From the 1850s (and maybe earlier)
'Canned beer' was a thing, but not what you might think it was. From the 1850s (or earlier), terms like 'tin beer-cans with spouts' and 'canned beer' referred to untraditional containers of brew.
'Canned beer' was a thing, but not what you might think it was. From the 1850s (or earlier), terms like 'tin beer-cans with spouts' and 'canned beer' referred to untraditional containers of brew.
. . . .
19 March 1901
Click for larger view
1
9
0
0
9
0
0
1
9
0
0
9
0
0
Growler
Rushers
Rushers
The American Can Company is born,
incorporated under New Jersey laws.
The articles of incorporation are filed in Trenton, and combine 103 smaller factories into a "Tin Can Trust," with $88M of investment capital.
The articles of incorporation are filed in Trenton, and combine 103 smaller factories into a "Tin Can Trust," with $88M of investment capital.
September 1905
Albert Einstein
publishes, among
other things, his
Theory of Relativity.
Albert Einstein
publishes, among
other things, his
Theory of Relativity.
Juerst's Ebulliometer
The ebulliometer measures alcohol content in water-based beverages
Dr. Richard H. P. Juerst designed
Dr. Richard H. P. Juerst designed
one used by brewers,
and endorsed by the
U.S. Government.
and endorsed by the
U.S. Government.
Click to
read article
read article
1909 - 1919
American (a.k.a. Acco or CANCO) researches selling beer in tin cans, finds that contemporary canning
methods are far too
weak to withstand
the sorts of internal
pressures created
during the process
of pasteurization.
methods are far too
weak to withstand
the sorts of internal
pressures created
during the process
of pasteurization.
1
9
1
0
9
1
0
1
9
1
0
9
1
0
Late 1913
The U.S. government pursues anti-trust lawsuits against several large companies, including Acco. Circuit judge in MD declares American to be in violation of the Sherman Act, but does not say the company has to be disbanded. Fed govt appeals, and the case will bounce through the judicial system for several years.
Early American Can Co vehicle
Jan 29, 1919: America loses its mind.
Prohibition becomes law.
Prohibition becomes law.
Acco Office ca 1915
American Can Company opened this factory in 1916, in San Francisco
28 October 1919
1916
Volstead Act, named after teetotaler Andrew Volstead, fortifies Prohibition by specifying any beverage containing more than 0.5% alcohol is "intoxicating."
In June 1921, Uncle Sam finally relinquishes, and requests their suit be canceled.
Andrew Volstead
1
9
2
0
9
2
0
1
9
2
0
9
2
0
18 August 1920
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives women the right to vote.
The Gottfried Krueger Brewery of Newark, NJ is about to become a major force in the birth of the American beer can, in tandem with the American Can Company.
Click for larger image
1923 - Yankee Stadium completed
16 April 1925
The "House That Ruth Built"
Charles Stollberg submits a can design deemed worthy of holding beer, and files for a patent on his design.
Gottfried Krueger Brewery, ca 1922
20-21 May 1927
Charles Lindbergh flies NY to Paris.
Click for larger image
19 February 1926
In another step toward finding a way to make tin cans capable of withstanding pasteurization of beer, Acco submits a patent application for his seaming method for the manufacture of "tubular bodies."
Map of flight from the Oakland Tribute, 22 May. Click for larger view.
October 29, 1929 Black Tuesday
Vinylite, the material ACCO used to line the insides of beer cans, was made from the same polymer used to make vinyl records.
The Great Depression is upon us.
Banning alcohol turns out to have a much bigger effect on worldly matters than even the darkest of pessimists could've foreseen.
1929
Armed with its new beer can, American Can Company tests its protoype at the request of Anheuser-Busch and Pabst.
1
9
3
0
9
3
0
1
9
3
0
9
3
0
18 February 1930
Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto, and the Solar System gains a ninth planet.
Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto, and the Solar System gains a ninth planet.
Two hurdles facing
the canner and
interested brewers
are keeping beer
from coming in
contact with the
metal itself, and
making the design
sturdy enough to withstand the pressures of pasteurization.
the canner and
interested brewers
are keeping beer
from coming in
contact with the
metal itself, and
making the design
sturdy enough to withstand the pressures of pasteurization.
