USES OF TIN
Tin, ordinarily considered one of the minor metals, is nevertheless a metal of prime importance in the world’s present state of development. In 1913 the value of the world’s output of tin was $131,000,000, which was greater than the value of the world’s output of either lead or zinc. Without tin it is very doubtful if the present methods of food packing and distribution could have been accomplished. The principal use of tin is in the manufacture of tin plate, from which are fabricated the so-called “tins” or “tin cans” that everyone knows. The second largest consumption of tin is for the alloys, solder and babbitt made with lead, and brass and bronzes made with copper. Minor amounts of tin are used for making fine metal tubing, tin foil, and collapsible tubes for packing such materials as dental and toilet creams, artists colors, etc. Tin is consumed by the makers of silk, principally to give weight and “rustle” to their product.
In 1917 the consumption of tin in the United States was approximately 93,000 tons,[141] of which 19,000 tons was recovered from scrap materials. Of the total consumption 31,000 short tons was used for making tin plate, 20,400 short tons for solder, 13,800 short tons for bearing metals, (babbitt, bronzes, etc.,), and 27,700 short tons for the many minor uses, items of which are 1,000 tons for the silk industry, 5,000 tons for foil, 4,000 tons for collapsible tubes, 3,000 tons for white metal.
[141] In this report the figures for tons refer to metric tons (2,204 pounds avoirdupois) unless otherwise stated, and are given in round numbers because errors in statistics and in conversion do not warrant closer figuring.
It is difficult to distinguish between the essential and the non-essential uses of tin in the industries. Surely tin plate is essential, yet some saving of tin containers was made during the war shortage by curtailing the use of tin and substituting paper and other substances for packages carrying non-perishable products. Solders, bearing metals, and bronzes are unquestionably essential, but variation in alloy specifications made possible, during the war period, a considerable saving of tin without detriment to the results. In fact some of the standards set under the emergency were superior to those used before. Aluminum foil is to some extent replacing tin foil, but no suitable substitutes have been found for tin in the manufacture of collapsible tubes, which are necessities.