A metallic beverage container body inspection apparatus comprising: an index path wherein a fraction of a plurality of metallic beverage container bodies in manufacturing queue is diverted from the manufacturing queue to the index path; an indexer which sequentially transfers metallic beverage container bodies from the manufacturing queue of the metallic beverage container bodies, the indexer having a plurality of container body pockets which maintain the metallic beverage container bodies in a predetermined orientation; a dwell position in operative alignment with the index path wherein the indexer delivers metallic beverage container bodies to the dwell position; an inspection position vertically aligned with and horizontally offset from the dwell position; an image recorder aimed the inspection position for capturing a plurality of images about a circumference of each of the fraction of metallic beverage containers as each of the fraction of metallic beverage containers completes at least one full rotation; and a mandrel having a generally cylindrical side wall separating a distal end of the mandrel from a proximal end of the mandrel, wherein the mandrel is insertable within the metallic beverage container bodies such that the distal end is positioned adjacent an enclosed bottom of the metallic beverage container bodies and the proximal end is positioned adjacent an open end of the metallic beverage container bodies, wherein the mandrel is rotationally driven about a central axis of the mandrel, and wherein the central axis of the mandrel is aligned with the dwell position wherein an open end of a metallic beverage container can be transferred over and about the mandrel, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises: a source of a fluid pressure associated with the dwell position wherein a force provided by the source of the fluid pressure provides a movement by a metallic beverage can body from the indexer at the dwell position onto the mandrel the inspection position. an index path wherein a fraction of a plurality of metallic beverage container bodies in manufacturing queue is diverted from the manufacturing queue to the index path; an indexer which sequentially transfers metallic beverage container bodies from the manufacturing queue of the metallic beverage container bodies, the indexer having a plurality of container body pockets which maintain the metallic beverage container bodies in a predetermined orientation; a dwell position in operative alignment with the index path wherein the indexer delivers metallic beverage container bodies to the dwell position; an inspection position vertically aligned with and horizontally offset from the dwell position; an image recorder aimed the inspection position for capturing a plurality of images about a circumference of each of the fraction of metallic beverage containers as each of the fraction of metallic beverage containers completes at least one full rotation; and a mandrel having a generally cylindrical side wall separating a distal end of the mandrel from a proximal end of the mandrel, wherein the mandrel is insertable within the metallic beverage container bodies such that the distal end is positioned adjacent an enclosed bottom of the metallic beverage container bodies and the proximal end is positioned adjacent an open end of the metallic beverage container bodies, wherein the mandrel is rotationally driven about a central axis of the mandrel, and wherein the central axis of the mandrel is aligned with the dwell position wherein an open end of a metallic beverage container can be transferred over and about the mandrel, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises: a source of a fluid pressure associated with the dwell position wherein a force provided by the source of the fluid pressure provides a movement by a metallic beverage can body from the indexer at the dwell position onto the mandrel the inspection position.