The Upper Midwest Society of Steinologists

We are a group of antique beer stein collectors.  As collectors our interests are varied. We study all types of beer steins and collect them and many related items and other antiques. Upper Midwest Society of Steinologists web-site would like to reach out to others who may have an interest in collectible beer steins, to provide some basic information about steins and then feature links to where you can find more information.  If you have an interest in collectible beer steins we hope you will join us.

 Founded in 1968, our club has about 35 members that meet in March, May, September and November.  Meetings include stein talk and interesting speakers and usually a pot luck meal.  Members come from Minnesota and across the river in Wisconsin  and Iowa too. Do check the "About Us"  page of this website for pictures and more..

We are working hard to build our membership this year and we will welcome you heartily and introduce you to many other collectors. It is a fun and interesting group.

Membership in the Upper Midwest Society of Steinologists is $10 per year. That amount is for a single or a couple.  Go to our membership page if you have any questions there is a place for you to join.

Coming Soon--Steins for sale by club members and also steins that people would like to purchase. We will just be putting this page together.

The 2012 Stein Convention  will be held in Annapolis Maryland August 15, 16, 17th.

Steve Smith, a member of SCI has begun his own website. It is a great place to learn about steins. He has an excellent page on why beer steins have lids and it is not for the reason most commonly given the German purity law (CCL --covered container law) --we must dig deeper than that stein people.  Do check his site it is very good reading   WWW.STEVEONSTEINS.COM

The Deutsches Turnverein (German Gymnastics Association) was founded in the early 1800s by a school teacher, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (commonly known as Vater Jahn - Father Jahn), as a means of insuring that German youth would be fit for the upcoming struggle for German unity. Their motto was "Frisch, Fromm, Fröhlich, Frei" (Hardy, Pious, Cheerful, Free), which was symbolically displayed on steins, posters, post cards, and other memorabilia as four "F"s laid back to back and top to top, forming what at first glance appears to be a cross (fig 2). Turnerverein steins are popular with many collectors and are usually referred to as "4F steins". The steins usually depict gymnasts, the face of Vater Jahn, or what appears to be a victorious athlete, holding his club's flag, the salutaion "Gut Heil" (Good Health), and of course the 4F symbol.

Featured this month is a nice porcelain from this latter socialist organization. These steins are commonly referred to as an "FFST steins", the letters deriving from the changed motto. FFST steins are very similar in appearance to 4F steins and without close inspection can easily be mistaken for a 4F stein. In fact this particular stein was identified as an ordinary 4F stein in an auction catalog, but several sharp eyed collectors were not fooled. The differences are clearly shown in figures 1 and 2. On the FFST stein, the four "F"s are replaced by a an "S" overlaid by back to back FF"s and laid top to top with a "T". The salutation "Gut Heil" has been replaced by "Frei Heil".

Read the whole story at the website link below:

http://www.steincollectors.org/ 

Pewter Repair Services I Offer: I can attach a lid to your stein (either your original lid, your replacement lid, or a lid from my inventory), attach a thumblift to your stein (your original, your replacement, or one from my inventory), straighten or remove dents from pewter fittings, repair/restore your original pewter lid (modeling and casting) and more. I use chemicals to age my pewter repairs, and am usually able to match or reproduce the natural patina, although this cannot be 100% guaranteed. I do not sell parts, molds, chemicals or other supplies for pewter repair. steinsetc@charter.net

The "Links Page" contains links to other stein collecting chapters in the US and in Germany that are members of Stein Collectors International. www.steinverin.com, www.erstegruppe.com www.keysteiners.8k.com  

All stein collectors are familiar with the picture of a child, dressed in a cowl, with radishes in one hand, a filled beer stein in the other, smiling devilishly from a stein decoration. The saying on the stein is usually Gruss aus München, or translated, "Regards from Munich". But how many collectors know that this figure is really a semi-comic take-off of the official Munich coat-of-arms?

Here are a few historic notes about Munich, its coat-of-arms, and the Munich Child (Münchner Kindl):

The first written proof of Munich as a small settlement of monks dates from 1158 A.D. With the increase of the population, the town administration developed a constitution of the council. Soon a seal was used to prove the authenticity of town-council documents. The oldest seal of Munich, of which only fragments are left, with the presumable inscription "Sigillum Civitatis Monacensis" and the picture of a monk wearing an open hood, appears on a document of May 28, 1239.

In the course of the following centuries a number of slightly varying representations of the seal were used. But all of them show the monk with the book (of city laws) in his left hand, while his right hand with three outstretched fingers is held up. Next to most of these seals is shown a town gate and an eagle, which, in the fourteenth century, is replaced by a lion (of the coat-of-arms of the reigning dynasty of the Wittelsbachs). For some time the monk was represented in profile, later full-face and bare-headed.

Colorful representations of the town coat-of-arms go back to the fifteenth century. From then on the features of the heraldic figure began to lose their serious character, the face became more youthful, the hair sometimes even curly.

The present form of the official coat-of-arms with a monk in black cowl, (law) book and blessing in right hand, was given to Munich by the reigning king, Louis I, on September 16, 1834.

Traditionally, lederhosen were worn for hard physical work, since the ywere more durable than textile clothing and easier to clean.  They were widespread among German men of the Alpine and surrounding regions, including Austria, the highlands and mountains of Southern Germany. The concept of Lederhosen as quintessentially Bavarian clothing, and their use at festive occasions rather than for work, dates largely from this time.

The dirndl originated as a simplified form of folk costume; the uniform of Austrian servants in the 19th century (dirndlegewand means "maid's dress"). Simple forms were also worn commonly by working women in plain colours or a simple check. Originally, each village had its own style and crest. The Austrian upper classes adopted the dirndl as high fashion in the 1870s. Today, dirndls vary from simple styles to exquisitely crafted, very expensive models.

Featuring local landmark  the Hamm's Brewery located near  the Swede Hollow area of St. Paul.

And also the Archive Page have some info on steins and their history and some topics our members have researched in past months.

Gulaschsuppe (German Goulash Soup)

(Yield:  6 servings) 

2 TB canola oil

1 to 1 1/4 lb beef sirloin, trimmed of fat and cubed

1/2# diced pork

2 large onions, diced

1 chopped red pepper

5 large cloves garlic, minced

2 bay leaves

2 TB sweet paprika

1 1/2 tsp fresh minced thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried thyme)

1/2 tsp ground caraway seeds

1/2 tsp ground marjoram

Pinch cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)

6 c beef stock

2 oz tomato paste

Salt and pepper

In a 5-quart pot with a lid, heat oil on medium-high heat; add beef and sear on all sides (about 2-3 minutes per side).  Add onions and sauté until starting to soften (about 5 minutes).  Add garlic, bay leaves, paprika, thyme, caraway, marjoram, cayenne pepper, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper and sauté 1-2 minutes until everything is fragrant.  Add beef stock, and tomato paste and bring up to a boil.  Turn heat down to a simmer, cover the pot, and cook until beef is tender (about an hour), stirring occasionally.  Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired.

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