3 March 1931
America officially adopts The Star Spangled Banner as its National Anthem.
America officially adopts The Star Spangled Banner as its National Anthem.
Tests show it won't be as easy as they might have thought.
(it'll be demoted from "planet" status less than 100 years later)
1931
The Gottlieb Krueger Brewery of Newark, NJ contacts American and, with the help of Dr. R. H. P. Juerst (there's that name again), develops the world's first tenable beer can.
Most trademark registration numbers listed on Keglined cans (92935, 197382, 268305, etc.) were for the term (and logo for) CANCO. The original trademark application for Keglined was #0317439.
For a scanned copy of that document, click here.
For a scanned copy of that document, click here.
Dr. Juerst, brewmaster for Havard Brewing, is a scientist and prodigious inventor. By 1932 he and Krueger have developed the first tin can to successfully withstand pasteurization while preserving the beer within.
May 1932
18 December 1932
The first-ever NFL playoff game takes place between the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans. It's so cold the game is played inside the Chicago Stadium.
"INTERNAL REVENUE TAX PAID"
BEER LAW T.D. 4423
Per U.S. law, from the first days of Repeal through early 1950, containers of fermented beverages were required to reflect federal taxes had been paid on the product. On beer cans (and bottles), this was typically summarized as Internal Revenue Taxes Paid or Tax Paid At The Rate Prescribed By The Internal Revenue Law. Beer cans sold during this period are referred to by collectors as "IRTP," and collectors know March 1, 1950 as the date this requirement went away.BEER LAW T.D. 4423
However, some of the very first cans were mistakenly designed and manufactured without the IRTP statement. This was an error by brewers; these cans are considerably rare.
When the tax statement requirement was put into law beer cans were not yet commercially available. So the law didn't specifically address beer cans. However, it did refer to "metal barrels" (like the Serv-o-Draft, maybe), stating these containers only needed U-Permit information. This may have been the rationale used by the earliest canners in 1935: they may have believed they could exclude the IRTP statement from cans*. The omission might also have been caused by a strict interpretation of Law 4423--the 1934 amendment to the 1933 law--which didn't mention cans at all. It may have just been innocent omission (doubtful), or it could have been another reason altogether. In any case, canners were quick to remedy this omission.
Click here for a PDF of an April 1934 brewer's journal article detailing the amendment dictating labeling conventions for beer containers. For a more copy & paste-friendly product, you can also download a transcript of T.D. 4423 here.
* T.D. 4423 stated "metal barrels and kegs must... (show)" data that included U-Permit information, but not the IRTP statement.
1
9
3
3
9
3
3
1
9
3
3
9
3
3
American spends much of its resources set aside for canning beer on perfecting a durable, wax-like substance--a brewer's pitch-used to coat the insides of cans (beer quickly "skunkifies" when it contacts metal).
Initially, American is unable to satisfactorily create a wax to hold up during pasteurization (about 140 degrees Fahrenheit).
Ultimately, CANCO turns to Union Carbide, whose proprietary Vinylite can be applied to the insides of tin cans.
2 March 1933
American spends much of the year perfecting their durable, wax-like substance - a brewer's pitch - used to coat the insides of their cans (beer quickly "skunkifies" when it contacts metal).
Feb & June 1933
Working with the ever-pliable Vinylite Canco develops a dual coat process ("C" enamel + Vinylite) to guarantee beer won't contact the insides of their beer cans, and adopts to their lining process their "Keglined" term.
H. Schrader and E.G. Mason file patent applications for can
openers, on behalf
of the Continental
Can Company.
openers, on behalf
of the Continental
Can Company.
March 23, 1933
Volstead is amended. President Roosevelt signs the Cullen-Harrison Bill, making 3.2 beer legal.
Schrader's opener, submitted to the Patent Office in Feb 1933
12 October 1933
Ownership of Alcatraz Island is transferred from the U.S. Army to the Bureau of Prisons.
Summer 1933
Continental Can Company's Samuel C. Robison files for a patent on his flat top beer can design.
Continental Can Company's Samuel C. Robison files for a patent on his flat top beer can design.
October 1933
Acco & Krueger package
2,000 cans of Krueger's
Special Beer and send
them to 500 families of
"loyal Krueger's drinkers."
The beer can's approval
rating is 91%.
