CONETOP.COM

Premier list of 23 different brands of Flat Bottom Inverted Rib (*FBIR) cone top beer cans made from September 1935 to March 1936, the FBIR period. There were 23 major brand labels. The extra variations are as follows. 1) The Beverwyck Ale can had a white marquee when it first came out and was  superceded by a can with a silver marquee. 2) The FBIR Blatz cans had 2 frontal alcohol % variations. 3) The Burger Beer had the unique "Permit can" preceding the production can. 4) The Glueks had 2 frontal alcohol % variations. 5) The Heileman's had 3 alcohol % variations 6) The Schlitz Lager had 3 alcohol % variations.  7) The Schlitz Lager had the early (Test?) black/silver variation 8) The Schlitz Sunshine had 2 % alcohol variations. Next came the Concave Bottom Raised Rib (*CBRR) type cans to continue 22 of the 23 premierbrands. 

Sometimes called conetop beer can, conetops, spout top, antique or collectible beer can.

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Copyright Jeff Steeno  1999-2006  All rights reserved.

The Premier "Class of 1935" by Continental Can Company

These are the first cone tops, the earliest cone tops.

Breweries in the FBIR period  of august 1935 to March !936 . The CBRR cans followed.

Berghoff Brewing Co. Ft Wayne, IN (Start Nov 35) 

Berghoff  Dortmunder Type

During this period a medium sized regional Brewery likely distributed regionally in several states.  When these two earliest "Dortmunder" cans were made Berghoff 's can distribution was relatively small. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively early in the period.  , The Dortmunder FBIR and CBRR cans are seldom seen and are very tough to find. This is in distinct contrast to most later Berghoff  "Established" cone top cans which are common in both the CBRR(LP)  cone and the HP cones.

Beverwyck Brewing Co. Albany, NY (Start Dec 35)

Beverwyck Ale (white marquee) Beverwyck Beer (white marquee)Beverwyck Ale (silver marquee) 

Large regional Brewery distributed in several eastern states. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively late in the period. The FBIR cans are tough to find due to the short period they were produced.  The more popular Ale FBIR actually came in two varieties (both silver  and white marquee) further reducing the number of cans around. The scarcity of all three cans is about the same and these early FBIR cans are very scarce.  This is in contrast to the matching later CBRR Beverwyck Beers and Ales which are common.

Burger Brewing Co. Cincinnati, OH (Start Sept 35)

Burger Beer  

The Burger Beer1 was the major label and this was a .large regional Brewery distributed in several states. Both the CBRR and FBIR turn up from time to time but are still rare and desirable and are about equal in value. They were produced starting early in this period. 

Red Lion 

The Red lion had a limited distribution and low sales. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively early  in the period.  There are only a few of the FBIR Red Lions around and a high demand driving the value way up. I have never seen a Nice CBRR Red Lion and it is very rare.

 

Blatz Brewing Co. Milwaukee, WI (Start Oct 35)

Blatz Ale Blatz Beer 

Blatz was one of the largest breweries at the time & Blatz Beer came in front variations related to alcohol %.  Blatz enters the market with two cans, the Select Lager Beer and the Old English Ale.  Sold nationally in several major metro areas and extensively regionally. Blatz Beer in FBIR is  a tough can but is the third easiest of all the FBIRs. Blatz CBRR is common. Blatz Ale in the CBRR is about as tough as the Beer FBIR Blatz can. The Blatz Ale in FBIR is very rare.

PH Schneider (brewing co.) Trinidad, Co (Start Oct 35)

Century Lager Beer

Medium regional Brewery distributed regionally in several states. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively late in the period.  Although both are tough cans, the FBIR is the more common of this pair thus the CBRR can is seldom seen and in pristine condition is considered very rare. 

Duquesne Brewing Co. Stowe Twp., PA (Start Nov 35)

Duquesne Keg-O-Beer 

Large regional Brewery likely distributed in several eastern states. These early cans state "Keg" in the phrase "Keg-O-Beer" and are have short production periods. The later woodgrain cans stating "Can" in "Can-O-Beer" are common. The Duquesne Keg-O-Beer  FBIR can is very tough but still the third easiest if the FBIR cans.  The CBIR is the easier of the pair still considered mildly tough.

El Rey Brewing San Francisco, CA (Mar 36)

El Rey Beer

Medium sized regional Brewery distributed regionally in a few western states. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively early in the period.  The FBRR can is seldom seen and in pristine condition is very rare.  The CBRR Elrey is tough to find nice.

Fitgers Brewing Duluth, MN (Oct 35)

Fitgers

Small to medium sized regional Brewery distributed regionally in a few adjacent  states. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively early in the period.  Both he FBIR and CBRR cans are seldom seen and in pristine condition are considered very rare. 

