Gilmore Patent Preserve Can
date: label: date made
content: ca 1858
label: patent date
content: 1858-05-11
notes: label: Description
content: Plain, cylindrical container with an inset, handleless cover having a small central depression and rubber ring around its underside; U-shape wire loops or stirrups for holding a sealing lever or clamp are soft soldered at rim on opposite sides. Body is made of one piece with vertical, soft-soldered lapped seam, while the top and flat bottom edges are folded over sides and soldered. No marks. Used with sealing lever or clamp 2014.0004.048, marked "GILMORE" and "PAT'D MAY 11 1858".
label: Description
content: Edwin W. Gilmore of North Easton, MA, received his patent for a tinware preserve can on May 11, 1858 (U.S. Patent No. 20,203), six months before John L. Mason patented his glass jar with screw-on metal cover that today bears his name. Gilmore's sealing mechanism consists of a cam lever secured over the cover by placing its ends through the two stirrups or loops along the rim. Pushing or turning the cam down forces the cover onto its rubber ring to produce an air-tight seal.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place patented
content: United States: Massachusetts, North Easton
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
label: See more items in
content: Domestic Furnishings
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Kenneth E. Jewett
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.251349.0010
label: catalog number
content: 251349.0010
label: accession number
content: 251349
objectType: label: Object Name
content: can, preserve
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: iron (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: rubber (seal material)
label: Physical Description
content: tin (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: iron wire (loops material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 10 9/16 in x 4 1/4 in; 26.82875 cm x 10.795 cm