEARN BROs / BOTTLE MAKERS / BARNSLEY.

A quick search through the British Library Newspaper Archive only returns a couple of hits, both for the Keystone “Long Tom” bottle. Keystone was granted trademark status for “Long Tom” in about September 1900. The word quickly became a generic term for all over-sized Codd bottles, which is still used by bottle collectors today.







Distillers', Brewers', and Spirit Merchants' Magazine, 1st October 1900

NEW TRADE MARKS.

Subjoined is a list of new trade marks (with description of good, and number of application) published since our last issue; and it must be noted that any person who has good ground of objection to the registration of any of the marks, should at once give notice at the Patent Office (25 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.), of opposition to such registration, as this must be done within one month of the publication of the designs in the Trade Marks Journal.

LONG TOM.

Mineral and Aerated Waters (Natural and Artificial), including Ginger Beer. – George William Joel Allen, trading as the Keystone Company, mineral water manufacturer, 98 Lennox Street, Birmingham. 231 576.


Birmingham Daily Gazette, 14th January 1905

“POP” & SUGAR: A CORRECTION.

In a recent interview upon the sugar tax as it affects the mineral water manufacturers, a gentleman who gave his views to the “Gazette and Express” referred to “Long Toms”, which he said were retailed at 8d per dozen, and contained 20 ounces.

Mr R.H. Norris, the secretary of the Keystone Steam Bottling Co., Limited, Lozells, writes to say that the term “Long Tom” is the registered name of one of the company’s products, that the bottle contains fifteen ounces, and that the price is 9d per dozen. We are glad to make the correction to prevent confusion. The term was probably applied generically by our informant to large sizes of bottles.



And two ashtrays, advertising J. Robinson's High Class Mineral Waters.




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www.angloboerwar.com/forum/11-research/3...peace-beverage#80410

Neville - The Hedges & the Cresswells were the respectable side of the mineral water business in Smethwick. Thomas Hedges was a Smethwick Councillor for many years. The Sandford Bros were the dodgy side and appeared in the Magistrates Court more than once for supplying their products in their competitors bottles. They would hide a few in the middle of a crate and thus avoid the production costs of the bottle.