Posted 9 years ago
OlTimer
(1 item)
Appear to be roughly 25 gallons Oil Drum with Rolled Tops and Bottoms... Anyone have an idea to what the stamping stands for and the age of these drums
Imperial Oil Company Limited Drums | ||
| Petroliana1529 of 3738 |  |  |
Are you in Canada or the UK or elsewhere?
The style was in general use in the early 1900's for regular sized oil barrels. eBay has some 55 and 56 gallon barrels from that period and that style running USD$120-400.
It's a cool can.
Thanks for your comments just-a-random-guy.
I have never come across this type of drum, about half the size of the regular 45 gallon drums. I've come across the old Riveted Drums and the modern Steel drum style has been around since likely the 1950's+-. I am just curious as to what the Stamping on the drum mean... Thanks for any info....
Hey OlTimer,
You have a “Hackney” cylindrical drum. R. Hackney founded the Pressed Steel Tank Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1902. In 1913, R. Hackney filed for a patented barrel head design so that the bung and vent holes are raised above the typically flat head drum. This distinctive head design element received a patent in 1916 (US Patent 1178717), and it is easily recognizable on both steel bilge barrels and cylindrical drums made by Pressed Steel Tank. In the US, the Interstate Commerce Commission required an ICC code (e.g. ICC-5B or ICC-17X) as well as date on all metal drums containing hazardous materials like fuel. ICC-5 means that your drum met the regulations for containing petroleum products. Your drum head mark “3-17” makes me think that it was manufactured by Pressed Steel Tank Co. in March 1917. Your drum was manufactured for the Canada-based Imperial Oil Co., Limited. This petroleum company ordered drums with their name on it. I have seen other Pressed Steel Tank-made drums with Standard Oil Co. embossing and one with no company identified. Unlike the lightweight 18 and 20 gauge drums that are made today, these early heavier gauge drums (13, 14, 16 gauge) were expensive to make and so they were meant to be used over and over again, that is they were returned to the petroleum company to be refilled and sent back out. The last number A-6141, I am not positively sure what it means, but it is probably just an inventory number so that Imperial could kept track of their drum as it went out full and came back empty. You mention that the drum is smaller than a 55 gallon drum, so it may be 30 gallon capacity drum. I have no idea of its monetary value.
Hello drumguy,
Thank You so much for the information you provided. These Old Drums have been kept in an old wooden shed for a great many years.... You have a great day and again Thank You.....
OlTimer