Pennbrook Aristocrat 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

71.1.1656

Credit

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

Material

Cardboard
Metal
Wax

Color

Cream (Color)
Red

Dimensions

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

Inscriptions

on front of carton: HOMOGENIZED / TO CLOSE / PRESS / HERE / LIFT / HERE / ONE QUART LIQUID / PENNBROOK / Aristocrat / PASTEURIZED / HOMOGENIZED / MODIFIED WITH VITAMIN D / 400 U. S. P. Units of Activated Ergosterol Added / MILK / PENNBROOK MILK COMPANY / 500-520 SO. 27th ST., PHILADELPHIA, PA. on sideS of carton: ONE QUART LIQUID / PENNBROOK / Aristocrat / MILK / NOTICE BETTER FLAVOR / PASTEURIZED / HOMOGENIZED / MODIFIED WITH VITAMIN D / 400 U. S. P. Units of Activated Ergosterol Added / MILK / PENNBROOK MILK COMPANY / 500-520 SO. 27th ST., PHILADELPHIA, PA. on back of carton: HOMOGENIZED / APPROVED STATE BUREAU / Weights and Measures / PENNA. SERIAL No. 1 / NEW JERSEY APPROVED / ONE QUART LIQUID / PENNBROOK / Aristocrat / PASTEURIZED / HOMOGENIZED / MODIFIED WITH VITAMIN D / 400 U. S. P. Units of Activated Ergosterol Added / MILK / PENNBROOK MILK COMPANY / 500-520 SO. 27th ST., PHILADELPHIA, PA. on top folds: 1465 / SEALED / SANITARY SINGLE SERVICE / Pure-Pak / Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. / CONTAINER - A PRODUCT OF / EX-CELL-O CORPORATION / DETROIT, MICH. on top folds: S 10 / L 1 3 1 / Covered by one or more U. S. Patent Nos. / 1,763,025 / [...] / 2,329,797 / OTHER PATENTS PENDING / MANUFACTURED FOR EX-CELL-O CORP. BY / KIECKHEFER CONTAINER COMPANY / CHERRY RIVER DIVISION / DELAIR, N. J. BENSENVILLE, ILL. WHITTIER CALIF
Pennbrook Aristocrat Milk Carton