Got my first water can!

Manufacturers, production numbers, configurations, etc.
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D_Conrad
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Got my first water can!

Post by D_Conrad » Fri Jul 01, 2022 6:25 pm

Got my first water can about a week ago. I haven't seen one with the dimple in the lid. What is that for?
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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by zepher11 » Fri Jul 01, 2022 8:27 pm

Good question, I was looking over my water cans, and noticed one had a dimple like that. All my others have flat lids.
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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by D_Conrad » Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:05 pm

Any corilation with years of manufacturing?
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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by zepher11 » Sun Jul 03, 2022 4:50 pm

D_Conrad wrote:
Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:05 pm
Any corilation with years of manufacturing?
Yesterday I was moving a few of my cans to my other shop. I checked out the two water cans that have the lids with the dimples. They round dimpled section in the center are actually slugs, at least that's what we called them back in the day. Little round metal discs with two tabs usually found on electrical boxes to knock out for wire exit. As kids we were under the mistaken belief that we could drop these into a coke machine and get a free coke. Doubt that worked.

The cans that the lids are on are a Monarch, and a NESCO. Dated '43 and '42, respectively.

Image

Image

Image

Maybe a valve could be inserted into the lid and a hose could be attached when the can is upside down. Could be used for washing hands or a quick shower?

For what it's worth... I'm sure not too many are interested in this anomaly on the WWII era water cans.
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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by 70th Division » Mon Jul 04, 2022 9:20 am

D_Conrad wrote:
Fri Jul 01, 2022 6:25 pm
Got my first water can about a week ago. I haven't seen one with the dimple in the lid. What is that for?
Hello,

That is a great looking water can !!

I better start collecting these too :D :D


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Ray

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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by 70th Division » Mon Jul 04, 2022 9:22 am

zepher11 wrote:
Sun Jul 03, 2022 4:50 pm
D_Conrad wrote:
Fri Jul 01, 2022 9:05 pm
Any corilation with years of manufacturing?
Yesterday I was moving a few of my cans to my other shop. I checked out the two water cans that have the lids with the dimples. They round dimpled section in the center are actually slugs, at least that's what we called them back in the day. Little round metal discs with two tabs usually found on electrical boxes to knock out for wire exit. As kids we were under the mistaken belief that we could drop these into a coke machine and get a free coke. Doubt that worked.

The cans that the lids are on are a Monarch, and a NESCO. Dated '43 and '42, respectively.

Image

Image

Image

Maybe a valve could be inserted into the lid and a hose could be attached when the can is upside down. Could be used for washing hands or a quick shower?

For what it's worth... I'm sure not too many are interested in this anomaly on the WWII era water cans.

Hello Zeph,

Wow that is a great can collection right there !!
If you can stick those on an east bound mule train, right to Florida, I would be happy :D :D

That water can variant is very interesting and you are likely onto something !
I wonder if they were designed to be adapted for use with Browning M1917 water cooled machine guns ?


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by D_Conrad » Mon Jul 04, 2022 12:45 pm

I never thought of it as being a removable portion. That does make a lot of sence though. I'm sure someone here has to know the intended purpose!
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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by zepher11 » Tue Jul 05, 2022 7:17 am

70th Division wrote:
Mon Jul 04, 2022 9:22 am
Hello Zeph,

Wow that is a great can collection right there !!
If you can stick those on an east bound mule train, right to Florida, I would be happy :D :D

That water can variant is very interesting and you are likely onto something !
I wonder if they were designed to be adapted for use with Browning M1917 water cooled machine guns ?


Best Regards,
Ray
Thanks Ray. It is an interesting variant. Always noticed it, but really hadn't thought too much about it until this post. Possible water cooled MG use would be a good idea.
D_Conrad wrote:
Mon Jul 04, 2022 12:45 pm
I never thought of it as being a removable portion. That does make a lot of sence though. I'm sure someone here has to know the intended purpose!
I'm sure someone will chime in on this type of water can lid.
Zeph

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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by 70th Division » Tue Jul 05, 2022 8:01 am

zepher11 wrote:
Tue Jul 05, 2022 7:17 am
70th Division wrote:
Mon Jul 04, 2022 9:22 am
Hello Zeph,

Wow that is a great can collection right there !!
If you can stick those on an east bound mule train, right to Florida, I would be happy :D :D

That water can variant is very interesting and you are likely onto something !
I wonder if they were designed to be adapted for use with Browning M1917 water cooled machine guns ?


Best Regards,
Ray
Thanks Ray. It is an interesting variant. Always noticed it, but really hadn't thought too much about it until this post. Possible water cooled MG use would be a good idea.
D_Conrad wrote:
Mon Jul 04, 2022 12:45 pm
I never thought of it as being a removable portion. That does make a lot of sence though. I'm sure someone here has to know the intended purpose!
I'm sure someone will chime in on this type of water can lid.
Hello Zeph,

I am not sure how you will store or display your can collection, but I tested a way when I was building my barn .
When the walls were up, with exposed 2x6 studs, I stacked them between the studs, with a 2x6 cut and fitted horizontally between the studs to keep stacking the cans.
It makes for a great looking wall of gas cans :D :D
But then I added insulation, plywood, and ship lap boards to finish off the walls, and my can wall experiment will have to used on the next barn :D :D

But it did look great, and they do make great wall art !!

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by 1943Willysgpw » Tue Jul 05, 2022 8:04 am

That is awesome. I do not know why they would have a place to punch out a hole in the lid though.
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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by D_Conrad » Tue Jul 05, 2022 11:39 am

Maybe we should make a thread asking about it specifically? No many people open a thread about a first can thinking about a punch out haha.
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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by gerrykan » Sun Jul 10, 2022 10:47 am

The knock-out plug/slug is for adding a spigot to facilitate filling canteens.

This eliminates the need for a funnel, and cuts down on wastage when a funnel isn't available.

This feature was dropped on later cans.
There are patent drawings of the spigot, but I have yet to see any photographs or information that they were actually made and issued.

I have seen a standard (for the 1940's period) sink faucet installed in the hole, but you lose being able to stack the cans.
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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by D_Conrad » Sun Jul 10, 2022 10:38 pm

gerrykan wrote:
Sun Jul 10, 2022 10:47 am
The knock-out plug/slug is for adding a spigot to facilitate filling canteens.

This eliminates the need for a funnel, and cuts down on wastage when a funnel isn't available.

This feature was dropped on later cans.
There are patent drawings of the spigot, but I have yet to see any photographs or information that they were actually made and issued.

I have seen a standard (for the 1940's period) sink faucet installed in the hole, but you lose being able to stack the cans.
Thank you!! Mystery solved!
Daniel

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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by halifaxgroup » Mon Jul 11, 2022 5:36 am

I believe the can with the relief valve is to bleed off steam from hot soup. Paul
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Re: Got my first water can!

Post by Silly's MB » Tue Jul 12, 2022 7:33 am

The vent is to allow air to enter the can to prevent a vacuum when water is being poured from the tap inserted in the knockout and was part of the original patent. See figure 3
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