I am working with the group investigating the possible discovery of Amelia Earhart's final camp, and they have found a ring-pull that almost certainly came from a food can.  The shape of the ring its point of attachment are both the wrong shape for beer or soda can ring-pulls.

I have a photo of the rusted ring-pull.  It was certainly made of ferrous material (rust and magnet test), but the few on food containers I am familiar with are all aluminum.

Any idea when food cans shifted from rolled steel to aluminum ring-pulls?  The ring looks very similar to the ones on recent sardine and oyster cans, so we suspect this one came from some form of rectangular can.  The can, however, was not found.

Thanks,

Bill



 
 
Bill Lockhart
Associate Professor of Sociology
New Mexico State University
Alamogordo, NM
(575) 439-3732