This topic contains 7 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by smazzone 3 weeks, 2 days ago.
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I’m interested in knowing whether this stein (handed down from my grandparents in the 1960s) is valuable and worth selling, or if I should donate it to the Salvation Army and hope it finds a good home that way. I don’t see any identifying markings, but it has a music box in the base and a pewter lid that’s dull outside and shiny inside. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
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The stein is old but has no great value, perhaps $25-30.
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This looks very much like the Reinhold Hanke Catalog Number 1706 stein; you can see its listing in the Beer Stein Library by going to this link: https://www.beerstein.net/item.asp?ItemNum=rha-1706. The Beer Stein Library shows the value to be $60-$80. However, your stein has a music box base, with music box, which typically adds 10%-15% to the value. Interestingly, the Beer Stein Library doesn’t show a music box base alternative for the stein. However, take the Beer Stein Library value with a grain of salt; I have found the actual selling price for common steins such as this to typically be less than what is shown in the Beer stein Library; Walt’s estimate is probably about what you might realize if you sold it. In case you were wondering, the translation of the saying on the stein is “In the midst of merriment all concerns cease”. It seems like a nice memento of your grandparents.
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Note that I said “This looks very much like the Reinhold Hanke Catalog Number 1706 stein”; I didn’t say it was Reinhold Hanke Catalog Number 1706 stein. The 1706 would be a 0.5 liter stein with the initials RD on it; does your stein conform to this (you haven’t previously mentioned these things and I don’t see such markings in your photos). Beyond this, there is the music box base vs non music box base question. Finally, note the handle is different on your stein vs the Hanke 1706 illustrated in the Beer Stein Library. If it’s a Hanke, it was likely made in or before 1921 when a disastrous fire destroyed all the molds. As to whether the color difference or the music box base might help pinpoint the date of manufacture, I can’t say. I would simply date it as late 1800s-early 1900s, and I don’t think the specific date would make any difference in the value – nor would it change even if it were made by a different manufacturer.
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It appears that the handle isn’t the only artistic element that differs; the body artwork also differs at the top and bottom. It looks like the bottom was extended to accommodate a music box and given a more detailed, ornate design. At the top, less space is allocated for tree flowers/leaves, perhaps to compensate for the extended base. Aside from these differences, the body artwork appears to be identical. I’ve attached a photo of the dancers to facilitate body comparison, and of the music box in case that might provide clues.
I couldn’t find any markings on the body artwork or handle, so I removed the music box and discovered barely visible markings on the underside of the base (see attached photo). These markings don’t match any other Reinhold Hanke marks I’ve seen, so now I’m wondering if it’s a genuine Reinhold Hanke or some sort of clone.
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The barely visible marking on the underside of the stein appears to be a triangle. Stein Marks shows several manufacturers whose logo used a triangle, but they all include additional markings that don’t show up on yours. After doing some on-line searching, as near as I can determine, Breitler of Switzerland, the maker of your music box movement, was founded in 1929 and went out of business some time around 1985. Your stein was likely made some time in this interval.