Life Without a Can Opener

I was going through 'This Day in History' notes and saw that packaging food in tin cans was patented on this day in 1825 here in America. Then I saw the side note that the can opener wasn't patented here until 1858!

Wait. What?  There was a 33 year gap? How did they open cans? Didn't anyone think ahead?

It took some digging, but people used knives and keys and brute force to open cans in the 33 year gap. It was not easy. Sometimes it took hours to open one can!

Imagine what it would be like without a can opener today. As impatient and demanding for things now that we are, this would not fly.

Next time you use a can opener, quietly thank it for being around.