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So, the Germans made a can that was easy to fill, easy to carry, easy to stack, didn't leak and didn't break easily. Then the Americans copied it and made a ca

So, the Germans made a can that was easy to fill, easy to carry, easy to stack, didn't leak and didn't break easily. Then the Americans copied it and made a can that leaked (because it didn't have the recessed seam of the original) and needed tools (spanner and funnel) to fill. The British had an early version that split in transport, punctured easily, leaked a quarter of the fuel they carried over rough roads and "gave vehicles a propensity to catch fire" (!) but when they saw the German design they immediately cottonned-on and made several improvements (cam lever cap release, air pocket and air pipe for smooth flow, gasket to leak-proof the mouth). Finally, the Russians copied the German design, presumably without changes. There is a deep lesson in all of this about the engineering practices, or perhaps the engineering traditions, of different nations. I'm sure there is. I just can't get past the "gave vehicles a propensity to catch fire" bit.

micro_cam 5y ago
And the French developed a 2.5 gallon version for wine: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1955-military-jerry-original-2011735003 https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1955-military...
- throw0101a 5y ago
  Every British tank has tea-making gear: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_vessel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_vessel * https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-is-why-every-armored-vehicle-has-british-tea-making-gear/ https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-is-why-every-ar...
aaron5 5y ago
At first I smirked when I read your American bit... but then I wondered... what if those were design choices? For example, what if someone figured out the average sit-time of gasoline in the jerrycan, the average fault rate and leak rate of the lesser seam, and the average production time and lifespan of the jerrycan - then decided the sometimes leakier version was better because it was lighter, more quickly manufactured, etc? And then perhaps American soldiers were more likely to pilfer gasoline for joy-rides or bartering, or to steal and sell the jerrycans themselves to their liberated friends and lovers, or for some other reason these cans were more likely to be "lost" as the Wikipedia article vaguely mentions - thus, make the can useless without the spanner and funnel, so as to make it a little less tempting for an improper owner to run off with? Maybe? Just thinking out loud. But these questions reminded me just how fascinating everyday objects can be.
- jdkee 5y ago
  I highly recommend: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/130748.The_Pencil https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/130748.The_Pencil for a fascinating look at a universals object. Petroski's other books are quite insightful and illuminating as well.

micro_cam 5y ago

And the French developed a 2.5 gallon version for wine: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1955-military-jerry-original-2011735003 https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1955-military...

throw0101a 5y ago
Every British tank has tea-making gear: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_vessel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_vessel * https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-is-why-every-armored-vehicle-has-british-tea-making-gear/ https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-is-why-every-ar...

aaron5 5y ago

At first I smirked when I read your American bit... but then I wondered... what if those were design choices? For example, what if someone figured out the average sit-time of gasoline in the jerrycan, the average fault rate and leak rate of the lesser seam, and the average production time and lifespan of the jerrycan - then decided the sometimes leakier version was better because it was lighter, more quickly manufactured, etc? And then perhaps American soldiers were more likely to pilfer gasoline for joy-rides or bartering, or to steal and sell the jerrycans themselves to their liberated friends and lovers, or for some other reason these cans were more likely to be "lost" as the Wikipedia article vaguely mentions - thus, make the can useless without the spanner and funnel, so as to make it a little less tempting for an improper owner to run off with? Maybe? Just thinking out loud. But these questions reminded me just how fascinating everyday objects can be.

jdkee 5y ago
I highly recommend: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/130748.The_Pencil https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/130748.The_Pencil for a fascinating look at a universals object. Petroski's other books are quite insightful and illuminating as well.