A neighbor just gave me this full mini-can of Rolling Rock. I'm hoping @jesskidden can give me some info on this 7 fl oz can (such as when it may have been distributed). Unfortunately, when cleaning the dirt and grime with a toothbrush, the can is leaking CO2 from the base of the pull tab. The beer tastes okay from what's leaking out (and I have no reason to believe it wouldn't be drinkable). And because of the leakage, I'll be popping the tab and drining it soon (I don't see this as being anything highly collectable), but it sure is interesting. I'd like to find out the history behind this offering. Any input is appreciated... FYI - the only dating I can see is this stamp on the bottom of the can:
Re-posting this as it appears my pix from Google Photos no longer work...so back to Flickr... ---------- A neighbor just gave me this full mini-can of Rolling Rock. I'm hoping @jesskidden can give me some info on this 7 fl oz can (such as when it may have been distributed). Unfortunately, when cleaning the dirt and grime with a toothbrush, the can is leaking CO2 from the base of the pull tab. The beer tastes okay from what's leaking out (and I have no reason to believe it wouldn't be drinkable). And because of the leakage, I'll be popping the tab and drining it soon (I don't see this as being anything highly collectable), but it sure is interesting. I'd like to find out the history behind this offering. Any input is appreciated... FYI - the only dating I can see is this stamp on the bottom of the can:
The time period for when a brewery switched to "ring-pull" lids and went from steel > aluminum is different for each company and I don't know Latrobe's history for that, off hand. "Mid-1960s > mid-1970s" is my guess w/o any research. That embossing on the bottom could be a date code (again, don't know LBC) - "300th day of 1970"? There are numerous other ways to date cans (the can collectors, of which I ain't one, are fanatics)- mfg., design of tab, embossed "message" on lid re: deposit, litter, etc. Well, traditionally, one would use a can piercer on the bottom of the can to open it - leaving the pull-tap lid intact - even if one is using more as a tchotchke collecting dust on a shelf in the garage, rather than a true piece of breweriana...
Checked some reference books (I sometimes doubt their dating, but...) one source claims that Latrobe changed the design of the Rolling Rock cans to the one on the right in 1973, with the OP's can (left) starting in 1969. So, that tightens up my initial estimate. @beergoot When I wrote that I was thinking, "...cause when is the last time you opened a beer can with an opener..." (sure, for some here it's: "Never.") But giving it a bit more thought, when was the last time you "pulled" opened a beer by ripping off a ring/pull tab?
Thanks. I'm not a can collector either, and what a quick Google search indicated to me that most Latrobe / Rolling Rock 7 oz only go for a $1 or so no matter what end they were opened on. And I assume the stamping on the bottom indicate the year and Julian date of the canning (kind of cool to find a 49-year old can of beer no matter what the brand). Anyway, popping it open to see what the beer is like seems like an interesting thing to do...
I do recall many beers from early 70s in my teen years still having the pull tab. We'd put the tab inside the can while drinking just to have a place to put it. But the pop top cans soon dominated.
Yep. It probably is amazing a lot more of us beer swilling young people (and old, too, for that matter) didn't swallow and choke on those things. I never experienced or witnessed this happening, but I recall warnings about the hazard.
This particular can design was indeed started in 1969 and ended in 1972. You can narrow down the year by the lid. In 1969 the lid was flat, with 'Aluminum' stamped on the top. In 1971-72 "Please Don't Litter" and "Dispose of Properly" was added.
I do remember drinking these even though technically in 1970 I wasn't quite old enough to legally drink. The advantage of this small can was that your beer didn't get hot. "Those were the days..."
