Local History


By Roderick Martin Aerated Waters in Syphons


The early nineteenth century saw the arrival of carbonated drinks made by bubbling carbon dioxide gas into water and creating the sparkle and fizz associated with natural spring waters. A top seller was soda water, a carbonated water with a small amount of sodium or potassium based alkali compounds added to neutralise the otherwise acid taste. By diluting neat spirit with soda water it was possible to mitigate many of the harsher effects of strong alcohol, and thus made having a drink more socially acceptable. For those who believed spa waters were beneficial to health there were also a range of artificially carbonated waters such as potash water (containing small amounts of potassium salts), seltzer water (an artificial version of spring water from Nieder- Seltzers in Germany), lithia water (containing small amounts of lithium salts), and vichy water (an artificial version of spring water from Vichy in France).


The aerated water siphon bottle, commonly referred to as the soda syphon, was developed from the need to dispense small quantities of carbonated water but retain freshness and fizziness of the contents over a number of separate uses. A typical container was a thick glass (or metal) pressure vessel with a release valve and spout for dispensing pressurised soda water or similar carbonated diluents. Syphon bottles work by the pressure of the carbonated water forcing the liquid contents up a tube inside the container when an outside valve actuation lever was depressed. Careful control of this lever was required in order to prevent pressurised carbonated water being released too quickly into the glass, causing splashing, and on occasions, wetting of clothes with embarrassing or hilarious consequences. Largely as a result of changes in drinking habits and the introduction of small throw-away cans the syphon bottle had gone from public houses by the 1980s. No doubt many publicans were glad to see the back of them on account of their all too frequent discharge for humorous reasons. Today such containers are collectables but not necessarily very valuable ones. Clear glass siphon bottles etched with the name of a company and town sell for £10 - £20. Blue or green glass siphon bottles sell for £50-£120. In all Victorian and Edwardian towns there would have been dispensing chemists who gave advice on minor ailments and of course recommended a suitable remedy from their shop’s range of products. Chemists also diversified into making aerated drinks which they usually sold in syphon bottles. These were returned, washed and re-filled. Two generations of the Doble family were dispensary chemists in Tavistock. Richard Doble joined his father, Henry Doble, in the 48 Brook Street shop, and


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in 1895 took over the business. In 1905 Richard Doble opened a branch at Yelverton, and in the following year, 1906, moved the Tavistock shop to 5 Duke Street (now the left hand side of Boots). Shortly afterwards a syphon- filling apparatus was installed in a cellar below the shop. Readers may recall that in the July 2008 diary I told the story of how Richard Doble successfully defended himself and his ‘very ordinary’ dog before the magistrates in 1903. On a more serious note Richard Doble was a key figure during the early years of local government in the town. During his term as Chairman of the Urban District Council, from 1910-1914, the Council purchased some important properties from the Bedford Estate. These included the waterworks, the town hall, nine shops with accommodation above in Duke Street, the market centre, the cattle market, the corn market, the town pleasure ground (The Meadows), the public bath, the wharf, some fields and open spaces. The Bedford Estate wanted £53,000, the Council offered £17,000. Finally both parties agreed to accept an arbitrator’s estimate which was £30,726. It was during these negotiations that Richard Doble was pitted against ‘some of the best commercial minds in the country, and proved to be a very astute and capable negotiator’. There were many critics at the time but hindsight has shown this was a very good decision by the Council, and one which has had a major influence on the subsequent conservation and commercial success of the town area.


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