Saturday’s ad is still another one for Budweiser, this one from 1958. It’s another ad from their “Where there’s life” series, this one is called “Mama Mia.” A man eating spaghetti in what appears to be a cliched Italian restaurant, wearing what has to be one of the goofiest expressions to ever grace a beer ad, is looking up as a beer can suspended in the air is pouring itself into his glass. I guess he’s just really happy to have another beer.
Today in 2013, US Patent 20130081661 A1 was issued, an invention of Stephen L. Hambly, assigned to Global Stainless Systems, Inc., for his “Keg Washers.” Here’s the Abstract:
Keg washers and locking mechanisms for keg washers are disclosed. The keg washers may include a base assembly, a cleaning head, a head mechanism, and a locking mechanism configured to secure the keg to the base assembly. The locking mechanism may include a holder mechanism and a neck holder fixedly mounted to the holder mechanism. The neck holder may include a first opening and a second opening. The holder mechanism may be configured, when the cleaning head is moved from a retracted position toward an extended position, to move the neck holder from a first position in which a first neck portion of a keg is received in the first opening but a second neck portion is not received in the second opening, to a second position in which the first neck portion is received in the first opening and the second neck portion is received in the second opening.
Today in 1972, US Patent 3653557 A was issued, an invention of Kay R. Lamb, for his or her “Keg Sealing and Tapping Apparatus.” Here’s the Abstract:
An apparatus for sealing and tapping containers for pressurized liquids such as beer kegs and the like including a resilient valve plug mounted in the tap hole of a keg and tap head removably mounted on the keg having an inner liquid delivery tube and an outer fluid supply tube extending downwardly through the valve plug into the keg to allow pressurized fluid to be supplied to the keg through the fluid supply tube and liquid to be withdrawn from the keg through the liquid delivery tube. The plug has integral valve means arranged to seal against the outer fluid supply tube when the head is mounted on the container, and which is adapted to close and seal the container when the head is removed.
Friday’s ad is yet another one for Budweiser, this one from 1957. It’s another ad from their “Where there’s life” series, this one is called “Next Time.” A couple out at a bar, standing close together, while a waitress pours the man a can of Budweiser, which is (warning: broken record coming) already exactly full even though there’s still beer pouring out of the can. If if that’s all of the liquid left in the can, it’s still going to spill over. Also, isn’t the waitress a little close to the couple? Either this is a very crowded bar and she has no choice, but the real question is where is the woman’s beer. Does she not get one, too, or are they planning on sharing the one?
Today in 1945, US Patent 2372854 A was issued, an invention of Gustave T. Reich, for his “Yeast.” There’s no Abstract, but the descriptions states that the “invention relates to yeast and its production and it is particularly directed to a method of improving the quality of yeast obtained in the alcoholic fermentation of saccharine materials, particularly sugar rellnery materials such as black-strap molasses. It also claims to improve yeast production in twelve different ways, and then lists each way, if you’re curious.
Today in 1990, US Patent 4913680 A was issued, an invention of Donald A. Desmarais, for his “Low-Trellis Mobile Hop Picker.” Here’s the Abstract:
A mobile hop picking machine is provided with independently elevatable wheels. The picker straddles a trellis to position opposing picking cats on either side of the vines. Front and rear banks of picking hooks move upwardly to pick the hops. A bank of resilient raking tines comb the vines upwardly between the picking banks. The picking cats are pivoted about their front edges and are supported for transverse movement on their rear edges. Cylinders urge the rear of the cats toward the vines. A contact member connected to the cat moves the cat transversely, to avoid cat contact with poles, against a biased mounting provided for the hydraulic cylinder. Longitudinal conveyors transport the hops rearwardly and upwardly. A squeeze conveyor floats on a top support over the elevating end of the longitudinal conveyors. An alternate arrangement intersperses the raking tines and picking hooks.
