Collecting anything to the extreme is a mild form of insanity. I ran that statement by a psychiatrist (who happened to be a beer stein collector), and he didn’t disagree. So, if collecting antique drinking vessels is a crazy behavior, I am one of the looniest.

I bought my first stein as an Army enlisted man in Heidelberg in 1956. It was found in an antiques shop priced at ten Deutsch marks (about $10). A rather ordinary pottery piece, it was salt-glazed blue and tan colors with a German poem in raised letters: Leib was rar ist, Trink was klar ist (Love what is rare, Drink what is clear. )

I took the translation seriously, and the lidded stein joined me on sojourns to local gasthauses, usually as baggage in my bicycle’s saddlebag. I never treated it as a serous piece of art. I simply filled it to its half-liter capacity and consumed that which was clear—strong German bier.

On the stein’s pewter lid is an inscription, and it’s dated 1891-92. This first purchase is now 117 years old. Returning to civilian life, I added a stein or two. Curious about the mysteries that surround such an-
tiques, I looked for references, found little. On a whim, I started Stein Collectors International. For a dollar, other collectors could join my group. See: www.steincollectors.org

From them I would eventually get a stein education. I published a four-page quarterly for seven years.

In 1967 I hosted a first convention in New York. Only 31 collectors attended but we had a grand time. We were hosted by Schaefer Brewery. We exchanged knowledge, enjoyed the camaraderie, and vowed to do it again. Since that time a convention has been held every year, this summer in a small burg in Bavaria.

SCI grew gradually. In 1972, SCI became a nonprofit and was then operated by its members.

My collecting in the ensuing years continued at a feverish pitch. At one time I had about 150 drinking vessels. I down-sized considerably as I got Sun City-ready. My personal collection is now limited to about 80 antiques.

While some collectors specialize in particular types of steins (i.e., regimentals or Westerwald salt glaze pieces), I have a conglomeration.

Members of SCI have regional chapters all over the U.S. We have die Golden Gate Zecher, representing collectors in northern California. They have quarterly meetings at member’s homes. In 2010, the Zechers will host the international convention in Las Vegas.

There were virtually no books about steins when I organized SCI. Today there are more than 50 of them. A friend published a serious volume last year. It sells for $105. There are books about Mettlachs (sought-after pieces produced at the turn of the century by Villeroy and Boch), characters (steins in the shape of a head or animal), military pieces (usually having the name of the German serviceman on it), handmade museum pieces from the 1700’s and 1800’s, and brewery steins with logos of German brauereis.

Germans were enthused about decorating steins. The art work on some pieces is outstanding. A few stein artists were famous for other efforts. One Heinrich Schlitt decorated the ceilings of the city hall in Munich. His work can be seen there today.

Yes, it is a zany hobby, and SCI has some 1400 stein addicts to prove it. If anyone reading this thinks I am crazy, rest assured. You are right!

See collector Tom’s stein display in a cabinet at the Lodge, running to Oct. 28. He will be at the display on Oct. 7, at 3 p.m., to discuss steins.

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