Thrift Store Breweriana

Discussion in 'Breweriana' started by TongoRad, Jun 28, 2025.

  1. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I recently picked up this really cool snifter:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    The gold embossing is very nicely done, and it's fairly large, holds a pint plus room for foam. Top quality stuff.

    The 5 logos are:
    Pabst
    Ballantine
    Schnitzel
    Miller
    Löwenbrau

    But I'm still puzzled by who made it, and why. And when, as well. Collectibles websites weren't all that helpful either.

    Would you be able to venture a guess, @jesskidden ? You seem to know more about label ownership and distributorship than anyone else. It just seems unconnected to me.
     
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  2. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Wait, you've got that version! That's a real collectors item - better than that upside-down airplane stamp!:wink:
    Yeah, I've seen that glass before at junk shops and flea markets. Never bought one - I think it's damn ugly (but, yeah, sometimes that can also be "cool").

    :thinking_face: I suppose if the Ballantine image was the Ale, not the lager beer I might have popped for it. :grin:

    I'd assume it was just one of the branded glassware manufactured by 3rd parties which paid the brewers for the use of their logo, and sold them through 5-Dimes and those sorts of stores.
    [​IMG]
    I agree that the 5 brands picked is a curiosity and probably meant more legal loopholes to jump through with the label owners and Lowenbrau being there makes one think it dates from the Miller license era.
     
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  3. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Iso: Schnitzel lager :joy:
    Autocorrect strikes again!

    Thanks, I really appreciate the feedback- every little bit helps :sunglasses::beers:. And, yeah, I do associate the Löwenbrau label with the Miller era myself, so that at least gives a time frame.
     
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  4. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    @TongoRad

    Wait - let me apologize for calling your find "ugly". I probably did think that decades ago when I saw those but, now - hell, I might buy it if the price was right. I'm a cheap bastard who has WAY too many beer glasses, so my glass purchases don't go over a buck. OK, two bucks.

    "What do you want for this? ____ Five dollars, how 'bout $2?"


    And if I did buy it and that ever closer event where they buy the dumpster and throw my life work into it, I bet they'll find two of them.

    "How could have two of those glasses? It would mean you forgot you had one!"
    You ask.

    Well, f'r'instance, not too long ago I found one of those giant CHAMPALE champagne sty;e glasses (I guess they were more for display purposes? I mean that's a LOT of Champale. 12 oz. was a lot.) It was cheap so I bought it.

    Got it home and thought, "Damn, this thing is fragile and awkward I bet. Easy to tip over. I'm going to put it on a top shelf in the basement where no one ever goes..." Pulled over the step stool and...

    there was another one I'd previously purchased! (Can and ruler for size comparison).
    [​IMG]
    I should measure the volume they could contain. With water. Not Champale.

    I would right now, but I'm afraid I drop it.

    Wait - I got a spare!
     
    #4 jesskidden, Jun 28, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2025
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  5. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    No worries about the ugly comment, my friend. I think that my wife even agrees with you :wink::grin:

    Now that is a big-ass glass! Definitely has to be for display; even the Champale people didn't drink that much of their product :sweat_smile:
     
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  6. schteve

    schteve Pundit (884) Sep 10, 2003 New Jersey

    I have 5 of those glasses! I have a feeling they were sold in department stores as a set of 6.