Today in 1866, US Patent 53692 A was issued, an invention of Emile Sirret, for his “Improvement in Beer-Faucets” There’s no Abstract, but he describes his invention as “A device for foaming beer and other liquids artificially previous to their being drawn, so as to be able to cause the foaming of the liquid to any degree desired within a common faucet, and that immediately after, when the pin of the faucet is turned so as to open, the liquid will flow from it in a creamy and gaseous state sufficient to fill two or three glasses without renewing the operation.” More specifically:
The nature of my invention consists in having a hollow room or chamber inside a common faucet, between the cross-pin and the end which taps into the barrel. The hole in the faucet running through this chamber will constantly keep it filled with liquid, so that when it is required the foaming operation can be performed, which is done by placing down in the chamber a kind of syringe with a ring of line holes around the lowest end of the tube, this end being fastened to the bottom of the chamber by means of a screw. Ihe upper end of the tube with the piston-rod extending outside is tightly fastened on the top of the chamber, so as to prevent any escape of liquid. The head of the piston-rod extending out of the tube, and running parallel with the head of the cross-pin, enables the same hand to handle both of them with facility. The up-and-down movement of the piston will naturally force in and out of the tube through the small holes all the liquid contained in the chamber, and convert it into a foaming substance.
Thursday’s ad is still another one for Budweiser, this one from 1958. It’s another ad from their “Where there’s life” series, this one is called “There’s More.” A couple lying on the beach, with the woman eating a sandwich while the man is pouring a can of beer into her glass, which is already full. She’s trying to keep it from overflowing by sipping on it, but with the smile on his face, it looks like he may be doing it on purpose.
Here’s a slightly larger version of the ad, but without the text.
Today in 1901, US Patent 671321 A was issued, an invention of John W. Kinsey, for his “Faucet or Tapping-Bung For Tapping Beer, Etc.” There’s no Abstract, but the description claims that he’s “invented certain new and useful Improvements in Faucets or Tapping- Bungs for Tapping Beer, Ale, Porter, and other Aerated Liquors.” More particularly:
The object of the invention is to produce a faucet or tapping-bung for tapping such kegs containing said aerated liquids in a more convenient and easy manner; also, to produce a hung having an adjustable closing-valve so arranged as to be easy of access and readily operated, thereby dispensing with the use of the cork now required in closing the. end of the faucet or tapping-bung, and which must, after making the tap, be forced down into the keg with the hollow rod through which the beer, ale, &c., is drawn; also, to accomplish this in an easy and expeditious manner-at a small expense, and, finally, to produce the faucet or tapping-bung so that it is not liable to get out of order or that it can be readily repaired if any part shall be broken.
Today in 1935, US Patent 1996550 A was issued, an invention of John M. Hothersall and Dewitt F. Sampson, assigned to American Can Co., for their “Container Opener.” There’s no Abstract, but the description states that the “invention relates in general to container opening devices and more particularly to a punch opener for producing a substantial pouring opening in containers having projecting end scams or joints.” Essentially it’s a church key that includes a bottle opener, as well. Here’s how this church key is special:
The principal object of the invention is to provide a container opener which at one stroke or turning movement produces a substantial pouring opening in a wall of a container through which the contents, be they fluid or granular, may be readily dispensed.
Another important object of the invention is to provide a container opening punch or cutter adapted to work on the lever principle and which employs a projecting end joint of a container, for example, the end seam, as a fulcrum or pivot point about which the cutter may be rocked into opening position in a single arcuate movement.
Another important object of the invention is the provision of such a rocker punch whose operating parts are all adapted to be formed out of a single piece of steel or other suitable material in a few simple die operations, and which, because of its simplicity of construction, can be produced inexpensively and automatically with a view to supplying the public with an efficient opening tool at small cost.
Still another important object of the invention is the provision of such a punch opener which is adapted to produce a substantial and complete pouring opening quickly at one arcuate movement of the opener. While such rapidly and completely created opening is desirable in connection with containers filled with most products, dry or wet, from the standpoint of the time element, it lends itself exceptionally well to and solves a real problem in the opening of containers filled with effervescent liquids such as beer, where a quick and adequate opening will prevent ebullition and spilling of the contents.
