Budweiser started using cans in 1935, when Iron City Brewing Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was the first to commercially produce beer in cans. At the time, canning technology was still in its early stages, and the first cans were cylindrical and required a separate opener.
Iron City Beer was the first brew in the United States to be canned and the trend quickly caught on.
In 1936, the American Can Company produced a flip-top can for Budweiser and by 1938, the flat-top can was developed, eliminating the need for an opener. The company was the first to use steel instead of tin for the cans, making them much more durable.
Throughout the 1940s, brewer Adolphus Busch worked with the American Can Company to develop a stay-on-tab for their cans, making them even easier to open. This not only led to increased beer consumption but greatly boosted Budweiser’s popularity.
Today, cans are highly popular and are still widely used by Budweiser and other brewers. According to the National Beer Wholesalers Association, the can share has grown from 19.3% in 1992 to 43.7% in 2010.
Are flat top cans still made?
Yes, flat top cans are still being made. In general, flat top cans are used for products that need to be delivered to consumers in a package that is easy to use and store. Flat top cans are popularly used in industries such as food and beverage, dairy, pet food, cosmetics, and paint and coatings.
The flat top can is ideal because it can be easily opened and stored after use. It has a secure seal and the can lid is strong and tamper-resistant. As well, the flat top can is also waterproof, so it can transport liquids without spilling.
Additionally, flat top cans are recyclable, making them more environmentally friendly than other types of packaging. So it is easy to source them for businesses, organizations, and individuals.
When did beer cans change from steel to aluminum?
The first aluminum cans for beer were introduced in the late 1960s by the American Can Company. Before that, beer was sold in steel cans from the early 1930s. The aluminum cans were initially viewed as experimental and it took some time for the marketplace to accept them.
By 1972, the aluminum can had become the dominant container for beer. The use of aluminum for beer cans instead of steel represented a big shift in the beer industry; the lighter aluminum cans could be produced more quickly and cost-effectively, while supporting infinite display options including printing directly onto their surfaces.
The aluminum cans also provided better insulation properties so that the beer would stay colder longer. All of these advantages made aluminum cans the de facto choice for beer packaging.
What year did soda cans change their tabs?
The modern tab configuration of soda cans that is widely known today first became popular in 1972 with the introduction of the ‘Stay Tab’ by the assets of Ermal Fraze. This tab became the first widely marketed can tab that had two holes, one either side of the tab, to enable the consumer to open the can by pulling the tab out.
This revolutionary innovation replaced the earlier flat top design, which was opened by means of a manual can opener. Since 1972, some minor modifications have been made to the design of soda can tabs, but the basic two-hole design has continued to remain in place.
How do you date old beer cans?
Dating old beer cans can be a bit tricky since there is often no exact date stamped on the can. However, there are some helpful guidelines you can follow to help make the process easier. Firstly, most cans will have what is known as a conical top.
This means that the top of the can will slope downwards towards the center, as opposed to straight up and down as is the case with modern cans. This conical top indicates that the can is pre-1970s and likely very old.
Another key indicator of old beer cans is the opening mechanism. Most cans prior to the mid-1950s had openings which did not require a can opener. These openings either used a pointed end or a “church key” (bottle opener with a blade along the top edge) to pierce the top of the can.
These original openings cannot be used today.
Additionally, the design of the beer label also can help with dating old cans. As the graphic design and printing quality of beer labels evolved, you can use these changes to estimate a general age range for a particular can.
All vintage beer can labels will feature initials or the word ‘reg. ’ at the beginning of the brand name. This indicates that the brewery had registered for a patent, and is a helpful guide for finding the approximate age of the can.
By taking into account all of these clues, it is often possible to get a general idea of the age of old beer cans. It may take some time and research, but with a bit of patience you will be able to gain more knowledge about the history of the beer can and what it means to you.
When did ring pulls change on drinks cans?
The innovation of ring pulls on drinks cans is credited to Ermal Cleon Fraze, an American entrepreneur from Ohio who invented the device in 1959. Initially, the ring pulls were made from an aluminum alloy and designed to replace the can opener.
The aluminum was easily malleable and allowed for a simple opening, allowing people to pop the top off with the ease of a pull tab. Early pull tab cans required consumers to break off the pull tab and discard it, creating a littering issue.
In 1975, the design was modified to include a patented “Stay-On-Tab” which allowed the tab to stay attached to the can. The pull tab was still made from aluminum, but now incorporated a steel cutting edge to make opening and closing the can easier.
This modification allowed consumers to keep the tab attached to the can, and avoid littering.
Since then, the design of ring pulls on drinks cans have changed gradually over time. Improvements have focused mainly on making the cans lighter, and in some cases, the pull tabs are now made from plastic or polymer is used for durability.
In response to environmental concerns, many cans now feature a “FreeSeal” which lets the consumer know the can is sealed and closing the tab forms a tight seal.
Overall, the ring pulls on drinks cans have improved significantly since the late 1950s, making it easier and more efficient to open and reseal cans.
When did aluminum cans replace tin?
The use of aluminum cans to store and distribute carbonated soda began to replace the use of tin cans in the 1970s. The US Beer Institute began working on the idea of aluminum cans back in 1965, and in 1969 the first all-aluminum beer cans were sold.
The shift to aluminum cans was made for a few main reasons. Aluminum cans were lighter and less expensive to transport, could more easily be shaped to incorporate branding, and were easier to open. They also had the advantage of being more impermeable to oxygen, which helped to create a longer shelf life for the contents.
Several environmental benefits were also associated with aluminum cans, such as using less energy to manufacture, no risk of rust, and easy recycling. The progression from tin cans to aluminum cans demonstrated the progress of food production technologies and was an essential part of the development of the modern-day soda and beer industries.
