Alton Brewery, Anton Reck
Alton, IL
Ambridge-Economy Brewing Co.
Ambridge, PA
Appleton Brewing & Malting Co.
Appleton, WI
Berkshire Brewing Co.
Pittsfield, MA
Bozeman Brewing Co.
Bozeman, MT
Buffalo Brewing Co.
Bohemian Lager
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento, CA
Buffalo Brewing Co.
Bohemian
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento, CA
Butte Brewing Co.
Butte, MT
Camden Bottling Co.
Camden, NJ
Cassville Brewing Co.
Cassville, WI
Eagle Brewing Co.
Waterbury, CT
Elk Brewing Co.
Kittanning, PA
Epstein Bros. Brewery
Portage, WI
Franklin Brewery
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Germania Brewing Co.
Buffalo, NY
Grand Rapids Brewing Co.
Grand Rapids, WI
Hand Brewing Co.
Pawtucket, RI
Home Brewing Co.
Joplin, MO
Jacob Hornung Brewing Co.
Philadelphia, PA
Hortonville Brewing Co.
Hortonville, WI
Joliet Citizens Brewing Co.
Joliet, IL
Kiewel Brewing Co.
Crookston, MN
Herman Kostenbader & Son Brewing Co.
Catasauqua, PA
Manilla Anchor Brewing Co.
Dobbs Ferry, NY
North Pacific Brewing Co.
Astoria, OR
North Yakima Brewing & Malting Co,
Yakima, WA
Palouse Brewing Co.
Palouse, WA
Pilsener Brewing Co.
Hazelton, PA
Plymouth Brewing Co.
Plymouth, WI
Port Towsend Brewing Co.
Prot Towsend, WA
E.T. Raddant Brewing Co.
Shwano, WI
Record Brewing Co.
Elmira, NY
Regal Brewing Co., LTD.
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Santa Cruz Brewing Co.
Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz Brewing Co.
Santa Cruz, CA
August Schell Brewing Co.
Ne Ulm, MN
Schwarzenbach Brewing Co.
Hornell, NY
Silver Spring Brewery, Ltd.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Silver Spring Brewery, Ltd.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Soo Brewing Co.
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
South Bethlehem Brewing Co.
Bethlehem, PA
Upper Peninsula Brewing Co.
Marquette, MI
Wausau Brewing Co.
Wausau, WI
Bakery & Confectionery Workers
International Union of America
Bakery & Confectionery Workers
International Union of America
Bethlehem Liquor & Bolling Co.
Bethlehem, PA
Globe Clothing House
Ambridge, PA
Higgins, Aske & Co.
Moorehead, MN
Kracker and Dearing Horse & Tack
Well. B. Krick Wholesale Liquours
Unknown
John Graf Jersey Cream
Unknown
Great Eastern Clothing Co.
Johnstown, PA
Hanlen Bros.
Harrisburg, PA
H. Harms & Bros. - Liquor Distributor
El Reno, OK
Heller Liquor Co.
Minneapolis, MN
New York & Kentucky Co. - O.F.C Rye
Rochester, NY
Pen Mar Rye Whiskey
Spokane Bottling Works
Spokane, WA
.jpg "Geo. T. Stagg Co. - Burbon")
Geo. T. Stagg Co. - Burbon
Frankport, KY
12" SS Dish
12" SS Dish
The 'Stock' Exchange
The Meek Co.: No. 77 'Stags Head'
The Meek Co.: No. 77 'Stags Head'
Date: 1905 - 1909
Size: 13" Round
13" x 13" Square
Type: Pie
Scarcity: Very Common
Value: $$$ to $$$$
Condition & Brewer Dependent
Size: 13" Round
13" x 13" Square
Type: Pie
Scarcity: Very Common
Value: $$$ to $$$$
Condition & Brewer Dependent
Stock
Ahrens-Bulwinkel Co. - Whiskey
San Francisco, CA
Betheson Ginger Ale
Unknown
East Grand Forks Brewing Co.
