Pfeifferiana F.A.Q.
Updated Oct. 19, 2000
I am into collecting breweriana myself, and
here are a few cool things I have learned. If you have any questions, send me
an email and I will find out the answer
for you!
1. Is Pfeiffer still being produced? Where can I get Pfeiffer stuff?
2. For starters, what is Pfeifferiana?
3. How can I figure out how much something is worth?
4. I've heard a lot about IRTP cans, what are they?
5. Why do some Pfeiffer items say "C. Pfeiffer Brewing Co." and what does
the "C" stand for?
6. How else do I figure out how old a can is?
7. Alright, but how can I really pin-point a can's date?
8. How about bottles? Are the easy to date?
1. Is Pfeiffer still being produced? Where can I get Pfeiffer stuff?
Unfortunately,
Pfeiffer Beer has not been produced since the mid-90's. There are,
however, quite a few items to be found if you look hard enough. The
internet is a good source. There are private collectors and auction
sites that sell Pfeifferiana. Just check the Links
Section of this site for good places to start looking.
2. For starters, what is Pfeifferiana?
Pfeifferiana is anything related to
Pfeiffer advertising or packaging. It is from the word "Breweriana" which applies
more broadly to any beer. You can learn more about Breweriana at their web site. That includes vessels like cans, bottles
and kegs, as well as signs and posters. Even promotional items like all those Jonnie
Pfeiffer statues and Pfeiffer bottle openers are considered Pfeifferiana. Pfeiffer
Brewing Co. did extensive advertising, so Pfeiffer items are widely available.
3. How can I figure out how much something is worth?
As the old saying goes,
something is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. For example, a
1933 design Pfeiffer bottle is worth more to someone who was born in 1933 so he
or she will probably be willing pay more for it. I used to get a basic idea by
visiting eBay's "Closed Auctions" to see how much a similar item has gone for in
the past. This just gives you a basic idea though, because you can't be sure that
the items are identical in quality and you don't know who was bidding on the item.
But, it does help you determine how common an item is. I used to think that
Jonnie Pfeiffer statues were very rare, but eBay has moved about a dozen in the
last month. If you see an item that you think is really cool, and you haven't seen
it before, then don't be afraid to spend a little more. Once your collection is
built up a bit, then you don't need to buy the first IRTP can you see. Instead,
you can wait until you see one that is in better condition. But most importantly,
remember that YOU are the "someone" in that old saying, so only buy an item because
it is worth something to YOU, not someone else.
4. I've heard a lot about IRTP cans, what are they?
IRTP stands for
Internal Revenue Tax Paid. It is a mark that all alcoholic
beverages had to have on them before March 1, 1950. It is useful to
collectors because it is an easy way to date an item. That is why a IRTP yellow
Pfeiffer can will go for more money than one without IRTP written on it.
5. Why do some Pfeiffer items say "C. Pfeiffer Brewing Co." and what does the "C"
stand for?
The "C" stands for Conrad, as in Conrad Pfeiffer, the creator of the Pfeiffer line. The C.
Pfeiffer Brewing Co. was first incorporated in 1902 and was forced to temporarily
close from 1919 to 1933 due to Prohibition. When the company restarted production
after Prohibition, it was renamed the Pfeiffer Brewing Co. Because of this, it
is very easy to determine if an Pfeiffer item is Pre-prohibition - it will have the
"C". Except for embossed bottles, pre-Prohibition Pfeiffer items are very rare
and valuable.
6. How else do I figure out how old a can is?
The best way, is to look
the can up in a reference book. Can collecting is a big hobby. The Beer Can
Collectors of America (BCCA) is the largest club of can
collectors. They have links to many useful books. But here are some guidelines
that can help. First, cans were first produced by the G. Krueger Brewing Company
of New Jersey in early 1935 and it was not until later that year that cans were
produced by a major brewery. So, if someone is trying to sell you a C. Pfeiffer
Brewing Co. can from 1910, either they are mistaken or trying to mislead you.
