You’ve probably seen the blue, white, and red logo a thousand times today. It’s everywhere. But if you look into the history of Bradham inventor of Pepsi NYT readers and history buffs often stumble upon, you find a story that’s less about a corporate titan and more about a small-town pharmacist who basically gambled his entire life’s work on a single commodity.
Caleb Davis Bradham didn’t start out wanting to be the "soda guy." Honestly, he wanted to be a doctor. He was a bright kid from Chinquapin, North Carolina, who made it to the University of Maryland’s medical school. Then, life happened. His father’s business went bust, the money dried up, and Bradham had to pack his bags and head home. That bit of bad luck is the only reason Pepsi exists.
He ended up opening Bradham’s Drug Store in New Bern. It was the typical 1890s setup: apothecary jars, tinctures, and a soda fountain. In those days, the fountain wasn't just for kids; it was the social hub of the town.
The Invention of Brad’s Drink
Back in 1893, Bradham started messing around with a new syrup. He wasn't trying to build a global empire. He was just trying to keep people coming back to his counter. He mixed sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, nutmeg, and some "rare oils." Most importantly, he added kola nut extract.
The locals didn't call it Pepsi. They called it Brad’s Drink.
It was refreshing. It was sweet. But more than that, Bradham marketed it as a health tonic. People back then were obsessed with "dyspepsia"—which is really just a fancy 19th-century word for indigestion. He claimed his brew helped you digest your food better.
By August 28, 1898, he realized "Brad’s Drink" was a bit too casual if he wanted to go big. He renamed it Pepsi-Cola. The name was a nod to "dyspepsia" and the kola nuts in the recipe. Some people think it came from the enzyme pepsin, but history shows pepsin wasn't actually in the drink. It was just a clever branding move to sound medicinal.
Why the Pepsi Story Still Matters Today
In 1902, Bradham officially launched the Pepsi-Cola Company. He was a natural salesman. He wasn't just sitting behind a counter anymore; he was out there pitching franchises. By 1910, he had over 300 bottlers in 24 states. Think about that for a second. In an era of horse-drawn carriages and steam trains, this guy built a national network in less than a decade.
He was even an early pioneer of celebrity endorsements. He got Barney Oldfield, a famous race car driver, to call Pepsi "a bully drink." That's basically the 1909 version of a Super Bowl ad.
But then, things got messy.
World War I changed everything. Sugar prices became a roller coaster. Before the war, sugar was about 3 cents a pound. During the war, it was rationed. After the war, the price shot up to a staggering 28 cents. Bradham, thinking the price would keep climbing, bought a massive stockpile at that peak price.
It was a total disaster.
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The market crashed. Sugar prices nosedived back to 5 cents. Bradham was stuck with tons of overpriced sugar and a company that couldn't pay its bills. In 1923, the Pepsi-Cola Company went bankrupt. He sold the whole thing—the name, the formula, the dream—for just $30,000.
What Really Happened with the New York Times Coverage
When you look for Bradham inventor of Pepsi NYT archives, you’re looking at a legacy of a man who was, in many ways, a third of a century ahead of his time. He was a "Rear Admiral" in the North Carolina Naval Militia, a bank president, and a guy who almost ran for governor.
The New York Times has often revisited this history because it represents the classic American "what if." If Bradham hadn't panicked on those sugar prices, the company might never have left North Carolina. It wouldn't have been bought by Roy Megargel, or later by Charles Guth of Loft, Inc., who eventually turned it into the rival that nearly took down Coca-Cola.
Bradham went back to his pharmacy. He spent the rest of his life as a respected member of the New Bern community, but he died in 1934 without seeing his "healthy cola" become one of the most valuable brands on Earth.
Actionable Insights from the Bradham Saga
If you're interested in the business or the history of these early "tonic" drinks, there are a few things you can actually do to dive deeper:
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- Visit the Birthplace: If you're ever in North Carolina, go to 256 Middle Street in New Bern. The original pharmacy has been recreated. You can literally stand where Bradham stood and drink a Pepsi made with the modern version of his formula.
- Study the Sugar Crash: For business nerds, the 1920 sugar "bubble" is a masterclass in why you shouldn't speculate on commodities. It’s a case study still taught in some circles today.
- Check the Archives: If you have a New York Times subscription, use the "TimesMachine" to look up articles from 1923 regarding the bankruptcy. It provides a raw, unfiltered look at how a "million-dollar company" (in 1915 dollars) could evaporate so quickly.
- Trace the Ingredients: Compare the early "Brad's Drink" ingredients—vanilla, nutmeg, and lemon oil—to modern craft colas. You'll find that the "vintage" taste is making a massive comeback in the artisan soda world.
Bradham's life wasn't a failure, even if he lost the company. He created a formula that survived a century of competition, two world wars, and dozens of ownership changes. He just didn't get to keep the receipt.