Miners commonly carried tobacco tins such as these, often containing 'twist', or chewing tobacco. Smoking was of course not permitted underground, and chewing tobacco provided an alternative. Many tins show engraved or punched decoration, and often the owner's name, and sometimes a full address. As well as allowing a lost tin to be returned, these details could presumably help with identification should the worst happen, and the owner be killed or badly wounded in a colliery accident.