1 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,319 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Savior production of iHeartRadio. I'm Annie 2 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: Reso and I'm Lauren. 3 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 2: Vocal Bum and today we have an episode for you 4 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 2: about crown caps, like the bottle caps. 5 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: Yes, they go by many a name. 6 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 2: They do. They do, which really is cool if you're 7 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 2: trying to google things. Yes, for example, a podcast makes 8 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 2: it fun. 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: But yes, was there any particular reasons was on your mind? Lauren? 10 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 2: Not directly. I'd been thinking about the screw caps on wine. 11 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 2: I was like, where when did that happen? Where did 12 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: those come from? And I started, I started looking into it, 13 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,599 Speaker 2: and then I lighted on crown caps and I was like, Oh, 14 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 2: that's a better story, let's go. And also sort of 15 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 2: like a precursor, so like, let's go with that one first, 16 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: and yeah, yeah, yeah. 17 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: Sort of like a prequel. Sure for the screw cap 18 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: I will say I have this story. My parents used 19 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: to both run the pH Road Race, which I currently run, 20 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: and I love inheriting their old because that you get 21 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: finish your t shirts. Oh sure at the end of it. Yeah. 22 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: And one time early in my job here at what 23 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: was how stuff works but has evolved into what it. 24 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 2: Is now different corporate overlords. 25 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, yes, but essentially I feel like I've been in 26 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 1: the same job ish. 27 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 2: Just yeah you have yeah. 28 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:50,279 Speaker 1: Yeah. But anyway, very early on when I started working here, 29 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: I was wearing one of those shirts and Chuck from 30 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: Stuff you Should Know said, so you drink a lot 31 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: of beer And I was like what and he was 32 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: like yeah, because and he pointed at the shirt and 33 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: that on the shirt there was like a little kind 34 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:13,639 Speaker 1: of wrinkling around the bottom. And I asked my mom 35 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: about it because it was my mom's shirt, and she 36 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 1: was like, yeah, you use your shirt open to open 37 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: a screw cap. Yes, your bottle, yeah, sure, yes. But 38 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 1: it was just really funny because I never thought about that, 39 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: and now it's almost endearing to me because it's one 40 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: of those like things that are hard to describe but 41 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: make up the story of a person. Like that's just 42 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: such a very specific right, there are these yeah, I've 43 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: deigned her shirt developed a little a little right, yeah, 44 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: a little stretching out of the shirt from twist offs. Yeah, 45 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: but that's what I That was like one of the 46 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: first memories that came to my mind when I found 47 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: about this, because I avoid crown cap really, I mean, 48 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: there's no hatred, it's just ease. And also usually a 49 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 1: crown cap means a glass bottle, and I avoid glass 50 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: bottles because I can't recycle them and they make my 51 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: trashly heavy. Yeah, yeah, I feel that. 52 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 2: I feel that, yeah, weirdly, because right glass is actually 53 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 2: one of the better things to recycle. But that's a 54 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 2: different episode, that's a different kill Joy corner. Yes, yes, yeah, no, 55 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 2: I tend to buy about beverages and not glass bottles 56 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: if I can because of. 57 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: That same thing. 58 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 2: Although there are ways in Atlanta to get your glass 59 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 2: to a recycling center. 60 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: But yeah, yes, yes, But that being said, I don't 61 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: generally interact with crown caps myself, but that is the 62 00:03:53,640 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: memory I have with them. Well, you can see a 63 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: lot of our past episodes touch on this, I would say, 64 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: in one way or another. Sparkling wine, soda. I feel 65 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: like we've talked about it. I feel like we've touched 66 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: on this story in some carbonated drink episode. 67 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 2: Lemonade maybe, ramenee, oh yeah, ramene beer beer. Sure, yeah, yeah, 68 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 2: it touches a lot of things because, as it turns out, yeah, 69 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 2: it sort of influenced the way that the drinks industry works. 70 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: It certainly did, which I guess brings us to our question. 