Antique Will & Finck SF Cal. Hops Tester 1864-1932

A hard to find hops tester made by the great Will & Finck Company of San Francisco. Made for use by those buying hops wholesale to take a sample from a bale to test it’s moisture content.

Made from carbon steel marked Will & Finck SF Cal (the SF cal is light but there) with pin and disc riveted rosewood handle. Approx 18.25” overall length tines open to an inner diameter of 7.25” to 4.25” closed

Will & Finck (1864 to 1932) was a San Francisco based firm who began as a bell hanging and locksmith outfit but soon began manufacturing Bowie and carving knives. In the era before the transcontinental rail road there was a tremendous demand and pride in locally made goods. Will and Finck are famous for their knives but also manufactured and later imported a huge variety of items especially gaming devices.

Locally produced beer was an important commodity in San Francisco so this makes a lot of sense to be manufactured here. Historians of brewing history in San Francisco could better give a fuller perspective than I, but this is a fascinating and hard to come by part of San Francisco history.