Old Milwaukee zip top “Brewed in Kansas City”

[Pbama]

Recently acquired an Old Milwaukee “Brewed in Kansas City” zip top (“1965”) 101-21 and surprised it appears to be rare! Does anybody know the history on this can? Thanks!

[Boardman]

I have seen the tab - but never the zip. I hope it is the real thing.

There seems to be some bad info out there sometimes.

Thanks for sharing!

Michael

[potters66]

It's a new top. Sorry for the bad news!

Steve

[Pbama]

Steve - respect your opinion (sarcasm?) but I highly doubt lid was replaced. The guy I acquired them from collected as a kid in the Midwest and has had them stowed away in old shirt boxes since the late 60’s. If tops were replaced back then, it looks like they were masterful! Here are some examples of his other zips, etc. would have been a lot of wasted effort to replace Buds, Millers, Schlitzalong with the good ones like Walters Bock, Storz Pilsener, Pearl Dark, Wunderbar, etc.

[oldcrowncollector]

Is 9 0 5 Indiana or Chicago? Nice cans

[oldmoneytexan]

@Pbama Any for sale? Very interested in the Walters Bock and the 4 Pearls.

[Pbama]

905 (Dewry’s: S.Bend IN). Still sorting through the cans and getting as much info as possible on them. I will be putting cans from this collection up for sale so give me your contact info and I will get back to you when complete. Thanks!

[oldmoneytexan]

PM sent

[oldcrowncollector]

Have Champagne Velvet from Drewrys same top nice can


sent PM

[Pbama]

This is the CV (Associated: Evansville IN) I got as part of this collection:

[pinnacle-project]

@Pbama

Welcome! I just noticed your only signed up for this site two days ago. I think you will find a lot of great information on this site.

[Sea Monkey]

Nice cans!
Could the can be rolled? No NOTHING about Zips and what should/shouldn't be written on it but I see why Steve might think it is a different lid. The amount of tiny rust in the bottom edge doesn't seem to match the age and lack of tiny rust on the edge of the top. Never hurts to ask the questions.

GREAT group of cans though!

[Leon]

Nice cans!
Could the can be rolled? No NOTHING about Zips and what should/shouldn't be written on it but I see why Steve might think it is a different lid. The amount of tiny rust in the bottom edge doesn't seem to match the age and lack of tiny rust on the edge of the top. Never hurts to ask the questions.

GREAT group of cans though!

Is that why? I kinda thought the 1965 date on can was getting kind of late for a zip top & more appropriate for a fan tab or some other type of old style tab. LEON.

[Leon]

After my last post I had to run downstairs & look at mine. Mine has a Fan tab, But as you can see the Date is hard to make out. All I can see is 196? So I'm going to give it a little dip in acid to see if I can see the date. I'm curious to know if this can came with any other date besides 1965, anybody else have one with a different date? LEON.

[Can Dr.]

welcome aboard Paul. This can is 100% authentic. First american can used this notched seam from the early 60s to mid 60s. In this period of frequent changes there where many quick changes. These cans had at least zips and fans, much like the Old Crown Bocks with the zips having the silver lids. To answer Sea Monkey: ther has never been a can rolled aftermarket, at least marketable, with the notched seam. Also to look at the slight rust on the bottom rim and question why not at the top? the top is aluminum thus less of a starting point for rust. Now most critical when looking at a can and wondering if it has lid work look for these markers. first chuck burns. these are the spin marks left in the inner vertices where the chuck would spin. Next, look for the diameter of the rim; an original can will have a nice rounded edge with no roller burns, and with out flattening. I have not had the pleasure to see any of Art's aluminum work, but it is much more sensitive then steel.

[Pbama]

Wow! Insightful analysis. Thanks Can Dr! Leon, the can you plan on dipping in acid is the very same can that Steel Canvas has on his website sold in 2015. Please note the fan tab, you will see 1965 if acid works and if you look to the left of seam on the bottom of your can clearly make out circular “Union Made” symbol (under the “A” in USA) which Ted’s has as well but mine does not.

[Kotto]

I've dug Old Milwaukee zip tops with the Kansas City message on the front a couple of times. Both times in the Ozarks, a three hour drive from Kansas City. The can was definitely marketed as a zip top, but I would guess very briefly!

[Bob L]

Mine is a fan tab. Date is 1965.

[Leon]

Wow! Insightful analysis. Thanks Can Dr! Leon, the can you plan on dipping in acid is the very same can that Steel Canvas has on his website sold in 2015. Please note the fan tab, you will see 1965 if acid works and if you look to the left of seam on the bottom of your can clearly make out circular “Union Made” symbol (under the “A” in USA) which Ted’s has as well but mine does not.

Yes, Being a fan tab I would expect mine to have a 1965 date since fan tabs came out about 65. Since the zip top came out in 1962 & was replaced in 65 I would not expect the zip to have a 65 date but I'm sure it's very possible. Especially if some one like Kotto dumped dumper zips with 65 date. As Scogietti's say, "if it's rusted it can be trusted". I've seen many Schlitz zips with a 60 date but don't think I seen any Schlitz zips with a date newer Then 64. LEON.

[Pbama]

I love the RB website/forum! You guys are so informative, respectful, helpful and also very welcoming. Thank you!!!

[Sea Monkey]

I love the RB website/forum! You guys are so informative, respectful, helpful and also very welcoming. Thank you!!!

We are all collectors and have a thirst for knowledge. A good mystery or anomaly is fun to hash out.
Welcome aboard!

[Pbama]

Thanks Scott!

[MI-Cans]

I don't know how much this might factor into the discussion but I included a clipping from Mid to Late November of 1965 from Pennsylvania in my Zip Tab Summary. Link: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44967#p384071

It states that a patent was issued for a "Ring Pull" tab. If that's the case, would it not make sense that Zips were still in use that late in the year? I mean they could ramp up early production if they were assured approval.

(MI-Cans)

Click to enlarge.

[foreigncanman]

I have seen several. All have been fan tabs.

[BLindstrom]

Nice set of Pearl cans

[MI-Cans]

I searched for ads with Ring Pull Tabs. The earliest I could find is from 1965-08-24 BALTIMORE, MD. That makes the November article kinda strange. Now I don't know if you can put out a product prior to patent approval. Does say Alcoa owned the patent. Regardless, still see ads for zips after 1965.

(MI-Cans)

Click to enlarge.

[pinnacle-project]

I love the RB website/forum! You guys are so informative, respectful, helpful and also very welcoming. Thank you!!!

We are all collectors and have a thirst for knowledge. A good mystery or anomaly is fun to hash out.
Welcome aboard!

From what I have seen at shows, people around here thirst for more than knowledge.

[Leon]

As far as I know you can have a product prior to Patent Approval. Wouldn't that be Patent Pending like you see on the early cans from the 1930's. The top lid of some zips, fans & tabs will say Pat Pend right on top lid, Pat Pending what? Approval? Also you can find ads using older pictures/products ( like Baldy Kruegers in 1937 Ads) but not the other way around. Whatcha think of this one? 1964 ad showing older zip with newer zip. LEON.

[Pbama]

Furthering the discussion/mystery:

[Leon]

pbama, Maybe this place? LEON.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44374&p=379388&hili ... CO#p379388