Collecting Old Dutch Beer Memorabilia

Vintage coaster from my collection

Since Old Dutch beer was brewed in Findlay, Ohio until March 1966, sometimes you can find old bottles, cartons or other memorabilia in Northern Ohio antique shops. I've picked up a few items over the years at Jeffrey's Antique Gallery in Findlay, Ohio.

Ebay is also a great place to find Old Dutch beer items. By the way, there was another Old Dutch beer brewed by the Eagle Brewing Co. in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania with its own distinctive look – so don't be confused. (The beer drinker on their label looks a little like Lord Plushbottom in the old Moon Mullins comic strip.)

Some Old Dutch beer collectibles from the Findlay, Ohio days have a strange look to them. That's because the Krantz Brewing Corp. merged with International Breweries Inc. of Detroit in 1957. After the merger, the label was redesigned for a while to reflect the new name of the brewery: IBI-Old Dutch Division. Sadly, the trademark German couple was reduced the size of a postage stamp on the label (below).

Label from the International Breweries days

But after the Findlay brewery was closed in 1966, the Old Dutch brand was sold to the Associated Brewing Company of Detroit. The brand would have several more owners after that, including Queen City Brewing and Pittsburg Brewing Company. At least the new owners brought back the classic Old Dutch label with the German couple.

Label from the Queen City Brewing Co. days

Items with the German couple – including signage, clocks and displays – are the most popular with collectors.

The story behind the image of the couple is kind of interesting. It was adapted from a painting titled "A Friend in Need," which depicted an elderly man threading a needle while a woman ate a bowl of soup. The legend in Findlay is that a local artist named Dr. A. H. Linaweaver remembered seeing the original in the Louvre, and created the Old Dutch trademark by adapting the painting from memory.

The couple has been on the label since 1907.