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1960 ad

Bireley's was a company that made non-carbonated orange soda, started by Frank Bireley in 1923. 1

The main plant was in North Hollywood, but in 1937, the company opened a new bottling plant at 3001 San Pablo Ave. 2 A few years later in 1943, Bireley's was purchased by General Foods. 3 A 1949 article gives the address as 1946 Adeline. 4

In 1959, General Foods sold Bireley's to Krim-Ko Corp. of Chicago, which operated a plant in Oakland. 5

After that, the company mostly disappears from newspaper mentions besides ads, except in 1960, when they acquired a minor league roller derby franchise from San Jose, and renamed the team the Oakland Bireley's. 6

Links and References

  1. Frank W. Bireley Co.'s Local Orange Industry Innovation CSU Northridge Oviatt Library
  2. New Orangeade Plant Is Opened Oakland Tribune August 13, 1937
  3. Local Bottling Plant Joins General Foods Oakland Tribune March 28, 1943
  4. Beverage Firm Plans Addition Oakland Tribune October 7, 1949
  5. Notes On Bay Commerce Oakland Tribune July 6, 1959
  6. Roller Derby Team Moves to Oakland Oakland Tribune October 20, 1960
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