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About This Item
Vintage Grapette advertising STARR "X" wall mount bottle opener made by Brown MFG Co. The front is marked STARR "X", PATENT 2333088, BROWN CO., and N. NEWS, VA. The raised Grapette script remains clearly visible, making this a great crossover piece for soda advertising, Grapette, STARR, and vintage bottle opener collectors.
History
Grapette grew out of Benjamin Tyndle Fooks' Arkansas flavor business. After spending the late 1930s developing a distinctive grape flavor, Fooks acquired the Grapette name in 1939 and introduced the drink in 1940 from Camden, Arkansas. One of Grapette's signatures was its lightweight clear six-ounce bottle, which showed off the vivid purple soda while using less glass. The company also packed Grapette 30 bottles to a case rather than the more conventional 24.
Period Grapette trade advertising shows how important those practical advantages were to the company. Grapette promoted its lightweight bottle and case, lower bottling and distribution costs, and the opportunity offered by its expanding franchise system. That bottler-focused side of the business helps explain why branded bottle-opening hardware fits so naturally into Grapette's advertising history.
Period Grapette trade advertising promoted the brand's lightweight bottle and case, low bottling and distribution costs, and expanding franchise network. Historical reference image; not included with the sale.
Grapette grew into a major national grape soda during the mid-20th century, but its American story later took an unusual turn. The Grapette Company was sold in 1970, and by 1977 the Grapette brand had come under the control of the manufacturer of rival Nu-Grape. Grapette then largely disappeared from the U.S. soft drink landscape. In 2000, Grapette International re-acquired the Grapette and Orangette trademarks, reuniting the historic names with the original formulas, and the drinks returned to U.S. shelves through Walmart a few years later.
Brown MFG Co. was founded in Newport News, Virginia in 1925 by Raymond “Coca-Cola” Brown, a Coca-Cola bottler. More than a century later, Brown remains in business and STARR bottle openers are still part of its product line.
Collector Detail
This is the familiar STARR "X" wall mount form carrying the PATENT 2333088 marking. U.S. Patent 2,333,088 was granted November 2, 1943, distinguishing this version from the earlier PATD APR 1925 STARR "X" examples. The combination of classic Grapette advertising and the recognizable Brown/STARR opener design gives it appeal across several collecting categories.
Condition
Good vintage used condition overall. Shows normal age and use wear including surface wear, oxidation, scratches, scuffs, darkening, and general signs of long-term use and storage. The Grapette advertising remains clearly recognizable and the opener displays well with honest vintage character. Please review the photos closely for the best description of condition.
Included
Sale is for the bottle opener pictured. No additional accessories are included unless specifically shown or noted.
Packing & Shipping
Packed with care. I'm happy to combine shipping whenever possible. If you purchase multiple items the same day and overcharges shipping, I will refund the combined shipping difference after packing.
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