There is plenty of information on Crazy Water Crystal Company and Mexican border stations in chapter 4, 'Country music during the depression', of Bill C. Malone's 'Country Music USA' University of Texas Press.

The product was a white concentrate of mineral waters that had been discovered in 1877 near what is now Mineral Wells, Texas. The place became a focal point for 'medical pilgrimages'. The Crazy Water Crystal Company was based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It marketed the crystalline residue left upon evaporation of the Texan waters [it could have more simply been boiled away]. At first, the company claimed all manner of curative properties for its product, but eventually settled on its usefulness as a laxative [which was probably true]. The punter dissolved the crystals in tap water before consumption. The 'Crazy' appellation derived from the name of the original well.

The company sponsored various types of entertainment on radio stations all over USA, in Canada and on Mexican border stations. In 1933, it began to sponsor broadcasts featuring hillbilly musicians. It had sponsorships in 14 stations in the Carolinas and Georgia 3-state area. This became consolidated into huge barn dance program featuring as many as 30 groups. The performers were generally not paid, but grateful for the publicity and exposure. Many well-known groups were associated with the company at one time or another: Monroe Brothers, Dick Hartman's Tennessee Ramblers, J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers, Dixon Brothers, Fisher Hendley, Blue Sky Boys, Morris Brothers, Tobacco Tags, Snuffy Jenkins and Pappy Sherrill and many others. [Info from Bill C. Malone 'Country Music USA' and sleeve notes to Snuffy Jenkins and Pappy Sherrill 'Crazy Water Barn Dance' Rounder LP 0069.]

--Stewie.