To Schmidt Or Not To Schmidt, That is the Question ?

[JustJoe]

Going through my Last couple of totes ( 20 gallon totes,I'm kinda in the stone age yet) trying to figure out what to keep. And I have one whole tote of Schmidt scene cans. Must be 60 of them. 58 of them from set 16. I'm thinking out all those there's got to be the 21 can set. All the while going between saving or ditching them.

So I managed to come up with the complete set, 21 different ones. All fairly nice except for one. So off to the Bay I go looking to replace the one can, punch in Schmidt and and 834 listings, probable 80% the scene cans. Not a big surprise. Got me thinking again why am I saving these common cans ? Than I realized when I first started collecting back in the 70's in Wisconsin, these cans where pretty much the staple of everyone's collection. Quantity was king, how many different cans you had. And Schmidt played a big part in that. So yes i will keep them.

Just wondering how many others saved them too.

[MI-Cans]

I got my 21 cans, but they're from three different series.

(MI-Cans)

[menke]

When I hit my all time quart high of 383, Schmidt's was almost 5% of the collection and in the lead among all brands (18). Ok, different Schmidt's but no less prolific. Nothing to be ashamed of, some brand has to hold the most spots and better some nice crimped steel with good graphics than golf schematics smeared onto aluminum...

[Tom Clark]

Schmidt scenic cans are beautiful! Yes they are common and not worth to much but who cares. Growing up in western Minnesota I was exposed to Schmidt's as a kid. Those cans are what got me started collecting! I have 35 flat top Schmidt scene cans and 150 tab scene cans including the 16 0zs. I have been staying with sets 1-7 but have also a few in sets 11,13,15. I have to control myself so I don't collect them all.

[stringsx24now]

Yep, same here. Got about 5 different sets of Schmidts that I am working on.
Working being the operative word, in that it is usually last on my priority list when at shows. Mostly just after looking for almost anything else and I see one I need and/or it is value priced. But they are fun to do, and when I am skunked and not bringing anything else home, I can often find a Schmidt to get.

[pinnacle-project]

I have been staying with sets 1-7 but have also a few in sets 11,13,15. I have to control myself so I don't collect them all.

How many sets are there? The only Schmidt cans I collect are from Detroit so the scene cans are not part of my focus area. Prior to reading this thread, I would have guessed there were about five sets - two flats, two tabs, and one 16 oz. Obviously, I am way off.

[Tom Clark]

To answer your question how many sets are there? Who knows, I do know in flats there is 4 sets, the first set only has 4 different scenes and the 4th set only has 7 scenes. For tabs, there are over 28 different sets shown in USBC 2 book. I got a couple of scene cans from Mike Roth at Swap-A-Rama 2 years ago and they were from set #39. Granted, sets after 28 are different animals than the previous sets.

[canhawk]

If you buy enough can collections, you will assemble the easiest 21-can Schmidt scenes tabs without even trying. I have segregated my Schmidt scenes and I manage the keepers and goners separately from the rest of my collection. So yes, I choose to Schmidt rather than not to Schmidt because of my lifelong love of the outdoors and sportsmen culture.

[DaddyDewrop]

I have a few different sets. Always on the lookout for more. The draft versions in excellent condition have eluded me so far.

[ConeAddict]

I never thought I would catch the Schmidt scenic can bug after having all those crimped steel cans as a kid but the gold trimmed flats are really cool. I thought other than Mallards they were all pretty easy but finding ongrade all original examples of some is tougher than I would have thought, I couldn't figure out why an off-grade Ice Fisherman was getting so much love on eBAy while minty relidded cans go unsold lol. A couple of questions for Schmidt experts here, I found this list of toughest to find in an earlier post, does this sounds about right?

1. Mallards
2. Ice Fisherman
3. Pike
4. Collie
5. Pronghorn

Also, what's with the oddball yellow trimmed Heileman Moose can in the USBC volume 1?

[Tom Clark]

1. Mallards
2. Ice Fisherman
3. Pike
4. Collie
5. Pronghorn
I'm not a Schmidt expert but your list sounds about right. I need upgrades on all 5 of those flats. I've never seen the yellow trim Heileman Moose (131/16) in person.

[Malt Lager]

I agree with ConeAddict's list and think it is spot on. But, I will add this: try and find a gold trimmed Elk or gold trimmed Colt. These two zips are far harder to track down than any of the flat tops, and they're every bit as nice looking as the flats.
ML

[ConeAddict]

I have been tempted to bid on some zips as they are pretty much the identical cans but I am only 6 cans in on the flats and one thing I have learned since reentering the hobby is keeping your focus narrow is easier on the wallet. But I didn't know those 2 were that tough and since you can't get them in flats I won't pass on them if I ever find them.

[Longhorn Mike]

My focus is on Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana can, but I still have a case box with a set of Heileman crimp steel cans that I've had since I was a kid. As a matter of fact, every now and then I upgrade one as I come across a bottom opened scene that I need.

They are cool cans!

- Mike

[henry porter]

I agree with ConeAddict's list and think it is spot on. But, I will add this: try and find a gold trimmed Elk or gold trimmed Colt. These two zips are far harder to track down than any of the flat tops, and they're every bit as nice looking as the flats.
ML

The Mallards, the Elk, and the Horse & Colt are far and away the toughest of the zips. The white background ones are generally tougher than the blue background ones, but those 3 are impossible.

[BadgerJeff]

I have been working on collecting all the various Schmidt sets as well as all the variations (different canning companies, different lids and seam construction which tell a story on the development of canning technology). I figure when i am done that i will have over 1,000 different Schmidt cans. Certain sets may be common (particularly the crimped steel cans) however it was the art work of the original 17 cans by Les Kouba and then the 4 extra scenes added by Heilman that drew me into collecting in the first place. I would recommend everyone have a full set of Schmidt cans. The USBC set #16 series in crimped steel is the most common however Set #16 also came in straight steel. I would suggest to put together a set of the straight steel set #16 cans if you are looking for something "less common". Either way................... Yes to "SCHMIDT"!!!

[kruegerbock]

I consider myself a fairly advanced tab collector, yet I do not have a complete set of the 21 crimped steel Schmidt cans. I do have a complete, bottom opened, and minty set (of 17) of an earlier straight steel set that I bought from an RB'er on here a few years ago, and I have examples of the four cans that were added later. I do pick up the metallic tabs, zips and flats when indoor examples are available for a reasonable price. Went to Nuzzle and Hurl once when on the board, and enjoyed watching Jim Wolf going through piles of Schmidt variations that a local had on his table. He had told me he wanted to fill in Schmidt sets, and when I found the table with soooooo many Schmidt cans I brought Jim to the table. An iconic set that no collector should be without...

[hemmings]

Hey Tom, Do you consider there to be a full set of the muted or flat gold cans as Flats? The Good Guys had one about 3 auctions back and I have the Indian canoe can- I've never thought mine was a test can? Wonder how many of the flat gold cans there really are? Andy

[YooperAho]

eh! yooperaho here .SCHMIDT ON MY FRIEND.

The bland spaces are the cans I need to complete that set.

[beerhunter14]

Collections those Schmidt variation cans be mind-blogging !!!! However, I do have 21 cans set of crimped steel. All bottom opened, Brewed by G.Heiliman . So I'm happy with that. If I do get more serious about those Schmidt cans. I do try to collect a set of zip cans!!!!!! I agree with Badger Jeff. Yes..... to SCHMIDT " !!!

[Tom Clark]

Here are the few Schmidt flats and tabs I have. To answer Andy's question I don't have or have seen any muted or flat gold flats. All of mine are shiny gold. That doesn't mean they aren't out there though. Does anyone have pics of flat gold flats?

[hemmings]

Hey Tom, here is the one from the Sept. auction that sold for 600. I don't seem to have a picture of my Indian can- my gold seems about the same maybe more like it has glitter in it- Both definitely NOT shiny tho

ugh.. Just don't know how many of these there are at all.. Andy

[Tom Clark]

Hey Andy I guess I learned something new today. More cans to be on the lookout for. Who would have guessed a Schmidt Wildlife can would go for $600.00?

[Barry Travis]

Here is your typical Schmidt metallic shiny can next to the enamel or the full gold version.

[hemmings]

Well we are up to three now.... Mine is also brewed and packed by Pfeiffer dba Jacob Schmidt. Barry does yours have a Schmidt end? Mine does not.

[ConeAddict]

I thought all the enamels were rolled cans but just looking at the USBC isn't the Pfeiffer DBA pheasants can pictured an enamel can?

[Summitcan]

I have been casually collecting bottom opened with vanity lids for a couple years I do not know anything about them I’m not even sure how many are in the set but I’m up to 10 now

[ConeAddict]

Nice! All the vanity lids I have are Pfeiffer DBA's, I think there are 13 in that set.

[Summitcan]

All these are the same except the cowboy ,
They are all keg lined except the bear is continental

[Summitcan]

And thanks I was wondering about the number