The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1938-09-08
Local Plant
Plans 55th
Anniversary
Sank Centre Bottling
Company Under Three
Generations of Family
OPENED SEPT. 1883
Bernard Robischon, Pres
ent Owner, Has Modern
lied Bottling Works

An estimated 100000 bottles OF
carbonated beverages have been
distributed from the Sank Centre
Bottling company, said manager
Bernard Robischon this week, as
the dawn of the 55th year of its
business approached.
When the first bottle leaves the
line on October 4th, It will dupli-
cate process begun 81 years be-
fore. October 4, 1884, the first bot
tie of pop was sold from the plant
Of founder-owner Math. Robischon.
That first bottle, a 12-ounce con-
tainer, washed with aid Of shot, sip
hon-filled, closed with a rubber
stopper, came to the public after a
laborious hand process.
Today, the bottle runs the gaunt-
let Of the automatic washer using
a caustic solution at a temperature
of 125 degrees, held there for elev-
en- minutes, in single operation is
bottled and capped, is sent through
the powered labeler, energies rea-
dy for the cases after a completely
automatic process In a period of
fifteen minutes.
One of the oldest established bus
inesses In this city, the bottling
company is unique in that it is its
third generation of ownership. In
September, 1883, Math. Robischon
set up his plant to bottle only sell
ger water. In 1900 he took his son,
Peter, into partnership who in 1913
took sole charge Of the business. In
1895 when the late Mr.. Robischon
died suddenly, his son, Bernard,
present owner, received the man.
agerial reins of the plant.
Starting with less than a dozen
accounts Mr.. Robischon, before the
turn of the century was selling to
such well-known old timers as Math
Vanish, Tom Murphy, John Boutell,
Joe Kusba, the late ]. Miller. Alone
surviving from the early customer
list Is the West Union account, Ben
Servatius, still with the Sank Gen.
ire firm.
Original site of the plant was on
Elm Street on a spot across the
street from where the armory now
stands. Until 1918 the business
stood there when Peter, who took
the helm in that year, built on the
present site on 9Th street.
Three is a common number with
the Robischons. Not only has 1t
had three owners, but 1t has had 8
predecessor; but it has had three
complete sets Of machinery. The
first set was a hand process in
which mixes were made by hand,
bottles were siphon-filled, they were
washed with hot water and shot,
and stopped with rubber shoppers.
Then came the foot power era when
cappers were set by tromp of the
foot and washing was done more
expertly. Now the third set Of ma
chinery, electric powered, automa-
tic, combining operations has step
ped up production. That first pro-
cess would handle 10 cases an hour;
1t stepped to ~ with the foot pow
er units; now the plant can pro-
duce 60 each hour.
Early Mr.. Robischon began plan
ming enlargement Of the territory
he served. One Of the earliest places
opened to the territory was Broot-
en-. George Anderson is one of the
earliest accounts there. It was a
two-day trip going and return by
mule team and wagon hauling the
tinkling cases to the new territory.
A copy of a water bill, issued by
Coe, gives an interesting slant on
the way Of the times. "Only a few
had plumbing fixtures in those
days." Mrs. Theresa Robischon, wife
Of the late Peter, pointed out. On
the back side of the bill was a
schedule Of rents for fixtures. For
five dollars family Of four could
enjoy the privileges of taps. Wat
ering a horse and carriage cost two
dollars. Baths, private, first tub,
three dollars was an interesting en-
try.
In 1919, under the second Of the
line, the plant was motorized. The
accepted rise to prominence Of the
motor car lead to the purchase of
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