Historic Victoria Advertisements
Beer, Wine & Liquor 1910-1919
As part of our series on Historic Victoria Advertisements, Beer, Wine & Liquor, 1910-1919, here is a 1911 advertisement for King George IV Liqueur Whisky, which, at that time, was distributed in Victoria by R.P. Rithet & Company, which occupied the Rithet Building, 1117-1125 Wharf Street.
1911 advertisement for King George IV Liqueur Whisky and its Victoria distributor, R.P. Rithet & Co., based in the Rithet Building on Wharf Street in downtown Victoria. (Victoria Online Sightseeing Tours Inc. collection)
King George IV Liqueur Whisky was made by Distillers Co. Ltd. which had been founded in Edinburgh in 1877. By the time this advertisement appeared in 1911 Distillers Co. Ltd. was a major British company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. As the advertising copy says, it was the world’s largest scotch whisky distiller. In 1911 R.P. Rithet & Co. was the Vancouver Island distributor of Distillers Co. Ltd. products.
In 1986 Distillers Co. Ltd. was taken over by Guinness & Co. It is now owned by Diageo PLC.
Here is a photo of the Rithet Building, 1117-1125 Wharf Street and 1129 Wharf Street, circa 1912.
The Rithet Building, 1117-1125 Wharf Street and 1129 Wharf Street circa 1912. In this photo 1117-1129 Wharf Street is occupied by R.P. Rithet & Co. and 1129 Wharf Street is occupied by Walter Fraser & Co., a hardware dealer. (Victoria Online Sightseeing Tours collection)
Here is a photo, taken from the same angle as the 1912 photo above, of the Rithet Building as is appears today.
The ground floor of this section of the Rithet Building, 1117-1129 Wharf Street , was built in 1861. 1129 Wharf Street (on the left of this photo) was originally built in 1862.
Here is a page with more information on Robert Patterson Rithet (1844-1919)
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