NO JOKE! COURT JESTER ANHEUSER-BUSCH BEER TRAY, 1898

A 1898 Anheuser-Busch Beer Tray – An Extremely Rare Vintage Collectible

This is one of my favorite collectibles – a beautiful beer serving tray referred to as the  “Page Boy” or “Court Jester” tray made for Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association in St. Louis, MO in 1898.  This colorful tray is listed in the Vintage Anheuser-Busch Collector’s Guide as being “very rare” and is considered by collectors as the rarest Anheuser-Busch tray known. It is an oversized metal tray and was produced by the Chas. W. Shonk Company in Chicago, Illinois.  It illustrates a court jester on the left side and many of the company’s beer brands on the top including Budweiser, Faust, Michelob, Muenchner, Pale, Exquisite, Burgundy, Standard, and Liquid Bread. The tray has an inscription that reads, “Copyright 1898 by Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association.”

Although many historians thought Michelob was produced after Prohibition (1919-1933), this tray confirms it was a pre-Prohibition brand since it includes the date of 1898 on the tray.  Only a handful of these trays are known to exist and most are not in very good condition.

Anheuser-Busch Historical Success

In the 1870’s, most U.S. breweries sold beer only in the community in which they operated. However, Adolphus Busch was the pioneer in creating a beer that would appeal to people of many origins and communities. In 1876, the Budweiser brand was introduced as the company’s first national beer brand and became their flagship brand. It was a lager beer that appealed to many communities and became immensely popular. In 1896, the company also introduced its first specialty beer brand, Michelob.

Anheuser-Busch used traditional and more strategic selling methods compared to competitors. The company originated the use of pasteurization and refrigerated railcars, enabling them to transport beer longer distances without spoiling. AB also spearheaded the use of giveaways and premiums. The company used the brewery as a showplace for the public to visit. In 1901, the company’s growth surpassed the one million barrels of beer sales, establishing them back then as one of the nation’s leading breweries. From those early innovative efforts, their success continues today.