General

How to add a Trade, Buy or For Sale message

The 'Trade, Sell and Buy' allows you to enter a Trade, Wanted, or For Sale message. NOTE CAREFULLY: Any link must have the complete URL preceded by http://

CrownVention Movies

The 'CrownVention Movies' page shows some funny movies taken at different CrownVentions. Click on one of the thumbnail image to watch a movie. You will need to have the Adobe Flash Player installed to view the movies. Link: http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer

CrownVention Photos

The 'CrownVention Photos' page allows any visitor to the CCSI website to see photos taken at different CrownVentions. In the top you can choose from the dropdown a photo set. To see photos, click on the thumbnail in the left panel of the pages. To make it easier to view, you can also start a slide show by clicking on the button 'Start Slide Show' at the top of the screen. Once started, it will show 'Stop Slide Show' which enables you to stop the slide show.

Contact messages: what are they ?

Contact message are a means for anyone visiting the CCSI website to contact the club. Contact messages come in different types. The types are to indicate what the message is about for both the visitor and the members of the web team. Depending on the location where the contact message was entered, a type is automatically assigned. The following types are available: 1. Contact CCSI 2. Membership question 3. Contact the website team 4. Password / username question 5. CCSI Crowncap Database crowncap info 6. CCSI Crowncap Database question 7. CrownVention - Request for info

Login

I lost my login code and password, what should I do ?

When you have lost you login code and / or your password, you can request the webmaster to reset your login code and password. You can do this via menu option: 'Members Login -> Lost login code / password ?' What he will do is reset your login code and your password to the originally generated login code and password. You will receive your login code and password at your registered email address.

How do I log in ?

Logging in to the CCSI website is quite easy. Logging in is for CCSI members only. Once logged in, members will be able to make use of the members only features of the CCSI website. Logging in can be done via the log in box at the bottom of the menu. If not visible, click the menu option: 'Members Login'. A box will appear where you can enter your login codqe and your password. An extra option called 'Remember' has been added to enable you to stay logged in for longer than your browsing session. When unchecked you will stay logged in until you close your browser. If checked it will keep you logged in for 30 days, unless you explicitly log off via 'My CCSI -> Log out'.

My CCSI

Change Password

Once you are logged in, the menu option 'Change Password' allows you to change your current Password. A password should be at least 8 characters and at most 20 characters. A password is case sensitive, this means that 'MyPassword' is not equal to 'mypassword'. Your password cannot be the same as your login code .

Change Login Code

Once you are logged in, the menu option 'Change Login Code' allows you to change your current login code. A login code should be at least 7 characters and at most 20 characters. A login code is case sensitive, this means that 'MyUsername' is not equal to 'myusername'. Your login code cannot be the same as your password.

CrownVention: Frequently Asked Questions

I collect worldwide crowns, is it worth it for me to attend ?

Although often stated by many, it is not true that all collectors attending CrownVention collect US or North America crowns only. Collectors from Europe, South America, and even New Zealand have attended CrownVention, and were able to trade many crowns. Of course, most of the crowns offered could be from North America -- the convention is in the USA after all. Attending CrownVention for someone who collects worldwide crowns will definitely be rewarding. Stories of collectors going home, with several kilos of crowns to add to their collection, are NOT exaggeration !

Is CrownVention like the KKF meeting in Germany ?

Both meetings have their own flair and are must-attend shows for any serious crown collector. You will find the same kind of collectors at both meetings with the same kind of attitude, and you will find the same kind of positive atmosphere. CrownVention starts as early as Wednesday and will last all through Saturday. CrownVention takes place in a motel, which allows for 'room to room' trading. You will go from room to room to see what the collector(s) staying there have to offer. While doing so, there is also time enough for some socializing, which makes the whole experience very relaxed. On Saturday there is trading and selling happening on the large trade floor. Often many local crown collectors come in just for this day's event. Check out the movies and the photos sections to get an impression of CrownVention.

What is 'Room to room' trading ?

CrownVention is held in a motel, where the breweriana club hosts have blocked off a large number of rooms at special rates for those attending CrownVention and "Spring Thaw" (seasonal breweriana meet). Those collectors who stay in the rooms will usually display their items in the room, and an open door is an invitation to enter and browse, trade, sell, or buy right in the room, and to meet and socialize at the same time. Some collectors come even on Tuesday, and others on subsequent days, so there are always new doors to check. By Wednesday, the meeting Co-ordinator will have posted a list of rooms with names of the CCSI members staying in them. Of course, everyone is expected to be reasonably quiet in the hallways and other public areas, so as not to disturb non-collector hotel guests or even collectors who are resting.

