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Letter: Letter

Published 21 November 1998

From Edo Lin

According to The Evolution of Useful Things by Henry
Petroski, the process of preserving food in tin cannisters was invented in 1810
by a Londoner, Peter Durand. The firm of Donkin and Hall opened the first
“preservatory” in London to supply the army and navy. At the time, no functional
tools were available to open the tin cans and soldiers used knives, bayonets and
even rifle fire.

In 1858, Ezra Warnet of Connecticut obtained a landmark patent for a can
opener. The well-known wheel-style opener was patented in 1925.

Savigny le Temple, France

Issue no. 2161 published 21 November 1998

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