re: #60 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Back in the late 50’s, my Dad took the back off a Canon 35mm which my aunt had just bought. (It had jammed — something minor.) Inside, one of the flat levers had obviously been stamped from a PA can. Dad smoked PA at the time. Everything matched.

Those PA cans were wonders, and so widely used for just about every conceivable purpose. Makes me wonder why (aside from cost, of course) tobacco was ever sold in any other container. The boxes were just so handy (perfect pocket size) that even Popular Mechanics used to feature little shop hints and tips about all the many wonderful uses to which they could be put.