71 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: I guess, so, crown caps what are they? 72 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: Well? Crown caps are a type of round bottle cap 73 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 2: made of metal with some kind of semi soft lining 74 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 2: that's designed to be fitted over a lip on the 75 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: neck of a usually glass bottle. The base of the 76 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,840 Speaker 2: cap that goes down over the bottleneck is crimped and 77 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 2: slightly flared to give the human who's opening it something 78 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 2: to grasp onto when they pry or twist the cap off, 79 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 2: depending on the type of closure the bottle is designed for. 80 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 2: The lining prevents the contents of the bottle from coming 81 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 2: into direct contact with the metal cap and helps create 82 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 2: a tight seal that prevents those contents from leaking out 83 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 2: and air or anything else from leaking in. It's a 84 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 2: tighten a fit that it can stand up to the 85 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 2: pressure of carbonation, so it is often used for things 86 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: like so does beers and ciders other sparkling beverages. It's 87 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 2: a single use, inexpensive, effective way to cap a bottle 88 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,919 Speaker 2: that's also pretty easy for the end user to remove. 89 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 2: It's also like a really iconic design that can be 90 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: enhanced with printed text or images, and it's sort of 91 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 2: satisfying to operate, because like it's got the smooth, shiny surface, 92 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: but those ridges add texture and you get a little 93 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 2: hiss from the carbonation being released when you open it. 94 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 2: It's this perfect little like if it ain't, don't fix 95 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 2: it invention. Opening a bottle with one feels like opening 96 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 2: a portal. 97 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, it's very satisfying. 98 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:16,359 Speaker 2: It is right, and I feel like it's usually less 99 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 2: messy than like a pop top can or something like that. Yeah, yeah, okay, yes. 100 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 2: Originally these were called crown corks or crown cork caps, 101 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: possibly because the lining used to be made of cork, 102 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 2: or because cork bottle closures were generally the most popular 103 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 2: at that time. Sometimes today they are just called bottle caps, 104 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 2: but that's really not specific enough, as I found out 105 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:50,599 Speaker 2: see above research engines. The lining these days is some 106 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 2: kind of clear plastic. They are a standard size with 107 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 2: an internal diameter of twenty six point seventy five millimeters 108 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 2: and a height of six million, although that can vary 109 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 2: a little bit. Capped cap along three standard deviations with 110 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 2: and they also have a standard number of crimps. They 111 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 2: have twenty one crimps, no more, no less. The bottles 112 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 2: that they are fitted on are standardized as well, and 113 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: may be made of glass or aluminum. These caps do 114 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 2: come into basic formats, the aforementioned pry off and twist off. 115 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 2: For the pry off type, you need to pry them 116 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 2: off by getting an opener or other object under that 117 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 2: skirted lid of the metal and popping it off. The 118 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 2: twist off types have a softer and a lubricated plastic 119 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 2: liner attached on the interior of the cap that can 120 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: create a seal with it with a threading pattern on 121 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 2: the exterior of the bottleneck, and they can be removed 122 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 2: by hand. Hypothetically, shirts are sometimes involved. I frequently just 123 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 2: use a bottle opener anyway, because I'm like this, this 124 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 2: is sort of annoying. Other lining variations this is a 125 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 2: food show. 126 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 1: I love it. 127 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 2: Other lining variations include types meant to like extra protect 128 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 2: against air and oxygen, specifically from getting into the bottle 129 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 2: after it's been sealed, and ones that can absorb some 130 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: of the oxygen that's left in the bottleneck when the 131 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 2: contents are poured in, thus decreasing oxygenation of the product 132 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: before it gets to you, which can cause off flavors 133 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 2: and stuff like that. The metal that they're made of 134 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 2: can be a few different things. The common ones are 135 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 2: tin free steel, which is lighter weight and cheaper with 136 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 2: a dull finish that can be lacquered with white enameled 137 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 2: in order to take color like really well, and electrolytic 138 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 2: tinplate I think I'm saying that right, which is heavier 139 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 2: and has like a bright and shiny finish and is 140 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 2: considered a premium product. If not that aforementioned white enamel, 141 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 2: any crown cap that's meant to be printed on is 142 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 2: probably going to first be coated with some other type 143 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 2: of paint primer. And these days, yeah, the tops can 144 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 2: be printed in any number of ways lithography, color offset printing, 145 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 2: CNYK laser printing. They could be printed on the inside, 146 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 2: like like the bottom metal surface underneath that clear plastic seal, 147 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 2: and have sometimes had like jokes or pictures or promo 148 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 2: codes printed there. The caps can also be embossed, and 149 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 2: there have been all kinds of collectible designs printed or 150 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 2: special designs printed, like designs in thermochromatic ink that changes 151 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 2: color when it's cold versus warm. Iron Maiden album cover, 152 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 2: Caps Football Club, Caps, NFL Team Caps, Stanley Cup champion caps, 153 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 2: Coca Cola caps printed with different given names like Annie's 154 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 2: Coca Cola, Lauren's Coca Cola, Disney character caps, Simpsons caps, 155 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 2: Looney Tunes caps, Pepa Pig caps, Mario Kart caps, holiday 156 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 2: themed caps for every day holiday you could possibly think of. 157 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: I do have one with my name on it. 158 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, with the correct spelling. 