Pre-Prohibition Era
Showing 1–20 of 25 results
These pre-prohibtion era relics are some of the earliest American advertising and breweriana dating prior to The Rise of Prohibition in 1920 and as far back as the 1800’s era. From signs to serving trays to lithographs and everything in between; we invite you to take a step back in time with us.
Bergdoll Lager Beer Serving Tray
Condition: Excellent
Era: 1900’s
Brewery: L. Bergdoll Brewing Company
Location: Philadelphia
Makers Mark: Brilliant Manufacturing Company
Material: Brass
Bergdoll Lager Beer Serving Tray
Condition: Excellent
Era: 1900’s
Brewery: L. Bergdoll Brewing Company
Location: Philadelphia
Foss-Schneider Brewery Brass Tray
Condition: Very Good
Era: 1900s
Brewery: Foss-Schneider Brewing Company
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Makers Mark: Neon Products Inc.
Chester Brewery Lithograph
Condition: Very Good
Era: Pre-Prohibition
Brewery: Chester Brewing Company
Location: Chester, PA
Braems Bitters Sign
Condition: Excellent
Era: 1900’s
Company: Albert Braem & Son
Location: Paterson, NJ
Sprenger Beer Match Holder
Condition: Excellent
Era: 1900s
Brewery: Sprenger Brewing Company
Location: Lancaster, PA
Material: Cast Metal
New England Pale Ale Sign
Condition: Excellent
Era: 1900’s
Brewery: Mt Pleasant Brewing Company
Location: Mt Pleasant, PA
Makers Mark: Sentenne & Green
Continental Beer Cardboard Sign
Condition: Very Good
Era: 1900s
Brewery: Continental Brewing Company
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Makers Mark: Brilliant Sign Company
Well B. Krick Whiskey Tray
Condition: Excellent
Era: 1900’s
Company: Well. B. Krick
Location: Reading, PA
Makers Mark: American Art Works
Presidential Rye Whiskey Clock
Here is a Presidential Rye Whiskey Clock from the E. De. Lue & Company Distillery located in Chicago, IL. This pre-prohibition era Rye Whiskey Clock is from between 1896 to 1918 and is in excellent condition considering how old it is. This clock is easily over 100 years old and is't amazing that it still operates and keeps accurate time too.
It's approximately 12" by 10" by 5" and is made of cast iron with a winding mechanical clock at the top. The cast text on the clock body reads "Presidential Pure Rye Malt" across the top and "The Best Medicinal Whiskey In America" across the bottom with the "E. De. Lue & Co. Chicago Sole Prop's" across the base. A Cast Iron Clock like this would have originally been displayed on a back bar display or general store countertop to advertise Presidential Medicinal Whiskey to patrons.
Elk Brewery Bench
Condition: Fair
Era: Pre-Prohibition
Brewery: Elk Brewing Company
Location: Punxsutawney, PA
Note: This item came from a descendant of a brewery employee who worked at the Elk Brewery. Our guess is that he or the brewery marked the bench for ownership. If's a unique piece with a great story, it has a "folk art" feel to it in someways too.
Kaier’s Beer Matchstick Holder
Here is a Kaier Beer Match Holder from the Chas. D. Kaier Company Ltd. (also known as the Chas. D. Kaier Brewing Company) located in Mahanoy City, PA. This Kaier Beer Match Holder is pre-1920s era and is in very good condition considering how old it is.
This match holder was made by the H.D. Beach Company located in Coshocton, OH. Promotional products like these would have been given to patrons and brewery employees to display at home on the wall near their fireplace and were an advertising piece for Kaier Beer, Ale, and Porter.
