Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. 2698994A: Beer Can Opener

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Today in 1955, US Patent 2698994 A was issued, an invention of Walter M. Hansen, for his “Beer Can Opener.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to a can opening device and more particularly to a high speed opener of the performating type.

The conventional practice of storing liquids for customer consumption in cans has presented a problem for operators of restaurants and taverns who necessarily handle a large volume of canned liquids in this form such as beer and fruit juices. The usual practice is to punch a hole in the tops of the cans through which the content is poured into the customers glass. Prior to this time such a can punching operation has not only proved dangerous and laborious but also time consuming in that seldom was the punch conveniently located and its use required two hands, one hand to hold the can while the other hand was used to do the punching. Injuries are likely to occur in case of slippage of the can from the hand of the opener.

It is therefore among the objects and purposes of this invention to provide a high speed can opener requiring only a straight thrust by one hand of the operator used to grasp the can wherein a pivoted cutting blade is brought into cutting engagement with the top of the can.

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Patent No. 172085A: Improvement In Devices For Drawing Beer

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Today in 1876, US Patent 172085 A was issued, an invention of Thomas J. Byrne, for his “Improvement in Devices for Drawing Beer.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to improvements in that class of devices employed for forcing air into barrels, kegs,vand other similar vessels in order to produce sufficient pressure within the same to cause liquid contained therein to flow readily therefrom when the spigot or tap is open, the nature of which will be hereinafter fully explained by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a horizontal section of an ice-box, with a barrel or keg contained therein, with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the air pump. Fig. 3 shows a vertical section of the plug, and parts connected therewith. shows a detached view of parts.

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Beer In Ads #1786: Roman Goddess Riding A Goat

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Sunday’s ad is for Bock Beer, again probably from around 1890s or thereabouts. In this one, a woman dressed as a Roman goddess is riding a goat through a field of barley and hops. She’s holding on to the handlebars with just one hand so she doesn’t spill the beer held in her other. So far so good, though I’d give her better odds if she wasn’t riding sidesaddle. But I guess at the time that wouldn’t be considered ladylike, or even goddesslike.

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Fehr’s Beer Bear

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My most recent “Beer in Ads” post was for a Bock by the Frank Fehr Brewing Co. of Louisville, Kentucky, which was in business from 1890 to 1964, and even earlier as the Otto Brewery. In researching the brewery, I found some amazing promotional photos for the Frank Fehr Brewing Co. at the University of Louisville Digital Collection. If a brewery tried this today, the prohibitionist groups would go seriously apoplectic. Fehr’s actually used a teddy bear, which they referred to as a “Beer Bear” or Fehr’s Bear” in their marketing.

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This M.R. Kopmeyer Co. photo of Fehr’s bottle of beer is from July of 1959.

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And here’s another one of a Teddy beer with Fehr’s beer bottles from August of 1959.

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“Frank Fehr Brewing Co. Int photos of Jack Schnatter and Fehrs beer at Kroger store at Shelbyville Road Plaza,” taken August 28, 1959.

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And here’s a close-up of Jack Schnatter and the teddy bear at the same visit to Krogers.

I can just imagine the hue and cry today if any beer brand tried using a teddy bear as a part of their marketing. You know they’d be accused of “targeting” children, a frequent charge leveled by modern prohibitionists and yet in what I imagine was a conservative southern town in the late fifties people seemed to take it all in stride. What does that say about the people running prohibitionist organizations in the 21st century that they can’t tell the difference between targeting and having fun, between knowing what appeals to all people and not just children.

I confess Fehr’s was not a beer brand I was familiar with. I suspect it was only available, even in its heyday, in and around the Louisville area. So there it’s probably well known. They certainly had some great slogans, the one I see the most is pretty awesome. It’s always Fehr weather.”

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I guess we know from that how Frank Fehr’s name was pronounced. They used it it a variety of marketing materials, from coasters …

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to crowns …

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to trays.

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Another play on the name was “Be ‘Fehr’ to Yourself” — Drink — Fehr’s Kentucky Beer.”

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It’s certainly popular enough in the Louisville area that some people are trying to bring back the brand, and have a website and Facebook page up, though there was more movement and even some local news coverage two years ago.

Patent No. 2143565A: Beer Stabilizer Coil Control

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Today in 1939, US Patent 2143565 A was issued, an invention of Raymond G. Minea, for his “Beer Stabilizer Coil Control.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to an improvement in regulator valves, particularly adapted for use in dispensing beer, ale, or the like; and to a dispensing apparatus for controlling the flow of the beer or other liquid through the valve.

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Beer In Ads #1785: Try Our Bock Beer

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Saturday’s ad is for Frank Fehr Brewing Co.’s Bock Beer, probably from the 1890s. The brewery was located in Louisville, Kentucky, but started out as the Otto Brewery. Its name changed to Frank Fehr in 1890, and remained that name until it closed in 1964. It’s a twofer, with not one, but two, goats standing over a barrel of their bock, with “Try Our” on the head and “Bock Beer” just below.

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Patent No. 2186835A: Foam Removing Utensil And Strainer

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Today in 1940, US Patent 2186835 A was issued, an invention of John J. Mccauley, for his “Foam Removing Utensil and Strainer.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention is an improved foam removing utensil and strainer and is intended especially for use as a bartenders implement as will hereinafter be more fully set out.

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Patent No. 122592A: Improvement In Apparatus For Cooling Beer

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Today in 1872, US Patent 122592 A was issued, an invention of Morton Andre Foubert, for his “Improvement in Apparatus for Cooling Beer.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The cooling-vessel a is made of a vertical cylinder containing double heads and numerous vertical pipes of small size and placed close together, the pipes opening at their ends through the inner heads, so that the cooling water supplied from the tank I) will run, by the pipe 0, through these tubes and pass up by the elevated pipe (I to the vat e, where the warmed water can be reserved for use in other operations. The beer is supplied by the pipe f and runs from the vat 9 into the upper part of the cooler a, passing gradually downward and running away, by the pipe h, to the refrigerator 7c. The pipes c fare provided with cocks that should have divisions or degrees marked upon them so that they can be opened the proper amount in order that the cooling-water may be supplied in the proper proportion to effect the cooling of the beer that runs through the ap paratus to the required temperature, and I remark that all portions of this apparatus that come in contact with the beer should be tinned to prevent any injury to the same from the copper or other metal made use of for the vessels and pipes. Within the refrigerator it there is a vertical group of pipes, 1, opening at their upper and lower ends into the chambers m, the lower one being connected with the pipe h and the upper one with delivery-pipe n, that leads to any suitable receptacle. The refrigerator is may contain water or ice, as required, and a pipe and cook at 8 may be provided to draw off the beer, if it is not desired to pass all of it through the apparatus, or for emptying the vessel a and pipes l. The pipe and cook at t can be used for admitting steam or hot water for cleansing the vessels a lo, and the pipe and cook a serves as a blow-off for the vessel a.

I claim as my invention The cooler a, constructed as specified. and combined with the vertical group of pipes Z in the refrigerator k, the parts being constructed and connected, as and for the purposes set forth.

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Beer In Ads #1784: Bock Beer Couple

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Friday’s ad is for Bock Beer, another one form probably the late 1800s, but nothing more specific about who it’s for or exactly where and when. Featuring a festive couple, it almost seems like she’s asking for his beer, while he’s holding it just out of reach, smiling, as she continues to try to talk him out of it. There must be something going on, because look at the goat’s startled eyes, and notice he’s looking away? There’s definitely more than meets the eye in this scene.

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Beer In Ads #1783: Feldschlösschen Bock

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Thursday’s ad is for Feldschlösschen Bock, from around 1910. It was produced by A. Trüb & Cie, a Swiss printer though I’m not certain if the brewery is likewise from Switzerland. There is a Feldschlösschen in Dresden, Germany which apparently been brewing there since 1858. I only remember Radebgerger being (near) there when I visited Dresden a little over ten years ago. Another source claims it’s for the “Feldschlösschen Bock brewery in Aarau, Switzerland,” but it seems unlikely there would have been two breweries so close to one another with the same name. It’s more stylized the older bock ads, but is still pretty cool.

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