In response to Kevin O'Dell's question about "Sanitary" cans.

According to James T. Rock, in his several commentaries on tin cans, the 
word "Sanitary" embossed on tin cans is associated with the Sanitary Can 
Company of California, dating from c. 1904 to c. 1908, when the company was 
purchased by the American Can Company.  His most recent version of this 
commentary that I have on hand is "Tin Canisters: Their Identification" 1989, 
pages 61 and 181 (this is the early version of that year.  He has an expanded 
version from 1989, as well, but I don't have it with me right now.).  On p. 181, 
Rock notes that James Ayres found cans with this embossement at the New 
Rosement site, which had a date range of 1915 to 1921.  Rock's response was 
that "Perhaps certain sanitary can manufacturers retained this embossing for 
quite some time."  The can, itself, was introduced in c. 1901 by the Max Ams 
Company, manufacturers of tin cans at a convention of can manufacturers, 
but the new can, called the open top can, was slow to be accepted until the 
Sanitary Can Company was formed.  The name "Sanitary" has stuck to refer to 
this type of  three-piece can, which has double side seam, or internal rolled 
side seam, and crimped ends (Rock 1989:61-62).  He wrote this while still 
working as an archaeologist at the USDA Forest Service, Klamath National 
Forest, Yreka, California.

Hope this helps,

Monique E. Kimball
Field Supervisor
Kautz Environmental Consultants
5200 Neil Road, Suite 200
Reno, NV  89502