A COOL pulltab! (Believe it or not)

[SeaninNH]

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I found a COOL pull tab the other day.

Does anyone know how old this is? I'd have to guess quite old because I've never seen one before.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The best pulltab thread ever!

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Just for the record ...

I occasionally need reminding this thread started with SeaninNH's "Schlitz" Pop-Top bottle cap, and that we have pretty much identified and dated it. Thus the green check mark. However, since I/we have strayed from that original topic somewhat, I figured it only appropriate for me to establish once and for all time what I consider to be the very first ...

"Tear-off type" bottle cap.

If there is an earlier one than this, then I have not come across it yet. And please note there were literally hundreds/thousands of different types of bottle closures patented over the years, but that most of them never made it off the drawing board. Even this one had a short life/use and was not all that popular. It seems William Painter's 1892 patent will always be the "King of Closures," except that it wasn't a "Tear-off type" and required a tool to remove.

So with that said, please allow me to introduce you to ...

"The 1902 Weissenthanner Closure"

The text description says in part ...

"An object of my present invention is to provide a closure which may be quickly and easily removed from the receptacle without the necessity of resorting to the use of tools or special impliments for that purpose."

Closure For Bottles, Jars, etc.

Patented July 22, 1902

The picture shows the closure on a bottle distributed by: Mellon Bottling Works - Payton, PA.

Is this then the "Granddaddy" of all Tear-offs? It just might be.

 

[Ed-NH]

Ed-NH ~

Thanks for the follow up. Here's my response accordingly ...

2nd. The second patent number you said was 3251149 is not even remotely related to a cap/seal of any type. I conducted a search by which I replaced the red 3251149 with every possible alternative and the only number combination related to a cap/seal is the one I posted earlier, which is 3258149.

3rd. The first patent number you said might be 2760611 is not related to a cap/seal.

2760611 vs 2760671

3258149 is the correct number. Here is a better pic. Also the other number could be 2306011 it is so hard to tell.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Ed-NH ~

Thanks for the additional pictures and info. I tried your new number (2306011) but it pertains to a "Catalytic Apparatus" invented in 1939. Which I believe has something to do with a heating coil of some type. But as time allows we can try other variations of the number and see what "pops" up.

SBB

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Ed-NH ~

Thanks for the additional pictures and info. I tried your new number (2306011) but it pertains to a "Catalytic Apparatus" invented in 1939. Which I believe has something to do with a heating coil of some type. But as time allows we can try other variations of the number and see what "pops" up.

SBB

I substututed every second number and nothing fits. Maybe one of the other numbers is wrong.

During my search of I found a good list of closure caps. http://www.findownersearch.com/category-closure+caps-brands.html

I also found that "RIP CAP" produced by the AMERICAN FLANGE & MANUFACTURING CO., INC. filed for trademark on Oct 15, 1963 and its first use date was Oct 11, 1963. I dont know if this helps but I think it would place the patent filing date around the same. http://trademarks.justia.com/721/79/rip-cap-72179015.html

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Big Cy ~

Good job!

You are onto something with your ...

"I also found that "RIP CAP" produced by the AMERICAN FLANGE & MANUFACTURING CO., INC. filed for trademark on Oct 15, 1963 and its first use date was Oct 11, 1963."

I guarantee you that at least one of those dates will eventually produce something worthwhile. It can't be just a coincidence! The tricky part will be searching "Trademarks," which is totally different than searching Patents. All things considered, I'm sure you've solved "something." I'm just not sure what that "something" is yet. (Lol)

I have reached my time limit for today (I actually have chores I'm supposed to be doing) but will continue the search either later tonight or tomorrow. Good luck in the meantime, I know you can do it!

SBB

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

My computer crashed right after I posted. It heats up and crashes. Ill have to wait till tonite when its cooler.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Big Cy ~

On a huntch I did a quick patent search using ...

AMERICAN FLANGE & MANUFACTURING CO 1963

And found ...

Patent number: 3,379,155

"Method of Forming Closure Caps"

Originally filed: November 25, 1963 / Approved: April 23, 1968

The Nov 25, 1963 patent date is just one month after they filed for the Oct 15, 1963 Trademark. And, best of all, its a "Tear-off" type of closure patented by that particular company. The only bummer is the number doesn't correspond to the one on Ed-NH's cap. Anyway, check it out. I don't have time right now to save and post the illustration of the patent itself, but I will later if you don't.

Bob

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Its unbelievable how many patents were issued for cap closures in the 60's.