159 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: Yes. 160 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 2: Wow, I was about to say, was that okay? 161 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, it was very specific. I've never opened it, 162 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: so I'm sure the Coca Cola inside is gross. 163 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 2: But I mean it's better than if you had opened it. 164 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 2: I'm sure it's fine. I mean it's it's probably just okay, 165 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 2: it's these things. The canning process is pretty rare reliable 166 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 2: for reasons. 167 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, well, I enjoyed it. It was very 168 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: nice gesture. Also, people can yell at me if I'm incorrect. 169 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: We did do an episode on Fallout. I believe in Fallout. 170 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 2: Yes, bottle caps are are the currency. Yeah, I've got 171 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 2: a little note on that in the history section, but right, 172 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 2: we did. Definitely we touched on it. 173 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: There. 174 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 2: Also, other than like for beverage consumers, there are also 175 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 2: crown caps made specifically for wine production, and these are 176 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 2: used by winemakers when they're conducting agent or secondary fermentation 177 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 2: in the bottle before the wine is finished and sold. 178 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 2: Those are slightly larger twenty nine millimeters and are made 179 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 2: with different materials like stainless steel or aluminum, and the 180 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 2: liners come in grades of oxygen prevention, although some wines 181 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 2: and beers in you know, the typical seven to fifty 182 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 2: militer bottle sizes are closed for sale with crown caps 183 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 2: of the size as well. 184 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: Well, what about the nutrition. 185 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 2: Don't donate bottle caps unless they're bottle cap candy, and 186 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 2: even that is sort of shaky, Okay, coming out hard 187 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 2: against bottle cap candy. 188 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I feel like that's a different episode. We have 189 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: to return to see what the beef is there. Well, 190 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: we do have some numbers for you, we do, Okay. 191 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 2: These are made by a bunch of different companies. One 192 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 2: company out of Greece called a Steer. I'm not sure 193 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 2: how to pronounce that, and I didn't look it up. 194 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 2: So here we are. They have the capacity to produce 195 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 2: fourteen billion crown caps a year. 196 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: Fourteen billion. 197 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a number that I don't understand. And that's 198 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 2: just one company. It's estimated that around the world, humans 199 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 2: open some sixty seven million crown capped bottles every day. Yep, 200 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 2: sixty seven million a day. Yeah, about seventy percent of those, 201 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 2: like consumer and crown caps are now made of that cheaper, 202 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 2: lighter tin free steel. There's a number of world records 203 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 2: attached to crown caps. The Guinness record for the most 204 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 2: crown cap bottles opened in a minute was achieved in 205 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 2: Italy in two thousand and nine by a human person 206 00:12:56,679 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 2: who opened ninety six ninety six in that peeriod of time. 207 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 2: Ninety six in a minute. Wow, I feel like I'm 208 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 2: usually lucky to get one in a minute. That's there's 209 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 2: usually like trying with the shirt that doesn't work. 210 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, then I've got to find my bottle opener somewhere, 211 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: and I can't find it anywhere. 212 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 2: And then I forget how bottle work, and then yeah. 213 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 2: There is also a Guinness record for the largest collection 214 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 2: of bottle caps, which is from nineteen ninety nine. A 215 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 2: guy in Denmark had amasked one hundred and one thousand, 216 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 2: seven hundred and thirty three of them from one hundred 217 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 2: and eighty three different countries. But to be honest, I 218 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 2: feel like someone out there has beaten that and just 219 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 2: not reported in on it. I if I had to guess, 220 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 2: that's what I'd say, Because people do collect them. There 221 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 2: is in fact an organization called Crown Cap Collectors Society 222 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 2: International that holds a yearly convention in Pennsylvania in like 223 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 2: March to April. It's called Crown Vention. They sometimes print 224 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:15,439 Speaker 2: their own collectible crown caps. They also maintain a database 