DiamondUK

There is actually some interesting information that was brought to my attention by one of my fellow collectors (thanks Mark), about the Harlequin U.K. cans. It turns out that they were actually canned in England and later distributed throughout Europe. Many collectors label this can as being from Sweden when in fact they are from England.

Here is the first plain diamond can produced in the United Kingdom. What is interesting about this can is that it is 12 fluid ounces instead of the usual 11.5 . This is considered to be an extremely scarce can only a handful of these cans are known to exist.

This is a relatively new addition to my diamond collection! This is a very RARE 5.5oz can from the U.K. As far as history goes, these were airline cans that were given out to passengers during the early 1960's. The man who I bought this from informed me that "he was a general manager of one of the plants in Chicago at the time. One of his major accounts was O'Hare Field. He would often bring home oddities when he made a call out there. This can was one them. (As a side note: Prior to cans all the airlines used six ounce bottles and as a result many foreign bottles would circulate through the production facility when the empties were returned from the commissaries.)"

Suffice to say, not too many of these cans exist today and to find one is very uncommon. (In fact I would very much appreciate an email if you are reading this and you have this can. I know of only three collections that have this can. The third was recently purchased in Feb 2008)

It is 11.5 fluid oz not the usual 12oz like a USA can. I had this can in my collection before but sold it never realizing that there was a very small difference between this can and the one below. Notice the size in the lettering. This can has very small writing for the "minimum contents" and is matt in color. (I believe this to be a more common can than the can below).

This can is the metallic version of the can above. Notice that the lettering is bigger. This is truly a beautiful can. I consider this to be much harder to find than the matt version. (I managed to get one unopened & mint right off the line!!!)

Here are both types of the U.K. harlequin diamond design that you can find. I have found that the flat top version is more common that the zip top for some reason. As I said above, this is considered to be a U.K. can but this can may also be found in Sweden and perhaps other parts of Europe.

Here is the second harlequin style diamond can that was used in airlines back in the 60's. This is considered to be a very rare can, probably one of the hardest diamond cans to come by. (A very small can with a very big price tag!)