P-K Bottling Co
Peter E. Kekenes


Company Names, addresses, dates:
  P-K Bottling Co, Washington DC

Notes:
The bottle below was patented by Peter E. Kekenes (see the patent image in the 2nd table below). I presume the "P-K Bottling Company" got it's name from Peter Kekenes's initials.
The bottle below has feint markings on the heel that say "3082E G26", which I'm told indicate the bottle was made in 1926. But the P-K Bottling Company does not show up in city directories that year or any other year. My guess is that it was a short venture of Peter Kekenes to expand his business, but it didn't seem to take.

Peter Elliot Kekenes
was born 1885 in Greece, came to America about 1902, and made his home in Savannah Georgia1. In the early 1900s, he worked for the Savannah Brewing Company, and later the Chatham Bottling Company.2
According to city directories, Kekenes moved to Birmingham Alabama between 1924 and 1925 and started the Try-Me bottling company in that city4. About 1926 he opened up a Try-Me bottling Co. plant in Washington DC at 1345 Florida Avenue NE5.
By 1930 he had moved to Washington DC, where he lived out the rest of his life, as the president of the Try-Me bottling Company, until he died on Nov 18, 19535,3.
Timeline for Peter Kekenes from city directories:
  1907-1908 Savannah GA, occupation: Fruits
  1910           Savannah GA, occupation: Viva Bottling Works
  1911-1918 Savannah GA, occupation: Salesman Savannah Brew Co
  1919-1924 Savannah GA, occupation: Chatham Bottling Co
  1925-1929 Birmingham AL, occupation: Try-Me Beverage Co
  1930-1954 Washington DC, occupation: President Try-Me Beverage Co


Bottles:

pk_01 book # 529
This is an 8" clear crown-top bottle with a spiraling-rope pattern, embossed:
front: P-K BOTTLING CO
back: MIN CONTENTS 6 FL. OZS.
base: WASHINGTON / D.C.



Other Items:
pk_02 This is a copy of the Patent for the bottle above. It's patent number D76,022, filed Nov 12, 1927, granted Aug 14, 1928.

1 Naturalization Paper for Peter E. Kekenes, 25-Jan-1911
2 City directories from Savannah GA, 1907 through 1924
3 Kekenes Obituary, Evening Star (Wash. D.C.) newspaper, Nov 20, 1953, p.26
4 City directories from Birmingham AL, 1925 through 1929
5 City directories from Washington DC, 1930 through 1954



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This page last updated on February 11, 2018.