John Dixon O. T. Ltd. Prahran

Prahran Ice & Aerated Water Co.
O.T. Ltd.

1898 - 1910

The Prahran Ice and Aerated Water Company was established in 1898, by Mr. John Dixon. The factory situated in Alfred Street, Prahran was fitted up with the most modern equipment for producing superior aerated waters, soda water, lemonades, ginger ale, sarsaparilla, tonic water, ginger beer and cordials of all flavours.

Within four years of operations (1898) the company had become well respected for the quality of its' products and the ability to delivery on summer days, a chilled beverage containing no chemicals, filtered water for all beverages and being free of contamination of lead or copper pipes. The factory filling machinery was by Heywood, Tyler & Co., and ran by a Coulson's gas engine of 8 horse power, the factory covered 50,000 square feet, with goods delivered by nine wagons. By 1906 the floor area had grown to 240,000 feet and included the manufacture of the famed O.T.

"Hot Chilli Punch", manufactured from chillies and fruit juices; that was the description of O.T., a winter and summer time drink, beverage with health benefits that could be blended with many mixes, whisky, brandy, beer, aerated waters and milk. The recipe for O.T. Punch came from one of the Mararajah of India. First introduced in 1905, within two years of manufacture there were very few hotels in the country that did not sell O.T.  In this short time no less than 150,000 bottles had been despatched throughout Australasia. A Commonwealth Trade Mark application for O.T. was registered in 1907 by John Dixon & Co., High Street, Prahran, Victoria, for a non-alcoholic beverage, the device of a chilli, and the letters "O.T."

With the success of business comes prosperity and the reward of indulging in a little recreation, John Dixon was an ardent Motorist owning a 16 hp Talbot vehicle and in 1910 he covered the distance from Hobart to Launceston in just over four hours. A keen yacht man he purchased the "Sayonara" the then fastest yacht in Australian waters and hosted the Sayonara Cup for many years.

Historical Dates

1898     Prahran Ice and Aerated Water Company established
1907     O.T. Ltd. trade mark registered

 

Year	Branding	Type	Physical Attributes
1920	O.T. Limited High Class Ginger Beer, Melbourne & London	Ginger Beer	13 oz,  tan top, corker, stoneware
1950	O.T. Ltd. Australia & London no trade mark	Soft Drink	7 oz, Crown Seal, glass
1925	O.T. Ltd. Hygenic Bottle, Australia & London no trade mark	Soft Drink	13 oz, Crown Seal, glass
1910	O.T. Ltd. J. Dixon, Prahran, Melbourne no trade mark	Cordial	26oz, cordial square, glass
1910	O.T. Ltd., Australia & London	Cordial	13 oz, Cordial bulb shaped glass bottle
1950	O.T. Ltd. large Chillie trade mark	Cordial	Gallon Cordial, glass
1910	O.T. Ltd. Chillie trade mark	Cordial	13 oz, cordial sq, aqua, glass
1910	O.T. Ltd. Chillie trade mark	Cordial	26 oz, cordial sq, aqua, glass
1910	O.T. Ltd. Chillie trade mark	Cordial	26 oz, cordial sq, aqua, dark green, glass