Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Cone Can Chronology

Hi there, I was wondering if you guys have any chronological information on the introduction of the "cone" style cans into the motor oil realm.

I'm an archaeology student working on the excavation of a Japanese logging camp, circa 1920s-1930s and we've just today uncovered a new style of can on site. Initially, it was assumed to be a beer can of the cone style - but the spout was threaded rather than for a bottle cap, which leads me to believe that it may rather be a oil can.

The artifact has yet to be fully excavated, and is heavily corroded, but if we can narrow down the dating of the object to a minimum year - then it may help yield a better dating of the site. So, if anyone knows in particular when the first of this style was introduced, it would be a great help.

Thanks alot

Hello, if it is a beer can, cone tops were intro'd in 1936.

Guys, how about the cone top outboard oil cans. How long were those around?

This seems to be the problem. The cone top beer cans are everywhere, and loads of information are available on them - but the question is if that this style was borrowed from the oil can variety and then made into beer cans, or vice versa.

Archaeo,

Pretty sure beer cans came first, and cone tops in the late 30's & early 40's were more-than-likely low profile cones. High profile cones started showing up in the 40's (OD WWII beer cans for example), but threaded cones?....I'd say that's odd for your dump & the era, unless the Japanese had a jump on technology....maybe from the Germans?....can you post any pics?

Cone top beer cans were still around in the 50's from the small breweries, but as time went on, lots of beer cans were painted over or paper-labled for "petro" products, as the breweries switched or went under....I think threaded tops came after that even....?

Well, please contact me if you find any old WWII flattop or conetop beer cans that are legible!

Best,

Mike

Just a thought that might help with the distinction. I believe oil cans were of quart size. Would beer cans have been of the same volume?

Slight problem here, Archaeo never told us what size can he discovered.

Unless it was 2-cycle oil, I don't believe motor oil was ever put in a less than quart container.

Jack Sim

They are if you're lucky!!!!

Yes they were! There were many quart size flat top & cone top beer cans back in the day. Often times you can remove the paint on an automotive can, and there'll be a beer can underneath!

Thunder Flushes his system every night, puts in new, flushes out the old. It keeps his motor Clean all the time. Good for someones business !