The term “church key” originated in England during the 1940s as a reference to the large metal keys used to unlock doors on churches. Over time, this term was connected with the tools used to open cans of beer or soda, since the design of the two objects was similar.
This tool was also known as a “flat-tack opener”, “Button-Lift opener”, or “can key”.
The shape of the church key resembled a large, thin metal cross with a small triangular-shaped opening near the tip. This allowed one to insert a thin metal tool and pry off the lid. It was this design that inspired the later designs of the Crown shaped openers that were created in the 1930s by the Crown Cork & Seal Company.
These can openers typically had a hook-like protrusion near the apex of the handle, allowing one to fish the lid out of the can once it was detached.
The familiar name for the tool, “church key”, has been used ever since its original use as a key for church doors. This vintage slang continues to be used in literature and everyday life today, although the use of the actual tool has decreased with the advent of automatic electric can openers in the 1950s.
What is a church key opener?
A church key opener is a tool used to open cans and bottles. It is named such because the original designs resembled a cross-shaped key used to unlock the gates of a church. This type of opener is also sometimes known as a ‘churchkey can opener’, ‘claw can opener’ or ‘can piercer’.
The design consists of a sharp cutting blade and a pointed end which is used to puncture the lid of the can so that it can be opened. It is a useful tool to have at home, as it easily opens cans of all sizes and can also be used to open bottles.
Oftentimes, this type of opener will also have an attached bottle opener, as some cans and bottles require two different actions for opening.
What is the pointy end of a bottle opener for?
The pointy end of a bottle opener is typically used for two main purposes. The first purpose is to ease the opening of beer or soda bottles by breaking the bottle cap. This involves inserting the pointy end into the center of the bottle cap and then moving the opener around in a circular motion until the cap is broken off.
The second purpose of the pointy end is to act as a leverage point to remove stubborn caps from bottles. This involves inserting the pointy end into the edge of the bottle cap, and then using a levering motion to pop the cap off.
Some bottle openers may also have other end features such as corkscrews, knife blades, or nail files, depending on their design.
Can opener slang?
The term “can opener” has several different meanings in slang. It can refer to a person who opens canned drinks or food, such as a bartender. It can also refer to someone who opens conversations or initiate relationships; this phrase is generally used to denote someone who is socially skilled and knows how to win people over.
In some cases, it is used to describe someone who has the social skill to “open up” people who are typically closed off.
Finally, it can also refer to a move in certain dance styles, such as swing dancing, where one leads partner swings their arm around and opens the arm of their partner. This move is sometimes referred to as a “can opener. “.
What is another name for a can opener?
Another name for a can opener is a tin opener. This kitchen tool is used to easily open cans by quickly puncturing and cutting away the lid so that you can access the contents of the can. Tin openers can vary in shape and size, but traditionally they consist of a sharp, pointy blade on one end, and a lever arm attached to the other.
Tin openers allow one to easily puncture and open the lid of a can, making it much faster and easier to access food items stored in cans.
What do can openers mean?
Can openers refer to utensils designed to open cans of food without causing injury to the user’s hands. Can openers come in a variety of styles and sizes, from simple manual openers to more advanced electric openers.
However, the basic design remains the same: the blade of the opener punctures the lid of the can, allowing for air to enter the can which creates a vacuum seal that makes it easier to pull off the lid.
Can openers provide a convenient and safe way to open cans of food in homes and restaurants alike. Furthermore, they allow people who struggle to use manual openers (such as those with arthritis) to still enjoy eating canned food.
Overall, can openers provide a useful and essential tool to many households and are a key component to any kitchen.
What is a paint key used for?
A paint key is an important tool used in the painting industry. It is typically made from a strip or sticks of wood or plastic which has evenly spaced holes or slots in it. Paint keys are used to mix paint accurately and evenly for a quality finish.
For instance, custom paint shops measure a set amount of paint from the can or bucket into a separate container and then use a paint key to ensure that it is accurately mixed to the desired tint. The paint key stops the paint from being overmixed and helps prevent errors while blending multiple colors.
Paint keys are also used to determine color matches, as well as the right type of paints, paints with different constructions, and paint formulas. Additionally, the paint key can be used to transfer paint from the can to the mixing machine.
This helps to maintain a consistent ratio and color accuracy between batches of paint.
Who invented the paint can opener?
The inventor of the paint can opener is unknown. It is believed that the tool was invented during the 1940s, shortly after the invention of the can opener. The can opener was a simple device that worked with a lever, and the paint can opener was a version of this.
It used a lever to puncture the can lid and a series of blades along the edges of the can lid that allowed the paint to pour out. It was a much easier method than the traditional hammer and nails method previously used, which often caused damage to the outer surface of the can lid.
Today, paint can openers are available in many different shapes, sizes, and materials and are an essential tool for anyone who works with paints and solvents.
How do you use wine opener?
Using a wine opener is a straightforward process, but there are a few things to keep in mind when popping open a bottle of your favorite vintage. First, make sure the bottle is firmly held in one hand, while the other removes the foil capsule covering the cork.
