Website Pick #7: Mtn Dew Kid

 On the first of every month I will feature one of my favorite can websites.  

Please send an email if you have a website for consideration.

  http://www.mtndewkid.com/

This clean, well-organized website has news, reviews, history, collectibles and much more.  And it's all about Mountain Dew.  Definitely visit the "About" page for more information on the collector who runs the site.

The collector is interested in trading, so you can use the "Contact" page on the site if you're interested in that.  He's working on some articles about knock-off Mtn Dew brands, so he's looking for cans of knock-off brands.

I've visited the site several times for info or to see particular cans.  If you're interested in Mountain Dew at all, you should definitely check it out.

Website Pick #6: Canogram (NPCC)

On the first of every month I will feature one of my favorite can websites.  

Please send an email if you have a website for consideration.

 

 http://www.canogram.com/index.php 

Wouldn't it be nice if there was an official group of national pop can collectors?  There is!  It's called National Pop Can Collectors club.  Established in 1975, it's the premier "soda" can collecting group.

On the website you'll find a history of soda cans, useful links, a page to buy collecting supplies, the current Can-o-gram newsletter, older newsletter archives and info on how to join the club.

The newsletter, published a few times each year, is a great place to find articles, see rare cans other collectors have found, read about upcoming can-related events and peruse the classifieds section to see what other collectors are wanting to buy/sell/trade.

I joined the NPCC a couple of years ago.  If nothing else, it shows other people you're serious about your hobby when you can flash your NPCC # at them.

Website Pick #5: Bevnet

On the first of every month I will feature one of my favorite can websites.  

Please send an email if you have a website for consideration.

 

http://www.bevnet.com/ 

This month's pick is a little different than the collection or reference sites I usually feature.  This one is a news site that I've got in my RSS feeder.  They cover the entire beverage industry including energy drinks, waters, juices, soda, etc. 

Some of the news is beyond my interest such as corporate takeovers or executives with new titles, but I enjoy their beverage reviews and previews.  It's one of my sources to know what new upcoming cans to watch for.

There's a lot on this website.  I recommend you take a few minutes and dig around.  You'll probably learn a thing or two while there.

Website Pick #4: Soda Spectrum Magazine

On the first of every month I will feature one of my favorite can websites.  

Please send an email if you have a website for consideration.

 

 www.sodaspectrum.com 

 

When I began collecting cans a few years ago, I was on fire.  I wanted to go buy every can in the store.  I wanted to pick up every can in the gutter.  I wanted to get on every forum and start learning about cans.  And then I found Soda Spectrum, a magazine 100% dedicated to the history and collecting of soda-related items.

 

Four issues are released each year.  You can subscribe to have a print copy mailed to your home or you can purchase a digital .PDF copy and download it right from the website.  They also have back issues (in print or digital) you can purchase.

 

When I found the site a few years ago, they had a special offer where you could get all the back issues up to that point on a CD, so that's what I did.  I've read through many of those issues and each one is chock full o' good information!!

 

If you are an enthusiast about any aspect of the soda industry, definitely check out an issue of Soda Spectrum.  I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!

 

* This may look like a commercial for Soda Spectrum but I have no affiliation with the magazine or its website.  I'm a collector who found the magazine's website and wants to share it with others in the community.

Website Pick #3: CanMuseum

On the first of every month I will feature one of my favorite can websites.  

Please send an email if you have a website for consideration.

 www.CanMuseum.com

One of the first can websites I found when I started my collection was CanMuseum.  It is, as far as I know, the largest online can catalog in the world with over 55,000 cans pictured as of today.  And the best part is you can actually contribute and be part of the can collecting community there.

The idea behind the website is one all collectors can appreciate.  Most of us don't have enough time to dedicate to our collection.  This website was created to be a catalog, or reference guide, where collectors can keep track of their collection online without doing all the work on their own.  Each can you have in your collection that is added by another collector saves you a lot of work.  And it also works the other way.  Cans you have added to the site can be used by other collectors.  You can also create a trade list so people know what cans you are willing to part with. 

The forums are a great place to learn about cans, share pics of your treasures, ask questions or buy/sell/trade.  I've made a couple of trades that started in the forums.  I've had email conversations with both founders of the site.  I even traded sixty USA cans for sixty European cans with one of the founders which really helped kick off the foreign wing of my collection.

I've been a member for a couple of years and have added over 100 cans to the site (with plans to add more).  What are you waiting for?  It's a great resource, it's fun and it's FREE! 

"Creating the best online reference guide for cans is not the work of only a few collectors. We all have to work together on it."  - Allcans, CanMuseum admin

Website Pick #2: Cans In The Basement

On the first of every month I will feature one of my favorite can websites.  

Please send an email if you have a website for consideration.

  
http://cansinthebasement.blogspot.com/

In January I was contacted by a fellow can collector here in the United States.  He said he'd been following my blog for a while and told me about his collection and blog.  He began the blog in February 2013 and posted ninety-three articles by the end of the year.  He's off to a good start this year too.

He told me he started the blog as a way to keep himself motivated to collect.  And I shared with him that reading about other people's collections motivates me to continue my collection and websites.  Not only does he have posts about cans in his collection, but he takes the time to do research and offers good soda-related facts and current news from the beverage industry.

He saw my page of trade cans and told me about some of the brands he had for trade.  Before long we made our first trade by mail (which was his first trade ever).  

I highly recommend you follow his informative and entertaining blog.  And if you hadn't stumbled upon it yet, then get comfortable and hang the "Do not disturb" sign on your door because there is a lot of reading there for you to catch up on. 

Website Pick #1: USA Soda

On the first of every month I will feature one of my favorite can websites.  

Please send an email if you have a website for consideration.

http://usasoda.com/

This month I would like to highlight a website I use all the time.  The website has been around since January 2003.  It is maintained by John C. who has been collecting since the early 70's.  There is an email address on the homepage to contact him.  He does do trades.  All of the cans and bottles on the website are from his personal collection.

When adding a can to my master list, I like to provide as much info as possible for each can.  So this site is very handy when dating my cans.  Most items on the site list its year, what kind of can it is (steel or aluminum), size and city.  When it comes to standard Coke and Pepsi cans, I haven't had one yet that wasn't on this website.

So whether you're doing research on a specific can or just want to see all the designs of a particular brand through the years, this is one of the best sites I've found to visit.