IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN OR OTHER METAL CANS OR BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING OIL, VARNISH, SPIRIT, AND OTHER LLQUIDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Miller, of Plumstead, in the County of
Kent, and Alfred Plumer Stedman, of Hatcham Road, in the County of Surrey,
for the Invention' of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN OR
OTHER METAL CANS OR BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING OIL, VARNISH, SPIRIT, AND
OTHER LLQUIDS."
Sealed the 26th March 1878, and dated the 3rd October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Miller and
Alfred Plumer Stedman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
3rd October 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY MILLER, of Plumstead, in the County of Kent, and ALFRED
PLUMER STEDMAN, of Hatcham Road, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN OR OTHER METAL CANS OR BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING
OIL, VARNISH, SPIRIT, AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
.)
The said Invention relates chiefly to improvements in the construction of the tin
cans or bottles used for containing oil, varnish, spirit, and the like, and is designed
to render these vessels more strong, safe, and durable than they can be made by
the ordinary methods of manufacturing them.
It is well known by manufacturers and users of tin cans or bottles for storing oil,
varnish, and similar liquids, to be very desirable that all the soldered joints should
be formed with a double seam, that is to say, the edges of the tin or other metal
should be doubly bent or folded over or upon each other; but by the ordinary
method of manufacture only the bottom joint, that is to say, the joint or seam that
unites the bottom to the cylindrical portion of the vessel can be thus formed.
narrow neck or top portion of the can or bottle prevents the insertion into the
same of the head of the "tinman's horse," or other implement used in closing or
turning down these seams.
The
Our Invention is chiefly designed to obviate this defective construction of these

page_text: vessels, and to afford the means whereby both the top and bottom joints or seams
can be made strong and durable. For this purpose we proceed as follows:-Instead
of forming the bottom of the can or bottle of one piece of tin or other metal we
form the said bottom of two parts, that is to say, we use an outer piece which is
united to the cylindrical body in the usual manner; and in this piece we form a
hole or aperture, which is covered by a separate inner piece of tin or other metal
This opening or aperture permits the introduction of the aforesaid tool or implement
into the vessel for bending or turning over the top joint or seam. Then the said
inner piece is placed and soldered over the said hole or aperture in the bottom.
This method of constructing the cans or bottles gives to the top joint all the
strength and soundness required; moreover, by the turning down of the top seam
or joint, and the consequent absence of the projecting rim or flange heretofore
existing at this joint, it improves the appearance of the said cans or bottles, and
renders them more convenient for storage and packing, and less liable to injury
from blows or otherwise.
Another advantage resulting from this novel construction of the said cams or
bottles is the increased strength and stiffness imparted to the bottom by the
soldered joint or seam which unites the two portions of the same, and to further
increase the strength and durability of this part of the vessel the said bottom may
be channelled or corrugated at the joint or throughout its entire area.
Another part of our Invention relates to the handles of the said oil bottles and
similar vessels. Heretofore these handles have been secured to the vessels by
soldering them outside of the same; but according to our Invention we insert the
two ends of the handle through slits or holes in the can, bottle, or other vessel, and
solder these ends inside the vessel. This method of attaching the handles renders
them very strong and durable, and entirely obviates the inconvenience now
frequently occasioned by their becoming detached or broken.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Miller and Alfred Plumer Stedman in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 2nd April 1878.
WILLIAM HENRY MILLER, of Plumstead, in the County of Kent, and ALFRED
PLUMER STEDMAN, of Hatcham Road, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN OR OTHER METAL CANS OR BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING
OIL, VARNISH, SPIRIT, AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
The said Invention relates chiefly to improvements in the construction of the tin
or other metal cans or bottles used for containing oil, varnish, spirit, and other
liquids, and is designed to render these vessels more strong, safe, and durable than
can be made by the ordinary methods of manufacturing them.
It is well known by manufacturers and users of tin cans or bottles for storing
oil, varnish, and similar liquids, to be very desirable that all the soldered parts
should be formed with a double seam, that is to say, the edges of the tin or other
metal should be doubly bent or folded over or upon each other; but by the
ordinary method of manufacture only the bottom joint, that is to say, the joint or
seam that unites the bottom to the cylindrical portion of the vessel can be thus
formed. The narrow neck or top portion of the can or bottle prevents the insertion
into the same of the head of the "tinman's horse," or other implement used in
closing or turning down these seams.
