My thoughts, for what they may ( or may not) be worth…. The can looks to me likely to have been made by Birmingham tinsmiths A G Lester. I’ve painted dozens of them over the years. The handles and bottom bands are, I think, of brass, now badly discoloured, which places the can itself into pleasure boating days. The poor condition of the background paint and decoration are likely caused by long immersion under water, probably somewhere on a canal bed. Years ago I came acts similar looking can for sale at a flea fair, one I had painted years before. I bought it, restored and repainted it. The paintwork on the can in the photos looks rather amateurish… just my thoughts….
