Standard pattern of clasp knives issued since before the Second World War. Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No. 397661, Collection. See Catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.Stainless steel construction clasp knife consisting of a blade, a can opener, a screwdriver, and a spike. The knife is attached to a khaki coloured lanyard.Stamped on the side of the knife: “WHITTINGSLOWE OPENER, 15737, PAT. APPN., ADELAIDE, D (upwards arrow) D”clasp knife, equipment, kevin john herdman

It took 15 years to invent the can. It took 100 more to invent a standard way to open it. In the 19th century, decades after the invention of canning, there were virtually no can openers. Canned food, such as sardines, came with its own "key" to peel back the tin lid. Birth of the can One of the oddest things about the can opener is that the can predates it by almost 150 years. Though common today, cans were once military-grade technology. In 1795, Napoleon, to whom the phrase "an army marches on its stomach" is attributed, offered 12,000 francs to anyone who could find a way to preserve food. Without any knowledge of bacteria or their role in food spoilage, scientists didn't even know where to begin. It took 15 years before a chef named Nicholas Appert claimed the prize after successfully jarring food. Soon after that, his countryman Philippe de Girard came up with a variant on Appert's method—metal tins—and sold the idea to the British. Spoiled food, and the sickness it caused, was a widespread problem. The public would have benefited from canned food, but for decades cans were almost exclusively for the army and the navy. The canning process, with its hours of boiling and steaming, its scrupulous cleanliness, its heated metal, and its need for a great deal of disposable material, made canned food far too expensive for anyone but the military. No can openers were needed or even possible. The metal of early cans was too thick to make openers practical. Soldiers and sailors had plenty of sharp objects on hand and made ample use of them when they wanted to eat. During the 19th century, the process of canning was refined and mechanised, and the metal wall of the average can slimmed down enough that a civilian could get it open—if that civilian had the right tool. No one had that tool yet, so early cans had to open themselves. In other words, they came with built-in openers. The result was a confusing but pleasing free-for-all, in terms of product engineering. Each type of food came with its own kind of can, and each kind of can came with its own kind of opener. Tinned fish and meat were often sold in rectangular cans. These cans were fitted with a "key" that would roll down the top of the can. Coffee, beans, and other types of meat were packaged in cylinders with metal strips that could be peeled back with their own kinds of built-in keys. Cans of milk, which didn't need to be completely opened, came with puncture devices. As tinned food became more common, its containers became more regular. A nice cylindrical can became the norm, and, as these cans filled kitchens, more engineers put their minds to finding a convenient way to open all of them. The first standalone can opener worked on a simple principle: point, stab, and pull. From the mid-19th century to the end of World War I, the typical can opener looked roughly like a wrench, if the lower 'jaw' of the wrench were replaced with a blade. People used the blade to puncture the top of the can near its edge, push the upper jaw against the side of the can, and drag the blade through the metal along the rim. Because meat was the first and most popular canned substance, these can openers were often shaped to look like cows and given the nickname 'bully beef can openers'. The bully beef can opener, popular in the mid-19th century, resulted in many lost fingers. Bully beef can openers were so common, effective, and sturdy that they are still frequently available on collectors' sites. Some are advertised as “still working,” and every last one of them is, without a doubt, soaked in the blood of our ancestors. Dragging a sharp blade along the edge of a can is certain to cause injury sooner or later. So once people got a reliable can shape and a reliable way to get the can open, the search was on for a reliable way to get a can open without the possibility of losing a finger. The answer came in 1925, from the Star Can Opener Company of San Francisco. This is probably the first can opener that resembles the one people have in their kitchens today. Instead of using a blade to pry open a metal can, buyers could clamp the edge of the can between two wheels and twist the handle of one of the wheels to move the blade around the lip. The Star can openers weren't perfect. Compared to the bully beef model, they were flimsy and breakable, but they probably prevented a few injuries. Six short years after the Star model came to market, the first electric can opener was invented. It was patented in 1931 by the Bunker Clancey Company of Kansas City, who had already been sued by the Star Can Opener Company for trying sell a double-wheeled can opener like the Star model (the case was dismissed). The electric can opener must have seemed like the wave of the future and a sure-fire seller, but it proved to be too far ahead of its time. In 1931 not that many households had electricity, and those that did weren't interested in buying can openers. The Bunker Clancey Company was subsequently bought by the Rival Company, which still makes small appliances like can openers today. It took another 25 years for electrically powered can openers to become practical. In the 1950s, Walter Hess Bodle and his daughter, Elizabeth Bodle, developed an electric can opener in the family garage. Walter came up with the opener's blades and motor, and Elizabeth sculpted the outside. Their can opener was a free-standing unit that could sit on the kitchen counter. The Udico brand of the Union Die Casting Company put it on the market in time for Christmas in 1956 and had great success with it. Over the next few years it came out in different styles and colours, and, like the bully beef can opener, has become a collector's item. Also like the bully beef model, Udico can openers often still work. They don't make 'em like they used to. Although there have been some design changes and refinements over the last sixty years, there have yet to be any more leaps forward in can opener technology. If you're resentfully opening a can, you are almost certainly doing it using the Star design, manually forcing the can between two wheels, or the Bodle design, clamping the can into a free-standing electrical opener. Whether or not you enjoy your holiday meals, at least you can be happy that you are not getting poisoned by your own food or cutting open your hand with the blade you use to get at it. That's something, right?The can opener is still a very important and essential item in most kitchens.Can opener, right handed, metal, upper blade section serrated, inscription 'Peerless Pat.Feb 11-90'.Peerless Pat.Feb 11-90flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, cannning, can opener, kitchen equipment

