Pop-Top Inventor Dies At Age 91

Inventor Ralph J. Stolle, who developed the machinery that manufactures pop-tops for metal cans, has died at age 91.

Stolle, a businessman and inventor, held the patent for the Stolle Can Machinery used throughout the world for production of cans.

In 1923, he founded the Stolle Corp., which developed the tab opener and the machinery for its production. He sold it to Alcoa in 1975 but remained as chairman.