Ashley,

Jim Rock of the Forest Service put together a series of commentaries 
regarding tin cans.  He noted that the sterno can appeared in c. 1916.  It 
was manufactured by the drawn process - a piece of sheet metal was punched 
into shape providing the base and the sides, with a top end added after the 
contents.  I don't have my copy of this version here at the office, but I 
can check at home and give you his source(s) for it later.  Here's the 
citation I use,

Rock, James T.
1989 Tin Canisters, Their Identification.  Rev. ed.  Ms. on file, USDA 
Forest Service, Klamath National Forest, Yreka, California.

He wrote two versions that year, hence the "Rev. ed."

Hope this helps you,

Niki Kimball
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Morton" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 12:12 PM
Subject: Re: Sterno cans


> Thanks for the responses. I'm looking for a published citation. 
> Particularly
> a date. I know Wiki's sterno page and have followed their resources with 
> no
> luck. If anyone knows of a published work regarding sterno cans it'd be 
> much
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks again,
> Ashley