New Era Dairy 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 New Era Dairy Inc., Carbondale, Illinois.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

71.1.1658

Credit

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

Material

Cardboard
Metal
Wax

Color

Cream (Color)
Black (Color)

Dimensions

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

Inscriptions

on front of carton: TO CLOSE / press here / TO OPEN / lift here / ONE QUART / LIQUID / New Era / Dairy / Inc. / NATURE'S / HEALTH FOOD / CLARIFIED / AND / PASTEURIZED / MILK on side of carton: HOW TO USE / 1 TO OPEN / 2 TO POUR / 3 TO CLOSE / New Era / Dairy / Inc. / CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS on back of carton: CLARIFIED AND / PASTEURIZED / MILK / ONE QUART / LIQUID / New Era / Dairy / Inc. / NATURE'S / HEALTH FOOD / CLARIFIED / AND / PASTEURIZED / MILK on side of carton: New Era / Dairy / Inc. / Hey Diddle Diddle, the Cat and the Fiddle / The Cow jumped over the moon, / The little Dog laughed to see the Cow's calf / Eat our ice cream with a spoon. / No bottles to wash; / No bottles to return; / Takes less space; / Lighter, easier to handle. / CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS on top folds: 1715 / Pure-Pak / Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. / CONTAINER - A PRODUCT OF / EX-CELL-O CORPORATION / DETROIT, MICH. on top fold: 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.