Donkin Tin Can

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Illustration

Mark Cartwright
by Science Museum, London
published on 18 April 2023
Donkin Tin Can Download 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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Cite This Work

APA Style

London, S. M. (2023, April 18). Donkin Tin Can. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17301/donkin-tin-can/

Chicago Style

London, Science Museum,. "Donkin Tin Can." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified April 18, 2023. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17301/donkin-tin-can/.

MLA Style

London, Science Museum,. "Donkin Tin Can." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 18 Apr 2023. Web. 22 Dec 2024.

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