225 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 2: of crown caps which is currently listed with ninety seven, 226 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 2: one hundred and fifty six different caps from different manufacturers 227 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 2: and bottlers and design runs. There's also this whole world 228 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 2: of crafting using bottle caps to make I don't know, 229 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 2: like mosaics or statues, figurines, et cetera. In nineteen fifty, 230 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 2: the magazine Profitable Hobbies featured an artist who made and 231 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 2: sold these like large baskets made of crown caps that 232 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 2: were strung together to form sort of ropes of caps. 233 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 2: One that she was pictured with in the magazine had 234 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 2: used over twenty five hundred caps instead about three feet 235 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 2: tall that's about a meter. There is also, so yes, 236 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 2: a collector's market for some of this folk art. A 237 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 2: patent was even granted for a specific figure made with 238 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 2: crown cap arms and legs. It's holding like a little 239 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 2: snack ball snack bowl that was patented in nineteen seventy. 240 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: I definitely have a bracelet made of crown caps. Yeah, yes, 241 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: I don't recall how I ended up with it, but 242 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: I do love it. Heck. Yeah, cute they are there. 243 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: There's something about them that's eye catching, and. 244 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 2: They tend to be colorful. They're very aesthetic. It's a 245 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 2: nice design. 246 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, it is a nice design, and it's stuck around 247 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: for quite a while and there's a reason for that. 248 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, And we are going to get into that 249 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 2: history as soon as we get back from a quick break. 250 00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 2: For a word from our sponsors. 251 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: And we're back. Thank you, sponsor, Yes, thank you. Okay. 252 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: So most credit the invention of the crown cap to 253 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: William Painter in eighteen ninety two. That was when he 254 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: was awarded the patent. Anyway. Painter was born in Ireland 255 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: in eighteen thirty eight and later immigrated to the US, 256 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: eventually settling in Baltimore, Maryland, although some sources claim he 257 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: was born in Maryland. Okay, Yes, he was someone who 258 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: was a tinkerer and inventor. Over the course of his life, 259 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: he submitted over eighty patents, and some of them were 260 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 1: really fascinating. Yeah. While on reference stuff, yes, yes, but 261 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: when it comes to the crown cap. At the time 262 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: in the eighteen nineties, carbonated drinks were already popular, but 263 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: the stoppers and hops used to seal them often leaked 264 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,240 Speaker 1: and they let out liquid and carbonation. This could happen 265 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: in storage and transport anytime. 266 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 2: Really. Yeah. So people were trying to fix this problem 267 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,680 Speaker 2: in all sorts of ways, and we've talked before about 268 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 2: some of them, like like the cod neck bottle in 269 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 2: thee in the Romine episode, which is sealed with a 270 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 2: glass marble inside the bottleneck. There were about one hundred 271 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 2: and fifty different patents in the US alone for different 272 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,400 Speaker 2: types of bottle closures by the eighteen nineties. 273 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: Ish Yes, and Painter solve this problem and said about 274 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: finding a solution. 275 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 2: His first attempt was a single use bottle seal that 276 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 2: he patented in eighteen eighty five. It was meant to 277 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 2: fit into the neck of the bottle instead of over it, 278 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,880 Speaker 2: though similarly it depended on like a like a groove 279 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 2: formed into the bottleneck. 280 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: A business associate of Painters purchased the rights to sell 281 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: this invention by eighteen eighty nine, calling it the Bottle 282 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 1: Sea Company. 283 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 2: But Painter was not done yet. 284 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:08,199 Speaker 1: Yes to that end, in eighteen ninety Painter invented the 285 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,399 Speaker 1: crown cap or crown cork. It was made of metal. 286 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: The edge of this cap was corrugated with twenty four 287 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: teeth as they were called, and lined with a cork 288 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 1: disk and special paper backing to ensure the liquid didn't 289 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 1: touch the metal. This was for safety and because contact 290 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 1: with metal was believed to alter the taste and color. 291 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, lots of metals will interact with lots of things 292 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 2: that are in liquid form, and they might start to 293 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 2: rest or erode out into liquid, especially if it's acidic, 294 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:42,199 Speaker 2: which they usually are. Like today's aluminum drink cans have 295 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 2: microns thin plastic liners to prevent this. 296 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: So yeah, it was a fairly simple design that worked. 