Dispelling a Popular Myth

 

Raymond Loewy 1893 - 1986

Raymond Loewy was probably one of the most well known industrial designers of the 20th century. He was born in France but spent most of his professional career in the United States where he influenced countless aspects of our culture with his groundbreaking designs. Among his many iconic contributions to modern life were logos for Shell and BP, the Greyhound bus, trains for the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Lucky Strike cigarette package and Coldspot refrigerators. His career spanned seven decades.
He designed a great deal of work for Studebaker with several car and truck designs and facelifts of existing designs. He also did designs for new logos including the lazy S logo of the thirties that replaced the dated “turning wheel” Studebaker had used since 1912.
Over the years many have attributed the design of the familiar Coke bottle to him though this is not exactly accurate.

The Coca Cola company refers to their bottle as the contour bottle though it has also been known at the hobble skirt bottle. This was designed in 1915 by Earl R. Dean. The company wanted a bottle so different from the norm that it could be recognized easily over other soft drink bottles so they held a contest which Dean’s design won. The unique color of the glass is called Atlanta Green. At the time the bottle was designed Loewy was still serving in the French army and didn’t emigrate to the US till 1919.

What Loewy did do was to redesign of the original contour bottle in the 1950s doing away with the embossed name and adding white Coke & Coca-Cola lettering. In 1960, he designed the first Coke steel can with the diamond design.

To the Studebaker fan Loewy holds a special place with his forward designs, many of which have made these the cars we enjoy so much. How else would we have the chance to drive cars like the Avanti, Champion, Hawk, Starlight Coupe or an R series truck?

Thank you Mr Loewy!

1963 Studebaker Avanti

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