This is an antique miner's lunch pail that is made of heavy tin and has been painted black to prevent corrosion from the damp and humid mine conditions. It features a wire bail handle and a heavy-duty flip-over latch meant to secure the top to keep out coal dust, dirt and rodents. The ability to lock it also kept out the other miners. After all, miners often worked 12 hour days during the late 1800 and early 1900 hundreds. This single-compartment 8" high, 6" diameter can held the only food available to them during this period- typically a stack of sandwiches and some fruit. This pail is in excellent condition.