First, all the links sent by Smoke and others were both
interesting and useful. Thanks to all.
I looked up the pop-top field guide from National Geographics.
Fifteen different styles of pop-tops from different beverages is an
interesting angle on this identification. Martells (1976;14-19) and
Maxwell (1993) both approached the issue from a different angle *
i.e., pop-tops (or pull-tabs) from can manufacturers. Each provides a
few photos to show specific types of tabs (or tops).
At some point (in a decade or so), I may try to do something
with this. What is really needed here is someone who sees beer can
identification as a calling. People like Bill Lindsey (who is
developing the most thoroughly researched website in the history of
bottle identification) do not even think about the cost involved in such
a labor of love. What is needed is an in-depth look at what the
manufacturers offered (catalogs would be nice) and what types each
wholesale canner used. Can identification and dating is roughly in the
same place that bottle identification was in 1963 when Grace Kendricks
was the cutting edge (shudder!!!).
The little information available on pop-tops just barely
scratches the surface. I wonder if Beer Can Collectors of American
would be interested. That group has published an expensive but very
comprehensive guide to American flat-top (i.e. pre-pull-tab) beer cans
that actually encompasses most variations * at least those I have been
able to verify. The group is working on the pull-tab cans now, although
they are concentrating on brands * not on different tops. It will be
interesting to see if they include a section on that.
If we can discover things now * while the information is
relatively fresh, it will serve generations of future archaeologists.
Enough of my thoughts,
Bill Lockhart
Martells, Jack
1976 The Beer Can Collector's Bible. Ballentine Books, New York.
>>> [log in to unmask] 9/16/05 1:42 PM >>>
Maxwell's "Beer Cans: A Guide for Archaeologists" has been
reprinted
in the second edition of Approaches to Material Culture Research for
Historical Archaeologists that was compiled by David R. Brauner for
the
Society for Historical Archaeology and published in 2000. The reader
contains 25 articles on material culture research, chronology, and
typology
that were originally published in Historical Archaeology. The volume
is
still available from the SHA and if memory serves me right, it is only
$40.00 plus shipping. It is a good bargain for the price and contains
articles on tin cans, nails, gun flints, beads, bottles, ceramics and
some
articles on the interpretation of archaeological assemblages.
Peace,
George L. Miller
URS Corporation
437 High Street
Burlington, New Jersey 08016
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