Kamm's Pilsener Light Beer Crowntainer

Kamm's Pilsener Light Crowntainer

The Can

Produced for the Kamm & Schellinger Company of Mishawaka, Indiana, this 12-ounce Crowntainer represents the golden era of cone top packaging. Bearing a 1940 copyright line alongside an Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) designation, the label is distinguished by bold red-and-silver checkered bands that frame the central red heraldic shield. The lower label prominently features the company's "Fine Quality Beer" slogan above the brewery credit line.

The Brand

Kamm's Pilsener Light stood as the flagship brand for Kamm & Schellinger following the Repeal of Prohibition. Positioned as an approachable, quality-brewed regional lager, it enjoyed wide popularity across northern Indiana and southern Michigan. The brand leaned heavily into traditional brewing methods and local loyalty, marketed through tavern point-of-sale displays, tin signs, and regional newspaper advertisements. It remained the brewery's signature product through the 1940s until production ceased in the early 1950s.

The Brewery

The roots of the Kamm & Schellinger Brewing Company date back to 1853, when German immigrant John Wagner established a small brewing facility along the St. Joseph River in Mishawaka. In 1870, Adolph Kamm acquired the plant, later partnering with his brother-in-law Nicholas Schellinger to establish Kamm & Schellinger. The company steadily expanded, adding modern ice plants, cellars, and bottling works to distribute tens of thousands of barrels annually.

During Prohibition, the business adapted by manufacturing soft drinks, distilled water, and root beer. When Prohibition ended in 1933, Kamm & Schellinger was the first brewery in Indiana to resume legal beer sales, quickly reclaiming its market presence. However, post-war market pressures, rising distribution costs, and stiff competition from massive national breweries led to its closure in 1951. The historic complex along the riverfront was later preserved and redeveloped as the 100 Center.

Collecting Context

Crowntainers produced by Crown Cork & Seal are enduring favorites among breweriana enthusiasts due to their two-piece drawn-steel construction and recognizable profile. This Kamm's example remains particularly prized by regional Indiana collectors and cone top specialists for its eye-catching geometric border design and pre-war origins.