Evolution Of The US Jerry Can

[Chuck Lutz]

I'm sure someone will post pics, so here goes...

Line up the following gas cans for comparison...
1) German
2) British
3) American "X" can
4) USMC with center/Euro spout
5) Standard US can

OK, I have THREE of the #3 type cans so my lineup is a bit longer.

Now check for construction details and see where certain changes took place.
a) Note the SIZE of the three handle section and how it fits onto the sloped body of all the examples....note which ones are like #1 and #2 and which resemble #5. Note that #1 and #2 are VERY much alike and the #3 cans certainly are more like the #5 (I have no #4 myself to compare)

b) Note the differences in the construction details of the LIDS on the #3 type cans compared to the #1, #2, #3 and #4. They have some small differences. Check the ears on the flange, the flap tackwelded down on the actual cap for instance.

c) Check the small lifting tab on the lid on cans #1 through #4. There is a small hole in one corner or the other, note which are on the right and which are on the left.

d) Check the welding styles of #1 through # 5 and see which resemble the #1 and which resemble #4 or #5.

e) Check in the mouth of the spout on #1 through #4....see if there is a difference in the small tube that vents into the can and which are like #1 and which resemble #4.

If you chart up everything you find, I think you will notice that while #3 cans look like #1 and #2 from a distance, the differences on your chart will show that they were constructed more like #4 and #5.

I don't want to influence what you guys find, so line up a few and you who own two or three or more of the #3 style will be able to give us more info on the subtle changes those cans have here in the USA....there are several of them with slightly different construction details...

So, maybe Robin would be able to eyeball all this since I know he's got a few of the #3 types and probably has the rest of them around for comparison's sake.

There are differences here gentlemen, and I think a logical inspection would let you form an opinion about which the #3 types resemble the most; the #1 and #2 cans or the #4 and #5 cans.

Please share any information you guys FIND, I'd be more interested in what someone FINDS than what someone THINKS at this point.......

[armydriver]

Thanks Chuck for these observations. Photos would be very helpful, if you could furnish them. Thanks again.

[Dom K.]

Hi All : Chuck I'd Love to post pics of your comparison of Jerry cans from my collection for all to see & some other cans you left out . but I dont seem to have the computer knowlage to do so , I've tryed before but with no luck . I could email lots of photos to someone that could post them here for me , or maybe someone with more computer knowlage than I could guide me along the prosses , as I'd dearly love to be able to post pictures . Thanks . Dom

[Greg Hines]

Chuck,

Which German can are you using in this lineup. From the photo I have seen the American "X" can appears to be a copy of an early (I assume early based on pre-war dates) German can that has an "X" reinforcement and not what we consider the standard German/Brtish reinforcement.

Does anyone have a picture of this type of German can they can post?

Dom, I'll post any photos you'd like to send.

Greg
GPW219419

[Greg Hines]

Here are Dom's pictures (and comments). Sorry for the delay.

-------------------

Here are some photos of a comparison I have done with some Mystery cans & a 1938 dated German can .
The picture with the 4 cans shows from LtoR : Mystery Can U.S.M.C. / Unknown - round pourer cap - no marking other than having GAS painted on both sides & FOURTH PLATOON down the back in red / Jd5 ( raised ) marked can / German dated 1938 .
If you look carefully at the combined shot you will notice the differences in each can .Some : being the shape of the bottom & top edges , the length & depth of the X pressings , the caps .


(closeups of each can)









here are the Comparision Pics , sugested Chuck .
From Lto R : German (X)/ ABP 1938 : British / M.P.B. 1943 : American ? ( U.S.M.C. ? ) X Mystery Can : U.S.M.C. / CONCO 1943 :
U.S.A. Q.M.C. / WHEELING 1941 . & On top German (standard) / SCHWELM 1940 .
This does show quite clearly for those with an eye for details the differences between the various cans .
All the Best & Thanks . Dom .

[Chuck Lutz]

Hey Greg:

Can you take a closeup of EACH of the spout lids?
Can you get one of each of the handles where it is tack welded to the upper corner of the can and on the lower front behind the spout.
Can you also show the details of the little hole in the tab on the cap and the way the thin sheet metal is formed around the lid?

There are some subtle differences you will detect as you do this and you can also tell us what you find and which cans resemble the others best. As soon as I get a new digital camera I will grab some pics of my jerry cans and hope to get some photo wizard to crop and and arrange them for comparison's sake....

[Greg Hines]

Chuck,

The pictures are from Dom. If he'll send me closeups I'll post them.

Greg
GPW219419

[Mark Tombleson]

Here are some of the USMC CONCO cans.. and a Cavalier water can.

I have even closer shots of the spouts if you want them.

[lucakiki]

Here are some of the USMC CONCO cans.. and a Cavalier water can.

I have even closer shots of the spouts if you want them.

Mark, close up of the tabs on the lids would help!

I lined side by side a few cans: the two mistery cans I still own, a couple of German cans, a 44 USMC Can , one Italian can,and a British one picked up at random.

I focused on the mistery cans, and mainly on their spout/lid assembly: neither of them has a hole on the tab, but the tubes inside are different. One has the round section tube O, while the other has the oval section tube 0 similar to both USMC can, British can, German can.
The whay the handles are welded and also the way they are cut and pressed is fairly low quality,and they do not look German nor USMC to me: even less they look Italian.

The side X is of the long kind, as in Early German cans.

[Mark Tombleson]

[lucakiki]

I will have to check whether my mistery cans do have or do not have the hole on the handle where the cotter pin would go when the stamping is used on a screw lidded can. From memory, they do not have it, but I will check it.

[Fortyeight2A]

I just went out to check my mystery can, and it has two holes for the cotter pin (although the holes are small, like 1/8" dia.), centered under the spaces between the handles. The handle piece is spot welded on; the welds were done with a rectangular electrode.

[lucakiki]

I just went out to check my mystery can, and it has two holes for the cotter pin (although the holes are small, like 1/8" dia.), centered under the spaces between the handles. The handle piece is spot welded on; the welds were done with a rectangular electrode.

So your X cans have the same kind of holes as the water can on the right in Mark's picture.
One hole, two holes, no hole are the options, it seems.

[Fortyeight2A]

It's a jerry can of worms, Luca. There are not only two holes, they're centered between the handles. That water can's cotter pin holes aren't centered.

[lucakiki]

I will have to check whether my mistery cans do have or do not have the hole on the handle where the cotter pin would go when the stamping is used on a screw lidded can. From memory, they do not have it, but I will check it.

I have checked and can confirm: neither of my mistery cans has the hole for the chain cotter pin that s present on the USMC Conco can.

Fortyeight2A, now I understand that your holes are a different kind from the cotterpin holes, whatever the reason for their presence.