Rams Head Ale: 1950-1954

This is a Rams Head Ale from Adam Scheidt Brewing in Norristown, Pennsylvania. it's not a rare can, although there are some tough variations. The Rams Head is one of my favorites so here it is. I already discussed Adam Scheidt Brewing back in August 2005 when I picked a Valley Forge Bock can as my COM, so this time I'll just focus on the Rams Head Ale brand.

Adam Scheidt: Washington DC's Favorite?

	Adam Scheidt canned four different brands, Valley Forge, Valley Forge Bock, Prior and Rams Head Ale. Valley Forge and Rams Head were both very popular in Washington, DC. The ad reproduced here (right) appeared in the Maryland-Washington-Delaware Beverage Journal in 1953.
A Rams Head ad from 1950. I found the same advertisement in use from 1950-1952 and in newspapers from Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York. I would not be surprised if they were also in Virginia papers, but the database I use only has a limited number of Virginia papers.

Variations

There are several variations of the flat top. There are several OI versions. I only have the one to date (below) so I am going to stick to the non-Opening Instruction variations that I know about.

The Non-OIs (1950-1963)

In 1949 Adam Scheidt began producing non-OI cans and, like several other breweries (see my Budweiser page from 2008) they used the opportunity to radically redesign their labels. I discussed the new Valley Forge label already as my June 2008 COM. They also redesigned their Rams Head can. There are several variations. Here are the ones I know about.

Front	Back	Notes
		From American Can Company. This is the most common variation. In use from 1950-1954, after Adam Scheidt was purchased by C. Schmidt & Co. in 1954, the New York Distributor information along the seam was dropped.
I need this can still.		Made by Continental, it looks like the American Can Company version, except that it is missing the Keglined strip along the seam.
		From Crown Cork and Seal Company. This version does not have the "Keglined" strip, but it also has an enamel gold label instead of the orangish-tan that the others have. This is a somewhat harder version to find.
		This photo shows the difference between the American Can Company orangish-tan (left) and the enamel gold (right) from Crown Cork and Seal.
		The can now says it is from Valley Forge Brewing. Also from American Can, this one has a much smaller 'keglined" logo on one seam, and no New York distributor info along the other. This version was used 1960-63.
I need this can still.		The can now says it is from C. Schmidt Brewing.

Sources

Porter, Robert J. "Pre-Pro Small-Town Brewer Takes on Philadelphia Giants"  American Breweriana Journal (March-April 2003) 11-19

_____________. "The Scheidt Brewery beer Cans" Beer Cans and brewery Collectibles (April-May 2010) 22-25

Wagner, R. Guidebook to the Philadelphia Brewery Tour (2010)