He Collects Milk Cans From Around The World
If you collect milk cans, Ian Spellerberg of Christchurch, New Zealand, would love to hear from you. The semi-retired professor has more than 250 cans from 20 different countries and recently published the first known book about milk cans, Milk Cans - a Celebration of Their History, Use, and Design.
We saw a photo of him recently in Antique Trader, standing in his largest milk can (25 gallons) holding his smallest milk can (1/8th of a pint), and decided to get in touch with him.
“Overall, I think we have not done justice to the humble milk can,” Spellerberg says. “We should celebrate milk cans because they have played an exceedingly important role in the history of the dairy industry.”
Unless a date is stamped on it, dating milk cans is difficult, he admits, but old trade catalogs, photos and paintings help.
“The design of the spherical Guernsey milk cans, for example, goes back more than 1,000 years,” he says. Guernsey is one of the Channel Islands situated just off the Normandy Coast of France. The spherical shape of those cans was said to reduce slopping of milk out of the can.
In researching his book, he discovered how excited early farmers were to receive their first milk cans and ways they were instructed to maintain cleanliness. There were also many ideas about how to keep the milk cold - from keeping the cans in a cold stream or water trough, to insulated jackets.
Before refrigeration, milkmen made their rounds frequently. Milk cans like his tiniest 1/8 cup can from around 1900 were used to hold enough cream for a few cups of tea. Among his other rare cans is a China can used in stores to transfer milk or cream into a customer’s container.
Spellerberg believes there are more stories to gather about milk cans. “There should be a museum dedicated to milk cans. I think many people in different countries would be interested in learning about milk can history, use and design. In the U.S., for example, there were 543 patents issued between 1859 and 1919 for milk cans and dairy can accessories. That’s an extraordinary topic in its own right and well worth exploring further,” he says.
His book was published by Astragal Press and can be ordered at 800 462-6420 or on Amazon.com.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ian Spellerberg (spellerbergian@gmail.com; Instagram: antiquesinvestigator).
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He Collects Milk Cans From Around The World DAIRY EQUIPMENT & IDEAS If you collect milk cans Ian Spellerberg of Christchurch New Zealand would love to hear from you The semi-retired professor has more than 250 cans from 20 different countries and recently published the first known book about milk cans Milk Cans - a Celebration of Their History Use and Design We saw a photo of him recently in Antique Trader standing in his largest milk can 25 gallons holding his smallest milk can 1/8th of a pint and decided to get in touch with him “Overall I think we have not done justice to the humble milk can ” Spellerberg says “We should celebrate milk cans because they have played an exceedingly important role in the history of the dairy industry ” Unless a date is stamped on it dating milk cans is difficult he admits but old trade catalogs photos and paintings help “The design of the spherical Guernsey milk cans for example goes back more than 1 000 years ” he says Guernsey is one of the Channel Islands situated just off the Normandy Coast of France The spherical shape of those cans was said to reduce slopping of milk out of the can In researching his book he discovered how excited early farmers were to receive their first milk cans and ways they were instructed to maintain cleanliness There were also many ideas about how to keep the milk cold - from keeping the cans in a cold stream or water trough to insulated jackets Before refrigeration milkmen made their rounds frequently Milk cans like his tiniest 1/8 cup can from around 1900 were used to hold enough cream for a few cups of tea Among his other rare cans is a China can used in stores to transfer milk or cream into a customer’s container Spellerberg believes there are more stories to gather about milk cans “There should be a museum dedicated to milk cans I think many people in different countries would be interested in learning about milk can history use and design In the U S for example there were 543 patents issued between 1859 and 1919 for milk cans and dairy can accessories That’s an extraordinary topic in its own right and well worth exploring further ” he says His book was published by Astragal Press and can be ordered at 800 462-6420 or on Amazon com Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ian Spellerberg spellerbergian@gmail com; Instagram: antiquesinvestigator
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