Portable Fuel Can History

We seem to need a means of transporting fuel from time to time and last week at Tractor Don’s BBQ was no exception. Out came the illustrious red five gallons, three run handle, screw on spout. We all probably have at least one. But how many people know the history of this marvelous devise, or that there is another design out there. One without a screw on cap and has a built in pour spout. I promised PasoChris to forward this information to him but have decided to post it so all can read.

In the fall 1987 issue of Invention and Technology Magazine an article on the history of the can titled “ The little Can That Could” gave the history the can. A few months ago I found that the article is available on the web.

http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/it/1987/2/1987_2_62.shtml

In the next Issue was an equally interesting letter in the letters section. Heading “The American Can That Could”

http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/it/1988/1/1988_1_2.shtml

I wish images from the original article were available online. An image is available at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_can

Geoff

Interesting article Thanks for posting.
Al

Geoff - Interesting and entertaining story, thanks for the links. So .. the Jerrycan, as we know it, wasn't really a U.S. idea at all?? .. but a German one? .. 🙄

What is amazing to read, is that the military took so long to understand the importance of having small fuel containers readily available in bulk .. and the enormous wastage prior to jerrycans becoming available in large numbers.

I've read before, about how fuel shortages crimped the activity of both the Axis and Allies movements, at numerous times .. and that later, Allied "priority" war strategies, were specifically aimed at cutting off Axis fuel supplies .. but few people really understand that WW2 was as much about gaining control of oil, as it was about gaining control of additional areas of land and subjugating nations.

Here's a pic, following, that shows just how important the humble jerrycan was, in the latter stages of WW2.
As the Allied forces invaded Europe on a large scale, in mid 1944, fuel supply continuity was crucial .. and jerrycans helped make that so.
At the peak of European fuelling operations in 1944, a million gallons a day was being delivered to the Allies on European soil .. and much of that fuel, was decanted from tanker trucks into jerrycans, for easy portability ..

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6465/jerrycansem7.jpg

The quest for fuel in WW2 .. http://www.mikeantonucci.com/bloodforoil.htm