Collecting bottle caps can be a fun international hobby. The bottle cap, often called a crown cap, was the first thing a customer saw when they opened an old soda machine. Companies used them to seal bottles and promote brands, which led to unique designs worth collecting.
Instructions
1. Keep only what you like. It doesn't take a truckload of bottle caps to be a collector. You can keep bottle caps from beer bottles you've emptied, or you can seek out old bottle caps or bottle caps from around the world. The important thing is to hold on to the bottles caps and collect them in one place.
2. Pick a style of bottle caps to collect. Bottle caps come in a variety of styles and designs. Start by deciding whether you want to collect caps from unused bottles or used bottles. Also decide if you want cork-lined, plastic lined or spot crowns which are lined with discs made from products like paper, tin, foil or rubber.
3. Find international bottle caps to expand your collection. You can buy crowns from international collectors at conventions and via the Internet.
4. Repair your damaged bottle caps, if you're a serious collector. To do this, buy a crown press and a half ton arbor press. These tools allow you to repair dents and damage caused by opening the bottle without damaging the paint on your bottle cap.
5. Collect unusual bottle caps. There are special opener crowns that were designed as experiments to open bottles easier. The standard for the points, or corrugations, on the skirt of a crown are 21; however, various corrugations were used before this became standard. Seek out collector crowns issued by crown collectors that were produced to promote, celebrate or market special events.
6. Join the Crowncap Collectors Society International. Here, you can get in contact with other collectors interested in buying, selling or trading bottle caps. This society hosts Crownventions, produces a newsletter and has commemorative crowns. Their website offers information and forums for bottle cap collectors.
