Vintage Beer Pump

[Jmeyers]

Found this bad boy under the front porch right before winter. Was thinking about cleaning it up and trying her out but I wanted to get some more information on it. I tried to research it on the internet but found absolutly nothing. The label reads "GLUEKS" and the slogan is "Beer for the man who knows" which I think is awesome! anyone know of any background on this company?

I thought it would be fun to hook her up and throw a little shin-dig but I seem to be missing a conection piece on the top of the tapping system (last picture). Any of you seen one of these or have any idea where I would go about finding one? I know it will be hard to find because it's basically an antique but still think it

would be fun to give it shot. Any info is helpful

[TooTallTom]

This article contains a little history into the original brand, but what was being killed off was a line of beer owned by Cold Spring Brewing, in Cold Spring, MN. I don't know if Gluek's was an independant company in the 1990's when Cold Spring Brewing bought it or if they just purchased the brand from another conglomerate.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collect...e-no-more.shtml

But that is a pretty cool piece you found. Looks like you're maybe missing a hose connecting the pump to the cooler box?

[LightningBG]

That is pretty cool. The only piece you're missing is the hose from the keg to the box. But.... the box has another issue (kinda). The purpose of a box like this is to get the beer VERY cold before it hits the glass. Ideally, instead of that little hose/pipe from the side of the box to the spigot, there would be a long coil of copper or aluminum tubing coiled from the side of the box, down to the bottom, then back up to the spigot. Then the box would be packed with ice and water, so the beer travels a distance through the icy cold water.

Like this:

[Nate McVey]

From what I can see, the tap head that's on there isn't going to fix today's kegs and you are missing a tube from the keg to the tap. Those boxes are designed to cool the beer in the line on the way to the glass so you don't have to worry about icing down the keg. Today's modern "jockey boxes" use copper or steel tubing coiled up for this purpose. You then ice down the lines so the beer has to travel through the chilled coils.

It's a pretty cool piece, might be able to sell it to a bar or brewery if you wanted to.

Thanks for posting the picture, we must have been typing at the same time.

[Jmeyers]

I actually do have the second hose I just left it out of the picture... The hose connects to the side of the box and then to the top of the keg tap, only problem is I think I'm missing the male piece that goes on the top of the keg tap to screw the other side of the hose in... Any idea where i could find something like that? or is it outdated?

[LightningBG]

Those Jockey boxes work pretty good too. If we have a big group up to the cabin, we'll grab a couple kegs and borrow a box. Then we just throw the kegs in the garage with a couple blankets on them until they are ready to be drank. Beer is icy cold.

[LightningBG]

That pump is probably shot too. but all the parts should be available to get it updated and operational.

[Nate McVey]

I think your best bet would be to buy a new tapper for it and replace the hoses. Like I said, that tapper wont fit today's kegs so if you want to use it you'll have to replace it.

Check out beveragefactory.com and look at the "Jockey Box 50' conversion kit" You could modernize it for about $150.

[Tom7227]

Glueks was a popular brand in the early 1900's and I think it may have been around until the late 60's or so. Obviously it is one of the old names that has been re-born and when you do the google all you get is the recent stuff, at least for as far as I wanted to research. I think back around 1915 or so by Great Grandfather was involved in some sort of shenanigans about whether Glueks or Hamms could be sold at a second bar at Rice and Maryland in Saint Paul.

[Billy_Burbout]

Tom is right. Its an old beer company that sold out. A lot of old timers on here iam sure had some. Please before you do any repairing to show the piece to someone who could tell you what it is worth. Glueks stuff is hard to find and i would hate to see you fix up a great old piece with new items only to lower its original value. It is a very cool find.

[SkunkedAgain]

Give Northern Brewer a call in St. Paul. Those guys know a lot about keg systems and might be able to either get you the parts, help you repair it, or point you in the right direction.

[Jmeyers]

Give Northern Brewer a call in St. Paul. Those guys know a lot about keg systems and might be able to either get you the parts, help you repair it, or point you in the right direction.

Thanks for the tip, I'm going to give them a call as soon as I got the time