> [Original Message]
> From: Monique E. Kimball <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2/5/2008 10:56:19 AM
> Subject: "Sanitary" cans
>
> 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