Borden's 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 Cherry River Paper Co., Delair, New Jersey, Bensenville, Illinois, and Whittier, California, for the Borden Company, Southern Division, Houston, Texas.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

71.1.1661

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
Width: 2.875 in
Length: 2.875 in

Inscriptions

on front of carton: SWEET MILK / TO OPEN / pull / here / ONE QUART / Borden's / REG. U. S. PAT. OFF. / IF IT'S BORDEN'S IT'S GOT TO BE GOOD / Grade "A" / MORNING / GLORY / PASTEURIZED / MILK / THE BORDEN COMPANY . SOUTHERN DIVISION HOUSTON TEXAS on sides of carton: ONE QUART / Borden's / REG. U. S. PAT. OFF. / IF IT'S BORDEN'S IT'S GOT TO BE GOOD / Grade "A" / MORNING / GLORY / PASTEURIZED / MILK / THE BORDEN COMPANY . SOUTHERN DIVISION HOUSTON TEXAS on back of carton: SWEET MILK / ONE QUART / Borden's / REG. U. S. PAT. OFF. / IF IT'S BORDEN'S IT'S GOT TO BE GOOD / Grade "A" / MORNING / GLORY / PASTEURIZED / MILK / THE BORDEN COMPANY . SOUTHERN DIVISION HOUSTON TEXAS on top folds: 431 / SEALED / SANITARY / SINGLE SERVICE / Pure-Pak / Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. / CONTAINER - A PRODUCT OF / EX-CELL-O CORPORATION / DETROIT, MICH. / MANUFACTURED FOR EX-CELL-O BY / CHERRY RIVER PAPER CO. Delair, N. J. on top folds: 86 / L L 326 / Covered / by one or more / U. S. Patent Nos. / 1,763,025 / [...] / 2,329,797 / OTHER PATENTS PENDING