What is the role of the breweriana collectors?

Local breweriana collectors, who may be affiliated with BCCA (Beer Can Collectors of America) and/or ECBA (Eastern Coast Breweriana Association), have long been active in central Pennsylvania USA. The trade meet that they have always hosted each year in late winter is called "Spring Thaw". In 1994, they agreed to allow CCSI to run CrownVention in conjunction with Spring Thaw, because of the benefits of a larger meeting accruing to both groups, and since their aims and interests are very similar. (Often some of them have crowns and related items, and CCSI members are welcome to meet them and view/buy/trade/sell any items equally as with CrownVention attendees.) As such, the breweriana people are really the host of the "party" and CCSI members are their guests. They do all the planning and negotiations with the hotel. Thus the registration is done through these hosts, and all of their rules prevail. For a small fee, CCSI members can join in their Hospitality Room, where beer and snacks flow freely on certain days at certain hours, and we can also join their pizza party, usually on Friday night. For another small fee, one can reserve a display table at the Saturday floor trade event, which is held in large ballrooms of the hotel. They also offer other events that are free or at low cost.

How do I register for CrownVention ?

On the menu of the CCSI website www.bottlecapclub.org, click CROWNVENTION and then REGISTRATION FORM AND FLYER. At the appropriate time, the contact information is there.

What are the costs to attend CrownVention ?

There are many variables, and prices tend to rise from year to year, but the following may help you to calculate what is needed: * The motel room at CrownVention costs about US$90 per night, including taxes. * A modest meal, without alcohol drink, in the hotel's restaurant or at others outside nearby, will cost from about US$9 to $15 including service and tax. * A beer in a restaurant costs about US$4 to $6. But in the rooms of the collectors there is always lots of beer around. Also see "What is the role of the breweriana collectors?". Of course, transportation from your home to CrownVention is the largest and most variable factor. It depends upon the distance and the means of transport, as well as many other factors. Harrisburg PA is the nearest international airport, but it serves few international destinations directly. If you find a CCSI host (see "Can I join other collectors...?"), the host's location may suggest the best airport to choose.

Can I join other collectors to get to CrownVention ?

YES! This is a great way to save expenses and also to broaden your experience and socializing. Don't worry about language differences or ability! There are members who may be willing just to share the expense of a motel room. For this, contact the breweriana club registrar. (Click CROWNVENTION and then REGISTRATION FORM AND FLYER. The contact information is there.) There are also North American CCSI members who can help long distance travelers in other ways, such as with interim accomodations (sometimes as hosts), and with transportation concerns, money exchange, shopping, etc. For such purposes, just click CCSI and then CONTACT on the website menu at www.bottlecapclub.org. Then write a message with as much detail as possible, about what you wish to do. Someone will answer you or get an answer for you within a few days.

..so...what is CrownVention ?

CrownVention (often referred to simply as CV) is THE yearly crown trade show organized by the Crowncap Collectors Society International (CCSI), every year beginning in 1990. CrownVention is a trading meet that currently takes place around the end of March or the beginning of April, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA. It is a joint meeting organized by local breweriana collectors.

Website Team

The website team: what is it ?

The website team is a team of club members that take care of the website as well as handle any contact message submitted by any visitor to the CCSI website. The team is responsible for the integrity of the CCSI website and to help visitors use the website.

Crown cap Database

How is the Database organized?

How is the Database Organized? 1. The Database was created in 2006 with purpose of documenting crowncaps from all over the world. Only true metal, corrugated crowncaps as originally designed by William Painter are displayed (see The Crown Cork section in the CCSI website). Other bottle closures such as paper milk-bottle caps, non-corrugated metal caps, plastic screw-tops and re-sealers are not included. Obvious fakes, reproductions, replicas and crowns made simply for decorations are never displayed. 2. The Database automatically arranges the crown entries alphabetically by the first word in the entry description. The entry description will contain the text that is printed on the face of the crown and/or information that is not printed but is necessary to describe the crown. The latter will be written in parantheses in the description. 3. A crown with no text on the face will be entered as: image: followed by a description of the graphic design on the face. 4. Database entries are distinguished only by differences in face text, color and graphics. A specific face design will not be repeated in the database regardless of skirt differences including skirt color, bottler names and locations, maker’s marks or skirt attachments (ex. Lift-Top). 5. Besides the Description, crowncap entries will conain the entry number (ID) and any other known information including purpose, city/state locations, country, product, brewer/bottler, relative rareness (only for USA cork beer crowns), period used and maker’ marks. The Extra Info field is used for other information including the name of the photo contibutor, type of cork lining, history of the crown and selling price on eBay. 6. Clicking on the bottler name will bring up an entirely different page that contains information on the brewer/bottler. 7. At the top of each entry is a link entitled “Click here to provide extra informaion” that will put you in contact with the Database Editors in order to provide information or ask a question about a particular crown.

