Cup, melamine, Midwinter Modern, designed by A.H. Woodfull and John Vale, ca. 1957

Melamine cup in forest green.

Given by the Council of Industrial Design

CoID Design of the Year 1957. One of four items from the range acquired by the Museum.

Designed by A.H. Woodfull and John Vale of the BIP Product Design Unit, the cup for Midwinter’s melamine range represented a design breakthrough. The handle, often a weak area in the design of moulded plastic cups, was realised through a design solution that achieved comfort for either a ‘pinch’ or ‘finger-through’ hold. Its shape also allowed for good material flow into the handle section during moulding, an attribute essential for strength. The handle's fine modelling and distinctive aesthetics were made possible by the departure from the conventional moulding method of a single core pin through the handle. Instead, two split cores that met in the middle of the handle were used, this involving very sophisticated tooling and mould construction for the period.

Designed by A. H. 'Woody' Woodfull and John Vale of the British Industrial Plastics Product Design Unit, Oldbury, Birmingham. Made by Streetly Manufacturing Co. Ltd. for Midwinter Ltd., using 'Melmex' melamine made by British Industrial Plastics Chemicals Ltd., Birmingham.

CIRC.453-1963