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

This item is from a collection donated by descendants of John Francis Turner of Wodonga. Mr. Turner was born on 6 June 1885. He completed all of his schooling at Scotts Boarding School in Albury, New South Wales. On leaving school, he was employed at Dalgety’s, Albury as an auctioneer. In 1924 John was promoted to Manager of the Wodonga Branch of Dalgety’s. On 15/03/1900 he married Beatrice Neal (born 7/12/1887 and died 7/2/1953) from Collingwood, Victoria. They had 4 daughters – Francis (Nancy), Heather, Jessie and Mary. In 1920, the family moved From Albury to Wodonga, purchasing their family home “Locherbie” at 169 High Street, Wodonga. "Locherbie" still stands in Wodonga in 2022. The collection contains items used by the Turner family during their life in Wodonga. The Ernest Lehmann Co was founded in 1881 by Ernest Paul Lehmann in Brandenburg, Germany. Lehmann exported vast quantities of toys to the United States from 1895 to 1929 (excluding years of WWI). In 1921, Mr. Lehmann’s cousin, Johannes Richter joined the firm and built on the Lehmann reputation by patenting toys. Lehmann specialized in lithographed tinplate, mechanical transportation toys, and figures known for colorful patina. This toy was manufactured between 1924 and 1935. The Lehmann catalogue describes the toy as “[a] Mexican zebra team. The zebra refuses to be tamed and leaps about wildly.” It is believed to have been inspired by an unsuccessful German stud farm in Dar es Salaam that attempted to cross-breed zebra with domesticated horse.This item comes from a collection used by a prominent citizen of Wodonga. It is representative of popular children's toys in the 1920s and 1930s.This is a tin, lithographed, windup toy featuring a zebra and Mexican style driver. The seated driver has a green top and cream trousers and yellow and green pointed hat, zebra with red ears and cord tail. The cart is red and cream, embossed with the Lehmann company emblem and other patent information. The number 1881 on the back of the cart represents the year Ernest Lehmann Co was founded.On back of cart" ZIKRA/ 1881/LEHMANN" Behind driver: "PAT USA APP FOR" and PATENT USA 22 JAN 07/ 2 DEC 13" On side of cart:"DEUTCHES REICH PATENT" Around wheel rim: "LEHMANN MARKE SCHULTZ MUSTER"tin toys, zikra the zebra, ernest lehmann co

Cast iron tin opener with handleName of Guard on handle

Has a strong association with tram crews and the ticket / revenue collection system. Would have secured the tickets etc - one key with the crew members and the other with the revenue office.Padlock with hasp - from riveted steel sheets laminated together with two keys on a steel key ring - Master Lock Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Lock No. 14, keyed for keys P676. Lock Number and key number stamped on the base of the lock. Each key has the number stamped onto it and the name and symbol of the Master Lock Co. Used to secure a conductors cash tin. trams, tramways, crews, tickets, revenue journal

Commemorative letter opener issued to celebrate the Olympic Games in Melbourne 1956.Metal letter opener, handle contains Olympic rings and Olympic flame.On handle "Melbourne 1956"letter openers, olympic games melbourne 1956, memorabilia

Has a strong association with some of the Ballarat tram crews.Kodachrome colour slide, white cardboard mount of conductor 11 (R. Walker??) holding bag and cash tin, marked 11C standing in front of No. 40 at the city terminus. Note the point bar in the bumper bar tow pin hole. Photo from the collection of Lilian Butler. Names based on list given in Reg Item 3425. Person does not appear on photograph Reg Item 3425 ballarat, tramways, trams, crews, motormen, conductors, city, points, tram 40

Tin box in brown and gold square design '170016'. Gold painted outside with red stripe housing brown lines with solid brown area where brass handles attached. Lockable. Black interior paint. 3 money sections, detachable as a whole. Each section has a lid with a small handle. storage room underneath. Hinged lid (patent 4489?0 and 'note' storage below. Exterior handles both sides. Patent 4489?

