THE HUMBLE BOTTLE CAP

Ever wonder how soda sold in glass bottles doesn’t go flat or taste funny?

Back in the late 1800s, bottled soda was booming, but sealing the bottles was a mess. Reusable metal stoppers leaked, contaminated drinks, and caused constant issues.

That changed in 1892 when inventor William Painter introduced a simple solution: a disposable metal cap crimped onto the bottle, lined with cork to create a clean, leak-proof seal.

Painter didn’t stop there. He also invented a machine that filled bottles with syrup and carbonated water and capped them in one smooth motion.

That brings us to ASME landmark number 174, which laid the foundation of the modern bottling industry.

By 1902, Painter’s automated machines could seal up to 100 bottles a minute. He held 85 patents and forever changed how the world drinks soda.

Want to learn more? Check out “One Cap to Bottle Them All.”