Let’s go back to 1795, when Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military leader, offered a prize for anyone who could find a way to make food last longer for his army. In the early 1800s, Peter Durand rose as an inventor, accepted the challenge, and created the world’s first can. It was made from wrought iron and tin some seriously tough metal! This was the start of food canning.
When Was The Can Invented
In 1810, the idea of preserving food in cans was patented. But here’s the surprising part – for almost 50 years, there was no can opener! People had to use tools like chisels and hammers to get into their canned food. You can probably imagine how frustrating that was!
When Was The Can Opener Invented
The first can opener was invented in 1858 by Ezra J. Warner, an American inventor. In 1855 the first can opener was invented in Britain. Three years later, in 1858, the U.S. came out with their version. These early can openers were simple and far from perfect. You had to cut into the can with sharp tools, and it wasn’t the safest way to get your food.
What Did The First Can Opener Look Like
Can Opener Invented After Can
It might seem strange, but the can opener was invented nearly 50 years after canned food! In 1810, the process of preserving food in cans was patented, but for decades, people struggled to open them. The early cans were thick and made from iron, so opening them required tools like a hammer and chisel. It wasn’t until 1855 in Britain, and 1858 in the U.S., that the first can openers were invented. Even then, these early designs were far from perfect, and it took many years of improvements to get to the can openers we use today.
William Lyman
In 1870 an American inventor named William Lyman created the first rotating wheel can opener. This was a big improvement, but there was still a problem – you had to pierce the can before using it. Even though it wasn’t perfect, people appreciated how much easier it was compared to the old methods.
Modern Can Openers
In 1925, the Star Can Opener Company made another important improvement. They added a second serrated wheel, making it much easier to cut through the can. Then, in 1931, Charles Arthur Bunker designed a tooth-wheeled crank that allowed people to open cans easily and safely. This design became the standard for can openers. Then pliers-like handles were added to grip the can, making it even easier to use. This design, with the two wheels and handles, is the same type of can opener we still use today.
Bonzer Benchtop Can Opener
By the 1940s, a special type of can opener, known as the Bonzer Benchtop Can Opener, was created for large-scale use in hotels and restaurants. This heavy-duty can opener became a must-have for commercial kitchens and has been updated and improved over the last 80 years.
The Electric Can Opener
As time went on, technology improved even more. Electric can openers were first invented in the 1930s, but they didn’t really take off until 1956 when the Udico company introduced a successful free-standing model. Since then, electric can openers have made things even more convenient, especially for those who don’t want to struggle with manual ones.
Can Opener Day
Believe it or not, there’s even a special day dedicated to the can opener. And after hearing about all the years people spent struggling with cans before it was invented, you can see why they deserve some recognition!
The Surprising History of the Can Opener
In summary, the can opener has a long history, starting from a simple tool to the handy device we know today. From early inventions in the 1850s to modern electric versions, the can opener has made our lives much easier. Next time you grab that can of soup or veggies, give a little nod to the inventors who made it all possible!
