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. *f *•*m *i »Discarded Tins Prove To*#. MWTCLAm-.it might, jlpok like a junk yard, U is really a $150,-. qpo a year business.4 South of the railroad .tracks on Central Avenue to the Montclair can ..Company.Fourteen - foot - high mounds of used tin cans in a variety of sizes cover the company'sgrounds, giving the area-an appearance of a dump./These cans, however, r dre not someones unwanted discards. Montclair Can Company purchases 2;0OO,GOO cans per year, *nd after processing, redistributes them to nurserymen throughout•Southern California.*X)ne gallon, five gallon, seven gallon, 15 gallon and ^glt;r size cans are purchased by the company from Eastern andlocal collectors.Fifty per cent of their cans come from New York, Chicago, and Ark-^meas with the remainder coming from the local area.■ They are then shipped by rail or truck and dumped in the Montclair yard. From there, the cans are put on a conveyor belt, punched to make “green holes,” burned slightly to remove paper and grease and then painted green or black.TREE CONTAINERSThe cans are then shipped in one of the company's two trucks to nurseries throughout Southern California for use as plant and tree containers.This was a natural type of business for the company's owners, Jack Anderson and Howard Far-rand, to go into.They have been connected with the nursery business for more than 12 years as distributors of plastic molds which they give to manufactures to produce planters.“There is an ideal tie-in with the two businesses, explained Anders on.The-men have run the Montclair plant for three years. The company was formerly ca ! led the Upland can Company under the ownership of JoeAubel.2ND LARGESTSince their take-over,the company has grownto be the second largest can company in Southern California — the largest being the Pacific Metal Pots in Upland.There is really onlyfive large companies inSouthern California, Anderson explained. There are, however, over 200 individual “can men in the area.KEEN COMPETITIONThe competition is great among can men.'*The little operator hardly has a chance against the bigger companies. The smaller businesses must count on the backyard grower or small nurseries for their market.Personalities also seem to play a big part in the business.According to Anderson, the friendships he has made over the past 12 years among nursery men has greatly aided him in weathering the competition.*.. .CONSTANTLY IN MOTION — As cans pile off an assembly line in back of Tino IS/felena, his hands are a constant blur operating the punching machine. Cans at the Montclair Can Company are fed from a conveyor belt to the punching machine and back to another conveyor belt. After being punched (green holes are made in the bottom of the can) they are fed into an oven where thev are liehtlv scorched.'You couldn't compete if you came in cold,' he explained.When it comes down to business, friendship ornot, no nursery buys fromjust one “can man.*'The nurseries would be foolish to depend on just one company, Anderson said. For instance, if I had a fire, the nurseries would be left without pots. When they need the containers, the big nurseries can't wait,SMALLER MEN The smaller “Can men are also at a monetary disadvantage in this business. Although the selling season is only in the spring and the fall, the company must buy the cans all year round.“This eliminates a lot of competition,'' said Anderson. “You must have an inventory of merchandise worth $60,000 to $70,000/' iAlthough it may be difficult for many people to believe, in this business, there is frequently a shortage of used tin cans. To meet the orders of nurserymen the companies must buy new cans and sell them at a higher rate.The going prices for the cans are; One gallon cans, $50 per 1000; Egg size (10 inches by 12 inches high), $230 per 1000; five gallon cans, $230 per 1000; seven gallon cans, 40 cents each; and 15 gallon cans, $1,25 each.There is big money in the used tin can business. Stop and think be-' fore throwing away an empty can of fruit cocktail — it may be worth money to you.BusinessAMONG THE SPOKES — Foreman Tino Melena, of1164 Ninth St., Upland, is almost blended into the painting machine as he adjusts a spoke. The cans at Montclair Can Company, Central Avenue, arehooked on the spokes and dipped into green paint in the trough (foreground). This machine enables six cans to be painted simultaneously.4,289 AttendanceAt First Rec. DaysMONTCLAIR — The Montclair Recreation Department, 1968 Summer program opened Wed. June 19, with large turnouts in all areas. Particularly heavy activity was reported at the 5 playgrounds with attendance of 4,289 for the first three days.MovieThe free movie, Friday, June 28, will be “La-awarded trophies with the runnersup receiving ribbons.Jaunty JuniorsThe junior high club, jaunty Juniors, is now organizing for the summer’s activities. The club is open to boys and girls who have just completed grades 6, 7 8. The regular meeting night Is Thursday, 7 - 1Q;0Q p.m. at the Vernon junior High
Newspaper Details
Montclair Tribune
Montclair, California, US
Wed, Jun 26, 1968
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Los A.
CA, USA 20 Jan 2021
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