Grapefruit Italia

Some of my favorite places to look for cans are flea markets and antique stores.  Two days ago, I was with a couple of people checking out a row of antique stores.  Only one store had cans.  And as usual, they were beer cans (which I don't collect.)

As I dug through the boxes I noticed an 11.15 oz can of Sanpellegrino grapefruit juice.  Must be foreign, I thought.  And sure enough, the can stated it was a "Product of Italy,"  which was a European country I didn't have a can from yet.  So I walked up front and asked the clerk how much the cans were.  He said $3 each.  I said I found a can of grapefruit juice and offered $1.50.  He accepted the offer.

He proceeded to tell me the cans had been collected by his neighbor, a university professor, on his travels.  When the neighbor moved, the cans were left behind and this clerk ended up with them.  I thought $1.50 was worth a can from Italy that even had a little story behind it. 

After antique shopping, we drove a couple of miles to a nearby farmers market.  While perusing the fresh fruits and vegetables, I noticed a display case that had cans!  And what did I see for $1.90?  A can of Sanpellegrino grapefruit juice exactly like the one I just bought!!! 

Not only did I save $.40, but I also had a new story for my blog about a can whose own story is now questionable in my mind. I consider that a success.

Si vince, si perde un po.

Returning to the Blog

Ah...
Sometimes a break is needed.  But when you're on vacation from your job, do you find yourself thinking about what you could be doing if you were back at work?  So it has been with my break from this blog.

Over the last few months I've continued collecting cans.  Maybe I could stop the blog, but I couldn't stop the collecting.  And as time passed, I kept recognizing more and more stories I could have been sharing or new cans that I could have shown.

I've had a couple of conversations recently that encouraged me to start blogging again.  So I have decided to get it going.  I'll begin slow and eventually get back to the frequency of posts I had earlier this year. 

So what is this about a can of grapefruit juice from Italy?  Stay tuned for that story and more...

On Hiatus

Well, folks, the first phase of this blog (consisting of 225 posts) had a pretty good run.  So it is with regret that I have to walk away for a little while.  Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn.  The small turns are easy to handle, but it's the big ones that you don't see coming that cause the problems!

I still have my can collection and will continue to add to it.  But things have changed and I'm not able to dedicate the time I once had to maintain this blog.  It was fun.  I'm definitely going to miss it.  And I appreciate all the comments and emails I got from readers.  For some time now I've wanted to start a weekly feature to show some of the cool emails/questions I've had in the last 2.5 years regarding cans.  But I couldn't find the time to get it started.  And although I have enough Faygo pics to do a couple more months of Faygo Fridays, that will also have to wait.  I just hope that when I do return to blogging, my current readers will return and I'll be able to attract even more.

Can collecting is obviously alive and well as a hobby.  And it's something I plan on doing for a LONG time.  I've loved sharing my stories and helping others with their collections.  But for now I've got to disappear for a while...

Faygo Friday #13

During Faygo's 70th anniversary in 1977, they had a series of cans featuring photos of various people who, I'm assuming, liked to drink Faygo.

This week's can shows a boy who's excited about sneaking a drink from his sister's redpop when she's not looking.  On the back of the can is a brief message from the president of Faygo describing the quality of the beverage.

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...

Faygo Friday #12

During Faygo's 70th anniversary in 1977, they had a series of cans featuring photos of various people who, I'm assuming, liked to drink Faygo.

This week's can shows a girl who's happy just thinking about drinking orange soda.  On the back of the can is a brief message from the president of Faygo describing the quality of the beverage.

 

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...

Faygo Friday #11

During Faygo's 70th anniversary in 1977, they had a series of cans featuring photos of various people who, I'm assuming, liked to drink Faygo.

This week's can shows a boy drinking Big Draft Root Beer.  On the back of the can is a brief history of Faygo.

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...

Some Advice

For those who collect cans and heavily rely on friends and family to donate their cans to you, stick around for some advice near the end of this post.  But first, a little story...

On July 5th, my family went to a local fireworks display.  There were cars and trucks parked all over the fields watching the fireworks explode high in the sky across the nearby lake.  We happened to park next to the truck of a family of one of my daughter's friends from school.  So our kids spent the evening in their friends' truck bed.

At one point my kids mentioned I had a can collection.  So her friend dug around in the back of the truck bed and brought a dirty, dented Pepsi can over to me and said I could have it for my collection.  I didn't want to tell him his can was nothing but trash, so I took it and said thanks.  Soon he brought me another damaged can he found.  I already had that one too, but I happily took it from him.  This happened a couple more times before the fireworks finally started.  Here's my take from the fireworks night:

And who knows?  Next time we're around them he may have a can I really do need.  So the lesson I learned a couple of years ago is this:  if someone brings you a can you already have, act excited and appreciative and say you'll check to see if it's one you need.  People like to feel like they are helping out.  Plus, they'll be more willing to keep watching for cans for you.  If you immediately tell them you've got it, they'll be discouraged and possibly give up their search for cans for you.

