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Date: | Tue, 27 Sep 1994 22:07:57 -0400 |
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A portion of a standard rectangular hole-in-cap can measuring 63 x 82 x ? mm
with a 35 mm diameter hole, a recessed end, and a key strip opener. The cap is
the point of variation.
The soldering well around the hole remains standard in appearance and function.
Two caps are used. The first is recessed to slightly below the bottom of the
soldering well and has four equally spaced small pin holes. The second looks
and functions like a standard cap with a veny hole, with the exception that
the vent hole is in a slightly raised dimple. The solder in the well is
moderately heavy but the remainder of the can appears to have been machine
soldered. This represents a single example found in as
ciation with a number of standard hole-in-cap rectangular meat tins and other,
primarily household, materials in an open refuse deposit in southern California.
The deposit has a wide date range from the late 1800s to ca. 1940.
Two possible explanations for why the can was sealed in this manner have been
proposed.
One, that the lower disk serves to prevent food bits from clogging the upper
vent hole during processing, for considerations similar to cooking beans in a
pressured cooker, where sufficient headroom has to be maintained to avoid
clogging the vent and causing an explosion. Two, that it is designed to
prevent contamination of the food from overly fluid solder dripping from the
vent
hole during the final sealing process.
I would appreciate any information on similar occurances as this is the first
example of the kind I have seen and I have found nbo references to this type
of hole-in-cap application.
R. Paul Hampson - [log in to unmask]
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