Pennbrook Buttermilk 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, for Pennbrook Milk Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

71.1.1664

Credit

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

Material

Cardboard
Metal
Wax

Color

Cream (Color)
Red
Green

Dimensions

Height: 9 in
Width: 2.75 in
Length: 2.75 in

Inscriptions

on front of carton: BUTTERMILK / LIFT / PENN / BROOK / CREAM / BUTTER / MILK / ONE QUART LIQUID on side of carton: PENN / BROOK / CREAM / BUTTER / MILK / APPROVED STATE BUREAU / Weights and Measures / PENNA. SERIAL No. L-2 / NEW JERSEY APPROVED on back of carton: BUTTERMILK / PENN / BROOK / CREAM / BUTTER / MILK / ONE QUART LIQUID on side of carton: PENN / BROOK / CREAM / BUTTER / MILK / PASTEURIZED AT / PENNBROOK MILK COMPANY / 500-520 SO. 27TH ST., PHILADELPHIA, PA. / PHONE Kingsley 5-3880 on top folds: 1 0 S S / SEALED SANITARY SINGLE SERVICE / Pure-Pak / Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. / CONTAINER - A PRODUCT OF / L V 32 / EX-CELL-O CORPORATION / DETROIT, MICH. / MANUFACTURED FOR EX-CELL-O BY / CHERRY RIVER PAPER CO. Delair, N. J. on top folds: 1177 / Covered by one or more U S Patent Nos. / 1,763,025 / [...] / 2,329,797 / OTHER PATENTS / PENDING
Pennbrook Buttermilk Carton