Walsheim Brewery Medal

[Cuda74]

My find of the day. Walsheim Brewery (Germany) copper medal found in a homestead. Wasn't able to find much on-line except brewery was founded in 1848. No idea why these were made or given out, maybe it was attached to a bottle (?).
Translated it says "For outstanding consumption of Walsator from the Walsheim Brewery.

 

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[Mackaydon]

https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/nu...eim_beer_company__copper/1100551/Default.aspx
Don.....

 

[against the wind]

Cool find,, wonder if they encourage buying their products by the case?

 

[dieselfool]

Good Grief, how much beer do you have to consume to get a medal from a brewery? I have known some guys who could put away a startling amount of beer but they never got medals for it! Also, never try to outdrink a guy with a chestful of medals from the beer factories!

 

[Cuda74]

Thanks Don, I saw this site as well. Will try to contact them to see if they can tell me anything further on this.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Great find !

 

[Red-Coat]

Some history. Yes, the company was originally founded in 1848 but not under that name. The founder was Friedrich Christian Schmidt, and the Schmidt family took in Otto Guttenberger as a partner in 1867 to become “Schmidt and Guttenberger”. By the turn of the century the company name had become the “Bayerische Brewery Company”. In 1922 the business sold a large part of its shares to Hans Kanter and was renamed "Walsheim Brewery AG".

In 1934 the company’s main shareholder was displaced on the board of directors by the National Socialist German Workers' Party and the Nazis (seemingly deliberately) drove the brewery into bankruptcy by the end of 1938. I don't know if there was any 'anti-semitism' acting as a driver or even whether the company had any Jewish connections.

The town of Walsheim was evacuated in September 1939 due to its proximity to the French border and the unoccupied brewery suffered some damage from shelling by French forces. The extent of the damage was exaggerated by the Cologne Brewery Association, who prevented it from re-opening in June 1942 and directed its former customers to other breweries in the region. Removal of its equipment began soon after, the premises were sold, and most of what was left was destroyed in an allied bombing raid in 1945.

After the war, partial renovation of the site saw it used as production or storage facilities for a number of different companies until everything was demolished in the winter of 1981/2. Despite the absence of any remaining brewing facilities, the value of “Walsheim” as a brand was recognised by Paul Weber of the Karlsberg Brewery in Hamburg and they acquired the trademark rights in 1946, producing beer under the Walsheim name in barrels, mainly for export to France.

The chronology of the company suggests your medal is likely from between 1922-1938. I would assume these were given to customers as a promotional novelty, to be used as watch or key fobs.

 

[cudamark]

Good Grief, how much beer do you have to consume to get a medal from a brewery? I have known some guys who could put away a startling amount of beer but they never got medals for it! Also, never try to outdrink a guy with a chestful of medals from the beer factories!

Or get in a pissing contest with him!

 

[DCMatt]

I found a German web page that stated the "Three beer drinkers" logo was used until 1935.



Another page corroborates the info from Red-Coat:

Dr. Kanter, the company's main shareholder, was replaced as director of the brewery through machinations carried out by the National Socialists; There are indications that anti-Semitic motives led to this expropriation: the mother of Dr. Kanter was Jewish.
In the period that followed, the Walsheim brewery was often denounced as a "Jewish brewery" by Nazi propaganda. A new board appointed by the National Socialists seems to have purposefully driven the brewery into bankruptcy.

 

[Kenosha Kid]

http://com.muenzenhandlung-winter.d...zenhandlung_winter_-_auktion_106_-_teil_3.pdf

scroll down to their page 226, item 1763; Obverse shown with a date of 1926 on the medal. Reverse of the medal is on the right side of the page.

1763 Walsheim. Messing-Spottmedaille 1926 FU ̈R HERVORRAGENDE LEISTUNG IM KONSUM
DES ”WALSATOR” aus der Walsheim Brauerei. 33,1 mm. Originalo ̈se. Sehr sch ̈on 35,–

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

you come up with some clever stuff, wtg

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

Awesome find, thanks for posting. I could try qualifying for one, wonder if Budweiser has the same promotion?

 

[Cuda74]

Thanks for the history. Great to know the back story.
Regards to all and thanks for the info.

 

[Cuda74]

Thanks Kenosha Kid, great attachment!