HYBRID CODD HAMILTON

GOLDBERG & ZEFFERT

rubber ring seal still has horwitz on it

Their history can be traced back to the very early days of Johannesburg just after the discovery of gold. 

References can be found in JHB directories from 1891 into the 1980’s plus, and in Boksburg Directories from 1903 to 1917. 

In 1892 the company was known as Horwitz & Co, Niagra Steam Mineral Water Works with the trade mark of a leaping Lion. By 1899 the name changed to Goldberg & Zeffertt following the passing of Mr Horwitz. When Johannesburg became a municipality in 1896, premises were established at Van Beeck Street Doornfontein and to this day the impressive building has survived.

The company was provided with a formal ‘Letter of Appointment’ signed by Lt Col W. Lambton, the Military Secretary, dated Johannesburg 7th November 1902, which read:

(Coat of Arms: “Dieu et mon Droit”)

Messrs Goldberg & Zeffertt

You are hereby appointed

Mineral Water Manufacturers

to his Excellency the Right Hon.

Viscount Milner G.C.B., G.C.M.Y.

By Order

(sgd) W. Lambton Lt. Colonel

Military Secretary

Johannesburg 7th November 1902

The ‘Letter of Appointment’ hung inside the building up to 1990, but its present whereabouts is unknown.

Goldberg & Zeffertt has been a household name in JHB for many years and has survived throughout the Jameson raid , Boer War, WW1, the Rand revolt, the Mining strike and WW2. During the water shortages in JHB, they sold Soda Water which was used for ablutionary purposes rather than for drinking.

In the early 1930’s Goldberg & Zeffertt was the first consessioner bottler of Coca-Cola in this country. By 1934 Coke decided to manage their own affairs and all syrups, labels, promotional materials, etc. were returned. Whether G&Z bottles with paper labels were used for Coke is uncertain as the first known Coke bottles are the aqua 1936D patent Hobble Skirt variant.

Golberg & Zeffertt made use of horse drawn carts to transport their wares to the East and West Rand. At one stage some 60 horse drawn vehicles were employed, drawn by champion Clydesdale horses.

By 1955 three generations of Goldberg’s had managed the business. Mr P Goldberg was associated with the business since 1911, Mr J E Goldberg joined in 1936 and A S Goldberg served after service in the army 1955. The company was well known for their Old Fashioned Brewed Ginger Beer in earthenware bottles. Other products were Lemonade, Ginger Ale, Raspberry, Cherry, Pineapple,Créme Soda, Strawberry, Niagra White Spot Soda (in Bottles & Syphons); and Tonic Waters. The company also bottled “Whiteways Cydrax”(a Cider) and “Squeeze” in such flavours as Orange, Lemon,Granadilla, Pineapple and Grape Fruit as well as “Crushes” in Lemon, Orange & Lime. Then there were cordials with all the popular flavours including Lemon & Barley Water.

Needless to say that a wide variety of bottles were used with the likes of Codd Hamilton Hybrids, Codds, Internal screw stoppers, Crown tops, Earthenware Ginger Beers, Syphons in various colours, tall Lime juice type, miniature cordials, etc.

Info supplied by  Micheal Andre Conradie.