Pennbrook Milk Carton

01

Artifact Overview

The quest for a shatter-proof milk container prompted John Van Wormer to patent a paper carton in 1915. Many processors and distributors continued to use breakable glass bottles, but, after 1937, mechanized production made the disposable, wax-coated folded cartons inexpensive and indispensable liquid containers. The iconic design, a box with a gable-end top with a pouring or drinking spout, remains the industry standard today.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Carton (Container)

Creator Notes

Manufactured for Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Detroit, Michigan, by the Kieckhefer Container Company, Delair, New Jersey, Bensenville, Illinois, and Whittier, California, for Pennbrook Dairy Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

71.1.1229

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of David M. Gwinn.

Material

Cardboard
Metal
Wax

Color

Cream (Color)
Black (Color)
Red

Dimensions

Height: 9.125 in
Width: 2.75 in
Length: 2.75 in

Inscriptions

on front of carton: HOMO VITAMIN D / / LIFT / PENN / BROOK / PASTEURIZED / EXTRA RICH / HOMOGENIZED / MILK / MODIFIED WITH VITAMIN D / 400 U. S. P. UNITS OF ACTIVATED ERGOSTEROL ADDED / CONTAINS NOT LESS THAN 4% B. F. / ONE QUART LIQUID on side of carton: PENN / BROOK / PASTEURIZED / EXTRA RICH / HOMOGENIZED / MILK / MODIFIED WITH VITAMIN D / 400 U. S. P. UNITS OF ACTIVATED ERGOSTEROL ADDED / APPROVED STATE BUREAU / Weights and Measures / PENNA. SERIAL L-2 / NEW JERSEY APPROVED on back of carton: HOMO VITAMIN D / PENN / BROOK / PASTEURIZED / EXTRA RICH / HOMOGENIZED / MILK / MODIFIED WITH VITAMIN D / 400 U. S. P. UNITS OF ACTIVATED ERGOSTEROL ADDED / CONTAINS NOT LESS THAN 4% B. F. / ONE QUART LIQUID on side of carton: PENN / BROOK / PASTEURIZED / EXTRA RICH / HOMOGENIZED / MILK / MODIFIED WITH VITAMIN D / 400 U. S. P. UNITS OF ACTIVATED ERGOSTEROL ADDED / PASTEURIZED AT / PENNBROOK MILK COMPANY / 500-520 SO. 27TH ST., PHILADELPHIA, PA. / PHONE Kingsley 5-3680 on top folds: SEALED / Pure-Pak / Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. / CONTAINER - A PRODUCT OF / H / EX-CELL-O CORPORATION / DETROIT, MICH. / MANUFACTURED FOR EX-CELL-O CORP. BY / KIECKHEFER CONTAINER COMPANY / DELAIR, N. J. BENSENVILLE, ILL. WHITTIER, CALIF. on top folds: 2343 / Covered / by one of more / U. S. Patent Nos. / 1,763,025 / [...] / 2,329,797 / OTHER PATENTS PENDING
Pennbrook Milk Carton