Collections and Collectors

Abbreviations
Antiques

Art collectibles

Philately
Cards, postcards
Stamps, prints
Matches, boxes, labels
Phone cards
Numismatics
Pins, medals, stripes
Heraldry
Bibliophily
Rare sound records
Modelling
Beer, labels, bottles
Printed Graphics
Original collections

Private collections

Classifieds

Collections / Beer, labels, bottles / American Beer Cans

American Beer Cans


Articles + Beer Labels + History of Beer Labels + American Beer Cans	Collections + Collection of Small Bottles + USA Non-Alcoholic Beverages + USA Beer Manufacturers + Russian Beer Lids + USA Beer Caps + CIS Beer Caps + Baltic Countries Beer Caps + Eastern Europe Beer Caps + Scandinavian Beer Caps + German Beer Caps + Holland Beer Caps + Beer Caps of Different European Countries + Belgium Beer Caps + Canada Beer Caps + Beer Caps of Different Countries of the World Private collections of this section [Last advertisments]

It took over a quarter of a century of scientific testing to discover if beer was actually suitable for going into cans before the idea was first adopted by the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company of Newark, New Jersey in 1935. In 1909 the American Can Company conducted preliminary experiments but found that the beer reacted unfavourably with the metal of the can. Serious testing resumed after the enforced sabbatical of Prohibition and the American Can Company won the race to produce the first beer can for Gottfried Krueger.

In October 1933 the brewery produced 2,000 cans of Krueger`s Special Beer for limited public testing. The feedback was positive and on January 24th 1935 history was made when canned versions of Krueger`s Finest Beer and Cream Ale finally went on public sale in Richmond, Virginia. The revolutionary new design was packaged with a picture on the side showing a café waiter bearing a tray of beers. The can itself had a completely flat top - which meant it had to be pierced open with a can opener. Krueger`s brave innovation was soon imitated and just six months later the Premier-Pabst Brewing Company became the first company to sell canned beer on a national scale. Premier-Pabst also utilised the flat top design but other brewers tried different methods of packaging canned beer.

The Continental Can Company developed a cone top can for the G. Heileman Brewing Company of La Crosse, Wisconsin - and the Schlitz Brewing Company launched the design nationally a short time later. The cone top, like its cousin the flat top, was a great success and stayed in production until the late 60s.The death knell for both types of beer can was first sounded by the development of the pull-tab can in the early 60s. This popular vehicle of beer delivery was presented to the nation by the ever-inventive Schlitz Brewing Co. in March 1963. However the ring-pull design of this can had an Achilles heel, opening it left a ring which needed to be disposed of after pulling. Environmental concerns regarding street litter were soothed by the introduction of the successful stay tab style in the mid 70s. The thirsty beer drinker could now crack open a can and leave nature undisturbed - providing he recycled the can of course!