I think Wilber6150, would be the person to go to, as to enhance and enlarge the image, in his interesting things in photograph thread.
I wouldn't mind seeing enlargements of the entire photograph myself.
The half roll tin, might have the other half elsewhere to use as a cap or the bottom, as to make a round container. Might have been used for almost anything really. What comes to mind for me, is one half of a tin pie safe. The pie in a tin pie plate, two halves made of tin would envelope the entire pie plate as to serve as a container while traveling. With the ability to then stack pies, one could take several pies in a picnic basket, along with other goods. The same could be for several tin plates for traveling.
If it was a roll can of bandages, like gauze --it would contain enough for a whole body. But, with a surgeon--this might be a worthy way of storing clean bandages in a roll. To me though, looks too narrow for hospital bandages.
The tin, in my opinion is very shiny for the rest of the surroundings.
This is very interesting though! Thank you for sharing!
Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf