Today in 1889, US Patent 401406 A was issued, an invention of James Amasa Bigelow, for his “Construction Of Beer Engines.” There’s no Abstract, but the description states the following. “My invention relates to apparatus for drawing beer or other liquids from a receptacle in a cellar or adjacent store-room and delivering the same to other receptacles upon a bar counter; and its objects are to provide a simple and efficient apparatus of this character in which the beer or liquids may be cooled or warmed, as desired, and in which also several kinds of beer may be mixed before delivery, and which apparatus may be readily put in order by an unskilled person should any oi` its parts become disarranged during its operation.”
Beer In Ads #1526: What’ll You Have For Bridge Night
Wednesday’s ad is for Pabst, from 1951. Apparently playing bridge with another couple used to be huge, but it didn’t reach my generation. My parents occasionally had people over to play Pinochle, but never bridge as far as I know. So I don’t even know if that’s a good hand.
Patent No. 3438553A: Tapping Device For Beer Kegs And The Like
Today in 1969, US Patent 3438553 A was issued, an invention of Mack S. Johnston, for his “Tapping Device for Beer Kegs and the Like.” There’s no Abstract, but the description states the following. “This invention relates to a new and improved tapping device for drawing liquids such as beer from containers such as beer kegs or barrels, using a gas to drive the fluid from the container. In particular, the invention relates to a new improved tapping device usable with conventional beer kegs such as the so-called peerless and golden gate systems, and comprises a sub-unit called a keg adapter which constantly seals the keg, and another sub-unit called a coupler which it attached to the beer dispensing apparatus in a restaurant or tavern and is readily connected to the keg adapter so that the tapping device is automatically in operating condition.”
Patent No. 2830611A: Container Tapping Device
Today in 1958, US Patent 2830611 A was issued, an invention of Harry Stelma, assigned to the Champion Safe Tap Co., for his “Container Tapping Device.” There’s no Abstract, but the description states it’s an “invention [that] relates, as indicated, to container tapping devices and, more particularly, to an improved device of this nature adapted to be used safely and efficiently to tap containers in which fluid is maintained under pressure,” which continues in greater detail:
My improved tap is intended principally for use in withdrawing beer from the usual kegs in which the beverage is transported and stored and will, accordingly, be considered and described in detail in connection with such an application thereof. As is well-known, considerable care must be exercised in the common practice of tapping a beer keg by using the draft tube to force the bung into the keg, since the resultant release of pressure may tear the tube from the users hands and cause body injury. The tapping device of my invention includes means preventative of such blowing of the draft tube.
Beer In Ads #1525: Beer Keeps One Well
Tuesday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1904. The ad is all text, apart from a small logo in the corner. It’s just a notice that drinking beer will keep you healthy, expressed in the headline as “Beer Keeps One Well.” But wait, there’s more. “It is a noticeable fact that those who brew beer, and who drink what they want of it, are usually healthy men.” But I love tis statement. “The malt and the hops are nerve foods.” Nerve foods?
Patent No. 1800632A: Method Of Preparing Hop Extract And Products Containing Hop Extract
Today in 1931, US Patent 1800632 A was issued, an invention of Emil C. Horst, for his “Method Of Preparing Hop Extract And Products Containing Hop Extract.” There’s no Abstract, but the description says simply it’s an “invention [that] relates to a method of preparing hop extract and the product obtained, the object being to obtain a hop extract containing all the desired constituents of hops of value for the manufacture of non-prohibited cereal beverages and other non-prohibited products.” And here’s how he summarizes it:
The method briefly stated consists first in extracting the volatile matter or oil from the fresh or dried hops. Secondly to extract the bitter constituents consisting of soft resins, the tannins, the coloring matter and the foam producing constituents, and third to combine the volatile oil of the hops and the extract to obtain a product containing all the constituents of hops required for the brewing of cereal beverages.
Beer In Ads #1524: Tangy, English-Tavern Flavor
Monday’s ad is for Kent Ale, from 1935. It was made by the G. Krueger Brewing Co., who was the first to debut beer in cans earlier in the same year. Tis was the third of their beers they put in a can, after the first test in their Virginia market was so successful. What’s really interesting is the described the beer as an “India Pale Type Stock Ale,” which apparently has “tangy, English-tavern flavor.” I would have liked to have tasted that one.
Patent No. 2076893A: Beer Dispenser
Today in 1937, US Patent 2076893 A was issued, an invention of Aron E Johnson, for his “Beer Dispenser.” There’s no Abstract, but the description says simply it’s an “invention relat[ing] to improvements in beer dispensers and aims primarily to provide a beer dispenser especially designed and constructed to avoid the defects previously existent in devices of this type.” Here’s the full story:
The beer dispensers heretofore in use have been defective in that no cushioning means was provided between their outer casings and their fragile beer containers, which in consequence resulted in 1o frequent breakage of the latter. Further, no provision was made heretofore for insulating the covers of such dispensers, hence the contents of the latter became warm and flat in a comparatively short time. Furthermore, no provision was made heretofore for sealing the covers and faucets of these beer dispensers, which fact resulted in the tampering with the contents of the same during the transportation thereof from the producing plants to the consumers.
The present invention, therefore, has for its purpose to obviate the above described defects. This has been primarily attained by providing cushioning means between the lower end of the outer casing and the fragile beer container, thus minimizing breakage of the latter, also by providing the present dispenser with an insulated cover which `protects the beer from becoming warm and at, and also by providing sealing means for the cover and faucet of the instant dispenser which effectively and positively prevents tampering with its contents during transportation, all of which features are to be correlated in the broad aim of enhancing the efficiency of the device for the uses and purposes for which it is primarily designed and intended.
Patent No. 580536A: Process Of And Apparatus For Finishing Beer
Today in 1897, US Patent 580536 A was issued, an invention of Jacob F. Tiieurer and Paul Fischer, assigned to The Pabst Brewing Company, for their “Process of and Apparatus for Finishing Beer.” There’s no Abstract, but the description says simply it’s an “invention which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forms a part of this specification. The main object of our invention is to finish beer and other beverages in such a way as to give them the desired freshness, vivacity, and keeping qualities, and in the attainment of that object to economize space and time and to produce a superior article.”
Beer In Ads #1523: In A World Of Strife, There’s Peace In Beer
Sunday’s ad is by the United Brewers Industrial Foundation, from 1941. This was early in the industry’s ads promoting beer, and would have been after the start of World War 2, but before Pearl Harbor and America’s entrance into the war. I imagine it would have been a time of uncertainty and anxiety, so it’s interesting that they picked up on that, and suggested something we all now, that when you’re feeling stressed, a beer can help you relax, slow down and feel a little better. So while it would never occurred to me to say so, there really is peace in beer. How cool is that?
