A Gallery of 30 Industrial Revolution Inventions (Image Gallery) p. 2

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by Mark Cartwright
published on 20 April 2023

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Donkin Tin Can

by Science Museum, London
published on 18 April 2023

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Donkin Tin Can — View Full-Size Image

A Donkin tin can. The commercially viable tin can that preserved food was invented in 1811 by Bryan Donkin (1768-1855). Donkin built on the ideas of others to perfect a cheap and safe canning process. The idea was that soldiers, mariners, and explorers could take a food supply anywhere. Donkin ran his canning factory in London from 1813, the Donkin, Hall & Gamble Company. The cans were expensive and heavy – the lightest was 2 kilograms (4.4 lbs) – and needed to be opened using special tools, but they were used by both the military and polar explorers with success to preserve soup, meat, and vegetables.

Science Museum, London.

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