English Sarsaparilla Soda Label

This vintage English oval drink label comes from Duckworth & Co. (Essences) Limited, Old Trafford, England and measures 3.4” Wide x 3” Tall. The company has a long and interesting history. Duckworth & Co. was founded in Manchester, England in 1885 by 24 year-old William Duckworth. In 1896 the company moved to a custom built building designed by Briggs and Wolstenholme in Old Trafford on Chester Road. It is a stunning (still exists) five story terracotta building featuring four two-storey oriels, and four towers. In 2003 the company was taken over by a US company, the food giant Cargill Flavour Systems Ltd, which was moving the business to newer and smaller offices.  At the time of the takeover the company was still owned and operated by the Duckworth family.

During its 118 years in business Duckworth & Co. (Essences) Limited was a manufacturer of flavorings and fruit compounds. A large part of its business was selling these flavorings to other soda companies. Here we have a Sarsaparilla bottling directly produced by the company. We don’t have a manufacturing date for these labels, but my guess is they date to the 1950s or 60s.

Interestingly, the old factory and office building was purchased by The Church of Scientology in 2007 and was supposed to open as the home to the Church of Scientology of Manchester in 2011.

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