Vintage Wooden Grossvater Beer Crate - Old Gross! 411

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Grossvater Beer - Old Gross" "The Geo. J Renner Brewing Co, Akron, Ohio" George Jacob Renner was a native of Dannstadt, a Bavarian village, where he was born in 1835. Well over six feet tall and nearly 260 pounds, Renner was an imposing figure and would likely have been forced to join the Kaiser's army had he stayed in Germany. Largely to avoid being drafted, he emigrated to the U. S. in 1849, after which he lived in Cincinnati for several years, attending brewing school, then working in several breweries in both Cincinnati and Covington, KY. In 1881, however, he moved north to Wooster, Ohio, where he was part owner of the brewery there, with his son George, Jr., for three years. He then purchased a half interest in what became the Renner & Weber Brewing Co. in Mansfield. Four years later he moved to Akron, where he would spend the remainder of his life. Renner immediately began to invest money into the plant, installing a mechanical ice machine and establishing a side business of ice production. A second machine followed in 1895, giving the plant a daily capacity of 45 tons of ice. Mean-while, the Renner Brewing Co. was incorporated in 1893 with a capital stock of $60,000. George was president; vice-president and plant foreman was his 23-year-old son William; Elean-ora, his daughter, was secretary and treasurer; and his son-in-law, Ernest C. Deibel, a native of Youngstown, was brewmaster and plant manager. Numerous other additions to the plant followed over the next decade, increasing the annual capacity to 50,000 barrels (although actual production was about half of that) and establishing a bottling works for home sales of beer. Several brands were being produced by 1908: Renner's Blue Label Beer, Yellow Band Lager, Renner's Extra Table Beer, Atlas and Eagle Pilsner Export Beers, and Renner's Bock Beer (each spring). In 1912 came the introduction of what would prove to be the company's anchor brand for the next forty years: Grossvater (the German word for grandfather). Crates make great memorabilia and collector’s items. Although a few are still in production, most of the breweries are just a memory and have long been out of business but fortunately, the crate survives. It makes a great gift for that hard to buy for brewery enthusiast, particularly if there is a landmark or city attached to the memory. Crates are often used in antique displays or to hold bar accessories. One suggested practical use: line with plastic, fill with ice and serve bottled beverages at an outdoor gathering. It is a rare example of Ohio's rich brewing history. All crates sold as is. This wooden crate has been washed and is sturdy. It is weathered and well used which adds to it's character. It measures approximately 19 X 12 X 11. This crate sports a unique graphic font that represents the era. Any flaw or defect in the strength and structure is described to the best of my knowledge. Nearly all of my crates are distressed due to time and use, understandably, graphics are faded with age and strapping is occasionally rusty or broken. Some crates have “farmer’s marks” indicating identification paint used at the market. Any damage that affects the integrity of the crate will be clearly shown or stated in photo or description. Not sold with a lid. Dowagiac, Michigan Pickup Welcome. Feel free to contact me regarding any crate interest. Any inquiry welcome. 411 Thank you for your interest. A Note Regarding Multiple Purchase Shipping Policy: Combining shipping for 2 crates saves nothing from either carrier USPS or UPS, due to the weight/size increase and often costs more. Combining shipping for 3 crates is generally more cost effective via UPS. USPS is not an option due to exorbitant fees. Shipping 4 crates together costs more than shipping individually. As a result, I will combine shipping on increments of 3 crates only. There are several variables in determining the cost for shipping 3 crates: destination, packaging materials and overall weight. As a result, each 3 crate combi... read more

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