Class dismissed.

Faygo Friday #10

1977

1980

In 1980, Faygo released a series of cans that were reprints of can designs originally released in 1977 during their 70th anniversary. 

This week features the two versions of frosh. 

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...

Photo of the 1980 version of the can used by permission of CanMuseum.com

Box of Foreign Cans

I got a box in the mail today from the Netherlands.  What could possibly be in a box from the Netherlands?  CANS.

This is a variety pack of cans from several different countries, including France, Belgium, Netherlands, Trinidad and a few more I'm still trying to figure out.

 

By the way, if you are looking for information about American cans or are interested in checking out designs of foreign (non-American) cans, check out the can database at www.canmuseum.com.  And if you are a collector who takes pictures of your cans, you can upload pics of cans they don't have yet and be a part of the community there. 

Why the big advertisement for that website?  It's a website I appreciate and constantly use to look up dates and variations of cans in my collection.  So I feel a little credit is due.

Thanks, Richard!

Faygo Friday #9

1977

1980

In 1980, Faygo released a series of cans that were reprints of can designs originally released in 1977 during their 70th anniversary. 

This week features the two versions of Red Pop.

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...

Road Trip

I went on a short road trip Saturday and documented a few soda-related items.  So here they are...

Our first stop was Fort Massac in Metropolis, IL.  Originally built by the French in 1757, the fort has been abandoned, burned down, rebuilt, taken apart, rebuilt, restored, etc. many times over.  Well, I unearthed what I believe to be a colonial-era Dr Pepper can.  It was beyond repair, so I left the artifact in its place at the fort.

Our next stop was also in Metropolis... the Superman Museum!  On the side of the building I found two Pepsi machines bearing the Superman logo on their fronts.  I forgot to look for a Superman can inside the gift shop, but if they had one there I know it would have cost more than I was willing to spend.

After leaving Metropolis, we crossed the Ohio River into Paducah, KY,
to check out the riverfront and some antique stores.  The only can I found was this San Miguel non-alcoholic malt beverage from Metro Manila, Philippines.  I'm not sure why the back of the can is written in some Middle Eastern language. 

Overall, it was a long day without much can interaction.  But that's ok.  At least I was able to squeeze a blog post out of it   [smiley]

Faygo Friday #8

1977

1980

In 1980, Faygo released a series of cans that were reprints of can designs originally released in 1977 during their 70th anniversary. 

This week features the two versions of Western style root beer.

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...

A Church Visitor

I took a guest to church this weekend.  Someone who needed to go.  Someone whose name back in the 60's probably didn't mean much, but in today's world it would raise all kinds of alarms at the grocery store.  Meet Devil Shake...

Devil Shake was a chocolate drink by the Devil Shake Corporation in the 1960's.  It was later bought out by Pepsi.  In addition to this can with white letters and black outlines, there are cans that have black letters with white outlines.  There were two sizes of the straight steel can available, a 9.5 oz can and a 10 oz can.  The top opened with a juice tab.

My straight steel friend enjoyed its visit.  It commented on how friendly the congregation had been towards it and said it was going to make some changes in its life.

The next time I saw it, I could clearly see the changes.  I think it's in a happier place now.

Faygo Friday #7

This week's Faygo flavor is Old California lemon & lime.

California became a state in 1850.  And since this is an "old" California flavor showing a Spanish mission, I'm guessing this depiction of Senior Lemon and Senorita Lime performing their Flamenco Beverago took place sometime during the 1870's. After all, weren't bell bottoms popular in the '70's?

The can is from 1977 when Faygo was celebrating its 70th anniversary.

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...

Button Down Can

The recurring theme among the several American Can Company cans in my collection is innovation.  The company had a long history and involved several large brands we know today (see the end of this post for more info.)

Today's focus is their Button Down can.  This can is from 1971 and serves as an introduction to its new 2-button opening mechanism.  I don't know if they were the first to try this method, but they definitely tried to push this as an alternative to the "ring tab throw away."

I've personally never opened a can like this, but it does seem like it would have been convenient.

You can read about the American Can Company at their wiki page.  I also found this 1956 documentary called "Miracle of the Can" by the American Can Company.  Pop a cold one, sit back and enjoy.

Faygo Friday #6

This week's Faygo flavor is frosh.

Let's take a break from all the summer heat and discuss what I think is going on with this frosty can design.  Every online dictionary I checked defined "frosh" as a freshman.  So I think these are two freshman taking a skiing vacation during Christmas break from college.  And since this is a citrus flavored soda, of course they're going to have citrus fruit on top of their sock hats!  haha

The can is from 1977 when Faygo was celebrating its 70th anniversary.

