April 6, 2011 3.55 pm This story is over 155 months old

Beer can collector leaves Lincoln empty-handed

No luck: The owner of the world’s biggest beer can collection found no items of interest at the Lincolnshire Showground.

The owner of the world’s largest collection of beer cans ventured to Lincoln all the way from Pennsylvania, USA, in the hope of finding new specimens to add to his House of Beer Cans.

But Jeff Lebo seemed disappointed that he had not yet found anything at the Lincolnshire Showground Antiques Fair, three miles north of the city.

“So far I’ve found nothing of interest,” Lebo said.

“Most of the cans I’m looking for were melted down in the ‘30s and ‘40s to help with the war effort so they’re very hard to come across over here.”

Although he has had no luck in finding any beer cans, Lebo said this was not a wasted journey for him.

“I’ve made a lot of useful contacts since I’ve been here and my search isn’t over yet.

“Later today I’m going to another antique fair in Newark and a few antique malls in the south of the county.

“Once I’ve covered England, I’ll head to Scotland and Wales as well to see what I can find.”

The Pennsylvanian, who also runs a landscaping company and his own record label back home, was impressed with Lincoln.

“I love the city with all its history. The people are friendly and have made me feel very welcome,” he said.

Lebo’s collection got so big that he built a house to store all the beer cans, which is bigger than the one he lives in.

Each room is dedicated to a different part of the world, with a whole room dedicated to the UK.

“I already have about 10,000 cans from Britain but I’m sure there are still some out there.

“In the past I’ve paid up to $1,000 for certain cans so anyone out there with information should get in touch.”

Lebo will be in the UK until April 16.

Photo: Kelly Moore for The Lincolnite