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Old 05-30-2020, 07:10 PM
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Default Nice set of cans

I have a couple of old Hercules powder cans. Anybody have an idea how old they are?

Thanks.
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Old 05-30-2020, 07:54 PM
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Way too clean to be old.................
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Old 05-30-2020, 08:41 PM
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I have a couple of old Hercules powder cans. Anybody have an idea how old they are?

Thanks.
I'd say late 60s-early 70s
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Old 05-30-2020, 09:11 PM
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The first #2400 I bought in about January of 1965 came in that kind of can, but I think Hercules used that can for quite a while. Don't know about the Unique can but would guess it's from the same era.
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Old 05-30-2020, 09:53 PM
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Default When I started in '80......

....they were using the tall cardboard containers with the flat plug in the top that was hard to get all the powder out of.

Oh, I do have couple of IMR cans that they were selling about the same time.
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Old 05-31-2020, 01:46 AM
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This one was given to me years ago. I'm guessing mid-70s
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Old 05-31-2020, 08:04 AM
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prior to 1960 IIRC -
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Old 05-31-2020, 09:33 AM
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Certainly no later than the mid-60s. I’ve got most of a set of them scattered around somewhere... the two you have plus Red Dot, Green Dot, Bullseye, and Reloder 7. I still need Blue Dot.

Yours were the last style of these cans... earlier ones had the same can but different labels. They all look good on a shelf over your reloading bench or in your man cave, but they aren’t bringing anything like the blue skies prices some folks are asking on the auction sites.

Froggie
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Old 05-31-2020, 09:38 AM
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Good choice of titles for this thread. Draws in readers.

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Old 05-31-2020, 11:33 AM
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70s cans earlier cans were a bit different
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Old 05-31-2020, 11:34 AM
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Good choice of titles for this thread. Draws in readers.

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Actually, my first thought was, "Headphones?" (as in "ear CANdy")



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Old 05-31-2020, 12:39 PM
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I have a three of the square cans, Unique, 2400 and Bullseye. Best I can remember my dad bought them in the mid to early 60’s.
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Old 05-31-2020, 02:11 PM
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Check the address on the cans..if they have a zip code on them they are post 65... Zip code started in what 61-62 and the company had a supply of cans that lasted a few years. Maybe to as far as 68... go from there.
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Old 05-31-2020, 02:19 PM
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The can pictured below is 50's......And full. I can post other pics of later ones
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Old 05-31-2020, 02:26 PM
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Tin Gun Powder "cans" are cool!
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Old 05-31-2020, 02:35 PM
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I was sure mislead by that title. Lol
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Old 05-31-2020, 03:05 PM
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Posting pre zip..post zip and a cardboard tube with revision date of 2-85. BTW the earlier 50s can has metal top but is cardboard sides with a screw off lid with a spout like a salt container that flips up. Really hard to get all the powder out of them
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Old 05-31-2020, 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Skeet 028 View Post
Posting pre zip..post zip and a cardboard tube with revision date of 2-85. BTW the earlier 50s can has metal top but is cardboard sides with a screw off lid with a spout like a salt container that flips up. Really hard to get all the powder out of them
Don't know why the one is sideways...can anyone turn it? Or tell me how.
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Old 05-31-2020, 05:02 PM
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This one was given to me years ago. I'm guessing mid-70s
I am still loading out of one of those given to me. The Hornet doesn't take much powder.
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Old 05-31-2020, 10:04 PM
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I have the exact same 2400 can. I bought it in about 1964 or 1965. I started reloading in 1964 and for 10 years I only used the “big three “ powders - Bullseye, Unique, and 2400. I no longer have an empty Unique can, but I think yours is a bit older. These cans held 16 ounces of 2400 powder, but the same size Bullseye can only had 11 ounces of powder and cost $1.80 at my LGS. That’s $2.62 per pound or adjusting for inflation, about $21.67 per pound in today’s dollars. Pretty remarkable price stability. I don’t remember the price of the 2400 cans, but the price per pound was about the same.
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Old 06-01-2020, 12:08 AM
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Don't know why the one is sideways...can anyone turn it? Or tell me how.

Here ya go Skeet. Nice can. Well, not yours but....you know what I mean.
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Old 06-01-2020, 07:26 PM
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Post #14;

Nice "Magnum lid top" you have there, Skeet.

Had the old "Claw top" can back in the day also the plastic "Pull up" that came later.

I also remember when primers and bullets, came in cardboard boxes........... with no plastic or foam.

Geeeze...........
I'm giving my age away.

Ps;
I had some old powder cans on display but my wife is a "clean freak" and they had to go to lighten up her cleaning duty from wiping up the little particles of rust that would get on the wood work.

Decisions, decisions..............

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Old 06-01-2020, 07:54 PM
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Indeed the Hercules cube cans are from the 60s-70s era. Earlier cans looked much the same, but were cardboard with a screw type lid. I worked for Hercules at that time. Check to see if there is a ZIP code (19899) on the Hercules address - if so, no earlier than the early 60s. The company name changed from Hercules Powder Co. to Hercules, Inc. in 1968. Alliant Techsystems acquired the Hercules propellant product line in 1995.

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Old 06-01-2020, 08:12 PM
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Easy way to test dates on these is to check for a zip code. Zip codes came into play in 1963.
Here are a few in my collection.



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Old 06-02-2020, 01:13 PM
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I still load 357 loads from powder in a 2400 can just like that. Bought it from an older gentleman who was movin' out.
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Old 06-22-2020, 07:33 PM
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Quote:
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This one was given to me years ago. I'm guessing mid-70s
have an identical can of H110 unopened.
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Old 07-02-2020, 07:24 AM
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Nice cans. I collect about anything gun related, reloading stuff being high on my list.
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