Winona Coke Plant Video

[dr galaga]

I looks like KSTP-TV recently aired a story on the Winona, MN Coke plant. 

Video
Boy, now I'm thirsty for a 6 1/2 oz. Coke! 

[Pat Pixley]

Very cool video  Your right Brent it Does make you
thirsty for a Coke in a glass bottle.
 Nice find

  Pat

[halehouse]

I wonder what % of their sales are in glass.

[MoonDawg]

      Great video, thanks.
      Noticed all the bottles being re-filled were painted label and
none were embossed.
      Amazing how many people would rather use this thick glass
bottle rather than buy the new 8 oz style.
      Maybe it's time to start collecting old bottles and cases.
With an inexpensive modern syrup dispenser modified to hold
bottles, a capper and a box of caps.......a single person could
produce several cases in an hour. 

[dr galaga]

I'm not sure if they bottle too many embossed botles.  One time I was there I traded in 2 cases of embossed bottles and they told me that they will not be able to give me embossed bottles back (I think Signguy said that since these are so old a lot of them break in the washer). 
To me it is simple economics.  8 oz. 6 packs by me run around $4.65 each.  A refilled case of 6.5 oz. bottles is around $8.00 (50 cents more for 10 oz. bottles).  That's about a $10 difference per case.  I pick up cases of bottles for $15 to $30.  After 2-3 refills it is cheaper to refill.
I wish more places would refill bottles.  The Sun-drop I pick up is about $20 cheaper per case than buying the non-returnable bottles.  If I buy only 5 cases I have "paid" for my gas up there.

[vend_dr]

Last time I had a business associate pick up bottles from there for me I did recieve all 6 1/2 ounce embossed bottles of course the guy who picked them up for me knows someone there so that may have been why.

[MoonDawg]

      I'm feeling guilty. I have some 16oz bottles I had to take from
a garage as part of the terms of a machine I bought recently.

       I don't want them, and it seems no one else does either as
craigslist didn't generate one call. Ebay is out because of shipping.
I hate to send these to recycle but what other options are there?

[Creighton]

Glen,
Are those MD's on the left? If so I'll take those. Let me know.
Thanks!!
Creighton

[dr galaga]

If there is enough Dr Pepper's for a case I would stick them up on ebay starting at $10.  People still pick up Dr Pepper bottles since the Dublin, TX plant still refills them.   To pack them just leave them in the case, set them in a box (bleach boxes are the right size) and roll up some newspaper to put tightly between the bottles and wad up a few to put on the outside and top.  The only time I've had bottles broken is when people take the time to try and pack them nicely!  You won't get rich off it, but it's better than the recylcing bin.

[collecture]

As far as I know, the Dublin DP plant only refills the 10 oz and 6.5 oz bottles.
I don't think their system handles larger bottles.

Glen,
If those are 10 oz. bottles, I'll take them!

[SIGNGUY]

Great Video.... i have been down to see Clint a few times in the past few years... he knew my grandfather so that "got me in" to see his private stash... It's no longer at the plant now and his Daughter has most of the stuff...

I have him fill embossed bottles for me but I have to leave them and come back a month or so later to get them... I leave 1 case for every 3 I bring for breakage... as they do break due to age and the high pressure/heat wash... but still worth it.

I have several embossed cases still availble... I sell them for around 20 bucks a case. If anyone is interested in some  I can bring a few in the trailer to Chicago.

they are all embossed 6.5 oz. the cases are a mix of old Coke crates, 7up and some off brands...

I gotta get back down and see him...i'm out