I have no earthly idea what brought the subject up, but during a conversation, I mentioned that the guy that invented the pull tab made millions off of it. Suddenly, I was the center of attention. Everyone else had forgotten the throw away tab.

So now I have another thought that makes me feel old. I can’t believe that it was that long ago that the throwaway tabs have gone the way of the dinosaur. I guess you ask 10 people if they remember them and seven of them will look at you like your nuts. (at least 6)

Just for grins, I looked up the thing on the internet. Yeah, I found some writeups on them, though they seem to conflict somewhat so I hesitate to quote anything. From my own personal experience, it seems the stay-in-place tab came out in the early 80s. Seems to me, I was returning cans without tabs at least a couple of years into the 80s.

However, this much, I did find out, the man that invented the throwaway tab died with 40 million in the bank, so to speak. It is a shame. I never got to know the man. I would have liked to. I am sure he wouldn’t have objected to me borrowing a million or two. And, of course, if I forgot to pay him back, he’d not have missed it.

As an aside, while I was reading, my memory was jarred. I mean, do you remember the days you needed a can opener to open cans. That’s right. Don’t much care for it but they used to call them church keys. Regardless, I haven’t seen one in years. It would seem they have gone the way of the buggy whip.

And, here’s something else. The drink cans were made from steel. As I read it, I remember it now. However, up until then, it had completely left my memory. Can you remember drinking beverages from steel cans? Just figured I’d remind you. No reason for me to the only one to feel old.

Finally, don’t know how much truth is in it, but the story goes that the idea of a stay-in-place tab idea came from a doctor who swallowed one of the throw away tabs at a baseball game.

I had always thought the reason for inventing the stay-in-place tabs was the ecology. Apparently, many kids had swallowed the tabs and they decided to fix that problem.