Old Elm Whiskey Brass Sign
Condition: Excellent
Era: Pre-Prohibition
Company: John Conlon & Company
Location: Boston, MA
Makers Mark: Townsend Hostetter & Company
Beveridge Newburgh Ales Sign
Condition: Very Good
Era: Pre-Prohibition
Brewery: T. Beveridge & Company
Location: Newburgh, NY | Depot - New York, NY
Rettig Beer Wooden Keg
Condition: Very Good
Era: 1900’s
Brewery: Rettig Brewing Company
Location: Pottsville, PA
Special Notes: This is a quarter barrel sized keg. Pickup Only
Columbia Brewing Glass Sign
Here is a Columbia Brewing Glass Sign from the Columbia Brewing Company located in Shenandoah, PA. This pre-prohibition era Columbia Brewing Glass Sign is from between 1894 and 1900 era and is unfortunately in very poor condition although still somewhat displayable.
This Columbia Brewing Glass Sign was made by the Tuchfarber Company located in Cincinnati, OH. The sign is approximately 30″ wide, is a glass lithograph, and is made or reverse-painted glass mounted in a wooden frame.
The graphics on this sign (although very hard to make out) is a patriotic scene of a woman holding an American flag and leaning on a stars and stripes shield, and there looks to be an American Blad Eagle crouched to the right of the shield. The lettering on this sign reads “Columbia Brewing Company” along the top and “Shenandoah, PA” across the bottom. There looks to be remnants of lettering on the left side of the sign, most likely a beer style, similar to the “Weiss Beer” lettering to the right. There is a maker mark on the bottom right corner that reads “Tuchfarber Company – Cinci, OH”
Harper Whiskey Vitrolite Sign
Here is a Harper Whiskey Vitrolite Sign from the I. W. Harper Distilling Company located in Louisville, KY. This Harper Whiskey Vitrolite Sign is from the early 1900’s era and is in good condition for its age.
This sign was made by the Vitrolite Sign Company that was a sister company to Meyercord Company located in Chicago, IL. It is approximately 20″ by 26″ and is made of painted milk glass.
Note: The top left and right corners have cracks and repairs.
Robert Smith Match Holder
Here is a Robert Smith Match Holder from the Robert Smith Ale Brewing Company located in Philadelphia, PA. This Robert Smith Match Holder is from between 1896 to 1901 and is in great condition considering how old it is.
It is made of lithographed painted metal and was made by the Chas. W. Shonk Company who was located in Chicago, IL. The advertising on this matchbox holder depicts the Robert Smith Ale Brewery “Tiger Head Brand” graphics and promotes their products of Ale and Stouts. Match holders like this would have been displayed on the bar top or on tables inside of a tavern or saloon; a matchbox would have sat between the 2 prongs. Patrons could light their cigars and pipes and discard the used matches into the tray.
Schwarzenbach Beer Tray
Here is a Schwarzenbach Beer Tray from the Schwarzenbach Brewing Company located in Hornell, NY. This pre-prohibition era Schwarzenbach Beer Tray is from between 1895 to 1920 and is in fair condition considering how old it is.
This tray is approximately 13″ and was made by American Art Works located in Coshocton, OH. The graphics on this tray display a stock scene of a red stag or deer with lettering around the rim that reads “Schwarzenbach Brewing Company” and “Hornell, NY”.
It appears that the lettering around the rim may have been painted over at some point. This was a common practice during prohibition as it was not only illegal to produce, sell, and consume alcohol but it was also illegal to have anything that advertised or promoted it; so people would paint over the advertising on a lot of these trays.
This would be a great tray candidate for restoration. Should you be interested, we are happy to refer you to one of our trusted restoration professionals.
This would be a great tray candidate for restoration. Should you be interested, we are happy to refer you to one of our trusted restoration professionals.
National Brew Tray
Here is a National Brew Tray from the National Brewing Company located in Steelton, PA. This pre-prohibition National Brew Tray is from the early 1900s era and is in fair condition considering how old it is.
This tray is approximately 13″ wide by 13″ high and was made by the Meek Company located in Coshocton, OH. The graphics on this tray depict a victorian woman toasting a small tasting glass of beer; while the artwork on this tray is a stock scene produced by Meek Company.