SEVEN UP BOTTLING COMPANY

According to a recently discovered 7-UP paper label, the very first 7-UP bottler in Johnson City was Cunningham Beverages at 226 West Main Street which was once the location of the East Tennessee Chero-Cola Bottling Company. Scott E. Cunningham owned Cunningham Beverage Company, Inc. in Johnson City and as I stated earlier he also bottled 7-UP along with his only flavor line.(4) Cunningham was friends with a gentleman named Wiley McCoy who he wanted to sell his controlling stock to in the fall of 1936 due to Cunningham's poor health.(4) The negotiations began in September 1936 for the selling of the stock to McCoy; however, not being able to secure the finances needed to close the deal, McCoy was approached by his brother in law J. W. Cummins who offered to loan him the money to buy the stock.(4)

McCoy would rename to company The 7-Up Bottling Company of the Appalachians.(4) This business deal got off to a rocky start from the beginning, while McCoy was given to understand that the company would be his alone, Cummins started to have other ideas.(4) Cummins first criticized McCoy's handling of the sales department and then started buying up the stocks from the remaining shareholders behind McCoy's back.(4) When McCoy learned of this he decided to buy more stock himself which prompted Cummins to sue him for breach of contract.(4) He also accused McCoy of fraudulent handling of the sales accounts of the corporation and sought the appointment of a receiver; however, the fraud charges were abandoned by Cummins.(4) The Jury found in favor of McCoy's argument, yet the chancellor disregarded the Jury's verdict and ruled along that the two parties had embarked upon a joint enterprise and made Cummins the final authority in all matters of controversy, even though he was minority stockholder.(4) McCoy appealed this ruling, and took the appeal all the way to the Tennessee Supreme Court where his appeal was denied on March 4, 1939.(4) It appears that after extinguishing all legal options, and the animosity that had to exist between McCoy and Cummins being obvious, there was only one avenue for McCoy to take. He must have sold his shares in the company and established the Seven-Up Bottling Company of Bristol, Tenn., where he would prove to be a successful bottling company owner.

According to the 1937 City Directory, Wiley R. McCoy is the President and General Manager, with his wife Christine as Vice President, and Jack W. Cummings as Secretary Treasurer(1). There is no listing for the company in the 1941 city directory(1); however, an article in the Johnson City Press of April 30, 1967 claims that the franchise had been owned for 26 years as of that March 15.(2) This of course would put the sale of the Johnson City franchise to the Carrs on March 15, 1941. Seven Up is located at 355 East Main around 1944 with Ralph B. Carr as Manager.(1) In 1947 they relocate to 900 Buffalo street where it meets Maple Street.(2) Guy S. Carr is President, Ralph B. Carr is Vice President / Treasurer.(1) They would remain at this location until April 1967, when Rice Bottling Company bought the company and the franchise.(2)

If you have already looked at my Chero-Cola page then you will reconize this building as it was once home to that company, this would be the home of Cunningham Beverages and Seven-Up Bottling Company in Johnson City until at least 1940

This unfortunately is the second location for the company from around 1944 until 1947. The unfortunate thing about this is that it was in the path of Interstate 26, and is now a parking lot.

This is the third and final location of the company at the corner of Buffalo and Maple

7oz squat amber paper label 7-UP from the 7-UP Bottling Company of the Appalachias dated 1935

7oz 7-UP "eight bubble" bottle dated 1939

12oz Mission Beverages bottle from the late 1930's or early 1940's

7oz 7-UP "eight bubble" bottle dated 1940

7oz Sunny Isles bottle dated 1940

Ad for the Seven-Up Bottling Company from the City Directories

6 1/2oz Grapico bottle dated 1948

7 oz 7-Up bottle dated 1952

A receipt from the Seven-Up Bottling Company

7 oz 7-Up bottle dated 1958

12 oz 7-Up bottle dated 1958

10 oz 7-up bottle dated 1961

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