When was beer first sold in six packs of cans?

#1

My wife likes to get everyone Christmas tree ornaments each year. This year, I got an ornament that looks like a six pack of beer cans. A tag on it indicates brewers first started selling six packs of cans in the 1950's. The ornament company probably did not expect anybody to challenge their historical knowledge but I cannot resist. My hunch is beer was available in six packs of cans far earlier. My guess is the exact year will be pre-WWII.

What do you think?

#2

My guess is Schlitz 1950’s

#3

I'm doing a quick look on Newspapers.com in between games were are playing. In the meantime, here is a six pack I have from Drewry's but I am not sure how old it is.

#4

Not sure if you meant with the plastic carrier.......but here is what I could find reference "six-pack" or "package of six". Soda such as Coca Cola and 7-up were seen early in "six-packs" but I believe it was Pabst that first made a reference to the "package of six" in 1938. Not sure if it was just a Christmas promotion thing or not....next reference I was able to find was actually Schmidt's in 1939. Real discrete but if you look hard enough....many others followed....

Muncie Evening Press Tue Sep 18 1934

The Journal Times Fri Dec 16 1938

The Central News Thu Mar 2 1939

Salt Lake Telegram Fri May 26 1939

The St Louis Star and Times Fri Jun 23 1939

The Miami News Fri Aug 11 1939

The Courier Journal Wed Feb 12 1941

#5

keithker wrote: ↑Tue Dec 25, 2018 7:36 pm Not sure if you meant with the plastic carrier.......but here is what I could find reference "six-pack" or "package of six".

I was thinking pretty much anything that would have resulted in six cans being packaged together. Since plastic rings and shrink wrap did not come out until much later, cardboard would probably be the dominant method. Thanks for checking.

#6

National Bohemian [Baltimore] claimed that they invented the Six Pack, but the question was When? and

#7

barfly wrote: ↑Tue Dec 25, 2018 8:53 pm National Bohemian [Baltimore] claimed that they invented the Six Pack, but the question was When? and

@barfly The earliest reference/ad I could find from National Bohemian "six pack" is this ad....I'm sure they must have had some earlier than that but best I could find...

The Evening Sun Mon Dec 6 1954

#8

There was a article in the BCCA magazine talk about the 6-pack. I can't find it right now. I think it was Schiltz or Pabst were the first one. Also Pabst have a 6-pack Christmas theme ,I think.

#9

Aha !! I found it. it was July/ August of this year.

#10

My Schlitz 6 pack shows a Vitamin D Schlitz low profile cone top on front cover & it appears that can pictured is a Flat Bottom Inverted ribbed, you can see the Inverted ribs on can placing the date at very early 1936 approximately. Older then the 1938 Pabst. Unfortunately the recent BCCA Magazine article had no mention or picture of this early 6 pack. LEON.

#11

I have not had a chance to dig out my old BCCA magazine for the article but I think Leon's pictures are undeniable proof that six packs were being sold pre-WWII.

#12

@Leon Sadly I was unable to find any reference to the Schlitz "six pack" or "package of six" or any other terms that might help. Looks like it was a holiday related packaging effort.

#13

BELOW: 1936 at earliest:

: exprtfishing.jpg (23.42 KiB) Viewed 1801 times

: exportpics.jpg (22.67 KiB) Viewed 1801 times

: PABSTCARTON.png (79.1 KiB) Viewed 1801 times

: PABSTSIDECARTON.png (50.62 KiB) Viewed 1801 times

BELOW: PABST Blue Ribbon cans with white side panels (1941)

ILLINOISCANMAN had this one:

: Pabst white panel 6 Pack 1941 Side.jpg (76.98 KiB) Viewed 1787 times

#14

@Longopener Chris....thanks for posting. I knew a few of those were out there but didn't have any. I can't tell based on your image what exactly is on the first can on the side of the carton but the Lilek book would have put that in mid-1936. Notice the no "Cool Before Serving". Can't tell if the word "Milwaukee" or "Breweries" is in the red circle. The 2d one would have been somewhere between late 1936 and early 1938. Notice the ribbon, the export above the blue and TapaCan still along the top....

#15

BCCA article from April/May 2000. Courtesy Ed Stout, BCCA magazine Beer cans and Brewery Collectibles & Randy Karasek Beer Magazine Viewer

#16

OK, Here's on that has Flat Bottom Inverted ribbed Berghoff Dortmunder Style Low Pro's that could possibly be as early as late 1935, possibly early 36. I posted this one in here before many years ago. LEON.

#17

Here's the Schlitz Holiday Special. LEON.

#18

Here's a 1936 Pabst Case of 24. Had all original 24 cans in case when I acquired it. Odd thing is it had 3 different variations, The Milwaukee in red circle, Breweries in red circle with cool before serving (tough) & breweries in red circle no cool before serving(common). All 3 variations were very early cans with Patent Pending. LEON.

#19

Here's a 1937+ (probably 39) Pabst 12 pack. only had 9 original cans in it when I acquired it. Think I gave the empty 12 pack to Chris T. ? LEON.

#20

1939 Schlitz Cones.

#21

Packaging offshoots: Short lived San Jose brewery, St. Claire, had 24 can heavy case cardboard type container in the late '30s. It was for 'beer,' which had two design variations. In the mid '50s, Burgermeister (SF) made a four pack cardboard carrier for 16 ounce cans. There were 2 pac heavy card stock carrying holders for quarts from this same time frame. Pabst, if memory is correct.

#22

The six pack cans wasn't used for beer first. Instead, it was invented by Coca-Cola, which debuted it in 1923. According to that company's official history, "The carrier helped encourage people to take bottles of Coca-Cola home and drink Coke more often. Imagine carrying individual bottles of Coke -- in glass bottles, no less -- home. You just wouldn't do it, or you wouldn't buy as many bottles! The carton was a relatively simple idea that really helped change our business. Now these six pack can rings are easily available because of the packaging industries alike Mumm Products INC.

#23

@kerrinmartin
@keithker

Found this ad from 1923-03-22 MIAMI, FL.

(MI-Cans)

When was beer first sold in six packs of cans?

When was beer first sold in six packs of cans?

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