stamped number cans-

[Ziphippie]

saw these on theBay recently, any idears?- Ziphippie

[waste-man]

I am guessing drunken workings playing with the companies stamp gun

[Brent Gesland]

These might be batch numbers when bottles and cans were filled..Its just a guess on my part...There are many stamp marks on the early flats on the bottom lid and I have never figured out what they mean...Good question by the way.

The Guinness Lager and Ale made by Goebel Brewery in Oakland and Detroit in the 1950's have the similar print. Not sure but I think these are Batch numbers also....I quess the Michigan and California collectors should chime in on these cans.

Brent G.

[kruegerbock]

I bought a collection once that had numbers like that stamped on the cans and bottles in the collection. I think it was the collectors method of keeping track of what he had. Luckily the numbers came off the cans with wax. No such luck on the bottle labels.

[Flat_Top]

I've had this can since the late 1970's. It has 329 stamped on it. The can was found in a paper bag of an old pharmacy attic. I'm sure it was stamped back in the early 1940's.

[Ziphippie]

Nice Altes, Chuck! Maybe this will shed some light on your numbered example.
I messaged the seller and got a nice response- Ziphippie

[oldindiapaleale]

I lived in Massachusetts in the 70s and never saw any cans with numbers stamped on them and I think I visited every Packie in the state. Also supermarkets in Mass didn't sell beer because the laws allowed no entity to hold more than 2 or 3 licenses in the state. Still the rule today but just about every supermarket will have an independent liquor store located next door.
And Schmidt from Minnesota was not sold in Massachusetts.
I'd throw that explanation out. Case dismissed -Judge Billy.

[kruegerbock]

If I had to hazard a guess, it may have been a collector attempting to catalog a collection. I have seen cans and bottles with numbers stamped on them similar to those.