Hydrox Corporation, formerly known as Hydrox Co.,[1] was an American food company based in Chicago. Founded in 1888 by the Consumers Company and Chauncey B. Blair, it manufactured both ice cream and soft drinks.
 | |
| Hydrox Corporation | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Food processing |
| Founded | 1888 in Chicago, U.S. |
| Founders |
|
| Defunct | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Ice cream; soft drinks |
History
editEarly history
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Hydrox was founded in 1888[2][3][4] by the Consumers Company[5] and Chauncey B. Blair.[6] It first sold drinks such as root beer and ginger ale, but soon started making ice cream, which became its main product.[4] In 1917, Thomas McInnerney split the company from the Consumers Company.[7] Heavy post-war advertising and several slogans during 1917–1918 led to the rise of Hydrox.[8] By 1920, Hydrox was the most popular ice cream brand in Chicago.[9] Hydrox bought the Collins Bros. and Thompson-Reid ice cream companies in 1921.[10]
Absorption into National Dairy Products and beyond
edit
Around 1922, Hydrox absorbed the New York-based Shevers Company, a business which was growing.[11] In December 10, 1922, Hydrox's ice cream division was sold to the National Dairy Products Corporation.[12] Hydrox had "the finest ice manufacturing plant" according to the Sunday Tribune in 1923.[13] By the mid-1920s, it had four factories, all located across Chicago,[14] and in the late 1920s the company had started a free ice cream campaign, with over 7,000 dishes given around April 1929.[15] Hydrox was also known for giant trucks with huge lettering that read "Hydrox Ice Cream".[16] By December 31, 1942, Hydrox had expanded to Missouri and New York.[17]
On some occasions, Hydrox was advertised as "Graf's Hydrox", despite not being owned by Graf's and having no relation.[18]
Hydrox Soda was distributed by E. Minkowski and Kenosha Liquor Co around the 1940s.[19]
Shutdown
editIn 1986, Hydrox Soda had published its last known ads.[20][21] The following year, 1987, Hydrox Ice Cream also had its own final advertisements.[22] Around 1988, their Chicago headquarters, which was located on 415 E 24th Street, was demolished.[23] The building was known to have been used by an auto body firm around 1988.[24]
Products
editHydrox products consisted of ice cream and soda and had many flavors. It started in the markets in 1892 with distilled water,[25] and its initial product listings included sarsaparilla, birch beer, lemon soda, root beer, and ginger ale.[26] Other products produced by Hydrox included Sparkling Hydrox, Hydrolaris and Hydrox Lithia.[27] Its introduction of ice cream in 1910[25] proved to be highly successful.[citation needed] Its ice cream was reportedly made from the Guernsey cattle of the famous Glenwood family.[28] Hydrox Swizz, from the 1970s, appears to be at least inspired by Mountain Dew.[29][citation needed]
Logo history
edit-
1890's–early 1900's -
early 1900's–mid 1910's -
mid 1910's–1988
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See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Ice Cream Review. Miller Publishing Company. 1926.
- ^ Moody's Manual of Railroads and Corporation Securities. Moody Manual Company. 1924.
- ^ Forest Leaves. Hall-Heileman Company. 1922.
- ^ a b The Annalist: A Magazine of Finance, Commerce and Economics. New York Times Company. 1923.
- ^ "About 3". The City Beyond the White City. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Judicious Advertising and Advertising Experience. Lord and Thomas Publishing House. 1918.
- ^ Hadden, Briton; Luce, Henry Robinson (1931). Time. Time Incorporated. p. 47.
- ^ Judicious Advertising and Advertising Experience. Lord and Thomas Publishing House. 1918. pp. 37–40.
- ^ "Winnetka Historical Society Gazette" (PDF). p. 5.
- ^ Ice Cream Trade Journal. Cutler-Williams Company. 1915. p. 30.
- ^ The Soda Fountain. D. O. Haynes. 1923. p. 70.
- ^ Commission, United States Federal Trade (1935). Report of the Federal Trade Commission on the Sale and Distribution of Milk and Milk Products. U.S. Government Printing Office.
- ^ The Sunday Tribune. The Sunday Tribune.
- ^ Spurr, Henry Clifford; Nichols, Ellsworth (1924). Public Utilities Reports. Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company. p. 344.
- ^ Ice Cream Review. Miller Publishing Company. 1928. pp. 48–49.
- ^ Records and Briefs of the United States Supreme Court. 1932.
- ^ Survey of American Listed Corporations: Registrants and Subsidiaries. Securities and Exchange Commission. 1942. p. 149.
- ^ "Kenosha News from Kenosha, Wisconsin". Newspapers.com. June 8, 1938. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Kenosha News". Kenosha, Wisconsin. May 2, 1946. p. 21.
- ^ "Chicago Tribune". Chicago, Illinois. March 2, 1986. p. 537.
- ^ "Journal Gazette". Mattoon, Illinois. February 1, 1986. p. 22.
- ^ "The Reporter Dispatch". White Plains, New York. January 4, 1987. p. 57.
- ^ "Resource details | The Art Institute of Chicago". archive.artic.edu. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Chicago Tribune". Chicago, Illinois. March 16, 1988. p. 39.
- ^ a b Office, United States Patent (1912). Decisions of the Commissioner of Patents and of the United States Courts in Patent and Trade-mark and Copyright Cases. U.S. Government Printing Office.
- ^ The Clinical Review. Clinical Review Publishing Company. 1898.
- ^ The Chicago Blue Book of Selected Names of Chicago and Suburban Towns ... Chicago Directory Company. 1898. p. 808.
- ^ Plumbe, George Edward; Langland, James; Pike, Claude Othello (1911). The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book for ... Chicago Daily News Company.
- ^ "HYDROX-Citrus soda-355mL-United States". canmuseum.com. Retrieved June 21, 2024.