Seltzer Bottles

What Are Seltzer Bottles?

A seltzer bottle, also known as a soda siphon or soda bottle, is a device commonly used by clowns to spray water or other liquids as a visual gag or trick.

Seltzer bottles have a trigger mechanism that releases jet streams of liquid under pressure when squeezed. They are made of metal or plastic and have an airtight interior container for holding the liquid - pressurized by a small CO2 cartridge.

Types of Seltzer Bottles

There are a few main variations of seltzer bottles for clowning:

Standard - These smaller bottles have space for 8-16 oz of liquid and are easy to maneuver for squirting tricks or stunts.
Jumbo - Large oversized bottles holding 20-30 oz capable of prolonged liquid streams. Their bigger size works for dramatic effect, but is heavier.
Multi-Head - Bottles with multiple trigger nozzles to spray multiple directions at once.

Origins & History

The origins of seltzer bottles can be traced back to the 19th century. The siphon, which is the modern seltzer bottle, was invented in 1829 in France. It began as a water purification system and later became a popular way to dispense carbonated water in homes, bistros, bars, and hotels across Europe and America.

The concept of sparkling water and its perceived medicinal value dates back to the Greek Empire in 323 BCE – 146 BCE, and the term "seltzer" was derived from the town of Niederselters in Germany, where the drink was a favorite of Eastern European Jews.

The heyday of seltzer bottles was in the 1920s and 30s, with thousands of bottlers delivering seltzer products to various establishments.

The invention of the first home-carbonation machine in 1903 further popularized seltzer, allowing it to be made at home on demand. The production of seltzer bottles was concentrated in Eastern Europe, and after World War II, many factories were destroyed, leading to a decline in production. However, siphon bottles are still in use today in some bars and homes.

Notable Examples & Practitioners

Over the 20th century, the seltzer bottle gag became a staple act for American circus clowns. Famed shows like the Ringling Bros featured bottles used for messy hijinks and burlesque style comedy routines.

Clowns that famously specialized in seltzer performance included:

Emmett Kelly Jr. - His elaborate "Seltzer Bottle Symphony" involved five bottles used almost as musical instruments.
Dan Rice - Mixed trick riding on horseback with bottle squirting and accurate aim at targets for an early Wild West clown persona in the 19th century.

Even serious dramatic actors like Charlie Chaplin employed the soda siphon in short films for classic comedic moments.

Use in Modern Clowning

Today, handling a seltzer bottle is still considered an essential skill and bit of "clown literacy" - building timing for the triggering action and learning to use liquid streams for:

Pratfalls - Causing others to slip or feign injury
Chaotic scenes - Soaking as many performers as possible
Slapstick - Squirting into faces, props, costumes
Nose targeting - A classic aiming challenge

The tradition of passing down bottle tricks through clown teachers and apprentices maintains interest and visibility for a comedy device now over 150 years old!

Key Seltzer Techniques

Master clowns emphasize perfecting these fundamental seltzer techniques as building blocks towards developing novel soda siphon acts:

The Squirt Chase

Clown threatens to spray the victim by chasing and just barely missing soaking them, showing the bottle's power and potential for chaos at any moment. Playing this "cat and mouse" game builds anticipation and tension in the audience.

High-Angle Rainfall

By standing on a chair or ladder and pointing the bottle nearly vertical, an arc of sprinkle-like rain can shower down an area for ambient, chaotic soakings of everyone and everything.

Rapid Shakes Between Targets

Shaking the bottle horizontally between squirting different spots not only keeps the liquid mixing thoroughly, but gives a slapstick waving gesture signalling wild, unpredictable spray patterns.

Hidden Attacks

Hiding, disguising, or obscuring the seltzer bottle until the last second prevents victims from seeing when you might strike next and creates opportunities for true comedic surprise attacks.