Vintage bottle capper...good idea or bad???

[BubbaMan]

Hello friends,
It didn't take me long to burn out my Red Baron capper and after shopping around for its replacement, I'm not too excited about what's out there. Like the Red Baron, they all seem to rely on way too much plastic in critical places.

So...I ran across THIS baby, a vintage Everedy Gear Top. It's for sale locally and it's cheap.

I don't know much about these things so any info would be appreciated...such as about how old it is, how good was it "for its' day" and how practical it is for modern day home brewing.

 

[InTheBasement]

Well, it certainly looks cool. Try it out and see how it works on an empty bottle. If you want to make sure it caps well, take 6 bottles and fill them with some sugar water and yeast, then cap them. Wait 3 days and then pop the caps. If you have carbonated sugar water then the capper has worked well.

 

[beermanpete]

It looks way cool. It looks rather tall so make sure it closes far enough to cap the bottles you use.

 

[RM-MN]

I don't know what you have done to burn out your Red Baron capper but mine has capped more than a thousand bottles and is still going well.

There are 2 sizes of caps and without capping a few bottles you won't likely know what size that capper fits. That also might be one for pushing corks into wine bottles in which case it won't crimp a crown cap at all.

 

[Miraculix]

Looks cool, I would take it if it fits the right caps!

Another topic, why do you have the flag of the German defence minister from 1919-1933 as your avatar?

 

[kh54s10]

If the price is low enough, buy it. If it doesn't work it is a nice addition of art to the bar, brew room, etc.

 

[shoengine]

I have a similiar one, but mine has a removable bell. Works well for me. I suggest fashioning a rubber mat so that you aren't making the bottles resist against metal.

 

[phug]

bring some bottle, bring some caps, try it out. I prefer the rack and pinion design of the older models.

 

[jdr01]

I have the same one. It works well. Check the underside of the cup for a raised area. It does leave a small indentation on the caps center but it causes no issues.

 

[BubbaMan]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

@Miraculix I chose that avatar simply because I'm German and thought it looked cool. If it has any connection to National Socialism, I'll take it down and emphatically state that I have no positive feelings toward them.

 

[TimmyWit]

If the price is low enough, buy it. If it doesn't work it is a nice addition of art to the bar, brew room, etc.

That it is. I don't like mine as much as my modern bench capper. But, you can't beat it for a towel holder.

 

[dsaavedra]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

@Miraculix I chose that avatar simply because I'm German and thought it looked cool. If it has any connection to National Socialism, I'll take it down and emphatically state that I have no positive feelings toward them.

You decide.... its kind of ambiguous https://www.adl.org/education/references/hate-symbols/iron-cross

Back on topic, that capper looks sweet and it if fits standard beer bottles (it looks a little tall... definitely bring some to test out) I think it would be a good buy and would likely outlast you!

 

[BubbaMan]

Thanks for your replies, and I changed my avatar to avoid any further ambiguity. I'm very proud of my German heritage...everything except that whole national socialism thing.

I'm gonna take a look at the capper, take along bottles and caps as some of you have suggested and buy it if it works. The owner never used it, it was just an antique to him.

I'll keep you all posted!

 

[dsaavedra]

Thanks for your replies, and I changed my avatar to avoid any further ambiguity. I'm very proud of my German heritage...everything except that whole national socialism thing.

I'm gonna take a look at the capper, take along bottles and caps as some of you have suggested and buy it if it works. The owner never used it, it was just an antique to him.

I'll keep you all posted!

Hope it works out for you!

 

[Miraculix]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

@Miraculix I chose that avatar simply because I'm German and thought it looked cool. If it has any connection to National Socialism, I'll take it down and emphatically state that I have no positive feelings toward them.

Na mate, no connection to Hitler, this flag wasn't used any more during his time afaik.

 

[Ebbz]

This is what I use to cap everything. Mine appears to have been originally cleaner. As long as it seals and creates an indentation in the cap, you should be good. There is also the joy that goes along with bringing something old back to a functional life.

