John Betts started his mineral water company in the 1850s, his later bottles put his Established date as 1851. In the 1856 census he is listed as operating in 33 High St. Swansea. He later moved to 31 Mansell St, this was his home address and was within a short walking distance of his factory in Northampton Lane. John Betts died at his home in Mansel St. on the 1st December 1876, who took over the running of the company is unknown.
The earliest mentions of a John Betts in any directories for Swansea I can find are a John Betts, who according to Pigots Directory of 1835 was the Publican of the "Greyhound Inn" in Carr St, he is also listed as a Currier, the next entry I can find is for J. Betts publican of the "Masons Arms" 34 High St in 1852 (Scammels). Since Betts is an unusual name the only thing I can think of is Betts starting of in the pub trade and expanding to sell his own drinks while keeping himself as landlord while his business took off.
The first ginger beer bottles contained Ginger Ale and were in glass skittle
shaped bottles.
His first transfer printed stoneware bottles used the name "Cambrian
Mineral Water Works" The company name was changed to the name to
"Betts Aerated Water Co" in 1894 before finally changing the
name to "Betts Mineral Water Works in about 1897, Betts had a number
of Proprietors, in 1896/7 Charles Ll. Watkins (Born Swansea 1847) took
over followed by S.E. Edwards in about 1918/9 who changed to internal
screw stoppers and finally T. Roberts took over and introduced the crown
cap. Betts' was finaly bought out by Spooners of Landore on 1937 after
86 years of trading.
One of the most interesting things about Betts' is the majority of his bottles after 1894 are dated on the base, so dating bottles is very easy.
Cambrian Mineral Water Works,
two transfer printed all white versions.
Betts Aerated Water Co. two transfer printed two tone brown top versions.
Pictorial of Prince of Wales Feathers.
Betts Mineral Water Co. eleven transfer printed variations. Ten standard
shape two tone brown tops.One champagne, all had a Pictorial of Prince
of Wales Feathers. One two tone, blue top and transfer, champagne shaped
ginger beer.
Whilst bottle 4 and 5 look the same the font in the transfer is different.
Shown are a cap found with the Betts ginger and the internal screw stopper for the Edwards ginger beer, below is an example of the date stamp found on most of the Betts ginger beer bottles.
___________
Most ginger beer
was sold from carts in the street.This picture shows a cart selling his
wares in the street, on the back of the cart you can just make out the
Prince of Wales Feathers. Could he have been selling Betts Mineral Waters?
Bottles1,34,,5 and 6 are from the SMcD collection
List of adverts placed in Trade Directories and the year placed.
Betts, John, ginger beer and
soda water manufacturer, 33 High St, (Slater's 1858)
Betts, John, Soda Water, Ginger Beer and Lemonade Manufacturer, Northampton
Mews, Private address 31 Mansel St, (Mercer & Crocker 1876)
Betts' John, Northampton Mews, (Slater's 1880)
Betts (John) Old Cambrian Mineral water works, Northampton Mews, (Wilson's
1885)
Betts, J. Northampton Mews, (Swansea Directory 1887)
Betts' Waterworks, Northampton Lane, Prop, C. Ll. Watkins, (Wrights, Swansea
Dir. 1899)
Betts Mineral Water Works, Charles, Ll. Watkins, Est. 1851 (Wales Dir
1901)
Betts Mineral Water Works, Northampton Lane, (Wales Dir. 1903)
Betts Mineral water Works, Northampton Lane, (South Wales Dir. 1907)
Betts' Northampton Lane, Proprietor C. Ll. Watkins, (Swansea Dir 1908-9)
Betts Mineral Water Works, Northampton Lane, (Wales Dir. 1912)
Betts Mineral Water Works, Northampton Lane, Phone 36 Docks, (Wales Dir.
1918)
Because Betts produced such a large variety of bottles I am interested in most bottles from this firm, use the link below to contact me if you have something I may be interested in.
Norwich and Brighton Ginger Beers