Illustrations

All illustrations were created by Steve Lanford and Chuck Adkins.

Disclaimer

The mention of trade names or commercial products in this report does not constitute endorsement or recommendation 

for use by the federal government.

Authors

Steve Lanford is an Archaeology Technician with the Bureau of Land Management, Fairbanks District Office, in 

Fairbanks, Alaska.

Robin O. Mills is an Archaeologist with the Bureau of Land Management, Fairbanks District Office in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Open File Reports

Open File Reports issued by the Bureau of Land Management-Alaska present the results of inventories or other 

investigations on a variety of scientific and technical subjects that are made available to the public outside the formal 

BLM-Alaska technical publication series. These reports can include preliminary or incomplete data and are not published 

or distributed in quantity.

The reports are available while supplies last from the BLM Public Information Center, 222 West 7th Avenue #13, 

Anchorage, Alaska 99513, telephone (907) 271-5960; and from the Juneau - John Rishel Minerals Information Center, 

100 Savikko Road, Mayflower Island, Douglas, AK 99824, (907) 586-7751. Copies are also available for inspection at 

the Alaska Resource Library and Information Service (Anchorage), the USDI Resources Library in Washington, D.C., 

various libraries of the University of Alaska, the BLM National Business Center Library (Denver), and other selected 

locations.

A complete bibliography of all BLM-Alaska scientific reports can be found on the Internet at: http://www.blm.gov/ak/ .

The BLM Mission

The Bureau of Land Management sustains the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and 

enjoyment of present and future generations.

BLM/AK/ST-07/006+8100+024


p

B

p
2

SOURCES OF THE IMAGES AND HOW THEY WERE CREATED

The lithographic images were taken from both archaeological specimens and cans 

bought on the Internet. Field experience has demonstrated that due to differential 

weathering, colors are unreliable for recognizing images. Accordingly, the break 

between yellow and white colors within some cans’ vertical information panels has 

been denoted using a “hairline.” This needs to be understood when reading attribute 

descriptions and comparing them to the black-and-white images, which were chosen 

over color images to provide clearer understanding of the image shapes. 

The images were created using a flatbed scanner. Multiple “slices” of the 

lithographic label were scanned through a one-inch-wide slot in a mask on the 

scanner as the can was rotated sequentially from the body seam around the can back 

to the body seam. Those slices were then merged using image editing software. 

Once the scanned color image was pieced together, a graphics drawing program 

was used to create the black and white image, with the scanned image serving 

as a template. Certain choices that we made to ease production do not change an 

attribute’s chronology: (1) the Arab figure is one of two generic figures that do not 

include subtle changes made over time to the flowers on his robe; (2) some fonts are 

approximations in correct locations, not exact tracings; (3) fractions may be printed 

2/3 rather than 2 over 3; and (4) an originally underlined word in the side panel may 

not be underlined.
p

p
4

A word of caution—there are replica Hills Bros. cans in existence. These cans 

have a lithography style from the 1900–1906 period, yet they have straight sides with 

body rings (post-1963 for Hills Bros. cans) and a cut-out top style. These replica cans 

are not included in this guide.

HOW TO USE THE BOOKLET

Each image in the booklet has arrows and numbers pointing to attributes on 

the can. These attributes are identifiable “fragments” of the image with their own 

date ranges. Attributes combine in such a way as to form a chronologically discrete 

lithographic image. Users may find that certain attributes become key triggers for 

identification. Some users may discover that an “attribute checklist” approach works 

best for them, while others may prefer matching the images with the can and then 

cross-checking against the attribute. 

The images in the booklet are arranged chronologically from the original 

vacuum-packed can in 1900 to the selected cut-off date of 1963. The images are 

arranged on the page as if the can were held in the hand at eye level, with the can 

seam in the center, and then rotated so that the image is revealed from the right. This 

allows consistency in the numbering of the panels. Panels are “blocks” of the figure 

and are sequentially numbered from the seam, going to the right, around the can, and 

back to the seam (e.g., can seam \ Panel 1\ Panel 2 \ Panel 3 \ etc. back to the can 

seam).