At least one survives today!
2,000 cans of Krueger's
Special Beer and send
them to 500 families of
"loyal Krueger's drinkers."
The beer can's approval
rating is 91%.
At least one survives today!
Patent numbers (starting with 1,625,229) listed on American beer cans correspond to changes in the beer can designs, e.g. improvements in soldering techniques.
November 7, 1933
John H. Murch applies to
patent "Method of Lining" cans.
John H. Murch applies to
patent "Method of Lining" cans.
17 November 1933
The Marx Brothers'
Duck Soup is
released. Critical
response is tepid,
and ticket sales are
less than stellar,
but in the decades
since its initial release the movie has become widely regarded as a comedic masterpiece, and the Marx Brothers' best.
The Marx Brothers'
Duck Soup is
released. Critical
response is tepid,
and ticket sales are
less than stellar,
but in the decades
since its initial release the movie has become widely regarded as a comedic masterpiece, and the Marx Brothers' best.
September 1934
Working with the ever-pliable Vinylite, CANCO develops a dual coat process ("C" enamel + Vinylite), to guarantee beer won't contact the insides of their beer cans, and adopts to their lining process their "Keglined" term.
December 1933
American Can Company inventors Dewitt Sampson and John Hothersall develop the church key. Canco commissions Vaughan Novelty Mfg. Co. to manufacture the openers.
Press to Test
5 December 1933
Both the upper and lower lids on the earliest flat tops cans lacked "smile beads," which provide structural reinforcement. Soon, these were added to the tops of cans, and in a few years both lids would have the smile beads.
His patent will be granted in the winter of 1936.
Click for larger image
Prohibition is officially repealed.
Mason submitted his patent application in June
1
9
3
4
9
3
4
1
9
3
4
9
3
4
8 February 1934
The first public appearance of the term & logo "Keglined." American files for trademark protection
four days
later.
This March article appears in brewers' journals titled
Canned Beer
May Take Place
of "Growler."
Someone saw the
connection between
the terms 'growler'
and 'canned beer,'
and pushed this
"Growler" story.
Canned Beer
May Take Place
of "Growler."
Someone saw the
connection between
the terms 'growler'
and 'canned beer,'
and pushed this
"Growler" story.
March 3
John Dillinger escapes
from an Indiana prison.
John Dillinger escapes
from an Indiana prison.
11 May 1934
Alfred L. Kronquest of the Continental Can Company applies for a patent for his "Method for Making a Metal Container."
Alfred L. Kronquest of the Continental Can Company applies for a patent for his "Method for Making a Metal Container."
Acco and Krueger make their move; Krueger's Finest Beer and Krueger's Cream Ale are the first beers sold in cans. Krueger chooses Richmond, Virginia as its first market market.
By March Krueger's sales are up by 550%. Several brewers begin to seriously consider canning their beers.
By March Krueger's sales are up by 550%. Several brewers begin to seriously consider canning their beers.
NATIONAL CAN COMPANY
March 1934 update to U.S. Tax Code, regarded fermented liquors:
Source:
TM 347254
TM 347254
Could
"wooden
and metal
kegs"
have led
to brewers
omitting the
required IRTP statement from the earliest cans?
What do you think?
"wooden
and metal
kegs"
have led
to brewers
omitting the
required IRTP statement from the earliest cans?
What do you think?
This is one of numerous efforts showing the company was working hard on finding the right material for lining the insides of the can.
July 1934
Associated Press: there's canned
beer in Farrell, Pennsylvania!
Associated Press: there's canned
beer in Farrell, Pennsylvania!
CCC's engineers try resins, flours, gums, and even sprayed asphalt to coat the insides of their cans.
2 April 1935
Sampson and Hothersall are awarded Patent # 1,996,550 for their "Container Opener," which by now exists in dozens of shapes and sizes as the "Quick & Easy Opener."
Sampson and Hothersall are awarded Patent # 1,996,550 for their "Container Opener," which by now exists in dozens of shapes and sizes as the "Quick & Easy Opener."
September 1934
CCC begins trials of its
aluminum bottle. That's
right - the first metallic
container for beer made
by Continental is a bottle!
Or... was this a can?
In so, then it'd not have been as remarkable a development as what most of us consider to be the first cans, like the American Can flat top or the CCC cone top.