This Unibic Limited Edition ANZAC Biscuit tin is one of a series produced in 2014 to commemorate 100 years 1914 - 2014 of World War 1, focusing on the Victoria Cross, The Anzac Biscuit Story and The RSL Story. The included paper sheet explains the Victoria Cross in full detail. The RSL and Modern Baking Pty Ltd in Broadmeadows provided this product.A medium sized rectangular Limited Edition green and gold lidded Anzac Biscuit Tin with an old brown and grey toned photograph image of soldiers of the 5th Division in a motor car. The lettering for the tin is stamped in red and white at the top of the lid with Limited Edition in gold. At the bottom of the tin is written - Australian 5th Division 500g including a gold coloured embossed Rising Sun Badge. There is a brief explanation about the 5th Divisional Motor Car's location on one side of the tin as well as an explanation of the meaning of the Rising Sun Badge on the other side. The back of the tin has information about The Anzac Biscuit Story and a recipe. Inside the tin there is a folded brochure about the seven 2019 Limited Edition Tins that were available at the time.As stated above there is the name of the tin 'Limited Edition ANZAC Biscuit' with details of the tin's meaning for the Australian 5th Division. '500g Net' All of the tin has information about the soldiers who served in WW1 and WW2 and the relevance of the Anzac Spirit and biscuits.war, world war 1, world war 2, containers, tins, commemorative tins, rsl

This nut roll tin was used in a period before 1959(when plastic containers started being used). It was a period when "home" cooking(desserts and cakes) was the only method of having cakes and other pastry dishes in rural areas as there were no local shops. The utensils available for this home cooking had to be strong and reliable and low maintenance. This was a period of self sufficiency especially in semi remote rural areas. Sadly, the Willow Company no longer has a nut loaf tin among their many cooking tins. A cylindrical nut loaf tin with removable lids at each end. The metal body of the tin has tiny patterned indented squares with only two of the three clips to ensure the tin stays closed. The lids at each end add to this tightening. On the lids there is rusty difficult to read stamping for the Willow brand. The cooked cake can be easily removed when the two lids are taken off. This is a rare tin.Around the edges of each lid is stamped 'NUT LOAF TIN'. In the middle of each lid is a circular shape with 'Made in Australia' around the edge. Inside this is a diamond shape with 'WILLOW'. There is a tiny square shaped pattern indented all over the body of the tin.baking tins, kitchenware, baking, cooking

Letter opener. Hand crafted by a crewman on HMAS Hobart in Tokyo Harbour at the surrender signing in 1945.Metal trench art letter opener. Rifle cartridge with metal knife blade.H.M.A.S Hobart. Tokyo.

Metal opener for tins or bottles. Corkscrew in centre of handle.Trademark Henry Lanebottle opener, tin opener, domestic tool, cork screw

This foot powder tin may have been manufactured for use by troops in Vietnam, if the inscription "P.D. 5/69" might refer to it's manufacture in May 1969. Khaki coloured rectangular tin constructed of a rectangular base with rounded edges, attached to one long rectangular section bent into sides, another rectangular piece with rounded edges forms the top. In top of tin, a screw on lid with seven punched holes allows the contents to be shaken out of the tin. Content residue still visible on lid but appears that the tin is otherwise empty. Inscriptions throughout described below.On front of tin "[broad arrow]/FOOT POWDER/2 OZ. NET WEIGHT/ MURPHY, LIEBERT PTY. LTD./SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA." Right side "P.D. 5/67". Back of tin "FORMULA/SALICYLIC ACID 3%/STARCH 10%/TALC 87%" medical, foot, foot powder, athlete's foot, vietnam war, 1960s

Lid from tin which contained cheddar cheese.Round shaped tin lid with yellow background and red detail. Rim faces downwards."KEEP TIN CAREFULLY CLOSED. TO OPEN INSERT A../ WALKER'S/ RED FEATHER BRAND/ PUREST RICHEST/ SPECIAL/ CHEDDAR CHEESE"

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

Associated with issue to personnel leading up to and including WW2 in Britain . Circa pre 1940's. Associated with issue during WW2. Small cream coloured tin with white cross centrally placed on the lid. Tin opens with hinges and has wording on the lid "Aid A;; First Aid Outfit Tin made in England". There is a faded description of the contents. Within the tin is a smaller cream and red coloured circular tin containing boric ointment. The first aid outfit tin is 130mm x 75 and the small circular tin with boric ointment is 35mm x 35mm. The lid of the tin says : Aid All First Aid, a white cross emblem and underneath the emblem the wording OUTFIT TIN. There is a description of the items and then the annotation that the tin is made in England. Both tins are cream in colour with red edgings. aid all first aid outfit tin pre 1940's, white cross first aid outfit tin, pre ww2 and ww2 issue

