Pull-Tab Beer Cans

[unholyinferno]

When did beer companies stop making pull-tab beer cans? They consisted of a type of plastic foil over the mouth of the can, and you pulled the foil off and threw it away. I've seen them in movies and TV shows from the 1970s. I remember cans of V8 juice having pull-tabs, but when did beer companies switch to the current aluminum tab that is attached to the can?

[wild]

I've never seen that type of pull tab for beer. I remember steel pull tabs, push tabs when aluminum cans came out, then when people started choking on the push tabs, they went to a version of the old steel pull tab until they changed to what we have now.

Wild

[barleyburps]

good question. . .sometime in the mid to late 80's would be my guess.

I have an english coke can (never openned) from the late 80's which I smuggled back to the states in my locker while I was a member of uncle sam's canoe club which still has the old style pull tab. it fills like it's only about a quarter full at this point - interesting. . .

I also have a can of michelob from the same time frame (never openned) with the current style tab. I bought this in Bahrain prior to the onset of the gulf war and kept it in my locker with intention of drinking it on the trip home, but never did.
Even in those days with no real "beer awareness" a warm macro (even while at sea for a number of weeks) did not appeal to me. It still feels full.

[zoom6zoom]

I never understood the morons who would pop the top and then drop it into the can before drinking straight from that same can.

However, I believe it was more a litter control measure that the tabs were redesigned to remain attached to the can than to keep people from winning Darwin awards.

It was too bad, really - we used to make some cool stuff from the pull tabs. Fake chain mail, anyone?

[wild]

The old steel cans had notches in the tab ring. We used to break them off from the pealed tab then use it to flick the ring several yards for thrills. Cheap beer laughs.

Wild

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by wild
push tabs when aluminum cans came out, then when people started choking on the push tabs,



Coors (which also pioneered the all-aluminum can) developed the "press tabs" and the main "danger" IIRC was folks who cut their fingers pushing in the larger tab. One of the problems with the extra effort necessary was that Coors was located high in the Rocky Mountains and the difference in atmospheric pressure up there made it easier for them during testing than it was for their customers down at sea level. (See the book "Citizen Coors").

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by unholyinferno
When did beer companies stop making pull-tab beer cans? They consisted of a type of plastic foil over the mouth of the can, and you pulled the foil off and threw it away. I've seen them in movies and TV shows from the 1970s. I remember cans of V8 juice having pull-tabs, but when did beer companies switch to the current aluminum tab that is attached to the can?

Beer never had the foil-type openers since it's carbonated and packaged under pressure and the foil would have never held. The openers you're seeing in movies was called "ring pull" in the industry (but the name "pop top" was commonly used by the public) and was all aluminum. The switch was in the seventies, tho' probably varied from brand to brand, depending on their can supplier, etc.

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by zoom6zoom
I never understood the morons who would pop the top and then drop it into the can before drinking straight from that same can.

However, I believe it was more a litter control measure that the tabs were redesigned to remain attached to the can than to keep people from winning Darwin awards.



Dropping the removed tab into the can was also an "anti-litter" measure, done on a personal level. It did use to get a rise out of people when it was done in front of them but I don't recall anyone ever swallowing one or one even getting out of the can. Another "advantage" of the "technique" was that ALL the aluminum was then recycled. Don't think that small tab made a difference? According to the book quoted above, the non-recycling of the removed tab was one of the reasons Coors stuck with their failed "Press Tab" for so long.

It must really annoy the promoters of the current "stay on" tabs when they watch some folks who still insist on rocking the ring portion back and forth after opening to remove it just so they still have something to throw on the ground<g>

So, I suppose someone should mention the immortalization of the old ring pulls in song...

"blew out my flip-flop, stepped on a pop-top..."

(Regardless of how one feels about the cult of Buffet, it's a classic line....).

[steveh]

Originally posted by zoom6zoom
I never understood the morons who would pop the top and then drop it into the can before drinking straight from that same can.


Those were the chokers, the push-in was an answer to the choking and litter, as mentioned.

Anyone actually remember having to use a can opener on a can of beer or pop? Big punch on one side, little punch on the other as a breather? Man, I'm old.

S.

[wild]

Originally posted by jesskidden
It must really annoy the promoters of the current "stay on" tabs when they watch some folks who still insist on rocking the ring portion back and forth after opening to remove it just so they still have something to throw on the ground<g>
I used to do that just to keep my mustache from getting caught in it :eek:

Originally posted by jesskidden
Anyone actually remember having to use a can opener on a can of beer or pop? Big punch on one side, little punch on the other as a breather? Man, I'm old.
You and me both.

Wild

[steveh]

Originally posted by wild
I used to do that just to keep my mustache from getting caught in it :eek:

Yeah, the last drops of the Guinness cans that won't fit in a 16oz pint -- ouch!!

