The world that we live in is changing rapidly. There are many things that we may use one day and the next day, it is relegated to a drawer and eventually, to a box in the garage or the back of a closet.
That is where somebody found this little item, and they had no idea what it was. They didn’t realize that it was one of the most convenient things to have around the house many years ago.
In case you’ve never used one before, it is a vintage key can opener. Unlike the pop-top cans that we may have today or the simple can openers we use, this little device was the only way to get into certain products.
There were a number of types of cans that required this little key to open them. Spam is a good example of how this ingenious device was used, and there was a key included on every can.
Canned food became popular in the late 19th century and as it did, there was a need to get to the inside of the container. These can opener keys were an indispensable method for making sure that we were able to eat dinner.
Prior to the time that the can opener key was made, it was necessary to use a wide variety of tools to get into the can. Sometimes, people would end up injuring themselves using a tool that wasn’t made for that purpose.
Anybody who has ever used one of these old key can openers recognizes that it took a lot of patience. You had to start the opening process correctly or it could go off track.
In addition, you would end up with a sharp edge as you opened the can, so you had to be careful that you didn’t cut yourself in the process.
Eventually, more modern devices were made available. Electric can openers became commonplace at one time as well, but even a simple can opener that you likely have in your drawer is a more convenient option.
We may not be using this type of can opener any longer but it is something that reminds us of times gone by. The next time you find one, it will make you think about this unique part of history.
