Interesting. I could not find any US advertising. Regardless, Kik originated in Canada and was trademarked there in 1935 (application number 0166091, registration number UCA4543) . It was then trademarked over a year later in the US (serial number 381.704). It started business in the America Dry plant in Montreal and then moved. I have reason to believe that Kik eventually became the parent company of the Canadian America Dry Co, but haven't confirmed that yet.
Yes, I'm aware that America Dry originated in the US much earlier than in Canada. The trademark for America Dry was filed by America Dry Company of Canada (a subsidiary of the US company) on January 26, 1927 - application number 0133288, registration number TMDA41278. A new label design trademark was applied for in 1930, application number 0151924. What is strange is that the online records show the registrant as the Kik Company, yet Kik, wasn't introduced until about 1934. This is one indicator that American Dry of Canada was actually a subsidiary of Kik. Usually the registrant info is correct to the date of filing, but the newer name will show as the current owner. However, this registration was expunged in 1939 for failure to provide information, so there is no newer owner listed.
And then just like that, because I couldn't give up, I found this...the opening of the FIRST U.S. Kik plant in 1941 in Miami, FL. The article clearly states that the company started in Canada and is Canadian owned and was studying the American market with an eye toward expansion. This corroborates the trademark registration in Canada in 1935 and subsequent trademark registration in the US in 1936 to protect their product name in case they decide to expand in the future.
That 30 years comment did seem off to me...maybe you have something there. I also came across something interesting shortly after I found that Miami article that confirms Kik was indeed being bottled in New York as early as 1938. However it would appear that Kik, Inc was a licensee (who in turn supplied bottlers in the state) and was not owned by Kik Company or America Dry, otherwise they would have not been able to sue Kik Company for lost revenue after receiving an inferior batch of concentrate from the Montreal company.Hey HIS! Have you read my origin theories involving Kent and the Delatour family?
Lazarus Bloom was supplied by Delatour's America Dry. Boy this makes me happy!
It lends credence to your Miami article. It may not be conclusive, but it pushes the
origin back to about 1911. Just in time for AJ Delatour's grandson to start bottling
sodas in the Delatour family tradition. Thanks so very much. This really helps support
my theory.
WOW! this actually proves my theory that Kik Canada was being supplied by the parent company in NYC during the Bloom days! As Delatour was dead, the new corporation removed themselves from the America Dry name. Thanks again! You must have as subscription to Newspaper.com.
You must have misread - Kik Company (Canada) was supplying concentrate to the US company. Kik Company (Canada) is the parent company, not the other way around. Kik originated in Canada and was registered here first (1935) and over a year later in the US. America Dry's Montreal HQ was the registrar. Presumably Kik Inc was licensed by Kik Company. The expansion in 1941 to Miami was done by Kik Company (Canada) and not by Kik, Inc (the US company). Kik Company was able to do this because ultimately they held the trademark and rights, and Kik Inc (being a licensee) could not prevent them from doing so.
