Leaded tin (early fruit jar?)

[blobbottlebob]

Here is an early leaded tin. I assume that this is collectible. Anyone have a feel for the value. It has no label. It is not stamped or imprinted. It is about the size of a soda can. Thanks in advance, Bob

 

[blobbottlebob]

The bottom.

 

[blobbottlebob]

One more,

 

[madman]

NAPOLEON??????

 

[capsoda]

Nope, No fruit jar type can this time Bob. It is just a great example of an early can. Probably peaches or apricots so they could soak up plenty of lead for you to eat. Civil War era so it will bring a fair price being far rarer than bottles of that period.

 

[blobbottlebob]

Thanks guys. Great info as usual Warren. And Madman - I suppose Napoleon eating from lead tins might explain some of the craziness (but maybe not the genius).

I'm not sure if the area that I found it in contained civil war vintage items. I'd be happy if you were correct. I would have guessed that most of the rest of it was 1890s but I suppose you never know. I may put it up on ebay. I'll report back how it does.

 

[hj]

I just read a book about the lost arctic journey commanded by Sir John Franklin in 1845. The author of the book contends that the crew eventually succumbed to botulism cause by improperly prepared meat, packed in state of the art cans just like the one you have there.

Bacteria and lead...not a winning combo.

hj

 

[blobbottlebob]

Thanks HJ,
Great post. I love it when you learn more about history based on the stuff you're finding. I suppose that pasteurization was still forty years into the future at that point (despite the state-of-the-art cans). They probably had no idea that canning things without proper sterilization could be so dangerous.

 

[pyshodoodle]

I saw The Sir John Franklin story on NOVA, but I can't find the video on the internet.
I remember lead poisoning being one of the causes of death.
Found this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Franklin