How can I help and add my crowns to the database ?

Everyone can add crowns to the database. You can contact the Crowncap Database Administrators by email: Cork-lined crowns: Jon Bailey (baileyswla@cs.com) Plastic-lined crowns: Thomas Bringle (captainc@slonet.org) Please send clear, squared photos of crowns on a plain white background (ex. copy paper) along with the names and cities of the bottling companies (if known).

How do I use the Brewer/Bottler Search page ?

1. Click on Brewer/Bottler Search 2. Click the Reset Tab after each search 3. In the name field, type in the name you are searching (example: pabst). Type one word only and don't type capital letters, or any punctuation marks. Make sure that the drop down arrow is on Contains. You can switch to Starts with and just type the first letter if the bottler name contains punctuation marks. 4. Click the Search tab. Different bottlers under that name will appear. Click on one of them and when the history page appears, click on All crowncaps from this brewer/bottler. The photos will appear alphabetically according to what is printed on the face of the crown.

How do I use the Crown Cap Search page ?

1. Click on Crowncap Search 2. Click the Reset tab after each search 3. In the Description/Brand name field, type in the brand you are searching (example: squirt). Type one word only and don't type capital letters, or any punctuation marks. Make sure that the drop down arrow is on Contains. You can switch to Starts with and just type the first letter if the brand name contains punctuation marks. 4. Click the Search tab. The photos will appear alphabetically according to what is printed on the face of the crown.

The Crown Cap Card explained

The Crown Cap Card shows all available data on a crown cap entry. It shows the following data: ID: This is the unique ID assigned to this particular crown cap. Description: This is a short description of the crown cap, usually the text on the crown or the brand name Purpose: This is the purpose of the crown cap, the possible values are: Bottle closure Test crown cap Promotional item Liner: This is the inside of the crown, the possible values are: No liner Plastic Cork Since the intention of this database was to only add cork lined crown caps, almost a 100% of the entries will be cork lined. Locations: Locations are the locations where the crown was used. usually the location of the bottler or brewer. Some bottlers used different location to bottle their products. Same bottler, different location. Some collectors collect only crown caps of a certain region or area. This field enables to search for a certain location or city. State/Province: This indicates from what state or Province the crown cap came from. Country: This indicates from what country the crown cap came from. Brewer/bottler: This is the brewer/bottler that used the crown cap for bottling. Relative rareness: The relative rareness rating is an initiative of a group of advanced collectors that rated a selection of crown caps and gave it a rating of 1 to 10 where 1 is most common and 10 very rare. These values are than averaged and will give an indication as to how rare a crown cap is. Period used: The period used is an indication of the year or range of years the crown cap had been in use. Extra info: This field holds any additional information on the crown cap. Direct link: This field provides a direct link to this crown. If you wish to refer to this crown in for example a forum or in an email you can use this link to do so.

How does the Crown Cap List work ?

The Crowncap List can be viewed directly from the menu by clicking on the menu option 'Crowncap Database -> Crown Cap List'. In this case you will see the entire list of crown caps in the database. You can also search for specific crown caps. As a result you will see a filtered 'Crown Cap List' with the search results of your query. The list has various possibilities. - Toggle View The toggle view button allows you to toggle between the column view (default) and the row view. The column view shows you all crown images with a limited amount of data. This enables you to quickly browse through the images. The row view shows more data per crown cap and allows you to quickly read the basic data of a crown cap. - Click on a crown cap image When you click on a crown cap image, you will see the all available data of the crown cap. This function enables you to see more details on the crown cap in question. After you have clicked on the image, the 'Crown cap Card' appears with all available data. See topic 'The Crown cap Card explained' for more details on this feature.