Standard Australian Army servicemans metal pocket knife with three folding implements. It has a single edge knife blade, a can and bottle opener and a marlin spike all hinged to fold away into the knife body. One end of the knife is equipped with a screwdriver blade stub. The other end is equipped with a pivoting copper suspension loop. The body of the knife is stamped with the manufacturer's details, which includes a description of the style of knife as an 'opener', patent number '15737' and a 'D^D' stamp. This knife is wrapped in a waxed piece of paper printed with the instructions for using the can opener blade.The body of the knife is stamped with the following inscription "WITTINGSLOWE, OPENER, ADELAIDE, PAT.APPLN 15737" and a 'D^D' stamp.vietnam, australian, army, pocket knife, opener

Widely used to open early beer or soft drink bottles. The Abbots Lager opener may have been a promotional product for this brand of beer.Cast iron bottle openers, rusted exterior. One plain, unnamed; one labelled Abbots Lager.opener, crown seal beer bottle, cast iron, abbots lager

"Multiple Drum Hard Waste Openers AC3-AC7" - sole exporters: Metalexport, Warsaw, Poland, c.1950.Pamphlet for a Multiple Drum Hard Waste Openers AC3-AC7; sole exporters: Metalexport, Warsaw, Poland, c.1950.textile machinery textiles - recycling, metalexport, textile machinery, textiles - recycling

Widely used to open early beer or soft drink bottles. The Abbots Lager opener may have been a promotional product for this brand of beer.Two cast iron bottle openers, rusted exterior. One labelled Fosters Lager; one labelled Abbots Lager.Carlton & Victoria Bitter.bottle openers, bottle accessories

No specific information is available for this item. However, ivory was common in early 20th century household items, which were often purchased overseas as souvenirs. Many ivory items originated from Asia. Letter openers are still used today; however, they are now made out of steel as ivory is illegal.This item is an example of the use of ivory in domestic households early in the 20th century. A long, cream-white letter opener made out of ivory with a plain blade and rounded handle.There is decorative patterning on the handle consisting of holes and circles.ivory, letter opener, letters, chiltern athenaeum museum, mail

Mess Tins with Opener (opener stored with ration packs)equipment, vietnam, army

This can opener was from the Vietnam War era. Utensils like this were issued with every ration pack to all servicemen and women.Utensils like this have social significance due to the ubiquity of their use in the field, therefore many Vietnam era veterans may have memories of their use. This item is in good condition and as such, is a representative example of a tool that was widely used. Spoon and blade opener, attached via a turned over piece of metal fashioned into a hinge below which there is a curved cut out with a point which attaches to the side of the can. Handle has two ridges presumably to aid handling of utensil. Punched hole (3 mm across) at end of handle possibly to attach via a string. Inscription on top of handle.Inscribed on top of handle "1966 CARR D[broad arrow]D/7330/66/010/0931"vietnam war, 1960s, utensil, ration, food

