The Invention of the Crown Cork Bottle Cap – Baltimore, MD
The crown cork bottle cap was invented, and manufactured in 1892, just off of Route 1 in Baltimore, Maryland. It was invented by an American mechanical engineer, William Painter. He revolutionized the bottling industry for carbonated drinks by providing an inexpensive, disposable, and leak-proof seal using a corrugated metal cap with a cork liner. William Painter’s company was the Crown Cork & Seal Company, and received a patent on the “Crown Cork” on February 2, 1892.
The Design and Function
The design of the “Crown Cork” featured a metal cap with a corrugated flange and a cork disc inside, lined with paper to prevent metal contact with the beverage. If functioned with the metal teeth gripped the bottle’s rim, creating a strong, airtight seal, and the cap was designed to be used once and discarded.
The Evolution of the Crown Cork
Even over 130+ years after the invention of the Crown Cork, it is still used today, but by the 1960’s the metal version was replaced by PVC and other materials. In the 1960’s a twist-off version was created, but because of the traditional crown caps’ superior oxygen barrier, many craft brewers still favor and use them.
The Success of the Crown Cork Inspired Other Inventions
King C. Gillette was so inspired by the success of the disposable cap, he developed the disposable razor as stated in the Southern Drinking Club article.
The National Inventors Hall of Fame®
William Painter was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame® in 2006.
Christopher Gentile MD Baltimore Dec 07, 2025 Engineering History Inventions on Rt 1
Dec 07, 2025
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