This was nothing more than a plain (unlabeled/unetched) metallic bottle with a paper label attached (the same label used for bottles, but with test-run numbers, like the "6016" seen here).
Still, the question remains: was this a can?
Let me know what you think.
CCC begins trials of its
aluminum bottle. That's
right - the first metallic
container for beer made
by Continental is a bottle!
Or... was this a can?
No. No, it was not.
Just like a conetop, it was made of metal, but shaped like a bottle. In fact, just like a Crowntainer--still a couple years from its first appearance--this beaut was made of drawn (spun) metal! In so, then it'd not have been as remarkable a development as what most of us consider to be the first cans, like the American Can flat top or the CCC cone top.
This was nothing more than a plain (unlabeled/unetched) metallic bottle with a paper label attached (the same label used for bottles, but with test-run numbers, like the "6016" seen here).
Still, the question remains: was this a can?
Let me know what you think.
22 July 1934
FBI agents fatally shoot John Dillinger as he exits a Chicago theater.
Click for larger view
Story runs continent-wide. Examples -
Utah, Vermont, Pennsyvania, New York,
Alberta, and Saskatchewan
Utah, Vermont, Pennsyvania, New York,
Alberta, and Saskatchewan
The IRTP Statement
July 1935
July 1935
America's largest brewer, Pabst signs with American Can Company. This is a major blow to those who believe beer in cans is a passing fad.
However, at first Pabst decided not to can its best-selling "Blue Ribbon" beer. After all, they reasoned, if the newfangled beer can were to fail, why associate their finest product with it?
Instead, the Rockford, Illinois brewery conservatively decided, their excursion into canning began with their "Export" variety.
America's largest brewer, Pabst signs with American Can Company. This is a major blow to those who believe beer in cans is a passing fad.
However, at first Pabst decided not to can its best-selling "Blue Ribbon" beer. After all, they reasoned, if the newfangled beer can were to fail, why associate their finest product with it?
Instead, the Rockford, Illinois brewery conservatively decided, their excursion into canning began with their "Export" variety.
From the first days of Repeal, beer container labels required a message confirming the contents had been taxed, per the U.S. Tax Code.
Serv-o-Draft
Ever seen one of these?
Ever seen one of these?
However,
some brewers mistakenly thought the U-permit number was all they needed to include on their beer cans. So, a handful of the earliest commercially-available cans were mistakenly printed without the required tax statement. These cans are extremely rare.
The IRTP law would be annulled on 1 March 1950.
some brewers mistakenly thought the U-permit number was all they needed to include on their beer cans. So, a handful of the earliest commercially-available cans were mistakenly printed without the required tax statement. These cans are extremely rare.
The IRTP law would be annulled on 1 March 1950.
There are three different color and/or
shade schemes pictured here. One
can has a pale K-Man.
shade schemes pictured here. One
can has a pale K-Man.
Combined with
C-enamel, the
wax is what
CCC has been
looking for.
Ironically, the
figures Kronquest
draws up to
accompany his
patent sub-
mission are of
a Flat Top can (with an obvious smile bead on its upper lid, for reinforcement).
Continental's first cans, we all know, were cone tops.
C-enamel, the
wax is what
CCC has been
looking for.
Ironically, the
figures Kronquest
draws up to
accompany his
patent sub-
mission are of
a Flat Top can (with an obvious smile bead on its upper lid, for reinforcement).
Continental's first cans, we all know, were cone tops.
What happened to these treasures?
National clones the flat top.
25 September 1934
The KEGLINED Trademark is granted, approval #317439
The KEGLINED Trademark is granted, approval #317439
January 2, 1935
R.R. Bowser and J. E. Miltenberger of the Heekin Can Company apply for a patent for their "Liquid Dispensing Container" . . .
22 days prior to the first sale of beer in cans.
R.R. Bowser and J. E. Miltenberger of the Heekin Can Company apply for a patent for their "Liquid Dispensing Container" . . .
22 days prior to the first sale of beer in cans.
1
9
3
5
9
3
5
1
9
3
5
9
3
5
January 24, 1935
CANNED BEER FOR SALE!!
CANNED BEER FOR SALE!!
smile beads on the top lid.
