Back Into Dumping After 33 Years

[DaveNH]

After a 33 year hiatus I got back into dumping and beer can collecting this past August as a result of finding an old camp dump in North Western Maine. I found the Rusty Bunch website, rejoined the BCCA, joined the RB, read almost every post since 2006 on the general discussion forum, lurked on this forum, purchased all of the key beer can books and have bought cans on ebay. I guess you can say I'm obsessed (at least that's what my wife says). Back to the dump. From the looks of the dump, it hadn't been touched since 1973 and since August I've pulled out about 400 plus cans from the dump with more to be had. Not many rare cans, but for someone that hadn't dumped or collected since 1978 any flat top find is a good one. What has amazed me is the selection of cans that I have found from different states (NY, PA, MA, CT, RI, MD, OH), but if you think about it back in the day when you went to camp for a week you brought everything you needed (including beer) as there wasn't a convenience store down the street. Probably the rarest cans have been Gretz Ale and Beer Crowntainers. The most random can has been a Prima Conetop from Chicago. Anyway, I'm back in the game and am hooked. Oddly, I've found green Krueger Cream Ale's OI's, tons of late 40's and 50's PBR but no earlier PBR's (grey). Here are some pics of my cleaned cans and a dump picture before I started really digging.

[Senator Seebs]

Well Done. I love the Genny's.

[Rustmonger]

You have no idea what you just set in motion. You will be the belle of the ball with those Gretz crowntainers, that right there is an amazing find! First off welcome back to a great hobby, glad to have you aboard! My story predates yours by a few years but is essentially the same, collected as a kid and came back to it with a vengeance later in life. In fact I have an early article of mine in the newsletter with your exact quote of "My wife says I'm obsessed"! Too funny. Looks like you found a killer dump, great variety and preservation with a wide age range. Perfect! Some of the "oddball" out of state stuff isn't really odd for your area, there weren't any big brewers up there so stuff was shipped in from all over the place. The Primas are found in New England with some regularity and the majority of the Krueger Ales that are dumped turn up in your neck of the woods. The Schmidts Ales out of Philly are almost always found in New England rather than PA and most of the local stuff you found is only dug in New England (which is why they're tough). The Hollihans, Boylstons, Hanleys, and particularly that Croft Gamecock are all great finds but your real gems are the Gretz crowntainers. Amazing find brother, welcome back.

[PUFFDADDY]

Dave, outstanding cans. you must be having a blast with that dump. welcome back. hope we can get together before the snow falls and the ground freezes. i will send a pm. steve

[Chris E.]

Rustmonger is right, those Gretz crowntainers are extraordinarily rare, especially the Ales. You can write your own ticket on those. Congtrats and welcome back to the hobby!

Chris E.

[digger]

Wow thats an awesome dump one that any rBuncher would love to find. Those Gretz crowntainers are awersome and stayed in pretty good shape for crowntainers which usually don;t hold well here in Pa anyway. We always talk about finding a huge dump that can keep us busy for at leasta few months with variety ,age and condition and man looks like you found one. Thanx for posting

[Canoe]

DaveNH has been laying in the weeds, storing up for this post! Big splash with post #1.

This looks like a Rustlings story to me.

[Tom Hoefer]

Big splash with post #1.

The biggest debut since The Knack with "My Sharona."

[Rustomatic]

You can date that dump based on the Prima Bulb top aka "bulbie" to about 1939 or 1940. You have hit a good pre-war and later dump which probably means it is huge! Great find.

Later,

Tom Inman

[Rustomatic]

And don't forget to dig in the roots of those trees. They were probably not there when the dump was started.

Later,

Tom Inman

[captain]

really nice---friggin awesome Gretz crowntainers!!!! Really good story too...

[ANGRY GARY]

first off welcome to the RB! glad you decided to join us. and secondly, that is a great find! take your time and dig it methodically. start at one eand and carefully work your way through it. and enjoy it! you don't see dumps like that very often. and look up dave lang in NH. he is a great wealth of knowledge!

AG

[Lovegun]

Welcome again Dave! Well you got peoples attention with the score from that dump! Looks like you'll be busy for awhile!

[LC400]

Dave NH? You in New Hampshire? lets rip ground...

[DaveNH]

My intent was not to have a "big debut" as many have noted. I had to sort the cans first and that took a long time and then I just decide to post the big picture of all the cans. I'm an old newbie that's having a blast and appreciate all of the comments. Here's a few more of the cans I've found in the Maine dump so far...

[Sea Monkey]

Great tohave you aboard and back in the hoby. I am just getting into the dumping side of things myself. There are some great guys that dump near you. I'm not sure where you are but Rusty Bunchers are always close! Hook up wih a few of them and you will have a blast...........
What area (without being specific) of Maine was the dump? I have a family place up in Rangeley (Right by Saddle Back Mountain) that I go to about once a year. I am going to try to hook up with LC400 and maybe PuffDaddy next time I am up there............

[Canoe]

Dave -- just ribbing with the 'big splash' remark. Apparently jealousy brings out the smartass in me. It's such an ugly emotion.

Anyway, keep these inspiring photos coming! You should have another big pyramid after all the trades about to come your way.

[Giant Beer]

Once again I am living vicariously through others. Great cans, great pictures, great story, and welcome back!!!

[CMD]

Awesome cans ! Welcome back ....meet you at Blue Gray???

out

Dan

[mybrotha]

Holy SH*(!!! Awesome find...goes to show...always go back!!! I have a dump on our property in WIsconsin that I thought I cleaned out in the 70s...quit collecting and then started again back in 2005...I have been back to that dump at least 4 times and now that I have cleaned it out perhaps I'll go back again...amazing find my friend and welcome back!!!

[Clarkston1]

Tragic news on the passing of Mr. David Reid.
-My deep condolences to all his friends and family.
I know it is people like David who take their time to actively contribute who help make this site and hobby great and provide
inspiration for others.
I hope nobody minds but I wanted to bump this thread up...what an incredible first post.

-Robert Frost - Reluctance -

Out through the fields and the woods
And over the walls I have wended
I have climbed the hills of view
And looked at the world, and descended
I have come by the highway home
And lo, it is ended

The leaves are all dead on the ground
Save those that the oak is keeping
To ravel them one by one
And let them go scraping and creeping
Out over the crusted snow
When others are sleeping

And the dead leaves lie huddled and still
No longer blown hither and thither
The last lone aster is gone
The flowers of the witch-hazel wither
The heart is still aching to seek
But the feet question "Whither"

Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things
To yield with a grace to reason
And bow and accept the end

[Lovegun]

Thank you so much for finding and reviving this thread. To go back to when Dave first found and posted on the site, and all the great stuff that he had found and shared with our Rusty brethren. A sad day indeed as we find out that Dave is no longer with us. More sobering as I read the thread from beginning to end is seeing a couple of other friends that posted that are no longer with us, Puffy, (Steve Puff) and mybrotha (Mike Tsolinas). God be with Dave and our other friends that have passed on.