"MONKEY" BRAND/GUINNESS. Type C2 85mm

Reported from NZ, "MONKEY" BRAND/GUINNESS. Type C2 85mm.

Whats the history of this opener, could it be possible that it was sent to Australasia together with "Monkey" Brand Guinness in crown top bottles to promote the product?

Produced by Sparks and Moline, early reference is made to their Guinness Stout in Australia in the late 1800’s, prior to introduction of the crown seal:

The West Australian, Friday 12 October 1888, page 1. (original source).

Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Friday the 28th November, 1890, page 1. (original source).

And other references were made to "Monkey" Brand in Australia during the very early 1900’s, and although no direct reference to crown capped bottles could be found, we do know that crown capped bottles were being imported into Australia around this time (see here).

The West Australian, Saturday 9 November 1901, page 4. (original source).

The Daily News, Saturday 12 July 1902, page 2. (original source).

Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954), Sunday 2 September 1906, page 5. (original source).

The only NZ newspaper reports (National Library of New Zealand's Papers Past ) on Sparks Moline that could be found occurred earlier than the introduction of crown seals in NZ, e.g.,

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 41, 20 September 1871, Page 7. (original source).

Similarly, reference to "Monkey" brand Guinness occurred in the New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8439, 15 December 1890, Page 7 (original source).

From the information collected so far, it might be concluded that crown capped bottles of "Monkey" brand Guinness may have been shipped to Australia in the early 1900's and this opener sent with them as advertising for the product and then later finding its way to NZ. But, other possibilities include that it was provided to UK customers in the UK and it found its way to NZ later. Our research did not show when crown capped "Monkey" brand Guinness bottles were used in the UK nor if they were ever sent to Australia.

Any further thoughts or feedback on the history of Sparks Moline "Monkey" Brand would be much appreciated. This opener has been added to the list of known Guinness openers (here).