Bank, Still
Object number2016.129.1
Manufacturer
Brenster Enterprises
Date1979
OriginEtters, PA
MediumAluminum; Paper; Ink; Adhesive; Copper
Credit LineHeinz History Center Collection
DescriptionNovelty bank of "The Original Canned Radiation". Cylindrical aluminum can with long rectangular slit in top at center. Side of can is wrapped in off-white paper label with black and pink (faded red) printed text describing contents of the novelty can.DimensionsHeight x Diameter: 4.438 × 3 in. (11.3 × 7.6 cm)InscriptionsPaper label has black and pink (faded red) printed text including:
on front "The Original / CANNED / RADIATION / THREE MILE ISLAND, PENNSYLVANIA / *Contents: ... / ... / CANNED ON LOCATION AT T.M.I.",
on proper left side "WARNING: THIS CAN SHOULD BE KEPT 5 MILES AWAY FROM PREGNANT WOMAN / AND PRESCHOOL CHILDREN / Contents... / Active Ingredients* Radioactive gases, Xenon Floride, Uranium Oxide and ALOT OF PHONY BALONEY! / *This can does not contain any of the mentioned harmful contents, excpet 'Lots O Laughs' ",
on reverse "CAUTION / (approach with fun) / Directions to Release Contents:... / Suggested Uses: / ... ",
on proper right side "4:00 a.m. Wednesday / March 28th 1979 / Three Mile Island / located 11 miles / southeast of / Harrisburg, PA / on the / Susquehanna River / was the scene / of the / first Nuclear / Power Catastrophe / A series of / Malfunctions crippled / the Unit 2 Reactor, / one of the / Nuclear Towers / at T.M.I. / Thus despersing / Radioactive gases / KEEP THIS / CAN AS A / REMINDER OF THAT / HISTORIC EVENT".
MarksReverse side of label has printed black text at bottom "A FINE GAG FROM BRENSTER ENTERPRISES / P.O. Box 113 Etters, Pennsylvania. / Copyright, 1979 by Brenster Enterprizes All rights reserved."
Historical Notes“Canned Radiation” bank that commemorates the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant disaster on March 28, 1979. The cans were sold around the sight of the disaster within weeks of the nuclear meltdown. Tourists were quick to visit the site and enterprising locals sold them these bottles of “canned radiation” and t-shirts commemorating the worst nuclear accident in the United States.
On View
Not on view
c. 1960
