Early 1900’s Biscuit Tin Containers Bakery Collectibles
Antique advertising bakery collectibles from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s consist primarily of tin or wood boxes for breads, biscuits, crackers, cookies and other products. Flour Mills were vital to the bakeries and also advertised on signs, trading cards and the side of buildings.
For years, hometown bakers and general stores offered soda crackers in large barrels or wood crates for consumers to dig out their favorite crackers and put in their own paper bag. Soda crackers were a main part of the everyday diet made from flour, yeast and shortening. However, it was considered better when someone got “the top of the barrel” crackers because by the time consumers reached the bottom, crackers were often dirty, soggy and stale due to humid air and from not being sealed.
Dan D. Bakery Metal Biscuit Box
Eventually bakers developed biscuit tins and cardboard boxes to improve product freshness and keep the food sanitary. The companies used sealed paper linings inside the packages to keep crackers and baked goods fresher longer. Advertisers promoted their company logo and images on the tin containers and boxes to draw attention. People would keep the boxes after the crackers were used up for other storage uses. Many of the vintage biscuit boxes are common bakery collectibles still found today in many shapes and sizes.
The products carried in the biscuit boxes ranged from the original soda cracker that looks like today’s saltine and others that resembled a dinner biscuit made from flour and butter. These dinner biscuits were called “soda biscuits” or “baking soda biscuits” and were considered different from the original tradition of a crisp cracker.
Mass Production of Baked Goods
National Biscuit Co. Magazine Ad 1923 Promoted Freshness
National Biscuit Co. Uneeda Cracker Magazine Ad 1923
National Biscuit Co. (now Nabisco) was one of the first companies to mass-produce and package their baked products as more sanitary and fresher than the cracker barrel. In the 1920’s, the company introduced a packaged biscuit called Uneeda and put them in tin boxes and small cardboard boxes with the “in-er-seal” waxed paper lining. National Biscuit used the slogan “Lest you forget, we say it yet, Uneeda Biscuit.”
The boxes featured a biscuit boy who wore a yellow raincoat and represented dry crackers even in the rain. The Uneeda boy became a popular face of the product and was one of the most recognizable ad images in the early 1900’s. Its interesting name Uneeda was a popular draw with consumers.
Other companies imitated the Uneeda brand with names such as “Ulika”, ”Uwanta” and “Iwanta” Biscuit brands. However, National Biscuit Co. sued the others and they put a stop to more than 200 cases of copyright infringement with these competitive bakeries. Many of the Uneeda advertising pieces are considered valuable antique bakery collectibles.
Here is a beautiful curved metal corner sign advertising lager beer from the Joseph Fallert Brewery which was in Brooklyn, New York just outside Manhattan in the late 1800’s and early 1900 era prior to prohibition. Pre-Pro corner signs are extremely rare, and one of the most desirable brewery advertising items for collectors today.
Here is a beautiful stoneware or pottery like coffee pot advertising the Meyer Brothers flagship brand of coffee, the Wide Awake Owl Brand. Typically the company used an owl as their logo on most of their advertising with large wide awake looking eyes! However, this particular fine china style coffee pot simply added their company…
Here is a beautiful metal curved corner sign from the D. Emil Klein Cigar Company, for their flagship brand of cigars, Lawrence Barrett. Considered a mild havana style cigar, this was a huge regional seller in the 1900 timeframe. Lawrence Barrett was a well known 1800’s era American stage actor in the theater.
Featured is a nice tin sign from the Hyde Park Brewing Co. which was formally in the north side of the city of St. Louis, Missouri. This Hyde Park sign incorporated the breweries famous shield logo image. Circa 1940.
Here is a beautiful stoneware beer mug from the Decatur, Illinois Brewing Company from the pre-prohibition era. Unfortunately this brewery did not survive the start of prohibition.
Here is a pre-prohibition era metal serving tray from the Heil Home Brewery in Hannibal, Missouri. This tray advertises their Erlanger brand of bottled beer.
Featured is a nice stoneware souvenir or giveaway beer mug from the long defunct pre-prohibition era brewery in West Bend, Wisconsin. This mug advertises their celebrated lager style of beer.
Featured is a beautifully illustrated cigar box full of cigars from the Goldsmith, Silver and Company for their M.C.A. brand of 10 cent cigars. This Boston, MA based company produced this small serving tray around 1900. I love the coloring, and the image of a ready to serve appeal full of very well defined cigars…
Here is a beautiful pre-prohibition era serving tray from the long defunct Aberdeen Washington brewery. This particular tray is colorful, and advertises proudly their Prima brand of bottled lager beer. The use of a nice patriotic USA colored shield helps provide more color and eye appeal. One of the fun facts about this brewery is…
Featured is a stunning pre-prohibition serving tray from the Union Brewing Company out of Detroit, Michigan. This particular metal tavern or saloon tray advertised a well known turn of the century beer in Detroit called Gilt Edge. The tray incorporated a lot of patriotic colors in the design, not surprising as patriotism was at a…