1935 story on Dr. Juerst, a key figure in the early development of the American beer can
National's customer base came largely from brewers whose timing demands could not be met by a suddenly- swamped American Can Company.
Within months, however, healthy sales of the canned beverage convinced Pabst it could sell its Blue Ribbon beer in cans.
Initially the brewer only changed the "Export" label by adding a blue ribbon.
Initially the brewer only changed the "Export" label by adding a blue ribbon.
Acco and Krueger make their move; Krueger's Finest Beer and Krueger's Cream Ale are the first beers sold in cans. Krueger chooses Richmond, Virginia as its first market market.
By March Krueger's sales
are up by 550%. Several
brewers begin to seriously
consider canning their beers.
By March Krueger's sales
are up by 550%. Several
brewers begin to seriously
consider canning their beers.
Click for larger image
9 March 1935
But continued escalating sales finally convinced Pabst the beer can was here to stay, and within within a year they happily included the term "Blue Ribbon" on their PBR cans.
Spring 1935
Porky Pig is introduced to the world in the cartoon featurette
I Haven't Got a Hat.
I Haven't Got a Hat.
Business is booming for CCC, and they are about to become the third to enter into the canned beer market.
April 1935
Metal Package Corp
changes its name to
National Can
Company.
25 May 1935
Babe Ruth hits his 714th, and last, home run as a professional baseball player.
Babe Ruth hits his 714th, and last, home run as a professional baseball player.
June 1935
Continental announces it's going to produce tin cans designed for beer.
2 April 1935
Sampson & Hothersall are awarded patents #1996550 and 1996551 for their "container opener," which now exists in various shapes and sizes as the "Quick & Easy Opener."July 24, 1935
CCC's Kronquest finally finds a reliable protective lining - "Cerese EE Wax" - and files to patent the process Continental will use to protect beer from contacting the insides of its cans.
So Continental devised a tin can that could be filled with bottling machinery. Cone top cans are essentially metal bottles, and many brewers just have to make a couple minor adjustments to turn their ordinary bottle assembly lines into cone top assembly lines
The first beer cans reminded consumers to COOL BEFORE SERVING. Apparently brewers feared people would overestimate the beer can's abilities - thinking it was such a revolutionary creation it could keep a product chilled indefinitely.
1 June 1935
NCC identifies this as the first time 'DOUBLE-LINED' was used in trade.
October 29, 1935
Bowser and Miltenberger's patent is granted.
Bowser and Miltenberger's patent is granted.
Combined with
C-enamel, the
wax is what
CCC has been
looking for.
Ironically, the
figures Kronquest
draws up to
accompany his
patent sub-
mission are of
a Flat Top can (with an obvious smile bead on its upper lid, for reinforcement).
Continental's first cans, we all know, were cone tops.
C-enamel, the
wax is what
CCC has been
looking for.
Ironically, the
figures Kronquest
draws up to
accompany his
patent sub-
mission are of
a Flat Top can (with an obvious smile bead on its upper lid, for reinforcement).
Continental's first cans, we all know, were cone tops.
Source:
Sep 1936 American Brewer Magazine
Sep 1936 American Brewer Magazine
June 1935:
National clones the flat top.
National clones the flat top.
July 1935
Pabst chooses Cedar Falls, IA, and Memphis as their first (beyond hometown) distribution points.Click for larger image
June 1935:
National clones the flat top.
National clones the flat top.
To keep this bottle-to-can link in folks' minds, and to appeal to those uncomfortable using the Church Key, Continental tagged their product with the moniker Cap Sealed.
Within six months of CANCO's market breakthrough, National comes along with its own flat
top. NCC also
buys the rights
to use Vinylite,
calling their
can-lining process "double-lining."
top. NCC also
buys the rights
to use Vinylite,
calling their
can-lining process "double-lining."
Within six months of CANCO's market breakthrough, National comes along with its own flat
top. NCC also
buys the rights
to use Vinylite,
calling their
can-lining process "double-lining."
top. NCC also
buys the rights
to use Vinylite,
calling their
can-lining process "double-lining."
July 1935
America's largest brewer, Pabst,
Bowser and Miltenberger's invention is licensed by the Heekin Can Company of Cincinnati who, with the Burger Brewing Company (also of Cincinnati), package beer in this behemoth of a can.
