A couple of years ago, Don came him home with this:
A wonderful old wooden crate advertising Moxie. We love graphics in this little cottage and it fit right in. It lives in the kitchen and holds Scout’s distilled water, when we remember to buy it.
At the time, we wanted to learn more about Moxie, so we did the whole google thing. Moxie is a carbonated beverage that started out in 1876 as a patent medicine called Moxie Nerve Food. The claim was that it contained an extract from a South American plant and was effective against “paralysis, softening of the brain, nervousness and insomnia” Eventually, soda water was added to the formula and it became Beverage Moxie Nerve Food. It’s fans included Calvin Coolidge, Ted Williams and E. B. White. As a result of a big advertising campaign, the word ‘moxie,’ meaning courage, daring or spirit, eventually entered American speech. A word I love, by the way. (All information is from Wikipedia.)
Moxie is still produced today.
So. The other day when I was looking for my soda crate, I found a tiny shop that had some lovely vintage items and what did I see?
A Moxie Nerve Food bottle. It’s very old and quite tall. I’ve never seen one before.
Do I even need to mention that initially, it was the color that drew me in? Of course I don’t.
But I quickly realized I’d hit the jackpot.
Oh my goodness. I knew I had to get it. When would I ever see one of these again?
And the color!
So I brought it home and Don, of course, loved it and now it is on display on the shelf under the dollhouse.
I could use some nerve food.
And, really, couldn’t we all?
Anyway, I love serendipitous experiences like this one. Pressed for time and on my way to buy a soda crate, I quickly detour into a little shop and bam! I discover the Moxie bottle.
Excuse me, the Moxie Nerve Food bottle.
Gosh, I really love this little find.
Happy Monday.
Hope @ Fairhope Supply Co. says
Oh, how I love this old crate – and the name “Moxie!”
Claudia says
Isn’t that the best name?
An Enchanted Cottage says
I love it, Claudia – it is so YOU! The perfect color and companion to the Moxie crate! It reminds me of a Mellen’s Infant Formula bottle that I picked up years ago – that same beautiful shade of aqua!
I also loved the photo of Scout from yesterday with Don in the background! And seriously, let me know when you are going to be renting out a room int he dollhouse as I do want to move in!
Stay warm!
Donna
Claudia says
That color is to die for, Donna! You can move in anytime – the dollhouse is waiting for you!
Carolyn says
I think that I could use some Moxie Nerve Food for my softening brain!
Claudia says
Hah! Me too, Carolyn!
Meredith says
If you find some real nerve food can you send some my way?
Hugs,
Mere
Claudia says
I will, sister, after I take a swig first!
Linda @ A La Carte says
Moxie is such a great word, and I love that crate! But be still my heart, you found a bottle!!! Serendipity!
hugs, Linda
Claudia says
Isn’t that bottle beautiful?
Chris k in Wisconsin says
What a fantastic find!! (I wonder if they make caffeine free Moxie… my nerves don’t need any more food to strengthen!) The color is beautiful as well. Serendipity for sure!!
Claudia says
I guess you can still find Moxie in parts of the Northeast – I’ll have to keep my eye out for it.
Donnamae says
Lovin’ that color! I am constantly attracted to anything with that perfect color…I always have to use restraint! Glad you didn’t! On another note….why does Scout drink distilled water? Enjoy your day! ;)
Claudia says
That color calls to me, too. Scout drinks distilled water because she has a history of stones in her bladder. She had to have surgery to remove them years ago – and they were quite large! So distilled water is what all the vets recommend, along with special food, which she also gets.
Tana says
Moxie, huh? Definitely need some of that. Maybe a boat load.
Claudia says
Moxie is a good thing to have, Tana!
Lorrie says
I’d buy the bottle for the colour alone. What a fun find!
I wonder what’s really in Moxie? Or was originally – since many things taken internally in past years have been found to be harmful even if the nerves did feel a boost.
Claudia says
The South American plant was apparently unnamed. Now, one of the ingredients is gentian root extract.
