Codd Soda Bottle

Thursday, November 19, 2009

I have fond memories of childhood summer days slaked by the mere sight of the Codd soda bottle – named after its British inventor Hiram Codd. In Goa we knew it as “Guddechi baatli” and possession of the embedded “goddo” (the glass marble) gave many a young brat not inconsiderable bragging rights.

Today the Codd bottle is on the verge of retirement. Khandelwal Glass Works in India and another company in Japan are believed to be the last two surviving manufacturers of this relic.

Sightings of the Codd bottle have now become scarce in Panjim. I managed to wangle a sample from the Mohan Cold Drink House in Cortin. However, the traditional wooden opener was not to be found. You may remember the ‘experts’ in the art of opening this bottle – they could lengthen the duration of the hiss by controlling the pressure on the marble as it dislodged.

For a historical perspective on soda bottles, see this.

Codd soda factory in Panjim, Goa<br>5D Mark II, 24-105L

Codd soda factory in Panjim, Goa
5D Mark II, 24-105L

 
 
Codd soda machine in Panjim, Goa<br>5D Mark II, 24-105L

Codd soda machine in Panjim, Goa
5D Mark II, 24-105L

 
 
Codd soda bottle<br>5D Mark II, 85L II

Codd soda bottle
5D Mark II, 85L II

 
 
Wide angle view of the Codd bottle<br>5D Mark II, 14L II

Wide angle view of the Codd bottle
5D Mark II, 14L II

 
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Category: General, Goa, History, Photography, Places Tag: , , , , , , ,

by Rajan P. Parrikar

3 comments

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Anil RaghavanDecember 5, 2009 - 1:00 pm

You have some awesome photos of people going about their daily lives. And the church photo with the sunset in the background .. wow!

vnmNovember 19, 2009 - 6:35 am

I am reminded of my misspent youth – guzzling kOli soda (kOli in Tamil = marble in English). Once, my father took me along to Madurai and the trip highlights included a bottle of the famed Madurai MAppiLLai Vinayakar kOli soda. I assumed the company no longer exists. However, see,

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paneer-Soda/41374158804

p.s. As late as in the 80′s kOli soda used to be served as refreshment during Carnatic music concerts – on stage (for the accompanists, usually – no vocalist would dare to drink this stuff during the concert). It was common practice in small budget sabhas and in temple concerts.

Vivian A. D'SouzaNovember 19, 2009 - 6:24 am

Nostalgia indeed. I have saved a bottle in my small collection of antiques. I dont know how old the bottle is, but it evokes
pleasant memories of by-gone days.

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