Large Metal Sign - Coke Sprite Boy
Very minor scuff marks. SOLD AS-IS.
HISTORY : "Coke means Coca-Cola" - The First Face Used To Brand Coca-Cola
In the early 1940s, an elf-like cartoon figure — a sprite — made his appearance in magazine advertising for Coca-Cola. Though it is a common misconception that this pixie known as Sprite Boy is named for The Coca-Cola Company's Sprite brand, the two are unrelated. In fact, the company did not introduce the beverage Sprite until 1961, after the Sprite Boy was no longer featured in ads.
Sprite Boy came about because of what the company perceived as a problem in the marketplace. Although the brand's name was "Coca-Cola," many people had given it the nickname "Coke" instead. At the time, the Company discouraged use of "Coke," but people continued to use the name. The company finally accepted it and in June 1941, the abbreviation "Coke" was used for the first time in magazine ads. A campaign began to connect the names "Coke" and "Coca-Cola" — with Sprite Boy as its primary image.