Pat says
What a wonderful little bottle. I like the color too.
Like you I love using crates and things for added storage around the house.
Love the Moxie ‘nerve food’ bottle!
I could use a little something for nerves lately…I wonder if the Moxie added PEP for the nerves…or was it ‘SMOOTH’ to help calm the nerves? I have a feeling it was to add PEP, with a name like Moxie. ;) Pat
Claudia says
Maybe it was to add pep….who knows? A later addition to the formula was gentian root extract, whatever that is.
Kelly says
Well now, you’ve added to my “to do” list – go thru bottles I’ve collected thru the years. They’re packed away in my shed and I just go thru them periodically when I want to change up what I have out, like you display areas are limited within my walls, I doubt seriously if I have any Moxies, but I do like yours. It is very show worthy.
Claudia says
I don’t really have any other old bottles, just this one!
Janie F. says
The bottle is beautiful, love the color too. I love it when I just happen upon a new, affordable little treasure. Right now I’m sort of collecting framed art with Bible verses on it and a few weeks ago I found a lovely vintage one. It always amazes me how excited I get by a thrify find and family members think it’s funny that I get so excited by something old they pass on to me. I consider anything anyone gives me a blessing and am really grateful for it. It’s a bit gloomy looking here today but no rain and pretty warm.
Claudia says
Gloomy here, with icy conditions.
Nancy Blue Moon says
Love the box and the bottle!!
Claudia says
Thank you, Nancy!
Maureen says
Of course you had to up your moxie with that bottle! Even if the S. American plant that calms the nerves was probably cocaine, it’s a very cool bottle.
Claudia says
I don’t know; cocaine would hardly calm you, though it would pep you up! And didn’t Coca-Cola have the rights to that early on? Whatever it was, by the time it reached soda form, its ingredient was gentian root extract…
Nana Diana says
WHAT a find! All the stars aligned and BAM! There it was. How perfect is that?! I love it- xo Diana
Labbie1 says
Moxie actually never contained cocaine. Most of the colas like Coca Cola did contain cocaine.
Moxie is like a cola with herbaceous, bitter, menthol flavor. According to the label, gentian is one of the ingredients in Moxie soda. Gentian is used as a bittering agent in cocktail bitters.
I actually LOVE Moxie which was bottled for years in Catawissa, PA. It’s truly a flavor that you either like or don’t. What a fun post and brought back so many good memories of that soda! :)
Melanie says
Beautiful bottle – I don’t blame you for buying it!
Laura says
What a great find. Claudia. The other day you mentioned the 7 up crate I had in my shop. I did sell it, but will be on the lookout for another. xo Laura
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces says
The bottle and the crate are wonderful finds! Love the aqua color, too…
mamarooni says
We discovered Moxie many years ago while we were stationed with the military in New England. My husband and 4 year old son at the time would stop and get an ice cold Moxie on the way to their favorite fishing spot. His twin sister and I always thought it tasted like cough medicine. My now 30 year old son and hubby still love the occasional Moxie. You can even get it here in Arizona at specialty beverage stores. But, that’s not where our Moxie story ends. About 5 years ago I was really having a hard time with the empty nest. I had never had a pet growing up as my mother disliked animals. My husband and I adopted 2 of the cutest puppies who were littermates and had been left with the mother dog and 5 other puppies in the harsh Arizona desert in an old box when it was well over 100′. Out of the blue I chose Moxie for the male puppy and our daughter named his sister Ellie. They are truly the loves of our lives and even my mother can’t get enough of Ellie and Moxie when she visits. Claudia, I love your blog and this is the first time I have ever commented on any blog.
100′.
Sheila says
Very cute! Love the crate and the bottle!
You won’t believe this, but my SIL’s Jack Russell is named Moxie! He is named appropriately, too.
xo
Sheila
Aunt Lou says
I wonder if you would enjoy the Moxie festival.
It’s held a few towns over from us.
We kind of stopped going, since it has attracted
so much attention, but it’s still fun. :)