As illustrated in Bowser & Miltenberger's patent, the inner workings of this can were fairly complex. By design this device was a workable beer delivery system -- complete with valves, tubes, standpipes, and even an internally-mounted cork stopper.
What isn't clear from the patent is what lined the inside of the 248 oz monster, to protect the beer from contacting the metallic surfaces within. Whatever it is, the can boasts it's made of a tasteless, odorless material.
As illustrated in Bowser & Miltenberger's patent, the inner workings of this can were fairly complex. By design this device was a workable beer delivery system -- complete with valves, tubes, standpipes, and even an internally-mounted cork stopper.
What isn't clear from the patent is what lined the inside of the 248 oz monster, to protect the beer from contacting the metallic surfaces within. Whatever it is, the can boasts it's made of a tasteless, odorless material.
August 1935
Ohio papers carry stories about the new Can-O-Draft, including a spotlight on the inventors, Elmer Bowser and Ray Miltenberger.
is selling cans by the
American Can Company.
At home in Rockford, then,
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
This is a major blow to
those who believe beer in
cans is a passing fad.
Initially, Pabst decides
not to can its best-
selling "Blue Ribbon" beer. If the newfangled beer can were to fail,
why associate their finest product with it? Instead, the Rockford IL brewery decides, their excursion into canning will begin with their "Export" variety.
American Can Company.
At home in Rockford, then,
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
This is a major blow to
those who believe beer in
cans is a passing fad.
Initially, Pabst decides
not to can its best-
selling "Blue Ribbon" beer. If the newfangled beer can were to fail,
why associate their finest product with it? Instead, the Rockford IL brewery decides, their excursion into canning will begin with their "Export" variety.
Within weeks, Continental will enter the market...
During the beer can's first days, many drinkers attempted to return empty cans -- as they'd done with bottles for years. So lots of beer cans from this time featured messages reminding users the beer can was not refillable.
Click for larger image
National provides a more affordable product, and picks up business from brewers whose timing demands can not be met by a suddenly- swamped American Can Company.
July 1935
Tru-Blu is in cans, and Northampton is staging photo ops as cities receive their first shipments of the canned brew.
One story reports a barrel of beer as containing 32 gallons (for beer it's 31). This could be where the mistaken notion that the can contained 252 oz (1/16th bbl = 248 oz) comes from.
1936 1936
August 11, 1935
First commercial appearance of the brewer's proprietary term "Tapa-Can"
Atlanta Constitution
July 26, 1935
July 26, 1935
Early 1936
Continental attracts numerous breweries to the Cone Top, including Heileman, Berghoff, Beverwyck, and the brewer who'd first tried to cans its product
with Heekin: Burger.
Continental attracts numerous breweries to the Cone Top, including Heileman, Berghoff, Beverwyck, and the brewer who'd first tried to cans its product
with Heekin: Burger.
Charlotte, NC
With the help of a giant,
Continental solves the small
guy's problem with the flat top.
With the help of a giant,
Continental solves the small
guy's problem with the flat top.
Northampton Brewery Corp of Pennsylvania is the first brewery to can their beer with National.
Their Tru-Blu Ale and Beer are National's first.
Their Tru-Blu Ale and Beer are National's first.
Success of Krueger and Pabst attracts Scheidt, Ballantine, Waldorf, Fort Pitt, Genessee, Gunther, and Wehle.
All begin canning with American within a year of Krueger's first.
All begin canning with American within a year of Krueger's first.
Source: Trademark 337751
Continental lands two breweries (Schlitz, and soon thereafter, Heileman) for its maiden voyage into the frontier of beer cannery. In doing so, they also solve a problem smaller brewers have - buying new equipment to fill flat top cans.
Within months,
healthy sales
of the canned
beverage convinces
Pabst it can sell its prized
Blue Ribbon beer in cans.
healthy sales
of the canned
beverage convinces
Pabst it can sell its prized
Blue Ribbon beer in cans.
Initially the brewer only changed the "Export" label by adding a blue ribbon. But continued escalating sales finally convinces Pabst the beer can is here to stay, and within within a year they'll happily can their "Blue Ribbon" beer.
July '36
By the year's end, Stroudsburg, Kings, and Commonwealth breweries have asked to sign on with National Can Company.