6

References

T. Carroll Wilson, 1967, A Background Story of Hills Bros. Coffee, Inc. Hills Bros 

Coffee, Inc., San Francisco.

T. Carroll Wilson, 1976, The Origin and Development of Vacuum-Packed Coffee. 

Tea and Coffee Trade Journal, Sept. pp. 22–24, 46–47, 66.

James T. Rock, 1994, Coffee: Common Shapes. Unpublished manuscript in 

possession of the authors.
7

• 2 lb Tapered Can Fig. 1 (1900-1906)

• “Java and Mocha” Fig. 2 (1903-1906)

• “Highest Grade Coffee” Fig. 3 (1906-1914(A))

Fig. 4 (1906-1914(B))

• “Red Can Brand” Fig. 5 (1914-ca.1920)

 Fig. 6 (ca.1920-1922)

Logic Tree 1, Panels with Arab figure present

Arab in Left panel

Hills Bros Coffee Can

Q(1) Is the Arab in the 

Left or Center panel?

Arab in the Center

Q(2) Words “Hills Bros”

Title Caps or ALL CAPS?

Title Caps

Q(3) arm of “r” in Bros

Straight or Curved?

ALL CAPS

Q(4)leg of “R” in BROS

Straight or Curved?

Curved leg “R”-Fig. 13, 14, and 15 (1945-1963)

Straight leg “R”

Period after BROS

Yes or No?

{ Straight arm “r”-Fig. 7-9 (1922-1932)

Curved arm “r”- Fig. 10 (1932-1936)

Yes-Fig. 11 (1936-1939)

No-Fig. 12 (1939-1942)

10

Logic Tree 2, Information Panel Borders (continued)

(6) “One-Line Square Corners” 

see: Fig. 13, panels 1, 3, and 5

Fig. 14, panels 1, 3, and 5

Fig. 15, panels 1, 3, and 5

(4) “Two-Line Stepped Corners”

see: Fig. 11, panels 1, 3, and 5

(5) “One-Line Stepped Corners”

see: Fig. 12, panels 1, 3, 5

13

Figure 2: 1903 - 1906

3 2 5 6 4

54

8 10 15

9
Figure 3:1906 - 1914 (A)

15

3 4 20

22

2 16 12 7 18 14 19 15

23 11 21 13
17

Figure 4:1906 - 1914 (B)

3 24 25 4

22

2 16 12 7 14 15

26 17 11 21 13 29 28

27 18 80
19

Figure 5: 1914 - ca1920

3

38

30 37 36

22

2 16 12 33 18 19 15

31 11 21 13 34 32 35

AMERICAN CAN CO. 94 A VACUUM PACKAGE AND PROCESS PATENTED

1 lb Net Weight

REG U.S. PAT. OFF.

TRADEMARKREGCANADA

1 lb Net Weight

REG U.S. PAT. OFF.

TRADEMARKREGCANADA

AMERICAN CAN CO. 94 A VACUUM PACKAGE AND PROCESS PATENTED

A W A R D E D G O L D M E D A L P A N A M A - P A C I F I C

I N T E R N A T I O N A L E X P O S I T I O N , S A N F R A N C I S C O , 1 9 1 5

A W A R D E D G O L D M E D A L P A N A M A - P A C I F I C

I N T E R N A T I O N A L E X P O S I T I O N , S A N F R A N C I S C O , 1 9 1 5

H

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.U.S.A. ILLS BROS.

CIENT TO CAUSE

CREATES

GAS OR AROMA

OF COFFEE WILL VAPORIZE

IAL

UNDER CERTAIN

CONDITIONS AND WHEN

PACKED IN A HERMATI C A L LY S E A L E D C A N

P R E S S U R E

THE

BULGE.

THE VOLATILE ESSENTS O M E T I M E S S U F F -

HEAD OF THE CAN TO

WASTED.

