fake flimsy petrol can

[Lynn Eades]

These cans or at least similar 4 gal cans were used up into the mid to late 70s.
I recall seeing footage of cars being refueled somewhere in northern Africa (Timbucktu?? area) during one of the African Safari rallys. The cans had no cap (no chance of sabotage) and were opened for use with a billhook type tool. I'd guess about 1976, about the time that the newish Mitsubishi Lancers took out the first four places in that event.

I remember a similar tin, as a kid. Honey came in them with a large dia. removeable (push in) lid, as the 4 gall can and as a half height 2 gall can.

[David DeWeese]

Thanks all for the great information!

So, the true "flimsy" is a light-weight one time use tin can that you pried an un-threaded lid off, or punched a hole into, emptied the contents and threw away.

The other type is much heavier construction with a male-threaded removable cap......both types referred to as a "flimsy".

Here's a link to a website I found showing the cans that are still littering the western desert.
http://www.qattara.it/60-99%20taniche.html

Don't mean to bore y'all with a discussion on tin petrol cans, but I find this stuff interesting.

Thanks again, David

[Mike K]

David

You might have more luck if you search for 20 litre Olive oil cans

http://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-o...il-trade/26246

It was easy to see the European heritage of the families living in my area, there was always empty olive oil cans in their rubbish

I am sure that kero was sold in those 4 gallon cans in the 1960's when most houses had a kero heater .

[Eric R.]

You can find the cans that are similar and used for olive oil but here in the US I have found no one that will supply an all metal can. The spouts now are the plastic push in type or a plastic screw in insert.

I wish I could locate the all metal cans again. We had a bunch stored away that we used to transport and store water in our trenches at a our WW1 site but they have all rusted out and I can't find anything to replace them.

[David DeWeese]

Thanks Mike and Eric for the replies,

I couldn't find new all-metal cans in the US either, but as the cans I need are for display only, the rusty cheap ones will do....bought another one today:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201537908262

Was at a hobby/home decoration store yesterday and bought a cheap Chinese replica Shell sign for about 5 dollars on sale. It had all the features in the sign embossed in the tin. Cut out the shell carefully with industrial scissors, epoxied it to the can and repainted it.

Thanks. David

[Barry Churcher]

Wow Dave, nice work!!