Stein Collectors International
Featured Stein: February 2024
Stein Collectors International
Featured Stein:
February 2024
Many stein collectors specialize in collecting German Student association steins.
But socializing and beer drinking among college students was not limited to just Germany. In the
United States, the Greek system of fraternities and sororities was the popular method for
establishing social clubs at the colleges and universities around the country.
Whereas student associations in Germany were mostly local organizations, fraternities and sororities
were national organizations with local chapters.
I was a member of the Sigma Chi (ΣΧ) fraternity at Bowling Green State
University in Ohio. While German student association members could purchase a
variety of steins, Greek fraternity members were limited primarily to mugs
distributed by the L. G. Balfour Company, a company specializing in jewelry and
other items for colleges, fraternities, sororities and high schools. These mugs were more for souvenir purposes than drinking.
My mug (my name is on the other side of the mug), shown in the picture, served its purpose
over the years by collecting a variety of pens, pencils, coins, paper clips, etc.
Finally after many years, I spotted a real stein being offered in the Sigma Chi Magazine. Being a stein collector, I naturally had to buy one despite the price of $150. The stein was made by The Olympus Company out of California which appears to be out of business now. I don’t think they sold many, so this may be the rarest stein in my collection. The stein is ceramic with transfers, but it is quite presentable and displays better than the old mug. The front of the stein features the Sigma Chi flags, a white cross on a Norman Shield, the Greek letters for Sigma Chi and the fraternity’s motto. -- In Hoc Signo Vinces (In this Sign you will conquer). The motto was used by Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor, after seeing a cross in the sky before the battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD.
The top of the stein shows my name and graduation year. The second band shows my chapter,
Delta Kappa, and the office I held, Chapter Quaester or Treasurer.
The bottom band shows my school, Bowling Green State University. Two of the bands are in relief
with diagonal stripes showing the fraternity’s colors of blue and old gold. The pewter lid is set
off by a golden eagle finial with a leaf for the thumblift.
Facing the stein, the left panel shows the seven founders, the place and year of founding and
the names of the founders. Seven white roses (the official flower of the fraternity) surround
them whilethe white cross of Sigma Chi appears above them.
The right panel shows Constantine receiving the sign before the battle of Milvian Bridge.
Seven white roses, the flower of Sigma Chi, surround this panel. The ceramic white rose I gave my
sweetheart on our 43rd anniversary is shown in the accompanying photo.
Editor's Note: Ron wrote this article intending it to be published in February as a Valentine's day
greeting to his life long sweetheart, Jean. His death and circumstances delayed publication until now.
--- Happy Valentine's Day Jean!