Very Rare 1942 Orange Flavored Unopened Package of Kool Aid Manufactured by Perkins Co.

This great unopened package of Kool-Aid was acquired from Philo Farnsworth estate who was the inventor of television.

Edwin Perkins invented Kool-Aid in 1927 by dehydrating a soft drink that his company manufactured called Fruit-Smack. Fruit-Smack was sold in 4-oz corked bottles and came in six fruit flavors. The bottles were filled with concentrate so each bottle would yield at least one gallon of drink. 

The original name of the product in 1928 was Kool-Ade, but because the word "Ade" was thought to be reserved for fruit juice products, the name was changed to Kool-Aid in 1934.

Kool-Aid manufacturing started in Hastings, Nebraska and the original package sold for 10¢. In 1933, the company cut the price of the product to 5¢ because of the Great Depression and most people believe that the price cut saved the company.

By 1950, Kool-Aid was one of the most recognized brand names as a result of substantial national and local advertising expenditures. In early 1953, Edwin Perkins sold the company to General Foods.

The unopened package has been preserved in a plastic sheath but there are some small circular spots appearing on the back of the package.