Type 1 – United States Flat ‘Tear Top’

The Type 1 flat top or “tear top” can is metal with a flat lid. The key used to open the can is usually found attached to the tab on the key wind strip, or clamped to the top. The surface of the Type 1 can is smooth from top to bottom. This American design is the most desirable type of 3 ball can among collectors as it was the first design used by manufacturers to hermetically seal tennis balls inside of metal containers. Pennsylvania Rubber Company and Wilson Sporting Goods Company were the first manufacturers to implement this style of packaging.