Ongoing List of Only-One-Known Cans

#61

The Blitz can't be unique because there are two of them in that pic, even if they are legit. Are those really different somehow?

I'd love to see a recap list of this thread, but the real issue is how to decide what to include. Variations are one issue, but test cans are the other. The Bud Crown, for instance, has some mistique but didn't fetch $100k as it might have if it were surely a beer-holding can. There are loads (hundreds) of seemingly test cans that are seemingly unique. But I think we'd agree those shouldn't be on the list. In fact, they don't even fetch much on ebay (usually).

Maybe we need 3 lists: unique cans, unique cans that are thought to be test cans, and unique cans due to variations.

#62

re: Blitz, Because they are mock-ups of the flats, one is irtp and one isn't. Josh.

#63

cansnatcher wrote:Maybe we need 3 lists: unique cans, unique cans that are thought to be test cans, and unique cans due to variations.

I like snatcher's idea about lists. It make sense.

On the Blitz Weinhard, http://www.bostonbeercans.com also has one pictured.

#64

Thats the same can pictured a few posts back on the right. Josh.

#65

The list of minute variations as unique cans would be a thousand long, and would bore to tears and have the most errors in it because so few collectors look that closely. Knowing what's a label mock-up/prototype and what's a real production can is an impossible distinction- who has ever seen letters or heard directly from a brewery or can company employee that peg a real-looking can as a prototype? No one has. And many cans that were really produced (ie, found with other legit cans, dug in dumps, etc.) have left no other mark on the world such as newspaper or can company advertising or even matching bottles.

The Gansett tab that just sold for $5k I'm sure was a mock-up provided to the brewer by their art and design agency, there's a whole lineup of them in the BCU probably all from the same label redesign meeting. the tab book I'm sure will have scores of these from all over. The breweries I've worked for would call up their artist and ask for samples, a dozen or whatever, of new designs. These would come on labels just like the regular production stuff, and the brewer would pick one or request one design in a different color, tweak the artwork, and so on. So, yes they may well be unique but what are they, really? An artist's concept can. The value? Like Cansnatcher always says, it's in the eye of the collector. I think it's a neat novelty item and worth about $20. I could go hire my own artist and have them made all day long, in any color and design he could think of. (Just ask dirtcheapproducts.) It's so easy to make them, I can't imagine why they're worth anything to a collector beyond the artist's time and materials. To me, the value is in the design that the brewer chooses to represent his beer- that he made for a short time before changing or going under, and the thrill is in the chase of finding an example of that can for myself.

I'm still looking for more nominations for this list, and anyone who's traveled enough to have seen these cans here and there to second a nomination or point out a second example. There's gotta be more!

#66

If my Burger were still unique (wahhh!) would it be on this list? My point is that we're not really sure whether is was a test can or not. We have a printed ad for it, but that doesn't prove it was filled.

Do we give more latitude to 30-50's cans that are unique because even test cans are hard to find from then? 60's and beyond are rather common in test cans for some reason, so their value drops considerably (ex-Narr can on ebay).

#67

Snatcher...I've seen your Burger, it sure appears it was filled. That tapper design thing looks like it didn't work, and they cut the bottom open to get to the beer. At least that's what I think.

#68

Since the value of test cans drop considerably by virtue of the fact they are 60's cans, please contact me when you plan to sell. I seem to have noticed that 60's "test" cans pictured in the BCU, (soon to be augmented in the new tab book) generally have free market value greater than the $20 or artist's time and materials on these cans.

BTW - the winner, and serious bidders on the 'Gansett test tab could hardly be called newbies.

FRJ

#69

tinman wrote:Dan, We dumped one on the TX/OK border a few years back. It was a mystery cone. John Williams has it now. We know now they were canned and sold.

All you shiny can collectors avert your eyes. I know rust doesn't impress you.

Later,

Tom Inman

THANKS TO JOHN W!!!

You got the ham Johnny!

I will never forget that trip with John W & Tom I.

They be good people!

Out,
John B

#70

Hof Brau Draft Gallon, Does it Qualify? Anybody ever see the Falstaff gallon? LEON.

#71

I was told by both a gallon guy and a CA guy that the Hof-Brau was a mockup/prototype. Unless I hear otherwise, I'll have to take them at their word.

#72

Ive Seen this In my traveils I Remember the name of it, but i no im still new to it , i cant tell you what it looks like as i seen alot of cans, and im kinda in limbo and mixed up still but i defanatly seen a can with the name :

Stein's Canadian Ale .

also many budwiesers in cone shape and i think i seen blitz but not certain.

