Today in 1910, US Patent 969224 A was issued, an invention of Ferdinand Turek, for his beer “Filter.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes these claims:
This invention relates to filters and has for its object to provide an improved filter construction.
Monday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1939. In this ad, it looks like a scene from the beginning of a traditional English fox hunt, shot from fox level. And naturally you’d need a beer before following your highly-trained dogs around on horseback as they do the actual work of hunting the fox. I didn’t know that fox hunting was even a thing in the U.S., but apparently it’s still legal here even today (unlike in England, which banned it in 2005). But I love this in the text. “Wherever there’s action — wherever people are doing things — you’ll find Miller High Life.” So anywhere anyone is moving? So pretty much anywhere outside cemeteries and maybe mortuaries?
Today in 1893, US Patent 504610 A was issued, an invention of Andrew W. Oppmann, for his “Barrel Registering Machine.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes these claims:
This invention relates to machines for registering barrels, half barrels, and kegs, the nature and objects of which will fully appear from the subjoined description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a perspective view of my new registering machine as seen arranged over an elevator, for receiving the barrels from below. Fig. 2 is a like perspective view of the same as seen for receiving the barrels through an opening in a well from a room on the same floor. Fig. 3 is a view of an office or room located above or in another part of the building having electric bells connected with the machine for the purpose of announcing the delivery and registration of barrels or kegs by the said machine.
Sunday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1966. In this ad, four manly men are playing cards in a den. There are snacks on the table, and plenty of Miller High Life. But three of them at least know enough to drink it out of a glass mug, while the fourth is leaning by the fireplace, can in hand. That must be while he’s out of the game.
Today in 1866, US Patent 57746 A was issued, an invention of Robert W. McClelland, for his “Improved Refrigerator For Liquids.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes these claims:
What I claim as my invention, and seek to secure by Letters Patent, is a refrigerator for cooling ale, beer, and other liquids, arranged so that the casks may be supported upon slides E, resting upon the ways D in the upper part of the chest A, and the liquids be conducted by a flexible pipe, G, into a receiver, I, inclosed in the cooling-tube H, and then drawn for use through a faucet, M, passing through the small doors 0, said several parts being constructed and arranged substantially as set forth.
Saturday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1952. The All American Favorites they’re referring to in the ad are “those palate-pleasing touchdown twins” — beer and cheese. It’s nice, and slightly surprising, to see cheese and beer being referred to as “All American Favorites” so early in the 1950s.
Today in 1985, US Patent 4538746 A was issued, an invention of James H. Hines, for his “Keg-Tapping Assembly.” Here’s the Abstract:
The invention contemplates improved safety interlock mechanism incorporated in a keg-tapping assembly which is removably attachable to a standard beer keg or the like, via a bayonet-type engagement between lugs on the keg and a slotted flange on the keg-tapping assembly. The keg-tapping assembly is of the variety in which a handle is depressed to gain beverage-dispensing access to the keg and in which the handle is raised to close the keg and to shut off supply of gas pressure to the keg. A guide formed in the keg-tapping assembly locates a vertically displaceable locking leg, having articulated connection to the handle, such that in a downward actuation of the handle, the guided locking leg will be in a position to deny lug displacement into or through one of the slots of the slotted flange, before handle displacement can either begin to open the keg or to admit gas pressure thereto. The result is that unless the handle is sufficiently raised to allow safe removal of the keg-tapping assembly from a keg, the keg-tapping assembly cannot be removed.
Friday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1952. What’s the “Recipe for Pleasure?” “Take golden, buttery popcorn — salty peanuts — crunchy pretzels … crisp potato chips or cheese-topped crackers … and top them off with refreshing delicious Miller High Life.” I guess Miller decided to ditch making high life a high-end beer.
Today in 1969, US Patent 3464435 A was issued, an invention of Kay R. Lamb and Charles R. Mandeville, for their “Quick Keg Tap with Self-Sealing Connection.” Here’s the Abstract:
A keg-tapping assembly consisting of a collar installed in an opening of a keg. A bushing assembly carrying a sleeve is fastened on the collar with the sleeve extending through the collar with clearance for gas to pass into the keg. A normally closed pressure-responsive gas admission valve of the type used in pneumatic tires is provided on the bushing assembly. The bushing assembly also includes a normally collapsed live rubber axial conduit. A removable draft tube assembly can be mounted on the bushing assembly, the draft tube assembly including a rigid draft tube which is forced through the live rubber conduit and is contained coaxially in the sleeve, the draft tube extending into the keg to a considerable depth so that beverage can be forced out through the draft tube responsive to the admission of gas under pressure through the gas-admission valve. When the draft tube assembly is withdrawn, the live rubber conduit collapses, sealing otf the assembly so that foreign material cannot enter the keg.
Today in 1980, US Patent 4220048 A was issued, an invention of John A. Grepiotis and Joseph A. Grepiotis, for their “Cooler and Level Indicator For Beer Kegs.” Here’s the Abstract:
A cooler and level indicator for beer kegs comprising an insulated container for holding iced water in contact with a keg of beer, an insulated cover for sealing the container and an externally readable level gauge for indicating the iced water level, said level being proportional to the amount of beer remaining in the keg after the keg becomes buoyant.
