On Wed, 11 May 2005 01:11:15 +0100, (Steve Firth)
wrote:

I have a couple of petrol cans from between the wars. I think they are
stamped with the company name one Shell and one BP[1]. Large rectangular
cans with a conical upper section and a huge brass cap with a slot for
insertion of a bar for opening. They are large, possibly 15 or 20
gallons capacity.

Does anyone recognise the description? I think they date from the era
when petrol pumps were a rare sight.

Yes, I recognise the description, my dad used to have one for his
paraffin. Pink IIRC (like the paraffin!).
--
Regards, Chris (Please take out my car to reply by email)
----1961 Austin A40 Farina----1966 Triumph Herald Estate---
---1967 Riley Elf---1965 Hillman Minx---1969 Morris Minor--
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Chris Bolus wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 May 2005 01:11:15 +0100, (Steve Firth)
wrote:

Does anyone recognise the description? I think they date from the era
when petrol pumps were a rare sight.

Yes, I recognise the description, my dad used to have one for his
paraffin. Pink IIRC (like the paraffin!).

When I was a kid (1950s) I used to get sent to the local oil shop for some
paraffin for Dad's blowlamp. In the shop was a big can (two actually) like
the one you describe It was fitted with a hand operated pump to dispense
paraffin into the container you asked him to fill. I think each pump squirt
was half a pint, but it was a long time ago, and I can't be sure.
Certainly, I can't remember the shopkeeper having any other means of
measuring what I bought.

The shop and its neighbours was bulldozed in the early 1960s and the area is
now council maisonettes. In any case, health and safety rules would rule
out the use of such containers nowadays - isn't there a limit of 5 gallons
for the amount of fuel you can store in a domestic garage without a licence?

So my guess is that cans this size are rare and might attract some interest
if you put them on ebay. If you do try to sell them that way, photograph
one alongside a standard 1 gallon can, so that people can see just how big
the ones you are selling are. Otherwise people will assume they are just a
squarer jerrycan.

Jim