Copyright 2002 T. Sheil & A. Sheil All Rights Reserved
Who can forget the tins of cookies at Grandma's house? I wish I had them. The favorite tin was square, with images of red-coated guardsmen in busby hats marching around a palace. We used the empty "soldier tins" as forts when playing with plastic army men.
In the late 1800s up until the middle of the 20th Century, lithographed tins were a common way to package products. The improvements in paper packaging and the arrival of plastics proved a cost-effective alternative to the bright, decorated tins. Today, a few products are sold in tins more for promotional rather than practical reasons. Companies that normally use modern packing methods will turn to tins for special items, gifts and promotions. Some are new and original, others are replicas of tins used long ago. Some of the newer lithography uses old-time motifs, hinting at an earlier age. Here we show some of the tins we have gathered.
These modern cans have a subdued, old-time appeal |
Modern tins decorated with still life art. |
Animal crackers - the tin is based on the box art |
Small holiday tins |
Tin box decorated with old advertising art |
Side view. |
Modern tin resembles old cookie tins |
Modern styling on this cookie tin |
This "tin" is actually a copper pie tin, used for decorative purposes. |
A holiday tin - note child, doll and building blocks. |
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