C O F F E E L O G I C

NATURE PRODUCES THE FLAVOR

O F T H E C O F F E E - W E D E V E L O P A N D

PRESERVE THE FLAVOR BY SCIENTIFIC

METHODS OF BLENDING, ROASTING

AND PACKING. THE COFFEE IS TURNED OVER TO YOU IN PERFECT CONDITION. HERE OUR RESPONSIBILITY

CEASES, AND UNLESS YOU WILL COOPERATE WITH US BY SEEING THAT

THE COFFEE IS MADE PROPERLY OUR

EFFORTS AND YOUR MONEY WILL BE

(VACUUM PACKED) (VACUUM PACKED)

O I L
21

Figure 6: ca1920 - 1922

AMERICAN CAN CO. 94-A VACUUM PACKAGE AND PROCESS PATENTED AMERICAN CAN CO. 94-A VACUUM PACKAGE AND PROCESS PATENTED

AWARDED GOLD MEDAL PA N A M A - PA C I F I C

INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION,SAN FRANCISCO,1915

(VACUUM PACKED)

REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

AWARDED

TRADEMARKREG.CANADA

GOLD MEDAL PA N A M A - PA C I F I C

INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION,SAN FRANCISCO,1915

(VACUUM PACKED)

REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

TRADEMARKREG.CANADA

S A N F R A N C I S C O

C A L I F . U . S . A .

WASTED.

C O F F E E L O G I C

NATURE PRODUCES THE FLAVOR

O F T H E C O F F E E - W E D E V E L O P A N D

PRESERVE THE FLAVOR BY SCIENTIFIC

METHODS OF BLENDING, ROASTING

AND PACKING. THE COFFEE IS TURNED OVER TO YOU IN PERFECT CONDITION. HERE OUR RESPONSIBILITY

CEASES, AND UNLESS YOU WILL COOPERATE WITH US BY SEEING THAT

THE COFFEE IS MADE PROPERLY OUR

EFFORTS AND YOUR MONEY WILL BE

42

38 31 11 21 13 34 32 35

37 36

22

2 16 12 33 18 19 15

41

39 40
Figure 7:1922 - 1926

23

A . C . CO 9 4 A

S A N F R A N C I S C O

C A L I F . U . S . A .

P A C K E D A N D G U A R A N T E E D B Y

COFFEE LOGIC

N AT U R E P R O D U C E S T H E F L AV O R

O F F I N E C O F F E E - W E D E V E L O P A N D

P R E S E RV E T H E F L AV O R B Y S C I E N T I F I C

M E T H O D S O F B L E N D I N G, R O A S T I N G

A N D PA C K I N G. T H E C O F F E E I S T U R N -

E D O V E R T O Y O U I N P E R F E C T C O N -

D I T I O N . H E R E O U R R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y

C E A S E S , A N D U N L E S S Y O U W I L L C O -

O P E R A T E W I T H U S B Y S E E I N G T H A T

T H E C O F F E E I S M A D E P R O P E R LY, O U R

E F F O R T S A N D Y O U R M O N E Y W I L L B E

WA S T E D .

C T R A D E M A R K R E G. U . S . PAT. O F F. C T R A D E M A R K R E G. U . S . PAT. O F F.

42

46

37

22

45 44 16 12 47 18 19 15 39 53

43

48 21 49 50 52 11 51
Figure 8: 1926

25

A . C . CO 9 4 A

S A N F R A N C I S C O

C A L I F . U . S . A .

P A C K E D A N D G U A R A N T E E D B Y

COFFEE LOGIC

N AT U R E P R O D U C E S T H E F L AV O R

O F F I N E C O F F E E - W E D E V E L O P A N D

P R E S E RV E T H E F L AV O R B Y S C I E N T I F I C

M E T H O D S O F B L E N D I N G, R O A S T I N G

A N D PA C K I N G. T H E C O F F E E I S T U R N -

E D O V E R T O Y O U I N P E R F E C T C O N -

D I T I O N . H E R E O U R R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y

C E A S E S , A N D U N L E S S Y O U W I L L C O -

O P E R A T E W I T H U S B Y S E E I N G T H A T

T H E C O F F E E I S M A D E P R O P E R LY, O U R

E F F O R T S A N D Y O U R M O N E Y W I L L B E

WA S T E D .

