Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Defining collectable. There are three era of beer cans considered collectable: pre-war (1935-1942), IRTP (1947-1950), and 1950-1960 beer cans. Although a few very valuable cans are from the 1960s and 1970s, most from that era are not. For all intents and purposes, this advice will focus on pre-1960 cans.
Where the cans are. These days, best places to find collectible beer cans are flea markets, antique dealers, online on sites like eBay and in old buildings. Since some cans are over 70 years old, finding them in good condition outdoors is highly unlikely.
Flea markets. As far as buying cans goes, this is your best bet for finding bargains. Dealers who are not Internet savvy aren’t aware of current prices, so you may find some beauties at a flea market if you’re lucky. But be prepared to sift through a lot of junk at flea markets, because beer cans there are few and far between.
Antique dealers. Like flea markets, not always a great source for cans, but once in a while you can find a gem among the other items. Also, some sellers aren’t aware of what the cans are worth on the open market, but the Internet is quickly leveling the playing field (and raising prices).
Online. Just visit eBay, Craigslist, or any similar site, and you’ll find a litany of cans for sale. But because you’re bidding on the items from people all over the nation, or the entire planet, for that matter, you’ll find when buying beer cans online (or most anything, for that matter), it’s definitely a seller’s market.
Inside buildings. This is the most fun, satisfying and inexpensive way to find cans. Beer cans are lurking everywhere, and the secret is to think like a beer drinker. If you were drinking beer, where would you stash the empties so that nobody would find them? But remember the pre-1960 rule--the older the building, the better chance you’ll find older cans.
Attics/basements/crawlspaces. Many drinkers simply tossed their empties in the most convenient hiding place available to them. When looking in old buildings, check for places where cans could’ve been hidden. I’ve found cans stuffed in a hole in the ceiling of a gazebo at a park, in utility closets in public buildings, and perched in the beams in basements.
Inside the walls. The best place to find old cans in great condition (as light and moisture are a can’s biggest enemies), is inside the walls of buildings. Many a carpenter or contractor put a few beers back at work, and rather than tote the cans out at the end of the day (or let clients and/or bosses see them), simply sealed them in the wall or floor. Even school buildings and churches aren’t exempt from brew-swilling workers, as many a great can has been found in these institutions. But unless you’re in the contracting business, the best way to get your hands on these cans are to offer bounties to workers who are likely to find them. With the recent trend of tearing down houses, who knows what treasures can be found within the walls.
Word of mouth. Once in a while you'll hear about somebody's eccentric pack-rat uncle whose barn is loaded with junk, including 50 years of beer cans. Or an old bar or liquor store has some ancient stock somewhere in the basement. Get the word out, and you never know what you'll find. It's situations like this where your networking skills come in handy. A little detective work along with good contacts can bring some brew beauties into your life.