John Arbuckle left college in 1860 to join relatives in the wholesale grocery business, little dreaming that he would become a multi-millionaire or that his name would become synonymous with coffee in the American West.
In addition to the colorful origins of this popular beverage, Francis Fugate has traced the personal history of John Arbuckle and his famous company. Arbuckles’ innovative marketing techniques included the issuing of premiums in exchange for signatures printed on coffee packages and printed trading cards, which provided an education in many areas.
Full color reproductions of trading cards and black and white photographs of Arbuckle Brothers Company memorabilia provide a valuable reference to collectors of Western Americana. Included is a list of patents granted to Arbuckle Brothers which revolutionized the coffee industry. Today, Arbuckle coffee and tea is produced by the Arbuckle Coffee Company of Tucson, Arizona. Coffee ordering information is enclosed.
Arbuckles is a large, handsome book, almost one fourth of which boasts color illustrations of vintage Arbuckles labels and ads, along with excellent black and white photos . . . Filled with intriguing historical information, colorful anecdotes, and superb illustrations, Arbuckles is a triumphant finale to the career of an outstanding Western writer. (True West).
Fugate is a storyteller of great skill, managing to imbue his topic with a much better flavor than I ever managed to find in the brew about which he writes . . Filled with legends, anecdotes, illustrations and just good, colorful writing this is truly the ultimate in (ahem) coffee table books. And it’s good reading, besides. (Brazosport Facts)
ISBN 0-87404-230-5, cloth, $50.00
9 1/2x12 1/2, 262 pg., photos, b&w
and color illus. appendices, biblio.
To order, write: Texas Western Press, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968-0633--or use the Texas Western Press toll-free number (for ordering only): (800) 488-3789--or order by e-mail