Contact Ned Heite, he did a very good study on can manufacturing.  He
doesn't miss much.  I would try him.


----- Original Message -----
From: Robin O. Mills <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 5:47 PM
Subject: Tin Can Question


> HISTARCH members,
>
> I am having a tin can dispute with a colleague, which I'm hoping some of
> you might be able to lend your expertise. We have a tin can type with the
> following attributes:
>
> Attributes: cylindrical; 5 1/2 inch diameter; hole-in-cap (2 3/4 inch
> diam.) filling method; crimped end seams, lapped side seam; and opened via
> a key strip around the body (i.e., can body essentially separates into 2
> parts, a smaller upper and a larger lower); the can (obviously) is not
> reclosable.
>
> Provenience: several trash pits from mining settlements in Interior
Alaska,
> circa 1905-1920.
>
> Dispute: I look at this artifact type, and think "food can - meat or bacon
> or fish product". My colleague disagrees, and says that we do not know
this
> for certain, and can take it only as far as "food can", if that.
>
> Well..... what do you think??  (1) Food? Could be something else?  (2) If
> Food, then "meat/bacon/fish"?
>
> Best,
>
> Robin Mills
> BLM-NFO
> Fairbanks, AK
>