On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

M.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins (Advertising Ephemera)

Biscuit Tin Manufacturer's Sample
ca.1926 (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.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleM.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins (Advertising Ephemera) (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Offset litho printed tinplate
Brief description
Biscuit tin, (free manufacturer's sample), offset litho printed tinplate, England, made for Betta Biscuits, ca.1926.
Physical description
Biscuit tin for manufacture's samples, offset litho printed tinplate, square with rounded corners with an image of biscuits on the lid.
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.5cm
  • Width: 8.8cm
  • Depth: 6.8cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • BETTA / BISCUITS / Sales Office: North Road, London, N.7. / Telegraphic Address: "Bettabix" Holway, London / Telephone: North 1167 (3 Lines) (On the lid.)
  • LEEDS 102 GELDRED ROAD, LEEDS / HAMILTON WINDMILL RD HAMILTON N.B / Tel. Hamilton 448 (On the front edge of the lid.)
Gallery label
(07/1994)
FACTORY SAMPLES, ca. 1870-1930
Manufacturers often produced sample-sized boxes to promote their latest designs and products.
Museum Nos M.793, 799, 822, 826, 831, 840, 845, 846, 848, 857, 861-1983
Credit line
Given by M. J. Franklin
Object history
M.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins (Advertising Ephemera)
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.831-1983

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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