how to open a tin can

[Pritchett Ball]

Joe Walker brought back this tin can for me from the Nashville Relic Show.

I am wondering how would be the best way to (period correct) open the top of the can, so I can attach a wire across the top?

Kevin Dally

[Silas]

Re: how to open a tin can

I opened mine with a bayonet and a mallot. I went around it with repeated bayonet piercings. Once the top was popped, I used plyers to crush the sharp edges into the inside of the can. Then a couple nails holes into the side. Viola.

With me living at sea level and my can being produced in the Denver area, there was a rush of gas which escaped from the can when I popped the first bayonet hole into the top.

[Justin Runyon]

Re: how to open a tin can

I've always opened mine with a stout knife, the blade of which I didn't much care about.

[Marine Mike]

Re: how to open a tin can

Silas,
I hope the can from Mile high sucked air when opened at Sea - level - attle.
Mike Stein

[Silas]

Re: how to open a tin can

The darned thing made noise is all I recall. Wasn't expecting that, and I know it wasn't me making the noise.

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: how to open a tin can

Try this... if you can find it. ;)

Can't wait to see them in repro...

[jones56ga]

Re: how to open a tin can

A bayonet, and some caution has worked for me in the past. Watch the fingers, though!

[David Fox]

Re: how to open a tin can

Tin cans were, as I recall, made of softer and thinner stuff in the mid-19th Century and thus the contents more readily accessed with a common jack knife or the like.

[BrianHicks]

Re: how to open a tin can

How about a can opener?

Seriously... can openers did exist prior to the Civil War. Take a look in an 1853 copy of "The American Home Cook Book", page 18, implement # 64. It is described as "64 - Sardine opener, to open tin boxes of sardines, preserved meats, preserves & C." (see attached image... I bet it looks familiar to folks who comb through antique shops)

I've seen other implements identified as 'Tin Openers' clearly dated in the 1850's.

The drawing provided by Johnny Lloyd in his post above, is from the US Patent Drawing by a fellow named Ezra Warner, and dates from 1858.

So yes... can openers, or perhaps they were called 'Tin Openers' where produced prior to the Civil War. Heck... it makes sense doesn't it? If someone is making tin cans... surely some one was making Tin Can Openers. And they did!

[Silas]

Re: how to open a tin can

Using a can opener on a tin can is too logical, Brian. Not possessing an opener of that type, I went for a field method of opening my can.

Having done that once, I don't see the big deal in having a can opened by a bayonet. Not sure if I'll do that again when it's time to replace my current can. Maybe I'll keep an eye out for an old style opener.

[Old Reb]

Re: how to open a tin can

Of greater importance:
On January 24, 1935, the first canned beer, "Krueger Cream Ale," was sold by the Kruger Brewing Company of Richmond, VA.

Now, that I have covered the important part, I must say that first, a search would have shown that this has been discussed before on the AC, and second, a web search would have found a great deal of information regarding how cans were made, what they were made off, what was in them, and what was used to open them. But more important (other than when beer was put in cans) is not how "we" would open a can, but how "they" opened a can. That should be the focus of the discussion.

[Old Reb]

Re: how to open a tin can

I will add, I have seen several cans from the period in discussion, and it appears they were opened with a knife.

[Becky Morgan]

Re: how to open a tin can

If I may:
It isn't that hard to open a can with a knife even today. Any housewife who didn't have, or couldn't find, her opener would have had access to the usual assortment of kitchen cutlery. As with Tom Yearby's experience, what period cans I have seen looked like they had been knife-cut, not bayonet-stabbed. Of course, what was being opened mattered a great deal. Two whacks with the tip of a knife are still an accepted way to open canned milk (one for actual pouring, one for air relief.)
In case anyone doesn't know, and with the usual caution that you're on your own if you hurt yourself doing this, because like many period practices it IS possible to get hurt:
Quickest way, and I've seen the upward-pointing ragged edges to suggest this happened:
With the blade of a sturdy, not priceless, and easily resharpened knife, and having the can on a solid surface with the fingers of your non-knife hand safely out of the way, stab down between the junction of lid and rim. Now hold onto the can. Turn the knife blade edge up and lift through the can lid, being careful not to yank so hard that you flip the knife up at yourself. When you lose leverage, slide the knife blade into the interior of the can again and lift up so the blade shears through the metal.

Slower but safer method: make the initial stab, then with blade edge downward, press down at the junction of lid and rim to cut through. This presses the raw edges downward and might be better for what you have in mind, although it's easy enough in either case to tap the rough edges down with a rock, hammer, back of a knife blade or other suitable implement. Smoothing them down as best you can will be a real help in using the boiler.

[Pritchett Ball]

Re: how to open a tin can

I love the responses...

Search titled "opening a tin can" or "how to open a tin can", or "tin can" didn't work well for me, as I seemed to get everything BUT what I was needing!

It looks like I'll be using the knife method, appreciating Becky's advice. The period can openers are neat...always neat to find how inventive they were back then. The "nail" method I'll use for securing a wire over the top. I almost hate to cut open the darn thing, but I needed a new boiler.

Thanks for the help!

Kevin Dally

[DougCooper]

Re: how to open a tin can

Bayonet and a rock worked for me. Tap the rock (or hammer/hatchet head) on the socket end of the bayonet carefully in a circle around the can lid. Pry it open and voila. I did not want to dull my knife and the bayonet had more weight and leverage.