The unique design of the Coca-Cola bottle is almost as well-known as the Coke logo itself. First introduced in 1915, the 'contour' or 'hobble-skirt' shaped bottle was created by designer Earl R. Dean as a way of making Coca Cola bottles stand out as distinct from the range of other soda bottle son store shelves. It was intended to be so unique that a person could recognize it in an instant and even find it in the dark.

Dean had been asked by Root Glass Company president Chapman Root to design a bottle which resembled the coca leaf or coca nut, both of which were key ingrediants in Cokes formula at the time. Dean was unable to find a picture of one of these leafs, but instead he found an image of a cocoa pod and based his design on the shape of that. It gained immediate approvral and was soon the standard shape for all Coca-Cola bottles produced after that.

A little known fact is that a contour shaped can was test market in a few areas in the late-1990`s and these cans are true collectors items today if you can find one. Other unusual versions to look for include the slim can sold in Australia, the aluminum bottle, and a whole range of variations on the labeling which have been used by Coke at various points in the company`s history. Shop today for all vareties of historic and recent Coca-Cola bottle models and add some unique and limited rare items to your Coke memorabilia collection.