John Lewin Bacon was born in Wardour Street, London, and at the age of 18 travelled to America where he remained for two years. Upon the discovery of gold in Australia he made his way to Victoria, arriving in 1852. Bacon remained in Australia for eight years, where he was involved in mining and business speculations, earning a good deal of the fortune to be had at the time. In about 1860 he returned to England where he married and settled down to farming.

In 1874 John Bacon travelled to Wellington with the intention of establishing himself in the farming community. However, having an aerated water plant in Tory Street under his charge to be sold on commission, he decided to buy it himself and set up his own business. Bacon became one of Wellington's most widely recognised aerated water and cordial manufacturers and built up a respectable business.

John Bacon died on 9th of November 1881, three weeks after contracting Typhoid Fever. The business was carried on by his wife, Sophia.

The company exhibited aerated waters, essences and cordials in the 1885 N.Z. Industrial Exhibition and was awarded an 'Honourable Mention' for fruit essences.

The factory changed bottle manufacturers in the 1891/92 summer season (from late 91) from Rylands to John Lamont of Glasgow. These bottles were described these bottles as being "very good and strong, only rather green."

Mrs. Bacon restructured the business in late 1892 and her son, Frank, commenced selling their wares from Petone in October of that year.

The company was taken over by Walter Evensen in 1901, however the J.L.B. trade mark was retained until 1907, at which time Bacon's Aerated Water Co. was established.

J.L. Bacon used a huge array of different bottles including the only Codd patent bottle in New Zealand with a green top. The earliest coloured top Codd is a one-way pour type made by Codd & Rylands, who were in business from 1881 to 1884.