Blue Seal 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 International Dairy Supply Co., Oakland, California.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

71.1.1689

Credit

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

Material

Cardboard
Metal

Color

Cream (Color)
Blue

Dimensions

Height: 5.375 in
Width: 2.875 in
Length: 2.875 in

Inscriptions

on front of carton: ONE FULL PINT / TO CLOSE / PRESS / HERE / LIFT HERE / BLUE / SEAL / Recombined / HOMOGENIZED / PASTEURIZED / MILK / INTERNATIONAL / DAIRY on side of carton: INTERNATIONAL / DAIRY / OPENING INSTRUCTIONS / TO OPEN / TO POUR / TO CLOSE / DRINKING INSTRUCTIONS / LIFT TAB / PRESS BACK TOP / DRINK / INTERNATIONAL DAIRY / SUPPLY CO. / OAKLAND, CALIF. on back of carton: ONE FULL PINT / BLUE SEAL / MILK / [text in various languages] / INTERNATIONAL / DAIRY on side of carton: INTERNATIONAL / DAIRY / Store and Serve Cold / Keep in Refrigerator / MANUFACTURED UNDER / UNITED STATES CONTRACT / No. W11-027-QM-99649 / O. I. FH 1225 / INTERNATIONAL DAIRY / SUPPLY CO. / OAKLAND, CALIF. on top folds: W-840 / SEALED / SANITARY / SINGLE SERVICE / Pure-Pak / Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. / CONTAINER - A PRODUCT OF / EX-CELL-O CORPORATION / DETROIT, MICH. on top folds: 3-601-229 / 2 S / 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. on bottom: A122
Blue Seal Milk Carton