IMPROVEMENTS IN TINS OR CANISTERS FOR CONTAINING PAINTS, PRESERVED MEATS, FISH, FRUIT, COFFEE, AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, OR LIQUID MIXTURES
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard McKay at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1876.
RICHARD MCKAY, of Muirkirk, in the County of Ayr, North Britain, Manu-
facturing Tinsmith. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TINS OR CANISTERS FOR CONTAINING PAINTS,
PRESERVED MEATS, FISH, FRUIT, COFFEE, AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, OR
LIQUID MIXTURES."
In the ordinary forms of sealed tins or canisters heretofore in use for containing
paints, preserved meats, fish, fruits, coffee, milk, and other substances or liquid
mixtures, great difficulty is experienced in getting the sealed lids opened up in
order to get at the contents, and the present improvements relate to the construction
of the tins with lids or ends which can be both more easily soldered on and opened
up than those heretofore in use, at the same time economising the cost of manu-
facture.
And the nature and novelty of this Invention consist in forming the new lids
out of sheet tin in a flat circular form with a lug-like extension at one side, these
lids being preferably stamped or punched out with dies, one or more at a time, as
desired, their diameter being slightly less than that of the tins to which they are to
be applied, which enables the two to be easily soldered by the running of the hot
bolt round the outer edge of the lid, the part below the lug being first tinned, so as
also to be soldered by the pressure and heat of the bolt. The body of the canister
is formed in the usual way, but preferably corrugated round the sides near the top
and bottom for greater strength, leaving a slight bead at the extreme edge, and
narrow flange projecting inwards to form a rest for the flat lid. These canisters or
tins with their lids separate are sent out to the paint manufacturers, fruit, fish, or
meat preservers, and when filled with paint or other substance the lid is placed on
the flanged end of the tin with a small sprinkling of rosin between the two, and
soldered down flat with an ordinary soldering bolt to make the canister air and
liquid tight, the tin itself giving sufficient solder by the heat of the bolt;
the lug-
like extension of the lid already referred to is then turned over and pressed down
flush against the side of the tin, so as not to interfere with their being packed close
together, and when the tins require to be opened this is simply done by taking
hold of the lug with the finger and thumb, and giving it a smart pull upwards,
which wrenches the lid completely or partially off as desired, thus dispensing

page_text: entirely with tools of any kind for the purpose. For some kinds of preserved
substances, particularly the liquid or semi-liquid class, it is preferred to solder on
the lids before filling the tins, in which case a hole is formed in the other end or
bottom of the tin, through which end the paint, coffee, milk, or other substance is
run in through a filler, and the opening afterwards covered over with a button or
cap, and sealed or soldered down air and liquid tight in the usual way, and when it
is desired to open the tin, the new or improved top end is turned up and torn off
in the same manner as described in reference to the former modification.
It is to be understood that these improvements are equally applicable to square
or oblong tins or cases as well as to those of cylindrical shape.c