297 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: It was easy and cost effective to produce the same 298 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: year he was awarded this patent. In eighteen ninety two, 299 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: he launched the Crown Cork and Seal Company in Balti More, 300 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: Maryland to manufacture and market the caps. Popular lore is 301 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: it that the name is because it looks like an 302 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 1: inverted crown. Sure, easy and yes. Painter also filed a 303 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:16,959 Speaker 1: patent for a crown cap opener, which he received in 304 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: eighteen ninety four. Yeah, this is for the church key 305 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 1: style opener. I think that's another episode as well. Yes, 306 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: I really love that. 307 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 2: I love that he was like, hold on, here's the 308 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 2: cap here, how you opened it. 309 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,440 Speaker 1: Not only that, Painter collaborated with bottle makers to arrive 310 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,199 Speaker 1: at the universal neck, and from there went on to 311 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: invent and patent the machinery that was necessary for using 312 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 1: these caps in eighteen ninety eight. It was a foot 313 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: powered press that worked quickly and easily. He sold those two. 314 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 2: Oh yes, yes, and the machine could fill bottles as well. 315 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,479 Speaker 2: It was a two for sort of thing. So, so 316 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 2: the way that it is, it would feed two separate 317 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,639 Speaker 2: lines into a single outlet, one line for syrup and 318 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 2: one line for carbonated water, and they would mix together 319 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 2: as the operator filled the bottle. This was the first 320 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:16,160 Speaker 2: machine of its kind and totally the way that every 321 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 2: soda machine ever still works to this day. Anyway. Yeah, 322 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 2: so the operator would would fill the bottle and then 323 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 2: fit a cap, manually fit a cap on top of 324 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:28,879 Speaker 2: the bottle, and then use that footpress to crimp the 325 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 2: cap on. Apparently you could go at a pretty solid 326 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 2: rate of like four to eight bottles a minute, though 327 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,439 Speaker 2: I have read varying numbers on that, like up to 328 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 2: twenty four bottles a minute, which is a large gap, 329 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 2: and I wasn't there, so I can't tell you. 330 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 1: Yes, I also saw that gap and was like, it 331 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,360 Speaker 1: sounds like probably the lower end was true, but they 332 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:54,920 Speaker 1: liked to brag about the higher end. I strongly suspect 333 00:20:54,960 --> 00:21:00,679 Speaker 1: that's accurate, but whatever the case, Yes, he did start 334 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: selling this machine around the world so that producers could 335 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 1: bottle their own beverages with his caps. 336 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 2: He had out an electric automatic machine by nineteen oh two, 337 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 2: which could do about sixty bottles a minute, and expanded 338 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 2: the Crown Company overseas, not only selling the machines to 339 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:26,640 Speaker 2: other producers, but opening cat making factories in England, France, Germany, 340 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:27,919 Speaker 2: Brazil and Japan. 341 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 1: When Painter died in nineteen oh six, he was quite 342 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: quite wealthy. 343 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, did very well for himself. Parallel to this, 344 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 2: other inventors were honing the production of glass bottles, and 345 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 2: from what I understand, the type of automated machines still 346 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 2: used today basically were on the scene by nineteen oh three. 347 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: The invention of the crown cap had a significant impact 348 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: on the beverage industry at large. It helped standardize bottle 349 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: sizes and shapes, It allowed for a lot of innovation 350 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 1: in the world of manufacturing, and allegedly inspired others in 351 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 1: various industries when it came to a single use item. 352 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, apparently the guy who founded Jillette, like the Razor Company, 353 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 2: got his idea for single use raisers from working at 354 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 2: the Crown company. But yeah, I mean, you know, like 355 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 2: it was really financially attractive to manufacturers to keep selling 356 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,400 Speaker 2: these new products instead of having customers reuse them or 357 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 2: return them for reuse and things like These. Crown caps 358 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 2: were also marketed as being more hygienic, which, by around 359 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 2: the turn of the century in the United States especially, 360 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 2: was like a really sellable idea. An ad from nineteen 361 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:51,359 Speaker 2: oh eight for the crown cap read the crown cork 362 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 2: can never be used, but once it's sanitary, it's pure. 363 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 2: It guarantees absolute cleanness. 