Watch out for fake seltzer bottles and fake fountain syrup bottles:  Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Dr. Pepper, Nehi, Frisco Lines Club Car, Cotton Belt, Rock Island Railroad, M-K-T Railway Club Car, South Bend Coca-Cola, Mt. Shasta Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola / Atlanta, Coca-Cola / Sacramento, Coca-Cola / South Bend Ind, Coca-Cola / Joplin Missouri, etc.

Please be aware of the wave of fantasy seltzer bottles that are being offered on the internet.  These particular siphons are sometimes embossed "ASA GAZOASA ATAS" down at the heel, and are usually green in color (but also blue and colorless). Most have the awkward looking rooster beaks for tops, and have sloping shoulders.  Some actually have a lower plastic ring or collar below the metal top.  The etching is usually very sharp, boldly executed, and distinctive. Multisided bottles with rounder shoulders are also being offered.

Many of these bottles are etched in the format "PROPERTY OF ____" or "PROPERTY OF ____ FOUNTAIN SERVICE".  The terms "PROPERTY OF" and "FOUNTAIN SERVICE" are almost never seen on real United States seltzers.

The seltzer bottles themselves are from Romania and are old, but the etchings are brand new and imitation.  These fakes have turned up only in the last three years or so, and were never seen before this time.  ALL THESE BOTTLES HAVE BRAND NEW ETCHING ADDED ON TO OLD BOTTLES.

FAKE FOUNTAIN SYRUP BOTTLE:
Unsuccessful buidders for the PROPERTY OF NEHI BOTTLING CO. FOUNTAIN SYRUP bottle should be happy.  This turned out to be yet another fake etching on a newer bottle, in this case a large 1959 dated unembossed bottle.  It was machine-made, complete with screw threads at the top.  The fake etching was very similar to etching found on fake Nehi seltzers.

Concerned collectors are asking what these seltzers look like - here are a few mug shots:

Here is a closeup of one of the seltzer tops.  This type of seltzer bottle top is foreign and was not used in the United States.