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Church Key Bottle Openers
Helped Quench “unchurchable” Thirst
By Larry LeMasters, LeMasters’ Antique News Service
A church key or “churchkey” is an American some bottle openers resemble the heads of large
slang term for various types of bottle and can keys that were traditionally used to lock and
openers. Church keys are simple hand-operated unlock church doors.
devices used for prying the cap (often referred to Some historians suggest the term “church key”
as a “crown cork” after the fanciful, crown view originated because, for centuries, the best beer
of the ring of crinkled points around the edge of Vintage, Hastings Prairie Pride church key valued at $50. brewers were monks in monasteries. To protect
the metal closure before it was clamped on the their beer while it aged, the monks locked the
neck of the bottle) off of a glass bottle. Glass kegs in dark cellars, using locks that only the
bottles with a crown cork were first invented in monks had keys for. When church keys first came
the 1890s by William Painter (the Crown Cork into usage, someone remembered the monks and
and Seal Company of Baltimore), but there is no euphemistically began referring to beer openers as
historical evidence that the term “church key” was church keys.
used for these early bottle openers; although, the As early as 1935, the term “church key” was
shape of the earliest bottle openers did resemble irreverently used when speaking about beer can
19th century church keys. Bronze, old fashioned church key bottle opener valued at $8. openers. Beer cans with flat tops changed the beer
The standard church key for crown cork bottles industry, and a new device was needed that could
was made of metal with a round, oval, or triangular puncture the lids (pull tabs were not invented until
opening at one end that was used to “grip” the 1962). The term “church key” quickly became
bottle cap and then leverage the cap off of the attached (in spoken words only) to these new can
bottle. Beer drinkers soon discovered church keys openers, which were made from a single piece of
were much more efficient tools for opening beer pressed metal with a pointed end that was used to
bottles than teeth were. puncture the can tops.
The open end or business end of a church key D.F. Sampson, of the American Can Company,
often resembled the large, ornate keys used on is credited with inventing the flat top beer can
old-fashioned church locks. But many historians openers, and instructions for using the can opener
believe the term “church key” was given to beer Vintage, brass church key bottle opener with corkscrew inside. appeared on beer cans around the United States.
openers as a form of joke since many pastors This beautiful church key is valued at $35. Church keys or beer can openers quickly became
preached against the drinking of beer from the promotional giveaways that were used to entice
pulpit. A church key reminded beer drinkers of the greater sales of beer brands.
“unchurchable” thing they were doing. According Today, church keys are highly collectible,
to the Churchkey Beer Company in Bellevue, not only for their usage but also as advertising
Washington, “It is said if you used a church-key promotional items. At one time or another,
opener [to drink beer], you would be less likely to nearly all breweries gave away church keys as
open the door of a church to attend service.” advertising promotionals. Some collectors seek
While many collectors believe the term “church only church keys with brewery advertising while
key” is old, it is, in fact, relatively new to the Large, stylish church key bottle opener that was offered on other collectors purchase church keys that are
English language. Merriam-Webster Dictionary Etsy for just $2. unique in some way and capture their attention,
states “church key” came into written usage in the such as a “mermaid” church key that served as a
early 1950s. And most collectors believe the term originated since the ends of promotional for Leisy Beer.
Other collectors like looking for church keys considered rare or scarce, such
as a bottle opener from Krueger Brewing, which sold Near Beer during the Great
Depression.
A collector I met at a flea market recently told me that he is trying to find
a church key from every state in the United States. He looks for advertising
that specifically mentions the state, such as church keys advertising Otter Creek
Brewing in Middlebury, Vermont.
Not long ago, I found a Hastings Brewing Company church key (from
Hastings, Nebraska) at the bottom of an old toolbox that belonged to my dad,
Ralph LeMasters. Dad didn’t drink, so I’m not sure why one was in his toolbox.
Perhaps he had it because he lived for 30 years in the Cornhusker State, and it
simply found its way to him. That is often how fun collections begin.
ABOVE L-R Chester Brewery church key valued at $40. • Antique, circa 1894, ABOVE L-R “From the land of sky blue waters” comes this Hamm’s Beer church
sterling silver and stag horn church key bottle opener offered on eBay for $45. key that is valued at $7. • Antique, Krueger Brewing Company church key can
• Rare, Leisy Beer “mermaid” figural church key bottle opener valued at $40. and bottle opener, circa 1930s, that is valued at $75.