Hello Histarch:
I'm looking for a date range on the following artifacts which came from a can
dump near Wiseman, Alaska (southern slopes of the Brooks Range). I'm
describing these artifacts only by what I see in photographs (that I didn't
take), so there may not be as much info in my descriptions as one would
like--sorry. Also, if someone could give me references for the dates they
provide, they would have my eternal and everlasting gratitude, for what it's
worth. . .
OK, here goes: The first artifact is a cube-shaped Lipton Tea canister
measuring approximately 5 x 5 x 5 inches, with crimped seams. The base is
embossed "LIPTON/ TEA-COFFEE/ AND/ COCOA PLANTER/ CEYLON." The base is punched
down slightly in a trapezoidal shape. This can had an external-friction lid.
Second artifact: A cylindrical can with crimped seams, measuring 3 1/2 inches
tall by 5 inches in diameter, lithographed "RELIANCE/ BRAND/ [illegible]
NATIONAL GROCERY CO/ SEATTLE [illegible] WASHINGTON" on a red background. On
the label is some kind of portrait, but the corrosion of the can has obscured
the figure. This lid of this can was opened only part way, forming a half-moon
shape that was then trimmed off, I suspect for levelling a measuring spoon of
whatever the contents were.
As mentioned before, I'm mainly looking for date ranges, but I am curious to
find out what the "RELIANCE" can was. . . I suspect it was baking powder, going
from the opening method, but that's just a guess.
Anyway I'm going to hold my breath until someone responds. Here goes. . .
Kris Farmen
Northern Land Use Research, Inc.
Fairbanks, Alaska
|