Schmidt's Ale Cone Top Can

Schmidt's Tiger Brand Ale Cone Top

This 12-ounce cone top can was produced for C. Schmidt & Sons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Distinguished by the phrase "of Philadelphia" printed directly below the arched "Schmidt's" banner, the can incorporates the mandatory Internal Revenue Tax Paid statement encircling the outer edge of its central oval medallion. Along the lower rim of the medallion, text notes distribution in Winfield, New York, while a lower rectangular cartouche explicitly credits the brewing lineage to predecessor Robert Smith Ale Brewery, established in 1774.

Tiger Brand Ale carried one of the longest unbroken traditions in American brewing history. Robert Smith established his ale brewery in Philadelphia in 1774 and adopted the tiger head emblem during the mid-19th century. When C. Schmidt & Sons acquired the Robert Smith operations in 1896, they retained both the proprietary ale recipe and the ferocious tiger mascot. Following the Repeal of Prohibition, Schmidt's reintroduced the brand in bottles and cans, marketing its deep colonial roots and traditional brewing methods. The label remained a recognizable staple of the Mid-Atlantic market throughout the mid-20th century until the brewery ceased operations in the late 1980s.

German immigrant brewmaster Christian Schmidt founded the original brewery in Philadelphia in 1860. Renamed C. Schmidt & Sons in 1892 as family members joined the enterprise, the company navigated Prohibition through the production of near beer and soft drinks. Following Repeal, Schmidt's expanded into a regional powerhouse, acquiring several competing breweries and growing to become the largest brewing operation in Philadelphia. By the 1970s and 1980s, heavy pressure from national brewing conglomerates led to industry consolidation, and the historic facility closed permanently in 1987.

Among breweriana collectors, this container represents a notable highlight of mid-century packaging. Its classic cone top design, ferocious snarling tiger graphic, and prominent nod to 18th-century brewing heritage give it enduring appeal among collectors of Pennsylvania brewing history and animal-themed beer cans.