364 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 1: It's something that comes up in a lot of our 365 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: episodes and is now very interesting in terms of what 366 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 1: we're dealing with. 367 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 2: But yeah, interesting is a great word for that. 368 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: It's the nicest word I could use. Well. Advances in 369 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:23,680 Speaker 1: technology changed the design of the Crown cap in nineteen fifteen. Basically, 370 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,720 Speaker 1: producers were able to replace the solid cork liners with 371 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 1: circular cuts from composite sheets composed from cork waste. Prohibition 372 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: in the nineteen twenties obviously impacted the Crown Company, which 373 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: by this point had branches around the world. A lot 374 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 1: of them were still largely focused on beer, so this 375 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:49,640 Speaker 1: was not good, so they pivoted from beer to focus 376 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 1: primarily on SODA's. They also started experimenting with canned ceiling 377 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 1: around the same time. By the prohibition's end, the Crown 378 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 1: cap was commonly used amongst a good chunk of commercialized 379 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 1: carbonated drinks. World War One was also harsh on the 380 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: business due to the interruption of ten and cork supply. 381 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 1: The Great Depression didn't help either. The company branched out 382 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: in numerous ways, from tin cans to cork car mats. 383 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 1: They did a lot of stuff, and they really had 384 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: some ups and downs in this time. 385 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 2: I will say they did, they but they really pulled through. 386 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 1: They did. The Crown Company was very successful and by 387 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: the nineteen thirties, they counted for around half of the 388 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 1: global market sales of bottle caps. Yeah. 389 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 2: By nineteen thirty seven they were producing over one hundred 390 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 2: and three billion crown caps per day around the world. 391 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:52,879 Speaker 1: Wow. Yeah. 392 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 2: They acquired a couple other companies too during this time, 393 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,360 Speaker 2: including the makers of Mason jars and also a tin 394 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 2: drink can company called Acme, which I always love when 395 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 2: that happens. Also in the nineteen thirties, German engineers reduced 396 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 2: the number of teeth on a crown cap from twenty 397 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 2: four to twenty one. It does make them a little 398 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:14,960 Speaker 2: bit easier to catch an edge of and pop off, 399 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 2: and that would become the international standard. 400 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 1: Ooh, I love that the cork lining remained the standard 401 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: until the nineteen sixties, when plastic disc became the norm 402 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 1: since they were less likely to deteriorate or be contaminated. 403 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 1: And the inability to close a bottle with a cround 404 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: cap after it had been opened led in part to 405 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: the innovation of the screw top in sixties as well. 406 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: There you go, there you go. Yeah. 407 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 2: But yeah, the crown cap is still so iconic that 408 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:56,199 Speaker 2: the candy company that would become Willy Wonka brands introduced 409 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 2: these soda flavored sort of chalky candy tablets in the 410 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 2: Ape of Crown Caps in nineteen seventy two. As of 411 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety four, Crowns bottling machines could fill in cap 412 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 2: one thousand, two hundred bottles a minute, so a decent, 413 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:18,719 Speaker 2: decent increase over four or eight or twenty four, whatever 414 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 2: the case may be. A Crown cap was included in 415 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 2: the Museum of Modern Arts two thousand and four exhibit 416 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 2: called Humble Masterpieces, alongside things like legos and a big 417 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:35,680 Speaker 2: lighter and yeah, weird innovation continues. As of two thousand 418 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,880 Speaker 2: and seven, this group of German sound design engineers were 419 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:42,200 Speaker 2: like trying to come up with ways to make crown 420 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:46,880 Speaker 2: caps sound different when you open them, like the pop 421 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 2: of a champagne bottle, say, or like cracking ice. 422 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 1: Ooh right, that's fascinating. I could not. 423 00:26:56,080 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 2: Find an update on that one. Yes, that fallout thing. Okay, 424 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 2: so given that crown caps do have a little bit 425 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 2: of like a mid century sort of vibe, we didn't 426 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 2: talk a lot in our fictional Foods Fallout episode about 427 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 2: the bottle cap economy of fallouts. Alternate history, post apocalypse 428 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:20,199 Speaker 2: world but yes, it's a whole thing. Bottle caps are 429 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:23,000 Speaker 2: used as money. Crown caps specifically are the types of 430 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 2: caps used mostly from soda brands. It's a whole thing. 431 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 2: In the game New Vegas when an operational bottle cap 432 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 2: press is found. 433 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 1: Oooh oh no. 434 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, but could crown caps really survive in apocalypse? The 435 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 2: thing is I didn't. I couldn't science this that hard, 436 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 2: but I would hazard that there's enough of them out 437 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 2: there that even if lots got like vaporized or rusted 438 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 2: to dust and waterways, there would in fact still be 439 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:58,919 Speaker 2: enough to be used as cash. 440 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:01,439 Speaker 1: I don't know whether to celebrate that or more in that, 441 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:02,199 Speaker 1: I don't know. 442 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:06,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, that brings us to our next note, because 443 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:08,679 Speaker 2: the fact that their single use is a little bit 444 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 2: of a problem today because they are rarely recycled and 445 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:14,959 Speaker 2: they do add up. They are apparently one of the 446 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 2: most littered items on beaches, second only to cigarette butts. 