Black Bear, Patmont Mineral Springs, Lakeside, Milwaukee (very rare-1/2 gallon with a bear embossed on it)

"BLACK BEAR", "CONTENTS 1/2 GALLON", "PATENT MINERAL SPRINGS INC.", "LAKESIDE; MILWAUKEE, WIS."

CIRCA 1922-ABM CROWN TOP-1/2 GALLON-AQUA/BLUE-FRONT EMBOSSED

This is one my favorite picture bottles from Wisconsin with the BEAR embossed on it. The Curuso family still owns this bottling company which began in 1920. And was located on a natural spring in what was known as Town of Lake area back then. Saint Francis was incorporated and there was no need to put Lakeside on the bottles the ACL's have St. Francis and Cudahy on them as well a Seltzer which states Milwaukee County. This is the oldest and rarest bottle from the company that i know of and i'm almost positive that this c.1922 bottle 1/2 gallon variety was only produced for 1 year. I showed the bottle to the owner and he stated that he had never seen this bottle before! They no longer operate on the original site and are not open to the public to buy there returnable wooden cases of glass bottles of soda. They are bottling in Oak Creek in 20 oz. and 2 litter plastic bottles and only distribute. Let me tell you the soda just doesn't taste as good in plastic as it did from glass!