Metal pocket knife - army issueDAD Opener 15737pocket knife

No specific information is available on this item. Household items made of ivory were common in the early 20th century and were often brought back to Australia from people returning from an overseas trip. Many of these types of items came from Asia. Letter openers are still is use today.This item is of interest as an example of the use of ivory in household items early in the 20th century. This use of ivory is in the main illegal today.This is a letter opener made of ivory. It has a plain blade with a rounded highly decorated handle. The decoration consists mainly of punched holes in geometrical patterns. The top has a hole for hanging up the item. There is a small split in the ivory in the middle of the handle. letter opener, warrnambool

From the Betty McPhee writing equipment collectionBrass letter opener with a stylised dragons head joined on to the blade of the opener.commerce, office equipment / stationery, domestic items, writing equipment

TIN Openerequipment, somalia, army

Warrnambool, established in 1847, became a Municipality in 1856, a Borough in 1863, a Town in 1883 and a City in 1918. This bottle opener has most probably been produced by the City of Warrnambool for promotional purposes and may have been given as gifts to notable visitors. The logo used is a version of the original ‘By These We Flourish’ seal which was first adopted by the Council in 1856. On the top portion is the Royal Coat of Arms. On the lower section is a sailing ship and a sheaf of wheat. The seal was designed by John Macdonald, a local schoolteacher and auctioneer. This bottle opener is of some interest as a promotional item produced for the Warrnambool City Council. It may be useful for display. This is a bottle opener made of electro-plated nickel silver. It has a badge with blue, white and gold enamelling with the old logo of the City of Warrnambool. The ring is broken – cut through at one end. ‘E.P.N.S.’ ‘City of Warrnambool’ ‘By These We Flourish’ city of warrnambool, bottle opener, souvenir household items, warrnambool souvenirs

Standard issue item used by Australian servicemen during the conflict in Vietnam (1962-1972)Field ration eating device: being a small metal can opener, bottle opener and spoon in one tool.Taiwanmess hall, eating, fred, field ration eating device, soon, multi-tool

Scimitar shaped letter openerephemera, general

Australian manufactured clasp knives were a standard issue to Australian Military Forces during World War 2. The most commonly encountered knife was an all metal model with a canoe shaped body. This knife was a Whittingslowe first pattern clasp knife which included a blade, a tin opener and a marline spike as well as screw driver and shackle to attach the knife to a lanyard or belt clip. These knives were given a dull Nickel plating to protect them. William Thomas Whittingslowe was born in Wales in 1888, he was educated in England and at 18 migrated to Canada and then to Australia, arriving in about 1912. After working in various states, he settled in South Australia and in the 1920s set up his own business, Whittingslowe Engineers Limited. He specialised in ironworking and knife manufacturing. His firm produced a large amount of blade ware during World War 2. He also designed and built manufacturing equipment for General Motors Holden. He died at Murray Bridge (SA) in 1956.This item is significance because it was donated by a member of the community of Wodonga which has a strong connection to Australian military history.A clasp knife made completely from metal with nickel plating. The accessories all fold into a canoe-shaped body. It included a knife, can opener and marlin spike.On knife blade: WE over a broad arrow/I\australian army equipment ww2, thomas whittingslowe, australian army

COHN BROTHERS: Metal Bottle Openerbendigo, history, cohn brothers

Cast iron tin opener with handleName of Guard on handle

combination bottle and can opener with corkscrew."Buckle proof blue blade" and "Made by Henry Squire and Sons" etched into opposite sides of the handle.can opener,

.50cal bullet bottle opener with RAAMC emblemmiscellaneous

Set of three Ration Spoons and Can Openers7330 - 66 010 - 0931 (1989) (1989) 1984ration spoons

Metal bottle opener, with Williamstown High School colour metal badge logo. The bottle opener was produced to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Williamstown High School.williamstown high school, 75th anniversary, 1990, bottle opener

Field Ration Eating Device (FRED) Metal device is a combined can opener, bottle opener and spoon issued to the ADF in CRM packs. A folding can open7330-66-010-933 CM2004