It seems a love of beer can be addictive, especially for serious collectors of beer memorabilia like David Donovan, of Baltimore.
He collects anything having to do with beer brewed in Baltimore from the 1800s until the industries died in the mid-1970s. It?s a hobby that has taken him around the country to antique shops, dealers and trade shows where he can feed his habit. Friends and former brewers also have added to his collection.
“My father owns a tavern in the Edgemere area that?s been in the family since the 50s,” Donovan said. “We use to live on top of the bar, and I?m used to the bar business. And then a friend of mine gave me a beer glass one year for Christmas and I became intrigued. Now I have stuff all over the house.”
At first, Donovan started collecting advertising from a large number of American breweries, including Pabst and Budweiser. But he fine-tuned his focus to Baltimore-based beers when he realized just how tremendous his collection could become. His favorites, he said, are from before 1920, when Prohibition became the law of the land.
“The older ads are more graceful,” he said. “When you get in the new stuff, the graphics are different, plainer and simpler. The quality of advertising wasn?t has high.”
Among his collection is a series of ads produced in the 1940s for Baltimore?s Arrow Beer, which featured artistic nudes in soft focus. One little-known model at the time poised for Arrow?s “Matchless Body” poster later became the world-famous Marilyn Monroe.
Several Web sites cater to people who share a love of beer with Donovan, among them rustycan.com, which features a “can of the month” photo and story from collector Mark Benbow. Though he?s located in Virginia, Benbow has an extensive background in Baltimore beer.
He?s also written a history of Arrow beermaker Globe Brewing Co., dating the brewery to 1748.
Apparently, the brick vault used to store Globe products is still standing somewhere below South Hanover Street.
Benbow points to unscrupulous tactics from national beer manufacturers for the demise of Baltimore beer brands. By under-selling the local brands, giving free advertising and kick backs to local distributors, national brews like Budweiser, Miller and Coors took control.