C T R A D E M A R K R E G. U . S . PAT. O F F. C T R A D E M A R K R E G. U . S . PAT. O F F.

42 37 45 44 16 12 47 18 19 15 39 53

54

48 21 49 50 52 11 51 43
Figure 9:1927-1932

27

A . C . C .O 9 4 A

S A N F R A N C I S C O

C A L I F . U . S . A .

P A C K E D A N D G U A R A N T E E D B Y

H i l l s B r o s .

E S T A B L I S H E D 1 8 7 8

N O T I C E

O N L Y N A T U R E C A N P R O D U C E T H E

F L AV O R O F F I N E C O F F E E . T H R O U G H

S C I E N T I F I C M E T H O D S , O F B L E N D I N G,

R O A S T I N G A N D P A C K I N G . W E

D E V E L O P A N D P R E S E R V E T H I S

F L AV O R . W E C A N D O N O M O R E . T H E

C O F F E E I N T H I S C A N I S T U R N E D

O V E R T O Y O U I N P E R F E C T C O N -

D I T I O N . I F Y O U W I L L C O O P E R A T E

W I T H U S B Y S E E I N G T H AT T H E C O F -

F E E I S C A R E F U L L Y A N D P R O P E R L Y

M A D E , O U R C O M B I N E D E F F O R T S

W I L L R E S U L T I N A P E R F E C T C U P .

Our booklet on coffee making

will be sent upon request.

C T R A D E M A R K R E G. U . S . PAT. O F F. C T R A D E M A R K R E G. U . S . PAT. O F F.

42 37 45 44 16 12 47 18 19 15 39 56 54

43

48 21 49 50 52 11 51
Figure 10: 1932 - 1936

29

T H E F I N E S T C O F F E E S A R E S E L E C T E D F O R

T H I S B L E N D A N D D E V E L O P E D T O F U L L U N I -

F O R M F L AV O R B Y O U R E X C L U S I V E P R O C E S S

“ C O N T R O L L E D R O A S T I N G ”

P A C K E D A N D G U A R A N T E E D B Y

H i l l s B r o s .

S A N F R A N C I S C O , C A L I F. , U . S . A .

E S T A B L I S H E D 1 8 7 8

NOTICE

O N L Y N A T U R E C A N P R O D U C E T H E

F L A V O R O F F I N E C O F F E E . T H R O U G H

S C I E N T I F I C M E T H O D S O F B L E N D I N G ,

R O A S T I N G A N D PA C K I N G, W E D E V E L O P

A N D P R E S E R V E T H I S F L AV O R . I F Y O U

W I L L L C O O P E R AT E W I T H U S B Y U S I N G

C A R E I N M A K I N G T H E B E V E R A G E ,

O U R C O M B I N E D E F F O R T S W I L L

R E S U L T I N A P E R F E C T C U P.

T H I S C O F F E E S H O U L D N O T B E

R E G R O U N D F O R I T W I L L G I V E

P E R F E C T R E S U L T S W H E N M A D E I N

A D R I P P O T , P E R C O L A T O R O R U R N ,

O R B Y A N Y A P P R O V E D M E T H O D .

Full directions for coffee making

will be sent upon request.

A . C . C O . 9 4 - A

T R A D E M A R K R E G. U . S . PAT. O F F.

COPYRIGHT 1922- 1932 BY HILLS BROS.

T R A D E M A R K R E G. U . S . PAT. O F F.

COPYRIGHT 1922- 1932 BY HILLS BROS.

58 69 12 59 19 15 57

63

57 44 16 47 54

43

21

61 60 49 50 52 62 51
31

Figure 11: 1936 - 1939

4 5 4 G R A M S N E T W E I G H T O N E P O U N D N E T W E I G H T

COPYRIGHT 1922-32-36 BY HILLS BROS. TRADE MARKS REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. A.C. CO. 94-A X COPYRIGHT 1922-32-36 BY HILLS BROS. TRADE MARKS REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

The Original

Vacuum Pack

The Original

Vacuum Pack

“ C O N T O L L E D R O A S T I N G ”

T H E F I N E S T C O F F E E S A R E S E L E C T E D F O R

THIS BLEND AND DEVELOPED TO FULL UNIFORM FLAVOR BY OUR EXCLUSIVE PROCESS

PA C K E D A N D G U A R A N T E E D B Y:

H I L L S B R O S .

