1908 La Argentina. A Piece of Buenos Aires History

One of a Kind | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 1908

Dating to 1908, this exceptionally old seltzer bottle is made from vivid turquoise blue glass, with an original dark metal siphon head and traces of its century-old lithographed lettering.

The bottle bears the name “Soda La Argentina, Fábrica de Aguas y Refrescos Gaseosos,” alongside a sun illustration, the number 22, and the factory's Buenos Aires address.

These markings connect the bottle to La Argentina, a historic producer of carbonated beverages whose origins can be traced to the pioneering soda and liquor manufacturers of nineteenth-century Buenos Aires.

A Remarkable History

The story of La Argentina began in 1860, when Domingo Marticorena established an early soda and liquor factory in Buenos Aires. The business later passed into the hands of the Inchauspe family, becoming one of the notable names in Argentina's growing beverage industry.

By the beginning of the twentieth century, the company was operating under the name La Argentina, producing soda and other carbonated drinks.

Remarkably, the number 22 found on this bottle corresponds to the factory's historical registration number. The sun motif is another distinctive element associated with the company's original bottle designs.

In 2022, Argentine newspaper LA NACION revisited the company's history and the surviving factory building in the Villa Luro neighborhood of Buenos Aires.

More than a century later, this beautiful blue bottle remains a tangible connection to that history.

The Bottle

The intense blue glass, naturally aged metal siphon head, and beautifully worn lithography give this piece its character.

Its surface retains the traces of time and use, including fading, variations in the glass, and signs of age that are part of its authenticity.

Details

• Date: 1908
• Origin: Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Manufacturer: Soda La Argentina
• Material: Turquoise-blue glass with metal siphon head
• Decoration: Original lithography featuring the factory name, sun illustration, and registration number 22
• Capacity: 750 ml
• Condition: Antique, with age-related wear and fading
• Availability: One of a kind, only one available

A collectible piece of Argentine industrial history, preserved in glass.

Historical reference: LA NACION — The Curious Fate of Argentina's First Soda Factory