 

[bronzdragon]

I would just hit it with some WD40 and cap a few empty bottles. If it looks like it seats and crimps the caps well, it's probably good to go. I think a lot depends on the action. If it is smooth and easy to use, otherwise, you may find that your arm is sore after bottling a batch. /cheers

 

[HotToddy55]

Keep your flag...that is your lineage...be proud. The Hitler regime was horrible but Germany is great now...and they have great beer. I am half German and visited there during Oktoberfest and had a great time in a great country...and oh, great opener! [emoji481]

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[rnorman57]

I recently bought a similar capper by same mfr., Made in 1930's. Works better than any wing capper I have tried. You'll find it works well on stubby bottles where wing capper won't fit.

 

[Jayjay1976]

Just picked up two 1920's era cappers for $8, I cleaned them up a bit and greased everything, just scared $#itless to try them out for fear of crushing a bottle. Maybe once I replace the rubber cushions inside the bell and on the base where the bottle sits I'll feel confident enough to try it. This is keeping me up at night.

 

[ancientmariner52]

Just picked up two 1920's era cappers for $8, I cleaned them up a bit and greased everything, just scared $#itless to try them out for fear of crushing a bottle. Maybe once I replace the rubber cushions inside the bell and on the base where the bottle sits I'll feel confident enough to try it. This is keeping me up at night.

Good buy, congratulations! Try this: grab a couple of bottles you can stand to lose. Fill them with water. Taking reasonable precautions, cap them. TRY to crush them. I think you'll be impressed by the result. I gave up, was afraid I'd break the capper.

Edit: From long experience collecting, restoring, and using antique tools, I find two kinds of tools that survive for a century or more. First there is the tool that worked extremely well, was a prized possession, carefully maintained and stored. Then there is the tool that worked so poorly that it was stuck on a shelf almost new and forgotten about. The middle-of-the-road, good enough tools get used up, worn out and discarded. So the typical tool in the antique store is either very good or very bad. Good luck.

 

[z-bob]

I have a capper that looks kinda like the one up top. (but cleaner) I use it all the time. For shorties I have to put a block under the bottle, but anything taller, including Sierra Nevada "heritage" bottles, it does just fine without a shim.

I do have to lube the capping bell from time to time with a little candle wax, otherwise the caps stick -- they don't stick all that bad but it's annoying and easy to fix.

 

[Jayjay1976]

I have a capper that looks kinda like the one up top. (but cleaner) I use it all the time. For shorties I have to put a block under the bottle, but anything taller, including Sierra Nevada "heritage" bottles, it does just fine without a shim.

I do have to lube the capping bell from time to time with a little candle wax, otherwise the caps stick -- they don't stick all that bad but it's annoying and easy to fix.

These cappers originally had a rubber washer up inside the bell that would eject the cap, if yours doesn't have this, the cap might be going further into the bell than intended and getting wedged. Here is a detail of what I'm talking about from one of the original patents:

 

[z-bob]

My dad bought this capper new about 50 years ago (at San Jacinto Sales in Houston) and it never had a rubber washer. But maybe it was *supposed* to have one. I just threw away a old inner tube. Think I will cut one out and see if it makes any difference. Thanks.

Edit: actually, that looks thicker than an old inner tube. A worn-out Grolsch rubber gasket might work and not even need cutting. And I have a few.

 

[pigroaster]

Killer idea! Thanks. My spare bottle capper fits in the hole of the paper towels with handle down. Looks sharp and fits in with my decor. You guys come up with some great ideas. Thanks again for sharing!

That it is. I don't like mine as much as my modern bench capper. But, you can't beat it for a towel holder.

View attachment 563043

 

[shoengine]

These cappers originally had a rubber washer up inside the bell that would eject the cap, if yours doesn't have this, the cap might be going further into the bell than intended and getting wedged. Here is a detail of what I'm talking about from one of the original patents:
View attachment 574339

That looks more like a pressed bell than the machined one in the OP. Mine is appears to be more similar based on the type of gear used, and bell design, and mine has no provision for a washer.