A few years ago, while helping disperse a relative’s household, I came across this Vernors ice cooler. Now, I’m originally a Michigander, and there Vernors Ginger Ale is a beloved institution. There’s no way could I let such a classic piece go to trash.
So now I have this banged-up, old, metal box sitting around my office. Sometimes I fill it with seasonal decor. Other times I use it to store the art books I obsessively collect. Often it just sits there empty, taking up space.
But I like it. It’s a fun reminder of the days when soda was pop and high fructose corn syrup was…well, was not.
I also like it because I’m fascinated with logos and branding.
Vernors is supposedly America’s oldest soda, having been started by James Vernor in Detroit in the 1860s. A product this old naturally has lived through many logo evolutions. In fact, in the 1950s, it even had a slight name change when they decided to drop the apostrophe.
So, in my photo above, you’ve got a pre-1950 logo. On Wikipedia, you’ve got one with some cool bubbly fizz.
And here’s what’s currently showing up on their cans, which, yes, I was able to find here in Wisconsin. I kind of miss the ballpark-style script and underlining swash. But at least they kept the gnome.
By the way, if you’re looking for a few Vernors Ginger Ale recipes, scroll to the bottom of this interesting site.
And if you’re looking to update your own logo and image, drop me a line.