RE: old school

["Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>]

Apparently, there is controversy surrounding why a can (and later, bottle)
opener was called a church key.  Funny thing about the Internet, the more
information we get, the more controversy we get.

Here's how I understood the story from people who have told me different
stories about it through my life, which are not consistent with Internet
lore.  Back in the ancient days, when beer was sold in tin cans before
poptops, people would need to cut open the can or use a flat, pointed metal
can opener that looked like a key to pierce the can.  Churches forbade
drinking, so the key-like can opener got the name "church key."  Later, the
church key can opener got a bottle opener stuck on its rear-end for
new-fangled bottle tops.  But "church key" refers to the can opener part of
the tool.

There is no clear story about the truth of the source of the name and most
stories about the history refer to the appearance of the bottle and can
opener combo-tool that resembles a key to a church.

Lauren

> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> ] On Behalf Of fritillary -at- gmail -dot- com
> Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 9:30 AM
> To: John Garison
> Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: old school
> 
> I just have to ask, "What's a church key?"
> 
> I do remember pop tops - my dad would always take them off 
> his beer can and drop them in the can.
> 
> --Jennifer
> 

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