The lemon-lime soft drink 7-Up has been a fixture of America's refrigerators (see entry under 1910s—The Way We Lived in volume 1) for many years. At various times, it has been the number three–selling soft drink in the world, outpaced by only Coca-Cola (see entry under 1900s—Food and Drink in volume 1) and Pepsi. Its offbeat ad campaigns, emphasizing the differences between the refreshing flavor of 7-Up and the heavy cola taste of its rivals, have helped shape the brand's quirky image and inspired numerous imitators.

7-Up was first formulated in 1929 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Howdy Corporation originally marketed it under the name the "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda," although it soon changed its name to 7-Up Lithiated Lemon Soda. There are various explanations for the name 7-Up. Some claimed that there are (or were) seven ingredients in 7-Up. Others contend that the original 7-Up bottle was...