Keeping Tabs

Recently I went to my first beer can show in 30 years. It was sponsored by the Coal Cracker, Greater Delaware Valley, Keystone & Horlacher chapters of B.C.C.A. (Brewery Collectibles Club of America). The show was held indoors at the Farmer’s Market off Rt. 61 in Leesport, PA.

Times have definitely changed within BCCA. I believe the last show I attended was back in 1977 or 1978, at the Princeton Day School in Princeton, N.J. It was sponsored by the Garden State Chapter of the BCCA, of which I was a member. Back then BCCA was called the Beer Can Collectors of America. Thus all of the items on display were beer cans, with only an occasional beer tray, bottle, coaster, opener, etc. to be found. In Leesport I found an abundance of trays, signs, bottles, coasters, and other miscellaneous breweriana items, which represented about 60% of the show. Another noticeable difference were the price tags on the items, especially the beer cans. It was shades of the defunct World Wide Beer Can Collectors Club which allowed members to buy and sell as well as trade. The Beer Can Collectors of America club had encouraged their membership to trade “only.”

The show was scheduled from 8:00am to 2:00pm. I arrived shortly after 8:00am and found nearly everyone to be set up and ready for business. There were quite a few vendors set up, but not nearly what it was back in the heyday of beer can collecting. I immediately headed for the section were most of the can vendors were set up. Many of the cans I had never seen before, due to my 30 year hiatus from collecting. But there they were, Miss Olde Frothingslosh, the Tennent’s girls, a Miss Rheingold contest can, Schaefer wood grain can, Ballantine, Trommer’s P.O.N., I could go on and on. Talk about bringing back memories!

Also different this time was the fact that I was only looking for Yuengling cans. I will admit I was tempted to pick up a couple of memories, but I fought off the urge. I was able to find two aluminum cans that I needed, or should I say could afford.  There were also two red Yuengling cone tops for sale, one 12oz with the word “Yuengling” in block letters, $250, and one quart with the word “Yuengling” in script, $450. I’ll have to start saving up.

I met some great people, and we had fun exchanging stories and information. I was kinda talked into collecting all the Yuengling cans with the little year change on the side panel. Originally I wasn’t going to collect minor changes. These cans all look exactly the same except for three digits in the phrase, “over xxx years of traditional, quality family brewing.” This now means I now have many more Premium Beer, Light Beer, Lager, Light Lager, Black & Tan, and Chesterfield Ale cans to locate. Although, rumor has it that this is the last year for the number of years brewing, to appear on the cans.

I’m looking forward to the next beer can show I can attend. I guess I had better start saving now.  

First Beer Can Show - Leesport, PA.