S A N F R A N C I S C O , C A L I F. , U . S . A .

E S T A B L I S H E D 1 8 7 8

G O O D C O F F E E

D E S E R V E S C A R E I N B R E W I N G

OF HILLS BROS. COFFEE

IS A STANDARD SET BY OUR KNOWLEDGE OF

COFFEE ACQUIRED THROUGH MORE THAN HALF

A CENTURY OF ROASTING AND PACKING COFFEE

IS AS FINE AS COFFEE

SHOULD BE GROUND, FINER GRINDING SACRIFICES FLAVOR AND AROMA, AS WELL AS KEEPING

QUALITIES AFTER THE CAN IS OPENED. THIS

COFFEE SHOULD NOT BE REGROUND.

IS GUARANTEED TO PRODUCE THE FINEST TASTING BEVERAGE IN ANY

TYPE OF COFFEE-MAKER.

DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING COFFEE BY THE METHOD

YOU USE WILL BE SENT ON REQUEST.

O N E P O U N D N E T W E I G H T

58 68 16 65 47 67 19 71 54

43

21 73 72 50 62 51

66 70

61 74 64
Figure 12: 1939 - 1942

33

58 76 16 65 47 67 80 77 54

43

41 79 72 50 62 51

66 81

75 61 21 74 64 78MARCA REGISTRADA

REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.
Figure 13: 1945 - 1952

35

Red Can Brand The Original Vacuum Pack T R A D E M A R K S R E G . U . S . P A T . O F F . R E G . U . S . P A T . O F F .

T H E F I N E S T C O F F E E S A R E S E L E C T E D F O RT H I S B L E N D A N D D E V E L O P E D T O F U L L U N I -F O R M F L AV O R B Y O U R E X C L U S I V E P R O C E S S“ C O N T R O L L E D R O A S T I N G ”

COPYRIGHT 1922-32-36 BY HILLS BROS.

Red Can Brand The Original Vacuum Pack T R A D E M A R K S R E G . U . S . P A T . O F F . R E G . U . S . P A T . O F F .

NET WEIGHT ONE POUND (454 GRAMS) 1 LB. NET PACKED AND GUARANTEED BY HILLS BROS. COFFEE, INC. 2 H A R R I S O N S T . , S A N F R A N C I S C O , C A L I F . , U . S . A . P L A N T S A T S A N F R A N C I S C O A N D E D G E W A T E R , N . J . E S TA B L I S H E D 1 8 7 8

1 LB. NET

1 LB. NET

1 LB. NET

FOR ANY METHOD OF COFFEE MAKING

MEASURE CAREFULLY: 2 level tablespoons of coffee to each

cup of water. Vary water slightly for exact strength desired.

Consistent timing is important. Keep coffee-maker clean.

COFFEEPOT: Bring coffee and water ju st to boiling point.

Remove from heat. Stir well. Add small amount of cold water

and let stand 5 minutes to settle grounds.

STEEPING: Pour boiling water on coffee. Stir well. Stir again in

5 minutes. Steep 5 to 10 minutes more. Keep hot but not not boil.

PERCOLATOR: “Perk” gently 7 to 10 minutes after pumping starts.

VACUUM METHOD: Put upper bowl on after water boils. Stir

mixture well in upper bowl. Control heat to keep water and

coffee in contact 5 to 7 minutes.

DRIP METHOD: Use fresh, briskly boiling water. If less than

2/3 capacity is made, water may drip too fast, giving weak

brew. When dripping is completed, remove upper section. Stir

brew and serve.