447 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 2: You know, hopefully researchers are going to help us address 448 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:26,320 Speaker 2: this source of waste in the future. In the meanwhile, 449 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 2: you can check again with your local recycling center about 450 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 2: whether they accept them or just make weird art out 451 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:33,679 Speaker 2: of them. I can't I can't tell you what to do, 452 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:37,400 Speaker 2: but yeah, the Crown Company is still going today. It's 453 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 2: deeper into the aluminum drink can business with like pop 454 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:45,200 Speaker 2: tops or pull tabs. Now, that's about sixty percent of 455 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 2: its business at this point. They also make aerosol cans. 456 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 1: But they have one. 457 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 2: Hundred and ninety five facilities in thirty nine countries and 458 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:56,959 Speaker 2: about twenty five thousand employees, with which they bring in 459 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 2: about twelve billion dollars a year net sales. So wow, 460 00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 2: they're doing okay for themselves. 461 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 1: I mean, like you said, such a if it's not broke, 462 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: don't fix it. Yeah, it seems so simple, but here 463 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: we are. 464 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, yeah, right again like that, that entire business 465 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 2: is not twelve billion dollars worth of Crown caps, but 466 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 2: mm hmm. 467 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: But it's a decent chunk. It's a decent chunk. It's 468 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 1: still around. Yeah. Yeah, Well, if anyone collects them, oh, 469 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 1: please let us know if you have any interesting ones 470 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: that you remember we're still own. Yeah, it would be 471 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 1: really cool. Absolutely, yeah, yeah, But I think that's what 472 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 1: we have to say about Crown Caps for now. 473 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 2: It is it is. We do already have some listener 474 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 2: mail for you though, and we're going to get into 475 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 2: that as soon as we get back from one more 476 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 2: quick break for a word from our sponsors. 477 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 1: And we're back. Thank you sponsored, Yes, thank you, and 478 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:22,680 Speaker 1: we're back with Crown Cap. The sound is also very satisfying, 479 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:27,520 Speaker 1: that's true. So I'm very intrigued by this experimentation with 480 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 1: the sound. 481 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't even know how that would work right anyway. 482 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 1: I don't either, but let us know. Listen about that. 483 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: Today we're breaking up a bit of a longer email. 484 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 1: As you know, we love long emails. I believe Christine 485 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 1: herself has written in and said, you said you liked 486 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:51,280 Speaker 1: this sucker, so here you go, so never hesitate to 487 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:54,640 Speaker 1: do that. Yeah, but yes, we're gonna we're gonna split 488 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 1: this one up. It is from Christine. Christine wrote, Annie, 489 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 1: I understand and your loathing of fairy floss machines candy 490 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 1: flow sounds weird. I learned the terror of the fairy 491 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:12,400 Speaker 1: floss machine just from just three times manning the damned 492 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: thing at Girl Guide fairs. It's one of those jobs 493 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:21,280 Speaker 1: people only do once voluntarily. I would rather be part 494 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 1: of the barbecue team on a forty degree celsius day 495 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:29,480 Speaker 1: than do the fairy floss. At least the barbecue team 496 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:34,360 Speaker 1: is a team and the barbecue has a rotation. The 497 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:41,120 Speaker 1: poor fairyfloss girl gets no similar consideration. But I don't 498 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:44,680 Speaker 1: want to talk about that infernal machine or tantrums because 499 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:47,480 Speaker 1: someone wants pink and there is only a green or 500 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 1: purple left. I'd much rather talk about spun sugar delights 501 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 1: from other countries. Starting furthest east and oldest is a 502 00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:01,000 Speaker 1: sweet I'd never heard of from China. The Dragon's Beard 503 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 1: candy legend says it was developed in the Han dynasty 504 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: and the Imperial kitchens and was always considered a dish 505 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:12,959 Speaker 1: associated only with the highest nobility. Because of its association 506 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 1: with imperial decadence and the Han in particular, it was 507 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:20,000 Speaker 1: one of the many foods banned by Malstong during the 508 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:23,120 Speaker 1: Great Leap Forward, and the method of making it was 509 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:28,800 Speaker 1: almost lost. Fortunately, as China started reclaiming its heritage and history, 510 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 1: Dragon's Beard candy was rediscovered and is becoming popular again. 