Dupont 25 Pound Black Powder Metal Keg - How Old?

[Tanselman]

I was going through a flea market type antique shop with my wife today, and back in a corner was a large, black Dupont powder keg that seems rather new, but since it was for black powder, I was wondering how old it was, and if it was for mining, or perhaps for shooting. If anyone knows more about this type metal keg, I'd appreciate knowing. And no, I didn't pick it up, since I don't know how old it is, and its paint and condition look rather new. The keg's dimensions were about 16" tall by about 8" wide, eye-balling it. And yes, I take pretty good pictures of my shoes.

Shelby Gallien

[Shreckmeister]

I have the same one. It came out of a mining collection. I’ll look for a date on it and let you know

[flinter49]

Back in the day, Blackpowder distributors offered blackpowder in kegs at a discount prize. Which was a great deal if you had a few cans laying around. Which I did. The last 25# keg I bought was in the early 1980's from a guy in Indiana.

[Shreckmeister]

The keg is marked ICC  So it is sometime after they begin to regulate the sale of black powder.

[Habu]

I last saw powder in cans like that about '81.  I got a "really good deal" on 25# of powder, and a keg like this showed up instead of the cans I was expecting.  The can looked like this, with a paper label pasted on the side. 

[Hungry Horse]

I have one from the Giant powder works in Berkeley California that quit doing business under that name about 1913. It’s not rifle powder it’s 3FA blasting powder. But when I got it was about half full, but I used most of it in my cannon before I sold it. I also used quite a bit of it in my trade gun.


Hungry Horse

[Tanselman]

Well, if anyone is interested in this black metal keg, it's at the Angola [Indiana] Antique Mall on the west side of the town square, main floor all the way back in room on the left side... hidden in the corner of an over-loaded, mostly junky booth. Price is on the tag in the first picture, and usually they'll dicker a little if you ask. Actually, it's not a bad mall... once every three years I find something interesting there.

Shelby Gallien

[Howard]

I purchased a keg full in 1969 and it is about identical.  It was $25.00 American and full of 3F powder.