Old capper testing

[Ward Chillington]

So I have this old capper that I found in a barn decades ago that I cleaned up and painted the base as it was the more corroded part. It's always seemed like a cool salvage job and last week I finally finished it and I've been "testing" the seal it makes on some bottles.

The tests are, left to right, a half bottle of brew that I shake up daily to see if there's any off gassing that I can see or hear. Next is an empty bottle inverted into a glass of water to see if there is any visible seepage from the glass into the bottle. Then last is another half full bottle of brew that I shake up daily that is inverted into an empty glass to see if there is any seepage forced out by the carbonation into the empty glass.
So far everything that I can see is indicating a good seal so my question for the forum is what anyone thinks is another worthwhile test?

Here's a site with a little history of the company and the capper for your bunny-trailing time suck amusement. Mine's a spring loaded die cut, pressed metal model that I'm thinking is about 80 years old despite the patent stamp of 1920 on it.

madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/indestro-duro-metal/

 

[Megary]

First off, that thing is just outstanding! Love it.

I think your tests are good enough, but my only suggestion is to bottle two beers as you would normally and cap one with your regular capper and the other with the old barn capper. Let the beers carbonate a few weeks and then pop them open. See if you notice any difference in fizz, aroma, head retention etc.

 

[Minbari]

I say the proof is in the pudding. Cap one, let it sit for a month.

*Spsh* and tastes good. It's working

 

[Ward Chillington]

*Spsh* and tastes good.

B E S T

S O U N D

E V E R. !!!!

 

[Buckzilla]

I have my grandfathers old birch beer capper like this and it seals great. It works well for reusing twist off bottle without cracking the glass threads.

 

[west1m]

Saw this at the antique store down town today.

 

[Donoroto]

Let temperature do some work. Bottle full of very hot water, cool it to see if air leaks in. Very cold half-bottle of water, get it hot to see if it seeps.

Beware! The hot water WILL shrink and leave a bubble, even if you cap onto liquid! What you want to see is if it still has a vacuum after a time. Heat it back up, the bubble should disappear.

 

[Ward Chillington]

Saw this at the antique store down town today.
View attachment 21537

Looks like the same lever unit but a different base...was it an Indestro?

 

[Ward Chillington]

Let temperature do some work. Bottle full of very hot water, cool it to see if air leaks in. Very cold half-bottle of water, get it hot to see if it seeps.

Beware! The hot water WILL shrink and leave a bubble, even if you cap onto liquid! What you want to see is if it still has a vacuum after a time. Heat it back up, the bubble should disappear.

Hmmm...I was thinking an Alkiseltzer dropped into some water then invert the bottle to see if any seepage comes out or the bottle explodes!

 

[Donoroto]

Hmmm...I was thinking an Alkiseltzer dropped into some water then invert the bottle to see if any seepage comes out or the bottle explodes!

That'll tell you something too!

 

[west1m]

Looks like the same lever unit but a different base...was it an Indestro?

I did not take it off the shelf so didn't catch the brand.
I was afraid if I had gotten too close it would follow me home.

 

[Ward Chillington]

I did not take it off the shelf so didn't catch the brand.
I was afraid if I had gotten too close it would follow me home.

Lol...yeah I'm that way at the LHBS!

 

[Tim Bulin]

I have 3 antique cappers, all “Ideal” have one mounted on a plank of wood to keep it stable and use it all the time.

I will continue to use it until/unless my Great Great Grandfather’s capper(I believe it was used in the former Bulin Brewery ran by HIS father) shows up. Supposed to be somewhere around at either Grandpa’s place or my late great grandpa’s house.

 

[The Brew Mentor]

I have a few if there are any collectors

 

[Ward Chillington]

Don'tcha just love good old stuff that just keeps working?

 

[Robby]

So I have this old capper that I found in a barn decades ago that I cleaned up and painted the base as it was the more corroded part. It's always seemed like a cool salvage job and last week I finally finished it and I've been "testing" the seal it makes on some bottles.
View attachment 21514

The tests are, left to right, a half bottle of brew that I shake up daily to see if there's any off gassing that I can see or hear. Next is an empty bottle inverted into a glass of water to see if there is any visible seepage from the glass into the bottle. Then last is another half full bottle of brew that I shake up daily that is inverted into an empty glass to see if there is any seepage forced out by the carbonation into the empty glass.
So far everything that I can see is indicating a good seal so my question for the forum is what anyone thinks is another worthwhile test?

Here's a site with a little history of the company and the capper for your bunny-trailing time suck amusement. Mine's a spring loaded die cut, pressed metal model that I'm thinking is about 80 years old despite the patent stamp of 1920 on it.

madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/indestro-duro-metal/

So I have this old capper that I found in a barn decades ago that I cleaned up and painted the base as it was the more corroded part. It's always seemed like a cool salvage job and last week I finally finished it and I've been "testing" the seal it makes on some bottles.
View attachment 21514

The tests are, left to right, a half bottle of brew that I shake up daily to see if there's any off gassing that I can see or hear. Next is an empty bottle inverted into a glass of water to see if there is any visible seepage from the glass into the bottle. Then last is another half full bottle of brew that I shake up daily that is inverted into an empty glass to see if there is any seepage forced out by the carbonation into the empty glass.
So far everything that I can see is indicating a good seal so my question for the forum is what anyone thinks is another worthwhile test?

Here's a site with a little history of the company and the capper for your bunny-trailing time suck amusement. Mine's a spring loaded die cut, pressed metal model that I'm thinking is about 80 years old despite the patent stamp of 1920 on it.

madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/indestro-duro-metal/

I have a very similar capper that i bought new in late 1972 when I first started brewing. It always sealed well and the only problem was that I prefer German 1/2 Liter bottles. Those are slightly larger diameter and the bottle and cap would be slightly stuck after capping and I'd have to give it a twist to remove. I've been kegging for years and don't use it anymore.