And that would be on the island.

#73

Is the Wild Mustang gallon can a one of a kind? I was told that 1 and 1/2 exist.. The guy told me the half sheet was found and rolled some how.

Keith

#74

Pat Taylor in Orlando has one of the Wild Mustangs - I went with him when he picked it up from Rogalski's. His had the top cut out but otherwise is very clean. My buddy Joe and I were using it as a trash can on the way back to Orlando that day! Pat says there are 2. Perhaps Turkey has the other - I understood he had all the US Gallons.

#75

Do these have to be production beer cans or are test cans allowed? If test are allowed, then I have a 6 sided Lone Star with the red writing. This can also has an thin aluminum lid

#76

I think this thread wasn't including test cans or mock-ups. I think the list would be hundreds of cans long if we went there.

#77

I don't recall the silver Red Fox Ale being mentioned. Matt Newman has one in Boston, but does anyone know of another one in any type of condition? Curiouswood.................

#78

Hey Woody,

Canman Dan and I found about a 6-pack of these in Espanola, NM in the mid eighties. We believed it to be a new find at the time. I have heard a collector in El Paso has an indoor one but have never seen it. They traded great when we found them even in the rough condition they were. Most went back east but I can't remember where. I know Jerry Glenn got one of the very rough ones and completely repainted it and that one sold on ebay a couple years back. Here is a picture of the best of the find. It was folded in half, but was the only can with color. The rest were faded out to yellow

Jim

#79

Wow, that is SUPER cool! I've never seen that can before and had never even heard a rumor that it existed. I looked in the book and there's a similar Beer but that one looks gold. Any idea if there's a gold Ale or, on the flip side, a silver Beer? That's a killer find guys, never heard about that one. Are they WF or anything? Just seems odd they'd be found in NM of all places. Thanks for the pic.

#80

Having just got my news report yesterday it looks like there is another one to add to the list. It's not just a minor variation either but a pre-war can from a brewery previouisly unknown to have canned beer!! Quite the find. I'm not going to steal the finder's thunder, you'll have to wait for the news report. If you are not a BCCA member you'll probably remain in the dark for awhile longer.

Scott

#81

Hey Jim have you seen this one...primer gray Red Fox ale

Found by Rick Chavez in El Paso , then went to "Costante" at the Phoenix canvention who traded it to the cone guy in Boston

out

Dan

#82

Hey Jim! I actually just saw that can at Matt Newman's a couple of weeks ago in Boston. I never knew of the other 6 from the 80's. Wood..........

#83

Matt, add the lo profile Natty Bo Bock cone.
Jim

#84

Well, it looks like we can knock the Imperial from Baltimore off the list. And the FBIR Country Club has been revealed as a fake, so it's gone too. The supposed Trent Ale J-spout turns out to be "just" a Trenton Beer.

We're missing the Bredit's Ale HP cone. The Old German Brand shown below was referred to above and was previously posted elsewhere on the site.

#85

Marc,

The Imperial from Baltimore that Matt & I got is the same can that's photo'd for the books. Unless you know of another - it's still 1 of a kind. There were other cans that came from that collection that were also in the books, such as the F&S Bock and the India can.

Steve

#86

Steve - I guess I got some bad info on the Imperial. Nice score.

Marc

#87

Hi Guys!

I guess I've seen just one Fitger's "black-lettered" beer, USBC 64-7, but I suppose it could be a misprint of some sort. I've also seen an unlisted NMT 5% Fitgers Rex cone, and a couple of red Fitger's natural flat bottoms, that were "strong" - also unlisted, but that's probably just lame variation stuff....

#88

Iam thinkin the FBIR GB STRONG is unique. Will post pictures in time. Great thread. That Old german kills me. If I turned that over in the woods..i would need CPR!!!

#89

It may or may not be unique. But its a version difference, not a primary brand difference. Its my understanding that it wouldn't be added to a list like this, or we'll have dozens of cans to add.

#90

Blue Boar Ale by Regal Amber in San Francisco - Withdrawn Free version!

(Picture plagiarized from ebay listing - apologies to author)

Regal Amber Beer in WF, now the Blue Boar Ale...makes you wonder if/when a Regal Amber Ale, Withdrawn Free will turn up???

Ongoing List of Only-One-Known Cans

60's test cans

test cans?

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