Next, position the bottle opener in the center of the cork, hugging the length of the cork as you slowly turn the handle to drive the corkscrew in. As you continue to turn, the cork should gradually pull out of the neck of the bottle with a gentle tug.
Once the cork is removed, pour yourself and any guests a glass of merriment and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Who invented the church key?
The church key, more commonly referred to as a bottle opener, was invented by German brewer and bottler, Adolphus Busch, in the late 1800s. Prior to his invention, drinkers had to resort to various dangerous methods to open a bottle of beer, such as using a knife or smashing the glass against another hard surface.
After hearing complaints from his customers, Busch, who is often credited as the founder of the juggernaut brewing company, Anheuser-Busch, created the church key. This two-pronged opener, inspired by a pocket knife, would become known as the church key because of its pointed shape that resembled the keys used by medieval churches to open their doors.
In 1892, Busch made the first patent for a bottle opener, and from then on, his invention revolutionized the way beer was being opened. It was so successful that essentially all beer bottle openers in the market today are based on Busch’s original design.
How old is the can opener?
The age of a can opener can vary greatly, depending on what type of can opener it is and how long it has been in use. Manual can openers, for example, can last for many years if properly maintained, while electric can openers may last for around one to five years, depending on their specific type and model.
If you are unsure of the age of your can opener, you can try looking for production or expiration dates stamped on the opener itself or on its packaging. Otherwise, the age of your can opener may remain a mystery unless you are able to determine when you originally purchased it.
Can openers were invented 48 years after cans?
No, can openers were not invented 48 years after cans. The first cans were invented in 1810 by the French chef Nicolas Appert, who wanted to find a way to preserve food for Napoleon’s troops. But it wasn’t until 1858, nearly 48 years later, that the world’s first can opener was invented by Ezra Warner of Waterbury, Connecticut.
This can opener was a steel blade attached to a handle, and it allowed people to easily and quickly open cans without having to hammer or chisel them open. It wasn’t until 1925, almost 70 years after can were invented, that an American inventor, Henry W.
Kremer, patented the can opener with a wheel gear system. This type of can opener continues to be the most popular today.
What did the first electric can opener look like?
The first electric can opener was designed by two brothers from the United States, Carl and Ellsworth Johnson, in 1931. It was essentially a hand-operated can opener with an electric motor that was attached to the handle.
The handle was connected to the motor when a switch was flipped, enabling the user to open the can faster and with more ease than the manual option.
The early electric models had a handle that was made of steel, with a handle that fit into a steel slot and then a gear engaged when the switch was turned. The handle also had a button that could be pressed to open the can.
The electric can openers of today have come a long way, incorporating many advances in design and technology. Nowadays they are available in a variety of sizes, styles, and materials. They generally have a claw-shaped blade that pierces the can and then disengages, cutting an arc around the lid to remove it.
The claw typically disengages from the can after opening it and then does an additional twist or two to ensure the lid is fully removed.
Overall, the Johnson Brothers’ invention in the 1930s laid the foundation for what is now a very common kitchen appliance.
How did they open cans 200 years ago?
200 years ago, finding an efficient way to open cans was a difficult and potentially dangerous task, as the technology for canning food had only recently been invented. One method commonly used was to take a hammer and chisel, and literally pound the lid off the can.
This could be dangerous, however, as shards of metal could fly off and cause injury. Another method was to use a knife or other sharp object to slice around the top of the can to carefully remove the lid, but this was also difficult and somewhat dangerous.
Moreover, the tops of cans were typically soldered shut, making them much more difficult to open.
In the early 1830s, Englishman Peter Durand developed the tin can. His cans were opened using a special key with a concave blade made for the purpose. This key pierced the can and was then turned with a screwdriver, allowing an opening in the top of the can and allowing the contents to be extracted safely.
This method was used from 1835 until the mid-1860s, when an improved version of the key was invented— the point and lever key which was able to open the cans by piercing the top of the can and then levering up the lid.
This improved version allowed cans to be opened more easily, quickly and safely than before.
How did people open cans before the can opener?
People opened cans before the can opener using a variety of tools and techniques, including hammers and chisels, knives and screwdrivers, and even rocks and sharpened bones. The most common method for opening a can without a can opener was to use a hammer and chisel.
This involved using the chisel to puncture a small hole in the lid, and then using the hammer to bang along the edge of the lid until it could be pried open. Knives and screwdrivers could be used to gently pry open the lid and peel it back, while sharpened bones could be used to make small punctures in the lid.
Rocks, when available, could be used to break the lid open and create an opening. Each of these tools and techniques allowed people to access food items that were sealed inside cans before the invention of the can opener.
How do you open a can with a church key opener?
Opening a can with a church key opener is relatively straight forward. Begin by positioning the opener over the can’s lid. Push the sharp end of the opener down into the metal of the can lid and rotate it around the circumference of the metal until an opening is created.
Once the can lid has been opened, pry it back gently to open the entire lid of the can. Once the lid is opened, gently pull the metal circle up and away from the can. This will leave a sharp metal ring around the can’s edge.
Carefully grasp the metal and pull it off the can and discard it. The contents of the can can then be accessed.