Seltzer Bottle--parts and cartridges?

I scored this groovy seltzer bottle at Maxwell Street for $4. It was priced at $6, the lady said, 'I'll take $5', and when I pulled out my five-ski, she said, "Nah, make it $4." Suspicious? Now I'm wondering if it's going to be a nice paper weight or faux bar accessory, or if I really got a bargain.



It seems to be missing a part or two--namely, the little wing-nut doohickey that holds and screws in the charger. I took this close-up of the nozzle to see if anyone can identify any other missing bits or potential problems.



I checked for parts on this site (http://www.fantes.com/seltzer.htm), but there's a note that says seltzer bottle parts are "rarely interchangeable". I can't find a manufacturer name on the bottle, but it looks like a Liss--or at least it's got the same design. It also looks like it's ever been used (again...suspicious? or auspicious?). Does anyone have any experience replacing parts? Suggestions?

It's about a year later and I just scored one of these for only $3.00! All the parts are present and workable except for the charger holder. Were you able to figure out what brand of soda siphon this is and how to get a charger holder? I'm intensely frustrated at the moment because of this one little detail! Thanks!

I don't remember what brand we decided it was, but the guy at Fantes was extremely helpful. I ordered five boxes of Leland Seltzer Chargers (size: 8 gm CO2 chargers) and a black plastic cartridge holder that has the "key" for removing the siphon on one end.

It looks like this.

I stopped using mine b/c I started worrying about the inside of the bottle--it looks a little beat up, and I wondered if I was drinking metal from the lining. Misguided fear? I'd love to start using it again, but I need some confirmation that it's safe. Any thoughts?

Thanks! I'd just sent an inquiry off to Fantes before coming back here.

I'm beginning to suspect it is a Liss brand siphon because of the horizontal placement of the charger thingie. The charger holder you linked to looks like a Liss part, too, which reinforces the hypothesis. Or it could be a knockoff.

The Liss bottles are stainless steel. If that's the case I think it would be safe to use even with some dings on the inside. (One has to wonder how it got dinged on the inside.) You can order a replacement bottle from Prairiemoon.

One thing I did to clean mine (and incidentally check the pressure seal) was to put some vinegar & water in the bottle and then packed the fill tube with baking powder. Then I very quickly shoved the siphon tube in and screwed the cap on tightly and gave it a shake - instant pressure! Spraying the baking soda theoretically cleaned out the nozzle.

Thanks again so much! I'll let you know what I discover.

Hmmm, or it could be a Kidde Soda King. Made in Hungary like Liss -- a lot of soda siphons apparently were (and still are).

Now that you mention it, I think we did decide it was a Liss. Although the Kidde looks just like it, too. I'm guessing the parts have got to be interchangeable.

I cleaned mine with baking soda and crushed ice. Shook it up inside the bottle and rinsed. (Perhaps the ice dinged up the insides? The metal just looks patchy and mottled.) Didn't think of the vinegar.

If your bottle is the same size, I think it takes 2 chargers to fully carbonate the water.

If you come up with any good flavored seltzer recipes, be sure to post!

crrush wrote:If you come up with any good flavored seltzer recipes, be sure to post!

Try Vissinada Refreshment. (Use Greek syrup. I tried some from Slovenia recently that I didn't like as well.)

I have a couple of soda syphons that I rarely use because we have nasty-tasting well water and it isn't cost effective to buy bottled water and carbonate it when I can just buy already carbonated water.

FWIW, Safeway seltzer is OK.

Side note - we recently installed an under-cabinet water filter from Lowe's; all the water around here has a dusty taste to me which the filter gets rid of. It only needs changing about twice a year and the only drawback is a small loss of pressure in the cold water (it doesn't filter warm) but I find the flavor of our tap water vastly improved - we don't use bottled unless we're on a trip. IDK if it will work for well-water compounds like sulphur, tho.

FWIW, we've used many different house brands of grocery-store seltzer and I like most of them.

