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You are here: Home / antiques / She’s Got Moxie

She’s Got Moxie

December 9, 2013 at 8:26 am by Claudia

A couple of years ago, Don came him home with this:

kitchenmoxie

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?

moxie nerve food bottle

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.

moxie nerve food bottle

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.

moxie nerve food bottle

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.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Tagged With: moxie, moxie nerve food bottleFiled Under: antiques, Don, vintage 36 Comments

Comments

  1. Hope @ Fairhope Supply Co. says

    December 9, 2013 at 10:00 am

    Oh, how I love this old crate – and the name “Moxie!”

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 11:01 am

      Isn’t that the best name?

      Reply
  2. An Enchanted Cottage says

    December 9, 2013 at 10:02 am

    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

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 11:01 am

      That color is to die for, Donna! You can move in anytime – the dollhouse is waiting for you!

      Reply
  3. Carolyn says

    December 9, 2013 at 10:37 am

    I think that I could use some Moxie Nerve Food for my softening brain!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 11:01 am

      Hah! Me too, Carolyn!

      Reply
  4. Meredith says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:11 am

    If you find some real nerve food can you send some my way?
    Hugs,
    Mere

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 2:15 pm

      I will, sister, after I take a swig first!

      Reply
  5. Linda @ A La Carte says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:13 am

    Moxie is such a great word, and I love that crate! But be still my heart, you found a bottle!!! Serendipity!
    hugs, Linda

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 2:15 pm

      Isn’t that bottle beautiful?

      Reply
  6. Chris k in Wisconsin says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:17 am

    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!!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 2:15 pm

      I guess you can still find Moxie in parts of the Northeast – I’ll have to keep my eye out for it.

      Reply
  7. Donnamae says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:17 am

    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! ;)

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 2:14 pm

      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.

      Reply
  8. Tana says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:35 am

    Moxie, huh? Definitely need some of that. Maybe a boat load.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 2:12 pm

      Moxie is a good thing to have, Tana!

      Reply
  9. Lorrie says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:46 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 2:11 pm

      The South American plant was apparently unnamed. Now, one of the ingredients is gentian root extract.

      Reply
  10. Pat says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:59 am

    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

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 2:10 pm

      Maybe it was to add pep….who knows? A later addition to the formula was gentian root extract, whatever that is.

      Reply
  11. Kelly says

    December 9, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 2:09 pm

      I don’t really have any other old bottles, just this one!

      Reply
  12. Janie F. says

    December 9, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 2:09 pm

      Gloomy here, with icy conditions.

      Reply
  13. Nancy Blue Moon says

    December 9, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    Love the box and the bottle!!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 2:08 pm

      Thank you, Nancy!

      Reply
  14. Maureen says

    December 9, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      December 9, 2013 at 2:08 pm

      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…

      Reply
  15. Nana Diana says

    December 9, 2013 at 6:03 pm

    WHAT a find! All the stars aligned and BAM! There it was. How perfect is that?! I love it- xo Diana

    Reply
  16. Labbie1 says

    December 9, 2013 at 7:22 pm

    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! :)

    Reply
  17. Melanie says

    December 9, 2013 at 9:59 pm

    Beautiful bottle – I don’t blame you for buying it!

    Reply
  18. Laura says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:30 pm

    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

    Reply
  19. Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces says

    December 10, 2013 at 12:46 am

    The bottle and the crate are wonderful finds! Love the aqua color, too…

    Reply
  20. mamarooni says

    December 10, 2013 at 1:09 am

    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′.

    Reply
  21. Sheila says

    December 10, 2013 at 6:41 am

    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

    Reply
  22. Aunt Lou says

    December 10, 2013 at 1:30 pm

    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. :)

    Reply
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I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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