Another thing to keep in mind is Prohibition which lasted from 1919 to 1933. Anyone
trying to sell breweriana produced during that period is again mistaken or misleading.
Now, the first type of can to be produced in 1935 was the flat-top can. Flat-tops
were produced until 1970, so they are widely available. Flat-tops look almost
like soup cans, with no tab to pull on or pivot. They had to be pierced with a
can opener.
Cone-tops were the next type to can to appear. Cone-top cans were mostly used by
small breweries. This is because cone-top cans have a similar shape and function
as bottles so these smaller breweries could use a lot of their old equipment. As
far as I know, Pfeiffer was never available in cone-tops. But get this: G. Heilman
Brewing Co. of La Cross, WI was the first brewery to produce beer in cone-top cans
and the last brewery to ever produce Pfeiffer Beer! Cone-tops were produced until
the year 1965.
The next type of can to come about was the pull-tab can. This can has an opening
on the top that is revealed when you pull away a metal tab. Similar to modern day
V8 cans. These cans were first available in 1963.
The final type of can is the stay-tab. The is the modern day can that has a tab
that pivots to create a hold at the top of the can. Everything from soda to juice
uses this type of can. The tab stays with the can instead of being tossed like
on the pull-tab cans. Stay tabs were introduced in 1975 and are common to this day.
Yeah, that was a long answer!
7. Alright, but how can I really pin-point a can's date?
Dan Bora, creater of the Rusty
Bunch Webpage, and an experienced can collector sent me this chart that helps.
It refers to the actual canning companies that provided cans to breweries. By
looking for these canning companies logo's, you can really nail down a can's age.
American Can Company
Keglined Patent Pending or Patents Pending: 1935 - 1938
Keglined Pats. 1,625,229 - 2,064,537 others pending: 1938 to mid 1040's
Keglined Pats. 2,064,537 - 2,259,489-2,178,618 (printed vertically): 1947 to mid-1950's
Keglined Pats. 2,064,537 - 2,259,489- 2,178,618 (printed small near seam): Mid-to-late 1950's
Keglined(in small oval):late 1950's to early 1960's
(A) symbol: 1960's and after.
Continental Can Company
CCC in large lettering: Around 1950
CCC in small lettering: Early 1950's and after.
Crown Cork and Seal
Crown Can: Pre World War II
Crown(in crown shaped logo): late 40's to early 50's
Crown: 1970's
National Can Company
Patents Pending National Can: 1935 to early-1940
National(in U.S.A. map logo): 1950's and after
'N'(flying symbol): 1970's.
Pacific Can Company (merged with National Can in 1955)
Keglet: Mid to late 30's
Pacific Can: Late 1930's to 1955
Kan Keg: 1950's
Cans Inc.(merged with National Can in 1953)
Heekin Can
H(in small circle): 1960's
Reynolds Aluminum
8. How about bottles? Are the easy to date?
As mentioned before, any bottles with C. Pfeiffer Brewing Co. written on them
were made between 1902 and 1919. These
bottles have the writing embossed in the glass itself and do not have any labels.
Because they don't have labels, they don't make for very colorful display pieces,
so you should be able to pick one up for under $10. While they are not extremely
rare, these bottles are a great addition to any collection!
In the from 1933 (the end of Prohibition) to the late 1930's, Pfeiffer's Famous Beer
bottles did NOT have Johnny Pfeiffer on the label but instead had a circle with
a Chemist inside. These bottles are a hard find.
Then in early 1940's to mid 1940's, Pfeiffer's Famous Beer bottles
DID have Johnny pictured in the circle. (The chemist was now gone.)
In the late 40's to mid 50's, Johnny was pictured, but now without the circle. These
bottle are similar in design to the yellow Jonnie Pfeiffer cans.
Again, any bottle that dates before March 1, 1950 will say "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" on the label.
Thank you to Gary Bauer of Michigan Breweriana
Online and Leon Hampton for help on this question!