When did Miller Lite change cans?
Miller Lite cans were changed in 2002 when they underwent a major rebranding. The cans were given a more modern and contemporary design, replacing the red and black colors with blue and silver. Along with this, the word “Lite” was changed from bold and angular font to a more cursive font.
The redesign was meant to make the cans look more modern and trendy, as well as give them a fresh new look. The design change was well-received by the general public, and to this day Miller Lite cans have kept the same design.
Who invented the flip top can?
The flip top can was invented by Ermal Fraze in 1959. He was a carpenter and tool and die maker in Kettering, Ohio. His original invention was a ‘pull-ring’ style can, which had two rings on either side that the user would pull in order to open the can.
While they were popular, they were known to be dangerous and caused a number of injuries due to the sharp edges of the rings.
In response, Fraze decided to come up with a different design. He wanted to create something similar to a pull-ring can but without the risk of injury. After months of experimentation, he finally created a flip top can that could be opened with just one finger.
The new design featured a heavy-duty steel tab with a hinged lid that could be lifted with a single finger.
Fraze was granted his first patent for the flip top can in 1962. Since then the can has been used around the world for various beverages, primarily beer, and has become the most popular beverage container in the world.
Why did they change the shape of beer cans?
Beer cans have traditionally been made in the shape of a cylinder with straight sides. This shape was chosen for a variety of reasons, including ease of manufacturing and stacking. Additionally, the cylindrical shape made cans recognizable and familiar to consumers.
Over time, the shape of the can gradually evolved to become more of a cone shape, with a wider bottom and narrower top. This shape helped to increase the stability of the can while also allowing it to stand up on its own when placed on a flat surface – a big benefit for bar owners when it comes to keeping their beer organized.
The cone shape also allowed for more creative designs to be printed on the cans, creating a more eye-catching product for the consumer.
At the same time, manufacturers were able to reduce the amount of aluminum used in each can, resulting in reduced production costs.
Overall, the evolution of the beer can from a cylinder to a cone shape allowed for improved stability, greater design potential, and cost savings, making it a beneficial change.
What did beer cans look like in the 50s?
Beer cans in the 1950s varied greatly in terms of both shape and style, but their design was generally characterized by a more basic yet slightly more ornate look than the cans of today. During this era, beer cans primarily had a cylindrical shape for most of their height, with a cone-shaped top and bottom.
These cans were typically made of steel and about seven ounces in size, with the pull tab for drinking being at the top.
In terms of visuals and messaging, the cans of this era were brightly colored with intricate illustrations, often featuring a brewery’s logo or a patriotic-themed message to commemorate the post-WWII era.
Additionally, during this time it was much more common to see cans with an open top, which required a church key to open.
By the end of the 1950s, some cans began to feature a “Stay Tab” or “Tab Top”, featuring a stay-on tab with a tiny opening so drinkers could drink without having to open the entire top. This design eventually replaced the traditional pull-top cans in the years that followed.
Why do some cans not have ring pulls?
In some cases, ring pulls may not be an ideal feature for cans, as the sharp edges can potentially be a hazard depending on the purpose of the cans. Additionally, ring pulls may make the cans easier to open and thus may promote unintended use of the product, particularly if the can is intended to be refilled or used over multiple uses.
Additionally, there may be extra cost associated with resetting the cans for additional production runs with the ring pull feature.
In some cases, cans might also be designed with tightly designed lids that require a can opener instead of a ring pull. This can be beneficial for making a product more secure and tamper-resistant, as well as for capping certain material that would need to be sealed using a lid with an indented, interlocking design.
The cost of producing cans with the associated additional features may be prohibitive for some manufacturers and so they opt for lids without the ring pull feature.
In any case, the lack of a ring pull on cans generally comes down to cost management as well as product security or safety considerations.
Are aluminum can tabs worth more than the cans?
That largely depends on the current market for aluminum can tabs and cans. In general, aluminum can tabs are made from a lighter-gauge aluminum than aluminum cans and therefore may be worth a little less.
However, aluminum can tabs may be worth more than aluminum cans due to their unique shape, which makes them easier to collect and sell. Some merchants or recycling centers may also accept aluminum can tabs in lieu of cans, allowing them to realize more value from their recycling.
And depending on the market, aluminum can tabs can fetch up to five times the amount of money than aluminum cans if sold to the right recycler. Ultimately, it depends on the current market and the individual recycler, so it can be beneficial to shop around in order to get the best price.
What does it mean when you take the tab off a can?
Taking the tab off a can means that you are opening the can. The top of the can is sealed in place by a metal tab that is connected to the lid of the can. To open the can, the metal tab needs to be removed from the lid of the can – this is referred to as ‘taking the tab off’.
This action breaks the metal seal and allows the contents of the can to be accessed.
When did can pop come out?
Can pop, the popular carbonated beverage, was invented in the late 1800s. The first prototype of what we now know as can pop was invented by a man named William Painter in Baltimore, Maryland. He patented the reusable crown cork bottle cap in 1892 and sold it to various bottlers in the United States and abroad.
Eventually, inventor and shop owner Edward G. Arthur of Hamburg, New York, patented what he called a “beverage-can opener” in 1894. The device was used to top and pop open the new beverage cans to be sold.
The beverage cans created by Painter and Arthur were the first commercially available cans in the world, which revolutionized food and beverage storage. The cans allowed beverages to be stored, shipped, and sold without spoiling and without having to find a dispenser.
Can pop was similar to other carbonated beverages like soda pop and beer, but it was the first to be distributed in aluminum cans beginning in the late 1960s. The beverage then gained widespread popularity in the 1970s, and it continues to be one of the most popular sodas in the world today.