COMPLETE DIRECTIONS SENT ON REQUEST

C O P Y R I G H T 1 9 3 9 - 4 2 - 4 5 B Y H I L L S B R O S . C O F F E E , I N C .

58 85 83 65 84 80 77

82

54

43

92 95 62 94

47 87

75 90 86 (5 to 7 minutes) 91 93 64 88 78MARCA REGISTRADA
37

Figure 14: 1952 - 1963 (A)

58 85 83 65 84 80 77

82 54

43

92 95 62 94

47

98 (approximately 5 minutes)96 97 91 93 64 88

75 89

100

1 L B N E T

87

R E G . U . S . P AT. O F F. T R A D E M A R K S R E G . U . S . P AT. O F F.
39

Figure 15:1952 - 1963 (B)

NET WEIGHT ONE POUND (454 GRAMS)

FOR DRIP POT OR VACUUM-TYPE MAKER

MEASURE CAREFULLY: 2 l e v e l t a b l e s p o o n s o f c o f f e e t o e a c h

6 o z . c u p o f w a t e r. Va r y w a t e r s l i g h t l y f o r e x a c t s t r e n g t h d e -

s i r e d . C o n s i s t e n t t i m i n g i s i m p o r t a n t . K e e p c o f f e e - m a k e r c l e a n .

I f o p e r a t e d a t l e s s t h a n 2 / 3 c a p a c i t y, b r e w i s a p t t o b e w e a k .

D R I P M E T H O D : P r e h e a t p o t w i t h h o t w a t e r b e f o r e u s i n g .

M e a s u r e c o f f e e i n t o f i l t e r s e c t i o n . M e a s u r e f r e s h , b r i s k l y b o i l -

i n g w a t e r i n t o u p p e r c o n t a i n e r . W h e n d r i p p i n g i s c o m p l e t e d

r e m o v e u p p e r s e c t i o n . St i r b r e w a n d s e r v e .

VA C U U M M E T H O D : B r i n g w a t e r t o l o w e r b o w l t o b o i l i n g .

R e d u c e h e a t ( i f e l e c t r i c , t u r n o f f , b u t l e a v e b o w l o n u n i t ) .

T h e n p l a c e u p p e r b o w l c o n t a i n i n g f i l t e r a n d g r o u n d c o f f e e o n

l o w e r b o w l . W h e n w a t e r h a s r i s e n i n t o u p p e r b o w l , s t i r c o f f e e

a n d w a t e r t h r o u g h l y ( a b o u t 3 0 s e c o n d s ) . I n a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4

m i n u t e s ( e x a c t t i m e d e p e n d s o n s t r e n g t h d e s i r e d ) . r e m o v e c o m -

p l e t e l y f r o m h e a t s o c o f f e e b r e w w i l l r e t u r n t o l o w e r b o w l .

T h e n r e m o v e u p p e r b o w l a n d c o f f e e i s r e a d y t o s e r v e .

COMPLETE DIRECTIONS SENT ON REQUEST The Original Vacuum Pack 1 LB NET 1 LB NET R E G . U . S . P A T . O F F . T R A D E M A R K S R E G . U . S . P A T . O F F . C O P Y R I G H T 1 9 3 9 - 4 2 - 4 5 - 5 2 B Y H I L L S B R O S . C O F F E E , I N C .

M A R C A R E G I S T R A D A P H I L . P A T. O F F.

T H E F I N E S T C O F F E E S A R E S E L E C T E D F O RT H I S B L E N D A N D D E V E L O P E D T O F U L L U N I -F O R M F L AV O R B Y O U R E X C L U S I V E P R O C E S S“ C O N T R O L L E D R O A S T I N G ”

PACKED AND GUARANTEED BY

HILLS BROS. COFFEE, INC.

2 H A R R I S O N S T . , S A N F R A N C I S C O , C A L I F . , U . S . A .P L A N T S A T S A N F R A N C I S O A N D E D G E W A T E R , N . J .

E S TA B L I S H E D 1 8 7 8

The Original Vacuum Pack R E G . U . S . P A T . O F F . T R A D E M A R K S R E G . U . S . P A T . O F F .

