Anyone know German?

[bubba]

My buddy found this sign and I have no idea what it means or says... Any ideas? Its pretty big... maybe 2'x4'

[vend_dr]

The sign may be in German but Breidt's was a US brewer. This brewery was located in Elizabeth New Jersey first going by the name Eller & Beyer the name changed in 1882 to Laible & Breidt and was known as the Peter Breidt Brewing company upon it's closing in 1951. The printing of the word Breidt's on this sign matches what is on the Breidt's Beer cans.

[Creighton]

Ken,
That is very nice. Linda will be home Thurs. and can help. Looks like a decoder strip to me. Most likely that is a score for a drinking song at the top and these are the elements of the song. I'm laughing remembering the fun that starts when a favorite is played  by the ump-pa band.
Creighton

[halehouse]

I teach at a German Immersion school and know some of what it is "saying". I teach the English half of the day and only know what I have picked up from Elementary students. They all ryhme, but from what I can tell that is about all they do..rhyme. For example, #2 is "back and forth, gun shooting" and #3 is something like "crooked, straight, wagon wheel"... Probably a drinking song.

[Kilroy]

Stewardess, I speak jive.
Oops, wrong thread
 Schnitzelbank  is an old children's song,  in a sing song  fashion,

If anyone has any of the old Animaniac video's they did a  skit on this song, that will give you the melody

but basically  the lyrics

Ist das nicht dein schnitzelbank? <Is that your cobbler's bench?>
Ya, das ist mein schnitzelbank <yes that is my cobbler's bench>

Oh, du schone <oh beautful>
Oh, du schone
Oh, du schone
Schnitzelbank!

The next  lyrics would rhyme
Is that your cross and bow?
yes a that is my cross and bow
Is that your boat you row?
yes that is my boat I row
cross and bow
boat I row
serving wench
cobb;ler bench
Oh, du schone
Schnitzelbank!

and so on.

[bubba]

Wow.. in an hour, I can't believe all the info you all have gotten from that sign... thats awesome.. What a diverse group..

Vend Dr.. How did you get that info? The funny part is this sign came from a house that is 20 min from Elizabeth, NJ...

Kilroy... Once I got near the bottom of your post, I knew exactly what song you are referring to.. I can imagine this being a fun thing to do when you are loaded..

Thanks for all the info.. I got two other old beer related items also.. a serving tray and a standup sign... I'll post some pics shortly

[vend_dr]

Well I used to collect beer cans and beer items, still dabble in them.  I found the information in a book titled American Breweries II which lists most breweries that have operated in the United States including dates of operation, a valuable reference for someone trying to date a beer item.

The cans I was refering to are shown in a book titled United States Beer Cans which was published by the BCCA (Breweries Collectibles Club of America formerly the Beer Can Collectors of America). You can still purchase this book from the BCCA's website.

[halehouse]

Ah, guess that makes more sense.  I was going to run it by the German teachers or my third graders tomorrow.   

[keithm]

My wife's parents are from Germany.  She remembers this song from her childhood. While this version is not an an exact translation, it will give you an idea of the melody.  The second link is to a more traditional version of the poster.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7aAV5XHUkE

http://www.schnitzelbank.com/poster.htm


Keith

[90grad]

If you've ever seen the movie Stalag 17, during the scene where the prisoners are playing volleyball, they are singing this song.