Back to report. I received the Liss stainless steel replacement bottle from Prairie Moon and it fits the Kidde top perfectly. The charger holder I also ordered also worked. I've done a few bottles of seltzer now and it turns out just great. And I ordered a 2-quart Kidde Soda King soda siphon from eBay which just arrived. Definitely an aluminum bottle. So if you are skittish about aluminum -- as I am -- then the stainless replacement bottle from Prairie Moon is just the thing.

As for recipes, I made "Mulberry Acid" syrup with a recipe from The Gift of Southern Cooking: Recipes and Revelations from Two Great American Cooks by Scott Peacock and Edna Lewis. Used mulberries from a neighbor's tree. You have to let it sit for a couple weeks, but it is worth the wait. Light, refreshing and flavorful. I'm going to try the same recipe with blackberries now.

I am also tempted to try a similar recipe from Saveur Magazine, Tart Blackberry Soda Syrup. Both recipes require tartaric acid, which I found at a local wine-making/home-brewing supply shop. The difference is that the Saveur recipe involves fermentation and Peacock's recipe you cook and then chill the syrup.

tbeckett wrote: Both recipes require tartaric acid, which I found at a local wine-making/home-brewing supply shop. The difference is that the Saveur recipe involves fermentation and Peacock's recipe you cook and then chill the syrup.

Just curious - how is tartaric acid different from cream of tartar?

Mhays wrote:Just curious - how is tartaric acid different from cream of tartar?

I'm not altogether certain, other than they are definitely different substances. Both are by-products of wine production. Both are acidic.

Googling the question produces a credible answer: "Cream of tartar is obtained when tartaric acid is half neutralized with potassium hydroxide, transforming it into a salt."

That makes sense - thanks! I'd always heard that cream of tartar was tartaric acid...now we know!

tbeckett wrote:Back to report.

Thank you! The follow-up info. is always appreciated, particularly the recipe suggestions.

Oh, and a belated welcome to LTHForum. Hope you continue asking and posting!

How long does home-carbonated water stay fizzy vs purchased carbonated water (in your glass, maybe with some ice)?

Thank you for the welcome, Colleen! Not really (not nearly) a Chicagoan, but I have found this particular thread to be quite helpful. We're getting into canning/jam/preserves season here, it would be nice to have a forum to discuss such things.

With respect to store-bought seltzer versus home made, Leek, a soda siphon will retain pressure indefinitely (or for a long time at least) until you've used all the water. Soda in a single-use plastic bottle will lose pressure and go flat pretty quickly once you've opened it. So if you're not using the plastic bottle contents all at once, you're better off with a re-useable soda siphon.

thanks tbeckett. I actually mean in the glass - once I've poured it. I know for sure that soda water in a bottle goes flat faster than I usually can drink it

Oh, I see.

That would be hard for me to say. I've not had a problem with either going flat before I've finished my beverage.

Though you answered the question I was going to ask...I've toyed with the idea of buying a bottle if I find one on the cheap somewhere...

BTW - bring on your preserves postings! I'm sure we'll be rolling up our sleeves here soon!

tbeckett wrote: We're getting into canning/jam/preserves season here, it would be nice to have a forum to discuss such things.

Not to sidetrack this thread, but there are a few others you might be interested in:

The Romance of Canning

Canning in Chicago

For anyone interested in an easy soda siphon repair:
This pertains to leaky co2 cartridge injection valves.
The rubber gaskets wear out over time.
This is a cheap and effective way to repair:
Here is the fix: Go to the auto parts store and buy a pack of 5/16th size vacuum caps (rubber). I can send anyone a picture of this if you contact me. The brand I used was "VACU-TITE!" Take one cap and slice off a bit more than 1/2 of it. Take a drill and drill a 1/8" hole in the center of the dome of the cap. After stripping out the old gasket material from the gas injection valve, push this into place around the needle which punctures the cartridge. This fix worked miraculously for me. This was for an alluminum bottle siphon with the name "Kayser"
http://www.sprouls.com
kevin@sprouls.com