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

This tin came from the Sunshine Biscuit Factory in Ballarat. James Long established a confectionery business in Ballarat in 1854 and in 1921 it was known as the Sunshine Biscuit Company. In 1923 the factory was destroyed by fire and rebuilt. During World War Two 80% of the factory products went to the armed services. In 1947 the company was known as Ballarat Products Ltd and in 1962 it was called Sunshine Biscuits Ltd. In 1977 the factory was used to produce dry pet food (Friskies). The building was closed in 1991 and the site developed to include a supermarket, shops and housing. Up till about the late 1950s biscuits were mostly not packaged but sold loose by the pound in grocery stores from tins such as this. Broken biscuits were also sold at a cheaper price. Some biscuits were also sold at that time in smaller tins. This tin is of interest as an example of the tins from which biscuits were sold in the first half of the 20th century. It will be useful for display.This is a rectangular-shaped biscuit tin which is much rusted. The tin has a multi-coloured paper label that has been pasted around the sides. Much of this label has been torn away. The label shows images of biscuits. There is printing on the label and on the bottom of the tin. ‘Sunshine Raspberry Smiles’ ‘Ballarat Products Ltd.’ ‘This tin is not sold with the contents thereof but remains the property of Sunshine Biscuit Co Ballarat’ ‘Made in Australia 054’ sunshine biscuit factory, ballarat, history of warrnambool

A metal bottle or tin opener with a round handle and the name "Guard" stamped on Guard

Folding pocket knife. Black checkered handle with blade and tin opener.1942 B. V Ler Ltd Sheffield

Lidded tin containing a full pack of playing cards. No markings on the tin

standard for all services in the 1950's and 1960's mass produced moulded tin.ear protection as issued to all personalKhaki painted tin, hinged lid written instructions in lid, diagrammatic instructions in base in black lettering.Protectors ear drum (aust.) MK1 M Large on outside of lid. For inscription of internal markings refer to photo's of inside of tin.ear plugs, ear protectors

Tin opener - large wooden section with metal piercing section at one end and section for securing the tin at the other .33domestic items, cooking

Part of the collection relating to the brothers Evan and Edward Jones. Both enlisted in 1915 in 29 Infantry Battalion. See The Jones Boys booklet for further information.The brothers Evan and Edward Jones were both from Kyneton. There is a collection of items held by Kyneton RSL relating to their war service.Damaged bullet case, held in lidded tin. There is a fragment of bullet case in the tin. Inscription on lid of tin, Yanke Doodle.pte evan edward jones

This nut roll tin was used in a period before 1959(when plastic containers started being used). It was a period when "home" cooking(desert & cakes) was the only method of having cakes and other pastry dishes in rural areas. The utensils available for this home cooking had to be strong and reliable and low maintenance. This nut roll can is very significant(in rural Australia) because it highlights a period in time when the majority of cakes and other pastry dishes were cooked in the family kitchen and not purchased from a shop. This was a period of self sufficiency especially in semi remote rural areas such as the Kiewa Valley. This was a time when cooking utensils were either made in Australia or imported from England or Europe. After World War II imports from the USA increased significantly and then followed by cheaper products from Asia.This cylindrical nut loaf tin(mild steel) has a removable lid and base. There are three retaining hooks which stop the spring steel "main body" from being condensed beyond the circumference of both top and bottom "lids" The tin is pliable enough to "open" up and allow the baked nut loaf to be removed.On the outside edge of each lid "NUT LOAF" and the opposite side "TIN"baking tins, kitchen utensils, tins

6 round metal tins, some with film inside."The Australian Religious Film Society" on 3 of the tins. "A Tartan Filmstrip" on 1 tin. "Joseph Part 11" on 1 tin. film strips, photographic equipment containers

The tin was made for Glen Valley Tea, importers of the finest tea growing countries in the world, Ceylon, India and Java. Henry James was a well known Australian importer. The tins when emptied became useful storage containers.A large square rusty metallic silver surface green coloured Glen Valley Tea storage tin with a lift off lid. It has gold font with a green line border. Both sides of the tin have Fresh Fragrant in large letters with Five Pounds Net Weight printed inside an inner circle. The back of the tin has a lot of information about the Glen Valley tea and where it is imported from - Ceylon, India and Java and how it is carefully selected and blended.The tin has much information as noted above. ' Henry Berry & Co. Pty Ltd. Collins St., Melbourne. 5lbs. Net. Glen Valley Tea'food containers, tea, tea caddies, tins, containers

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