Root Glass Company

Root Glass Company. The Root Glass Company was a prominent American glass manufacturer based in Terre Haute, Indiana, operating from 1901 until 1933. Founded by entrepreneur Chapman J. Root, the company is historically significant for its role in designing and producing the iconic Coca-Cola contour bottle, a landmark achievement in packaging design and brand identity. Though its corporate existence was relatively brief, its innovative work left an indelible mark on 20th century consumer culture and the soft drink industry.

History

The company was established in 1901 by Chapman J. Root, who had previously worked in the glass industry in Pennsylvania. Under his leadership, the firm grew rapidly, supplying glass containers to various industries from its facilities in the Midwestern United States. A key figure in its technical development was Swedish-born plant superintendent and designer Alexander Samuelson, who oversaw production and innovation. The company's fortunes became deeply intertwined with The Coca-Cola Company after winning a pivotal design competition in 1915. Following the economic pressures of the Great Depression, the company ceased operations in 1933, with its molds and other assets subsequently sold to other glass manufacturers like the Owens-Illinois company.

Products

Primarily a manufacturer of hollow glass, the company produced a wide array of glass bottles and jars for beverages, food preservation, and pharmaceuticals. Its product line included utility ware for everyday consumer goods, which were distributed to clients across the United States. The most famous and enduring product to emerge from its furnaces was the distinctively shaped bottle created for Coca-Cola. However, the company also produced bottles for other carbonated drinks and regional bottling companies, utilizing both hand-blown and early automated production techniques common in the early 1900s.

Coca-Cola contour bottle

In 1915, seeking a distinctive bottle to protect its trademark, The Coca-Cola Company organized a design brief among its approved glass suppliers. The team at the company, led by Alexander Samuelson and including designer Earl R. Dean and machinist Clyde Edwards, developed the winning design. Inspired by an illustration of the coca bean in the Encyclopædia Britannica, they created the iconic contour shape with distinctive ribbing. Patented in 1915, the bottle entered full production, becoming synonymous with the brand worldwide. This design is celebrated as a masterpiece of industrial design and was instrumental in Coca-Cola's global marketing success, helping to combat imitation by competitors.

Legacy and impact

The company's creation of the Coca-Cola contour bottle stands as its principal legacy, an object now housed in permanent collections like those of the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum of Modern Art. The bottle's design is recognized as a classic example of form following function in packaging, contributing significantly to the field of graphic design and branding. The closure of the company marked the end of an era for independent glass houses in Terre Haute, Indiana, but its innovative spirit lived on through the continued production of the bottle by successors like Owens-Illinois. The Root family philanthropy, funded by the company's success, continued to impact the Terre Haute community for generations.

See also

* Chapman J. Root * Alexander Samuelson * Coca-Cola contour bottle * Owens-Illinois * Terre Haute, Indiana * Packaging and labeling * Industrial design

Category:Glass manufacturers of the United States Category:Companies based in Terre Haute, Indiana Category:Defunct manufacturing companies based in Indiana Category:1901 establishments in Indiana Category:1933 disestablishments in Indiana