East Grand Forks, MN
Elk Laundry
Unknown
King ???
Tell Us More
Knapstein Brewing Co.
New London, WI
J.F. McFerren Wholesale Liquor Dealer
Chamsburg, PA
Bank of Manning
Manning, IA
Mt. Penn Brewing Co.
Reading, PA
August Schell Brewing Co.
New Ulm, MN
Stag Trowsers
Unknown
B. Heller Liquor Co.
Minneapolis, MN
General Comments
On the heels of one of the least encountered designs (No. 76, The Sheep Fold) comes what is probably the most popular in the entire Tuscarora/M&B/Meek/AAW catalog--No. 77, typically referred to as the Stag. To date (September 2021) we’ve seen examples from over 150 different advertisers using this design. Technically, the term 'stag' refers to an adult male red deer, which are primarily a Eurasian species; males of other deer species are referred to as 'bulls'. In all likelihood, this design is presenting an American Elk bull which native to North America and slightly larger than a red deer. Regardless, deer images abound in breweriana with a number of deer or stag names and images (August Schell’s Deer Brand comes to mind), although this is the only Meek/AAW stock design to feature one. The specific symbolic meaning of the stag image varies significantly across cultures, but it’d be fair to say it generally relates to power and strength. Although “The Invitation” (No. 116) shows up slightly more frequently as a full-sized tray, the Stag shows up more frequently taking into consideration sign, tip tray, and art plate versions, in addition to full-sized tray versions.
We suspect that this design was developed in house, as we’ve never seen a version with an artist signature, nor have we been able to find a painting or other artwork that it might have been based on*. Sahling’s workbook does not contain an explicit entry for this design, although there is one for “BPOE 9 ½” plaque which sounds like a Dresden Art Plate (a form we have not encountered). Certainly, a number of Elks lodges used this design (usually in tip tray size) over the years.
*It is possible that this design is an early attempt to skirt the recent (1903) Supreme Court ruling on copyright for advertising. Close examination with Haeusermann’s stag design, based on Sir Edwin Landseer’s “Monarch of the Glen” reveals significant similarities—once one looks past the different landscapes in the background, the reversal of the direction the stag is looking, and the “head only” view of the Meek version vs. Haeusermann’s full body view. Both have similar coat patterns and twelve-point racks; however, there are minor variations in the antlers and eyes. Meek’s individual points are more distinctly separated, and the eyes are more wide open. But just to confuse matters, the Geo. T. Stagg OFC Bourbon tray below, which has the same head only view of the stag and similar pine forest background is actually made by Hauesermann. This appears to have been after the 1903 Supreme Court decision that advertising was covered by copyright law, so it’s not clear what’s going on here.
Size & Shape
As a tray, No. 77 comes in both concave and convex pie shapes, as well as the newly introduced square shape. Although No. 77 is the earliest stock design to use the square shape, we don’t believe it was originally issued in size/shape; that most likely was “Sunshine” (No. 87), all of whose full-size tray examples are square shapes. We believe that No. 77 remained in the catalog for long time and the design was adapted to the square shape when that size/shape was popular. Designs that were created for square trays cover the entire face of the tray to the rims; square examples of No. 77 retain a round image with the remainder of the surface (the corners) covered in a solid color, usually black. Rims are black with gold advertising text; occasionally ad text appears on the face of the design too. This design also appears as a curled corner sign and on tip trays, where occasionally it appears with a brown/maroon rim.
Hager & Price
Hager does not discuss this design other than to place its introduction in 1907; he does include it in his catalog. As previously noted, we do not track tip tray prices, which likely make up almost half of the examples encountered. Brewers probably make up the largest group to use this design and prices vary significantly among them depending on the brewery itself. The design was also used by a wide variety of non-brewers, including: undertakers, furniture stores, car/truck dealers, department stores, ginger ale, liquor dealers, cigars, insurance, furs, diaries, clothing stores, restaurants, coal companies, banks, and not surprising, local Elks lodges (usually in tip tray size). Prices on these also vary widely, but consistent with other designs are significantly lower than brewery examples.
