In the early 1900's, Claude Hatcher ran a grocery store in Columbus, Georgia.  He sold lots of Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola.  Because of his high sales, he wanted a discount from the Coca Cola salesman.  He refused, so Claude said "you've sold your last bottle of Coca Cola here".  Mr. Hatcher developed first, a ginger ale in 1905, and then Chero-Cola.  Coca Cola sued, and he had to take the word "Cola" out of the name, so Chero sales plummeted.  

     In 1924, the name was changed to Nehi, after producing some flavors, called Nehi, Claude's favorite fruit flavors.  The company did very well with Nehi flavors, soon outselling Chero Cola. In 1930, they were selling close to 4 million cases a year. However, the Great Depression was almost disaster for the company, as they only sold 1 million cases in 1933.  In the late 1940's Chero-Cola formula was reformulated and the new name was Royal Crown Cola and eventually Diet Rite. 

     This bottle was made by the Owens-Illinois Glass Works and is dated 1953.  It was first bottled by NEHI Bottling of Athens, Tennessee.

     This bottle is in good looking condition, with very minor signs of use.  The cap was rusty and leaking, replaced with a beautiful patriotic flag cap.