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...

The Smallest Soft Drinks

 

Thanks Ken!!!

Faygo Friday #5

This week's Faygo flavor is Red Pop.

With today being the first day of summer, what better way to honor it than with a soda can portraying an olde tyme picnic?  And did you notice the basket of strawberries?  While there are a few brands of soda that have a "red pop," Faygo's version focuses on strawberry flavor.  Strawberry was one of Faygo's three original flavors when they started in 1907.  It was in the 1960's when they changed the name from Strawberry to Red Pop. 

The can is from 1977 when Faygo was celebrating its 70th anniversary.

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...

Like A Mule!

In last week's Faygo Friday post, I mentioned you don't see horses on soda cans very often.  And then I found this can.  It's not a horse, but it's close...

This was a citrus soda called Kick created by the Royal Crown Company to compete with Mountain Dew, Sun Drop and Mello Yello.  It was not successful and was discontinued in 2002.

So this Kick can walks into a bar.  The bartender says, "Hey, jack ass, what'll you have?"  A nearby Red Bull can says to this one, "Are you going to let him talk to you like that?"  This can says, "Oh, it's all right. Hee haw hee haw hee halways calls me that."

Now that's one sassy soft drink!

Faygo Friday #4

 

This week's Faygo flavor is Western style root beer.

My wife just got back from a vacation in Texas, so that's what inspired me to do this week's flavor.  There really isn't much to say about this one except you don't often see a horse on a soda can.  The thought crossed my mind that this could be the son of the Faygo Kid, an animated fictional character from the 1950's Faygo created for radio and television advertisements.  But I doubt it.

The can is from 1977 when Faygo was celebrating its 70th anniversary.

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...

Speaking of Wind Tunnels...

I was recently contacted by a reader saying he had some old Shasta cans and if I was interested, he would send pictures and the story of where they came from.  I wrote back and said I'd like to know more.  Here was his response:

"I was a model maker at the Boeing wind tunnel complex back in the 70's.  I found a garbage can full of these and asked someone where they came from.  There are two 20'-diameter spheres that are pressurized in the operation of the supersonic tunnel.  The spheres are filled with these cans, apparently to retard or baffle the moisture that builds up when the spheres are pressurized.  They had been doing some maintenance and some of the Shasta cans were discarded.

There was a Shasta plant in Seattle in the late 50's-early 60's, so the vintage is all about right to coincide with the construction of the supersonic facility.  I remember seeing some steel Rainier ale cans in there, too.

These are all that I have.  They've been following me around for almost 40 years and it's time for them to move on."

These are flat top cans and as you can see, the bottoms are wide open.  On the side of each can it reads "Packed and carbonated under the authority of the Shasta Water Company" and lists both San Francisco and Seattle.

A few days later he sent another picture to me.  This one was of the two spheres in Seattle he had mentioned in his previous email.

I couldn't pass these cans up!  I bought them and received the cans a few days ago.  They are definitely some of the coolest cans in my collection.  After finding one of the cans at www.canmuseum.com, I saw they date back to 1954, making these the oldest cans I have.

I get quite a bit of email regarding my collection, and I appreciate each one.  Many of them are offers that don't pan out, but this one did and I just had to share the story.

* All pictures were taken by the original owner of the cans

Faygo Friday #3

This week's Faygo flavor is Mardi Gras pineapple orange.

The streamers and confetti really set the stage for a beverage party in your mouth.  The masquerading ladies and the clown juggling the pineapple and oranges add to the overall festive mood of the can.  I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't find "Canned in N'Orleans" anywhere on the can. 

This can = fun.  It is from 1977 when Faygo was celebrating its 70th anniversary.

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...

Monster-in-Law

A few weeks ago my sister-in-law found out about my can collection.  She said she and her husband like energy drinks and they would save their cans for me.  She came over last week and brought me a few cans...

Of the fourteen cans, five were brand new for me, two of them were upgrades to cans I already had and the other seven went to be with my trade cans. 

You just never know where the next can's going to come from...

Faygo Friday #2

This week's Faygo flavor is Mandarin orange.

At a large botanical garden near where I work, there is a section with flora and fauna of Japan. Once a year they have a Japanese Festival where traditional Japanese music is played along with other Asian goings on.  What does this have to do with this can?  The bridge on the can makes me think of the bridge at the botanical garden that leads to the Japanese Island.  And it was on that bridge that I proposed to my wife many years ago.  We visited the real bridge earlier this week for the first time since the 1999 proposal.

Memorial Day 2013

Meanwhile, the two geisha on the can are serving up a basket full of delicious looking oranges.  Why don't they make scratch-n-sniff cans?

The can is from 1977 when Faygo was celebrating its 70th anniversary.

Come back next Friday for the next Faygo...