The surest way to roughly date old cans, particularly early beer cans from 1935 onwards, is to look at the label.
Understanding Early Can Dating
Dating old cans, especially those from the nascent era of canned beverages, relies heavily on specific markings and features that reflect production methods, regulations, or taxation of the time.
The first beer cans became available in the market starting in 1935. According to experts like Maxwell, the most reliable method for estimating the age of these initial tin-lined steel cans involves examining the details present on the can itself, specifically the label.
Key Label Clues
Labels often contain information that was mandated by government regulations or industry standards of the period. These details can serve as chronological markers.
- Tax Stamps and Markings: One significant example highlighted in historical guides is the presence of tax indicators. If you find the phrase "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" included as part of the label on a beer can, this is a strong indicator that the can dates from between 1935 and 1950. This marking was a requirement during that specific timeframe.
Here's a simple representation of how label details help:
| Label Clue | Approximate Date Range | Can Type (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" | 1935 - 1950 | Early Beer Cans |
| (Information from Reference) | (Information from Reference) | (Information from Reference) |
Why Labels Matter for Dating
Unlike modern cans which might have complex coding systems, early cans relied on visible, often printed, information directly on the can or its label. Changes in regulations, such as taxation or labeling requirements, directly impacted what information manufacturers had to include. By identifying these historical markers, collectors and historians can place a can within a specific timeframe.
Therefore, when trying to determine the age of an old can, especially those pre-dating widespread coding systems, the initial and most effective step is a careful examination of everything printed on the can or its label.
