Phillies Oddballs: Helmar Brewery Locks
John Titus - Helmar Padlock
One of the most interesting collectibles I have come across recently are small padlocks produced by the Michigan-based Helmar Brewing Company. At first glance, you might think you found a vintage advertising piece from the early 1900s - but don't be fooled... these were produced within the past 10 years to look 100 years old!
In the early 2000s Charles Mandel established the regional beer brand, Helmar Brewing Company. To help market his beers, Mandel created various products such as cards and these locks as well as decorative floor displays and signs. The artwork and classic design techniques employed by the artists began attracting collectors - and soon, what started as a way to promote their products, turned into the product.
The locks were sold as closures on Helmar's magnum sized beer bottles. They typically feature a painting of a pre-war baseball player under a raised glass dome, though some were also designed with business names, too. The backs have, "Helmar Brewing Company" stamped on them. Per the Helmar Brewing Company blog, as few as three of each design/player were created - which, though contemporary, makes it a fairly rare find. While prices for the brewery's baseball cards and displays can reach triple figures, prices for these locks are fairly reasonable, often found in the $20-25 range.