September 1935
Continental makes two subtle changes to the structure of their cone top: the cone's "ribs" are raised, and its bottom is concave. Previous design featured inverted ribs and flat bottoms - a much weaker container.
Peter Fox and Red Top Brewing Companies become the second and third* to can their beers with National.
Though only six years old, Fortune Magazine was already a respected source for research sought by entrepreneurs.
In other words, the Beer Can had clearly arrived.
In other words, the Beer Can had clearly arrived.
With the flat top design breweries had to buy expensive canning machinery; small breweries just couldn't dish out the revenue to install such equipment.
So CCC devised a tin can that could be filled with bottling machinery. Cone top cans are essentially metal bottles, and many brewers just have to make a couple minor adjustments to turn their ordinary bottle assembly lines into cone top assembly lines
September
Story in the Asheville, NC newspaper about the newest thing: Red Top in cans!
Story in the Asheville, NC newspaper about the newest thing: Red Top in cans!
"COOL BEFORE SERVING"
(Three canning companies) "Campaign to Sell Canned Beer"
The first beer cans reminded consumers to COOL BEFORE SERVING. Seems brewers feared people would overestimate the beer can's abilities - thinking it was such a revolutionary creation it could keep a product chilled indefinitely.
29 October 1935
Bowser & Miltenberger's patent for what would become known as the 1/16th Barrel 'Can-O-Draft' is granted. 
29 September
Jerry Lee Lewis is born in Ferriday, Louisiana
Jerry Lee Lewis is born in Ferriday, Louisiana
4 October 1935
Luna Park opens in Sydney, Australia
By November National has
secured the business of
five brewers, Northampton,
Red Top, Peter Fox, King's,
and Commonwealth.
Stroudsberg, a sixth, may
have signed on before year's
end, or early in 36, but I
have found nothing definitive just yet.
secured the business of
five brewers, Northampton,
Red Top, Peter Fox, King's,
and Commonwealth.
Stroudsberg, a sixth, may
have signed on before year's
end, or early in 36, but I
have found nothing definitive just yet.
During the beer can's first days, many drinkers attempted to return empty cans -- as they'd done with bottles for years. So lots of beer cans from this time featured messages reminding users the beer can was not refillable.
Within a month, Heileman has jumped on board. Many will follow before the year ends.
29 October 1935
Bowser & Miltenberger's patent for what would become known as the 1/16th Barrel 'Can-O-Draft' is granted. 
How many brands are canned with CCC before 1935 draws to a close is unclear -- I would say no more than 12, but a Salesman's Sample Book from 1936 states the number was 17!
Bowser and Miltenberger's invention is licensed by the Heekin Can Company of Cincinnati who, with the Burger Brewing Company (also of Cincinnati), package beer in this behemoth of a can.
There are only a couple known examples of this behemoth still lying around. Wouldn't it be awesome to have one in your collection?
There are only a couple known examples of this behemoth still lying around. Wouldn't it be awesome to have one in your collection?
The success of Krueger, Pabst, and others attracts brewers like Scheidt, Ballantine, Waldorf, Fort Pitt, Genessee, Gunther, and Wehle.
Dozens begin canning with
the American Can
Company within a
year of
Krueger's
first.
Dozens begin canning with
the American Can
Company within a
year of
Krueger's
first.
Nov - Dec
NCC runs large, colorful ads in trade magazines, touting their newest customer, King's Brewing
NCC runs large, colorful ads in trade magazines, touting their newest customer, King's Brewing
To keep a bottle-to-can link in folks' minds, and to appeal to those uncomfortable with the churchkey, CCC tagged
their product
with the
moniker
Cap Sealed.
their product
with the
moniker
Cap Sealed.
Acme Brewing announces it will start canning beer, in a "new double-lined can, as yet without a distinctive name."
By the year's end, Stroudsburg,
Kings, and Commonwealth
breweries have asked
to sign on
with the
National Can
Company.
Kings, and Commonwealth
breweries have asked
to sign on
with the
National Can
Company.
1935
Frank Lloyd Wright completes Fallingwater.
Among the many breweries Continental attracted to the Cone Top can was the brewer who'd also packaged its product with Heekin: Burger.
© 2001 - , Phil Thompson