Fascinating facts about shipping containers

Did you know that shipping containers existed as far back as the 1830s, but each country had their own sizes and specification and none were compatible internationally. ISO numbers R668 and R790 (both 1968) and R1161 and R1897 (both 1970) suggested a series of compromises among international shipping companies, railroad companies and trucking companies...and thus the 20 foot and 40 foot shipping container was born. I can't imagine life without them. Can you? Olly