A MT

CANCO

Red Can Brand MER. CAN CO.

REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

Red Can Brand

COPYRIGHT 1922-32-36 BY HILLS BROS.

58 85 83 65 84 80 77 54

43

92 95 62 94

47

98 97 91 93 64 88

75 99

100

102

101

17A

42

# Description Panel # (*) Date Range

8 “JAVA AND MOCHA”-lower right side of panel 2 1903-1906

9 “HILLS BROS. / SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.” /-in 

black block at bottom of panel

2 1903-1906

10 Unique panel includes: “HILLS BROS” at top of 

panel; “VACUUM PACKED”, under HILLS BROS; 

“HIGHEST GRADE” above “JAVA AND MOCHA 

COFFEE”;”JAVA AND MOCHA COFFEE”-in black 

diagonal panel; “WILL KEEP FRESH FOREVER 

IF/SEAL IS UNBROKEN/”-undulating under diagonal 

panel; Circular panel-right side of panel, under 

diagonal panel; “SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.” at bottom 

left of panel

4 1903-1906

11 ARAB’S left foot -NOT VISIBLE- 2,4 1906-1932

12 “Hills Bros”-Title Caps 2,4 1906-1936

13 Hooked C in “COFFEE” 2,4 1906-1922

14 Apostrophe - after Bros 2,4 1906-1914

15 HEAVY framing line on Panel 2,4 1903-1936

16 Bookman font - “Hills Bros” 2,4 1906-1942

17 “Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.” (only) - curved under Arab 2,4 1906-1914 (B)

44

# Description Panel # (*) Date Range

30 “THE VOLATILE...TO BULGE.” verbiage in panel 1 1914-ca.1920

31 “REG. U.S. Pat. Off.” And “TRADE MARK REG. 

CANADA” - curved under Arab

2,4 1914-1922

32 Hooked R and C in “Red Can \ Brand” - center of 

panel

2,4 1914-1922

33 “1 lb Net Weight”- below Hills Bros. \ above Red Can 

\ Brand

2,4 1914-1922

34 “(VACUUM PACKED)” above COFFEE 2,4 1914-1922

35 “AWARDED... 1915”-vertically set verbiage on right 

side of panel

2,4 1914-1922

36 Filigree #1, border on panel 3 1914-1922

37 “COFFEE LOGIC”-panel 3 1914-1926

38 “AMERICAN CAN CO. 94-A VACUUM 

PACKAGE AND PROCESS PATENTED”- under 

framing line, lower left under panel

2,4 1914-1922

39 Filigree border panel 5 ca.1920-1932

40 “HILLS BROS.” (only) in panel 5 ca.1920-1922

41 “REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.” -between Red Can and Brand 2,4 ca.1920-1922; 

1939-1942

46

# Description Panel # (*) Date Range

56 “PACKED AND GUARANTEED BY \ Hills Bros. \ 

ESTABLISHED 1878” note-title caps for Hills Bros.

5 1927-1932

57 Filigree # 3 Border 1,3,5 1932-1936

58 “....CONTROLLED ROASTING” -verbiage in panel 1 1932-1963

59 Curved arm -lower case r in Bros. 2,4 1932-1936

60 “COPYRIGHT 1922-1932 BY HILLS BROS.”, under 

framing line, lower left of panel

2,4 1932-1936

61 “A.C. CO.,” outside border, under panel 3 1932-1942

62 ARAB’S Left Foot -VISIBLE- 2,4 1932-1963

63 “PACKED AND GUARANTEED BY \ Hills Bros. \ 

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., U.S.A. \ESTABLISHED 

1878” note -title caps for Hills Bros.

