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J. Shields (Manufacturer)

This milk can, known as a ‘back can’, was designed to be carried on the back when milk had to be taken over rough ground. It is made of galvanised sheet iron. It is flat on one side, for carrying on the back, and has two straps. The can is part of a large collection of traditional craft products acquired from the British Council in 1960. It was supplied by, and probably made by, J. Shields of Castle Bolton, North Yorkshire, circa 1945–6.

1 back milk can: galvanised sheet iron

MERL miscellaneous note - Back cans like this were the subject of a discussion thread on the Rural Museums Network in March 2017. This thread centred on examples of such objekcts held in the collection at Dales Countryside Museum, North Yorkshire, which were described as also being known as 'budgets'. The enquirer circulated photographs of the objects in use and sought to identify the etymology of this presumed dialect term. One respondent noted that: 'The Peacock Family of Lincolnshire compiled the Lincolnshire Word Book between 1884-1920. // Budget: A type of bag, pack or wallet (see English Dialect Dictionary, Joseph Wright). See Flacket // Flacket: A little barrel or leather bottle shaped like one, used by harvest men for beer. "Bread in his budget and cheese in his bag, Ale in his flagget, and there's a good lad" (Nursery Rhyme) // Backcan is not in their book. // Though not the origin of the word, perhaps still interesting?' It seems likely that this same dialect term was evident in other regions and referred more broadly to any kind of bag, pack, or wallet., MERL miscellaneous note, B. L. 22 March 1961This milk can, known as a ‘back can’, was designed to be carried on the back when milk had to be taken over rough ground. It is made of galvanised sheet iron. It is flat on one side, for carrying on the back, and has two straps. The can is part of a large collection of traditional craft products acquired from the British Council in 1960. It was supplied by, and probably made by, J. Shields of Castle Bolton, North Yorkshire. ‘The British Council collection. // This collection of material which is covered by the accession numbers 60/430 to 60/791 contains examples of craft products made in the British Isles. The major part of the collection was prepared immediately after the Second World War for a travelling exhibition which was sent to Australia and New Zealand. // The collection was purchased for a nominal sum by the Museum in two portions, the one in the summer of 1960 and the other in February 1961. // For further details see the individual catalogue cards and the catalogue prepared for the temporary exhibition of the collection.’, MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘The milk can which is made of galvanised sheet iron is designed to be carried on the back, the arms being put through the straps on each side. // The can is 22 in. high and is 14 1/2 in. across its base. It has a crescentic cross section. // It is intended for use when the cattle are grazing on the uplands. // From: J. Shields, Castle Bolton, Nr. Leyburn, North Yorkshire.’, MERL ‘Country Craftsmanship’ Exhibition Catalogue, 2 May–31 October 1961, ‘Introductory Note’ by Andrew Jewell – ‘The objects shown in this Exhibition of Country Craftsmanship were originally purchased by the British Council in 1946. They were selected for exhibition in Australia and New Zealand as samples of traditional handcrafts which were then being practised in the British countryside. The Museum of English Rural Life was fortunate to acquire this valuable collection from the Council and to have the opportunity of displaying such a wide variety of skills. // Almost all the crafts shown are still to be found in this country although, in the intervening fifteen years, many of the small firms and individual craftsmen whose products are represented in the Exhibition, have given up working. The number who now remain to carry on these particular traditional crafts continues to decline with the growth of mechanization, the obsolescence of their products and the difficult of finding apprentices to follow them. // All the objects on display have one characteristic in common – they were made to be used. Any aesthetic qualities which the craftsman achieved grew without self-consciousness. Over long years of apprenticeship the craftsman developed an intimate knowledge of the raw material at his disposal and its peculiarities. He acquired by inheritance the methods of his craft which may have had a continuous tradition over centuries of time. And he was quite familiar with the way in which his product was to be used. // We can derive pleasure simply by looking at the shapes and decorations. Both, however, are inseparable from function and environment, and the objects can only be most fully appreciated by an understanding of the purpose for which each was intended. // This, then, is an exhibition of everyday things, made by men and women who might not think of themselves as artists, but whose work, nevertheless, has enriched the daily life of those who live with their products.’, MERL ‘Country Craftsmanship’ Exhibition Catalogue, 2 May–31 October 1961, p.15 – '172. Milk Can. Designed to be carried on the back where milk had to be taken over rough ground. // (J. Shields, Castle Bolton, Leyburn, Yorks.)', British Council ‘Exhibition of Rural Handicrafts from Great Britain’ Exhibition Catalogue, 1946, ‘Introductory Note’ – ‘This exhibition contains only examples of handicrafts that are still being practised in the British Countryside. It is confined to the work of our traditional craftsmen and women who, with very few exceptions, would not think of themselves as artists or designers but whose work, nevertheless, so greatly enriches the daily life of those who live with and use their products. The work of these craftsmen, too, provides the basis from which many artist-craftsmen gain technical knowledge and inspiration. // Included with these rural crafts are eight screens showing handicraft processes which can be undertaken by schools or adults who wish to practise a craft at home. In this way we hope these examples of Britain’s country crafts may be related to a practical aspect of present day life in the Dominions and meet the increasing need to find satisfying ways of using the leisure which machinery now makes available to us. // Along with her traditional rural crafts Great Britain seeks to employ all the resources of modern agricultural science and engineering. We have therefore included with this exhibition some photographs showing examples of recent developments in agricultural machinery.’, British Council ‘Exhibition of Rural Handicrafts from Great Britain’ Exhibition Catalogue, 1946, p.44 – '72. Back carrying Milk Can, used when the herd is grazing on the uplands. J. Shields, North Yorkshire.', British Council Ref. No. NZ 72.

Castle Bolton

1945 - 1946