On the heels of one of the least encountered designs (No. 76, The Sheep Fold) comes what is probably the most popular in the entire Tuscarora/M&B/Meek/AAW catalog--No. 77, typically referred to as the Stag. To date (September 2021) we’ve seen examples from over 150 different advertisers using this design. Technically, the term 'stag' refers to an adult male red deer, which are primarily a Eurasian species; males of other deer species are referred to as 'bulls'. In all likelihood, this design is presenting an American Elk bull which native to North America and slightly larger than a red deer. Regardless, deer images abound in breweriana with a number of deer or stag names and images (August Schell’s Deer Brand comes to mind), although this is the only Meek/AAW stock design to feature one. The specific symbolic meaning of the stag image varies significantly across cultures, but it’d be fair to say it generally relates to power and strength. Although “The Invitation” (No. 116) shows up slightly more frequently as a full-sized tray, the Stag shows up more frequently taking into consideration sign, tip tray, and art plate versions, in addition to full-sized tray versions.
We suspect that this design was developed in house, as we’ve never seen a version with an artist signature, nor have we been able to find a painting or other artwork that it might have been based on*. Sahling’s workbook does not contain an explicit entry for this design, although there is one for “BPOE 9 ½” plaque which sounds like a Dresden Art Plate (a form we have not encountered). Certainly, a number of Elks lodges used this design (usually in tip tray size) over the years.
*It is possible that this design is an early attempt to skirt the recent (1903) Supreme Court ruling on copyright for advertising. Close examination with Haeusermann’s stag design, based on Sir Edwin Landseer’s “Monarch of the Glen” reveals significant similarities—once one looks past the different landscapes in the background, the reversal of the direction the stag is looking, and the “head only” view of the Meek version vs. Haeusermann’s full body view. Both have similar coat patterns and twelve-point racks; however, there are minor variations in the antlers and eyes. Meek’s individual points are more distinctly separated, and the eyes are more wide open. But just to confuse matters, the Geo. T. Stagg OFC Bourbon tray below, which has the same head only view of the stag and similar pine forest background is actually made by Hauesermann. This appears to have been after the 1903 Supreme Court decision that advertising was covered by copyright law, so it’s not clear what’s going on here.
Size & Shape
As a tray, No. 77 comes in both concave and convex pie shapes, as well as the newly introduced square shape. Although No. 77 is the earliest stock design to use the square shape, we don’t believe it was originally issued in size/shape; that most likely was “Sunshine” (No. 87), all of whose full-size tray examples are square shapes. We believe that No. 77 remained in the catalog for long time and the design was adapted to the square shape when that size/shape was popular. Designs that were created for square trays cover the entire face of the tray to the rims; square examples of No. 77 retain a round image with the remainder of the surface (the corners) covered in a solid color, usually black. Rims are black with gold advertising text; occasionally ad text appears on the face of the design too. This design also appears as a curled corner sign and on tip trays, where occasionally it appears with a brown/maroon rim.
Hager & Price
Hager does not discuss this design other than to place its introduction in 1907; he does include it in his catalog. As previously noted, we do not track tip tray prices, which likely make up almost half of the examples encountered. Brewers probably make up the largest group to use this design and prices vary significantly among them depending on the brewery itself. The design was also used by a wide variety of non-brewers, including: undertakers, furniture stores, car/truck dealers, department stores, ginger ale, liquor dealers, cigars, insurance, furs, diaries, clothing stores, restaurants, coal companies, banks, and not surprising, local Elks lodges (usually in tip tray size). Prices on these also vary widely, but consistent with other designs are significantly lower than brewery examples.
Confirmed Brewer used Stock Trays
Non-Beer Related & Non-Tray Uses
Curled Corner and Flat Signs
Click the Picture to Return to Meek & Beach Stock Catalog Page