S.

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by steveh
ThoseAnyone actually remember having to use a can opener on a can of beer or pop? Big punch on one side, little punch on the other as a breather? Man, I'm old.

S.

Count me in on that old memory.

[hertha fever]

Originally posted by steveh
Those were the chokers, the push-in was an answer to the choking and litter, as mentioned.

Anyone actually remember having to use a can opener on a can of beer or pop? Big punch on one side, little punch on the other as a breather? Man, I'm old.

S.


i believe it was herman melville that wrote (in one of his widely panned poetry books) a poem about the demise of that lost art.
:p

[steveh]

Originally posted by hertha fever
i believe it was herman melville that wrote (in one of his widely panned poetry books) a poem about the demise of that lost art.


Herman Melville? I think the art lasted a lot longer than he did! ;)

Picture Elliot Gould as Trapper John McIntyre, digging deep into his Air Force parka to extract a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon (circa 1952) -- and a can opener from another deep pocket to crack the 2 necessary, triangular holes in order to slurp away. Aaahhh - memories.

S.

[corkybstewart]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
Count me in on that old memory.

I'm afraid I also belong in that crowd. I've seen the whole transition from church keys to the current poptops. I've cut my thumb on those damn Coors cans and made wall hangings from the old pull tabs. We also use to tie the pull tabs onto fishing line just above the lure for when we fished in the Gulf of Mexico. The fluttering shiny reflections seemed to attract fish.

[xtalman]

Originally posted by steveh
Those

Anyone actually remember having to use a can opener on a can of beer or pop? Big punch on one side, little punch on the other as a breather? Man, I'm old.

S.

So are a lot of us. Use to make all sorts of stuff from the pull tabs and I probably still have a couple of scars on my fingers from the edges.

[hertha fever]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
I'm afraid I also belong in that crowd. I've seen the whole transition from church keys to the current poptops. I've cut my thumb on those damn Coors cans and made wall hangings from the old pull tabs. We also use to tie the pull tabs onto fishing line just above the lure for when we fished in the Gulf of Mexico. The fluttering shiny reflections seemed to attract fish.


that´s funny, fluttering shiny reflections attract me too!

i do need an explanation on churchkeys though. my only thought is something like a can of sardines?

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by hertha fever


i do need an explanation on churchkeys though.

Slang term for bottle openers in the US, which was eventually "transferred" to beer can openers as well-

http://www.just-for-openers.org/Church-Key.html

[hertha fever]

Originally posted by jesskidden
Slang term for bottle openers in the US, which was eventually "transferred" to beer can openers as well-

http://www.just-for-openers.org/Church-Key.html

well, i guess i´m showing my age and inexperience here today.

i swear i´ve never heard of an opener being called a chuchkey before.

[corkybstewart]

Originally posted by hertha fever
well, i guess i´m showing my age and inexperience here today.

i swear i´ve never heard of an opener being called a chuchkey before.

I bet that guy use use for your avatar wore out a few churchkeys in his time.

[steveh]

Originally posted by jesskidden


http://www.just-for-openers.org/Church-Key.html

Great link.

S.

[hertha fever]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
I bet that guy use use for your avatar wore out a few churchkeys in his time.


:D

[BrewDog]

I remember using church keys to punch triangular holes in a lot of things when I was a kid (and too young to drink beer). I think Pineapple and Tomato juice in the huge cans are about all that they are used on now.

I also remember girls making 'chains' of pop tops, and I often would do the little 'flick' thing that shoots the ring flying.

[newportstorm]

On a charitable note, anyone still wishing to do something with the pull tabs on your cans of soda/beer, check to see if any local shelters recycle them.

Many Ronald McDonald Houses collect them and raise $1000s each year to help house families of sick children. Every month or so, I drop off 100-200 or so at the local hospital to help my local house (I don't drink 100+ cans of soda/beer per month, but other people collect them for me).

Back to your beer can talk....

[hooky]

I used to have a great church key from Dr. Pepper.

It had "Dr. Pepper" on one side and "Drink your dinner" on the other. It hung on a string next to my old beer fridge. Both now currently reside with or have been sold by SWCNLBO.

[surfadelic23]

Hee-hee, Good old church keys! I still get unusual looks when I use that expression... On a musical not, there was a great surf band that did a song called Church Key!!

[steveh]

Originally posted by hooky
Both now currently reside with or have been sold by SWCNLBO.

W'hoa boy, shouldn't that be SWNLDO?

S.

[hooky]

hhmmmm. I give. What's yours?

Mine is - She Who Could No Longer Be Obeyed.

[steveh]

She Who No Longer Deserves Obeying! ;)

S.

[hooky]

I like yours better.