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BEER CANS - Cones, Flats & Pull Tabs
ABOUT BEER CANS

Cans for foods and other purposes were used in the early 1800s.  However, they were unsuitable for beer and other beverages before Prohibition (in 1919), because the cans were unable to withstand the pressure of carbonation. Another issue was that it was thought that the taste of beer would be adversely affected by being placed in steel or tin cans.  However, by the time Prohibition was repealed, improvements had been made in making cans stronger and in developing an interior coating that eliminated most taste concerns.  The first  beer cans were tested in 1933 and introduced in 1935 with favorable results. The advantages of cans compared to bottles were that they: 1) were much lighter and easier to bring home or to an event, 2) did not break, 3) took less space to stack / store, and 4) weighed less to transport. To make the use of cans more practical for brewers, different types of beer cans were developed.  Following is a description of these variations as they evolved from Cone Tops and Flat Tops, then to Pull Tabs (Zip Top & then Ring) and ultimately to Stay Tabs. Cartons and cases for canned beer are also shown in this section. Please visit A History of the Beer Can for more information. 

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CONE TOPS 

When beer cans were first used in the mid 1930s, only the larger brewers could afford separate canning operations for Flat Tops. Another problem with Flat Tops was that it required a new type of (can) opener, which took a while to be accepted by beer drinkers. (See Openers.) To make cans more economically viable for most local and regional brewers and so that they could be used with a traditional bottle opener, a funnel shaped can was developed by 1938  for the cans so that they could have a regular bottle cap.  (See Crowns.) These cans were referred to as "Cone Tops."  It was a relatively easy transition for most brewers to apply bottle caps (crowns) in their bottling departments to these Cone Top cans.  Four versions of the Cone Top were created by different manufacturers: 1) Low Profile (Continental Can), 2) J Spout (Crown Cork & Seal) and 3) High Profile (American Can, Continental Can & Crown Cork & Seal) and a more compact version 4) called a Crowntainer (Crown Cork & Seal).  Some brewers varied their designs and used different varieties of Cone Tops, while others used just one style and the same basic design.  Bavarian was one of the latter, only using  the J Spout style Cone Top beginning in the late 1940s for Bavarian's Old Style Beer. Their design on the can was essentially unchanged when they transitioned to flat top cans in 1955. Generally, Cone Tops stopped being used in the mid to late 1950s; only flat tops were used thereafter. It was then necessary for brewers to have separate bottling and canning operations. 

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BAVARIAN'S CONE TOP 1948 - 1955.

There were two versions Bavarian's Old Style Beer high profile Cone Top cans, which were very similar. The first one was produced from about 1948 until 1950 and included the statement "Int. Revenue Tax Paid" (IRTP) to the right of the trademark symbol. The second version excludes the IRTP statement, which was no longer required beginning in 1950, and was made until 1955 when flat top cans began being used.  It is believed the earlier cans were manufactured by  Crown Cork and Seal and the later ones by Continental Can Co. Evidently, the "cone" part of the can and the rims were first painted with a silver primer and then with gold. Over time, the gold paint often flaked off, but some of the primer paint could remain. This explains why the two Cone Tops shown have different top and rim colors.  The more common cone top without the IRTP is classified by the Brewery's Collectors Club of America (BCCA) , formerly the Beer Can Collectors of America, in their reference book U.S. Beer Cans on page 151, item 3. Collectors identify this as 151-3. The rather scarce cone top with the IRTP is not referenced by BCCA.

FLAT TOPS made in Covington, KY

Bavarian's Old Style Beer 1955 - 1956. Eventually, nearly all brewers were compelled to have a separate canning line for "Flat Tops" - as opposed to cone tops. These first flat top cans were made of rolled steel and needed a new type of opener, referred to as a can piercer or "church key" can opener. Since most people did not have such an opener, they were often included with a six-pack container of cans. (See Openers.)

The first Bavarian's Old Style Beer flat top was not introduced until around 1955.  As shown on the side, the design was essentially the same as for the cone top. In order to improve the flow of beer out of the can, it was helpful to puncture two holes in the can as  shown by the example presented. The hole that was not used for drinking or pouring was often a little smaller. The design on this flat top was only used for a couple of  years, due to a change in the brand label. It's classified by the BCCA as 35-11.

Bavarian's Select Beer 1957 - 1959, by Bavarian Brewing Co.  Bavarian modified the name of their beer to Bavarian's Select Beer (or Bavarian/s) in May, 1957, and introduced a new design, as shown by the can on the side. The printing on the can indicated it was brewed and bottled/canned by Bavarian in Covington, KY.  This new design was similar to their label on bottled beer. For sales in Ohio the can needed to indicate a seal as shown below. It's classified by the BCCA as 35-12.

Bavarian's Select Beer 1959 - c. 1962 by International Breweries Inc. (IBI)  After Bavarian Brewing Co. was sold to International Breweries Inc., the name of this firm was reflected on the side of the can.  This Bavarian/s steel flat top on the right was made in mid-1959. It  was used until about 1963 when IBI switched to an aluminum Zip Top pull can. It's classified by BCCA as 35-13.