BOYCO Cans tell me the story

[FATMAN]

I got these with some parts and I have had original sets before but this one is a puzzle, please look and let me know what you think
never seen one with burlap or one painted, Bob

[mtntee20]

This is the third one I have seen with burlap or a cloth covering. They all have been the larger size of the three can set. I believe these cans to be for water. Like a water bag, if the burlap was wet, the evaporating moisture would cool the contents of the can. If a person was to need a drink, the water would be cool and not the same as the outside temperature.

As for the painting, my guess is someone was an artist and wanted to dress up their car with a special piece of art.

[noelchico]

My Grandfather used to wrap burlap around glass gallon jugs to wet and keep the water cooler while working the farm. It worked well as that water was always cooler than the surroundings. He attached the burlap with hog rings and did a nice, neat job when done. I wish I still had some of those old water jugs.

[Wayne Sheldon]

When I was really little, we spent a lot of our summertime on my grandparent's ranch in Modesto, Califunny. My grandpa began to retire when I was twelve, and sold off the larger part of the ranch. Before that was a great time to be kid. Exploring the various barns, "helping grandpa with all the various maintenance issues and projects the ranch always required. There were many things to discover and ask about. Including numerous canteens, large bottles and cans wrapped in burlap or canvass. We were there for weeks during harvest time most of those years. Those canteens, cans, and bottles were carried on the various tractors, trailers and couple trucks used so that the migrant farm workers had cool water to drink. When we would walk or drive out to where the workers were, we would carry the canteens. There was an old canteen. Mostly it just hung on a wall of the tractor barn. I never saw it with a material covering, but I liked it because it looked like the canteens carried in the old cowboy movies. I would use it when we walked out during the hot harvest times. My grandpa gave that canteen to me. I still have it, hanging on my garage wall where I can see it when I walk through the garage.

I do sure like that one you got with the artwork on it! Maybe it belongs in a museum "some" place?