M.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins (Advertising Ephemera)
Needle Threader
1934 (made)
1934 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The British biscuit tin came about when the Licensed Grocer's Act of 1861 allowed groceries to be individually packaged and sold. Coinciding with the removal of the duty on paper for printed labels. It was only a short step to the idea of printing directly on to tinplate. The new process of offset lithography, patented in 1877 allowed multicoloured designs to be printed on to exotically shaped tins.
The most exotic designs were produced in the early years of the 20th century, just prior to the First World War. In the 1920s and 1930s, costs had risen substantially and the design of biscuit tins tended to be more conservative, with the exception of the tins targeted at the Christmas market and intended to appeal primarily to children. The designs, generally speaking are a barometer of popular interests.
The advent of the Second World War stopped all production of decorative tin ware and after it ended in 1945, the custom never really revived.
The most exotic designs were produced in the early years of the 20th century, just prior to the First World War. In the 1920s and 1930s, costs had risen substantially and the design of biscuit tins tended to be more conservative, with the exception of the tins targeted at the Christmas market and intended to appeal primarily to children. The designs, generally speaking are a barometer of popular interests.
The advent of the Second World War stopped all production of decorative tin ware and after it ended in 1945, the custom never really revived.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | M.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins (Advertising Ephemera) (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Staped tinplate and wire |
| Brief description | Needle threader, (biscuit manufacturer's advertising ephemera), tinplate, England, made by the British Needle Co., for William Crawford & Sons, 1934. |
| Physical description | Needle threader, stamped tinplate, circular with a hole in the middle and a triangular extension and a diamond shaped loop of wire attached to the end. With its original paper envelope with printed instructions on the front. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by M. J. Franklin |
| Object history | M.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins. |
| Summary | The British biscuit tin came about when the Licensed Grocer's Act of 1861 allowed groceries to be individually packaged and sold. Coinciding with the removal of the duty on paper for printed labels. It was only a short step to the idea of printing directly on to tinplate. The new process of offset lithography, patented in 1877 allowed multicoloured designs to be printed on to exotically shaped tins. The most exotic designs were produced in the early years of the 20th century, just prior to the First World War. In the 1920s and 1930s, costs had risen substantially and the design of biscuit tins tended to be more conservative, with the exception of the tins targeted at the Christmas market and intended to appeal primarily to children. The designs, generally speaking are a barometer of popular interests. The advent of the Second World War stopped all production of decorative tin ware and after it ended in 1945, the custom never really revived. |
| Bibliographic reference | Michael Franklin, British Biscuit Tins, London, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1984, ISBN. 0905209621 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.884-1983 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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