This recipe appeared in the Household Encyclopedia:
Fifty pounds (23 kg) of beef
Three pounds of coarse salt
One ounce of saltpeter
Three-quarters of a pound of sugar
Two gallons of water
Place the meat into a sealable tub, such as a large bucket. Mix the remaining ingredients together and pour over the meat. Seal the tub and optionally refrigerate for three to four days. Finally, slow-cook the meat until it reaches an internal temperature of 160-180�F, either in a crock pot set to low, an oven set to 225�F, or in a smoker.
There will be artificial stuff added to the tinned stuff to help it last longer.