Thermos flask

Physical description

Child's Thermos flask with push-on stopper, and cup which screws on to the flask when not in use.
[Flask] Child's Thermos flask with a metal canister, white metal base and collar, cream plastic lip and silvered glass inner. The canister is printed with a map of the world in colour on a beige background (which has a broken line pattern of waves in dark blue) and the design is embellished with motifs of boats, birds, sea creatures and an anchor. The metal collar is threaded to hold the cup securely, and the lip has an everted ridge which fits into the recessed rim of the stopper.
[Stopper] Moulded cream plastic stopper for a child's Thermos flask. The stopper has a recessed inner lip and an integral plastic bung, and pushes into the lip of the flask. The top of the stopper has a central disc of silver grey plastic moulded with the trade mark etc.
[Cup] Moulded cream plastic cup for a child's Thermos flask. The cup has slightly curved tapering sides, and a threaded inner rim to attach it to the flask.

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

ca.1950 (made)

Artist/maker

Thermos (maker)

Materials and Techniques

[Flask] metal, plastic and glass
[Stopper] Moulded plastic

Marks and inscriptions

[Flask] THERMOS
REG.TRADE MARK
THERMOS LIMITED
LONDON ENGLAND
[Flask] REGISTERED TRADE MARK
[Flask] MODEL 15½
[Flask] UNSCREW
(with directional arrows)
[Stopper] THERMOS
REGD. TRADE MARK
PAT. APPLIED FOR
MADE IN ENGLAND

CLIP SECURELY ON TO LIP
[Cup] THERMOS
REGD. TRADE MARK
MADE IN ENGLAND

Dimensions

[Flask] Height: 19 cm, Diameter: 6.9 cm across base
[Stopper] Height: 3.7 cm, Diameter: 5.5 cm
[Cup] Height: 5.9 cm, Diameter: 6.6 cm

Object history note

Used by the donor Mary Kempson, born in 1938

Historical context note

From donor's letter of 21/03/1999) "the thermos flask...reminds me of day trips to Southend with my Aunty Dolly just after the war, eating gritty sandwiches and drinking luke warm tea"

Descriptive line

Thermos flask for a child featuring a World map design, England, about 1950

Production Note

Reason For Production: Retail

Materials

Plastic; Glass; Metal

Techniques

Moulded; Printed

Subjects depicted

Maps; Sea-horses; Anchors; World maps

Categories

Containers; Drinking; Children & Childhood

Production Type

Mass produced

Collection code

MoC