How many times have you heard someone say "Yeah, that's a cool cone but I only collect flats" ?
I get the impression it's not a large number of collectors, but there are more than just a few who have chosen to restrict themselves to flats only and I'm just curious about how people decided to make that choice.

I know some people say they don't collect crowntainers because they think they're ugly, or because they only collect West Coast stuff.

Then there are those who don't collect sixteens, quarts, or gallons because of the amount of space they require.

There's another sub-set of collectors that doesn't bother with the small cans like 7 and 8 oz, or the odd sizes like 10, 11, and 14 oz.

My question is for the people out there who specialize in flats only: How did you decide to make that choice? Also, was there a time when you had both flats AND cones, or has your collection always been flats-only?

My next question: Is there anyone who collects cones only? (I can't think of anyone offhand but there's probably someone who does.)

Only 12 oz flats for me. I used to collect everything. Then I went to flats & cones (and crowntainers) only. Then in order to free up money for some cans I wanted (and to give me a little more space) I sold off the cones and went with only flats. Then decided to further specialize in certain categories. It makes it easier to focus when you specialize.

I don't know any cone only collectors, but they've got to be out there somewhere.

Steve

I mainly collect cones, but still keep a few dozen of my favorite flats and Ft Wayne flats. I dont know why....sold off most of my flats over the years for space reasons and just kept the cones.

12 OZ US FLATS ONLY.....
No odd sizes, no cones.
Used to do quarts, and had a fairly nice collection, but sold it in '95 when I moved.
Cones never interested me, because back in the day when I started this madness, I used to stack my cans 3-4 high on the shelves, and cones had no stackabilty.
Nothing like walking in to a dark room and turning on the light, nudging the shelf and getting brained by falling cones and flats.
John

I thought Ray Knisley only collected cones Maybe Ed Ackerman too? I knew a guy named Scamdog that only collected cones that lived near me, Menke knows this Clown. Thought Phil Stayman only collected cones? Sure theres others. LEON.

I collect 12 oz. US flats only. Back in the 70's it seemed that cones were harder to come by and all the collectors in my area went ga-ga over cones. So with the huge variety and less competition, I just stuck with flats. Also when dumping back then, all I ever found were just flats & tabs.

-fallscityfreak.

I collect Indiana cans any of them but cones(are mostly out of my budget)
Zip Tabs and Juice Tabs any of them! and some Fan tabs if I like them(for a nice display)

I work on tight budget since 4 kids,wife and home but love cones and collected them in past.

Fallscityfreak any zips/juice tabs from collection ya bought earlier this yr? said it had about 40 zips.

Hi Chris!

I do all Minnesota cones, flats, and zips! While we do have a gallon can (Keglebrau), for better, or worse, at least there are no quarts.

Mike

P.S. A "Rusty Buncher" won the Grand Prize ( A Hamm's Commerative) at the Leinenkugel's show today. He had his black-n-gold RB shirt on to represent us all proud!

Since I specialize in quarts and there are only a few that are flat tops I collect cones by default. If I only collected the flats, the collection would just be too small (anyone have any on grade quart flat tops, I only have 4 and need help with this part of the collection)

Thanks!

Vinny

Oldcrown- what I've sorted through so far I've found 3 or 4 Drewrys zips a few Burgermeister & some Meister Brau juice tabs.

-fcf

on the shelf I have Primarily OI flats... on a designated shelf I keep the non OI cans that I think are cool enough to be part of my collection... I do have a shelf for cones and crowntainers too... but I try to stick to new england cones and crowntainers... not because I live there... just because I like the new england cones like the dawsons and esslingers etc.. and also I'm slowly trying to complete a run of the different fitzgerald crowntainers... thats what I collect right now... and I've stuck to it these 3 or 4 months I've got re-interested in beer cans... I don't see it coming to an end any time soon either... I just wish there were more shows closer to home...
thats all... Ethan

12 oz flats IRTP, OIs, zips...anything interesting.
No cones for me....they were harder to come by when I was young.

Mostly Wisconsin flats, but I'll take a cone too, anyone got any Wisconsin cans to trade. Had to work otherwise I would have went to the Chippewa Falls show, my brother went, said there was a good turn out.

Scott

Me, only 12 oz. domestic. Doesn't matter if they are flat, zips or tabs. I just like the uniformity on my shelves.

Cones, flats and crowntainers. Also have a side project of 7 - 8oz cans. Started it with my son and he has branched into the flats, cones and tabs. Quarts are nice just don't have the shelf space.
David

My collection of cylindrial tin malt beverage containers is limited to anything that needed a church key, or bottle opener to be opened. I am after all a specialist at heart.

CANDOG

anything that held beer or soda no later than Zip tops that I can afford (HAHA! Im a bottom feeder collector) or dig out of the ground (much better) or trade for. I have a weakness for Donald Duck soda cans, trying to get all 7 flavors, still have 3 to go.

Me I love cones and crowntainers. I like them flats too! Most of my cans are Texas, Southern and St Charles MO. (Or at least that is my preference). And I like the cans to have that wonderful RUST petina.

John B

I collect flats, cones, and (gag) even tabs. Mostly, I prefer cones. But, domestic or foreign, about ANY straigt sided steel can has a home with me.

I also DO NOT collect variations that cannot be seen from the front. So all this Pats. Pend. Others Pending stuff means nothing to me. I'd rather have different labels rather than 10 cans that look the same but have some minor variation in "sell copy" or instructions on the back.

That's just how I collect.

Vince

I COLLECT ALL USA CANS..FROM CURRENTS,FLATS,CONETOPS AND RUSTY CANS..COORS JUST SENT ME A BOX OF THERE SOON TO BE RELEASED ISSUES.

Started off collecting everything, then gradually went to 12 oz only. When I moved I really downsized, only kept Pa cones & 1st one I ever dumped Menominee. Of the 12 oz cans I'd already stopped collecting anything made after 1976 for lack of space. I kept about 65 or so cans other than Pa. Ones I remembered dumping and cans I like for one reason or another. Now only cans I go after are Pa. and Genesse. Harry