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, Cherry River Division, Delair, New Jersey, Bensenville, Illinois, and Whittier, California, for Pennbrook dairy Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

71.1.1651

Credit

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

Material

Cardboard
Metal
Wax

Color

Cream (Color)
Purple

Dimensions

Height: 9 in
Width: 2.875 in
Length: 2.875 in

Inscriptions

on front of carton: HOMO VITAMIN D / LIFT / PENN / BROOK / PASTEURIZED / HOMOGENIZED / MILK / MODIFIED WITH VITAMIN D / 400 U. S. P. UNITS OF ACTIVATED ERGOSTEROL ADDED / ONE QUART LIQUID on side of carton: PENN / BROOK / PASTEURIZED / HOMOGENIZED / MILK / MODIFIED WITH VITAMIN D / 400 U. S. P. UNITS OF ACTIVATED ERGOSTEROL ADDED / APPROVED STATE BUREAU / Weights and Measures / PENNA. SERIAL No. L-2 / NEW JERSEY APPROVED on back of carton: HOMO VITAMIN D / PENN / BROOK / PASTEURIZED / HOMOGENIZED / MILK / MODIFIED WITH VITAMIN D / 400 U. S. P. UNITS OF ACTIVATED ERGOSTEROL ADDED / ONE QUART LIQUID on side of carton: PENN / BROOK / PASTEURIZED / 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 5-3880 on top folds: 1 S / [missing]LED SANITARY SINGLE SERVICE / Pure-Pak / Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. / CONTAINER - A PRODUCT OF / L U 87 / EX-CELL-O CORPORATION / DETROIT, MICH. / MANUFACTURED FOR EX-CELL-O CORP. BY / KIECKHEFER CONTAINER COMPANY / CHERRY RIVER DIVISION / DELAIR, N. J. BENSENVILLE, ILL. WHITTIER CALIF. on top folds: 2015 / Covered by one or more U. S. Patent Nos. / 1,763,025 / [...] / 2,329,797 / OTHER PATENTS PENDING