5 1932-1936

64 NO Framing line around main panels 2,4 1936-1963

65 ALL CAPS- “HILLS BROS.” 2,4 1936-1963

66 Lid lip- “ONE POUND NET WEIGHT, 454 GRAMS 

NET WEIGHT, ONE POUND NET WEIGHT”

n/a 1936-1942

67 Straight leg R in BROS. 2,4 1936-1942

68 “GOOD COFFEE...”-verbiage in panel 3 1936-1939

48

# Description Panel # (*) Date Range

78 “MARCA REGISTRADA,” vertically on seam side of 

panel 5

5 1939-1942

79 “COPYRIGHT 1939 BY HILLS BROS. COFFEE, 

INC.,” left of Arab’s foot, under COFFEE

2,4 1939-1942

80 NO period after Bros 2,4 1906-1914(B);

1939-1963

81 ONE LINE stepped corners for information panels 1,3, 5 1939-1942

82 Lid lip - 5 repetitions of; script, Regular Grind 

seperated by a dot.

n/a 1945-1963(A)

83 IMPACT FONT- for “HILLS BROS” 2,4 1945-1963

84 CURVED leg on R in “BROS” 2,4 1945-1963

85 “NET WEIGHT ONE POUND (454 GRAMS)” above 

panel 3

3 1945-1963

86 “FOR ANY METHOD OF COFFEE MAKING”-

verbiage (A), “VACUUM METHOD...5-7 minutes.”

3 1945-1952

87 “1 LB. NET”, may or may not be present above panels 

1, 5

1,5 1945-1963(A)

88 “1 LB. NET”, below panels 1,5 1,5 1945-1963

89 Square corner panels, one framing line 1,3,5 1945-1963

50

# Description Panel # (*) Date Range

101 “17-A”, vertically seam side of lithography framing 

line of panel 5

5 1952-1963

102 Lid Lip - 5 repetitions of; script, Drip Grind seperated 

by a dot.

n/a 1952-1963(B)
51

Figure # Date Range Source Can size – illustrated in Figure Other cans – weights presently known

1 1900-1906 NLUR Specimen 2 lb-unique tapered can,

8 12/16” tall, 4 5/16 dia. Top, 

5 3/16” dia. Bottom

N/A, (2 lb can only type used, 1900-1903)

2 1903-1906 UA 95-058-4543 1 lb, 3 13/16” ht X 5” dia. 2 lb tapered can (Wilson, 76:47)

3 1906-1914(A) Wilson Figure 60 1 lb, 3 12/16” (est.) ht X 5” dia. 2 lb straight sided can (Wilson, 76:47)

4 1906-1914(B) UA 95-056-0015, UA 95-056-0025, UA 2002-069-0049 1 lb, 3 15/16” ht X 5” dia. 2 lb

5 1914-ca.1920 UA 2002-068-0382 l lb, 3 5/16” ht X 5” dia. 2 lbs, 2 1⁄2 lbs, 5 lbs

6 ca.1920-1922 UA 97-101-0001 1 lb, 3 6/16” ht X 5”dia. 2 1⁄2 lbs

7 1922-1926 UA 94-102-0672, BLM Purchase #5 1 lb, 3 4/16” ht X 5” dia. 1⁄2 lb, 2 lbs, 2 1⁄2 lbs

8 1926 Wilson Figure 63 1 lb, 3 4/16” (est.) X 5” dia 2 lbs

9 1927-1932 BLM Purchase #8 1 lb, 3 6/16” ht X 5” dia. 2 lbs, 4 lbs

10 1932-1936 BLM Purchase #13-1 1 lb, 3 6/16” ht X 5” dia. 2 lbs

11 1936-1939 UA 97-101-0002, BLM Purchase #12-2 1 lb, 3 6/16” ht X 5” dia. 2 lbs

12 1939-1942 UA 95-XX-2389, UAF Can Typology, Type 43 1 lb, 3 6/16” ht X 5” dia. 1⁄2 lb, 2 lbs, 

13 1945-1952 UA 97-101-0004 1 lb, 3 6/16” ht X 5” dia. 1⁄2 lb, 2 lbs, 4 lbs, 20 lbs

14 1952-1963(A) UA 97-101-0005 1 lb, 3 3/16” ht X 5” dia. 20 lbs

15 1952-1963(B) BLM Purchase #2 l lb, 3 3/16” ht X 5” dia. 1⁄2 lb

Table 2, Figure Origins