To Peter Bell and other HISTARCHERS interested in steel drums.
Since I have seen no response from certified experts to Peter Bell's query
about steel drums, I'm offering a semi-expert response (hoping this doesn't
violate SOPA/ROPA standards). My family has been in the drum business
since the late 40's, although I, the black sheep, ended up in academia.
Peter Bell (from Australia) asked: Can anyone suggest sources of information
on the history of fuel oil containers?
There is a fairly detailed history that covers the U.S. drum industry and
may be useful for Australia as well. [Although I have never seen this book,
I am told that it attributes the invention of the steel drum to none other
than Nellie Bly, the turn-of-the-century newspaper reporter and feminist,
who first became a celebrity when she bested Jules Verne's fictional 80-day
round-the-world trip by about 8 days.]
The history book is entitled "55 Gallon," which refers to the most common
standard size for U.S. drums (1 U.S. gal. approx.= 0.83 Imperial gal.) It
is published by the Association of Container Reconditioners and they would
probably be happy to send you a copy. [As their name implies,
"reconditioners" are companies that prepare drums for re-use after each trip
-- they clean them, smooth out the dents, remove the paint, repair leaks,
re-paint them, and re-sell them to shippers.] The address:
Attn: Joan or Marriane
Assoc. of Container Reconditioners
8401 Corporate Drive, Suite 140
Landover, MD 20785-2224
There is also an association of new-drum manufacturers, which may also have
prepared a history or, at least, would have relevant information. Direct
your inquiry to:
Attn: David Core
Steel Shipping Container Institute
1101 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
Hope this helps. BYE--FJK
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