University of Virginia Library

Tin Cans

At the beginning of the war it was deemed impracticable to reclaim
tin from ordinary tin cans. Not until October, 1942, were housekeepers
instructed to prepare tin cans for salvage by placing the cutout
ends between the flattened sides. The one per cent coating of
tin could be separated at certain mills by a detinning process from the
ninety-nine per cent steel of the commercial tin can, and both metals
could be salvaged. Even relatively small amounts of tin could be
of use when the chief source of the United States supply was cut off
by the Japanese seizure of the Malayan Peninsula and the Dutch
East Indies.

Tin was essential to many types of goods produced in wartime.
Most of the food for the armed forces was shipped in tin cans because
of the durability of this non-corrosive metal, which can be made to
withstand moisture, excessive heat, and severe cold and to be impenetrable
to poison gas. It was used in the manufacture of cannon
mounts, airplane motors, electrical machinery, and communications
equipment. Not only was tin a fighting metal, but it also made the
best container for many kinds of medical supplies, such as blood
plasma and sulfa-ointments.

At the beginning of the tin salvage campaign in Charlottesville the
soft drink bottlers collected the used cans. Part of the metal they
thus obtained was allocated to them for the manufacture of the caps
on their bottles. The local bottlers of Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, and
the Nehi products gathered up cans which were forwarded by the
firm of Dettor, Edwards, and Morris to detinning concerns. In December
arrangements were made for city trucks to collect the cans on
their regular routes, together with other salvaged materials, and to
carry them to the City Yards. When properly prepared tin cans
were sent to a detinning plant, the city received $15.50 per long ton
for them. During the first year of tin can salvage the city trucks
collected 94,400 pounds, an average of almost 8,000 pounds per
month.[28]

This average rose during the first part of 1944, although it was
estimated that in January only half the housewives in Charlottesville
consistently saved their tin cans. In April three months' collections
aggregating 36,000 pounds, an amount which averaged 12,000
pounds per month, were shipped away. Charlottesville collected
6,000 pounds during that month, and the county salvaged 940
pounds in May and 400 pounds in June. The city and county together
turned in 70,200 pounds for July, August, and September.
To these accumulations were added 34,200 pounds shipped to the
Vulcan Detinning Company, Sewaren, New Jersey, in December.[29]

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No figures covering the quantity of tin cans salvaged in 1945 are
available. As late as August 20 collections continued despite the
fact that the struggle was drawing to a close. Large shipments of
supplies were still being made overseas, and the stockpiles for civilian
use could not be reduced.[30]