Fritz Brewing Co. Freeport, IL (Nov 35)

Fritz Brew Beer

Small to medium sized regional Brewery distributed regionally in a few adjacent states. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively early in the period.  Both the FBIR and CBRR cans are seldom seen and in pristine condition are considered very rare. 

Glueks Brewing Co. Minneapolis, MN (Mar 36)

Gluek

Large regional Brewery distributed in several states. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively late in the period.  The Glueks Beer was the major label.  Both the CBRR and FBIR turn up from time to time but are still rare and desirable and are about equal in value. By contrast a lot of the Glueks was sold in the crowntainers which are common.

Goetz Brewing Co. St Joseph, MO (Feb 36)

Goetz Beer

Large regional Brewery distributed in several states. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively late in the period.  The Goetz Beer was the major label. The FBIR is rare but does not command a premium value because of low demand. The CBRR(LP)  turns up from time to time but is still tough and desirable.  By contrast, the later matching HPis very common

Minneapolis Brewing Minneapolis, MN (Mar 36)

Grain Belt Beer

Large regional Brewery distributed in several states. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively late in the period. The FBIR came out so late, that few were made before the progression to the CBRR. A popular can then and now, the CBRR is very tough to find in nice shape.

Heilemans Brewing Co. La Crosse, WI (Aug 35)Heilemans

Large Wisconsin Brewery distributed in nationally in many states. They entered the market with their FBIR cones very early in the period.  The Old Style Beer was the only label.  Both the CBRR and FBIR turn up periodically but are still early and desirable. The FBIR is slightly harder to find than the CBRR. This is the second easiest FBIR to find

Mankato Brewing Co. Mankato, MN (Start Oct 35)

1) Kato Gold Label Beer (gold) and Kato Gold Label Beer (red)  2) Kato Lager Beer  3) Kato Super Beer Brew     

Medium sized regional Brewery distributed regionally in several states. They entered the market with their  Gold Label and Lager FBIR cones mid-period.  

1) The gold Gold label is the easiest to find and had the most sales .  FBIR harder than the CBRR

The FBIR translucent red Gold Label is earliest and very rare and never found in CBRR version and therefore thought  not to exist.

2) Next toughest is the Lager Beer silver can FBIR and CBRR about the same.

3) Then on the very rare side is the dark cherry red and gold Super Brew Beer  CBRR can until recently unknown in A1+ condition. Never seen in FBIR but thought to exist as a variation per BCCA Standard Reference.

National Brewing Baltimore, MD (Start Jan 36)

National Ale

Medium sized regional Brewery distributed regionally in several regional states. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively late in the period. Because of the short production period. the FBIR  cans are seldom seen and in pristine condition are considered very rare.  The CBRR cans are rare and in high demand pushing their value up.  I suspect they made FBIR National Beer (red USA map) cans as well but none have ever been found.

Rainier Brewing Co San Francisco, CA (Mar 36)

Rainier Beer

Medium sized regional Brewery distributed regionally in several regional states. They entered the market with their FBIR cones relatively late in the period. Because of the short production period. the FBIR  cans are seldom seen and in pristine condition are considered very rare.  The CBRR cans are around but were delicate cans sensitive to aging spots and get premium dollar in clean condition.

 

Schlitz Brewing Co Milwaukee, WI (Aug 35) Schlitz Lager Beer   (black) 

1) Schlitz Lager Beer  and 2)  Milwaukee Club  and 3) Schlitz Sunshine  Vitamin D Beer

One of the largest Breweries and had a national distribution. Schlitz was responsible for 4 FBIR cans ranging from the rarest to the most common. 

1) Schlitz Lager. The rarest, the black and silver Schlitz Lager was very early and I have only seen one, no dumpers. Perhaps it was a test market can?  The same black can is pictured in all the old (and new) books and to my knowledge is unique. The brown Schlitz Lager can came very early (Aug 35) and was produced the whole 7 month span and distributed nationally. This makes it the most common of  all the FBIR cans. Starting in March 1936 the brown Schlitz lager can was also produced for a  very very short time in CBRR and thus the brown Lager CBRR is very rare. 

2) Late in the FBIR period (in early 1936) Schlitz started making the FBIR Milwaukee club. The FBIR  Milwaukee Club "black and yellow Bumble Bee" can is very rare and seldom seen. The CBRR  is easier to find but still rare.

3) Also very late in the FBIR period, (in early 1936) Schlitz started making the FBIR Sunshine Schlitz Beer. It is seldom seen as a FBIR can but the Schlitz Sunshine Beer as a CBRR is common. 

 

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*FBIR is Flat Bottom Inverted Rib and CBRR is Concave Bottom Raised Rib

All cones referenced to the United States Beer Cans The Standard Reference of  Flat Tops And Cone Tops available through the BCCA as a member

 1 Info on this in March/April 1985 BCCA News Report. (black "B" on camel: "Permit  O-U-697" under circle on front)

2 Probably made only in FBIR

Jeff Steeno BCCA # 28141

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