Note: some later jars have LIMITED after the company name.
Potter mark: Price / 16 / Bristol.
George Corrick King was born in Bristol in 1864, baptised 15th May at Montpelier, St. Andrew's church, the son of George King, a grocer, and his wife Caroline. Caroline was from Bristol and George was from Chew Magna originally.
George C. married Helena Catherine Buck at St. Peter's in Peterhead, Scotland on 16th Jan. 1894. Helena was born in Blakeney, Gloucs. in 1871, daughter of Thomas John Buck, and his wife Sophia. Thomas was an inland revenue supervisor, based in Peterhead at the time of Helena's marriage, although Helena herself had been living in Nuthurst, Sussex, with her uncle and aunt, William and Louisa Reading, a National schoolmaster and schoolmistress, in 1891. Several of Helena's aunts were teachers so there seemed no escape from education in the family.
At age 16 George was working alongside his father in their Grocer's shop at 4 Stokes Croft, Bristol.
George started his mineral water company in 1888 at William's Yard, York Street, St. Paul's. It is here he assisted a woman who had been attacked by her husband with a razor, and had her throat severely cut, on 20th Feb. 1889. Fortunately the wound, although severe, was not fatal, and George was a member of the St. John's Ambulance so was able to provide emergency assistance. George is residing with his family in 1891 at 83 Springfield Road, St. James & St. Paul's, Bristol, but in the census he is now listed as a mineral water manufacturer. In Nov. 1888 he is advertising for a crank-axle cart and a 15 hands horse at the Stokes Croft shop, this is likely around the time he began his mineral water trade. By 1890 the business is advertising for a strong lad for indoor work at the York Street address. By 1893 he is listed in Wright's directory at the York Street address where his company remained for its duration until 1953.
In September 1894 George took a successful court action against James Blanning of Paulton, an aerated water manufacturer who had been illegally using King's bottles supplying the caterers at the show of the North East Somerset Farmers Club in Midsomer Norton, who had ordered 80 dozen bottles. An inspector bought 6 bottles and they were all from different manufacturers including King. Blanning was a lapsed member of the District Bottle Exchange and Trade Protection Association which he had belonged to from 1891-93. He was fined £10 with costs, and a further 10s for similarly using a bottle from another manufacturer. It was reported that 32,000 bottles got mixed in this manner in Bristol alone in 1893.
George and his wife Helena had 4 children: Marjorie Helena (b.17th Jan.1896); Ronald Oliver (b.19th May 1898); Colin George (b.12th Nov.1903) and Joyce Louise (b.6th Nov.1906).
In 1944 the couple celebrated their "GOLDEN WEDDING KING—BUCK.—On January 16. 1894, at Peterhead. Scotland; George Corrick King, of Bristol, to Helena Catherine Buck. Present address: 10, Bell Barn Road. Coombe Dingle. Bristol." (Western Daily Press- 15 Jan. 1944).
In 1897 King adopted the bottle design of Charles Beavis, and defended Mr. Beavis in his unsuccessful action against the Rylands Glass and Engineerng Co. in 1899.
In 1898 King successfully prosecuted two of his own employees of four years for embezzlement.
From around June 1907 until 22 Aug. 1908 advertisements appeared in the Western Daily Press "Ask your grocer for fountains of Wheatley's old-style Brewed Ginger Beer. One gallon for one shilling, in the New Patent Stoneware Fountains, filled by the Fountain Supply Company, who will send a Single Trial Fountain on receipt of a Post Card to THE FOUNTAIN SUPPLY COMPANY, York Street, St. Paul's. They also supplied Lemonade, Lime Juice and Soda Water. Their telephone number was 2486 which was also the number of G. C. King. in 1910 which implies it was the same company. The number for G. C. King later gained an 8, changing to 24886.
On 9th June 1944, some mischievous boys broke into the York Street premises and stole 20,000 paper bottle labels, which were later found strewn all around the neighbouring streets. This was the culmination of a spate of thefts from Mr. King.
George Corrick King of 10 Bell Barn Road, Coombe Lane, Westbury-on-Trym, died on 7th Jan. 1952 at Kingsway Nursing Home, Bristol.
By 1954-56 the company had moved to Stockwood Lane, Brislington. In 1957 Schweppes appear at Brislington Trading Estate, at the same time as King's disappears, so it looks as though they were closed at this time.
| 2 Gallon Stoneware Flagons | |
| Printed In shield
logo: This Jar is the Property of / G. C. KING & Co /
MINERAL WATER / MANUFACTURERS / YORK STREET / BRISTOL. Note: some later jars have LIMITED after the company name. Potter mark: Price / 16 / Bristol. |
| Stone Ginger Beer Bottles |  |
| Printed: YE OLD
ENGLISH / (in shield) G. C. KING & Co. / MINERAL WATER
MANUFACTURERS / YORK STREET / ST. PAUL'S / BRISTOL / (below
shield) BREWED / GINGER BEER L-R cork top white; crown cap 2 tone (no BREWED); pale honey int. screw top; dark honey int. screw top. Potter:PRICE BRISTOL except one on right, PRICE POWELL |
| Brown Glass Ginger Beer Bottle |   |
| Embossed
(around base): G. C. KING & Co Ltd. BRISTOL. Crown cap stopper. Knurled body. Fully machine made. Glassworks: C. T. C. (Q1703/1) |
| 10oz Bullet Stopper Botte |  |
| Embossed in
oval: G. C. / KING / & Co. / YORK ST. / BRISTOL. "K" on base. Glassmaker: Powell & Ricketts / Bristol (on rear) |
| Giant "Jumbo" Beavis Shape Codd. |   |
| Embossed one side
vertically: G. C. KING . Mr. Pickwick on other side, stood on a leaf, holding out a bottle. TRADE / MARK / BRISTOL. No Glassmaker's mark: "K" on base with lines above and below. |
| 10oz Codd. |
  |
| Embossed one side
vertically: G. C. KING between parallel lines. Mr. Pickwick on other side, stood on a leaf, holding out a bottle. TRADE / MARK / BRISTOL. No Glassmaker's mark: "K" on base with lines above and below. |
| 10oz Beavis
Shape Codd. |
  |
| Embossed one side
vertically: G. C. KING between parallel lines. Mr. Pickwick on other side, stood on a leaf, holding out a bottle. TRADE / MARK / BRISTOL. No Glassmaker's mark: "K" on base with lines above and below. |
| Half Pint Beer Bottles |  |
| Embossed one side
vertically: G. C. KING . Mr. Pickwick on other side, stood on a leaf, holding out a bottle. TRADE / MARK / BRISTOL. Glassmaker: Powell & Ricketts, Bristol (P & R, B), K in centre of base (right). No Glassmaker's mark: "K" on base and number 2658 (left). |
| 10oz Beavis
Shape Codd. |
  |
| Embossed one side
vertically: G. C. KING (No lines). Mr. Pickwick on other side, stood on a leaf, holding out a bottle. TRADE / MARK / BRISTOL. No Glassmaker's mark: "K" on base with lines above and below. |
| Blue Soda Syphon |
  |
| Etched: THE / PROPERTY OF /
G. C. KING / & Co. / BRISTOL (left) THE / PICKWICK Mr. Pickwick holding out a bottle. TRADE / MARK. Floral motif surround. Straight fluting. Makers: British Syphon Co. |