Coca-Cola, Historic and Refreshing
The battle rages on to prove the historic value of the Coca-Cola mural on the former Tipton’s Grocery in Bernal. Bernalwood received evidence from the owners of the building on how they discovered the mural in 1991 as they removed asbestos siding that was put up between 1949 and 1956.
(image via Troy Holden)
We also have word from the official Coca Cola historians and archivist themselves:
“The girl in the image is referred to in “Coke Lore” as Silhouette Girl. She was used from 1939 until around 1950 when she fell out of use. She is significant in dating items as she was one of the few characters that was used during the time we transitioned our “Trademark Registered” statement from the tale of the C in “Coca” to being placed under the words “Coca-Cola.” This transition occurred between 1941 and 1942.
The first thing I noticed with the sign was the mark was under the words so it had to be later than 1942.
You will note that given the Sanborn Map layout, that sign would have been perfectly positioned with sight lines to qualify as location for a painted wall sign.
Given this evidence, Ted Ryan and the Coca-Cola archivists state:
If you had to pin me to a date, I would say that based on the placement of the word drink and the use of the Silhouette Girl, the original would be from 1946 or so.
Our effervescent archivists were kind enough to send over a bevy of pictures and documentation:
| 1939 Silhouette Girl on a thermometer: | Menu sign: |
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| 1950 delivery truck (Argentina)
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And a very similar mural in South Carolina (also restored):
Since we think the Tipton’s acquired the grocery around 1948, they were the ones that must have put up the siding and covered the mural.
Last year the Coke archivists wrote a blog post on the history of their painted signs, discussing the guidelines they gave the bottlers. They also sent me the official book (once confidential!!) and an article on their wall painting standards. (PDFs, be sure to click through.) The article, by Professors Bill Bateman and Randy Schaeffer, is quite definitive.
Burrito Justice 
Yay! The timeline works out nicely here. The homeowner suspected the sign was from 1947, so the data all points in the same direction, based on the homeowner’s information, the records of the store itself, and Coca-Cola.
Great work. Now, off to do combat with the City.
Great sleuthing. So interesting.
this is in the Gate. Was hoping you wrote it under a pseudonym
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/24/BA1Q1HT7KS.DTL
Ha, not me! As if I’d be able to pull off being a secret SFGate columnist.
feels like you maybe could have gotten a link then. You’ve had the story awhile. Hey, if I do a follow up, you want to quote some? I’d like your sleuthing to be uncovered. Yours is the better story, IMHO
Sure, happy to reference the Coke Historic angle. But Todd @ Bernalwood started it, just make sure he gets coverage too. (Rather surprised they didn’t link to him either.)
To equivocate, I agree that fifty year-old street art ought to be preserved. But this isn’t vernacular art, it’s commercial marketing. This ad is not unique, it’s for a corporate giant, and your supporters are “Coke Historians,” which is kinda sad. Then again, NIMBYism is an effective way to end any argument in SF and I agree NIMBY is lame.
Actually, the supporters are many of the neighbors in Bernal, very few of whom seem to have an issue with the mural. The Coke historians, who we reached out to, just provided data.
Yup. The supporters are, for the most part, local Bernal residents (like myself) who care about the history of our neighborhood. Coca-Cola historians were only called into to provide dating evidence, as they are the ones that have the knowledge of the specific history of the artwork featured in this historic mural.
This is great! So glad they were able to help so definitively!
k, will do
Hi,
I’m wondering if it’s possible to get a full-resolution copy of the photo of the sign? My e-mail is listed in the post details.
Thanks!