Woman proud of unique can collection

Some people collect coins or stamps or even bottle caps. Marg Johnsrud of McCrosson-Tovell, on the other hand, collects cans.
Marg’s living room is adorned with well over 100 cans, tins, and bottles. She started collecting, unintentionally, some 45 years ago when she carried her 4–H stuff in a tin box adorned with a pretty picture on it.
She kept it, and is very proud of it being a part of her collection.
As time went by, she collected unique cans and tins. Some were cookie tins, some held coffee, some tea, and others yet held things like oil. In fact, one of her prized pieces is a full White Rose Motor Oil can that has never been opened.
Marg believes a rectangular and tall Tetley Tea box is likely the oldest piece in her collection. It was a bit corroded when found in her husband Dale’s dad’s garage full of nails, but she managed to clean it up and is very intrigued by the writing inside it that says Tetley was located on Young St. in Winnipeg.
“I have asked many old-timers and no one recalls Tetley ever being located there,” said Marg.
Another older piece is another tea tin she received from her mother-in-law, Lenea Johnsrud. It was given to Lenea in 1939.
When one thinks of a can collection, they often think of beer and pop cans. While Marg’s collection does have beer cans in it, for the most part the cans are more product oriented. Tobacco tins, baking powder, flat 50 cigarette tins, cookie tins, candy boxes, and many other products that used to come in tins adorn shelves right around her living room.
She said she only brought the can collection to a full display about six years ago. She had kept most of her cans in storage over the years. At one time that was because they were living in a trailer and had no room.
But the house in McCrosson, just east of Bergland and north of Arbor Vitae, has a great deal more room.
At first, Marg said, Dale was not too keen on putting the cans all around the living room. But not long after they went up, they really became a conversation piece and that tickled both their fancy.
Now Dale keeps a keen eye out for unique additions to the collection. He has found items in all kinds of places–and even found an old bottle that is now a beautiful vase.
Marg said that he found it in the bush and ran it over with the bulldozer but it didn’t break.
While she likes to go to yard sales, she often has to work on Saturdays and does not get to go to them very often in search of more collectible cans.
So she relies on what one might call a small army of can scouts. “People see my cans and then bring me more,” she remarked.
She said that she has only paid for one can in the entire collection and that is one with Sir Winston Churchill on it. Otherwise, people from as far away as Kelowna, B.C. have brought them to her.
That far-away donation came from her aunt who found a big Gillette Lye can for her.
Marg said that her family, and in particular her granddaughter, Chelsey, who is eight, are experts at getting her new pieces.
When she gets a new can, it is often displayed on the coffee table or end table before it is put up with the rest of the collection. After a good cleaning and careful consideration of where to put it, she adds it to the overwhelming display.
“It is tough to decide where to put it as we are running out of room. However, we are planning to build a closed-in veranda where I will put more of my collection!” Marg enthused.
Another old can in her collection is a Red Rose Tea can that has the words, “This can reduced by 5¢” on it. That one was found at Dale’s grandparents’ homestead.
Marg said she really became disappointed when companies started switching their packaging to plastic or paper. Very few retail goods come in a tin box or can anymore.
Is the collection valuable? Marg really does not know. She said she is not aware of anyone else who collects them. “It is just a great conversation piece!” she exclaimed.