The use of metal for cigar boxes and cans was legalized in 1870. So far, I’ve only found tin boxes from the 1800’s, no tin cans or novelties. Tin cans become popular in the early 20th century, not long after companies began experi-mentation with aluminum cigar boxes and cans. Complex sturdy metal boxes are thought of as creatures of the depression era; all those that can be positively dated were patented in the mid to late 1920’s and used in the 1930’s.