IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHEET METAL CANS AND KEGS, AND SUCH LIKE VESSELS, FOR THE SHIPMENT OR TRANSIT OF PAINT OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Stewart Macarthur, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHEET METAL CANS AND KEGS, AND SUCH LIKE VESSELS,
FOR THE SHIPMENT OR TRANSIT OF PAINT OR OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 30th March 1880, and dated the 29th October 1879.
+
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Stewart Macarthur at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th October 1879.
JOHN STEWART MACARTHUR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHEET METAL
CANS AND KEGS, AND SUCH LIKE VESSELS, FOR THE SHIPMENT OR TRANSIT OF PAINT
OR OTHER SUBSTANCES."
This Invention has for its object the combination in one vessel of an export can
or keg, and an ordinary hand pot or can, as for paint and other purposes, for
making such vessels more useful than heretofore. The features of novelty which
constitute this Invention consist in making the sheet metal, outer shell, or wall of
the vessel of the more useful tapered or truncated conical shape of paint pots or
cans (instead of merely cylindrical as heretofore); and fitting them with a wire
or other bow handle, booked or jointed through holes in the upper or wide rim of
the vessel, or in eye snugs secured thereto, as the bow handles of paint cans and
other such like vessels are secured, so that this handle would swivel or fold down
within or outside the upper rim. A closing-in lid would be fitted into the top or
wide end, preferably sunk a little, and secured by two or more kneed snugs or ears,
so as to allow the handle to lie in the recess, and also protect the trade labels and
address on the lid.
The lid so inserted would easily be removed without injury to the vessel, and
leave it all ready for being at once used by raising the handle as an ordinary paint
or other carrying pot or can
These vessels made in this improved manner would thus be available as paint or
other hand pots for general use, in addition to and after having served the purpose
of conveying paint and similar analogous matter, instead of being used for the
latter object only as is now the case. Economy is thus effected in the twofold
purpose served by this mode of construction, preventing the usual waste of the keg
or can, or the expense or trouble of returning them frequently in a crushed and
useless state.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Stewart Macarthur in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th April 1880.
"
JOHN STEWART MACARTHUR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Merchant. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHEET METAL CANS
AND KEGS, AND SUCH LIKE VESSELS, FOR THE SHIPMENT OR TRANSIT OF PAINT OR
OTHER SUBSTANCES."
My said Invention has for its object the combination in one vessel of an export
can or keg, and an ordinary hand pot or can for containing paint and other like
viscous matter, for the purpose of making such vessels more useful than heretofore
by admitting of their being employed first for the shipment or transit in them of
the paint, and afterwards when unshipped being used as ordinary paint pots to be
carried by hand.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended a Sheet of explanatory
Drawings for that purpose.
Referring to these Drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Figure 2 is a
plan illustrating the construction of my improved combined keg or can and
carrying paint pot.
My said Invention consists in making the sheet metal (preferably painted or
galvanised) outer shell or wall of the vessel A of the more useful tapered or
truncated conical shape of paint pots or cans, instead of being made merely
cylindrical as heretofore, and fitting it with a wire or other bow handle B, kneed
or turned up at each end b to be sprung into, and hooked or jointed through holes c
punched or formed in the upper or wide rim A¹ of the vessel A, and preferably
fitted with eyelets c² for protection of these holes, or fitted. in eye snugs secured
thereto as the bow handles of paint cans and other such like vessels are secured,
so that this handle B would swivel or fold down within, or it might be outside the
upper rim A¹. A closing in lid or cover D is fitted into the top or wide end A¹ of
the keg or can A, preferably sunk a little, to bear on a contracted part A² of the
can A, and formed with a turned up edge or flange D' secured to the can A by
having two holes punched in this edge D¹, through which the ends b of the bow
handle B pass, as well as through the corresponding holes c in the rim of the can;
or the lid D may be secured by two or more kneed snugs or ears, but in either case
so as to allow the handle B to lie in a recess, and also protect the trade label and
address on the lid, the handle B being also fitted or formed with a gripping catch B¹,
which would be closed by pliers to keep it fixed down on the rini A¹ of the can
when not intended to be used as when the keg would be shipped or packed for
transit. The lid so inserted is easily removed by pressing the handle B inwards
or unspringing it to withdraw first one end 6 from its retaining hole c in the lid
and rim, and then removing it altogether without injury to the vessel, and leave it
all ready for being at once used by refixing or springing the handle into its hole c
in the rim A only, and raising it as in an ordinary paint or other carrying pot or
can; the lower ring A" forming a suitable base for the pot to rest on. When
preferred, or for the purpose of saving space in packing the kegs for shipment or
transit they may be made cylindrical, as shown by the dotted line A*, or polygonal
in shape, but in any case fitted with removable lids and portable handles in the
manner described in reference to the Drawings.
These vessels made in this improved manner would thus be available as paint or
other hand pots for general use, or for carrying water or liquids in addition to and
after having served the purpose of conveying paint and similar analogous viscous
anatter, instead of being used for the latter object only, as is now the case. Economy
is thus effected in the twofold purpose served by this mode of construction, preventing

page_text: the usual waste of the keg or can, or the expense or trouble of returning them,
frequently in a corroded and useless state.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I desire it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to
the precise details herein described and delineated, but what I believe to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The construction of a combined export paint keg and hand can or pot for
conveying paint and other such like viscous or semi-liquid substances, fitted with a
jointed portable handle and removable cover or lid, substantially as and for the
purposes described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Stewart Macarthur, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JOHN S. MACARTHUR. (L.S.)