Our Invention is chiefly designed to obviate this defective construction of these
vessels, and to afford the means whereby both the top and bottom joints or seams
can be made strong and durable. For this purpose we construct our improved cans
or vesssels, as shown in the accompanying Drawing, which we will now proceed to
describe.
Figure 1 is an exterior elevation of a can or vessel constructed according to our
said Invention; Figure 2 is a vertical central section of the same.
Figure 3 is an elevation, showing the said can placed on a
and illustrating the turning over of the upper bead or seam.
"tinman's horse,"
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the upper part of the said can detached, and
shewing the manner of securing the handle; Figure 5 shews the bottom of the
same.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
Instead of forming the bottom of the can or bottle of one piece, of tin or other
metal, we form the bottom a of two parts, that is to say, we use an outer piece a¹,
which is united to the cylindrical body b in the usual manner. In this piece a³,
and preferably in the centre thereof, we form a hole or aperture which is covered
by a separate inner piece a* of tin or other metal. This opening or aperture permits
the introduction of the aforesaid tool or implement c into the vessel, as shown in
Figure 3, for bending or turning over the top joint or seam at d, d', that is to say,
the seam which is first formed, as shewn at d, projecting in the ordinary manner
is then doubled or turned down, as shewn at d³, all around the can.
of forming the said cans or bottles enables us to solder the said top joint or seam
inside the same, thereby rendering the joint inore secure against leakage than the
ordinary joints, although we may solder the said top joint or seam outside the can
or bottle.
When this operation has been completed the said inner or centre piece a¹
is placed and soldered over the said hole or aperture in the bottom of the can, as
shewn in Figure 5.
This manner
This method of constructing these metal cans or bottles gives to the top joint d¹
all the strength and soundness required; moreover, by the turning down of the top
seam or joint and the consequent absence of the projecting rim or flange heretofore
existing at this joint, we improve the appearance of the said cans or bottles, and
render them more convenient for storage and packing, and less liable to injury
from blows or otherwise than heretofore; moreover, this manner of constructing
the can or bottle affords great facility for cleaning it out, and for repairing the

page_text: body of the can in case of injury to the same, as the central piece a³ can be readily
removed and replaced at anytime.
Another advantage resulting from this novel construction of the said cans or
bottles is the increased strength and stiffness imparted to the bottom by the soldered
joint or seam, which unites the two portions of the same, and to further increase
the strength and durability of this part of the vessel the said bottom may be
channelled, fluted, or corrugated at or around the joint or throughout its entire
t
area.
Our Invention may be applied to cylindrical, square, or other shaped cans, o
bottles.
or
Another part of our Invention relates to the handles of the said oil bottles and
similar vessels. Heretofore these handles have been secured to the vessels by
soldering them outside of the same; but according to our Invention we insert the
two ends of the handle e through slits or holes in the can, bottle, or other vessel,
and solder these ends inside the vessel, as shewn at e¹. This method of attaching
the handles renders them very strong and durable, and entirely obviates the
inconvenience now frequently occasioned by their becoming detached or broken.
Having thus fully described our said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, we wish it understood that we claim,―
First. In the construction of a metal can or bottle, the uniting of the cylindrical
or other shaped body to the top or upper portion of the same by a double or turned
down soldered seam or joint, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Second. Providing the bottom of the said can or bottle with a hole or aperture
closed by a metal piece soldered thereon, as above set forth and for the purposes
specified.
Third. The peculiar manner of securing the handle of a metal can or bottle, as
above, set forth.
2
Fourth. A metal can or bottle with the bottom joint or seam formed in the
ordinary manner, and with the top joint or seam doubled or turned down all around
the same, and with the handle secured in the manner above specified, and the
central hole in the bottom. covered by a soldered piece which may be removed
without detaching or destroying the bottom of the can, as above set forth and for
the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Henry Miller and Alfred Plumer
Stedman, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this First day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.