It's a sardine tin...

Dougie Webb · May 15, 2021

Scouring the yard last night instead of pulling weeds, I came across yet another sardine tin. I was surprised at its condition, given the fact that I've never seen anyone eating sardines on the side of our house, which means it was eaten a long time ago. My guess would be around 1969, when the house was built.

I've found a few of these and have tossed them out. For some reason, I decided to try and find this one. I couldn't even find a picture of it anywhere on the interwebs, and I consider myself a pretty capable searcher. I found a hit on the text in a newspaper from 1970, but wasn't about to pay $ to see the image.

So basically, this is - by a long shot - the rarest thing I've ever found. And it's definitely going in the trophy case.

Reasonable offers considered.

GaRebel1861 · May 15, 2021

I believe that company is still around. If not, I’ve seen a can at the store that looks a lot like it. I love eating sardines while kayaking on the creek. I prefer the ones with either hot sauce or include a hot pepper.

ecmo · May 15, 2021

Not that old, I've bought those in that style tin before. They may still be on shelves in a store near you.

Red-Coat · May 15, 2021

There's a small clue perhaps. The tins used today have little 'R' alongside the "Beach Cliff" wording, indicating that it's a registered trademark. Early tins don't have that. The trademark was registered in 1963, but the brand name was used unregistered prior to that (since 1929).

releventchair · May 15, 2021

Not seeing any modern/recent BeachCliff cans with the same details.
Found this...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doubleukaybee/4520744799/

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/...peninsulas more than halfway up the coastline.

releventchair · May 15, 2021

This might have your tin beginning in 1968. (?) Pre-1975. (?)

https://www.bing.com/newtabredir?ur.../01/a-history-of-the-stinson-canning-company/

Dougie Webb · May 15, 2021

GaRebel1861 said:
I believe that company is still around. If not, I’ve seen a can at the store that looks a lot like it. I love eating sardines while kayaking on the creek. I prefer the ones with either hot sauce or include a hot pepper.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they are. For me, liking this tin is the closest I've come to liking sardines.

Dougie Webb · May 15, 2021

releventchair said:
This might have your tin beginning in 1968. (?) Pre-1975. (?)

https://www.bing.com/newtabredir?ur.../01/a-history-of-the-stinson-canning-company/

I'm getting a "page not found" error on that

Dougie Webb · May 16, 2021

Red-Coat said:
There's a small clue perhaps. The tins used today have little 'R' alongside the "Beach Cliff" wording, indicating that it's a registered trademark. Early tins don't have that. The trademark was registered in 1963, but the brand name was used unregistered prior to that (since 1929).

Good one, RC! Also notice the spelling of the type of oil: "soy bean" as distinct words rather than the modernized "soybean," which they currently use.

Dougie Webb · May 16, 2021

ecmo said:
Not that old, I've bought those in that style tin before. They may still be on shelves in a store near you.

They are still around, for sure, but a few things give this one away as being older - (1) no UPC marking, (2) no pull tab; and as RC mentioned, (3) no (r) trademark symbol.

releventchair · May 16, 2021

Dougie Webb said:
I'm getting a "page not found" error on that

Well. And I lost the article.

This one hints of dates a little.
At least with the ring.
Hope I didn't already post it.

A history of the Stinson Canning Company - The Working Waterfront Archives