Ripley's Believe It or Not by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for September 16, 2011

The can opener question leads me down some weird thought paths. Such as if Sheffield is the oldest soccer club in the world, who did they play against when they first formed. Or who did the owner of the world’s first phone actually speak to?

What’s really scary is that toilet paper wasn’t invented until 1892.

A penny is a large, heavy coin. We do not have penny’s in the USA

In Africa, most people still don’t have can openners. they use a knife and a hammer to cut open the top.

The thing about the can opener only sounds amazing. Cans were invented for the army, and they used their knives (which they had with them all the time) to open them. It was only after civilians started using them regularly that someone decided to come up with a specialized tool.

Cans are still pretty easy to open with a knife. And many combat veterans used their bowie knives to open cans in the field. Can openers are for wussy’s.

And it took over a Century to put pull tabs on cans. Amazing!

Sometime before 1964, The Army issued a can opener, about one inch long, with a fold-out blade. Can’t remember the nomenclature, but kept it handy for a number of year afterward – still clicked.

We had Army can openers in 1951. Don’t know when they were first issued.

exturk—-The miltary can openers were called a P38—not sure how they got that name but maybe it will show up on google. Some major camping supply stores still sell them, & I have seen them in 2 sizes. I used to carry one in my wallet, since they fold nearly flat & are small. You can actually open a can just as quick with one, as you can with an electric one.

exturk—-I just checked google, & they showed a photo, & many sites where you can buy them cheap.

Love the pull-up lids!