511 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 1: There are multiple videos on YouTube reporting to show how 512 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 1: to make it and claiming it's easy. But I suspect 513 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 1: they're cheating, you know, with all the damage Chairman mounted 514 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 1: to China the Chinese people and Chinese culture. I would 515 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 1: like to suggest that henceforth, if necessary, we refer to 516 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 1: Chairman now as that guy. 517 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, motion past yeah. Absolutely all right, Christine continues. 518 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:06,520 Speaker 2: There is a similar candy that's popular in South Korea 519 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:09,560 Speaker 2: with the same name. As Korean food and culture became 520 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:12,120 Speaker 2: popular in the West, a story developed that this Korean 521 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:15,440 Speaker 2: sweet was also hundreds of years old. However, apparently it 522 00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:18,560 Speaker 2: first appeared around nineteen ninety as the Chinese were rediscovering 523 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:21,800 Speaker 2: it themselves. Moving west, we come to a spunge sugar 524 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 2: treat I think is absolutely divine, Persian pashmak. I think 525 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,840 Speaker 2: that's correct. We are fortunate in Australia to have an 526 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:33,200 Speaker 2: Iranian Australian family that started a thriving business making Persian sweets. 527 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 2: The business is called Poia, I think, and they manufacture 528 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 2: pashmak in vanilla, rose, lemon, orange blossom, saffron, and pistachio flavor. 529 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:44,120 Speaker 1: My favorite. 530 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:47,400 Speaker 2: The spunge sugar is pulled through fine flour that's been 531 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 2: roasted in ghee or sesame oil, and it resembles tufts 532 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 2: rather than strands. The flour and oil mean it's far 533 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:56,160 Speaker 2: more shelf stable than fairy floss, which is why it 534 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 2: can be sold in packages without turning to sludge. You 535 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:00,440 Speaker 2: can eat it straight from the packet or use it 536 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:03,680 Speaker 2: to decorate other desserts. It's sometimes called Persian fairy floss, 537 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:06,720 Speaker 2: a name I think is an insult. You can find 538 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:10,640 Speaker 2: versions throughout West Asia, and that brings us to the 539 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 2: finest sponge sugar based treat from India, Sublime son Popti. 540 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 2: The sponge sugar is combined somehow with fine wheat flour, 541 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:23,120 Speaker 2: flour from chickpeas, and ghee. The resulting texture is a 542 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:26,160 Speaker 2: block of very fine flakes, and the block is cut 543 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:31,040 Speaker 2: into smaller cubes Sone Papdi often has a flaked pistachios added, 544 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:34,320 Speaker 2: which makes it even better. The combination of sweet sugar 545 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:36,759 Speaker 2: and savory chickpea is one of the most surprising but 546 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:40,600 Speaker 2: delicious things I've ever tasted. So now I think I'll 547 00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 2: go and look at some of those dragons Beard candy 548 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:45,799 Speaker 2: videos because I can't find anywhere that sells it. 549 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 1: Oof. Oh, you're tempting yourself with something you can't have. 550 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 2: Ooh, yeah, all of that sounds so good? 551 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:58,360 Speaker 1: It does it does? 552 00:34:58,840 --> 00:35:01,480 Speaker 2: I mean sponge candy tends to be a little on 553 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:04,880 Speaker 2: the sweet side for me because it's just sugar. But 554 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:08,360 Speaker 2: I'm really interested in these other ones that righte that 555 00:35:08,440 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 2: have a little bit of like savory added in there. 556 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:15,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I would love if any listeners can bounce 557 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 1: off of this if you've had it, yeah, I made it. 558 00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:22,520 Speaker 1: Any of these, yeah, any of these. And also, Christine, 559 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 1: I appreciate your camaraderie in the pain of the Fairy 560 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:38,800 Speaker 1: False Machine because our super producer Andrew kind of brushed 561 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:46,560 Speaker 1: me off in our email about it, and I'm just 562 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:48,560 Speaker 1: glad to have someone on my side. 563 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:53,719 Speaker 2: Your feelings are valid, Annie. 564 00:35:54,280 --> 00:36:01,760 Speaker 1: Thank you. Oh it's fun to connect over people about 565 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:04,759 Speaker 1: those things that are so small you might never bring 566 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:06,399 Speaker 1: it up, you know, but. 567 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 2: Still you're still mad. 568 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, we're like, do you remember how angry were? 569 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:19,760 Speaker 1: So thank you. Thank you for that and for sharing 570 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:24,479 Speaker 1: all of this with us as well. Yes, well, thank 571 00:36:24,520 --> 00:36:27,080 Speaker 1: you to you Christine for writing in. If you would 572 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:29,480 Speaker 1: like to write to as you can, our email is 573 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:31,640 Speaker 1: Hello at savorpod dot com. 574 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:34,760 Speaker 2: We're also on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, 575 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:37,279 Speaker 2: and Instagram at saver pod and we do hope to 576 00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:40,120 Speaker 2: hear from you. Save is production of iHeartRadio. For more 577 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:43,000 Speaker 2: podcasts from my heart Radio, you can visit the iHeartRadio app, 578 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:45,920 Speaker 2: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. 579 00:36:46,239 --> 00:36:48,839 Speaker 2: Thanks as always to our super producers Dylan Fagan and 580 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 2: Andrew Howard. Thanks to you for listening, and we hope 581 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:59,839 Speaker 2: that lots work at things are coming your way.