Rip Cap was introduced in the 1960th in USA. The cap is today manufactured in Australia and slowly disappearing from the market in Europe since production in Italy was closed. http://www.maxicrown.se/MaxiCrown_advantages.html#comparison

Of interest this mentions a tear off cap patented in 1931. http://www.maxicrown.se/MaxiCrown_history.html

Here is a modern Ring Crown or Maxicrown on the market now from Sweden: http://www.ringcrown.com/e/index.html

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

This is crazy. Check out this closure patent list. (on left side) http://www.patsnap.com/patents/view/US4564116.html

I dont see our mystery RIP CAP patent 2??0611 is on the list but the 3rd one down is American Flange. http://www.patsnap.com/patent/image/big/US3974931

US3338446

US2218040

US3974931 American Flange

US3425580

US4256233

US3283935

US4069936

US4003488

US4431111

US3301426

US3782576

US2238105

US3416687

US3809280

US3963140

US3392862

US3958710

US4951836

US4991732

US5110002

US5125525

US5203467

US6860397

US7568586

USD312785

USD331537

USD366418

USD389409

USD400440

USD490708

USD607325

 

[California Girl]

Nice pull tab. I am collecting the old ones from before 1975 and making earrings out of them.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

OK, here is the microscopic writing that is printed along the rim of the pull tab:

Rip Cap (R) American Flange - N.Y. 215-1252 U.S. PATS. 2760611 (not sure on the 11 but I think it is 11) & 3251149 For PATS. & PATS PEND

Quote from: Ed-NH on Today at 10:55:01 am
3258149 is the correct number. Here is a better pic. Also the other number could be 2306011 it is so hard to tell.

Patents assigned to American Flange http://www.patentgenius.com/assignee/AmericanFlangeManufacturingCoInc.html

There are 208 patents issued to American Flange, some dating back before WWII. The expired patents are not listed on my link. Maybe Bob can find the mystery patent. If it starts with a 2million number it should be early '60s or older. Im still seeing 2??0611

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Im wondering if its even a 2 first number. It would have to be 29 to get into the 60's.

OK follow me. The second Wheaton patent is June 28, 1966 assigned to American Flange http://www.google.com/patents?id=gI...ected_pages&cad=2#v=onepage&q=3258149&f=false

so IF patents are only good for 15 years, then the first patent can be no older than 1951. That may help narrow down the second number. 1951 Patent Numbers start at 2,536,016 so the second number is 5 or above.



Are patents good for 15 years? I forget. If its 20 years, it would take us back to 1946 which would be 2,391,856 or above. THIS ELIMINATES 0, 1, or 2 as the second number.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It sure looks like a 3. That would put the first patent number square into the war years. And I think its gotta be 1946 if patents are good for only 20 years, and IF its a 3..

1942 Patent Numbers Between 2,268,540 - 2,307,006
1943 Patent Numbers Between 2,307,007 - 2,338,080
1944 Patent Numbers Between 2,338,081 - 2,366,153
1945 Patent Numbers Between 2,366,154 - 2,391,855
1946 Patent Numbers Between 2,391,856 - 2,413,674

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Big Cy ~

I'm following ya all the way ...

But even with that said, I just discovered that my earlier bottle cap patent number ...

2760671

Patented August 28, 1956

Is 100% / Positively ...

Assigned to ...

"The American Flange Company of New York"

{ See My Post # 57 }

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Big Cy ~

I'm following ya all the way ...

But even with that said, I just discovered that my earlier bottle cap patent number ...

2760671

Patented August 28, 1956

Is 100% / Positively ...

Assigned to ...

"The American Flange Company of New York"

{ See My Post # 57 }

Im not sure the point you are trying to say. Sounds about right http://www.oldstuffonly.com/patent_dates.asp Amercan Flange had 208 patents dating back to before the war. The mystery patent could be anywhere in the 20 year range that I stated (between 1946-1966)

If the first number is 2 and the second number is 3, (if and only if) it would be 1946.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I may be going out on a limb here, but I am willing to stake my reputation as a soda bottle collector and researcher to say that the first number on Ed-NH's cap is ...

2,760,671

In my opinion it is just too much of a coincidence to be anything else.

It has all of the right elements - Which are number similarity and American Flange

[ Unless someone proves it to be otherwise, I am convinced the middle numbers are 606 ]

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I may be going out on a limb here, but I am willing to stake my reputation as a soda bottle collector and researcher to say that the first number on Ed-NH's cap is ...

2,760,671

In my opinion it is just too much of a coincidence to be anything else.

It has all of the right elements - Which are number similarity and American Flange

I just realized you already solved it LOL. Why didnt you tell me earlier?

I worked all afternoon on a number thats already solved LOL. Why the additional pictures from the OP?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Yep its assigned to American Flange. Its solved. Good work. Case closed

 

[Ed-NH]

I may be going out on a limb here, but I am willing to stake my reputation as a soda bottle collector and researcher to say that the first number on Ed-NH's cap is ...

2,760,671

In my opinion it is just too much of a coincidence to be anything else.

It has all of the right elements - Which are number similarity and American Flange

I just realized you already solved it LOL. Why didnt you tell me earlier?

I worked all afternoon on a number thats already solved LOL. Why the additional pictures from the OP?

So that cap would be 1956 according to that number. This is very interesting. I like all the patent links and info you have all provided. I'm wondering if this post should be come a sticky for pull tabs, great info here I'm glad I chimed in.