why are corned beef tins the shape they are and who invented them

Dear nassorcnhoj-ga,

According to the Morris County Library web site the answer is as follows:

"According to our food history sources (most of these are published in
the U.S.), the tapered trapezoidal corned beef can we purchase today
is attributed to Arthur A. Libby, who acquired a U.S. patent for this
item in 1875. "1875 Arthur A. Libby and William J. Wilson developed
the tapered can for corned beef in Chicago." --- Can Central History
Timeline.  http://www.cancentral.com/timel.htm
Why the unique design of the corned beef can? There are several
theories. Most of them support the theory of convenience. "William J.
Wilson and Arthur A. Libby...designed the oblong tapered can, from
which the meat slipped in a block when the bottom was opened."--- The
Story of Canned Foods, James H. Collins [1924] (p. 153-154).
http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/chla/chla-cgi?notisid=AFN9487
"Why are corned beef tins such peculiar shapes? They continue to be
made in their traditional tapered rectangular shape because it is
easier to extract the contents in one piece, thus allowing the block
of corned beef to be sliced. That's also why the cans also employ a
key that enables the user separate one end of the body of the can:
there's no seam to prevent the contents slipping out." --- The
Guardian Newspaper."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-2642,00.html

Source
http://www.gti.net/mocolib1/kid/foodmeats.html
http://www.gti.net/mocolib1/kid/

Unfortunately, the US Patent database for this period is only
searchable by Classification and Patent number, so I cannot refer you
to the original patent. I cannot find any sources which contradict the
above account.

I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
Thank you
answerfinder


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very usefull information tahnks

In a display at a military pub in Ladysmith South Africa I saw a tin
of corned elephant meat. It was larger that the corned beef tins of
which you refer and more square than rectangular.

It was part of stuff captured by the South African army during battles
against Marxist rebels in Southern Angola in the late 1970's and early
1980's.