In 1893, Caleb Bradham, a young pharmacist from New Bern, North Carolina, begins experimenting with many different soft drink concoctions. Like many pharmacists at the turn of the century he had a soda fountain in his drugstore, where he served his customers refreshing drinks, that he created himself. His most popular beverage was something he called “Brad’s drink” made of carbonated water, sugar, vanilla, rare oils, pepsin and cola nuts.
One of Caleb’s formulations, known as “Brad’s drink”, created in the summer of 1893, was later renamed Pepsi Cola after the pepsin and cola nuts used in the recipe. In 1898, Caleb Bradham wisely bought the trade name “Pep Cola” for $100 from a competitor from Newark, New Jersey that had gone broke. The new name was trademarked on June 16th, 1903. Bradham’s neighbor, an artist designed the first Pepsi logo and ninety-seven shares of stock for Bradham’s new company were issued.
Listen to first Pepsi-Cola radio jingle 1939
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One of the first ever Pepsi:Cola delivery carts![[B&W photo of soda delivery truck and the Condons]](https://www.jbbeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/22_john-condon.jpg) Marshall and John Condon pose in 1928 in front of their Woodland Pepsi-Cola delivery truck. | 6.5 ounce Pepsi Cola bottle from Richmond Virginia. The bottle has eight sides, with the Pepsi Cola logo in raised lettering on every other side. It has the double dot logo. “Pat. Applied For” is on the bottom. |
| Pepsi Phrases and Logos The Pepsi marketing phrase has also changed many times. The marketing folks at the company felt free to invent new phrases whenever they thought the public would be receptive to the change. Here they are in order from the start. | ||
| Year | Phrases | Logos |
| 1893 – 1898 | Brad’s Drink | |
| 1898 – 1905 | “Exhilarating, Invigorating, aids Digestion” |  |
| 1905 – 1906 | Delicious and Healthful |  |
| 1909 – 1939 | “The Original Pure Food Drink” |  |
| 1934 | Pepsi Begins Selling 12-ounce bottles for 5 cents. | |
| 1939 – 1950 | Twice As Much For A Nickel Too |  |
| 1950-1963: | The Light Refreshment |  |
| 1953-1961: | Be Sociable | |
| 1961-1963: | Now It’s Pepsi For Those Who Think Young |  |
| 1963-1967: | Come Alive! You’re In The Pepsi Generation | |
| 1967-1969: | Taste That Beats The Others Cold | |
| 1969-1973: | You’ve Got A Lot To Live, Pepsi’s Got A Lot To Give | |
| 1973-1975: | Join The Pepsi People Feelin’ Free |  |
| 1975-1978: | Have A Pepsi Day | |
| 1978-1981: | Catch That Pepsi Spirit | |
| 1981-1982: | Pepsi’s Got Your Taste For Life! | |
| 1983-1983: | Pepsi Now! | |
| 1983 – 1991 | Pepsi, The Choice Of A New Generation | |
In 1939 Pepsi-Cola tried to buy Popeye the Sailor Man as part of an advertising program targeted at families. Unfortunately the price was too high for Pepsi-Cola, so they opted to create two loveable characters – Pepsi and Pete, the Pepsi-Cola Cops! The inspiration for Pepsi and Pete was the ever-popular Keystone Cops from the silent movie era. The premise of Pepsi and Pete was that they would always insure that every bottle of Pepsi-Cola contained 12 full ounces, while maintaining the pure quality of Pepsi-Cola.
Pepsi and Pete were used from 1939 through 1951. They appeared in numerous magazine advertisements, and had a weekly appearance in the Sunday funnies. Besides being used on cardboard and paper signs, they were also used on metal signs, promotional glasses, paper cups, napkins, and bottle toppers.
In the early 1940’s, Pepsi and Pete were so popular that Pepsi-Cola hired actors to dress up as Pepsi and Pete and make personal appearances.
Because various artist drew Pepsi and Pete over the years, they had a tendency to interchange their names. No one can really say which one is Pepsi and which one is Pete